A sore back means the experience of being ridden is a negative one and will make your horse unhappy and difficul to ride.  by making sure the saddle fits properly you can help ensure your horse will go better and have a more positive attitude towards his work.  Here are some tips to help you check your saddle.

First,  make sure there is enough clearance at the withers and that the saddle does not come in contact with any part of the horse's spine.  One way to check this is to put the saddle on the horse's back without a saddle pad and see if you can see all the way through from front to the back.  Make sure there is plenty of room because the space will compress with your weight in the saddle. 

There should also be no pinching at the shoulders.  They should be able to move freely without being blocked or binding.

If you run your hand under the length of the saddle while it is on your horse's back, the pressure between the saddle and the horese's body should feel smooth and even, not tight in spots and loose in others.

Also check your girth,  It should not pinch or bind.  An ill fitting girth can contribute to saddle sores.

Remember, one of the best things you can do for your horse is have a professional come out and check how the saddle fits.  Often times even a saddle that fits poorly can be custom-fitted to your house by a professional saddle fitter for a very reasonable amount of money.  Spending $50-150 on getting your saddle fitted is still much cheaper than a new saddle or an unhappy unproductive horse.

Happy trails!

It is a cold blood, can be any solid colour.

American walking pony It is a warm blood loves hacking and is easy going 12.22hh - 14hh

New forest are a cold blood because they are use to the cold, they love hacking and very easy going, 12hh-14.2hh main colours are bay or brown.

Shetland are a cold blood pony, mainly good for hacking or Shetland racing smallest is 10hh (42 inches) biggest 11.2hh;

Mostly black, chestnut, grey or pinto.

Welsh mountain- welsh sections c,d are warm blood and a,b are cold bloods they like doing anything and they are also easy going cold bloods are up to 12.2hh and warm bloods up to 14.2hh.

Shire are definitely a cold blood because they do heavy work not light work , easy going, over 17hh

And there colours are bay, chestnut, grey or brown.

Gidran Arabian they are hot bloods which means get cold quickly in the winter and needs quite a few rugs on in the winter,

Loves hacking, tendency behaviour, 16hh-16.2hh mostly chestnut.

Hanoverian, they are a warm blood horse, loves doing dressage and are easy going, there size is 15.3hh-17hh and any solid colour.

Irish hunter- they are a warm blood, like hacking but loves jumping, easy going and colour except skewbald and piebald. There size is 15.3hh- 17.hh

1. Building the Bond

   This could happen in a stable, paddock or even the school, you and the pony/horse need a connection. The connection means, you and the pony/horse become one. There are many ways of doing this. By gentle grooming, talking softly, stroking his/her face, gentle blowing into pony/horse nostrils,( this is a sign of friendship).

2. Reinsurance

   You need to show your pony/horse, that you are his/her best friend, by being the dominate one. When your pony/horse is being a little naughty, you need to correct it with a firm voice. By doing this he/she knows you are not to be taken for a fool.

3. Leading

   When you are leading your pony/horse make sure you have a lead rope at least 12ft long. The pony/horse will not feel threatened by being connected to a longer rope, also try to hold the rope loosely and NOT near his/her neck, as tensions will rise and that is where the trouble will start and the pony/horse will feel threatened. Always stand to the side of the pony/horse NEVER in front always shoulder to shoulder.

4. Rewards

   When handling, always give him/her plenty of praise even a treat as a reward, when you have reached your target.

These simple steps will not work instantly , but with continuous work you will achieve this and from experience the reward is a fantastic feeling.