Does anyone have experience with a horse with lordosis? There is a young ottb mare who is a beautiful mover but has lordosis. If you’re familiar, what kind of limitations does this present in an eventer/dressage horse? Is lifting the back and coming round more difficult? I understand some of this may be questions for a vet but looking for personal experience. Thanks!
My arabian cross has lordosis. He really never developed a balanced canter. He was diagnosed as kissing spine last year at age 20. Who knows how long he had it. He was a saddle fitting nightmare as in fully custom $5,000 saddle. We won’t talk about the 20+ off the rack ones that wouldn’t work. The tons of saddle pads and shims I tried. The fact Stubben returned my deposit since they did not think they could make a saddle he would be happy with.
My horse can physically lift his back. His topline really improved with the custom saddle and correct riding but it was really too hard for him.
We did 2 rounds of SI injections, he has had shockwave and mesotherapy, lots of rounds of robaxin. Chiro, massage. etc… We had to work hard to keep his back from being sore.
I personally would not touch a horse with lordosis. Even if I only wanted to pleasure ride and trail ride on the buckle I don’t want to go through the whole saddle fit nighmare and expense again.
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My friend went through a nightmare with her previous horse with lordosis. She spent thousands of dollars trying to keep him comfortable and he simply was not able to do any sort of dressage work as lifting his back was pretty much physically out of the equation for him. She ended up retiring him, and sadly a few years after he retired he had a pasture accident and had to be humanely euthanized. I will say, however, that he was on the more severe end of lordosis.
I would pass on buying this horse.
I know a few people riding such horses - and the biggest issue (HUGE!!!) issue is saddle fit. Not all horses with lordosis are uncomfortable - in fact, many have no pain issues at all. BUT - saddle fit. And if the saddle doesn’t fit, you can cause pain. Have I mentioned saddle fit?
If you can get a (custom, nothing off the rack will work) saddle that works, the horse will probably be fine. But that is a huge if…
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I know of one. Same as other posters, saddle fitting nightmare and the horse could never really lift her back. The lady who owned her was older, a kind soul with physical limitations who had zero competitive aspirations and wanted to just tool around the arena at a walk. The mare was also a sweet soul so it was perfect, but she sure was built like a banana. Even with hard work, she would never have been able to do First level.
If you are looking for a horse to compete with, skip this one.
