You know, you've made me think...my 17 yo daughter saddled him that morning and I didn't check things afterward. Also, I didn't stretch his front legs to remove skin wrinkles from under the girth.
If a saddle pops up in back while strapped in place, does that mean the...D-ring (the big ring that the girth strap attaches to) is set forward too far on the saddle for the horse? I've learned there are different settings, depending on which the saddle maker used, for this ring.
Marilyn in Rainy Sacramento
________________________________
From: Barbara Williams <luvs2ride1979@yahoo.com>
To: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, January 18, 2010 6:07:39 AM
Subject: [haflingerfriends] Re: ...and then he reared!
The first thing that came to my mind as I was reading your post was "saddle fit." Horses with saddle fit issues will often act "antsy" when being ridden. Next time you're out, pop your saddle on without any pads and really look and feel how it fits. Check to make sure the front follows the angle of his back/shoulder. Make sure you're placing it so the tree is BEHIND the back edge of the shoulder blade. Check the front to make sure it's not pinching. Feel underneath the saddle to make sure there are no tight spots or air pockets (should be even pressure front to back). Check the length of the saddle (with it placed properly) to see if it's too long for his back. The saddle should be level, not popped up in back or too high or low in front.
Also, next time you ride, make sure the girth isn't pinching anything and there aren't any skin wrinkles under it. I like to pull my horses' front legs forward after girthing up tight to smooth the skin out.
If everything checks out okay, then it could have just been the weather or the other horses that were making him act up. Try lunging or round penning him before you ride next time you observe this kind of "ansty" behavior. Let him get all the kinks out without you on him ;-).
~Barbara
http://AreteSaddler y.com
http://LittleRockEq uestrianCenter. com
"To be an equestrian in the classical sense is not just to be a rider. It is a position in life."
--Charles de Kunffy
Shop online through this link to help my daughter Kayla pay for college! - No gimmicks, nothing to sign up for, just click and shop your favorite stores, web sites, even eBay!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
Community email addresses:
Post message: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: haflingerfriends-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: haflingerfriends-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner: haflingerfriends-owner@yahoogroups.com
Shortcut URL to this page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/haflingerfriendsYahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/haflingerfriends/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/haflingerfriends/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
haflingerfriends-digest@yahoogroups.com
haflingerfriends-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
haflingerfriends-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
