Horsemanship Journal Library

If you live on this planet and are into western riding, you are bound to have seen an effortless reining pattern that flows from one manoeuvre to another. Impressive, isn’t it?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to any of the questions below, it might be time to take a look at your horse’s saddle fit, writes Maria Owens.

The initial signs of pain from poor saddle fit can be exhibited in various behaviours when catching, tacking up and riding. Horses only have behaviour to communicate with, so if your horse’s expression changes for the worse when you approach with tack or he tries to bite or kick when putting his saddle on, it may be because he is experiencing pain. Other behaviours under saddle such as bucking, rearing, napping and stiffness may also indicate pain.

Coaching is a term that is creeping into the equestrian community, and many people assume that it is just another name for training. However, coaching is a discipline in its own right.

AQHA introduced the new ‘performance halter’ class a few years ago to recognise those horses that had earned Performance Register of Merits (ROMs). To encourage people to show these horses in halter classes, separating them initially from the larger, more muscular, ‘pure’ halter horses that you find in the USA.