November 2011
Thank you so much to everyone that came out last Sunday for our saddle fitting lecture. It really makes me feel good to see so many that care about their horses and want to learn more about how to keep them safe and comfortable.
There were 2 very special birthdays that I forgot to mention last Sunday, one was Lucy Lu turned 2 years old and the other is Stoney is turning 31. Many of you may not know that I still have one of my first horses. We have been together now for 30 years except for a few years that he lived with Micki for one of my students.
Stoney is a good example of how our horses serve us out of the goodness of their hearts. He came to me in the time of my life when I showing at Appaloosa breed shows. He started his show career as a Yearling Halter Stallion. Talk about conforming! He was bred to be an Appaloosa race horse. Then it was on to the futurities. We did a couple of those hunter under saddle futurities in his 2 and 3 year old years, then it was on to fox hunting. He fox hunted and hunter paced for many many years. We showed at Hunt Night at Harrisburg and Washington. He even hunted and showed side saddle for me. I still have not found a better hunt horse. In the middle there somewhere I started team penning, barrel racing and pole bending with him in the summer when most hunt horses take off.
Stoney was also used for lessons and one of my students took him home for awhile and used him as her own. When my son was learning to walk and lead horses (literally at the same time) Stoney was the horse I trusted without a doubt. I can still remember Tom leading Stoney out to the pasture field, falling down, getting up and walking on with Stoney in tow. In fact, Stoney was the first horse Tom rode after he was born (we rode several before he was born) but he won't remember any of it because he was sound asleep in that snuggly thing strapped to the front of me. Happy Birthday Stoney !!
SADDLE SPINAL CLEARANCE
During my lecture last Sunday, I said that the vets have only recently recognized the damage that a saddle with a narrow gullet channel can do to a horse's spine, spinal ligaments and vertebrae. Modern technology is enabling the vets to see and diagnose more accurately. I said 2005 or 2006, but I should have said 1995 or 1996. That is why there are so many saddles on the market with narrow channels. When the horizontal panels under the saddle (the part that is stuffed with wool on an english saddle and is fleece covered wood on a western saddle) rubs on the spine or the spinal ligaments running along the side of the spine, the horse tenses his back muscles and hollows his back. Riders and spectators usually notice first that the horse's head is up and unfortunately try to "treat" that problem with bits, draw reins and martingales. But that is a whole other story. A narrow channel or a saddle that slips to one side can cause irreversible long term damage to your horse's back.
Signs to watch for: stumbling, dragging toes, hollowing the back, fidgeting with the bit, head or tail tilting to one side, not tracking up
A saddle fit evaluation would make a great Christmas gift for your horse. Evaluations can be done here at Buck N Horse Hollow. Go to FIT RIGHT SADDLE SOLUTIONS Keep in mind that if you think you might want or need a new saddle, orders have been taking 3-4 months so don't wait until spring.
Favorite Link of the Month http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M61_zYCqUBY
I am honored to be affiliated withSaddlefit 4 Life and the work that they are doing through HIPPO.
As always, thank you for reading our little newsletter and for all the responses. I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving and a couple days off to ride.
TTYS & God Bless
Terry
