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 Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
  
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | Adding an update on page 3, for anyone who was following this...
Seeking opinions and ideas for a horse. He's got a couple of issues that I'd love to work on--and I don't believe they are directly related (but I know everything can be connected). He's a hotter horse, kind of a pain--big ego type of persona and you really have to be his boss type of horse.
First issue is while saddling. I don't know what to call it but cinchy, however, it's not your typical cinchy. I took a video of it yesterday, cinching him faster than I normally would. I will post video below to allow people to comment on each video/issue individually. He has had his kissing spine points checked but not x-rayed. His points are negative and my vet doesn't believe he has it. She does think it's possible that a nerve is exposed/lays on the outter layers of muscle and gets pressured while cinching. But I have no idea how to alleviate it.
Second issue is just needing some fresh ideas on drills for keeping him from getting short in his turns and helping him (and I) gain some confidence in each other. He was blown up in the past and I've gotten him so far. Like, he couldn't make it through a pattern or even lope circles when the barrels were set up with out having a complete anxiety driven meltdown. I will post video links below.
Thanks in advance.
Edited by RockinGR 2017-02-24 4:37 PM
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Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | Video of cinching up.
https://youtu.be/K3rvwn0cRlQ
Once he's over it--usually takes a couple minutes, he's over it and it doesn't recur until the next saddling. He is not grumpy about it, but he is worried about it while it's happening. He wants to come to me (I don't want him to!) like I should be able to help him. I normally cinch him as slow as possible with lots of walking.
Before I connected all the dots, I have had him completely fall over. Like he has no communication with his legs for a minute or two if I tighten him up too fast.
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Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | Riding videos. Taken yesterday after no riding for 6-7 weeks. He's not in great shape, but he plays enough everyday that he's in decent shape.
https://youtu.be/T2izzMxpJH4
https://youtu.be/7oAsquMtaIU
For reference, I'll see if I have a video of one of the first times I tried to take him through.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
 
| I wonder if your saddle is too tight..I see him favoring his R front and is hesitant to stretch out, especially when running. I have a barrel shaped mare that will do the same thing yours did if/when a saddle is pinching her whithers/shoulder area. |
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Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | veintiocho - 2017-01-30 11:32 AM
I wonder if your saddle is too tight..I see him favoring his R front and is hesitant to stretch out, especially when running. I have a barrel shaped mare that will do the same thing yours did if/when a saddle is pinching her whithers/shoulder area.
Hmmm...I doubt it's pinching, since it's a treeless. And the cinching behavior starts before I get the saddle tight. Like when I can still get my whole hand inside the cinch. I can't cinch him much looser and have the saddle stay put. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Try a different cinch.. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| RockinGR - 2017-01-30 11:38 AM
veintiocho - 2017-01-30 11:32 AM
I wonder if your saddle is too tight..I see him favoring his R front and is hesitant to stretch out, especially when running. I have a barrel shaped mare that will do the same thing yours did if/when a saddle is pinching her whithers/shoulder area.
Hmmm...I doubt it's pinching, since it's a treeless. And the cinching behavior starts before I get the saddle tight. Like when I can still get my whole hand inside the cinch. I can't cinch him much looser and have the saddle stay put.
My mare does the same without the saddle being tight too. Have you tried a different saddle just to see? |
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| We had a QH off the track that used to do this. He would almost run sideways at you. He was so bad that I couldn't saddle him. My husband would have to do it for me. He just made me way to nervous. Once you got on him you couldn't ask for a nicer horse. I do not remember him really getting over it. We just got used to it. Sorry, wish I could add something more on this issue. It maybe just something you have to learn to live with.
As far as him getting short, google Connie Combs Square Exercise. I works great for keeping a horse standing up and not starting the turn too early. I have a horse that is really short too and I work on this slow and it puts him back into position. |
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Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | Southtxponygirl - 2017-01-30 11:44 AM
Try a different cinch..
I think I will. Fairly affordable thing to try... |
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Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | veintiocho - 2017-01-30 11:47 AM
RockinGR - 2017-01-30 11:38 AM
veintiocho - 2017-01-30 11:32 AM
I wonder if your saddle is too tight..I see him favoring his R front and is hesitant to stretch out, especially when running. I have a barrel shaped mare that will do the same thing yours did if/when a saddle is pinching her whithers/shoulder area.
Hmmm...I doubt it's pinching, since it's a treeless. And the cinching behavior starts before I get the saddle tight. Like when I can still get my whole hand inside the cinch. I can't cinch him much looser and have the saddle stay put.
My mare does the same without the saddle being tight too. Have you tried a different saddle just to see?
He does the exact same in my treed saddle, which I don't feel fits him great. That's actually why I'm using the treeless on him right now. I really want to find a treed saddle that fits, as I ride much better in one. |
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Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | turnthree - 2017-01-30 11:50 AM
We had a QH off the track that used to do this. He would almost run sideways at you. He was so bad that I couldn't saddle him. My husband would have to do it for me. He just made me way to nervous. Once you got on him you couldn't ask for a nicer horse. I do not remember him really getting over it. We just got used to it. Sorry, wish I could add something more on this issue. It maybe just something you have to learn to live with.
As far as him getting short, google Connie Combs Square Exercise. I works great for keeping a horse standing up and not starting the turn too early. I have a horse that is really short too and I work on this slow and it puts him back into position.
Mine too is usually a joy to ride. He has his head-up-arse moments, but most of the time he is a smooth ride. I have kinda learned to live with it, but I wouldn't mind selling him at some point, and I think that'll be a hard thing to sell. At least until I get him running good enough that people don't care. I do think he has it in him, I just need to get consistent with him.
I'll be looking up those CC exercises! Thank you! |
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 Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia |
I wish I had a video of my mare to show you. One day im going to take one. She does something very similar but worse. She gets very nervous as soon as I put the saddle on her back. Cinching while tied is out of the question. The minute I start tightening she tries to run circles around me. It's not a respect issue because this mare is super respectful of my space. It's a pain issue somewhere. Ive never had her checked for kissing spine, although I should. She had a full lameness exam done last year and vet said most likely a rear end issue so I got her hocks and stifles done. She felt better overall while riding but didnt seem to help the cinch issue. It could just be a habit at this point. I'll be watching this thread for suggestions as well. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 695
Location: Windoming | I second trying a different cinch, made a world of difference in my horse. He would actually flatten his ears and act like he was going to bite you! Totally different horse now. Let your horse choose what cinch he likes, not us. My horse preferred a neoprene cinch over anything else. According to people on here, he should hate it...... I was prepared to spend the bucks for a never tight if I had to, but fortunately, he liked the neoprene. |
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  Elite Veteran
Posts: 1176
Location: Nor Cal | I had the same issue with my gelding.. with the same cinch. If that is the AirFlex cinch anyway.. I switched to a Classic Equine SensorFlex Roper cinch and the problem completely stopped. I felt like the rubberish material on the AirFlex was pulling his hair/pinching him. I would def try a different cinch to see if that makes a difference. |
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Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | kelli&hotrod47 - 2017-01-30 12:27 PM
I had the same issue with my gelding.. with the same cinch. If that is the AirFlex cinch anyway.. I switched to a Classic Equine SensorFlex Roper cinch and the problem completely stopped. I felt like the rubberish material on the AirFlex was pulling his hair/pinching him. I would def try a different cinch to see if that makes a difference.
It is an airflex. I have a mohair I can try. He did have a similar reaction with a different neoprene (ProChoice of some sort, not a cheap one) on my other saddle. I'm try the mohair and will do some shopping for a fleece and see what he thinks of those. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I am not a fan of those air flex cinches at all, to me they would pull and pinch, I love my fleece cinches and my neoprene cinches and yes I have heard that the neoprene are bad for your horses but I have never ever had a problem with them, I do have one horse that done care for the neoprene so I use my fleece Classic equine on him.. But the cinch would be the first thing I would try something different on your horse.  |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | I have nothing to add except he is exceptionally beautiful |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Idaho | RockinGR - 2017-01-31 10:54 AM
kelli&hotrod47 - 2017-01-30 12:27 PM
I had the same issue with my gelding.. with the same cinch. If that is the AirFlex cinch anyway.. I switched to a Classic Equine SensorFlex Roper cinch and the problem completely stopped. I felt like the rubberish material on the AirFlex was pulling his hair/pinching him. I would def try a different cinch to see if that makes a difference.
It is an airflex. I have a mohair I can try. He did have a similar reaction with a different neoprene (ProChoice of some sort, not a cheap one ) on my other saddle. I'm try the mohair and will do some shopping for a fleece and see what he thinks of those.
I would also try a different cinch. Also, have you ever tried to stretch him out after cinching him up? Looks like the cinch might be pinching him. |
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 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | Would he buck if you started lunging him or hopped on and rode pretty quickly after saddling? And if he did is it a rear feet up or all feet down hop?
Have you tried without the rear cinch as well?
I too hate the "bubbles" on that cinch btw...
Edited by cowgalsissy 2017-01-30 1:14 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | He looked off on his front right and maybe sore on his feet, short stepping? Could have just been nervousness or concrete ground but I noticed front right def shorter?!
Could be a number of things, you said he was blown up before so maybe no one did any maintenance on him and he's anticipating the pain still? |
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