Recently I purchased a new saddlepad and neoprene girth. So one nice sunny day I went out to the barn and saddled ol' CherokeeSun up to try out the new struff.

When I had finished getting everything snugged down I gave it a few good tugs to see how it felt. Well the whole rig started to slide toward me each time I gave a good pull. After a couple of more adjustments and then stepping into the stirup for a test of my weight on the rig, it felt secure enough to ride.

I led CherokeeSun to the enclosed acre paddock I use for training and mounted up. We walked, then trotted and then loped a little and everything still felt reasonably good. I dismounted to check the rigging just make sure everything was still tight.

As I put my boot in the stirup and started to mount up the whole rigging slid siedways !! I tried to throw my leg over the cantle with the thought of pushing the rig back the other way, fat chance ! I fell flat onto my back with a resounding thud AND my boot still in the stirup !

I thought for sure the horse would spook and take off dragging me. But nope, he just stood there looking at me with that , boy ain't you stupid, look on his face. So I started talking to him in a low soft voice as I removed my boot from the stirup and stood up.

Next I removed the rig and petted him, all the while telling him what a GOOd horse he is. I put the stuff back on him, cinched it all down again, remounted and spent the next 30 minutes riding with no problems.

After I took him back to the barn and gave him a good brush down I went up to the house , laid down on the floor under the ceiling fan. I assumed the fetal psition and chanted...thankyouLordthankyouLord thankyouLord for about 10 minutes .

Oldcowboy