Yes, I had a vet who specializes in chiro
look at her. Given the insistence on the list that it’s a chiro
thing I’ll probably have her do an adjustment again, even though that
made no difference last year.
The mare is not difficult about
mounting. (She used to move off, but that was a training issue and was
solved quite nicely after some time at the trainers.) With training she
now stands solid and does not hollow or show any indication with her ears that
she is uncomfortable.
It could definitely be that it is
remembered pain. As I said, she came with this issue, so it’s not
something that I *caused* by how I
tack or what tack I use. Since it got better towards the end of last ride
season I would think that my tacking or my tack procedure is better than what
she used to have – not worse.
I did break my hand this winter and didn’t
ride her much then. So that’s probably why her behavior “regressed”.
Now I am just looking for training solutions to get it back to an acceptable
level.
I do agree that she acts like she is
afraid of the saddle or saddling process. I will continue to work on
desensitizing her. She has learned to “trust” me about stuff
on the trail that used to worry her (mud, certain kinds of bridges) and I can’t
think of a ride this year where I couldn’t get her to go towards
something that worried her without a fight and no need to dismount. We go
slowly and she’s learned to trust that I won’t ask her to rush into
something she is unsure about.
I think I just need to build that trust in
saddling. She’s much better to saddle at home, so I may have to
work at trailering her to other places just to saddle – even if it is not
her day to be ridden.
