Horse lifestyle change from flat to hills..at 20yr old!

[ahlam1399]

As the title suggests, moved from flat hacking to some quite steep and long hills, hilly country basically! How long does anyone know, did it take for your horse to get used to going downhill especially and did it dramatically change the fit of your saddle, guessing using differentt muscles, building in different places...? Started off well, took it steady, even got off to lead down hill, now there?s a point where he won?t go further downhill..so did s test and led him down in a head collar, absolutely fine..with me and saddle on board, tiny steps getting tinier until a stop and refusal! I don?t lean back, trying to stay as central to him as possible, I do give him his head for his own balance...any one had this experience and can enlighten me please? I?m thinking I?ll get the saddler out to check his fit but that?s about as far as I?ve got bar maybe he?s feeling it muscle wise/arthritis..he is getting on but hasn?t had a hard life being hammered..he?s not massively fit but not a blob either! Thanks

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