Sore back

[Susan Felker <felker@swva.net>]

This is a delicate situation, and I do not envy you. Perhaps tell your
friend that Archie is  having back problems and he is tender. He needs
to take some time off from serious riding [and I think he _really_ needs
to, from the sound of it]. Get a vet to check Archie and ask the vet how
much he thinks your horse can carry.

Help your friend find another horse to ride while Archie is
recuperating--give him, say, a month or so off. If he's that sore, it
may be better if you don't ride him for a while--a back is a serious
part to risk. And a friend is certainly worth two lost months of riding
him yourself, if she is a good friend.

Then start riding him lightly yourself. At that point tell her the vet
says he shouldn't carry more than, let's say, 200 pounds total--whatever
the vet said--because of his long back. Tell her you know Archie really
liked her, but he has a limitation which makes it unwise for her to
resume riding him.

If your friend has moved her focus from Archie to another horse, this
should not be a big disappointment after a month or so.

Good luck--I hope you can keep your friend and keep your horse sound.

Susan Felker
Black Ridge Arabians
http://www.swva.net/blackridge

Karen wrote:

"Pat started riding
him again last month (once or twice a week).  It was quite by
happenstance
that I realized that she might be making his back sore "