Very concerned, problem with my SBS

[dalesponyrider]

I've posted the following post on EE so thought I'd pop it on here as well seeing this is "home!"


I have had my SBS for three and a half years. It has been absolutely fine until the end of last summer when I started doing longer rides. I have discovered since my mares winter coat has come through that she has started to grow white hairs over where I think the stirrup bars are. I am absolutely distraught about it as I have spent years getting my mare right and thought I had solved my saddle fitting problems. She is very short coupled and I have spent a lot of money trying to get a saddle to fit her. She also came to me with a bit of a history and had, I think, been in a bad driving accident that had left her in a lot of pain. She used to bolt with me and it has taken a lot of time and patience to sort through her issues. I am feeling terribly guilty that since riding her harder last summer she may have been in pain. Well I presume she must have been if she has started to grow white hairs! I can't understand it as she told me in no uncertain terms when I first got my SBS that she loved it! She was moving much better in it than she had in any other saddle. I admit I didn't ride a huge amount in it at first as we were taking things very slowly as we built her up working very closely with a physio. I also broke my wrist very badly falling off her and it took a long time to regain my confidence! It wasn't really until last summer that she came from pretty light work into medium work. Previous to last summer we had done most of our ridden work in walk and trot. Canter was done mostly on the lunge - not ridden. Last summer though she came right and my physio gave me the go ahead to do everything I wanted on her! We had an absolute ball but I'm distressed to see these patches appear. Could the saddle have altered in some way? I just can't see how the fit can have altered in a treeless.

I have taken some photographs today to show you.

[greydales]

Just pm'd you Linda! Is it the angle of the picture, or does the saddle tip forwards onto D's withers? Can you post a pic totally side view?

[dalesponyrider]

I haven't got a side veiw but yes, I think it does tip forward a bit.

[jojoebony]

Sorry I don't have any words of wisdom re saddle fitting.

But I did want to say you REALLY shouldn't be feeling guilty. What you have achieved with you horse is wonderful, to have got her this far especially when she has had a bad past and some serious issues. You have obviously put everything you could in to her, sometimes though things like this happen, it certainly isn't your fault.

If only every horse had an owner like you!

Jo

[dalesponyrider]

Thank you Jo! That's very kind of you to say so.

I just thought I'd add a postscript - I am DREADING lanclass showing this to Colin as she surely will! I am going to have a VERY thick skin and be prepared to eat an awful lot of humble pie if there isn't a very good explanation for this happening! Heather has posted to say they might want me to send the saddle to them so they can examine it.

[bevbob]

Linda, its very concerning to read this but could it possibly be sweat that has made the hairs change colour? Im saying that as friend has a horse that has a really perculiar mark on his shoulder that sweats and the hair has changed to a lighter colour? Just a thought anyway.
Hope its not the saddle? mine has been fine with Bobs but its probably not been used half as much as yours.
Hope you get some answers for this.

[admin]

Hmmm I can see why you are so worried Linda. But it really isn't your fault. You do EVERYTHING for D and she has blossomed and blossomed under your care. I think you've done the right thing by contacting EE, and I'm sure Heather will take this very seriously. I wonder if they would pay for you to try one of those pressure sensor numnahs that record the pressure over all the saddle. Then you'd know for sure if there were pressure points on there.

TIlly is now working MUCH harder with mair than she ever did with me. I'll be asking her to keep a very close eye out for any signs of white/paler hair on Tilly.

Olivia

[harveydales]

Linda, I haven't looked on the EE site yet to see Heather's reply.


Firstly, you have absolutely no need to feel guilty. What ever the cause is, no one could have done more than you to bring D through all her problems and achieve all you have done with her.

The photos do make it look as though the saddle is tipping forwards slightly. I think this is probably because she is short coupled and the saddle is a bit long. I found the same with Harvey with the SBS.

As I said in my PM, my Fhoenix (which is a bit shorter than the SBS) sat perfectly level on Harvs until recently but now is tipping slightly forward too and I'm not sure why. The inserts do level it but I'm not 100% happy as when I opened up the panels to put the inserts in, there were very definate pressure marks on the prolite in the stirup bar/leather region. I think I will have a word with Heather too. Gill, did you ever open up the panels of your prolite version and if so, how did the prolite look?

I do hope there are no serious problems with D and the saddle. I appreciate just how you must be feeling Linda, but on one could have been more careful and thorough than you have been with D's problems and saddle fitting. Do let me know what Heather says please.

[dalesponyrider]

I don't think it is the sweat Bev as she sweats all over under the saddle so why would it change the colour of just these hairs?

The thing is Olivia, Mair is light as a feather and Tilly is much bigger than D so I doubt she will have any problems. I hope Heather does take it seriously as I've supported her loads as you all know.

[dalesponyrider]

I'll keep you all updated Pam!

[dollylanedales]

I hope you manage to get some help with this Linda.

As Olivia has said, Tilly has the dressage SBS. I have to be honest and say I did not really like riding in it at first, but have now got used to it. I have noticed it is quite heavy - well in comparison to my other two treeless saddles that is.

I have never had a problem with Tillys saddle, and last summer she was ridden every day for probably an hour and a half with long rides on Saturday and Sundays, so the saddle did get some use. Never seen any marks on Tilly. One thing though, I always use a pad, plus the anti slip cloth with it.

[dalesponyrider]

Now I don't use a pad, just a high wither numnah. What pad do you use Mair? Mine is the dressage too.

[greydales]

Pam no I haven't looked at the prolite panels but have ordered some of the new ones, which are made out of a different material (not prolite).

I do hope that you get this sorted through EE Linda - there is no way you are to blame and we all know how hard you have worked to get D right.

Keep us posted.

[harveydales]

Gill - I am now wondering whether the marks I saw were from the bit of leather which folds under at the front of the pocket. I will check today as you've all got me worrying. If it is just the leather, I don't think it would cause any problems.

Are the new pannels you've ordered the more shaped ones or the old ones but in the new material? I had wondered aboutt he new dhaped ones but read they are not so suitable for flat backed types like our natives and also are thicker at the cantel end so i wondred whether they would tip me even more forward on Harvs, due to him being so short coupled and rising to the croup. I'll be interested in your comments on the pannels.

[greydales]

No Pam, they aren't the shaped ones - I don't like the look of them, they seem like they will tip you forwards. Some of the people that got them said initially they did feel tipped forwards but after riding in them for a while they were okay - but I don't have a need for them anyway. The ones I've ordered are flat like what we already have - once I get them I'll let you know (don't think they are in yet).

Apparently all new Fhoenixes will be supplied with the shaped and the flat panels.