prospective purchase

[SL S <stepnout@swva.net>]

RFC please (request for comment):  Just heard from a trainer that the little
4yo Arab mare I'm thinking of buying "doesn't like anything pressing on her
withers" and is very picky about the saddle used; also said her sacrum
appears to tilt toward the right and could probably benefit from
chiropractic.  This trainer, who has a dressage background, had the mare for
three months last year doing basic training including roundpen work and
trails, gait transitions, etc.  The mare has not been ridden much lately.  I
tried my SportSaddle/coolback pad on the her while she was still at her farm
and again at my farm,  discovered she starts flinching with just the gesture
to tighten the cinch.  I can get my hand under the cinch at that stage.
When I put a foot in the EasyRide stirrups, the mare nips at my leg,  MUCH
worse on the left than the right.  She flinches when I palpate her withers,
left worse than right.  I've never had a horse with a problem like this, and
never any sore back issues at all after I switched to a SportSaddle.  I'm
concerned that a horse as sensitive as this will be a pain to all concerned
if I try to do sustained work for hours on the trail.  

I'm also thinking I'd rather have a horse a little older, bigger, and
gelded!  This mare is NICE, sweet, but has those issues of youth...which I,
age 50, do not necessarily wish to entertain anymore.   Ridecamp wisdom,
please collect and present yourself forthwith.  

Thanks,

Sally 






 
Sally Spangler

Stepnout Farm
Floyd, VA


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