Grey hairs on Saturn's back

[dalesponyrider]

No, not yet.

[dalesponyrider]

Here are some photos of just a few hairs I have now noticed further down. We had just had a bath by the way, that is not sweat! All these hairs are coming out quite quickly, if I brush my hand over them they fall out. Does that mean that the damage is not too serious? Or am I kidding myself?

Gill, did you have a word with Heather about Dancer?

[valerie n scout]

how are you doing now Linda xx

[dalesponyrider]

Not done anything much at all as I have got my parents staying for just over a week again which doesn't leave me much time for anything. Heather has sent me a Smart pad and I am looking forward to trying it.

[valerie n scout]

oh thats brill, lets hope that sorts things x

[SuzieP]

Oh that's good news! Keep us posted when you've had chance to try it out.

[dalesponyrider]

Tried out the Smart Panel today. Rather than type a whole load out again I'm just going to copy and paste what I have put on my thread on EE.





Thank you so much. I received my Smart Panel a few days ago but only just had time to try it out today as I have been looking after my elderly parents to allow my brother to go away again.

I also had a couple of treed saddles to try on him.

One treed saddle didn't fit at all. The other one I felt pinched his shoulders. He has never been ridden in a treed saddle and although I felt he was trying, I also felt he wasn't as free as usual.

Then I tried the Smart Panel. He certainly moved better in it and there was nothing to stop his shoulders moving. I really can't tell if it is going to relieve the pressure he has been suffering from until I ride him regularly and he has a new coat come through though as he didn't actually complain before! When I took the old blue panels out I noticed they were quite compressed and the Smart Panel will surely give him more padding.

I have a question though. The Smart Panel has brilliant wither clearance due to the improved design compared to the suberpanel. Why, if we need to have the material clear of the wither, do we have material over the spine? Will this put pressure in the spine?

Had quite a few amusing moments as we tried to work out where the pressure was today. I tried riding bare back. Easy, but boy could I feel how my weight put pressure on his spine. Then I tried riding with JUST the Smart Panel. Boy did I laugh! I was so wobbly! Definitely kept my weight either side of his spine on the cork filled channels. Took me a while to get used to it.

Anyway, when the pad is under the saddle, the saddle spreads the weight all over the pad in a way that just me sitting on it didn't. If the saddle spreads the weight all over, does it matter if there is weight on the spine? If not, why not?

Sorry, I don't mean to sound negative, just trying to understand what is going on.

[valerie n scout]

I hope you get some answers Linda and I hope the pad works for you and Saturn x

[emmadales]

I hope the pad works well for saturn, and u get your answers from EE

[jec248]

I have read this with great interest, because I have noticed a few white hairs on Magics back either side of her withers and was just thinking today to get a saddle fitter out. We have a Heather Moffett GP saddle and its used with a 1/2 sheepskin hi wither nu-med numnah. I still have her wintec 2000 saddle with CAIR and another treed saddle(Native pony saddle Co) and was thinking of changing back to one of them.

[dalesponyrider]

Could you post a photo? I'd be interested to compare? Might be worth asking Heather on EE too.

[jec248]

i will take some photos and post them for you to see.



Edited to say-----I have taken some photos but am unable, for some reason to load them onto photobucket.