COnsiderations for a horse with flat withers?

Heavenly Jumper · 01-12-2006, 03:15 PM

This mare I'm interested in has a very small, almost flat withers. Is there anything I'll have to do differently, or take into consideration with a withers like that?

Super_Trooper · 01-12-2006, 03:17 PM

A better bareback ride!!!

Saddle fit...saddles may tend to move around alot more if your horse is mutten withered.

Other then that...I cant see any "problems" with it.

Heavenly Jumper · 01-12-2006, 03:20 PM

Anything is better than the horse I've been riding. He has an AXE BLADE for a withers, my crotch hurts SOOO bad after I try to ride him bareback! Needless to say, I only did that once...

Super_Trooper · 01-12-2006, 03:21 PM

Yikes....ya...I had a really high withered TB and OUCH!! NO thanks!

Sandra-A1 · 01-12-2006, 03:57 PM

This might answer your question:

Quote:

The Withers

Mutton withers:

The horse has flat and wide withers, from short spines projecting off the 8th-12th vertebrae.

Seen in any breed, most commonly in Arabians and American Quarter Horses.

The withers are an important attachment for ligaments and muscles that extend head, neck, shoulder, and back vertebrae, and are also insertion point for muscles that open ribs for breathing. If mutton withered, the horse has less range of motion when extending the head and back muscles, so is less able to elevate its back with its head and neck extended, which affects ability for collection.

Difficult to hold on saddle. If saddle slides forward, it can put weight on the forehand, interfering with balance and restrict the shoulder movement by saddle and rider movement, causing shortened stride, interfering or forging.

The horse is often difficult to fit with a driving harness
Pleasure riding and non-jumping activities are best for the horse

Heavenly Jumper · 01-12-2006, 04:06 PM

How can I prevent her saddle from shifting, standard crupper my only option?

P.S. thank you Sandra, you are a light always!

SuZQuzie · 01-12-2006, 04:11 PM

Wide tree saddle is a must.

There is this tail thing that I see witherless ponies using alot. I forgot what it's called, bah!

horsey_chick_44 · 01-12-2006, 04:52 PM

A horse with a flat wither is usually over weight and about to founder. Start off with bare back riding. Heaps and heaps of trotting.. Less feed too. Try and put her in a paddock with less grass if possible.

Now, you'll notice her wither coming back within about 3 weeks.. You can then put a saddle on.. Keep doing alot of trotting work. It's really important..

Be very cautious of her rug. The rug will be rubbing alot on a flat wither.. Put padding there, and a bib even.. Please be very cautious with this.

My QH used to have no wither, and i thought it was just the way he was, but after i got him looking great and really fit, he now has formed a very noticable wither.

JBandRio · 01-12-2006, 05:13 PM

A wide tree is not necessarily a must. You can't fit the saddle only to the withers. A horse can truly take a medium tree and have mutton withers.

SuZQuzie · 01-12-2006, 07:10 PM

Hmm... interesting.

All a remember was riding a pony with no withers in a regular-treed saddle and having to "abort" as the saddle would slip under her belly. I did get a new saddle eventually.

01-12-2006, 03:15 PM	#1
Heavenly Jumper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Camden County GA Posts: 13,097 Images: 1242 Blog Entries: 203	COnsiderations for a horse with flat withers? This mare I'm interested in has a very small, almost flat withers. Is there anything I'll have to do differently, or take into consideration with a withers like that? __________________ My husband is away...if I am crabby, whiney or generally unpleasant, I apologize. Being a Navy wife is the hardest thing I've ever done...and I do it for you.

01-12-2006, 03:17 PM	#2
Super_Trooper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BC Canada Posts: 9,472 Images: 77	A better bareback ride!!! Saddle fit...saddles may tend to move around alot more if your horse is mutten withered. Other then that...I cant see any "problems" with it. __________________ True commitment begins when you reach the point of not knowing how you could possibly go on, and deciding to do it anyway! http://b1.lilypie.com/mCKWm7/.png

01-12-2006, 03:20 PM	#3
Heavenly Jumper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Camden County GA Posts: 13,097 Images: 1242 Blog Entries: 203	Anything is better than the horse I've been riding. He has an AXE BLADE for a withers, my crotch hurts SOOO bad after I try to ride him bareback! Needless to say, I only did that once... __________________ My husband is away...if I am crabby, whiney or generally unpleasant, I apologize. Being a Navy wife is the hardest thing I've ever done...and I do it for you.

01-12-2006, 03:21 PM	#4
Super_Trooper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BC Canada Posts: 9,472 Images: 77	Yikes....ya...I had a really high withered TB and OUCH!! NO thanks! __________________ True commitment begins when you reach the point of not knowing how you could possibly go on, and deciding to do it anyway! http://b1.lilypie.com/mCKWm7/.png

01-12-2006, 04:06 PM	#6
Heavenly Jumper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Camden County GA Posts: 13,097 Images: 1242 Blog Entries: 203	How can I prevent her saddle from shifting, standard crupper my only option? P.S. thank you Sandra, you are a light always! __________________ My husband is away...if I am crabby, whiney or generally unpleasant, I apologize. Being a Navy wife is the hardest thing I've ever done...and I do it for you.

01-12-2006, 04:11 PM	#7
SuZQuzie Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SoCal/Central Coast Posts: 2,939 Images: 526 Blog Entries: 205	Wide tree saddle is a must. There is this tail thing that I see witherless ponies using alot. I forgot what it's called, bah! __________________ *-Suzie* Mazaire (Ed - 14yo dutch WB) Dad's Shiny Penny (Penny - 15yo TB) RIP Yauvani Proud Member of the Eventers Club

01-12-2006, 04:52 PM	#8
horsey_chick_44 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Australia, Victoria (in the country) Posts: 659 Images: 36	A horse with a flat wither is usually over weight and about to founder. Start off with bare back riding. Heaps and heaps of trotting.. Less feed too. Try and put her in a paddock with less grass if possible. Now, you'll notice her wither coming back within about 3 weeks.. You can then put a saddle on.. Keep doing alot of trotting work. It's really important.. Be very cautious of her rug. The rug will be rubbing alot on a flat wither.. Put padding there, and a bib even.. Please be very cautious with this. My QH used to have no wither, and i thought it was just the way he was, but after i got him looking great and really fit, he now has formed a very noticable wither.

01-12-2006, 05:13 PM	#9
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 19,666 Images: 121 Blog Entries: 12	A wide tree is not necessarily a must. You can't fit the saddle only to the withers. A horse can truly take a medium tree and have mutton withers. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - Rio feels good - he bounced an in-and-out

01-12-2006, 07:10 PM	#10
SuZQuzie Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SoCal/Central Coast Posts: 2,939 Images: 526 Blog Entries: 205	Hmm... interesting. All a remember was riding a pony with no withers in a regular-treed saddle and having to "abort" as the saddle would slip under her belly. I did get a new saddle eventually. __________________ *-Suzie* Mazaire (Ed - 14yo dutch WB) Dad's Shiny Penny (Penny - 15yo TB) RIP Yauvani Proud Member of the Eventers Club

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