06/05/2026
Horses that pin their ears, hold their breath, raise their head, and swish their tail when being saddled are expressing discomfort, not poor behavior. Some things to consider are poor saddle fit, ulcers, pain, or over-tightening of the cinch. When cinching or tightening your girth, it is best to do it slowly in two to three repetitions so the horse can acclimate to the pressure from your girth or cinch.