[Clementine]

I posted something about the issues I was having with my horse, Jazz, regarding canter transitions. I got a lot of responses telling me that my horse wasn't ready to canter, or that I must be doing something wrong (which I had started to think to), but as it turns out, it was the saddle!

Per the recommendation of a very experienced, generous woman who boards at the same barn that Jazz and I do, I was borrowing one of her ultra-wide saddles, and her Parelli Theraflex pad, which I thought were very logical, and seemed to fit him well. Jazz was honestly pretty awful yesterday, when I rode him, so today I tried something: I put his old saddle (which I'm just borrowing from Jazz's owner (he's a lease) until I can finally find a saddle in my price range). Anyway, I put that saddle back on him and voila! He actually offered canter transitions willingly, finally got back to working on the bit, etc. And when I let him stretch down to a long and low trot, oh my god, he was fabulous! He dropped his nose practically to the ground, his back raised noticeably, and he moved with this wonderful springy trot, full of expression! It was crazy.

The craziest thing of all, is that his old saddle doesn't fit him anywhere near as nicely. The back of the saddle has much sharper pressure points than the ones on the saddle that I was borrowing. And yet, he apparently hated that other saddle. I just don't get it. It's bizarre. I'm very, very pleased that it was just the saddle though, and not me riding terribly, and not him just being bratty. I'm so glad to have my happy, willing horse back.

 

[Ray MacDonald]

Thats awesome! doesn't it suck when you find out what the problem is and its something that could be easily fixed? LOL

 

[Spirithorse]

The Parelli Theraflex Pad is AMAZING! I won't ride a horse without one Glad things worked out so well, that's fantastic!

 

[Clementine]

Spirithorse - I really liked the Theraflex Pad too, but what I was saying is that my horse, unfortunately, hated it. It's really, really weird.

 

[Rule of Reason]

Thats awesome! doesn't it suck when you find out what the problem is and its something that could be easily fixed? LOL

Um, no, actually I think that's a GOOD thing. If the problem can't be easily fixed, that's when I'd get into the 4-letter words.

 

[Clementine]

Okay, here's another fun tidbit. A month or two ago, when I was using Jazz's owner's saddle, it was making a little tiny (not sensitive) bump on his back, so I stopped using it. When I switched to the ultra wide saddle and Parelli pad, the bump no longer appeared, but he hated that saddle, and as previously mentioned, wouldn't get round or canter. Now that I have that old saddle back on him, it is causing the bump, but he's cantering and getting round!!!! WTH??????????