Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Crupper

>  I have used the crupper and my "girlfriend" has no
> problem with it.  I am considering removing it from my ride tack, however,
> since her HIGH withers don't allow the saddle forward and I am now jogging
or
> walking down the more extreme hills anyway.  Any comments on why I should
or
> should not delete the crupper from her tack?  Before I learned to get off
her
> down the steep hills, the crupper NEVER ONCE engaged - not on training
rides,
> and not on the Hog Wild or Malibu, both of which have some rather gnarly
> hills.

OK, I'm a short, fat lady, and I don't get off for much of anything, except
gates and potty stops.  I've been blessed with horses who are wonderful
downhill horses (and have NEVER seen a horse develop leg problems from going
downhill PROPERLY with his hind end engaged) so have never had any reason to
get off.  I've also been blessed with horses with good backs, and have never
so much as owned a crupper.  (Do have one horse now that might need one--he
has good withers, but his back is not as ideal as I'd like, and I find
myself too far forward on the really steep hills--which we have aplenty
here.)  My thumb rule is that I never use any tack item that I don't need.
Horses with good backs and properly fitting saddles have no need of cruppers
OR breastcollars--the saddle stays put over hill and dale even with the
girth loose.  But both items are wonderful tools to keep things where they
oughta be when all else is less than perfect.  Same thing with all the
various boots, etc. that people use--they hold in heat, they rub, etc., so
the horse that moves properly is better off without them.  The horse that is
not fit and gets tired and interferes or the one that isn't built right may
do himself harm without them, so the drawbacks are well worth the
protection.  Sounds like you have no use for a crupper on your mare--I'd
suggest not using it, but hang it up somewhere where you can find it if you
ever get a horse that DOES need it.

Heidi


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