| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| jane79 |
Posted - 17 Apr 2011 : 7:29:13 PM
I am currently schooling a 7 year old Highland/Welsh type for a friend and today was the 3rd visit.
Ive noticed this pony (every so often) tries everything possible to avoid going forward on the left rein. He overbends to the left and runs out through his shoulder.
Anyway to cut a long story short I asked the owner if he was up to date with his teeth, and he was (March this yr) so I looked at how his saddle fitted. It wasn't too bad, but when removing it straight away I noticed that the left side behind the wither/shoulder area was so much more developed that the right.
Just wanted to ask if any body has had this problem before and how did they build up the weaker muscle? Lungeing maybe? Physio?
Owner will be calling out a saddle fitter, but not sure if they would suggest re-flocking on the weaker side so the saddle temporarily fits better whilst pony develops more on the weaker side?
Any advice would be great, thanks 
Jane x |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| brockle |
Posted - 19 Jun 2011 : 10:31:39 AM
I have just bought a Barefoot Cherokee saddle for the same problem with an old cob and it has changed everything. He happily strides out, tentatively at first while he waits for the usual saddle discomfort and then happily when he realises its ok. I don't know whether the result at 20 will be much physical improvement but he has stopped hitching me over in the saddle so my back isn't hurting either.
Until we can get out on the moor we haven't anywhere to canter but our fitness is improving and we'll be there soon. He does try on the odd verge offering it to me which is just such a thrill when he has been reluctant to walk. Like being given my young cob back again! |
| jane79 |
Posted - 21 Apr 2011 : 9:53:21 PM
Thanks Etoile, will mention it to the owner
Jane x |
| Etoile |
Posted - 21 Apr 2011 : 7:34:03 PM
This sounds exactly like Senjai a year and a half ago, he had a large left shoulder and constantly fell out through his shoulder, and was very resistant into canter. Schooling with my instructor did nothing to fix this (even though shes very good and gets him going well). Saddle alterations also achieved nothing (he was in a custom fitted arabian saddle company solstice). He then ended up with a treeless ansur (total solutions) completely by chance, and though the shoulder is still larger he has straightened out, his shoulders are more even and hes far more forward going with a good canter. So it might be worth thinking about a treeless saddle. |
| jane79 |
Posted - 18 Apr 2011 : 8:42:45 PM
Thanks very much for your advice Alan, ive not really come across this before as the development was quite pronounced.
Jane |
| Judith S |
Posted - 18 Apr 2011 : 7:57:39 PM
There are very few horses that have equal development on both sides, especially when ridden as they all have a preferred diagonal and very few of us sit/ride exactly straight,.
This is why saddle fit is so important as it needs to allow for unequal shoulders, and fit is an ongoing thing that needs regular monitoring.
As Linda said earlier we would hope that we can even up the horse by saddle adjustments and the way the horse is worked.
This is Alan by-the-way |
| jane79 |
Posted - 17 Apr 2011 : 9:10:39 PM
Thanks for your comments Linda, much appreciated. Will pass them onto the owner.
Jane x |
| Callisto |
Posted - 17 Apr 2011 : 8:18:19 PM
Lily is muscled differently either side, and her conventional saddle was built up a bit on the thinner side when the saddler fitted it. She is now is a Specialized Saddle which has panels, but when Alan fitted it it was also adjusted to fit either side. She is rising 6 and obviously still developing, and the suggestion was that she would balance out more with work and as she matures. If the saddle is not adjusted to fit properly (taking into account the different sized muscle development) I would be worried that he would have a sore back. (His evasions would indicate that this is a possible issue).
I would make sure that he is worked equally on each rein to encourage more balanced musculature. I would also consider getting his back checked to make sure the irregular development isn't due to a physical problem that he is carrying. |
