True, he looked up in some dismay when the girth was tightened.

Not once in all his years had he been saddled.

He was used to having things loose around his waist.
The girth went still tighter.

Dexter glanced about with genuine concern.
Someone was intending to harm him.

He curved his swanlike neck and snapped savagely at the shoulder of his aggressor, who kicked him again in the aide and yelled, "Whoa, there, dang you!" Dexter subsided.