Page 873 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

If a poorly fitted saddle or numnah has been used on a horse for any length of time, the

soreness can persist for months if it is not treated. Despite being rested and having a new
VetBooks.ir saddle or numnah that is a good fit, many horses remain uncomfortable in their backs. These
horses can often be helped with:

• acupuncture

• physiotherapy
• osteopathy

• chiropractic

• any combination of the above.

Prevention

SADDLE FITTING

The fitting of the saddle should be regularly checked by a qualified saddler. Horses

change shape as they mature, become fitter and as they gain or lose weight. A well-
fitted saddle distributes the weight of the rider evenly over a large area of the horse’s

back. It must not pinch the horse or have any pressure points. The following checks
should be made.

• From the side view the saddle should be level and fit snugly along the contours of the

horse’s back. It should be positioned behind the shoulder blades but not extend further
back than the top of the last (18th) rib.

• With the rider mounted there should normally be three fingers clearance between the

withers and the pommel. The withers should not be pinched or bruised.
• The gullet should be approximately 8 cm (3 in) wide along the length of the saddle and

wider at the front. This is to avoid any of the rider’s weight pressing on the dorsal
spinous processes in the midline.

• The flocking should be sufficient to allow daylight to be seen along the length of the
gullet when the rider is mounted. It must be evenly distributed because lumps or ridges

will make the back sore. The panels should not be too hard and must have some ‘give’ or
they can bruise and restrict the back muscles.

• The internal parts of the saddle should be free of lumps and bumps or they will cause
pressure points which quickly result in discomfort. This may only be appreciated if your

saddler opens up the saddle and checks the inside.

• Numnahs and girths should be of a suitable size and type and correctly fitted.