I think we're there. I think it's time. I ask Daniel to come observe and participate. So that somebody is there to scrape me off the ground if things go wrong. So that somebody is there to capture the first time anybody's on Snap's back.
After asking Snap to go both directions in the round pen (and he pitches some temper tantrums), I begin to pay attention to something I've seen before and ignored. The saddle does not fit. The saddle will not stay put. It creeps up until it's sitting on his withers. Gone are the thoughts of riding and our brains turn to saddle fit. We pull the saddle pad off and try again. No change. We adjust the rigging and the breast collar. Better and Snap is a little squirrelly, but no longer throwing fits.
Of course, this behavior on Snap's part could just be his confusion about being unsaddled and resaddled and asked to go again. This he'd better get used to fast. Distance horses spend lots of time being saddled and unsaddled. At least mine do since I tend to pull tack at vet checks.
However, the saddle still creeps forward and won't stay put. We'll have to try another saddle.
I decided enough for the day. I was getting tired and was ready to be done.
So, Snap still has not been ridden. But there will be time for that another day.
2 comments:
Do you think using a crupper would help? Hate to see you invest in a new saddle when he is going to change abit as he builds up. I have had much success in my circle y arab tree saddle- always get a's for back score.
It's hard to see in the picture, but he actually has a crupper on. I don't really want to crank it down so much that it comes into play with every step.
I do have another saddle to try before I start shopping for something else. You're right that he'll change as he grows up and muscles up and saddle fit can be a challenge during that time period. Fingers crossed that the other Abetta I have will fit!
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