We've all heard it a zillion times. Never use
new tack, wear new clothes, try new electrolytes, etc. at a competition.
Well, same goes for a long conditioning ride.
Went out with a friend yesterday, planning to ride
4+ hours. Instead of using my cantle pack, I stuffed an EZ boot (one of
each size my gelding wears) in the pouches of my pommel pack, the kind
of pack that fits over the top of the pommel of my SportSaddle. Realized
before long that this arrangement effectively made my saddle's seat a bit
smaller, but it didn't seem to be a serious problem -- just annoying.
Until about three hours into our ride. Then it felt like my butt was
smashed up against the cantle, and my lower back began to ache. By the end
of our ride I could tell that I was tired because my posting had become rather
sloppy.
Back at the trailer, I untacked my horse and found
that his back was sore in the cantle area. And my lower back was killing
me.
Today, I hurt all over.
So my new credo is -- try out all new stuff (or new
arrangements of old stuff) on short rides. If it works okay (is not
annoying) for an hour or two, then try it on a longer ride.
'Annoying' is not acceptable, because with enough miles it becomes a
'problem.'
