my new saddle... with hidden accelerator pedal?!?

[Bowen4Horses]

very long story, but i today i tried a new saddle on my horse, as the one he was in was not a good fit (finding it impossible to find a saddle as he's very straight backed and all saddles seem to 'flip' and flap at the back.

anyhoo...

today i put him in a different saddle to try out, with a nice nuumed numnah underneath as it still isn't perfect fit.

horse is usually an absolute PLOD. like kick kick kick kick kick plod.

today he was like a little rocket. full of life, on his toes, stepping out, not a single kick needed for the whole hack. he never showed obvious signs of discomfort (but equally, he didn't with the last one)

so... what do you think?

-has the new saddle got an accelerator hidden in it?
-is it because the saddle fits me better (i could find my 'seat' much more easily) and therefore i am driving him forward?
-is the saddle more uncomfy than the last one meaning he's trying to run away from it?
-or is it more comfy, meaning he can move well in it?

obviously, without seeing it, i know you can't say if it fits etc... but what would you guess? i can't begin to describe the change in his movement/personality!

 

[myhorsefred]

Sorry, I'm no help at all with this post, but I'll be watching replies with interest because exactly the same thing happened to my horse this week!

My saddler re-flocked my saddle and the effect it had was just as you were describing! and I wondered whether it was now making the saddle painful for him or more comfy.

 

[Ezme]

Sorry but I think this one is impossible to decide without before and after videos/photos!

 

[Bowen4Horses]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry, I'm no help at all with this post, but I'll be watching replies with interest because exactly the same thing happened to my horse this week!

My saddler re-flocked my saddle and the effect it had was just as you were describing! and I wondered whether it was now making the saddle painful for him or more comfy.

[/ QUOTE ]

the change in him in literally unbelievable! everyone's eyes were on stalks... he was jogging, on his toes, even put in a little playful buck because i was making him wait for his friend to catch up... usually he is the most solid plod in the world. who wouldn't dream of moving unless under extreme force...

ha! maybe it's not saddle related, he has also just moved paddocks to one with more spring grass... but it seems quite a coincidence!

 

[Bowen4Horses]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry but I think this one is impossible to decide without before and after videos/photos!

[/ QUOTE ]

ah.... thought that might be the case... bums....

p.s. on the plus side, this new saddle fits me much better than the last one! my bum actually has a place to sit!

 

[tasel]

Maybe because it's something new??? The saddle, I mean...

Anything new would turn my horse into a rocket...

 

[MrsMozart]

According to m'saddler (who I love with a passion

lol, she's not my type, but you know what I mean), when a saddle fits properly, the shoulders have room to swing through the whole movement, which is carried through the back muscles.

In short, without seeing the before and after, it sounds like your lad can now move properly, and that you are now sat into rather than on top

.

Little Lad was similar when he had a saddle on with short points - he could actually swing his forelegs out.

Badly fitted saddlers are the bain of numerous horses lives, and very often the cause of 'behavioural' problems.

The other thing is, so many people place the saddle too far forward

. So often people are practically sat on top of the withers and the points are digging in

*climbs off soap box

*

Very pleased nedsome is feeling happy - enjoy!

 

[Thistle]

Perhaps it's the numnah, it's previous owner is a very forward jiggy joggy cob!

 

[Bowen4Horses]

[ QUOTE ]
Perhaps it's the numnah, it's previous owner is a very forward jiggy joggy cob!

[/ QUOTE ]

ha! it is a very lovely snuggly numnah... and i'm sure he LURVES it! when i put it on and girthed up, he didn't run backwards like normal!

i do hope he's more comfy now. he had a very 'extended' walk instead of painfully slow... x