Which problem to solve first??..

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PaddingtonPony

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Hi,

If you could all give me your suggestions as to what should be sorted out first with new mare, as have limited funds, and all this cannot be done on this months wages..

1. Teeth checked
2. New Saddle
3. Different bit?
4. Saddle pad – suggestions?

My mare has been feeling resistant to a contact. She will school in a nice outline on a soft contact, using your position more than reins to adjust her. However when she gets more foreward eg jumping, you have to pick up more of a contact, which she evades. (by opening her mouth and running away from contact). She is much better in smaller school as is a big girl and knows she cant get to long striding, so I gont have to bring her back. However there is still resistance, also just in schooling when I ask more of her. She is currently in a loose ring hollow mouth snaffle. She has a natural tendancy to go on the forehand, but when I tried her out before buying her, she was in a full cheek (easier to ride her through, and she felt to accept that more, but could have still done with being able to ask her to come ‘up’ more. Thinking of getting full cheek french link (thoughts???).
She has a small wolf tooth, which vet says we shouldn’t worry about unless affects her performance... She was fine when tried her out though.. dentist or no dentist? Now or early next month.

Or could she be resisting due to saddle. It is by no means a perfect fit, but have been told that it will ‘do’ for a couple of months, but just not to accept it as a fine saddle for her for the next few years :). It is a bit tight around panels, however no pressure on spine etc, and not too bad. As it will take me longest to save up for saddle have been riding in a thick, quilted saddle pad. But should I bump new saddle up list a bit, before other possible probems? Or do you have any suggestions for saddle pads (ie polypads or such like, that may help for a while).

I was going to get a different bit, try for a couple of days and provisionally book dentist, just in case it is the bit she is resisting the feeling of, rather than sore in mouth, getting dentist imminently if not the case. Then get a better saddle pad to relieve any pressure while I save funds for new saddle.. but does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks for reading

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I would definatly get her saddle fitted correctly first. It really is vital that a horse has a saddle that fits them and that has been fitted by a qualified saddle fitter. I would get her teeth checked next. You could see if anyone you know has a bit that you can try, or use the bit bank on here, before you buy a new one, just to make sure you get one she likes. Hope this helps :)
 
A few points:

I think it sounds like teeth since she resists only when there is a strong contact, and can otherwise go softly in an outline. so i think if it was me, i would get those checked first.

If your saddle is tight on the panels maybe the thick pad is making it tighter still and doing more harm than good.

I would not ride until you can get a well fitting saddle. Once you have had her teeth done, maybe you could ride bareback, or with a thick saddlepad and surcingle, and do work in hand or long reining. I would not want to put my horses back at risk if i wasn't sure about the saddle fit and you have obviously considered it bad enough to be a possible cause for her recent behaviour. It will do your seat the world of good, you will look like a pro dressage rider after a few weeks bareback ;)

Might be worth a go anyway.
 
Saddle - definitely. I wouldn't dream of riding a horse in a poorly fitting saddle in case of causing long term problems which can be so difficult to sort. Not saying yours is that bad as I haven't seen it, just what I would do! If it's tight then riding with a thick pad will only make the problem worse.
In the meantime you could try to borrow a bit, or buy a secondhand one. Maybe a double jointed if the one your using is single? Just a thought as it sounds like she's objecting when you take up a strong contact, maybe nutcracker action coming into play?
On the other hand, you could always stick to lunging for now and have her teeth done first while you save for the saddle, but I'd find that very frustrating with a new horse!
Have we seen pics of your new acquisition???
 
Thanks everyone,

Does anyone know if the thorowgood griffin saddle has a interchangable gullet system? If so i can book saddle fitter in pronto, in the hope that she could help change original saddle, and maybe measuring for new saddle, with the idea of buying it in a month..

Yes, i wasnt sure about the pad working either.. but thought that it may even out any pressure a bit more.. Couple of years ago saddle fitter said that in her opinion, by padding up underneath a badly fitting tight saddle has the effect of having sponges underneath a tonne of bricks.. never have been able to figure out if that would be a good or bad thing (obv not a great deal either way if saddle fitted that badly!)

Yes, i thought about nutcracker action too, which was why i was thinking of a french link, as well as full cheek (as that was what she was tried in) and because i dont like the loose ring on her..

But i will definately get saddle checked as soon as i can. The person whom i bought her off was insistant that it fitted (although admitted she didnt try it with someone on!!) and kept saying that saddle was fine even when horse put head down (can anyone help me - cant work out how this means saddle fits!?) and my trainer had a look at it too.. I'm meant to be having a lesson on tues with a different instructor, who is very good at tack and saddles etc, (no idea why, but seemed to be more informative and experianced than some of saddle fitters we've encountered in past!) so will see what she thinks..

thanks all, and any info about thorowgood griffen saddles and changable gullet would be greatly appreciated..

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