>>>> I know first-hand that saddle-induced white hairs can take YEARS to grow >>>> in. Many times the damage is cumulative...and of course, there are times >>>> when the white hairs are totally not related, as I mentioned earlier. I >>>> find it very hard to believe that a Sensation, used for just two months >>>> prior to a coat change would be the culprit, especially for a 100-ish >>>> pound rider. Personally, I'd be digging into the horse's past saddle >>>> history. Especially if the horse is not a youngster, and has been ridden >>>> by larger adults in the past.
There's also a corollary to that. There are plenty of horses who are ridden in less than perfect-fitting saddles who never show any white hair damage. I know that Holly and Mac couldn't have always been ridden in perfect saddles...in fact, I'm pretty darned sure that Mac especially was ridden in some pretty bad ones. Mac, dark chestnut, had no white hairs on his saddle area when he died at 24, and Holly, black and 22 years old, also has no marks. I certainly wouldn't condemn a saddle if a few white hairs show up, especially if there's no pain...but I also wouldn't count on the absence of white hairs to "prove" that all is well. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.13/1165 - Release Date: 12/2/2007 8:34 PM
