Orchardbeck
Well-Known Member
Just another pondering I have had whilst not being able to ride due to being preggers - I'm using my time off wisely to try and build up my mare's topline in hand and on the on the long reins both on a circle (just discovered the chambon!) and on straight lines over poles, plus feeding hay from the floor. All of which is having a marvellous effect, alongside an improvement in overall condition.
But my question is this: is it possible for a horse with a wide ribcage, with muscle wastage (slightly dipped) who is currently measuring at xxw on a Bates/Wintec gullet gauge because of her ribs, to actually be a narrower size once they have built up muscle?
I just wondered because I have an extra wide saddle (a Wintec dressage that has been reflocked lightly with pure wool (it was rock solid before)that is too narrow without anything underneath, but there really should be muscle and fat there so she obviously needs something thick to compensate for this. And when I do this, the saddle points are lifted higher and the wider part of the gullet/tree looks to fitting the wider part of her shoulder/wither.
Is this possible, or have I missed something fairly comprehensive and this is the reason for remedial padding in the first place?
But my question is this: is it possible for a horse with a wide ribcage, with muscle wastage (slightly dipped) who is currently measuring at xxw on a Bates/Wintec gullet gauge because of her ribs, to actually be a narrower size once they have built up muscle?
I just wondered because I have an extra wide saddle (a Wintec dressage that has been reflocked lightly with pure wool (it was rock solid before)that is too narrow without anything underneath, but there really should be muscle and fat there so she obviously needs something thick to compensate for this. And when I do this, the saddle points are lifted higher and the wider part of the gullet/tree looks to fitting the wider part of her shoulder/wither.
Is this possible, or have I missed something fairly comprehensive and this is the reason for remedial padding in the first place?