54 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
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appear for a couple of weeks, until the all the acidic
materials have been removed, and the muscle has started
to regenerate and is able to return to normal work. As it
regains its normal shape, the swelling will go down and the
horse will ultimately move better than before.
When the saddle is correctly fitted, the saddle sits on the
weight bearing muscles of the saddle support area - not
on the spine, ligaments and cartilage of the shoulder. The
horse may react with sore muscles (no longer using the
ones developed during the previous time when the saddle
was sitting on the spine, ligaments and cartilage). Because
there are more nerves in muscles than in ligaments, cartilage
and bones, a correctly fitting saddle may actually
cause temporary discomfort. Now that the contact of the
saddle is away from the injured ligament, the process discussed
above in reperfusion of ischemic tissue will push the
fluid to the surface.
In the worst case scenario, however, if the muscle tissue
has been completely destroyed through long term pressure
and pain (‘fibrotic degeneration’ has occurred) even a
well-fitted saddle will not help bring it back. The inflammation
will decrease after the tissue is re-perfused and the
horse won’t suffer any further damage, but the degenerated
atrophied muscle will not redevelop. The cells are
damaged beyond saving.
Most veterinarians recommend that when one or more of
the 7 layers of the skin is damaged (which manifests itself in
the appearance of these fluid pockets or blisters) that the
horse is given several months (4-6) off to heal.
saddlesforwomen.com
info@schleese.com I 800.225.2242
It can lead to complete
degeneration of the cell.
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