Today we have the lovely Patty to show us how to put on a western saddle (I learned a lot filming this video!) Enjoy ;)
This video shows you how to figure eight a bridle, or wrap it up so all the loose ends are tied up. Thank you to the reader who suggested I make this video! Great idea ;)
A few of the things in my show first aid kit
I’ve had some great questions about what to bring to a horse show. I’ve put together a list of all the stuff I manage to cram in our trailer and trusty Toyota Tundra. I’m sure other people or other types of riding may do things differently, but the following supplies and four pre-assembled kits have served me very well for the last ten years of showing.
Read more on One for the barn, two for the show, three to get ready……
If you haven’t already experienced the joy of breaking in new boots…well, let’s just say “joy” is a rather strong word to use. The problem with tall boots is this–they’re made of out fabulous stiff leather so they can survive whatever the horsey equivalent of a nuclear holocaust is. But that same stiff leather means that when you first put them on, it’s like trying to walk with folded steel around your feet, which, of course, folds and pokes you in all the wrong places.
So how do you go about breaking them in to that wonderful point of such suppleness they wrap perfectly around your leg? Unfortunately, you just have to wear them. Wear them around the house, walk up and down stairs in them, go to work in them, do squats and ankle rolls in them–I’ve even heard of people going on bike rides in their new boots! The more movement you can put the boots through, the faster they’ll soften up.
Leather conditioner and leather oil can help speed up this whole process. If you use straight oil (like neatsfoot oil, my favorite leather oil) lay it on thick and leave it to soak in for at least a few hours. Wipe off the excess oil before you put them back on. With a leather conditioner, put on as much as you can rub into the leather. Really focus on the ankle area, as this is where the most movement happens.
The only other thing you can do to ease the break-in is to protect your poor little feet. Moleskin and other similar products can protect against blistering and painful rubbing. Good socks especially meant for tall boots also help reduce awkward rubbing.
Bon voyage with your new boots!
Horse shows are a great way to have fun and show off everything you’ve been learning. But they can also be a big headache if things go wrong. Your pony might pick that day to throw a shoe or develop a new fear of bushes, you might lose your crop or arrive at the fairgrounds only to realize the bridle you KNOW you put in the trailer isn’t there… Luckily we horse-people always conveniently forget the trials and happily sign up for more shows.
To help everything go more smoothly, I’m offering a series of blogs and videos about the English Horse Show. Today, I’ll talk about what to wear, thanks to a great question by Courtney!
I always wanted to be able to talk to animals. I’m no Dr. Dolittle, but it turns out there are ways to talk to horses! In the horse world, you use something called “aids.” An aid is simply something we use to ask or tell a horse something. There are two groups of aids: natural aids and artificial aids. The natural aids are your voice, your seat, your hands and your legs. Artificial aids are spurs, whips or crops, bits and pretty much all the other physical objects used in riding. Here, I’ve gone over very quickly what these basic aids are.
