Saddle fitter (III)

Another visit today from the wonderful Sarah.

I am as slack about doing Miss P's massage as I am about my own physio exercises. Well, maybe not that slack. But work has kept me away for several days last week and meant a disgustingly early start today. I have been struggling with the change to daylight savings time and my neck was out, giving me a three day headache.

I know - excuses, excuses.

Here is Possum, having a lovely sleep after her aromatherapy session. In all the time we have been together, I have never seen her lie down flat out to sleep. Must be something to it after all.

Note the Dratted Pony also having a nap - I thought one of them was supposed to stand guard?

EDITED TO ADD:
So, got a big tick for doing my homework, although have not been as swotty as Bron. However, she works from home and has lots of time to go out and massage. Some of us are stuck in an office 40 hours a week, you know! Anyway, we got some more stretches to do, and can now use a special magical massage tool (aka a tennis ball) for advanced moves. Sarah re-measured P's back and she has filled out especially the big hollow on the near side. It seems amazing to have made such a difference in only a month, so the long term effects should be incredible.

Possum has been having a bit of a holiday with very little riding. She has had a few little hacks and is on Devil's Claw daily and I think she is a bit happier. I am still hopeful that we can get her sorted out and find a suitable dressage saddle. Then we could be back in competiton! I have entered us in the Havelock North PC one day event, but that is only on the 18th, so will see if that is too soon...

Saddles

We are very fortunate to have a wonderful saddle fitter who travels here about once a month. She is also a therapist who does a variety of things to make the horses' lives better.

At our first appointment, I got her to check out both my saddles. I have a half-share in a young horse, and I was hoping I could use the same saddles for both of them. Unfortunately, the dressage saddle is too small for me! And I love it so much! And the GP is okay but doesn't fit either horse properly. It can be adjusted with some judicious padding and lots of homework on my part - massage, stretches etc.

It seems that some of Possum's stiffness is due to her saddles digging her in the back. Logical, I know, but sometimes it takes a professional to get you to see things! I have known for ages that she has severe muscle wastage at the top of her shoulder/wither area. It was probably caused by too many years in too small saddles, as typically most farmers believe one saddle can fit all horses. We have a series of stretches to do, which I have to admit I have been a bit slack about.

We had another visit on the weekend, and I got a tick on my homework (massage etc) and then more homework! Yuk, reminds me of school. I had borrowed a range of saddles from various people but none of them fitted well. Sigh, back to the drawing board/trade me... P. was quite tense and spooky, and covered everything in her fluff, as she is shedding like crazy. The therapist tried some aromatherapy oils and made a blend up for her that has lavender, clary sage and marjoram which seemed to calm her down well.