Saddling & Mounting Behavior Problems

Question
I have a 9yr old, Tennessee Walker Mare.  I tie my horse to the hitching post to saddle her.  She stands well with this and even after placing the pad and saddle on her back.  She does begin getting a little tense, though.  Once I pull the cinch over and begin tightening it, she begins to dance and pace around.  I try to do it in stages all while talking quietly and stroking her neck, hoping to keep her calm.  At times, like this morning, she works herself up and begins pulling on the halter to the point where she bends the halter clip.  During this time she is sensitive and things can set her off to the pulling.  Typically she is not a spooky or overly sensitive horse.  Once I get the saddle in place and put on the bridle and bit, she calms down.

Once the cinch is tightened, she works to avoid me mounting by swinging her butt away from me or nudging me with her nose.  I constantly have to work to keep her still so I can mount.  As I mount, she begins to walk off without waiting for me to tell her to.  During the ride, should I dismount and then try to mount, she tries to prevent my mounting again.

I have purchased a new saddle that has been fitted to her.  I really don't think saddle pinch or pain is the problem.  The old saddle, which I purchased with her two years ago, was too small.  I learned this as I learned about saddles and horses.  A chiropractor has adjusted her back and there isn't any more pain or misalignment.  When I knead the muscles at the withers and along her spine, she doesn't wince or move anymore.

I continue to be patient and calm, I don't yell or strike her.  Shortly after purchase, I purchased a new bridle and bit with a French snaffle to reduce pain to reduce any fear she may have.  She was in a twisted wire, hackmore, and curb that even had a bit of gag action, which I thought was far too severe.

My whole intent has been to reduce pain and fear compliance.  Once in the saddle she is good, though a bit hot.  I'm at a loss about how to adjust her behavior to stand quietly while being saddled and while I mount the saddle.

Thanks,
Chris

Answer
Chris,

I'm sorry but she still has major issues with this saddle and is telling you about it every way she can.  I'm pleased that you have already had her chiropracticked but something is still not right.

Couple of questions.  How long has she been this way?  How long have you had her?  I'm trying to figure out whether this is possibly her over-protecting herself if she was in a saddle that was really uncomfortable? And how long did she have that saddle before this one?   

Take your saddle and pad and saddle her.  If the pad is white and clean just use that otherwise a piece of a bedsheet or towel will work under the pad for this test.  Ride the horse long enough to get a decent sweat up under the saddle.  Then, look carefully at the saddle pad.  There should be a perfect, mirror image of the underside of the saddle with no areas that are dry or where dirt is ground in more heavily.  The channel up the middle of the saddle should show up clean and dry.  Then look at the horse's back.  Look for ruffled hair, the obvious dry spots, places where the hair looks broken or rubbed.  

So tell me a little bit more about her.  Length of time you've had her, how long this problem has gone on, is this new behavior or long-term.  Anything you can think of that would give me a better picture of what I'm dealing with here.  

Once I know the real problem I can figure out how to approach it with a solution.

Lyn