Sore Hocks
Short behind, reluctant to stop, fussy in the turns.
Read more → Horse Care
Sore Back
Girthy, cold-backed, hollow when you ask for round, flinching when you brush the loin. A sore back is the most common thing riders ask us about, and the most fixable once you find the cause.
Saddle fit and the vet come first
No pad, liner or light fixes a saddle that does not fit, and a back that is sore for weeks needs a veterinarian or qualified bodyworker to find out why. Once you have ruled those out, maintenance gear earns its keep.
Under the saddle and after the ride
The Back on Track Western Saddle Pad Liner goes under your regular pad so the Welltex fabric sits on the back while you ride, designed to keep the muscles warm and loose. After the ride, the XLR8 Redlight Back Pad covers the back with over 1,300 LEDs of red and near-infrared light, with multiple settings and an included battery. For the SI and loin, the Redlight Versa is the right shape.
Hands and warmth
The HorseWell Massager is a fascia tool: 10 to 15 minutes along the topline, used as directed. A Back on Track mesh sheet or Velocity Sheet in the stall or trailer keeps the back warm between rides. For the horse that holds tension through the whole body, ask your vet about CEP Equi Mag.
CEP supplements are ordered by phone so we can match the program to your horse: 720-504-5536. See the full CEP line.
Questions we get a lot
How do I tell if my horse's back is sore?
Run firm, even pressure along both sides of the spine from the withers to the croup. Flinching, dropping away, ear-pinning or a horse that moves off is a sign. Compare over several days and tell your vet what you found.
Can a Back on Track pad liner replace a good saddle pad?
No. It goes under your regular pad and does not change saddle fit. Fit the saddle first.
How often can I use a red light back pad?
Follow XLR8's directions for session length and frequency. Most of our customers use it after work on days the horse is ridden hard. Stop and call your vet if the horse becomes more sore rather than less.
Talk to a rider. Text or call 720-504-5536 with your horse's age, workload and what you are seeing. We will tell you what we would use and what is on the shelf.
This page is general horsemanship from our own barn plus the manufacturers' product information. It is not veterinary advice. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Work with your veterinarian and check your association's rules on gear and supplements.
More horse care
Other things riders ask about
Tendons & Suspensories
Soft tissue is slow to heal and quick to re-injure.
Read more →Hauling & Trailer Stress
A horse standing in a trailer for six hours is working: bracing, balancing, not drinking enough, sometimes not eating.
Read more →Ulcer-Prone Horses
Girthy, picky, dull coat, cranky under saddle: a lot of performance horses live with stomach trouble.
Read more →Breathing & Dusty Arenas
Indoor arenas, dry pens, hay in a closed trailer: a performance horse's airway takes a beating before it ever makes a run.
Read more →Fly Season
Stomping all day wears feet, splits hooves and sours attitudes.
Read more →