| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 10/04/2005 10:01:05 AM PDT by Admin Moderator, reason:
New Thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1496423/posts |
Posted on 07/14/2005 3:23:55 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Previous threads:
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SIX
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
'Cause I didn't want to ride one of them sissy English saddles. ;~D
But seriously, I didn't use Hair's English enough to ~really~ develop any kind of preference, we just kind of decided that I would ride Western when I got my own.
People I know who have switched from Western to English remark that they feel like there's nothing to hang on to... I don't know if they just mean fewer handles or if they also mean there is less cantle and less to 'grip' with for the leg and seat.
I'm gonna guess that at first it will feel foreign, but that you'll get used to it in time. You know I'm a chicken, I don't want to fall off, and I feel like I stay pretty balanced in it. You may have to use your seat differently to arrive at security.
My personal preference, having not ridden western much is that in a Western saddle I felt the horse was stiff and plastic, like a merry-go-round horse. I'm not saying the horse actually was stiffer, only that I couldn't feel the horse as closely, which includes feeling the coiling of developing tension before a horse moves, in order to anticipate the next move. I also felt like the horn was in the way of leaning forward or even petting the horse on the neck.
'My personal preference, having not ridden western much is that in a Western saddle I felt the horse was stiff and plastic, like a merry-go-round horse. I'm not saying the horse actually was stiffer, only that I couldn't feel the horse as closely, which includes feeling the coiling of developing tension before a horse moves, in order to anticipate the next move. I also felt like the horn was in the way of leaning forward or even petting the horse on the neck."
That's why I use a bareback pad on Tuffy and always rode bareback growing up. It's so funny that you said that, I was just talking about that exact thing last night with Mandy.
Here's the other anecdote I am thinking about on this topic, and it may or may not help.
Bob got in my old Stubben saddle once. It was one of those relatively flat saddles you speak of, and all smooth slippery leather, much less saddle than you're thinking of now, but it was the saddle I was used to and I loved it.
Well he wobbled around up there and clung to the horse's mane and said he felt like he was no better than bareback. Now, to be fair, the saddle was way too small for him. He'd seen me stay on the horse, galloping and jumping and on trail, and he made the decision then, that people who would ride English especially on trail, were just much better riders than Western riders. Now, I don't necessarily think that's true of course, but it's a compliment he has given me a few times since, when it's come up. When people ask he'll say things like "She's a helluva good rider, she rides trail in the little English saddle" so that makes me feel good, though I usually object humbly ;~D
But that's what a lot of people think, who have very mileage or experience in them. He's not the only one who said he felt there was nothing to hang on to.
The stiff plastic part, or the horn being in the way?
My last sentence up there should say "But that's what a lot of people think, who have very LITTLE mileage or experience in them. He's not the only one who said he felt there was nothing to hang on to.
"The stiff plastic part, or the horn being in the way?"
All of the above. I don't like stuff being between me and my horse. Don't get me wrong, I won't ride just any horse bareback, I have to trust them. And I don't ride bareback out on the trails, if I fell off I'd have trouble getting back on. I'm too old and fat to swing up like I used to.
yeah - I have a hard enough time now finding a stump to stand on to remount on trail... getting on bareback would mean walkin' out ;~D
We're gonna go on a mountain road trip today and need to get on the road. See you all tonight!
Becky, my DIL rides an australian endurance saddle on endurance - similar to this -
Bob rides a western trail saddle on trails and a cordura trail saddle (western) on endurance.
I ride the cordura on trails or an old Billy Cook cutting saddle.
I think that a western saddle is more comfortable to ride over long distances and where you are spending long hours in the saddle. The australian saddles are built on the same principle - long hours working stock. Having a horn is convenient for hanging extra saddle bags and especially for mounting and dismounting after a lot of hours :) when the energy and bounce are gone and only grit is going to get you to the end of the ride.
The english forces me to have a better seat. I can't lean forward because of the horn, it catches my clothes and it hurts when my pelvic bone hits it. It also gives me a larger seat. The bad thing is that I have to step higher to mount.
I'm on my way to Pet Smart to buy the Wintec.
Becky
I'm pretty comfortable with an english or western saddle. I prefer english, but it's also what I'm used to. I don't like all the leather in between myself and the horse. I feel secure in english and western on the trail.. the only place where I don't feel entirely secure in english is when I'm going down a really steep slope. But I'm sure that the more that I do it, the more that I'll get used to it! :-)
She really likes the australian. She tried to get my husband to get one but he tried hers and says it puts him too far forward.
Let's see a pic!
Hey anyone there. I need some help putting this thing together. The cinch has two buckles. The saddle has three straps?????Where does it go.
Becky
And when you put on the stirrup straps, does the buckle go in the back or the front?
What length girth do you have?
Becky
The three straps are called billets. One buckle goes on each of the outside billets. The middle one is there incase one of them breaks. The non elastic side goes on the right. The elastic side goes on the left.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.