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Re: [RC] Weight on the forehand (was: Gaited horses downhll) - Dyane SmithHeidi wrote: A good back has to be a part of a balanced body--one in which the shoulder assembly, the barrel, and the hip assembly can be covered with three equal circles--hence the term "the three-circle horse." That's the place to start. Then, there should be good withers, running well back into the back, and a "sweet spot" for the saddle--but without an undue "dip." The loin should be short and strong. The back should be straight when viewed from behind. The barrel should be well-sprung to allow room for lungs, heart, and hindgut. With practice, you can learn to recognize these things in a flash. Some folks say that having a clear picture of what the silhouette looks like is a big help--and they are likely right. Well, this does make sense to me because my horse with the great back never had a saddle that fit. At the time, I tried a lot and never found one that really fit. The problem was that none of the saddles I tried gave him enough room for his very reaching shoulder motion. On the other hand, I rode him with a very loose girth and he never had a sore back. He also has a very deep girth and extremely well-sprung ribs. Until he got in condition, his shoulders were so narrow that one time he bucked the saddle up on his neck. Talk about scary experience! It is very hard to dismount from the neck. Dyane =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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