Re: RE: Panic Attack - Long

["Barbara McCrary" <bigcreekranch@cruzio.com>]

I sent a similar message to the lady with the mare.  Only your message is in
more detail, and I have to do the same thing with my gelding.  I also pause
between taking up notches; put on helmet, take up notch; put on half-chaps,
take up notch, etc.

Barbara McCrary

----- Original Message -----
From: "Marlene Moss" <marlene.moss@wcom.com>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>; <mateef@aol.com>
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2001 7:44 AM
Subject: RC: RE: Panic Attack - Long


> Sallie,
> I've got a mare that is cinchy - she will completely flip out while tied
to
> the trailer if I go too fast.  She's always fine by the time I get on, so
I
> haven't had your experience - scary!  I hope you're alright.
>
> I would be surprised if she behaved like that because of rough ground.
Have
> you had other experiences that lead you to believe that she doesn't like
> being girthed up?  Does she swish her tail, blow up, etc?
>
> I would first get a chiropractor to look at her - she's definitely telling
> you something and it might be more than cinchiness.
>
> But, just in case that's what it is, here is my regime:
>
> First, definitely get a girth with some elastic on the buckles - I think
> that's a good thing even if this isn't the problem.  Then, I just buckle
to
> touching her belly and go back to some other preparation like attaching
the
> breast collar.  Then tighten another notch.  I always put my hand behind
the
> girth so I don't tug on any hairs or push the bulk of the girth into
> wrinkling her skin.  Then do something else like load up water bottles or
> other gear.
>
> Then back to the girth and tighten another hole.  At this point you are
> getting kind of tight.  So at this point I pick up each front foot and
pull
> it forward to make sure there is no skin bunched under the girth - it's a
> good stretch too.
>
> Then I put on the bridle and untie her and then do the next hole.  I might
> do another stretch or just walk her around.  I like to keep my girth
fairly
> loose if I'm not doing a pretty technical ride - I've gotten back and
found
> I could put my fist between the horse and the girth and never felt like
the
> saddle was slipping.  I worry more about front to back than side to side.
> But my HRM monitor doesn't work too well that way.
>
> I try to only tighten to the point that I can still get on safely and no
> more.  You can always tighten a bit more after you get going.  My mare has
> never had a problem with me tightening the girth once I'm riding - but do
> this carefully if you haven't done this in the past if she has issues
here.
>
> This is the main reason that I convert every saddle I buy to English
billets
> from a western cinch.  Even my husband has been converted on that one!
>
> Good luck and be careful - just take everything in slow steps.  Another
> thing you can try before you get on the next time is a little longing.
> Nothing major - just do some practicing for a vet check - you can work on
> trotting in hand and clean longing circles at the same time as doing a bit
> of a sanity check.
>
> Marlene
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: guest@endurance.net [mailto:guest@endurance.net]
> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2001 8:12 AM
> To: ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject: RC:  Panic Attack - Long
>
> Sallie Sullivan mateef@aol.com
> I've got a BIG problem. Lastnight I was going to go on a moonlight ride
> with a friend. Trailered over to friend's house and saddled up my 5yo
> mare. I spent time tightening the saddle one notch at a time, but I'm
> thinking not enough time now.  She stood perfectly still while I got on
> but I could tell (hindsight being 20/20) that she wasn't comfortable as
> soon as I settled my butt in the saddle. Should have gotten off right then
> (that 20/20 hindsight again). After I tried to relax her by bending her
> head a couple of times, she completely exploded.  To make
> a long story short, she flipped over on me, paused, got up and
> flipped over again. She either hit her head when she fell the second time
> and passed out or passed out from hyperventilating and therefore fell.  It
> seemed a very long time before we could get her up.
> Completely stripped her tack, I had to physically unlock her jaw to get
> her to release the bit to get the bridle off. Once we finally did get her
> up, she had a couple of places where hair was missing, but no apparent
> lasting ill effects from all this.
> Here's my problem. I'm convinced this was a panic attack arising from
> (a) the saddle being too snug too quick and (b) I just had her shoes
> pulled and she was standing on rough gravel and her feet hurt.  I'm
> planning on changing the rigging on my saddle to be able to use a girth
> with elastic in it to aleviate that claustrophic feeling she must have had
> and of course I'll be more cognizant of her footing.  I really feel that
> she's just immature and needs me to help her through this. My husband
> feels she's downright dangerous and wants me to get rid of her. I'm fairly
> banged up and bruised from her landing on me,
> but it could have been worse.  What should I do?
> Thanks for any insights or suggestions.
> Sallie from NE Ohio
>
>
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