Re: saddle sliping

["superpat" <superpat@gateway.net>]

Please rethink tying your horse before you mount. This sounds like a wreck
in the making. If your horse will not stand for mounting, it is time to back
up. Not the horse but what you are asking of him. Ground work, ground work,
ground work. John  Lyons, Pat Parelli, Tom Dorrance, you choose. They all
have marvelous exercises and a step by step process for bringing your horse
to the place where mounting is just another ho-hum procedure. If you leave a
hole in his foundation training, no matter how good a ride he is, you will
find that hole when you least expect it or want to. not fair to your horse
or you. Be patient, you have a good one and you don't want to rush into
making a problem.
Pat Super


----- Original Message -----
From: Rosie VanGilder <rvangild@jeffco.k12.co.us>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 5:21 AM
Subject: RC: saddle sliping


> Hi, I brought home a mustang last week  and am having some problem
> getting the saddle tight
> enough to not slide.  I think the girth is pinching, it is a western
> style string with a wide web area in
> the middle.  How does one measure for the proper fit?  When he came to
> us he does not hold still
> for mounting and wants to run if you sit down too fast.  We have had
> better luck mounting him from
> the off side and slowly sitting down.  He also does not like it when you
> dismount and will run off.
> He is good to ride, has a soft mouth and listens to your legs.  I would
> like to get up on him and since
> mounting/dismounting are not safe times for running around I am looking
> at all different areas to make
> his life comfortable.
> He is not round but has a lot of flesh, Mutton withered, kind of narrow
> backed.  I am not able
> to do the horse breaker mount so we have been tying him up and mounting,
> then releasing the
> lead line and off you ride.  I am thinking of just tying him up and
> mounting, mounting, mounting.
> I will not always be able to tie him up and I sure don't want him
> running like he can with me with
> one foot in the stirrup.  He is 5/6 yrs old.  Had about 3 months of
> training and is really good on the
> ground until you start messing around with the girth, then he gets a
> little antsy.  He was not taught
> how to Whoa when you are working.  He does stand still untied for the
> saddle and blanket and
> bridle, grooming etc.  Does he need days and days of
> mounting/dismounting?  He is too tall for a
> older over weight, big butt to get on fast.  I can use a stump since I
> generally put the tall ones in a
> hole when ever. Help!!!!!  he is wonderful.  ro
>