Sweat patches under Fhoenix - pics now attached

[juliecwuk]

I seem to be getting uneven sweat patches under my fheonix. There's clear dry patches under the stirrup bars......this was after some long fast hacks when riding half seat for most of it.

Have u any suggestions? I feel this amount of pressure surely isn't acceptable? And I can't just avoid fast work or don't do half seat cantering/galloping?

It's the original fhoenix with removable prolite panels. Am considering buying a smartpanel, willing to try anything as Moet clearly goes better in it but I want to avoid pressure and marks as shown on other forums!

Thanks!

[cirocco]

sorry to jump in and sound like a numpty but whats a smart panel like??????
sorry sorry sorry

[Claire]

sorry to jump in and sound like a numpty but whats a smart panel like??????
sorry sorry sorry

there's a couple of threads about smart panels with pics further down..

[juliecwuk]

anyone?

[Fiona]

How old is the saddle?  You might find that the panels need to be replaced as they do compress over time, particularly the blue prolite ones.  This is an easy and cheap job, you can buy the panels from Nurseys and fit them yourself http://www.nurseysheepskin.co.uk/catalogue/category/1241

The Smart panel offers the best pressure distribution, so this would be the padding of choice if you are going to do a lot of two-point work, or for a heavier rider.  These are used instead of the moulded panels - fold the panel pockets flat and velcro them closed and then attach the Smart panel to the front D rings (and rear D if you have one).

Fiona

[kathyt]

Hi Julie 

Would you be able to post pictures of Moet's back and these patches?  I am sure Heather or one of the saddle agents would be able to advise you better with photos.

Did you manage to get over to Sarah's last weekend?

Kathy

[juliecwuk]

Hi Kathy ! 

Didnt manage to get there last weekend, i was asked to work and couldnt turn the Overtime down! lol!

I am going on a long hack again tomorrow morning so will get some photos taken afterwards if she has sweated up!

Thanks!

[kathyt]

Thats a shame, as it looked like everyone had a great time!  Do you have access to society pages?  There are loads of vids of peoples lessons and Heather riding.

[juliecwuk]

I rode with the smartpanel underneath today, I am really impressed - the stability is great, the added bit of 'rigidity' really helped my rising trot, Moets canter was really good too! Also i felt it did make the saddle feel narrower.

Anyway i only managed a 1.5hr hack, the sweat patches were much more even though, which is promising. I hope to do a much longer hack next week to see if uneven patches would develop. I have got pics after the hack today but I am waiting for my friend to email me the pics after the other hack so I can post for comparison!

I just wanted to ask if I should be 'pulling' the wither part of the suberpad up into the saddle?

[juliecwuk]

Pics attached - these two are after the ride with just using a standard numnah, was 2.5 hrs long with lots of half seat canters.

[juliecwuk]

after riding in the smartpanel yesterday.

any thoughts?

[cirocco]

Im not a saddle fitter or expert in these things, but whenever ive ridden my horses and they sweat, they have sweat patches under the saddle, im not sure what you want to know?? do you think that the horse should not be sweaty under the saddle??
When ive ridden in either of my saddles recently on warm days both horses have had sweat patches, and not often evenly placed, one has a huge thick pad under the endurance saddle so the whole area that coveres was sweaty, my other pony had a thin ordinary numnah under my dressage fhoenix, and that too was sweaty, unless you are worried that the saddle isn't fitting correctly, I dont think its much to worry about where the actual saddle is causing the sweating, the stirrup bar areas are something else. Perhaps the smart panel will give an all over, and so better coverage.

[juliecwuk]

Sorry I just wanted to now if everyone else agreed that the newer photos show a better sweat patch pattern. I was very concerned about the initial sweat patches as it shows pressure under the stirrup bars. Fingers crossed the smartpanel keeps helping and I will be a happy bunny!

Oh the only thing is that it looks like the smartpanel isn't bridging her spine very well as you can see there's sweat marks on her spine?

[Heather]

There are two schools of thought on this Julie, one that for instance you do not see sweat along the gullet line of a treed saddle because it is not making contact. So when there are dry patches under the stirrup bars, it is due to lack of pressure rather than pressure causing the area to be dry because of lack of blood supply. There have been a number of riders worried about dry patches under the bars, but we have had very few incidents of any soreness or atrophy with this over the years, quite the contrary!

How long have you had the saddle and did you buy it new, and from an agent, if so? What is the saddle number?

When we did the Pliance computerised pressure testing, for instance the pad which measures pressure every 40th of a second, gave very different readings, for instance, to a Port Lewis impression pad, which everyone assumes if it thins down must be caused by constant pressure. But testing a number of treed and treeless saddles makes apart from our own, the Pliance gave very good readings for the latter, including our own saddles, with no 'hot spots' under the stirrup bars or girthing.

The Suberpanel gave the best pressure readings of all at the time, and the Smartpanel is an improved version of the Suberpanel. There is normally a dry strip down the middle of the back, with the Smartpanel as it tends to go into a V shape over the back, is this not the case, as I cant see from the photo angle?

[juliecwuk]

Hi Heather, the saddle was purchased second hand last October, via an agent I believe. I don't have the saddle number to hand as I am on holiday, will get it next week. It's the original fhoenix.

I too had this debate with my OH about if the dry patches are too much pressure or no pressure, as there has always been a clear dry patch along the spine which is def no pressure. But in this instance I do think it's clearly patches under stirrup bars due to excessive pressure as it was the first ride where I was in half seat canter for most of it. I will post a pic when bac off holiday from looking down at herback after being ridden in the smartpanel. It shows that the central part of the pad is creating sweat marks over her spine. Possibly because I pulled the pad up into the pommel, therefore making the spine gullet shrink in width.