Re: Solve my problems! :)

["nunidipietra" <nunidipietra@hitter.net>]

Dear Julienne,
In regard to your message in ridecamp about white hairs.  As an Endurance
Rider for over 30 years I have seen a lot of similar problems.  In my
experience I would say that if the white hairs appear as a sprinking, it is
not much to worry about because it is probably caused more by heat.  That is
an area (under the sides of the pommel) that gets a lot of movement.  Your
Sharon Saare is prabably not to blame.  However, if the area is 1, 2, or 3"
in diameter and mostly white hair,  your saddle is to blame.  Also it is not
unusual for it to appear on only one side as many horses develope one side
more than another.  Does your horse prefer a right or left lead at the
gallop gait, or do you post on only a right or left diagonal?  If so, you
need to work with your horse to develope the other side.

It's ok to ride bareback but do not exceed 30 or 40 minutes and don't do it
every day.

In regard to Sports Saddles, why don't you call the people at Bio Scan and
see what their experience in scanning thousands of horse tells them about
what saddles sore backs and what saddles do not.  They can tell you a lot.
The National Marketing Director for them untill just recently was Dan
Sumerel, who wrote the book "Finding the Magic".  His number is 804-237-2012

Hope this info has been of interest to you, maybe I have helped.

John DiPietra
Synergist Saddles
----- Original Message -----
From: "Julienne Rha" <Julienne.Rha.B@bayer.com>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2000 1:48 PM
Subject: RC: Solve my problems! :)


> Hi everyone,
> I'm having a dilemma here I'm hoping people can give me some advice and
> thoughts on.  I've posted in the past and I've had some great advice from
all
> of you out there.
>
> I'm new to endurance although I've ridden off and on for about 10 years.
I've
> had my quarter horse gelding (from running lines) for about 3.  Earlier
this
> year he was diagnosed with bone spavins.  It's not too severe, my vet
tells me
> the best thing I can do is keep him moving.  I had him on Legend
injections,
> but on $100 a pop, it was getting to be really expensive.  I spent about
$500
> in 3 months and with a new house, it was very pricey. He's out in pasture
and I
> ride about 11/2 to 2 hours two times a week with arena work about 2 -3
times a
> week.  I bute him if I'm going to ride longer or if I go anywhere
particularly
> hilly.
>
> Earlier this year I purchased a Sharon Saare endurance saddle with all the
> frills.  We've been using it for about 3-4 months now and recently I
noticed a
> white speckling a few inches left from his spine where the pommel rests.
I had
> always check for back soreness and dry spots before so I was quite
suprised
> when I noticed this.  I thought it was the saddle.  So, for 3 weeks I let
his
> back rest, riding bareback lightly in the arena (off the spot) and
yesterday I
> borrowed a friend's Crosby dressage saddle for a short trail ride.  It
seemed
> to fit him correctly, it was wide enough along the shoulders and gave him
room
> along the panels.  He was a total loon during the ride - he was prancing,
> making faces at the other horses, spooking at everything, very atypical
> behavior.  As I suspected, when we got home there was a dry spot along the
rear
> left panel of the saddle.. I feel awful!  So now I'm considering
purchasing a
> sports saddle which I've heard work great for horses with uneven backs.
The
> only negative I've heard is that they aren't great for heavier riders.
I'm
> 5'2, 150lbs..  can someone with experience with sports saddles advise me?
How
> long should I let him recover this time?  Should I even ride him bareback
at
> all?
>
> Here's a question for the trainers out there.. on the trail when he sees
> something he's unsure of, he'll just freeze.  I've tried bringing him down
to
> the basics, working on just the forward cue in the arena, and he does that
> perfectly, however on the trail it's another story.  I've tried
reinforcing my
> leg with spurs trying to get his attention back on me, but to no avail.  A
crop
> helps some, but I don't want to depend on having a crop every time I'm out
on
> the trail.  When he freezes up like this, the only way he'll walk forward
is if
> I kick the begeezus out of him (which I don't enjoy doing) or another
horse
> passes us and "sacrifices himself to the boogyman".  Could this be related
to
> the whole saddle issue?  Or is this a training issue - if so, advice is
very
> welcome.
>
> Another thing I've been considering is purchasing a horse I can condition
and
> ride for next year's season.  At the moment I'm only looking to do LD
rides.
> I've been looking at a few arabs in my area but I'm worried that I may not
have
> time for two horses having a full time job.  I've been considering leasing
my
> gelding out but people have been reluctant when I tell them he has
spavins.
> The whole saddle thing will be another issue with a potential leasor.
>
> So... should I keep my gelding an only horse and wait out the bones to
fuse?
> Any ideas from people with experience how long this will take?  Should I
> purchase another and try and find a leasor for him?  Should I sell my
Saare?  I
> cringe every time I consider this, I know I should, but I spent over $2000
on
> this saddle - next time I know not to make saddles frilly.  Instinct tells
me I
> should just keep my gelding and wait... I've volunteered at endurance
rides and
> I'm hooked.. but who knows, I may totally hate riding in one (I doubt it).
>
> Thoughtful advice is welcome, so have at it. :)
>
> Julienne
>
>
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