Conference noted::equitation

    Yes, one of the horses used for lessons had this problem.
    Only a natural pad could be used (natural as in wool, or
    cotton, not acrylic, so his back could breathe)
    and his back was to washed, rinsed and dried after he was
    ridden, every time.  Unfortunately, I do not remember what
    the medication was that the vet supplyed to use after washing.
                                             
    
    

    I've known a couple of horses that had this problem.  It can be be an
    allergic reaction, to which the natural pad is a must.  It can also be
    caused by dirty saddle pads; pads that are used more than once will do
    it.  Try sticking with all natural and ensuring that the pad is washed
    after every use.  Going bareback for a couple of days won't help if
    it's either of these problems cause it takes longer than that for the
    bumps to disappear.  Scrubbing the bumps with betadine will help also. 
    Then again, if it's allergies to something else, you may need allergy
    medicine.  
    
    Good luck,
    Dawn

I've also seen some horses helped by having a piece of SILK placed under the
saddlepad, directly against the horse.  The silk is light enough to rinse out
on a daily basis and dries very quickly.

      
      
      
      
      Good suggestions!
      
      The silk-thing seems very good - if I had to wash the whole saddlepad, 
      I'd run out of them very quickly. But with this I should be able to keep 
      the pads clean and nice every day. I'll try it!
        The wool-pads: are they as good in summer as in winter - should it be 
      some kind of prepared wool, or does a sheep-fur do?

    What they used as a saddlepad for the school horse
    was a western wool 30x60 pad for both english or
    western lessons.  
    

    re .4
    
    Silk is expensive, and I've known people at the track who use cotton
    for saddle cloths for the same reason silk has been suggested, i.e, so
    you can easily wash it.  I always try to use cotton pads, myself, since
    I've found that the synthetics seem to cause hot spots.  I bought some
    cotton terrycloth backed dressage pads, and have had good luck with
    them.  If they are both dirty and I have to use a synthetic pad, I put
    a cotton towel under it.
    
    -ellie 

    
    I use a cotton pad under my wool western pad (I ride hunt seat). I have
    three cotton pads, so I always have a clean one. Be careful to get all
    cotton - not a blend. Made a big difference to my mare and I still use
    the combination with my gelding.
    
    Nancy
    
    PS - I'm sure the catalog people will shipped to Sweden, if a wool pad
    is called for.
    

    Curiousity question:
    
    Yesterday I did a 20 mile pleasure trail ride with a friend.  She does
    these rides regularly, and both she and her horse (a cool little Arab)
    and well conditioned and experienced.  The ride was more difficult than
    the average ones (in terms of terrain, hills, etc) and what normally
    took us 4 hours took closer to 5.  When we got back to our trailers,
    she untacked and found several small, soft bumps on one side of his
    back, beside the spine near his shoulder.  She said it had happened
    only once before, but not recently. His saddle (a wintec western-style)
    seems to fit well and she uses traditional padding beneath it.  She 
    commented that she is going to get a Cashel cushion and begin using
    that between the padding and the saddle; allegedly they help
    distribute the weight of the saddle more evenly and relieve pressure
    points.  What occurred to me this morning is, will such a cushion
    also allow heat to dissapate through it?  I mean, we rode for 5 hours
    straight yesterday (well, I got off once to pull a shoe, but that's
    another story :-) - and I would be concerned about trapped heat under
    a saddle for that length of time. Does anyone in here use these types
    of therapeudic pads? Any problems with them?
    
    

    
    I'm not sure if the pads work or not.  But from everything I have read
    a saddle should fit your horse and be comfy 100% of the time.  There
    should be no need for any type of therputic pad.  If there is a need
    for such a thing then there *might* be a problem w/the saddle ?
    
    I would first find a saddle fitter.  I've read about a few in the
    horse Mags and I even know one in CT. (Gary Severnson) who will 
    come to your farm and make sure the saddle fits.  
    
    If the saddle fits, then I would consider the special pad.
    
    Sultan used to get small problems and back senstivity after 4hr rides, I had
    Gary come out and he found that the saddle fit well, cept it was
    off center a tad. I put in a small kitchen sponge to even it out and
    I have not had any trouble since.
    
    Good Luck
    
    Louisa

I don't know what type of pad your friend has really looks like, but....
a lot of people make a big mistake putting lots of padding under a saddle, 
like foam cushions or really thick pads.

Actually, with that type of padding and then the saddle on top causes nerve
pinching and numbness in the withers and back area.  Nothing is fitting
correctly by this point and it is not good.

The best type of padding is really having a saddle that fits perfectly - then
you only need a normal pad underneath.

    Tina,
    
    She said she was going to get a cashel cushion - I've never used one
    before, but I've seen them, and I don't believe they actually are
    incredibly thick.  She did seem confident that her saddle fits well,
    but maybe she's missing something, or her horse's shape has changed
    recently.  Next time I talk to her, I may suggest she consider a piece
    of silk under her regular pad; after 5 hours, chafing could be the
    culprit and I've heard that silk is excellent for that problem.  
    
    I like the idea of a saddle fitter's analysis myself, but Barbara isn't
    much different than myself = flat broke. :-)  I don't even want to KNOW
    what such a thing would cost...particularly from Connecticut to Warner
    NH! :-)
    
    Thanks for the inputs!
    

    There is someone through Triple Crown Tack in West Boylston [MA] who
    does saddle fitting. I think it's cheap, like 20 bucks to comeout and
    look at your saddle on your horse. At least then you'd know if you have
    to think about restuffing, etc...

    Hm - well, West Boylston is getting closer than Connecticut (but not
    much :-) - anyone know one I could recommend to my friend in New 
    Hampshire?
    

    
    Garyn Severnson goes all over.  call Jane at Tripple Crown tack
    shope in W. Boylston and ask her for his number.
    
    Louisa

Gary Severson regularly goes to Beaver Valley Tack Shop in Pelham, NH.

on his business card, his phone/fax number is: 203/651-7026

He is from Simsbury Connecticut.