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Re: [RC] rearing horse when saddling - Barbara McCraryWe have one horse who has saddling issues. As with the horse initially described, he is perfect in all other ways, but something happens when he is saddled. It started years ago when he was in training....he went down and became catatonic. His trainer could not get him up with any usual means. She began putting a bit of food into his mouth and when he started to chew, he "woke up", so to speak. Since then, and he's gradually improved and become less violent; he has at worst pulled back and thrown himself on the ground. As soon as I loosened the girth, the would get up and be normal. Nowadays, he becomes anxious as soon as we bring him in for saddling. For some time, we dared not tie him as he would pull back. Now he is much better and we can tie him during saddling. First, we put the saddle on and let it sit there. We move away and do something else for a few moments. Then we come back and start the cinching process. We loop the latigo through the rings, but leave it loose, then move away and fetch the bridle. In a few moments, we come back and tighten the cinch slightly, just until he starts getting anxious again.....then move away and fetch the helmet. Come back and take up a notch....watch him carefully for impending blowup.....take up another notch, etc. etc. Walking around the yard helps....moving, moving. It has been suggested that he is claustrophobic and fears being trapped by the cinch. It is also possible something hurts or a nerve tingles. He sometimes kicks at his belly as if there were flies. All in all, he is getting better, but we cannot cinch him up immediately or he flips out. Once the rider is on him, he is great..he has never offered to flip out when mounted, and in a ride, subsequent saddlings have never bothered him.So, my recommendation is: take it slow, inch by inch, watch his reaction carefully and do not advance the cinching until he is ready for it. Of course, there may be other problems involved with the original horse mentioned, such as need for chiropractic adjustment, but at least I have related our experience with our horse. Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marv Walker" <Marv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2005 5:52 PM Subject: Re: [RC] rearing horse when saddling
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