As I rode the big mare out onto the trail, my mind was registering something different about her way of going. I tried to pinpoint what was tugging at my mind. The mare was walking with long strides and soon asked to trot once we were on the level, so she seemed to be willing and sound. There was no head bobbing, unevenness of footfall or other indication of lameness. What then, was troubling my mind?
We rode a winding bush trail of varied terrain, and once or twice she seemed to stub a front hoof, yet ever quickly recovered and moved on. There were a number of potential hazards, as in roots, windfall etc., and so I thought little of it.
Trotting along a level spot, she stumbled for no reason that I could see, and was diving forward onto her knees, pitching me forward in the process. I had been riding a defensive seat, and so hauled on the reins while giving her a firm heel in the ribs, to attempt to bring her to her feet. I was ready to roll clear if this move did not succeed, as the recall of last July and nearly breaking my neck replayed in my mind. The mare, taken aback by falling onto the bit AND getting a boot to the ribs, responded with alacrity, quickly finding her feet, and throwing in a buck to show her displeasure at the treatment, perhaps to cover her embarrassment.
"Dammit! I'm going to sell you if you can't pay attention to where you put your feet!", I yelled out to her. The remaining kilometer home, I only allowed her to walk. Something WAS wrong, and I needed to find out what it was.
As I pulled the saddle, I examined the mare's back closely. The sweat pattern was not even, there was a dry patch behind her right shoulder indicating a pressure point, and on the left side, there was a small area where the short summer hair looked to have been back-brushed. I checked the saddle pad, which was fine, and then the saddle. It was a lovely leather reining saddle, bought for a previous horse, and which looked lovely on this mare, and appeared to fit her quite well, or at least it had, prior to her giving birth. The mare was in good form, so I decided to put another saddle on her and ride the route again. The mare licked her lips as I cinched the second saddle tight, giving an expression of being comfortable, where she had indicated neither pleasure or concern when I had put the first saddle on. Neutral was a common attitude in a horse, and so I had paid it no mind.
As soon as we headed out to re-ride our route, I could feel the difference in her movement. Her back was lifting toward the saddle, so that I felt like I was riding a wave, which is how the sensation should be. The mare happily trotted along the winding trail, lightly lifting each hoof over the obstructions that nature had placed across the path. I apologized to the mare for my earlier placing the blame on her, prior to proper investigation, but she seemed to bear me no ill will for my earlier outburst, and was content to be in sole possession of my time and attention, to the envy of the two remaining at home.
After our ride, I fed the horses and immediately went to the computer, placing an ad in the local newspaper free classifieds.
Over the years, more than one horse has out-grown a saddle by change in shape from growth, muscle development or foal bearing. How could I have over-looked the obvious? Good saddles are far easier to come by than good horses, and I had counseled other riders that their 'horse problems' were more than likely a result of their prized saddle.
One very good reining saddle is now for sale, and I am making my apologies with cupboard love (horse treats) and grazing privileges.
