Did fixing the saddle fix "it" or not?

[Tootsie4U]

Im stumped.

Too much going on, too many new things for me to be able to tell what the bottom line is.

Before Bonfire changed barns, we hit the climax of our training. Then I moved him. He seemed to take the change very well, despite being in quarantine for two weeks.

I was riding him daily to give him something to do during this time and around day five of the new place, he wasnt going forward anymore and he was extremely spooky (wasnt spooking days 1-4). He was clearly uncomfortable. Saddle is always the first thing I check. Had the saddler out late March so I was shocked when I found out that I couldnt even fit one finger between the pommel and his wither! I have a wintec, so that was easily changed.

Next day riding, he was all go and no whoa.

Long story short, I rode him this AM and it was horrible. If I put any leg on him, he'd canter. He was jumping out of the ring. He bucked! (He NEVER bucks! I yelled at him for not listening to me to turn and he bucked!!! ) I couldnt turn. Since day five, this has been progressing, each day with a new bad incident.

If its just spunk, I can handle that, we'll fall back into the routine, no biggy. But as the days go by, our ride times are getting worse and Im worried its the saddle. I just had the saddler out in March! argh!

Someone just tell me it'll be alright! gawd, I wish they could talk!

 

[galadriel]

He's still in quarantine? No turnout yet?

Can you just let him run around in the arena instead of riding? It sounds like his rides are not positive experiences for either of you right now. That's probably not soemthing you want to keep doing, if it's getting worse and worse...just let him get past quarantine and get some turnout, then worry about riding again.

You might also want to cut back on any grain, if you can. I seem to recall that he's an easy keeper, and may not get any at all.

And: It's only really since March that you started asking him to really work his back, right? You know Duchess went from a medium to a medium-wide in two weeks when I first started asking her to really work her back. Saddle sizes can change that fast. Since you're working with a youngster, you might want to consider learning how to actually measure his back, and keep a record; you can see how it's changed any time you start worrying about saddle fit.

 

[Mehitabel]

at a new place and if he's in 24/7 on quarantine, i am not surprised he's got a bit of extra energy to burn!
as usual, what galadriel said.

 

[Sarah]

hi Tootsie,

Sorry to hear about Bon's problems at the mo. I was just thinking, you said that you have changed his gullet plate since March as the front of the saddle had dropped, ie he had lost muscle over his withers.

Has his workload dropped significantly since the good times in March? I can't remember when it was that you moved yards, but seeing as he was going so nicely before you moved, I'd guess that the saddle fitted him them. I am just wondering if there is something else worrying him that is causing him to lose muscle, but for the saddle to need to be narrowed i can't think what it could be in such a short time period. I'm not sure what the 'something else' could be though!

Good luck with getting to the bottom of it. Some turn out and reduced hard feed should help though!

bye!