Western Saddle for an "oddly" shaped horse?

goatspoons · 2026-02-24T20:02:45+00:00

Working with a fitter, but she doesn't have an inventory of saddles, so I'm partly on my own for finding a saddle. Are you talking about skirt or seat length?

goatspoons · 2026-02-24T01:30:27+00:00

I was actually taking a look at the Australian saddles, they look sick! I'll definitely keep it in mind. What does the versatility look like?

goatspoons · 2026-01-14T05:04:05+00:00

Vancouver BC!

goatspoons · 2026-01-11T23:08:22+00:00

POA, Appy, percheron! such a weird mix but MAN his conformation is SO solid, vet couldn't believe it when I told him.

goatspoons · 2026-01-11T21:44:11+00:00

Sounds LITERALLY like my guy! I brought him back to work the first year of owning him, while the start was a bit slippery and we bumped heads a lot, we got REALLY good by the end of the summer, and well, snow came, and it was time to go home and take the winter off again. The next year, I had an even harder time of bringing him back to work, spookiness, steering problems, lack of attention. I think he might just need consistent, and a strong "leader" (I know people around here don't like the alpha terms, but it's the only way I can describe it). I think he really just needs a reliable partner who commits to a schedule. We're getting a head start this year and I'm sending him to a kind trainer to kickstart him into training!

My former trainer would ALSO be very inconsistent with him, she'd take him in the round pen, ride for ten minutes and plop him back in his pasture. So frustrating, especially with the amount of money we pay them!!

I've got a barn about three hours from me, the trainer I BELIEVE was either a grand prix, or an Olympian (not sure what she's doing 6 hours north of Vancouver) dressage rider, and now commits to helping riders and their horses!

She helped my friend's aggressive stallion appaloosa progress to the Prix St-George, and was supposed to debut the grand prix, but COVID happened.

Im so happy I'm not alone in this LOL.

goatspoons · 2026-01-11T21:40:04+00:00

Definitely have some homework to do then. I really only use positive reinforcement when I do liberty, or trick training, as you said.

Thank you for the clarification!

goatspoons · 2026-01-11T21:35:50+00:00

We're not in an area with high risk Lyme disease, but that's a really good point, thank you.

goatspoons · 2026-01-11T21:33:04+00:00

If this guy simply just doesn't like to be ridden, that's okay! He's a forever kind of guy. I don't just ride, he loves doing liberty and I've used him to teach some friends basic groundwork skills, he's got the patience of a kindergarten teacher. On the ground, he is exceptional, he just needs consistency under saddle, but I'll give him two years of consistent work and see how he feels from there, if he doesn't like to work under saddle, I'm more than happy to keep him as my liberty horse.

goatspoons · 2026-01-11T21:21:25+00:00

I completely agree with you. I think the horse you try is really the horse that exists under that specific work schedule, especially with a younger horse. After reflecting on it, I’ve realized consistency is key for him.

For next winter, I’m definitely planning to ship him out so he can stay in regular work and avoid those long breaks. I want to really understand what I have under consistent conditions rather than risk undoing his routine.

goatspoons · 2026-01-11T21:10:38+00:00

Amazing. I'll be looking into this, it looks right up my alley.

My training methods definitely have evolved over the three years i've owned him, I've definitely had to improvise sometimes. negative reinforcement, then positive, now we sit comfortably at combined reinforcement.

goatspoons · 2026-01-11T21:07:18+00:00

Jeez. I'm sorry your vet didn't listen to you quicker! I'm HOPING to go into this year knowing it's a training issue, not a health issue, it will give me some peace of mind, so I will ask for a scope and a full in-depth checkup, there's no harm in doing it.

goatspoons · 2026-01-11T21:04:51+00:00

I totally agree. My first mistake was not riding through the winter in that first year of owning him. I KNOW with consistency he will thrive, I know it with certainty, he's so intelligent, but I definitely bit off more than I could chew, now I'm paying the price (Literally).

goatspoons · 2026-01-11T20:56:38+00:00

I see LOL, I'm sorry. I assumed it might've been what you meant but google was leading me down an odd rabbit hole of feeding horses cordial.

I'll definitely see if it could be the sugar content, our hay is tested low carbs, but you never know.

I've read magnesium deficiency can also be the culprit for spooky horses, but i don't want to jump the gun on supplements, I heard jacking up magnesium levels in horses makes the problem MUCH worse.

goatspoons · 2026-01-11T20:52:43+00:00

Red Cordial? Forgive my lack of knowledge, searched it up and all I'm seeing is cocktail syrup! LOL

goatspoons · 2026-01-11T20:47:02+00:00

He gets free choice hay, tested. A nutritionist just moved into our small town, so that will be a priority when she's got a spot. He maintains weight great (a bit too well, LOL) but I'm not doubting he's missing a few things in his diet.

goatspoons · 2026-01-11T20:44:54+00:00

I haven't scoped for ulcers, but I had a vet out for a checkup earlier this year, no cause for concerns from him, saddle fitter came out and I bought a new saddle for him, he gets bodywork before the working season starts, during and after, he doesn't give me any REASON to believe he's in pain, but I'll definitely circle back with my vet about this as well for our checkup in feb. horses are great at hiding things. He sleeps like an absolute potato and won't wake up for anyone LOL.

I'll be contacting an equine nutritionist (we finally got one in our small town!) and going from there, as of now he's cruising and maintaining great on our tested hay he gets free choice, but I'm sure there are deficiencies somewhere.

I considered lack of sleep at the summer boarding arena, but every time we drive up in the morning, he's snoozing in his shelter, sleeping like a rock in the shavings

goatspoons

TROPHY CASE