9 year old gelding

Question
Hello Lyn
My question is regarding my 9 year old horse we got in March this year, he is an absolute sweetheart, I have no trouble putting a halter or a bridal/bit on him, but when it comes to a saddle he starts to act up and back away.  We usually even give him time to get used to wearing the saddle so he calms down before my husband rides him.  He is very edgy once someone is on his back, he jumps and twitches his body.  It is as though he is so scared to have someone on him, its like his whole body is a nervous wreck.  He also sweats tremendously - it seems abnormal, from just walking around and he is soaked from head to toe in sweat.  The person we bought him from said he was a good work horse, but who knows (we found out later he is not a trustworthy person). Is there anything we could do ourselves?

Answer
Nora,

First off check his saddle for fit.  His reactions to being saddled could indicate that the saddle is uncomfortable.  Saddles are like shoes.  If they don't fit well they are uncomfortable.  As far as his being a "work horse".  What exactly does that mean?  

Lets do some saddle evaluation first.  I have no idea what kind of saddle you are using, new or used?  In any event, check the tree to make sure it's not twisted or warped by standing the saddle on it's pommel end and looking at the underside from the cantle end.  Look at the panels on both sides.  Are they identical?  Set the saddle on his back, without a pad, step back and look at it from the side.  Is it even from the pommel to the cantle.  The seat should look level.  Next look at it from the back, stand on a stool or bucket or something.  Is it level side-to-side?  Also check out the horse's back without the saddle and standing on the stool/bucket.  Are his shoulders even?  If not then you will need to adjust the saddle to sit evenly with either shims (for a Western-style tree) or having it restuffed if it's English-style provided it fits otherwise.  If it appears to be setting on his back level check the clearance over the withers.  You should be able to slide your fingers, using the edge of your hand so your fingers are vertical to his spine, under the pommel.  A Western saddle should have clearance for at least 2 fingers, an English should have 3 fingers clearace.  

If the saddle passes all these basic tests then put it on his back with the pad you are using, if the pad is white make sure it's clean otherwise use a thin piece of white material like a piece of sheet or an old, thin towel under the pad next to his skin.  You'll have to ride him a little to get him sweated under the saddle with the weight of a rider on him.  Then take the saddle and pad off.  Check his back first.  Is it evenly wet all over, no dry spots or ruffled hair?  Look at the white pad/cloth.  It should have a perfect, entire imprint of the saddle on it with a dry line down the middle where the panels are split.  Again, there should be no dry spots or areas where the pad is dirtier or darker with sweat.  All these indicate areas of pressure.

Do all this and get back to me with the results.  If the saddle fit is OK then I have some other suggestions for you but I want to eliminate what looks like the most obvious problem first.  OK?

Lyn