Thursday, October 30, 2008

Well We Didn't Get Down The Field But.............


So I started in the yard and she was a bit sassy, but alright, so I thought probably not wise to head to the field considering I had her cinched a little loose. So help me out here folks. What am I suddenly doing wrong? She did this once before with someone else's saddle and in the end, we popped her regular saddle on and all was fine, but as I cinch her, I'm pinching a nerve bundle or something and her front legs begin to buckle and I have to quickly loosen it and trust me, it's not that tight. She didn't have this issue in the spring, just suddenly now.


I try readjusting it and usually that works, but I was afraid to really cinch her and I know I rode the saddle loose, which is why I opted out of the field and stayed in the pen.


I'm not a total moron here, she is brushed before saddled, I have a serious pro-pad with blanket on top. Maybe I'm not pulling the saddle up high enough on her withers and cinching too far back on her belly. Didn't think so, though. She's never an issue with this saddle before. So any ideas?

16 comments:

Callie said...

I'll bet I'm not pulling it high enough up on her whithers after looking at my saddle pic, but of course that was after the ride.

cdncowgirl said...

It could be her Vagus nerve (sp??) Some horses have issues with cinching due to that.
One horse I was trying out a few years ago had that problem. You had to take your time and tighten the cinch a little bit at a time.
Unfortunately the owner forgot that and pulled her tight right away.
BANG
Horse collapsed on the floor.
VERY freaky. I rode her a couple times and it only happened that once. But I never could get it out of my head.

Andrea said...

I always tighten it twice. I do it just enough when I first cinch them up then when I walk them over to be mounted, I tighten it again. I do it slow too. Maybe take her for a walk and then try to tighten it again?? I don't know.

Callie said...

Yeah, Maybe that's it. I have to slow it down a bit. She is a bit of a bloater!

Denise- LessIsMore17 said...

Less was like that, would bow to the floor and then just leap if you girthed him too tight too fast. I learned that I had to walk him while or right after I girthed him and I did it hole by few holes at a time - took me 4-5 girth ups before getting on, didn't bother me though because he was alredy ground tied so walking him during tack up was an easy option for me, but easily solution.

Callie said...

Everyone, Thanks for the advice! It freaks me out and makes me worry about her, but I'm now finding that this is more common than I thought.

Mrs. Mom said...

Thats the name! The Vagus nerve! (Duh) I like the ideas here, on how everyone cinches up real slow and walks in between snugging. It's worth a try Callie, since I think it is going to be present no matter what saddle/ cinch combo you test out.

Callie said...

Interesting that it's the vagal nerve. I know too much about that one. That's the nerve that causes one to "code" and die while taking a shit, LOL

Midlife Mom said...

My Nick is one that you can't cinch in a hurry or he freaks and one day fell right down and I had to cut the cross ties so that he could get up. Talk about scary and almost peeing my pants!! So now I do it slowly a bit at a time and it works fine. Also I'm with you all that maybe it wasn't far enough up on her withers.
I've learned all about the vagal nerve since Mom has been in the rehab facility. :o( She passed out from straining too hard! (Now wouldn't she love it that I put that out in cyberspace for all to read!) lol!

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

I haven't had any experience with this or heard of it before. You learn something new everyday. Your cinch itself looks like a good one. I actually have to tighten the cinch on Lostine 4 to 6 times before I can ride. That's the main reason why I lunge before riding. Otherwise, she lets all the air out of her lungs as soon as I step in the stirrup, and then the saddle slides right down her side. Then she laughs at me and throws in a fart with the swish of her tail for good measure. My equitation instructor didn't want me to tighten the cinch so much, because he said it puts pressure on her heart. I'm not convinced of that, but I thought I'd mention it since it was a concern of his.

Victoria Cummings said...

With Silk, I do the slow cinching and the walking around and then tightening it before I mount. The other thing is that she might have changed shape - lost weight, gotten a dip in her back - something that could make the saddle not fit right. It's probably worth it to put the saddle on her back without a pad and just run your hands along the front and the bars to see if there's anything pinching or putting pressure on her that might make her react so strongly. It's good that you're being careful and concerned.

Vaquerogirl said...

Lots of horses are a little cinchy like this- slow and steady usually does the trick, but what kind of a cinch are you using? ( I am a freak about cinches) Mohair is the Numero uno best type to get, but not practical - I have found the Professional Horsemens to be wonderful. Easy to clean, and they are just a little bit 'grippy'not like neoprene that really grabs a horses skin.YOu can ride with one a teensy( and I emphasize teensy) bit looser.Leather is my # 2 option, but you need to keep 'em really soft and clean or they crack. String cinches have a tendency to pinch, and I never keep one longer than a year. I hate the fleece, they slip and roll and collect all sort of flotsa and jetsom.
Your saddle should fit just behind your horses shoulder blade, too far forward will cause pain ( and possible collapse)also, try pulling your pad or blanket up into the gullet before you cinch, make sure there is no pinching going on across the wither.
Hope any of this helps.
Good luck!

Jean said...

A bit late here. I have the same trouble every now and then with my older Thoroughbred. He will actually crow hop on the crossties.

There is a nerve there and if you hit it just wrong it can happen. Also, sometimes the breastbone goes out of place and needs an adjustment. (A belly lift will help)

If I see my old boy twitch when the girth hits there, I kind of slap his girth area with my hand to kind of loosen the muscles before tightening the girth. Then I do it up loosely. Walk him in hand and then tighten.

Rising Rainbow said...

I have a horse who did that. I had to cinch up gradually. The horse is now retired because all of the care in the world didn't prevent permanent damage. The horse can no longer wear a saddle without falling down. All I know for sure is it's some kind of nerve damage.

Callie said...

Thanks All, for the advice! Mikael, you scare me a bit, I hope this not permanant nerve damage and just a glitch!

Denise said...

Thanks so much for having this blog! This happened to my horse today and scared me silly. I got out researching and found your blog and I feel slightly better. I will NEVER just cinch up my horse again without walking/cinching/walking/cinching. I learned a lesson today!