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[RC] rubbing crupper - ideas? - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: Lucy Chaplin Trumbull elsie@xxxxxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== In an effort to make sure he wasn't suffering any pressure on his shoulders/withers on steep downhills (training for Tevis gives you paranoia), I "crupper trained" Provo on Friday. This went a lot more smoothly than it had with Mouse (who took about five months to get used to it and will still throw a wobbly every now and again about it). Provo was basically disinterested in it, apart from the odd hop at the very beginning. So on Sunday, I rode him in it for his first "real ride" - 20 miles from Auburn Overlook to the near the Tevis river crossing and back. After the ride, I noticed that he had two raised rubs either side of his tail where the crupper straps come up, as well as a rub on the underside of his tail. The crupper is one of the nice zilco bendy ones and I made sure it was clean to start with. As far as I can tell, I don't have the thing on too tight. He did tuck suddenly at one point when our companion rider came up a bit too close on his tail, so I'm wondering if that's when he did the worst of the damage? That said, he's also quite sensitive-skinned, so maybe he just rubbed from some of the downhills? So, do I need to wrap the thing in sheepskin? Or would that be too bulky? Do I have to wait until his tail area toughens up? A friend suggested using BodyGlide on his tail area, and I will try that. His saddle hardly shifts at all, but he has shown reluctance at times to go downhill, perhaps from saddle pressure? (I ride in a Sportsaddle). Any ideas or comments gratefully accepted, as if it's going to give him a sore butt, I'll stop with the experiment. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Lucy Chaplin Trumbull elsie AT foothill DOT net Repotted english person in the Sierra foothills, California * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ============================================================ Riding alone is when you teach a horse all the "tools" and "cues" he needs to handle the trail, to hold a speed, deal with hills, etc. It's also where you develop the "bond" that causes him to "defer" to you before losing his cool. ~ Jim Holland ~ ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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