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Re: [RC] Trail riding help - Susan GarlinghouseI'm not sure what else to tell you other than circumstantially stocked up legs and a sore back (assuming it's not a saddle fit issue) are signs of overexertion, period. I'm not saying you're abusing your horse---he just may be less mature than your other friends horses, uses himself differently, has different saddle and rider dynamics going on---dunno. I realize this probably isn't the politically correct thing to say, and I'm sure more experienced folks will be yelling at me any moment, but---speaking ONLY for myself, I don't think riding a three year old is in the long term best interest of the horse. Granted that I'm a HW, but I don't even back my babies until their third year, and they don't go out on the trail at any speed, let alone trotting or cantering, until their fourth year at least. I just think there's too much wear and tear that can occur early before those higher-up growth plates in the shoulders, hips and spine have had a chance to mature. So believe me, I'm not bashing you, Buffy, it's obvious you want to do what's best for your youngster. My advice would be---back down to the point that your kid *isn't* coming back from rides stocked up and back sore. Get a really good saddler to check the fit on the saddle and then have a really good dressage instructor check your equitation to make sure it's not something funny you might be doing inadvertently. Better backing down now and letting the horse mature, then finding out in a few years that he's already DONE because of degenerative changes that can't be undone. Good luck. JMO. Susan Garlinghouse DVM ----- Original Message ----- From: "Buffy" <spellcaster@xxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, October 13, 2003 7:16 PM Subject: [RC] Trail riding help I need some thoughts and ideas here... my 3yr old is worked fairly regularly here at home. We go trail riding a once or twice a month. My friend's horses stand in a pasture until we go trail riding. Mind you they aren't worked hard on the trails at all. However, every time my colt comes back with a sore back and stocks up in the legs. I rub him down after every ride and cool him out on the way back in. We honestly walk most of the trails with a very limited amount of trotting or canter. Here at home he works all 3 gaits, plus extensions, I like to do a lot of bending and flexing too. My friends horses don't come back sore or nothing. Heck my daughter's new 3yr old stud (we just got him a few wks ago and he was about 250lbs underweight) did better then my colt on a trail. He's been standing in a pasture eating non-stop so he can put his weight back on and start getting back in condition later. I've thought of starting to wrap my colts legs on the trails, but really hate to do that. I just don't know what else to do thou??? As to his back it's sore where the tree of my english saddle sits on his back, not his withers. HELP!!! Buffy Spellcaster Miniature Horses Beware... They'll cast a spell on your heart! www.geocities.com/spellcasterminis/ Yahoo Messenger ID: Spellcasterminis --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.520 / Virus Database: 318 - Release Date: 9/18/03 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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