The dangerous result of an ill-fitting saddle, triggering reflex points.
It has been my experience that horses do not consciously ‘misbehave’ (an anthropomorphism that is often incorrectly attributed to horses who are simply reacting to outside stimuli resulting in unwanted conduct). As such, the following situation could be clearly attributed to a fairly straightforward cause-and-effect situation that became very obvious very quickly. At the height of its manifestation, what happened is shown in the photo at right.
Rummy Royal, a beautiful dark bay 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, was behaving more and more erratically each time his owner (KG) wanted to begin her riding lessons with him. Rummy was normally kept out in the field in daily turnout with the rest of the horses, being brought in only when temperatures fell below 10 °C. It was only during show season that this routine was changed to constant stabling except for the maybe two hours each day when KG wanted to train. This went on for six months of the year from late spring to mid-fall; thereafter the situation reverted more to the ‘natural’ state of constant socialization and grazing in a herd-like surrounding of seven other horses.
While Rummy did not develop any of the stereotypies normally cited as characteristic indicators of stress while he was stabled, he did demonstrate several unwanted behaviours while being prepared for schooling. As soon as KG appeared with his saddle, the ears were pinned. As she saddled up, he reached around to nip her. Read the full article here.
~ Jochen Schleese CMS, CSFT, CSE, courtesy of Saddlefit 4 Life
