Flatwork with Echo

If you think a good fitting saddle and proper dental work won't make a big difference in your horse, THINK AGAIN!! Echo used to hold a lot of tension through her neck and back and wouldn't offer to stretch very often under saddle. She also used to get so tense at the canter with her head high up in the air and it was almost like sitting on a pogo stick. She wouldn't collect or slow down for the life of me. I then invested in a new western saddle with full quarter horse bars, instead of my normal semi-quarter horse bars and MAN did it make a difference. Echo also just recently turned 4, so that meant it was time for her first dental! She ended up having a wolf tooth removed and some maintenance work done on her other teeth. That also made a MASSIVE difference in her attitude under saddle! Ever since making these two changes, she is now so much more relaxed under saddle. She stretches her neck down almost constantly, and her canter is suddenly significantly quieter and at ease! The tension in her jaw and neck has also almost completely disappeared! With that being said, never underestimate the power of a good fitting saddle and a quick visit from your local vet for dental work!