If you are looking for Best Saddle Pad For Swayback Horse, Here are the complete details and guides you need to know.
Usually, most of the horses that have sway backs aren’t born in this particular way. But the swayback occurs as the horse is not trained properly on how to carry a rider. A swayback horse while carrying the rider, keeps its head up. This swayback is usually caused by riding, wrong saddle fit, or improper training. In this article, we will discuss the best saddle pad for a swayback horse, that will provide comfort both to the horse and the rider. Before discussing further we will first know what a swayback horse is in actuality and what makes a horse swayback.
What Is A Swayback Horse
Swayback is considered a form of lordosis. In a swayback horse, you will notice the horse’s spine be bent downward. The back of these horses is extremely arched. Moreover, in these horses, the spine becomes curved permanently to its abdomen. Some horse breeds like the American Saddlebred have this abnormality from its birth, but some other horses get this spine condition for several reasons. Now we will focus on the reasons why a horse gets swayback condition.
Top 5 Saddle Pads For Swayback Horse
After knowing what a swayback horse is and how the swayback occurs, now you have to know about the top 5 saddle pads for swayback horses. These saddle pads will make your riding experience better. Moreover, from this list, you will be able to choose the best saddle pad for a swayback horse.
Reinsman Tacky Too Contour Swayback Pad
You may consider this saddle pad as the best saddle pad for a swayback horse. This saddle pad is designed to provide the best fitting for your swayback horse. With this saddle pad, both the horse and rider will feel a bit comfortable and the back curve of the horse will also be covered to an extent. The Reinsman Tacky Too Contour Swayed Pad offers a better fit and also helps to level the saddle from the front portion to the rear portion.
This saddle pad has been constructed with a ventilated non-slip material that offers maximum durability and this structure helps to reduce saddle roll and sore backs. This saddle pad offers maximum back relief. This saddle pad is used Hi-Tech fibers that are durable both from inside and outside. Though you may feel this saddle pad is hard initially, after frequent use it will perfectly fit your horse. Apart from the swayback horse, you also can use it for your mutton withered horse.
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Weaver Leather 35-9307-H37 Contoured Saddle Pad
It may be considered as an ideal western saddle pad for a swayback horse. The Weaver Leather 35-9307-H37 saddle pad comes in a contoured shape. This saddle pad is light in weight, so it can be maintained easily and it won’t put any extra pressure on your horse’s back. The unique construction of this saddle pad makes it perfect for barrel racing.
This saddle pad comes with a Herculon top that ensures durability and can resist mold and mildew. You can easily clean it and also the material is quick drying. Moreover, this saddle pad comes with a maize fleece bottom that offers extra comfort. This saddle pad is thick enough, hence you just need to place it on the back of your swayback horse and it will get proper comfort.
You may consider this saddle pad as the best saddle pad for a swayback horse of attractive colors and durable exterior material. The exterior material is made of pure leather and the inner layer is also very thick. Also, you will see a pad cutout under the worn leather, hence you don’t need to overtight the girth of this saddle pad to ensure security. You can surely choose this saddle as it will perfectly fit your swayback horse.
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Classic Equine BioFit Correction Saddle Pad
This saddle pad is also considered as one of the best saddle pads for swayback horses. This saddle pad is strategically built so that it can be perfectly placed behind the scapula to fix the downhill saddle fit. This pad also helps to lift the front portion of the saddle away from the horse’s spine. This saddle pad frees up the shoulder of the horse and reduces the uneven pressure points. Thereby, this saddle pad helps to improve the horse’s overall performance and ensures less soreness.
You may consider the Classic Equine BioFit Saddle Pad as the best saddle pad for a swayback horse as it is specially designed to provide support horse’s back and shoulder. It also prevents the front portion of the saddle from collapsing which is usually caused by muscle loss or ill saddle fit. This saddle pad will also perfectly work for old horses by providing a diminishing topline. This saddle pad is made of the best quality wool blend that ensures protection and ultimate shock absorption. It also provides extra support to the void area and the wool fleece also wicks away moisture from the horse’s back. Overall, this saddle pad will be a perfect choice for your swayback horse that offers extra comfort.
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ECP All Purpose Diamond English Half Saddle Pad
You may consider this one as an ideal western saddle pad for a swayback horse. This saddle pad has a diamond-quilted design with a luxurious cotton top that offers the perfect comfort to your swayback horse. This saddle pad is shock-absorbing, hence it protects the horse’s back. These saddle pads come with extra four pockets on the top of the pads.
It offers a customizable fit and also provides significant pressure point relief. The contoured structure offers perfect front and back fitting and allows the saddle to fit perfectly. The top line of this saddle pad offers airflow for maximum breathability and also enhances circulation. The material of this saddle pad absorbs moisture and makes it ideal for every type of riding. Therefore, you may consider this saddle pad as the perfect one for your swayback horse.
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Diamond Wool Endurance Contoured Felt Pad
It is also may be considered as the best saddle pad for a swayback horse. This saddle pad is made with a one-inch wool blend felt and also with a contoured design that offers comfort to your swayback horse. It ensures perfect support to the horse’s spine. This saddle pad is made of wool and poly. The poly helps with wicking and the wool material helps the pad to fit perfectly on the horse’s back. For this affordable price range, you are going to get an excellent saddle pad for your swayback horse. So, you may go for this saddle pad to get the best comfort for your horse.
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What Makes A Horse Swayback
A swayback can occur for several reasons. Usually, it is caused by the weakness of soft tissue in the spinal column of a horse. This condition bends the spine towards the abdomen of the horse. Swayback is considered a vertebral conformational defect or also sometimes it is known as an injury to the vertebral column. There are several reasons behind the swayback condition of a horse.
- Usually, many of us think that when a horse gets older, it starts sagging as the softback tissue of it gets loosened and it sags towards the belly. It affects the body structure of a horse but can’t affect a horse’s quality of life. This condition doesn’t make the horses feel any pain, hence the swayback horses can live normally with this condition.
- Juvenile-onset swayback is also a notable case. This situation occurs for the early-onset conformational deviation. The juvenile-onset swayback horses can also lead a normal life, but for this particular condition, they can’t do their job properly.
- Swaying back also may be developed in some breeds by birth for genetic predisposition. American Saddlebred is one of these breeds that comes with genetically sway back abnormality.
- Apart from these reasons a swayback appears in a horse for wrong training, heave weight riding, or imperfect saddle pad. Hence, it is essential to choose the best saddle pad for a swayback horse.
Can You Fix A Swayback Horse?
There are several ways by which you can keep your horse away from swaying backing. If you have purchased a horse with a mild swayback, there are several steps that you have to maintain. These steps are important so that your horse can get proper back support and at the same time the deterioration of the spine can be prevented. The steps include-
- Don’t put extra weight on your horse. Make sure the horse doesn’t carry more than 20% of its weight including the rider and the saddle pad.
- Keep your horse fit and steady.
- Train your horse in the proper way.
- Keep monitoring your horses regularly. Check if the horse is feeling any kind of pain or trouble on its back.
- You can make your horse do some exercises such as carrot stretches, ground driving, longing, etc.
If a horse has a swayback condition, it will not feel any pain, but with proper care and management, this problem can be fixed to an extent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you ride a swayback horse?
Yes, you can ride on a swayback horse, as by some precautions the swayback of your horse can be fixed.
Do horses get swayed back with age?
Yes with growing age, horses may develop a swayed back as the smooth back tissue gets loosened when a horse gets older.
Is swayback in a horse correctable?
Yes, through proper care and precautions, swayback in a horse can be corrected. You just need to strictly care for your horse.
Also, Check- Best Saddle Pad For Older Horse