Part II: Getting Set with the Right Riding Style and Gear in .NET

Making Quick Response Code in .NET Part II: Getting Set with the Right Riding Style and Gear

Dressage riders have a more upright position in the saddle than hunt seat riders, sitting more deeply to drive the horse with their legs They hold the reins with two hands, as do all English riders Figure 7-3 shows a dressage rider in dressage apparel riding a horse in dressage tack

Dressage has seven levels that represent different stages of a horse s training These levels are Novice, Training, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Prix St George, and Grand Prix Novice level is for horses who are just learning dressage and are worked only at the walk and trot As a horse improves, he progresses toward Grand Prix Novice riders who begin their training in dressage quickly develop their balance, timing, and feel of the horse Dressage is an excellent way to start riding It can be challenging for any rider, however, especially a beginner This riding style is hard work!

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Checking out the basic makeup of all saddles Understanding saddle differences Discovering details about saddle pads Finding out about fitting

he saddle is probably the most important piece of equipment in horseback riding, especially if you re a new rider The saddle helps keep you on the horse s back, makes your ride more comfortable, and assists you in finding the right position when you ride Saddles also help the horse A saddle that fits properly distributes the rider s weight evenly over the horse s back, preventing injury When you re taking lessons, your instructor provides you with the saddle and pad you need for the horse you re riding If you decide to buy your own horse someday, which I discuss in 18, you can find this equipment at a tack store In this chapter, I tell you about both Western and English saddles and the differences in their design I also discuss saddle pads and the importance of fitting saddles correctly

Regardless of whether a saddle is for Western, hunt seat, or dressage riding, its basic construction is the same Following is a description of the basic parts of a saddle that are common to all types: Tree: The tree of the saddle is essentially the saddle s skeleton Everything on the saddle is built around the tree, which can be wood, fiberglass, or another synthetic material The size and shape of the tree is different for each kind of saddle (Treeless saddles are also available; see the nearby sidebar for details)

A recent invention in the world of saddles (I say recent because saddles have been around for centuries) is the treeless saddle This type of saddle, which is available in both Western and English styles, doesn t have a wooden or fiberglass frame like other saddles do In fact, it doesn t have a tree at all hence the name! The theory behind treeless saddles is that they move more easily with the horse than a treed saddle does This flexibility allows unrestricted movement and reduces the likelihood that the horse s back will become sore Unlike treed saddles, which must be fitted to a particular horse, treeless saddles are one-size-fits all; thus, these saddles are particularly useful for horses who are hard to fit From the outside, a treeless saddle looks just like a regular saddle Although some riders say they feel a difference when they ride in a treeless saddle, others can t tell a thing Regardless, treeless saddles are fine for beginners; the rider s level of experience makes no difference Debate rages throughout the horse community over whether treeless saddles are better for the horse Some people believe these saddles don t provide enough support and can harm a horse s back, claiming they don t distribute the rider s weight properly Opponents disagree, saying that the lack of a tree makes the saddle more comfortable for the horse

The width of the tree determines whether a given saddle fits a horse Horses with wide shoulders need saddles with wide trees; horses with narrow shoulders need narrow trees For more information, see the later section titled Fitting a horse Pommel: The pommel is the front of the saddle Seat: The seat is the center of the saddle where you sit Cantle: The back of the seat of the saddle is the cantle Stirrups: All riding saddles have stirrups for the rider s feet The fenders (Western) or leathers (English) are the part of the stirrup that attaches to the saddle Leather is the most common outer material for saddles, although synthetic material is also catching on But that s where the similarities end The shape of the tree, the style of stirrups, and the general shape of the saddle determine whether the saddle s Western or English