I have a seven year old mare that has never been started under saddle. She is very cinchy, how do I handle this touchy problem?

The term cinchy generally means a horse dislikes the way you are tightening the cinch or girth will saddling. You said your horse has not been started under saddle yet. She may not know what a saddle or cinch is. Placing a saddle on your horse's back and tightening a cinch can be very scary to her. You would not like it if someone put a device on you without explaining what it is. When training it is very important to provide a good associate with all experiences. This can be done by introducing the cinch for a moment and taking it away before your horse becomes frighten. While tightening the cinch reward your horse and offer treats.

You may have to return to the beginning and introduce the saddle pad slowly and then taking it away. Do not just put the pad on the horse's back and leave it. I have found that horses will accept an object quicker when it comes and goes away a few times. Horses think once an object is on their back that it will never go away, so they begin to panic. Repeat the same procedure when you introduce the saddle until your horse is comfortable. Do not over tighten the cinch, have your horse wear the saddle lightly cinched while being handled or worked.

Avoid tightening the cinch all at once, this is very irritating to horses. Instead tighten it just enough so the saddle stays on, bridle her and then tighten the cinch again, lead her where you want to mount and tighten it once more. Because the problem has been created you may have to spread the tightening out even more. Also try not to make a big deal out of tightening the cinch, slip it in without her noticing and wait for her to breath.