Cavallo Pad?! For Sore Back?!

[equuslizzy]

My 8 yr old OTTB has started struggling with a very slightly sore back as he’s building muscle and going back to work after he’s been off for about a year. The chiropractor and massage therapist said it’s not a saddle fit issue and is very typical soreness, but I’d like to add a pad to decrease his soreness a bit while he builds up strength. I have a cavallo all purpose half pad and a wool half pad. Has anyone used either style and did they help decrease any back soreness?! Anyone have something they like better?!

Thank you!!

EquusLizzy

[Magicboy]

I use a thin line half pad every time I ride and like it very much. I know some folks don’t but it’s always worked well for my horses.

[Lucassb]

If the soreness is related to muscular fatigue I honestly don’t think a pad is going to help much. That said, I like my Thinline pad as well and that would be my go-to choice for my own comfort. Not a bad choice at all.

[Rusty15]

Ditto to Lucassb although maybe a Back On Track pad would be helpful at soothing those muscles.

[MysticOakRanch]

I use a Back On Track pad with a Mattes half pad. For a really sore back, time off is really what your horse needs - no pad is going to “fix” a sore back. You then need to figure out the cause of soreness - is it saddle fit (I’d have an experienced saddle fitter look at it, unless your body works people are trained in saddle fit), then that is an equipment fix. If it is just struggling with the work, then you have to assess if you are doing too much too soon with your horse, or just dealing with one of those “break through” moments in time.

[alibi_18]

While horses are like us in a sense that they will get sore muscles and be tired from exercising, I feel we need to be more carefull with them since they cannot talk.

Building up a horse fitness and muscle mass takes time. Rushing it is never a good idea. Slow and steady is my mantra.

If this was my horse, I’d reevaluate my training program.
More lunging session, more long and low riding, no sitting trot - actually, half seat/2 points position until the soreness is fully gone.

Yes, adding a half pad could help, but make sure it will properly fit under your already well fitted saddle. You don’t want to squeeze the shoulders/withers by adding the half pad.