Sukistokes2
Well-Known Member
Just a thought .........?
I was just sitting here thinking, rather then putting together my scheme of work for next year, about my horse and my problems with his saddle.
Ffin is a heavy cob and when he was diagnosed with arthritis a couple of years ago I took up dressage as something to do to keep him going esp when the ground was hard in the summer. We are never going to be great but with my instructors help we are now doing reasonably well at prelim. The arthritis does cause some problems and we have to be creative. Currently I am having trouble with saddle fit. I seriously considered offering to marry my saddle fitter as I prob would have seen him less. It boils down to a fat pad on one shoulder (Ffins shoulders are HUGE,) as Ffin likes to keep me on only one diagonal, he has built up this pad which slips up under the saddle, pinches and means he will not take that canter lead. He is being worked (now OFSTED is over !!! ) in order to reduce the fat pad, he is not fat anywhere else. The vet has just commented on how good his weight is, just on that shoulder. I am also taking care to ride on both diagonals and to ride more time on his "bad" diagonal, in order to try and help him build up that side and reduce the fat. To cut to the chase would a dressage saddle be better and give those shoulders more room to move? It is another expense but I could save up or would it be a waste of money and am I just looking for a quick fix?
I was just sitting here thinking, rather then putting together my scheme of work for next year, about my horse and my problems with his saddle.
Ffin is a heavy cob and when he was diagnosed with arthritis a couple of years ago I took up dressage as something to do to keep him going esp when the ground was hard in the summer. We are never going to be great but with my instructors help we are now doing reasonably well at prelim. The arthritis does cause some problems and we have to be creative. Currently I am having trouble with saddle fit. I seriously considered offering to marry my saddle fitter as I prob would have seen him less. It boils down to a fat pad on one shoulder (Ffins shoulders are HUGE,) as Ffin likes to keep me on only one diagonal, he has built up this pad which slips up under the saddle, pinches and means he will not take that canter lead. He is being worked (now OFSTED is over !!! ) in order to reduce the fat pad, he is not fat anywhere else. The vet has just commented on how good his weight is, just on that shoulder. I am also taking care to ride on both diagonals and to ride more time on his "bad" diagonal, in order to try and help him build up that side and reduce the fat. To cut to the chase would a dressage saddle be better and give those shoulders more room to move? It is another expense but I could save up or would it be a waste of money and am I just looking for a quick fix?