Ponygirl777
Well-Known Member
Hi H&R Hivemind!
Looking for a bit of advice/knowledge/experience.
I won't bore you with the long and tedious details but, in a nutshell, my 9yo Highland gelding has had various soundness issues over the last 3 years which had baffled my vets and the local Vet School. We eventually stumbled upon the magnificent Rob Jackson (the Horseback Vet) 6 months ago who has effectively sorted the problem. I now have a sound horse who has been very slowly brought back into work (inhand, polework, longlining) and is being ridden in walk and some trot to slowly build up his back muscles. This has been going well until i had his regular saddle fit check last week. He has a lovely AH Saddle GP jump saddle which has always fitted well and is checked every six months as a minimum. I've used the same brilliant saddle fitter since I bought the saddle (she fitted it initially) and have never had any issues.
I've had a couple of short rides since she checked the saddle and adjusted the flocking last week. The flocking was a bit soft and flat and she's added a bit more. It looks and feels good but the horse is not happy! On the right rein he is grumpy and agitated (ears back, dancing on the spot, not happy to halt/stand etc. This is very out of character for him. I've only ridden for 10 minutes both times due to this and will obviously contact the saddler to let her know that there's an issue.
Has anyone experienced anything similar? I'm not sure if the flocking just needs to settle, but I'm obviously not keen to carry on riding him at the moment if it's causing him pain.
Thoughts?
Looking for a bit of advice/knowledge/experience.
I won't bore you with the long and tedious details but, in a nutshell, my 9yo Highland gelding has had various soundness issues over the last 3 years which had baffled my vets and the local Vet School. We eventually stumbled upon the magnificent Rob Jackson (the Horseback Vet) 6 months ago who has effectively sorted the problem. I now have a sound horse who has been very slowly brought back into work (inhand, polework, longlining) and is being ridden in walk and some trot to slowly build up his back muscles. This has been going well until i had his regular saddle fit check last week. He has a lovely AH Saddle GP jump saddle which has always fitted well and is checked every six months as a minimum. I've used the same brilliant saddle fitter since I bought the saddle (she fitted it initially) and have never had any issues.
I've had a couple of short rides since she checked the saddle and adjusted the flocking last week. The flocking was a bit soft and flat and she's added a bit more. It looks and feels good but the horse is not happy! On the right rein he is grumpy and agitated (ears back, dancing on the spot, not happy to halt/stand etc. This is very out of character for him. I've only ridden for 10 minutes both times due to this and will obviously contact the saddler to let her know that there's an issue.
Has anyone experienced anything similar? I'm not sure if the flocking just needs to settle, but I'm obviously not keen to carry on riding him at the moment if it's causing him pain.
Thoughts?