Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Well, after reading all about using cruppers and breast collars to keep
the saddle from moving and the girth from rubbing, I decided to try the
crupper--I already use a breast collar.  I put the crupper on last Friday
and my horse was awful so I decided to ride without it and then put it on
him and let him stand for a long time with it on after we rode.  Monday I
saddle up to ride and put it on and let him stand for a while and then we
took off.  We walked about 3 miles because of rocky footing and no shoes
and he was just fine.  When we got to the good footing I asked for a
little trot and he did it fine and then he thought he wanted to gallop to
catch up and all of a sudden he took off running because the crupper
scared him.  Needless to say I couldn't stop him and got dumped.  I have
been riding this horse for two years and it's not a training issue.  My
question is how to fit the crupper properly so it doesn't sneak up and
grab them under the tail when they go into a different gait?  Will he
eventually get used to having it there and not be scared?   Is there
something special I can do to get him used to it faster?  Thanks for the
help.

Lynda

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The very essence of our sport is doing the trail as quickly as practicable,
while keeping one's horse fit to continue.  Taking the clock out of the
equation makes it another sport altogether.  The challenge is how to keep
the sport what it is while honing our skills (both as riders and as those
in control roles) in detecting where "the edge" is for each horse so that
we don't cross it. 
~  Heidi Smith
ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/

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