saddle problem

Question
QUESTION: I have a 7 yr old quarter horse mare. Ive had her for 2 years now, and she(since ive had her) has always had a rough canter. Sometimes she will canter OK, but then after awhile she will start bucking harder. Ive been to a trainer, and was told it was a respect issue, so Ive been lunging her and for the most part she does really well on the lunge line, but she still hasn't fixed her canter under saddle.
  As far as I know, she didn't give her previous owners this problem, and I did ride her before I bought her, and she cantered fine. I have only ever ridden her in my barrel saddle, which is kind of small and she is a stocky foundation quarter horse. How do i even know if this may be the problem??? Ive lunged her with the sadlle on, and she does fine but I guess my weight would affect that too??
    I don't want to go spend alot of money trying to fix the saddle, if that isn't even the problem, but I don't want to keep asking her to canter if she is trying and it does hurt. Im willing to let someone who knows about saddles come check it out, but I would just like to have some idea that this may be a real problem first. Thanks



ANSWER: Hi JoAnne!

Yes, it may be the saddle.  While Western saddles are generally easier to fit to just about any horse....problems may still happen between a horse and it's owner's saddle.

I agree with you that you should have a professional saddle-fitter look at your horse and gear.  It may be something as simple as changing the pad underneath, you never know until you ask. This is the best way to handle this situation.

As far as her "rough canter" some horses are just built a certain way that gives the rider an uncomfortable ride at certain gaits.  I have had many QH's over the years and some are naturally smooth as glass and a few others felt like I was riding a backwards egg beater!

So, can this be solved?  While you cannot change her legs and build, you can teach her to move better.  This requires some training experience and is far too involved to explain over the Internet.  Now, you said you had her to a trainer and they said is was about the horse not respecting you.....instead of thinking it may be the way the horse moves.  I suggest you find a new trainer with better qualifications and have them evaluate your mare's canter.  Through some very specific exercises and you working closely with the trainer, you could very well make her move more efficiently and more comfortable for both of you!  Yes, she may be happier to if she is shown a better way  :-)

Good luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So the pad could be a problem too?? Now that I think about it, I have a prof.choice SMX pad, that I only use at shows, and I have a plain neopreme one that I use only at home. She always seems to canter better at show.

Answer
Hi JoAnne!

Yes, it could be the pad.....more so in any of the English disciplines, we can adjust things greatly to fit the horse better with specific padding.  Such as riser pads.

In Western disciplines, I think the pad choices are more limited but, it can still make it more comfortable for the horse....helping the horse to feel more balanced, therefore allowing them to more more freely and economically.

I like to explain it like this.....a saddle and rider to a horse are like a bookbag to a human.  If the bookbag is bulky and hanging off one shoulder, the human is unbalanced and uncomfortable.  As would be the horse if the rider and saddle are pinching, or leaning forward, backward or to the side.  Now, take the bookbag and slip the human's arms through both strap's and shift it to a good place on the body and the balance makes it easier to carry.  Same with the saddle and rider for the horse.

A proper, professional saddle-fitting and a trainer with solid experience/knowledge with specific gait exercises and a little work/time could really change allot for you and your mare.  It's definitely worth it for both of you!

Solange