What western saddle gullet size does my horse need for barrel racing?

Hi there. First it’s important to make sure that your saddle fits properly-you aren’t pinching when you tighten your girth or tightening too quickly-both of which can cause discomfort in your mare. It really is best to have her scoped by a vet to check for ulcers, as well as an oral exam to make sure there is no pain in the mouth-sometimes they just associate pain with riding and it doesn’t matter the source of the pain (saddle, bit, etc) they just know it hurts them. Gastrogard is usually what I try first for ulcers. It is commercially available in many stores as well as online. If you suspect ulcers, you may also want to reevaluate how much grain you are feeding. If you have further questions, please feel free to ask. Hope this helps.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It should be fine to use a western saddle on Lexus. The more diverse a horse is the better. Just be sure that your cues for walk, trot, canter, stop etc are the same. I would not try to change her head carriage or way of motion though. She does need a different gait if you were to do true western pleasure on her and that may confuse the training she already has in place.

Hello. This is a possibility, especially if Rain has always stood quietly to be saddled before. First, I would try gently snugging up the cinch & walk her for a minute or two. Then cinch up another notch. Do this until your saddle is tight enough. If she tolerates this, & shows no further bad or uncomfortable behavior, then Rain may just be showing her displeasure at being cinched. Make sure there is no skin being pinched by picking up each front leg, & stretching it out in front of her. It would not hurt to try some omeprazole, but do make sure your cinch is not causing any issues. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

How do you know he is sore? Does he react when you push on his back? How long ago was the custom saddle made? Was it made by a professional saddle fitter? I would say about 95% of the time a horse's sore back is due to an improperly fitted saddle. The other times it could be a variety of things from sore hocks to unbalanced hooves to arthritis to trauma. Too hard to say just based on your description. I recommend you have your vet out to do a full lameness exam - sometimes the hocks are sore but it is not noticeable until you do flexion tests. I would also revisit the saddle issue and have a professional saddle fitter out to check the saddle. In the meantime you could employ a massage therapist and /or equine chiropractor or acupuncturist to see if they can alleviate some of his symptoms. They will not usually be able to fix the underlying cause but they can help him feel better until you can figure it out.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Many horses are cross trained in both English and Western. Riding both is fine, but if you plan to use him for competion, some horses may do better focusing on one discipline. Take your cues from him as to how easily he switches gears riding one style versus the other.

Soreness in a horse's back is definitely not uncommon, particularly as they get a little older and if they are using inappropriate tack. There are several things that can be done in order to address pain. I would not attempt to "crack" her back without having some measure of expertise in equine chiropractics. Chiropractics and acupuncture are both valuable tools for helping horses but only in the hands of a skilled practitioner. Other options would include anti-inflammatory medication like banamine, phenylbutazone, or previcox. These are all prescription drugs that would require the approval from a veterinarian. Lastly, one thing you should do regardless of your choice is to stall rest delilah for the next few days. Give her back some time to settle down in case there is any spasming. Hope this helps!

Sounds like his back is sore. The saddle may not be fitting properly. I suggest you get your vet out to check his back. If it is sore, you may have to adjust your tack. Always rule out a medical issue before assuming it is a behavior issue.