Ridecamp: Re: [RC] sore backs-- looking backwards

Some horses do this when something is hurting them.  My friend's horse used 
to reach around and kind of nibble on her toe later in the ride when the 
saddle was bugging her.  I always make my horses stay straight through the 
neck and body (Dressage training) so when I rode her horse, it didn't get to 
turn around and look.  You have to look at when the horse is doing it-early 
in the ride or later -- and whether the horse has any dry spots when you take 
the saddle off.  The saddle can be bothering them without them showing signs 
of a sore back, particularly if it is hitting them in the back of the 
shoulder blade, where you don't usually palpate for soreness.  Your right 
about one thing, whether it's habit or not, you should probably not let them 
do it, because when they aren't looking where their going, they can trip and 
fall.   jeri

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=