And we’re there...

Jessey said:
I took Monkey out this morning and he went out so slow, a bit jumpy but slow. We meandered out, and had a couple of trots with some persuasion!
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The second we turned for home, all be it 2.5 miles from home, he turned into a twit 😡 it’s ridiculous, he shortens, goes all light in front, then the jogging starts, followed by bit chomping and head twirls, and if I don’t nip it in the butt, he will bounce and/or buck. If he would just walk forwards he’d get home faster! We still had another couple of trots but whenever we walked he got himself in a pickle again.

The spring/grass hasnt had a huge effect on him in previous years, so I’m not convinced it’s that. This behaviour has always been in his repertoire, but it was rare, it’s been almost daily for a month or more now, which is a bit before the grass started. He does not like getting sweaty, it tickles! which he is now it’s warmed up before he’s shed properly. It’s also around the time I got the new saddle….I really hope it’s just him being dramatic over sweating!
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Hopefully just the shedding and tickling.
 
We went out early this morning before the wind got up again. Monkey started jumping at every little thing but settled nicely into it. We had some good trot and canter work on the way out and he only had 1 brief moment of feeling excited on the way back.
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On the last stretch home we met some folks on a pilgrimage, dressed in old clothes with walking sticks and wicker basket back packs, he was not sure about them! But we stopped to chat and he eventually stopped giving them the wary eye. He was definitely ready for a good roll when we got home though
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Jessey said:
We went out early this morning before the wind got up again. Monkey started jumping at every little thing but settled nicely into it. We had some good trot and canter work on the way out and he only had 1 brief moment of feeling excited on the way back.
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On the last stretch home we met some folks on a pilgrimage, dressed in old clothes with walking sticks and wicker basket back packs, he was not sure about them! But we stopped to chat and he eventually stopped giving them the wary eye. He was definitely ready for a good roll when we got home though
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Lol I wouldn't have been sure about the pilgrimage people either!
 
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Your hacking is so pretty! As is your horse!

Maybe he just needs a really good blast once a week to keep a lid on his behaviour the rest of the time? Try a local gallops. And take a camera person as i bet he would look amazing. :)
 
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Tir said:
Your hacking is so pretty! As is your horse!

Maybe he just needs a really good blast once a week to keep a lid on his behaviour the rest of the time? Try a local gallops. And take a camera person as i bet he would look amazing. :)
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He doesn’t have gallop in him! But we get good long canters regularly.

I lunged on Wednesday and he was trying but not right, crabbing in canter and lots of bucking. Back check and he’s sore, so he’s had a couple of days bute and a massage so will see how he goes later. Sadly I suspect the new saddle, there’s just been a couple of little things that added to a sore back, say it’s not right 😡 luckily I still have my old one.
 
I walked him round the block earlier in the old saddle, he seemed ok but it sits quite forward and he’s back to not moving forward, or perhaps he was just much more relaxed than the new saddle has made him 🤷🏻‍♀️

Looking closer at the new one, it fits him, but not me which I knew. I’ve found with the narrow twist i slide forward into the pommel which hurts, so I’m bracing back into the seat, which tips it back and it digs into his back. I ordered a seat saver last week but it hasn’t arrived yet and I’m not convinced it will actually help.

It triggered a memory, when I had a saddle on the same tree for Jess about 10/11 years ago, my old saddler told me to sell it because exactly that was happening then too. It obviously just doesn’t suit me.
 
Monkey did about 3.5 miles in hand today as I forgot to put stirrups on my saddle 🤦‍♀️🤣🤣 he was very enthusiastic, I had to keep asking him to slow down and I normally out walk him by a mile!
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We went to the jumpy place and played up and down the pit and over logs, he thought it was all good fun 🤩
 
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Perfect weather today I was pottering around this morning debating my saddle options and decided to recheck the gullet width I’ve been using (as recommended by the saddler)
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And it’s clearly too narrow for him now, what a difference 8 weeks can make! So I switched it out for the next one up which looked perfect.

L&L came over again and Monkey was in a lovely calm, willing mood and we had a really nice ride 🤩
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None of us wanted to go home!

Still not ideal sweat distribution even with the changed gullet, the flat bits at the back are my biggest concern, but I know I put it well back from his shoulder and it seems to have moved forward too.
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It felt better to me (less uncomfortable) and Monkey seemed happier, but I’m still not convinced. I’m also having second thoughts on having one made just yet, if he’s changed that much in the last couple of months….🤔
 
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Jessey said:
Perfect weather today I was pottering around this morning debating my saddle options and decided to recheck the gullet width I’ve been using (as recommended by the saddler)
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And it’s clearly too narrow for him now, what a difference 8 weeks can make! So I switched it out for the next one up which looked perfect.

L&L came over again and Monkey was in a lovely calm, willing mood and we had a really nice ride 🤩
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None of us wanted to go home!

Still not ideal sweat distribution even with the changed gullet, the flat bits at the back are my biggest concern, but I know I put it well back from his shoulder and it seems to have moved forward too.
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It felt better to me (less uncomfortable) and Monkey seemed happier, but I’m still not convinced. I’m also having second thoughts on having one made just yet, if he’s changed that much in the last couple of months….🤔
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Lovely looking riding you have, I wouldn't want to go home either.
 
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I got off work early today so had plenty of time to play about with Monkey. I put the Freeform back on as at least I know that didn’t make him sore!

Annoyingly I forgot my chaps again so couldn’t do too much as my leathers were pinching but we did a few miles and he was nice and relaxed and none of the silly hopping into trot.

The weather was perfect, 25c and beautiful sunshine!
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I had to sew up a huge tear in his fly rug after, he’s so sweet, he will always come and snooze with me if I’m sitting still, I have to sit behind a fence if I don’t want him snoozing ON me though 😝
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I got Monkey out again this evening, and boy did he start out spooky, a car crawled out of the neighbours driveway about 20 meters ahead of us and he did a huge duck and dive, I caught him before it became a full spin thankfully. What a blinking drama queen!

He did eventually settle and we had a pleasant ride
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He’s going dark fast now, I just wish he’d hurry up and finish shedding!
 
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Honestly there are some days I question my life choices. We just had an absolute drama with the farrier, not because he has a problem with the farrier, but because his feet are particularly hard at the moment and when Andy nip, nip, nipped, Monkey was convinced it was electric fence ticking and he needed to get away! I had to scratch his ear and chat non-stop at the top of my voice to cover the noise so Andy could finish! What a bloody prat my horse is 🤦‍♀️
 
I just had a lovely ride, he was willing and calm, no shenanigans! 🥰
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Apart from insisting on stopping to snack on the gorse that’s started flowering 🤣
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I put his old saddle back on, although it’s a little long, he’s still happiest in it. I’ve booked another saddler to bring some options, but she can’t come for another month.
 
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Another lovely ride. I definitely think he’s happier in my old saddle than anything else so far.

We did an hour out practicing long and low while bending along the wiggly tracks at walk and trot, and he definitely felt better for it by the end, much softer through his back 😁
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Sunshine always helps make it more enjoyable!
 
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Is it pre gullet or gullet?
If it's pre gullet they can sit a bit low from memory, but apart from that nothing springs to mind.
See how you get on with it. I personally haven't ridden in one as the cob won't like the underneath and I don't know anyone using one to have a quicky try on theirs.
 
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