Posts Tagged ‘stirrup leathers’

Some casual English riders today often wear breeches and a t-shirt. The dress of most English riders, however, has changed very little over the past 100 years Although a careful observer might notice subtle differences in color and styling, the name of the game in English apparel is still conservative, especially in the show ring. Let me introduce you to the basics of English schooling and show clothes.

English Schooling and Trail Clothes

English riders who are schooling their horses or riding out on the trail dress much more casually than when they are in the show ring. Schooling apparel for English riders includes the following:

Helmets: English riders who are schooling their horses usually wear lightweight schooling helmets that come in a variety of colors.

Shirts: Today everything from long-sleeve shirts to t-shirts to tank tops are a go for schooling in English apparel.

Breeches or tights: Breeches are the traditional riding pants of the English discipline. They need to be stretchy and sometimes have a padded seat and knee patches. Some riders prefer riding tights to breeches for schooling, however. Riding tights are usually less expensive and more comfortable. The tights usually have pads on the insides of the knees.

Boots and chaps: English riders who are schooling wear tall boots or paddock boots (boots that come just above the ankle). If they wear paddock boots, they will also need something to protect their legs from rubbing on the stirrup leathers, which is the strap that attaches the stirrup to the saddle. This protection comes in the style of full chaps, which cover the leg from the hip to the ankle, or half chaps, which cover the leg from just below the knee to the ankle. The preferred and longer lasting chaps are made of premium split suede or cowhide.

English Show Clothes

English show apparel is much more formal than schooling apparel. Although elements such as the color and style of the helmet in hunt seat and lower-level dressage may change slightly, the basics always remain the same.

Head wear: Hunt seat and lower-level dressage riders wear black velvet-covered helmets. Upper-level dressage riders wear a derby.

Shirts: English riders wear show shirts under a jacket. These tailored shirts are designed to allow extra motion needed in the shoulders for jumping. They button down the front, have a collar, and are usually white or, if colored, are a very light pink or blue. Some shirts are short sleeved while others are sleeveless.

Jackets: All English show riders wear jackets. Hunt seat and lower-level dressage riders wear tailored jackets in solids or pinstripes. Upper-level dressage riders wear a black shadbelly which is a tailored, short-waisted jacket, often double-breasted, with tails. These days, however, the cheat is that it is often made in 100% polyester.

Breeches: All English riders wear breeches for the show ring. These breeches, too, are form-fitting, and they extend just below the calf. In hunt seat and lower-level dressage, the color is admittedly prone to trends, including everything from rust to hunter green. Tan is usually a staple, although some among the rather self-conscious believe it’s a good idea to go to a show and scope it out to see what’s fashionable in their region. Upper-level dressage riders, however, reliably wear white breeches.

Boots: Hunt seat and dressage riders will always wear tall, black boots for shows.

Gloves: In the show ring, English riders usually wear black gloves, although upper-level dressage riders wear white gloves.

English horse schooling and show clothes don’t change much through the years. That may account for the abiding place they hold in the popular imagination of the sport of English hunting and formal dressage.

Tanya Vorgan believes in the easiest way to learn — to teach others as she is learning. Her many interests have lead her to many exciting experiences, but sometimes nothing compares to the richness of quiet moments in which to reflect and grow. Tanya is also among those committed to the never-ending quest for the perfect cup of coffee, which for her begins with the best bar none Bunn coffee makers.

She recommends going for the richest black gold possible with a Bunn coffee grinder and your choice of coffee bean. You won’t believe the difference fresh ground coffee in your kitchen will make.

Author: Tanya Vorgan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Programmable Multi-cooker

Whether it is for vitamins, minerals, fats or protein, horse supplements are very common. Requiring only water, a salt or mineral lick and quality forage, a healthy horse usually does not need supplements. Work, athletic or breeding horses, as well as aged or infirm horses may require supplements to give their bodies the proper nutrition. Otherwise supplements should not be used as a substitute for proper nutrition.

There are a plethora of commercially available horse supplements. dressage bridles Digestive aids, colic prevention, electrolytes, hoof supplements, growth development, energy supplements, blood building and vitamins and mineral supplements are just a few of the options. Also common are added fat and protein supplements. The most common type of protein added is soybean meal, although cottonseed, peanut and linseed meals are also given to horses. A good fat source given to sources is vegetable oil of varying types, corn oil being the most popular. Rice bran, too, is used as a fat supplement, for it contains 20% fat in addition to fiber. Provided it’s ground up, flaxseed offers beneficial fat to horses as well.

The average horse in good health will not need supplements. Access to water, forage and minerals is really all they need. Horses that engage in work, athletics or breeding may need something extra in terms of nutrition. treeless saddles Aged or infirm horses may also need something extra that normal nutrition cannot provide. As with horse feed, the use of supplements is dependent on the horse’s size.

Horse owners must have a thorough understanding of equine nutrition. Horses have particular eating habits and their digestion is suited to feeding in certain ways. For proper horse health, supplements may or may not be necessary. Supplemental forms of vitamins, minerals, fats and proteins are all available for horse, although they are not a substitute for a healthy, natural diet. Given constant access to fresh water, minerals and good forage like grass or hay, horses in good health need nothing else. Work, athletic or stud horses, however, may need supplements to fuel depleted bodies.

Horse Bridles

To reduce the potential risk associated with equestrian stirrups, safety stirrups offer an alternative. Whether attached to western or English saddles, stirrups can be dangerous for a couple of reasons. Horse Saddles A rider’s feet is able to slip through should the stirrups be too wide. On the other hand, the feet could get stuck between the irons if they are too narrow. Either way, should the rider fall off the mount, the danger of being dragged increases.

Safety stirrups are partially unattached at the top rather than completely enclosing the foot within the irons and the tread. They are designed to break away and release the foot in any direction should the rider fall. equine supplements They are meant to be comfortable for both horse and rider, with wide tread and an ergonomic design.

Some designs are such that the stirrups break away if there is too much lateral movement or if the rider’s toes point upwards. If this happens, the stirrups release the feet so the dismounted rider is not dragged.

Some stirrups are fitted with tapaderos, a different type of safety device. These are leather cups, also called toe stoppers, that close the front end of each stirrup and prevent the feet from slipping through. comfort bridle

Because of the moving parts on some safety stirrups, they may wear down more quickly. Stirrups that require replacement parts are less desirable for horseback riders. Other safety stirrup designs require too much force to release the stirrups, making them ineffective should a rider fall. If a rider’s legs to do not move in a particular direction, their feet may still become hung up. Another problem involves safety stirrups not breaking away when a rider’s toes point upwards at too great a degree. Should the rider’s toes turn to the side of the stirrup, it fails to release. Many different designs have been experimented with in order to offer a safety stirrup that is always effective.

Saddlery is a precise craft, for there is a saddle to suit every need, whether for work, recreation or exhibition. Horse Bridles Of the varieties that are found within equestrian circles are dressage saddles, treeless saddles, English saddles and the Western saddle. double bridle With each serving a specific purpose, they can be seen wherever horses are present.

The type traditionally used by the constantly working cattle rancher is the western saddle, the kind made legendary by its association with the American cowboy. It comes from the saddle of the Spanish vaqueros, early horse trainers and cattle ranchers. The western saddle is set apart from others by its high arching pommel and cantle, its fixed stirrups, and its horn, a feature that historically was used to hold the end of a rope, the other end of which was around the neck of a member of the herd. dressage bridles The western saddle is used today in all manner of rodeo competitions such as roping and barrel racing.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the English saddle. Used in the English riding style, this saddle is found in most Olympic and equestrian competitions, although it is not limited to England. The English saddle is lighter than the western version with no horn and detachable stirrups should the rider fall. Allowing the horse the most movement and freedom to jump and run, this saddle was used historically during fox hunting. Today, English saddles are used variously in show jumping, polo, horseracing, and dressage.

Other saddle types include dressage saddles and treeless saddles. Translated as “training”, dressage is a discipline that demonstrates the efficient yet seemingly effortless movement of the horse through exercises. Lightweight and simple, dressage saddles have straight cut side flaps and a deep seat. Riders thus have very close contact with the horse and are able to cue its movements exactly. Another type, treeless saddles have a fiberglass pommel and cantle and come with a foam-padded leather seat. Also called a bareback pad, they are suited for horses with wide backs and also provide for close contact with the horse.