Friday, 4 October 2013

Definitely ticklish

I am glad that I saddled Ace early, because those scars are definitely ticklish under the saddle.  You can squeeze prod and poke them without reaction, but the wool in the saddle gullet is making him look back at the saddle on the side the scars are on. The saddle must be used with a thick cloth because of the airbag overlap.  So he needs to get used to it, which I'm sure he will in time.

To help him, I am increasing the other 'irritations' of being lunged with a saddle on by leaving the stirrups at half mast. I will put them right down next time.  I also stood on a high step today and leaned over and patted him on the off side, which he was quite startled by.  It's like breaking him from the start, only quicker. I'm also pulling at the girth, and rocking the saddle on his back, none of which cause much reaction.

I'm trying to keep this in perspective. All he does is look back. He doesn't buck or run away from it, and his paces continue to improve and improve. He's looking to the left where the scars are, not the right as he used to do for his back and his stomach. But I do need him to stop showing all signs of irritation before I'm prepared to get on, understandably, I think?

C
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9 comments:

  1. Claire4 October 2013 at 21:14

    entirely understandably. i wonder if a "crash test dummy" might be better to put on first - not, you understand, a person as you have been offered, but a dummy of some description that would apply enough weight to the relevant areas to mimic in some vague way your weight once on. that would enable you to gauge reaction to the weight on top of the saddle before any person risks her/him self...?

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  2. L.Williams4 October 2013 at 21:22

    My baby horse was also very ticklish on the ribs, lots of vigorous brushing and letting the stirrups flap has seemed to help!

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  3. cptrayes4 October 2013 at 21:22

    I hope that we will be able to do that bit by leaning over him Claire. I don't know anyone with a 10 st dummy, but now you have put the idea in my head, a 20kg sack of horse food wouldn't hurt, would it?

    C

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    1. Claire5 October 2013 at 20:34

      :-) just working out how to tie it on no doubt SH could think of something...

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  4. Jean4 October 2013 at 21:23

    Gotta think on this. There must be something that will make the scars less sensitive. But, as I said, with my knees, it does take time.

    Could be a gel pad might help but I don't know how one would work under your particular saddle.

    As you suggest, it's probably not a real pain issue but just an "it feels funny" kind of reaction. Still, better to deal with it from the ground than taking a chance mounted. Besides, you don't want him to have a bad experience once you ride him again.

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    1. cptrayes4 October 2013 at 21:27

      There's definitely no pain, Jean, it can only be ticklish or odd for him. Possibly because it's asymmetric, and feels different on each side.

      C

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  5. cptrayes4 October 2013 at 21:24

    LW, I'm of that persuasion myself. If it irritates do it more until it doesn't. Within reason of course :-)

    C

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  6. Jean4 October 2013 at 21:25

    Here's a link with some massage ideas:
    http://www.ehow.com/how_6568030_desensitize-surgery-scars.html

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  7. Mary Lou4 October 2013 at 23:09

    Oh yes

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