FestiveFuzz
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
I'll try to keep this short and sweet but there's a lot to cover so please bear with me.
I've had H since the beginning of August. He's currently on trial for 6 months and all being well I'll be buying him at the end of January though I am due to pay a £500 deposit at the end of the month.
Prior to me I don't know much of his history other than he was broken just before he turned 5 and has done very little since aside from hunting a few times last season.
Anyway since he's been with me we've taken things slowly working on his transitions and getting him working more responsively and with more impulsion. He's always done little bunny hops when he's fed up of working but in the last two weeks he's begun properly bucking when asked to trot. I should add in between he had a two week holiday as I was on my honeymoon.
I had a feeling this could be saddle related so spoke to our YO who's getting their saddler out to check him out. I had intended not to ride until the saddler had checked him over but stupidly listened to a few people on the yard who felt I was being too precious about him and that he was just testing me which was feasible as he's in a new home with a new mum.
I schooled him yesterday and knew almost immediately that he wasn't right. He was fidgety, felt like he was humping his back when trotting and when asked to stand kept going backwards or sideways. Figuring I was fighting a losing battle I called it a day.
I was due to have a lesson today but was already in two minds as to whether to go ahead with it. I spoke with my instructor last night and she agreed to come see him anyway and see if she could see what the problem was.
As soon as I got to the yard I could see he was a bit tucked up but could see no obvious reason why. My instructor checked him over with and without his saddle and felt that the saddle was a bit narrow for him and that the flocking was a tad lumpy which could be causing him the discomfort.
She then looked at his back and said she could see clear signs of tension behind his withers and across his loins. Which again could be linked to the saddle being slightly off.
Then she stood behind him and showed me that there's a dramatic difference in height and muscle between his left and right shoulder. I've got a physio coming out this week to check him over but wondered if anyone had any ideas as to what would cause such a dramatic difference between his shoulders?
I feel dreadful that I've left him in pain this week and am terrified it could be something sinister but I'm trying to stay positive and rational at what could be causing our current problems.
I'll try to keep this short and sweet but there's a lot to cover so please bear with me.
I've had H since the beginning of August. He's currently on trial for 6 months and all being well I'll be buying him at the end of January though I am due to pay a £500 deposit at the end of the month.
Prior to me I don't know much of his history other than he was broken just before he turned 5 and has done very little since aside from hunting a few times last season.
Anyway since he's been with me we've taken things slowly working on his transitions and getting him working more responsively and with more impulsion. He's always done little bunny hops when he's fed up of working but in the last two weeks he's begun properly bucking when asked to trot. I should add in between he had a two week holiday as I was on my honeymoon.
I had a feeling this could be saddle related so spoke to our YO who's getting their saddler out to check him out. I had intended not to ride until the saddler had checked him over but stupidly listened to a few people on the yard who felt I was being too precious about him and that he was just testing me which was feasible as he's in a new home with a new mum.
I schooled him yesterday and knew almost immediately that he wasn't right. He was fidgety, felt like he was humping his back when trotting and when asked to stand kept going backwards or sideways. Figuring I was fighting a losing battle I called it a day.
I was due to have a lesson today but was already in two minds as to whether to go ahead with it. I spoke with my instructor last night and she agreed to come see him anyway and see if she could see what the problem was.
As soon as I got to the yard I could see he was a bit tucked up but could see no obvious reason why. My instructor checked him over with and without his saddle and felt that the saddle was a bit narrow for him and that the flocking was a tad lumpy which could be causing him the discomfort.
She then looked at his back and said she could see clear signs of tension behind his withers and across his loins. Which again could be linked to the saddle being slightly off.
Then she stood behind him and showed me that there's a dramatic difference in height and muscle between his left and right shoulder. I've got a physio coming out this week to check him over but wondered if anyone had any ideas as to what would cause such a dramatic difference between his shoulders?
I feel dreadful that I've left him in pain this week and am terrified it could be something sinister but I'm trying to stay positive and rational at what could be causing our current problems.