Dark Storm
31st Oct 2009, 10:53 AM
I've had a saddle on trial for 2 weeks, and had my RI look at this yesterday, before my session. She said it's definately a lot better, but could do with being a little straighter under the back seat, and wider behind the stirrup plates.
The one I have at the moment is a vsd saddle, and despite these minor adjustments, its a really good saddle, my horse seems to like it, and goes so much better.
It's straighter cut than a normal saddle, so it doesn't sit over the shoulders, allowing him more freedom of movement. The vsd is in between the GP and Dressage saddle, so has a deeper seat, and sit's the rider in a better position, than the GP.
I found that it help me sit in front of his movement instead of behind, so we worked better together. My RI told me during the session, that he was much better than the last time, moving free through his body and collecting himself. He really enjoyed the session, ears forward, and looking for the bit.. he felt like a "sponge" with his reflexes, listening to the lightest touch of the reins, and bending when I asked him without any tension in his body.
After the session, my RI told me that he has lost muscle tone through his neck and left hand quarters, so would explain a very slight dragging of his left toe/hock.. this was through restriction caused by his previous saddle, unable to use them, they've shrunk.
So I have to build up his back muscles with my home work, which consists of nice gentle walking, whilst feeling his "body" movements and allowing his head, whilst at the same time keeping enough contact with his mouth, to "feel" the nodding of his head.
This is a really pleasant experience for both of us, for as she was manipulating my legs (to the correct positions) she freed up the tension in my hips, he seemed to say "thanks for helping her let that tension go" by the look on his face when he went to nudge her after.
He has lost a lot of condition since moving in Feb, so I'm rewriting his routine as of today, to get it back. He needs to slowly regain some of the weight he's lost, but in muscle, not fat. When I compared a photo, taken a year ago, to one of a couple of months ago, I was shocked at how different he looked, and the realization sunk in that he didn't look right in himself, and hasn't since march, when the weight loss had , 50 kg to be exact, from 500 kg to 450 in 4 weeks.
I think the move probably caused all this, as he doesn't show stress very well, but it usually shows through his health, so I have to look at the wider picture. His tail has suffered too, he's lost half of it, in length and thickness, he had a full tail in Feb, it now looks pathetic.
So, its off to turn his life around today, saddle wise and nutritionally. Wish me look, and keep your fingers crossed for him.
Oh and please send some healing vibes for him:)
If you managed to read all this, cookies and cream for you;)
The one I have at the moment is a vsd saddle, and despite these minor adjustments, its a really good saddle, my horse seems to like it, and goes so much better.
It's straighter cut than a normal saddle, so it doesn't sit over the shoulders, allowing him more freedom of movement. The vsd is in between the GP and Dressage saddle, so has a deeper seat, and sit's the rider in a better position, than the GP.
I found that it help me sit in front of his movement instead of behind, so we worked better together. My RI told me during the session, that he was much better than the last time, moving free through his body and collecting himself. He really enjoyed the session, ears forward, and looking for the bit.. he felt like a "sponge" with his reflexes, listening to the lightest touch of the reins, and bending when I asked him without any tension in his body.
After the session, my RI told me that he has lost muscle tone through his neck and left hand quarters, so would explain a very slight dragging of his left toe/hock.. this was through restriction caused by his previous saddle, unable to use them, they've shrunk.
So I have to build up his back muscles with my home work, which consists of nice gentle walking, whilst feeling his "body" movements and allowing his head, whilst at the same time keeping enough contact with his mouth, to "feel" the nodding of his head.
This is a really pleasant experience for both of us, for as she was manipulating my legs (to the correct positions) she freed up the tension in my hips, he seemed to say "thanks for helping her let that tension go" by the look on his face when he went to nudge her after.
He has lost a lot of condition since moving in Feb, so I'm rewriting his routine as of today, to get it back. He needs to slowly regain some of the weight he's lost, but in muscle, not fat. When I compared a photo, taken a year ago, to one of a couple of months ago, I was shocked at how different he looked, and the realization sunk in that he didn't look right in himself, and hasn't since march, when the weight loss had , 50 kg to be exact, from 500 kg to 450 in 4 weeks.
I think the move probably caused all this, as he doesn't show stress very well, but it usually shows through his health, so I have to look at the wider picture. His tail has suffered too, he's lost half of it, in length and thickness, he had a full tail in Feb, it now looks pathetic.
So, its off to turn his life around today, saddle wise and nutritionally. Wish me look, and keep your fingers crossed for him.
Oh and please send some healing vibes for him:)
If you managed to read all this, cookies and cream for you;)