Update on bitless 'trial' ideas... now back to girth thoughts!

[Tickles]

Original thread
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/sh...mp;Main=4472096

Well, I've tried something /completely/ different as no one has been around to supervise a bitless simulation/potential disaster(!)... putting his saddle on first, lunging in that & head collar, /then/ putting bridle on. Guess what? He was fine with the bit & bridle.

So, I'm thinking he is smart enough to have been objecting to the bit as that is nearly always followed by the saddle & girth (he has a running martingale so is mostly saddled after that & the bridle go on).

I'm going to try him with a much looser (no?) nose band & flash as they are pretty tight atm and don't look comfy then re-focus on the girthing for the moment...

Thanks for all your help!

 

[zeuscleoharmony]

Sorry, could not find original post, but did you try bitless? I changed over three years ago cos my boy was uptight and he immediately changed to chilled and relaxed. Good luck whatever you decide. If you can, give bitless a go. xxx

 

[Tickles]

Yes, Archiesmummy - may well try at some point as have ridden others in hackamore or Dr Cooks and found them fine (although prob not suitable for all) and I like the idea a lot. There were some good suggestions on the original thread about how to use head collar & reins for a trial (in an enclosed area & with some one else there) before splashing out.

Immediate issue was horsey refusing to accept bit when tacking up. He is def never happy about girthing so I *think* that he was just trying another strategy to avoid that and/or test out his new rider. Tried again & once he had saddle on he gave up fighting about bridling.

 

[silverbreeze]

Have you had your saddle checked? (sorry if you have already answered that) If you have hadit checked and all is fine then what numnah do you use?
I have a mare who gets very sensitive skin under the saddle and hated being girthed up. I have brought her a bartle marino lambs wool numnah and a humain girth and she is fantastic. I have to wash any sweat of her before it dries (even if just a bit tacky) and I wash the girth and numnah every week or more if she has sweated a lot so there are no rough bits on it.
The bartle numnah's are bar far the softest and most absorbant and breathable I have found and are no more expensive than most other sheepskin numnahs. Worth every penny imho.
She is far happier in the new girth too and doesn't puff out or arch her back when it is tightened anymore.

 

[Tickles]

His owner is getting his back re-checked by a physio as it hasn't been done for a couple of years. I guess we might get some feedback on potential saddle issues from that.

As far as I know he has had (slowly improving) issues with girthing since purchase (in poor condition from a dealer) a few (4ish?) years back. Has had two saddles fitted and flocked for him since then & now doesn't rear (eek!) when they go on so assume they are at least a better fit!

He has quite a few different fabric saddle cloths/numnah's which are changed just over weekly, some quite paddy but nothing fluffy. Girth is one of those leather ones (no elastic section) that is sort of contoured around the back of where his legs are.

I don't tend to stretch his legs out to avoid trapped skin as his doesn't have a lot of spare in that area but thought might try that. Have a few ideas (thanks to this site) to try for cold-backed-ness (he is already standing a lot more calmly for mounting when I've lunged him first) and also posted for more info on gastric ulcers... Was thinking about a fluffy girth sleeve - hadn't thought of a numnah but that could be a good plan too - thanks!