My reply
If you talk Nancy Loving, Donna Snyder Smith or any experienced rider they
will tell you that the way a horse carries them selves has a lot to do with
sore backs.
When the horse raises their head( I'm talking what people call high headed)
the back is not in a good physical position for movement. Its the same as a
runner having very poor mechanics.
Many people blame sore backs on their saddle without looking at the way
their horse carries a load. You must evaluate both in solving back
problems. This also equates to sore front legs. The higher the head the
more straight up the shoulder angle becomes, the more pounding the front
end takes as it contacts the ground.
No saddle in the world can overcome a hollowed out back. You must examine
the whole outfit, you, your saddle, your horse, and the way all the pieces
interact. If you ride off balance, if the hoorse goes crooked, or high
headed, or pulls with their front end, poor fitting saddle , dirty blanket
cinch to tight, to loose, all of these things add up to make the package,
so look at them all!
Flexable panels are wonderfull, but with all things there is a limit to how
many other issues they can compensate for. The best running shoe in the
world can't compensate for poor running body position., again its a package
look at it all.
"Endeavor to Persevere" , Roger Garlitz
Cowboy Country http://www.txranger.com
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