Real Rider Resource horse care blog by Draw It Out

Horse Hollowing Under Saddle: A Ride-Observation Worksheet

June 24, 2025
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A useful ride record is specific: what changed, when it happened, and what you did next. This worksheet helps you share observations with the people assessing your horse. It is not a test ride or a way to diagnose a problem yourself.

Before the session

  • Date, rider, and planned activity.
  • Recent workload, rest days, travel, and footing changes.
  • Saddle and pad used, including any recent adjustments.
  • Any unusual behavior during grooming or tacking up, recorded without repeatedly provoking it.

At the first change

  • What you noticed: posture, rhythm, movement, or a new response.
  • When it began: mounting, a transition, a turn, or another identifiable moment.
  • Whether the change appeared sudden or had been developing across sessions.
  • What you did next, including when you stopped.

Do not repeat an uncomfortable movement to complete the worksheet. If it is safe to capture an observation that is already occurring, a short video may help your care team; a description is enough when recording would add risk.

Questions to bring to the appointment

  • What should we assess before the horse returns to this work?
  • Should the saddle and rider setup be reviewed alongside the physical examination?
  • What changes should we make now, and what should we avoid changing until the assessment?
  • What signs mean I should contact you again, and when should we review progress?

Keep one change log

Write down the advice you receive and date each adjustment. Avoid changing several products, pads, and exercises at once without a plan; it becomes harder to explain what happened afterward. Record uneventful days too, so the record reflects the whole pattern.

For the broader assessment sequence, return to Hollow-Backed Horse: Comfort, Tack, and Next Steps. For the immediate response, use the quick stop-and-check guide.

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