I have noticed that after a ride there is more sweat (a lot) on the left under side of the saddle as compared to the right (almost dry). Am I riding crooked? Is it a saddle fit issue?
We mostly just walk around with some trotting/cantering on the range but I do want to do more ringwork now that spring is here.
this can be a saddle fit issue. I have seen unequal sweating, as well, with a horse who had nerve pinching due to trauma ( fell on neck jumping).
If the area is wide spread, I would look to saddle fit
Could be your horse is unevenly muscled.
Could be the flocking in your saddle unevenly distributed.
Could be your horse had/has some sort of injury or musculoskeletal
I doubt it’s a riding issue – I would have a saddle fitter and/or a chiro out to see what could be going on.
It could be any of those above.
uneven flocking
asymmetrical horse
asymmetrical rider
subtle hind end issues
Many horses and riders are more one sided which can cause the flocking to compact more.
Yes, it could be so many things. I’d start with a good fitter, but you may need the vet.
There are a few things you can do yourself. Turn your saddle over and look at the panels. Carefully examine the two sides to discern if one is flatter than the other. If you are sitting more on one seatbone, you can oftentimes see it reflected in the way the panels look. Sometimes you have to develop your eye to be able to see this easily. Also, check your horse’s back where the saddle rests. See if the texture of the skin is uniform over the weight-bearing surface and check to see that both sides of the back are alike. A healthy back has some softness and spring to it. Do belly lifts to see if the horse’s back is sore.
It’s actually easier to hold the saddle pommel down, on the ground with rear gussets facing you and then cantle down or on a buck and look for similar depth of panel front and rear and then run your hands over the panels when on its back to feel for similar flocking. Sometimes it is obvious and other times very subtle.
[QUOTE=jaybird660;8589129]
It’s actually easier to hold the saddle pommel down, on the ground with rear gussets facing you and then cantle down or on a buck and look for similar depth of panel front and rear and then run your hands over the panels when on its back to feel for similar flocking. Sometimes it is obvious and other times very subtle.[/QUOTE]
I’ve also found that if you find a tiled or brick floor that provides an even grid of straight lines, and then peer down the panels this way towards the floor, it can help you spot irregularities.
What happens when others ride your horse? If your trainer gets the same sweat patterns, it’s not you. So then try a different saddle. If every saddle you try gets the same sweat patterns, its not the saddle. So then you are left with the horse. I would try to narrow it down this way before getting too hung up on fine details.
I don’t have any access to other saddles or riders. I wonder if I rode him bareback would that be a substitute?
Used all the advice and eyeballed my saddle, I think it is just wornout: slight wrinkles/ridges along underside, rigid cushions that have flattened and his back has dropped so the saddle sort of perches. Definitely will be buying a new one.
I did ride him with just a saddle pad and surcingle and he sweats evenly with that.
Is your saddle wool flocked? If so, you can get it reflocked for a lot less than buying a new saddle. I think most foam panels can also be replaced.
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