The initial saddle fit examination begins with evaluation of the horse’s back, including a fingertip exploration of the entire area under the saddle to identify any bumps caused by friction or areas of localized pain or swelling, he said. Also, the horse should extend and flex his back willingly, and his vertebrae should be palpated.
What is good saddle fit? Simply put, it involves a saddle–English or Western–that spreads weight evenly on the longissimus dorsi muscles along either side of the spine. This well-fit saddle has clearance over the withers and doesn’t impede movement of the scapulas (shoulder blades). This saddle puts the rider’s weight in concert with the horse’s center of balance.
There are many causes for back pain in horses, and they can range from the dramatic to the benign.
The annual meeting of the British Equine Veterinary Association provided a wealth of information on topics ranging from tendons and ligaments to muscle diseases, from disorders of the back to conformation. Sue Dyson, MA, VetMB, PhD, DEO, FRCVS,
First, how can we visualize and understand what’s going on under that hair, skin, and muscle? Denoix has diagnostic steps to examine a horse with performance problems that he believes might stem from the spine.
Conformation…what does it mean? If you’ve spent any time around horses or horse people, you’ve heard this word or related words used again and again. "Wow, that horse has great conformation!" or "My trainer said not t
The 17th annual meeting of the Association for Equine Sports Medicine was held in Leesburg, Va., from March 5-8. The meeting was attended by 400 veterinarians, sports physiology researchers, as well as others interested in equin
Equine back problems are common, particularly in performance horses. The conditions involved can be primary or can result from lameness, ill-fitting tack, or even inadequate schooling.
Fitting a saddle correctly to a horse’s back can be confusing and frustrating, Harman says, because so many variables are involved.
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