From: Lorinda
Dear Jessica, first may I say how useful this HORSE-SENSE of yours is, and how much I not only enjoy it but rely on it. I can only hope that somehow your kindness will be rewarded! I can't imagine why you should use your valuable time sharing your knowledge and expertise with all of us -- and with no pay! -- but please know that I for one am desperately grateful.
On to my question: I've recently begun riding a six-year-old mare that had been raced for I believe two years, then sustained a minor injury and was put into a field and left there for almost two years (a divorce I think, anyway no one was riding her at all), then she was purchased by a woman who wanted to hack out at a walk and occasionally a trot. Strangely the mare did quite well with this owner, but now she has been sold on to a friend of mine who is presently on the Continent. He has entrusted Maya (the mare) to me for schooling in his absence, and I have found her to be willing and what you would call "cheerful" (I love that term) at walk and trot, although fussy about being mounted she is good as gold after. But she is utterly horrid at canter. She flings her head into the air, begins to race off at a rate of knots, and soon I find myself pulling at her (to no avail) and meanwhile my bottom is contacting the saddle painfully at every stride. In our last ride, in desperation, I shortened my stirrups so as to be able to assume a half-seat. I thought this might make her happier as she wouldn't feel me thumping her back. But no, off she went as usual and when I rose into my half-seat she began to BUCK and off I went, of course.
I'm at a loss. One friend of mine has suggested that perhaps Maya is remembering her racing days and doesn't (or does) want to race; as she is so calm before and after cantering, this seems unlikely to me, but then I haven't had much to do with ex-racers, so it may merely be my ignorance showing. Another friend has a pad that will lift the back of Maya's saddle, and is eager to lend it to me, but I wanted your advice first. I don't feel that the back of the saddle is particularly low but of course I will use the pad if you think I ought.
In any case, I'm at my wits' end and hope you can help. Richard will be back in one month, and I would love to present him with a well-schooled and cheerful Maya, quite apart from the fact that I'd like her to be comfortable at canter for her own sake. Any suggestion you have will be appreciated.
Thank you for all you do, Lorinda (and Maya, and Richard too, though they don't know it)
P.s. One more thing, something new, oh dear! This morning I didn't dare ask Maya for a canter, so thought a brisk trot would be nice and to spare her back (in case she is sore and that is the problem) I thought we would have a trot with me in a half-seat. She bucked again; I stayed on board but only just, and then walked her for an hour before putting her up. She was perfectly nice during the walk. This is so confusing. I do hope you can help!
Hi Lorinda! Thanks for the kind words. ;-) Your problem may be simpler than you think -- I believe that what you have is a saddle that doesn't fit. You didn't describe Maya's back, but I would bet anything that she has withers that are both high and LONG, and that the saddle gullet, although allowing room for your fingers at the pommel, is touching her spine or hovering just over it about four inches behind the pommel. Your fingers won't reach back that far, so you weren't to know, but everything you've described points to a saddle that rides ON Maya's spine whenever you lean forward and put pressure on the front of the saddle.
You've made several revealing comments about Maya:
- she fusses about mounting but is good as soon as you are seated.
Mounting puts pressure on and just behind the pommel, and that pressure is relieved when you sit.
- she invariably runs off at canter, although you are in a half-seat
I expect the problem of cantering (rounding the back each stride and then feeling her spine hit the saddle) is compounded by your trying to ride in a half-seat, as this just shifts your weight forward and causes the front of the saddle to move downward nearer (and probably onto) her spine.
- she is lovely at trot EXCEPT this morning when you attempted to ride in a half-seat
You meant to spare her back; instead, you hurt it -- entirely inadvertently, of course! -- by shifting forward (see above re canter).
If I were you, I would have the veterinarian take a look at her back, also at your saddle, and make useful suggestions. I would also look for a saddle that would stay OFF her spine -- one in which you could sit, rise, and lean well forward while putting no pressure on her spine (ask a friend to stand behind you while you do this, and check that there is still light visible through the saddle gullet.
There may be saddle pads that could help, although I can't really recommend one in this case without seeing the horse and saddle, and in any case your veterinarian, being on the spot, will be far better able to help. I can tell you, though, that you were wise to avoid using anything that would lift the back of your saddle. When the back is lifted, the front descends, and it's clear that Maya could not tolerate any additional pressure from the front of this saddle.... Your instincts served you well.
If she's not injured and you can find a suitable saddle (and perhaps some padding, ask your vet) for her, you may find that after a few initial leaps (based not on pain but on the memory and anticipation of pain) Maya will be able to settle down, canter comfortably, and become a good riding horse for your friend Richard. Whether you can do all this in a month, I don't know, but you can certainly make a good start.
Good luck! And congratulate Richard on leaving Maya with you. He made a wise choice.
Jessica
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