Posts Tagged ‘horse and rider’

I was just wondering what you’d have to do to stop such a horse. I saw one recently and the rider was screaming and shouting for help and the horse was just bolting towards on-coming traffic as fast as it could and I’ve no idea what happened because horse and rider were out of sight in no time at all. So, how would a runaway horse be stopped?

I won’t pretend for a minute to be a saddler but I do know what I like. Being tall I know from experience how difficult it can be to get a good saddle that fits. Here are some pointers about the types of saddles that are available and features of saddles that could make the difference between a comfortable ride and one that puts your safety at risk.

Types of Saddle

Broadly speaking (in the west) there are two types of saddle – the ‘English’ Saddle and ‘Stock’ Saddle, better known as the ‘Western’ saddle.

English saddles are used for different ‘types’ of horse riding all over the world, not just in the UK. There are many styles of saddle with different features for the different types of riding activities such as eventing, dressage, show jumping, hunting, racing, polo and everyday hacking. For example, dressage saddles are designed in such a way to offer excellent support for the rider’s sitting position.

Western Saddles were originally designed for use on horses in cattle ranches – they differ in looks from the padded English saddles which tend to be more flat, by having a very distinctive horn on the front of the saddle which was originally used for roping cattle. The western saddle doesn’t have any padding and is used in conjunction with a saddle blanket.

So the type of activity a rider engages in will determine the saddle(s) they need. Most importantly a correctly fitted saddle for horse and rider is essential to ensure comfort and optimum performance. General purpose saddles are available to cover most riding activities except racing but if you intend specialising or competing at a high level it would be advisable to get a specialised saddle accordingly.

Picking the right saddle

The length of the seat and the rider’s leg position will make the difference between a saddle being comfortable or not and it will affect balance and ultimately safety when riding. There are some saddle features to consider and some of these are detailed below but generally speaking the only way to ensure proper fit and comfort is to sit on it and if possible take a ride using it before you buy!

If you have long legs it is going to be more difficult to find saddles that fit you. Firstly, if you’ve a long hip to knee leg length then you will end up having to have a very ‘forward cut’ saddle to accommodate your leg, with short stirrups. The most forward cut saddles are cross-country saddles or event saddles. The degree by which a saddle is forward cut can vary tremendously so again try before you buy.

Saddle Features

The next consideration is down to personal preference – what size and shape blocks and thigh supports are best for you and your chosen discipline. The block is the padding that falls behind the rider’s lower leg, which helps to keep it in place and stabilise the rider and knee. Thigh rolls are the padding on an English saddle that is right under the knee and in front of the thigh that again helps to give the rider more support.

One good feature of quite a few synthetic saddles is that you can adjust the position of the blocks because they are attached by velcro. However, with these adjustable blocks you need to have a second flap rather than single flap over the top to cover the Velcro. It is worth bearing this in mind – you may want to determine whether you want a single or double flap first (see later in this article) before you make your mind up about adjustable blocks.

Most single flap saddles come with thigh rolls. The idea of these is not so they trap your thigh; they shouldn’t rest against your thigh when you sit in the saddle. They are only supposed to come into action if you shift forward against them or if you lean against them when galloping. Thigh rolls do come in varying sizes; smaller ones can be seen on the Momentum saddles or larger ones on saddles from Antares or Devecoux – these tend to be custom-made – at a price.

Many saddles have integrated calf blocks. These are positioned on the back of the flap i.e. behind the calf. Personally I find that if these are under the flap of a double flap saddle the shape is often too softly undulating and the block actually pushes your calf away from the saddle instead of ‘blocking’ it in. As a contrast calf blocks on a single flap saddle very much act as a barrier and you know when your leg hits them.

Now for the single verses double flap debate… having ridden in both types of saddle I prefer single flap saddles although they tend to be more expensive. My reasoning for this is that the blocks on a single flap saddle are on the outside so they are far more defined and therefore give more feel. The reality is that the degree of ‘feel’ through a single flap is greater as you are actually sitting closer to the horse. However, some people prefer double flap saddles for breaking in youngsters for example because with a double flap young horses feel less movement from the rider and are less likely to panic.

Now for something riders often don’t appreciate about close contact saddles. It is important to understand that close contact saddles use foam instead of flocking in the panels so they cannot be adjusted by re-flocking or topping up the flocking as one would normally do from time to time. It is necessary to make adjustments to fit using saddle pads instead, which come in many different types and sizes. The set up at the pommel is also slightly different so that you sit closer to the horse. It makes a difference to your ride so if you get the chance, sit in a non-close contact saddle; then sit in a close contact one so you can assess the difference yourself.

A misconception is that all single flap saddles are close contact and double flap saddles aren’t. This isn’t actually true – you can get single flap saddles that aren’t close contact and double flap saddles that are close contact however they are quite rare… worth a hunt if you feel strongly about it though.

Conclusion

So, to sum up – a saddle fit for the purpose and fitted well with the size and shape features you want will make a significant difference to your (horse and rider) comfort, safety and performance – don’t jeopardize this. Buy good quality saddles and use a saddler that is an expert in their trade.

Debbie works for equiShopping.com, an Equestrian portal based in the UK which operates across Europe – see http://www.equishopping.com/uk/.

The site offers an equestrian only comparison shopping facility for thousands of equestrian products for the horse, rider and stable and equestrian classified ads for horses for sale across Europe and beyond.

For Equestrian retailers equiShopping is an on-line route to market – you can visit the equiShopping Merchant Centre for more information about this.

Author: Debbie Burnett
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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I was just wondering what you’d have to do to stop such a horse. I saw one recently and the rider was screaming and shouting for help and the horse was just bolting towards on-coming traffic as fast as it could and I’ve no idea what happened because horse and rider were out of sight in no time at all. So, how would a runaway horse be stopped?

I am writing an article about life in 19th century Poland. This type of riding is for necessity, not horse racing.

Horse riding can be both exhilarating and frustrating sometimes during the same ride. A failure to appreciate and understand the basics of horse temperament or riding mechanics can make the experience less than enjoyable. The opposite is just as true, having a genuine interest and respect for the horse and its capabilities coupled with a natural or acquired aptitude for communication and riding techniques then you are likely find horseback riding an exciting and relaxing leisure pursuit.

In order to develop effective communication between horse and rider the first and most important aspect is simply TRUST. A trusting relationship developed on the ground (through ground work) enables you to develop an understanding of your horse’s attitude, behaviour and demeanour. This work helps to learn whether your horse is is shy and needs encouragement, bold and forward and so requires a confident rider, or are they compliant and so able to follow your direction and leads.

One of the major areas to work on whilst on the ground is the area of ‘respect for space’. This applies to both the horse’s respect for your space and your respect for theirs. Physical touch is a great manner in which to establish a pleasing relationship between the horse and yourself–for example, rubbing the horse’s shoulder, back, and head– then progress to applying pressure to instruct the horse to move into or away from your space. In addition to ground work, riders will benefit greatly from an understanding of horse physiology and mechanics (how they move), I their communication efforts with their horse.

Dressage is the art of training the horse through the rider employing a variety of aids such as legs, hands, seat, spurs and whips by which to communicate with the horse via negative and positive reinforcement (comfort and discomfort). For example, applying pressure from your legs urges the horse to move, while placing your legs in a different place tells the horse to hold its position. You can also use your seat to slow the horse or push the horse in one direction or another.

Understanding the horse’s behaviour ahead of time allows you, as the rider, to anticipate the horse’s reactions and conduct. For instance, if a horse normally appears willing and ready to work, but on another day exhibits anger and reluctance, then you should consider that something is wrong–either with the horse or with you, the rider. Anticipating the horse’s reactions can help you decipher what aids to use, and how to stay one step ahead of the horse.

Riders should remember that horses only do things for to reason; to obtain comfort or avoid pain. This is the primary focus of any training with horses; making the position or situation we want the most comfortable for the horse, and any other reaction that we do not want uncomfortable for the horse. Riders should remember that rather than blame the horse, they should realize that a misbehaving horse is often the result of a rider who is not effectively communicating.

Find more information at http://everythingbutthehorse.net

Author: Robert Curtin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride. Or so the old saying goes. However, wishes were horses but not horse supplies as well, then the beggars in question would not be riding.

To begin with, anyone who wishes to ride a horse, will need horse supplies in the form of tack. Even the roughest rider who enjoys bareback riding will require a bridle, and most of us would prefer to have a saddle between us and the horse’s spine.

Most saddlers will stock a variety of bridles and saddles, along with a selection of different types of bit, depending on the needs of you and your horse. Other tack items available at a good retailer of horse supplies should include halters, cruppers and breastplates. Other horse supplies are more concerned with the horse’s comfort and well-being.

A horse kept stabled will require good quality food, ranging from the traditional hay and oats to more modern pellets and grain mixes. Racehorses and show horses in particular will require very high quality, high energy feed and supplements in order to perform at their peak.

A horse kept outdoors in pasture will also require hay and other feed supplements, especially over winter. A horse kept in pasture will also require a cover to protect it from the elements, and occasionally an additional neck rug.

Even if you are using your horse for everyday hacking rather than competitions, you will still require a few more items in the way of horse supplies. Grooming is a pleasure for both horse and rider, and for this you will require a body brush or dandy brush at the very least.

A hoofpick is also a vital piece of equipment in order to ensure that your horse’s hooves are in good condition and to make sure that the sensitive frog of the hoof is not being damaged by stones or other hard objects.

If you choose to leave your horse “barefoot”, you will still need to care for your horse’s hooves, which sometimes means filing them – which in turn means a specialized file. Stables and fields alike need to be kept clean from droppings, so a good set of implements such as a shovel, a rake and a wheelbarrow are vital, although you do not need to buy these at a specialist horse supplies retailer – any good garden or hardware shop should stock these.

If you wish to use your horse in competitions, you will need further equipment, and extra grooming equipment such as curry combs and hoof oil are just some of the items on your list. A horse trailer is vital for transporting your mount to the location of the competition.

The feet and legs of your horse will need to be protected with brushing boots and/or bandages. As turnout is an important part of many shows and gymkhanas, you will also require a collection of ribbons for braiding into the mane according to competition standards. Western riding, of course, has its own set of equipment and requirements, chief of which is the specialized Western saddle.

Other supplies could be better referred to as “people supplies.” These are the essential items for the rider. The most important of these is the hard hat or helmet, which comes in a range of styles and types, depending on your needs and any showing you hope to be doing.

Jodhpur boots are robust enough to work outdoors in or if a horse accidentally treads on your foot, but are also shaped to slide in and out of the stirrup easily – hiking boots and Wellington boots run the risk of being caught in the stirrup, which can lead to horrific consequences in the case of a fall. These items of protective clothing, plus others, can easily be bought at a good horse supplies retailer.

For more information on horses, try visiting http://www.interestinghorses.com – a website that specializes in providing horse related tips, advice and resources including information on horse supplies.

Author: Candice Sabrina
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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In terms of horse riding, you won’t find a more widely used saddle than the English saddle. Its primary purpose is to make both you and the horse comfortable (which it does through lots of padding) as well as allow the horse to move as freely as possible for whatever task is asked of the horse, whether it be jumping or dressage.

There are several variants of English Saddle:

The All Purpose English Saddle – this saddle is perfect for jumping, hacking and showing, as well as any other purpose.

The Jumping Saddle is meant for fox hunting, cross-country and show jumping. You’ll find the flap design to be far different from the all-purpose saddle, as its unique design is meant to allow shorter stirrups, helping you to get the horse jumping effectively and without complications. Your knees will have great support thanks to the knee rolls on the flap.

The Dressage Saddle has a straighter flap than the all-purpose saddle, as well as a deeper, forward facing seat, so that the rider’s legs can be straighter and have a more upright body position as well. You’ll have more contact with the horse due to the slight lack of padding in the saddle, so the horse will be more controllable. This saddle sports longer girth straps, enabling the rider to attach the saddle closer to the elbow of the horse.

The Endurance Saddle: this saddle is perfect for endurance competitions, making horse and rider comfort a top priority. The seat and everything else has a lot of padding, and the rider’s weight is distributed through the large skirt. If you plan on being on the saddle for a long time, you can attack equipment with the many D rings.

The Showing Saddle: Showing competitions are where this saddle variant excels, it needs to be smaller, so that more of the horse’s conformation is visible, allowing the judges to see as much of it as possible. There are no knee rolls and not much padding, leaving the rider with little support.

The Western Saddle: This variant has been around for a long time, as it was meant to be a more utilitarian model, enabling cowboys to work with the horses in the old days of the frontier. It’s similar in form to the English saddle, with the addition of a horn-like knob on the saddle’s front, which was meant to secure a rope typically used on a cow. You can find Western saddles with all kinds of decorations and embellishments on it, as it’s the showiest saddle out there. Compared to the English saddle, the Western saddle has a bigger tree, and you need a saddle blanket to make up for the lack of padding on the skirt, allowing the horse to be comfortable; a cinch is used to secure the saddle to the horse, as opposed to the girth that’s used on most other saddles. If the rider falls, the stirrups won’t go with them, since they are attached directly to the saddle.

There are several Western Saddle variants:

When you are barrel racing in a rodeo, you often get the specialized Barrel Racing Saddle, which allows you to make those sharp turns. The rider is secured strongly to the animal through the high cantle and pommel and flatter seat, as well as its light weight.

The Roping Saddle: Gives you a thicker rope horn on its heavier, stronger frame.

The Endurance Saddle: the tree on this light saddle is bigger, so the rider’s weight is distributed more evenly; this way, the rider can go longer on the horse.

The Show Saddle: this saddle is meant for decoration and aesthetics almost exclusively, with deep seats and silver embellishments.

The Treeless Saddle: A fiberglass pommel and cantle provides the base for this saddle, as opposed to the rigid tree found on most models. If your horse’s back is very wide, and you need a bigger saddle to accommodate that, get this particular saddle variant.

Joy Gregory is a web designer and artist with an MSc in IT. She has a daughter with an obsession for horses and cross country events and has spent many hours in cold wet fields watching daughter and horse competing.

Visit us at Saddles and Bridles and Saddle Bridles UK for more tips on choosing and using horse tack.

Author: Joy Gregory
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Natural horse training involves the training of a horse by using it’s natural body language and movements. Practitioners are using a wide variety of different techniques to yield the result horse owners are after: a bond of trust being present between the horse and it’s rider. The bond of trust which develops between the horse and it’s rider during natural horse training is applicable across all disciplines namely: working, eventing, dressage as well as riding for pleasure.

Natural horse training and working horses

Working horses still plays a huge role in farm operations such as herding cattle and other farm animals. A horse is still the only safe method of transportation to the most remote areas as well as unstable or dangerous terrain. It is very essential that a horse traversing such an area knows how to remain calm throughout the journey. It is also essential for the rider to read subtle signs from the horse as to advert danger because horses have the ability to sense a change in conditions much quicker than humans. Only a rider that is best in-tune with his horse will be able to pick up any cues from his horse.

Natural horse training and eventing

Horses trained for eventing including dressage, show jumping and strenuous cross country races are pushed 100% to their limit and must therefore be sound. Cross country races are very dangerous as the course is composed of miles being traversed at very fast and lots of solid build jumps. Only horses being able to trust their riders fully will be successful in these competitions. This is why natural horse training is so important because it builds the trust between horse and rider so when the rider wants the horse to do something new, frightening or challenging, the horse will trust the rider enough to take the risk.

Dressage

Dressage training are known for building balance and muscle in the horse as well as trainer. Whether riding for pleasure or competition, the communication and balance established with natural horse training techniques, makes the dressage horse and rider achieve a higher level of grace and precision.

Pleasure riding

The biggest goal to for most owners is to have fun with their horses which can only happen when there is no fear present. Natural horse training absolves the fear of humans seeming unpredictable to horses and builds communication. When humans learn to speak the same language as their horse, they will find that they will be able to do almost anything with their horses.

No matter the occupation of your horse, natural horse training takes your horse to the next level by building trust, communication and stamina in horses and riders which translates to every situation.

Click Here [http://www.the-perfect-choice.com/naturalhorsetraining] to learn the easiest natural horse training techniques.

Author: Nathalie K
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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