If your horses have been exhibiting signs of discomfort when you put on their saddle, there could be a problem with the fit. Unless you followed saddle fitting methods before buying, or had a professional fit your horse, you may have purchased the wrong size and fit for your animal. If you are not sure what saddle fitting methods offer the best assessment, you may want to consider having a professional come fit your horses. This will ensure that the saddles are not causing pain or horse problems.
Since horses cannot verbally indicate discomfort, they express feelings through actions. Many times negative behavior is a sign of pain or unhappiness. Once of the most common ailments from a poor-fitting saddle is back pain. Luckily you can reduce the discomfort with a horse massage. Just like we like a good back rub for sore muscles, so do horses. While there are professional horse massage therapy providers, you can give your horses some extra TLC from normal brushing and grooming.
You don't have to be a professional to give a good horse massage. There are many ways to relieve sore muscles, such as working your way up and down the spine. Be sure to watch for the reaction of your horse; some may not be fond of horse massage therapy. If this is the case, you may want to use less pressure or choose to stop. If your animal seems to enjoy it, you may want to get a book about equine massages to learn the methods. You also may be able to find a course offered locally. This is a great way to bond with your horses and to reward them after a hard workout.
