Saddle Pads and Care for the Horse's Back

Taking care of your horse's back is very important, since horses carry all the weight on the back. A variety of products are available to cushion the saddle, ease back pain and ensure your horse's good back health. Although these products certainly help, you'll want to consult your veterinarian for any serious back issues your horse may have, such as sway-back.

  1. Saddle Pads

    • Saddle pads are essential for good back health. Although an occasional bareback ride won't do any harm, it's best to have your horse properly fitted with a comfortable saddle pad and saddle. Saddles that are too tight or too loose, even if fitted with a saddle pad, can cause injuries to the back. It's useful to keep two or three saddle pads around so you can rotate them, ensuring that none of them will wear down too quickly and cause discomfort to your horse.

    Vary your Routine

    • Too much of one activity can be painful for a horse's back, especially activities such as showjumping, cross country and dressage. Dressage saddles in particular are not built to spread the rider's weight evenly, thus causing more pressure on the horses' back. Mix up your routine to take some of the pressure off of your horse's back. After an intense day of training in cross country or jumping, spend the next day taking a slow trail ride in a comfortable saddle.

    Massage

    • Massage therapists are available for horses as well as humans. If your horse does a lot of heavy work, like driving or jumping, take him to the massage therapist every once in a while. The therapist can work with the muscles and pressure points in your horse's back to help your horse move better and feel better. It may be a costly addition to your horse's bills, but if you want to keep your horse in shape, it is well worth the price.

    Saddle Sores

    • Saddle sores are highly uncomfortable for a horse, and quite common. These sores are caused from the saddle pad rubbing against the skin during long rides. Keep all saddle pads clean to prevent these sores from happening on the back. It's also a good idea to wash your horse with warm water and Epsom salts after every few rides. Not only will the salts help keep away infection, but the rubdown will feel good on your horse's skin.