Horseback Riding

Riding boots, whether for show, schooling or work, can be an investment and they see a lot of daily wear and tear. Regular care will make your boots last longer, and clean boots in the show ring...

Tying a horse correctly is extremely important. An improperly tied horse can damage equipment and property and worse, hurt itself badly. The rules to remember are relatively simple, and not...

No matter the discipline you are riding in, your English saddle needs to fit you and be appropriate for what you are doing. The wrong saddle will make you uncomfortable, throw you off balance and...

Your horse needs strong hindquarters, whether he's a competitive show horse or a horse that spends hours on the trail. Hindquarter strength means your horse won't pull himself along with his front...

Bolting is a bad vice for a horse to have and can be extremely nerve-wracking for you as the rider. Practicing the pulley rein, an emergency stopping technique, in controlled situations can...

Without strong legs, you'll find riding difficult. You'll get tired easily, your position will suffer, and then, if your horse acts up, you'll be more likely to become unseated and less likely to...

Training a horse for riding is a highly skilled trade. Expert knowledge and horse psychology is needed to teach a western horse to respond to leg signals, among other tasks, such as neck...

You should only consider using spurs when your leg is strong enough that it only moves when you are consciously giving your horse a leg aid. Spurs are considered an artificial aid (as opposed to...

If you are trying to sell an English saddle, whether dressage or jumping, through a classified ad or online, you may be asked by potential buyers to measure the length of your saddle's flap....

The tree shapes the horse saddle. Depending on the saddle's manufacturer, a saddle's tree can be made of wood or synthetic materials, such as fiberglass. In recent years, some manufacturers have...

Registered thoroughbred horses can be financially out of reach for the average horse enthusiast, despite the fact that they make wonderful saddle horses. Whether you intend to ride them for ranch...

The stirrups of western saddles come in many varieties based on the type of riding for which the stirrups were invented. The differences are in the shapes and widths of the stirrups. Beyond these...

Bruno Delgrange is one of the brands of French-made jumping saddles very popular with A-circuit hunter/jumper riders and trainers. This brand also encompasses the PJ line of hunter/jumper saddles,...

Horseshoes and equine hunts have been around for many centuries. Myopia horse shows blend different jumping styles, focusing not only on agility and speed but also daring feats.

Most every pony will reach a point in life where a saddle and rider are introduced. This process is still referred to by some riders as "saddle breaking." Other terms used for the same process are...

Horses that refuse to walk are often anxious or overly excited, or they have never been expected to walk by riders before you. The more anxious or excited your horse is, the more quiet and relaxed...

A saddle's stirrups consist of two parts: the irons where the feet are placed and the leathers that the irons hang from, though you may hear people refer to the individual parts as stirrups, too....

Your trail saddle is going to see a lot of miles and a lot of hours, so you want to be sure that you find a quality saddle that will serve you and your horse well for as many years as possible....

Without the appropriate style of saddle for your discipline, you will find it very difficult to ride your horse properly. In reining, you may have problems moving your hands to steer your horse or...

Having the right equipment with the proper fit is essential to reduce injuries and increase comfort when riding horses. The comfort of your horse is equally important. A well-fitting saddle will...

English and western saddles are very different in their history, purpose and use. Both aid the rider in staying on the horse during sometimes difficult maneuvers, but they accomplish it in...

The Belgian draft horse is a breed of work horse that was developed, as its name suggests, in Belgium. It is the most popular breed of work horse in the United States. According to the Belgian...

The saddle was developed as a means to increase the security and comfort of the horseback rider. It has developed to include versions of the western stock saddle, the European or "English"...

Cowboys have been wearing spurs on their boots since the first cattle drives left Texas in 1866. Spurs are made from metal in countless styles from plain and functional to ornate engraved works of...

English horseback riding uses a light and shallow saddle with stirrups positioned to hold your legs and feet at an angle. This provides the rider with a great deal of balance and control over the...

Australian stock saddles, or Aussie saddles, were developed in Australia for riding in the outback and combine some characteristics of both English and western saddles, though they are closer to...

An older used saddle of any brand can be as good as a more recent, but still second-hand model, or even a brand-new saddle. If an older saddle has been taken care of, it should be perfectly...

Correctly sized riding breeches are key to a comfortable horseback outing. You will sit and ride better if you are wearing the correct size of riding breeches. You can choose from many options and...

Saddles date back to the ancient Assyrians, according to Limbrook Livery Stable in Essex, England. The western-style stock saddle that we know today, often referred to as a "cowboy" saddle, was...

Your horse's leather goods are a big investment on your part, probably the second or third biggest investment you've made in your equestrian pursuits besides your horse. On top of that, western...

You need to have the appropriate size of saddle pad for your saddle, otherwise the pad won't do what it was designed to: protect your horse's back and your saddle from each other. Most western...

Your saddle pads need regular washing to protect your horse's back from developing sores. Fleece pads, which are made of polyester, wool or sheepskin, should be washed consistently, since the...

Tucker Trail Saddles, or simply Tucker, came into being more than 30 years ago and the company still manufactures saddles in the United States. Tucker's saddles are made with a Durahide tree and a...

A movement where you rise up and sit down to the rhythm of your horse's trot, posting or rising, to the trot is an integral part of learning to ride in an English saddle. If you are going to...

Backing your horse in circles is an exercise recommended by reining trainer Mario Boisjoli for teaching his amateur riders to change leads on their horses during reining patterns. It is an...

A properly sized saddle pad is essential for your horse's comfort and safety during a ride. If your saddle pad is too small, your horse will not be protected from the rough underside of your...

Picking a properly sized English saddle is vital to having a comfortable ride, whether you are going to be riding in competitions and going over jumps, or just going for a pleasant ride around the...

Stirrups that have been incorrectly attached to a saddle, whether Western or English, will be uncomfortable at best and dangerous at worst. Incorrectly attached stirrups create bulges under your...

When used properly, Western riding spurs (or metal pegs) that are fitted to your riding boots by way of a leather strap, can be a useful riding tool. A spur allows you to apply gentle pressure to...

Riding a spooked pony is no fun, especially considering that pony riders are often young children who are learning to ride. If the spooking has caused the pony's rider to be afraid of riding, an...

English saddles are expensive, and if you know how to measure them properly, you have a much better chance of finding a used one that will fit you and your horse properly. The biggest mistake most...

The right saddle is an integral part of your child's riding experience. A proper saddle makes riding easier and is more comfortable, especially if your child plans a long ride. Consider the horse...

If you need an English saddle, but can't afford the $1,000 or $2,000 price tag attached to many of them, you may be able to find a saddle leasing program. These programs are few, but you may find...

A slippery saddle seat can be a terror to ride in, especially if your horse is difficult to ride. Certain leathers, such as smooth leathers, are more slippery than others, and older saddles can be...

Proper saddle fit for both horse and rider is important to make sure both are able to move freely and comfortably during the riding session. An English saddle should make a rider feel secure while...

Stubben is a very popular German saddle brand that was established in 1894 that offers jumping, dressage and all-purpose models of English saddles. Stubben saddles are now manufactured in...

Equine therapy programs are used to help assist people in overcoming emotional problems and physical disabilities. Equine therapy has been particularly successful with troubled adolescents. Young...

The correct size of saddle is important for your comfort and so that the saddle will function correctly. If the saddle is too small, you might get sore and not be able to use your legs well. If...

The saddle tree is the skeleton of your saddle and is usually made of wood or synthetic materials, depending on the manufacturer and even the model of saddle. Saddle tree size is an important part...

Some people are choosing to ride in treeless saddles if they are having difficulty fitting a horse. Though these saddles are treeless, they still need to be fit to the horse, and especially the...