Western in VS .NET

Printing QR Code JIS X 0510 in VS .NET Western

Making a match between horse and saddle takes skill Although some horses have easy-to-fit backs, others can be tricky Fitting the rider is a bit easier, although seat size and other subtle nuances can mean the difference between a comfortable ride and a more painful one

One of the most difficult aspects of horsemanship is making sure the saddle fits the horse Because horses backs differ from one another, you can t just toss any old saddle on a given horse Doing so only gets you a horse with a

sore back, impaired performance, and even a bad attitude Ensuring that the horse is wearing a saddle that fits right takes practice If you re taking lessons on a school horse, your instructor should have enough concern for his or her horses that saddle-fitting is a priority Hopefully, your instructor is using saddles that fit the horses in his or her care (For info on choosing an instructor, see 3) If you re shopping for a saddle for your own horse (could happen someday! see 18), get the help of an experienced horse person preferably a horse trainer to find the right saddle for your horse In the following sections, I tell you how to fit Western and English saddles on a horse

To make sure that a Western saddle fits correctly, follow these steps: 1 Place the saddle on the horse s back with a 1-inch-or-so-thick saddle pad underneath it (see Figure 8-9) 2 Tighten the cinch so that the cinch is snug but comfortable 3 Have a rider sit in the saddle with his or her feet in the stirrups 4 Examine the width of the saddle s tree, or frame, as it sits on the horse; compare it to the shape of the horse s back

You can place your fingers sideways (on a flat hand) between the saddle and the top of the horse s shoulder to help determine the width of the tree Be sure you can fit at least three fingers between the arch of the pommel and the horse s withers ( 2 includes a diagram showing the withers and other parts of the horse) If the fit is so tight that you can t squeeze your fingers between the saddle and the top of the horse s shoulder, the tree is too wide for your horse If you can put your entire hand between the saddle and the top of the horse s shoulder, the tree is too narrow

To determine whether an English saddle fits a particular horse, follow these steps: 1 Put the saddle on the horse without using a saddle pad 2 Tighten the girth so that the saddle is comfortably secure 3 Have someone sit in the saddle with his or her feet in the stirrups 4 Using a flat hand, slide your fingers underneath the pommel, near the horse s withers Your fingers should fit comfortably between the horse and saddle Be sure that you can place at least three fingers between the horse s withers and the arch below the pommel See 2 for a diagram showing the withers and other parts of the horse 5 Have a helper lift the horse s left foreleg and pull it forward while your fingers are between the top of the horse s shoulder blade and the pommel As the horse s shoulder moves, check that the saddle doesn t impede shoulder movement Perform the same test on the horse s right side 6 Stand behind the horse and look through the saddle If the saddle fits, you should see a tunnel of light shining through If you don t see any light, the saddle is too snug Also, make sure that the saddle isn t too long for the horse The seat panel shouldn t reach past the main part of the back onto the loins After checking the saddle for size, you can put the saddle on with a saddle pad underneath and get ready to ride (see Figure 8-10) 11 tells you how to saddle up