Horse Riding Arenas Provide A Place To Practice

Horse riding arenas provide a great place for beginners to practice so they learn the necessary skills before they try controlling a horse with lots of distractions in the wild or in heavy traffic. Riding a horse is not the easiest thing in the world, and horseback riding could be very dangerous if the rider does not have the appropriate skills for different venues. People have to start somewhere when learning any skill and riding a horse usually starts with the very basic skills. Someone who has never been on a horse before needs to learn how to prepare the horse for a ride. The rider needs to get the bridle in properly and the saddle on securely.

A horse riding arena allows the beginner to make sure these things are done properly in an enclosed area where the dangers are minimal. If the beginning rider has to worry about these preparations plus heavy traffic or creatures that might spook a horse, the consequences could be deadly or at least very dangerous. A proper horse riding arena allows the beginner the chance to ride around the arena without all of these distractions. A beginner also has to learn to guide the horse with the reins and make the horse move with pressure from the legs. In an arena, a student can practice these skills without worrying about a ravine that might cause the horse to go down while the rider goes over.

Skilled Riders Show Their Skills In A Horse Riding Arena

A good horse riding arena is a great place for beginners, but a horse riding arena is also a great place for those riders with advanced skills. Those who would like to jump a horse have to learn a whole new dimension. These riders are usually quite advanced before they even contemplate trying to jump the horse. Out in the wilderness, there are natural obstacles that will make a horse jump. A horse might have to jump a group of plants or a creek. Riders should practice these skills in a horse riding arena before trying the real thing.

Skilled riders also often learn the skills for dressage in an arena. A horse riding arena set up for dressage allows for good instruction and demonstration of the necessary skills. The dressage arena is set up so the instructor can use marks on the arena to communicate effectively with the student. The markings are set up in a standardized method for most of the people working on dressage skills.

Horse Riding Apparel Provides Comfort And Style

Horse riding apparel differs greatly for the people who spend some time on the back of a horse. Horse riding apparel for the cowboys who work on ranches is much different than the jockeys who ride in famous races. The cowboys on the ranches wear horse riding apparel that helps them survive in difficult conditions and horse riding apparel that makes them more comfortable. Most cowboys riding the range wear blue jeans that are nice and comfortable because they are well worn. Most cowboys spend hours every day on their horses, and their jeans do not stay new and stiff for long.

The cowboys on ranches usually wear boots that protect their feet from cactus and critters such as rattlesnakes. If a cowboy steps on a cactus without a sturdy shoe, he is going to be in pain. Horse riding apparel for a cowboy includes a good hat with a wide brim that will keep the sun out of the eyes and face. These hats are not fashion statements for a real working cowboy, but these hats are valuable to protect them from harsh conditions in the sun. Some cowboys also use chaps which are leather pieces that cover a portion of their legs and protect them from the treacherous terrain.

Some Horse Riding Apparel Comes In Silk And Velvet

Jockeys have some special horse riding apparel especially for their difficult job on the track. Like the cowboys, jockeys wear hats that are going to protect them from collision with other jockeys moving a breakneck speed and the ground if they fall off the horse. The hat will also protect their heads if they fall and the hooves of a horse come in contact with their head. The jockeys also wear special boots that protect their feet and the lower part of their legs. These boots are usually made from leather for maximum protection. Their outfits made of colorful fabric are called silks although these are not necessarily made from silk.

Horse riding apparel usually includes some type of hat and boots. Although some people need horse riding apparel for their jobs, other people just ride horses for pleasure. Many of these people include a hard hat that will protect their heads in case of an accident. A good set of boots is necessary so the foot of the rider will not slip through the stirrup. Boots also protect the legs of the rider who might get cut by surrounding vegetation as the horse and rider pass along a trail.

Horse Riding Saddles: Western Saddles May Cost More, But Are Well Worth The Money

There are Western saddles and also English saddles that one will come across when looking for horse riding saddles, and even a used Western saddle could be a good buy and worth a second thought. That is because the new Western horse riding saddles can be quite expensive and even if you veer towards a cheap model, you may end up sacrificing on quality while saving a few dollars in the process. So, rather than buying cheap synthetic or leather horse riding saddles, you may be better off buying a used Western saddle rather than a cheap and shining all new saddle that may look pretty, but may lack in quality as far as materials as well as construction are concerned. Such horse riding saddles may also not fit your horse well and thus you will end up with something that, though it is new, lacks in any proper material and functionality and is thus nothing more than a waste of good money.

Be Well Prepared

So, even though you will find a lot of variety in horse riding saddles, the next time you visit a saddle shop you should be well prepared about what you are looking for otherwise you could get confused and overwhelmed even if you have plenty of experience in riding. No doubt, having plenty to choose from is good, but it can also intimidate you, and you need to know some way of choosing the proper horse riding saddles.

If you are intending buying Western saddles, you should realize straight off that it is a decision of some importance as it involves a huge investment and so you should be sure which saddle you need. Most Western saddles have a price tag that starts at five hundred dollars and goes up further, and some may even begin at close to a thousand dollars, and though you are paying through your nose, you will still enjoy the benefits of having horse riding saddles that are safe and which will keep you and the horse happy. Thus, a Western saddle costing five hundred dollars would suit a casual rider and the more expensive ones would suit serious riders who are going to spend a lot of time in the saddle.

And, you will also need to decide whether to buy your horse riding saddles online or from a store down the lane. Even though many buyers would baulk at the thought of buying online, it is nevertheless a good option if you are savvy enough, and it also means convenience as you may not be situated close to Flat Creek Saddle Shop, Brighton Saddlery or Teskeys Saddle Shop, to name a few physical horse riding saddles shops.

So, buying horse riding saddles is something that requires being knowledgeable about different makes, types and also suiting them with your individual needs.

The Horse Saddle Sets The Style

There are two distinct horseback riding styles, and one can easily determine the style by viewing the horse saddle. Although there are some people who ride bareback, most horseback riders use a horse saddle from the Western style or the English style. The horse saddle from each style is quite different so there would be no doubt of the style. The horse saddle for Western riding is quite a bit larger than the horse saddle used for English style riding. The Western style horse saddle is used almost exclusively in the United States, but the English style horse saddle is used all over the world.

The Western style horse saddle was originally designed for cowboys working the ranges and this style horse saddle made their work more comfortable although hours on the range are rarely comfortable. The Western saddle is similar to the other major type of saddle because it is constructed on a wooden frame. Some are now made with a frame of fiberglass. Most saddles are then covered with leather in order to provide years of use to the buyer. A Western saddle is usually used with a thick pad to protect the horse. A cinch goes around the belly of the horse to keep the saddle in place.

An English Horse Saddle Is Lightweight For Show And Pleasure

Most people who choose an English horse saddle ride for pleasure or show. Some of these people might use the horse for work purposes, but most ride their horses for enjoyment. Others who use an English saddle ride horses that are highly trained to take part in competitions. These saddles are also usually used with a thick pad between the saddle and the back of the horse to protect the animal. These saddles are fastened around the horse with a cinch that keeps it in place. The size of the English saddle depends on the size of the horse rather than the rider. A saddle should fit properly to protect the horse.

The English saddle is often seen in competitions like the Olympic Games where riders compete in different events on the backs of horses. Some of these competitions require that horses jump over obstacles. There are other competitions where the horses go through a series of intricate steps. These competitions require highly skilled riders, carefully trained horses and continuous practice. The English style saddles are most similar to the saddles used by jockeys for races and fox hunting.

Notes on How To Saddle A Horse

Learning how to saddle a horse is one of the most important aspects of horse riding. Granted, saddling a horse is not as fun as riding one, but if the horse is not properly saddled a great deal of the fun in riding the horse will be eliminated. Additionally, an improperly saddled horse is dangerous to ride.

Many, many years ago, it was not uncommon that the riders of the great, wild horses rode bareback. When looking at the texts of the Roman Empire, one can clearly see detailed explanation on the soldier’s saddling their horses. This means that somewhere in between the days of the cavemen and the Roman Empire, someone figured out that horses needed to be saddled. The reason for this is obvious: people who rode bareback fell off their horses and fell off often! While this may seem humorous on the surface, the reality of the matter is that if one falls off a horse when riding there is great potential for serious injury. As such, proper instruction on how to saddle a horse is mandatory.

Generalizing on How To Saddle A Horse

When it comes to saddling a horse, there are a number of general steps to follow that include properly cleaning the horse before saddling, properly approaching the horse, placing the saddle within the proper position on the horse, affixing the saddle in place, making sure the saddle does not slide, etc. Of course, these are all general points and there are numerous details to follow, but they can not be learned out of a book nor can learning how to saddle a horse be taught in pictures. Again, improper saddling of a horse can be a dangerous proposition.

Learning How To Saddle A Horse

The best way to learn how to saddle a horse involves first watching an individual who understands the proper way to saddle a horse. Paying close attention to the proper means of going about saddling the horse is the first step in breeding a sense of familiarity with the subject. The next step is to attempt to saddle the horse yourself while under the watchful eye of a person who knows the proper way to saddle. This will reduce your chances of making a mistake or learning improperly. If you learn properly then you will maintain the level of safety that was previously mentioned and this will make the sport of horseback riding a fun activity as opposed to a hazardous one.

Hit The Trail With Mountain Horse Riding Boots

I rode in my first horse show with borrowed riding boots. I wanted to look spiffy enough for the judge and only had grungy Ducks for riding at the time. By the end of that horse show, even though I was in the ribbons, my feet wished that I had stuck with the ducks. Riding with ill fitting, shoddy boots is no bargain. And painful feet detract from your riding abilities. Your horse will pick up on your discomfort and wonder if there’s anything for him or her to worry about. Looking back, I wished I had invested in a new pair of new boots, such as the kinds offered by Mountain Horse riding boots.

Ready For Trails In The Real World

Riding is not all about galloping off into the sunset. There are a lot of mud, muck, puddles and ice to deal with, too. If the weather is too bad for you to ride, your horse still needs to be cleaned, exercised (even if just walked on a lead) and the stalls cleaned. Mountain Horse riding boots offer a variety of good looking and sturdy boots to deal with all of these real world situations.

Mountain Horse riding boots come in full length and paddock boots (which only come up to the ankles). You can choose from tie on or slip on with the paddock boots. All of the boots come with a prominent heel so you can work and ride. Most are in black, but some are also in a rich chestnut brown. All are designed to keep your feet safe in the stirrups, but also comfortable. Some have a special layer for warmth for really bad weather.

They Ride, Too

Unfortunately, Mountain Horse riding boots were not available at the time of my first horse show. Mountain Horse riding boots only came on the market in 1988 in Sweden. The new company knew of the complaints and problems of riders in the real world and set about to fill a needed gap in the riding boot catalogues. At the time of my first horse show, boots were expected to hurt. You worse two pairs of socks and pantyhose to keep from chafing.

Riding boots were also hard to get. Now, through online and mail order catalogues, you can get Mountain Horse riding boots easily. And the paddock boots come in at under $100 a pair. Considering how much work they have to put up with, that’s a steal. Mountain Horse riding boots are distributed by various companies and stores all over the world. They are a brand that gets thumb up in customer opinion websites.

How To Saddle Your Horse Can Easily Be Learnt By Following A Few Standard Steps

Before taking your horse out for a ride you should have learnt how to saddle your horse and ensured that it is properly saddled if you want to enjoy your ride as well as ensure that neither you nor your horse comes to any harm. Before you do anything else, make sure that the horse has been groomed and that there is no dirt and no sore spots. There are certain steps that you will need to follow each time you place a saddle on your horse which includes even having a blanket on which to put the saddle, and this is most important when using a Western saddle.

The blanket should be folded in to two equal halves and the fold must be placed facing the front, and a saddle pad may also be used in place of the blanket though whichever option is used, it should be placed towards the front of the withers and then slid into its proper place.

Raise The Saddle

Next, you will learn in how to saddle your horse that you have to raise the saddle high enough and tuck in the stirrups properly before placing the saddle on the back of the horse making sure that there is enough elevation so as not to disturb the pad or blanket and that the saddle does not hit your horse. Before you place the saddle in its place make sure that you are gentle in doing so and placing it a bit forward will help and it will also not spook the horse.

Once you have placed the saddle on the horse’s back you should position yourself to its offside in order to take down the stirrup, especially when using Western saddles and also ensure that the pad or blanket are free of any wrinkles on either side, and ensure that the girth or the cinch is attached on that side (offside). Follow this by moving to the other side (near side) and get hold of the girth or the cinch and bring it from beneath the horse and then buckle up the girth, or have the cinch tied and tighten either one just enough that it is neither too tight nor too loose and leave just enough space to pass a finger between it and the horse’s body for best tightening.

Finally, you will learn that how to saddle your horse requires ensuring that the skin beneath the girth has no wrinkles in it, and another helpful tip on how to saddle your horse is to check that the girth is properly fastened before you mount the horse and then again after having ridden the horse for a couple of minutes.

These simple steps should help you learn how to saddle your horse and ensure that you have safe riding.