Working with Moon again.

ButtonHerder

Loving the herd life
Joined
Dec 23, 2020
Messages
204
Reaction score
474
Points
163
Location
Canada
My horse Moon cut her leg last June, I have a thread on here with pictures. I’ve only ridden her once since then (a week or so ago) and just done some lighter ground work and liberty. I’m going to start getting her back in shape, so I can hopefully ride her like I used to soon. I will start slow, because she’s (if her previous owner was right about age) 20ish. I’m just concerned about hurting her because of her sway back, and her feet, which I will post pictures of. I'm not very heavy, and she’s around 900 I think (since the last time we measured her. Looking for advice on if you think me riding will hurt her, or advice on getting her back in shape. Thanks!
ETA: I wasn’t doing any ground work or liberty while she was recovering, just recently.
 

Field Bee

Overrun with beasties
Joined
Dec 27, 2020
Messages
50
Reaction score
91
Points
83
Location
Northern NY
My horse Moon cut her leg last June, I have a thread on here with pictures. I’ve only ridden her once since then (a week or so ago) and just done some lighter ground work and liberty. I’m going to start getting her back in shape, so I can hopefully ride her like I used to soon. I will start slow, because she’s (if her previous owner was right about age) 20ish. I’m just concerned about hurting her because of her sway back, and her feet, which I will post pictures of. I'm not very heavy, and she’s around 900 I think (since the last time we measured her. Looking for advice on if you think me riding will hurt her, or advice on getting her back in shape. Thanks!
ETA: I wasn’t doing any ground work or liberty while she was recovering, just recently.
When I was a kid, we had a sway back gelding because nobody wanted him. I can remember my mother cut a thick foam pad for under a light saddle and we would pleasure and trail ride him just fine. He was one of those horses that was gentle and had kind eyes. I think you could lunge Moon with her saddle on for a while and see how she does. As she tones up a bit and up her feed a little with wet beet shreds you can start light rides.
 

Alaskan

Herd Master
Joined
May 9, 2017
Messages
5,366
Reaction score
12,588
Points
553
Location
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
I have no experience with a sway backed horse..

But I would first address the feet.

Personally I am a huge fan of ground work. Working on manners, general leading, and then round pen work. And only after all of that, do you start saddle work.

If you don't have a round pen, then a lunge line works fine.

But first the feet... you shouldn't do anything until the feet are fixed.
 

ButtonHerder

Loving the herd life
Joined
Dec 23, 2020
Messages
204
Reaction score
474
Points
163
Location
Canada
B61CC681-106E-46EB-B14A-457F69593883.jpeg
 

Latest posts

Top