Relieve Back Pain in my Horse
What english saddle pad is best to relieve back pain?
My horse has been very sore-backed lately, and I’m pretty sure it’s because of my saddle. I am getting ready to buy a new one, but I also want to buy a saddle pad that can help prevent back pain. What is the best kind (gel, sheepskin, foam, etc.) and what is the best brand? Thanks!
The three main ones that I am looking at are the Wintec Gel Comfort pad, the Traumatech pad, and the Equine Comfort Sheepskin pad with Gel Inserts.
Bulletproof Your Back Against Pain - More Information
Click HERE For Your FREE Download
Gel pads are really good, but if it is just the clear gel plastic you need to put it inside of a real saddle pad– You can buy them like this or you can just sew it into one you already own =) Memory Foam is good too but should also be set under or sewn into a saddle pad (you can buy them like this too.) Wintec makes very good therapeutic saddle pads, just make sure that you don’t double up! Using two thick pads to protect your horse’s back might be too much. You have to cinch the horse too tightly and that’s uncomfortable for him. Because the saddle is perched on top of the thick pads, it might very well roll from side to side and not stay stationary in the middle of the horse’s back. This, in turn, can cause a sore back.
Some thing very soft and with thick padding for less preesure on the horses back.
One of the pads that I use is the Wintec wither relief pad. It is not expensive, but yet provides adequate support for your horse’s back. I don’t have a very expensive saddle, and this pad helps to relieve any negative pressure that the saddle might cause.
I use a wither pad for my TB. She is just off the track and had an old saddle sore.
That pad keeps the saddle of your horses back and withers.
I found great results in it. Some of them or pretty in expensive, and if you are buying a new saddle maybe you dont want to spend to much on a pad for your old saddle.
Mean time i would use lineament on your horses back and stretch his back out by pressing on his under belly. That will make your horse arch and stretch it back.
Another thing a horse massage person showed me was to cup your hands and gently tap your horse over his spine. Its hard to explain, but your finger tips should be on one side and the palm should hit on the other side, nothing should really hit the actual spine. My 34 yr old Arab and TB really enjoy that one.
Hope that helped.
I’d try the therapy pads .Ask your vet what they recommend are you sure it’s the pad and not some other reason your horses back is sore it could be the saddle doesn’t fit fight or kidneys or something else usualy a pad won’t sore a horse.
someone i know has a horse that is over 20 years old with some back problems and i know she rides him in a gel pad. it goes over the waffle pad right under the saddle and helps to just cushion everything that the rider does. i ride that horse too sometimes and you would never know that he had any back problems or was the age he was. i would suggest trying that and if the horse doesnt act any better try another kind.
There is NO saddle pad that will stop back pain, if the saddle doesn’t fit properly.
So for the sake of your horse just buy the new saddle that fits and save the other saddle for a horse that it fits.
I don’t claim to know every thing about horses and tack, but saddles I know a little about.
SADDLE PADS DO NOT MAKE A SADDLE FIT IF ANYTHING THEY MAKE AN IMPROPERLY FITTING SADDLE WORSE
For back pain or comfort, I would go with a sheepskin. The gel is okay to use, but you have to buy new ones a lot because the saddle starts to imprint in them. I would go with this one:
http://www.doversaddlery.com/mattes-all-purpose-correction-half-pad/p/X1-19288/cn/106/
If you can get a saddle fitter out to check your saddle, this would be ideal. He/she will show you the trouble areas so that you can purchase or have a saddle custom made according to your horses needs. If a saddle doesn’t fit, padding it up won’t help. I’m not sure of your situation in regards to your saddle, if a saddle fits correctly then a pad is really only used to keep the saddle free of hair and sweat.
Buying a new saddle may not be the answer- it must be evenly padded and wide enough with the correct space around and off the spine. A thick padded saddlecloth may not make it more comfortable unless it is too well padded evenly and if it is thick it may make a well fitted saddle seem tighter. My pony is getting older and to protect her back I use a Cut back gel pad from http://www.robinsons-uk.com as it also clears the saddle from her withers which are starting to stick up.