A Girl and Her Horse: Reconnecting and Growing

Hey ya’ll, my name is Jorgi and I am an employee here at Horse Saddle Shop. I am the one behind the fashion posts and am known for loving the most gaudy cowgirl boots (all about Corral and Old Gringo). I have a beautiful quarter horse named Sydney, but the last few years I stopped riding frequently. However, this summer, when I got home from college, all I wanted to do was get back to my small country town roots and the way that felt the most natural was by riding my pretty girl. 

It has been an absolute joy to reconnect with her. Isn’t so cool how horses forgive so easily and love so abundantly?

But don't get me wrong, she is one sassy horse. She has mood swings that match her mommas, it’s a good thing that I have just a little more stubbornness in me than she does. For instance, I was riding last night and she refused to canter but I was not going to give up until she did. Once I was satisfied with her, I stopped, pet her mane, made kissy noises, and praised her. I suddenly felt a sting of pain so I pulled my leg up to inspect. Guess who didn't wear boots because it was supposed to be a quick ride? Yep, me. And guess whose ankles were rubbed raw and near bleeding? You're right again, me.

So here’s what I have learned these past weeks: Wear boots no matter how long you think you're riding (for goodness sake, I sell them!), love unconditionally like my girl, and ride fearlessly. 

MAILBAG: Did someone mess up?

Below are 2 pictures of the Billy Cook 2182 Arbuckle Wade Ranch saddle - one from the off side and one from the mounting side.   

One observant and curious customer recently asked...

Q: "Why is there an extra ring under the rigging dee on the mounting side - did someone mess up?" 

Here's the answer and a history lesson all at the same time.

A: Back in the day, cowboys often carried hobbles so that when they dismounted in a place where there was nothing to tie their horse to, they could put the hobbles on and know their horse wouldn't stray far.  So in the true spirit of the old west, Billy Cook puts this "hobble dee" on the Arbuckle Wade Ranch saddle to carry hobbles - or whatever else you might want to carry!

By the way, the Arbuckle Wade is our most popular ranch saddle.  Get a closer look at it here:  Billy Cook Arbuckle Wade Ranch Saddle

 

Highlighting Precision Trees

These well-made saddle trees are found in Reinsman Ranch Ropers and Circle Y XP Xtreme Performance saddles. What makes these trees unique?

Most traditional performance saddle trees (including ropers, barrel, and ranch) are covered in rawhide which is strong but also very heavy. The Precision Tree company is revolutionizing performance riding by using different combinations of materials/coatings including Kevlar, fiberglass and DURAhide. Their American-made trees are crafted from durable ponderosa pine; strong to the core.

Kevlar is the material used in bullet proof vests and is exceptionally strong (5 times stronger than steel) as well as remarkably light weight (43% lighter than typical fiberglass). 

 

Reinforcement fiberglass is also used at the stress points and a DURAhide coating is added to strengthen and protect the tree by sealing out air and moisture while protecting it from wear and corrosion.

 

Precision trees use a combination of these materials to create different levels of strength, depending on the intended use of each saddle. All Precision trees are covered with a lifetime warranty.

If you're looking for a solid performance saddle to outlast the toughest terrain and disciplines, visit horsesaddleshop.com now and look for xtreme performance saddles with the Precision tree.

Tucker "FB" Trees 

You may have wondered why certain Tucker saddles come with the tree option "FB medium" or "FB wide" in addition to the usual medium, wide and extra wide.

The FB stands for "flatter barrel" and is designed to better fit the unique conformation of 'slab-sided' horses, or horses whose ribs have a smaller degree of curvature (as apposed to well-sprung ribs). Their ribs hang straight down on the sides, instead of outward and back. This is common of Thoroughbreds, Saddlebreds, Tennessee Walkers, and Gaited horses.

Slab Sided, side view

Slab Sided, front view

Slab Sided Horse

Normal Horse

If your horse has slab-sided ribs or narrow chest cavity, it can be difficult to find a saddle that fits well because the bars may not match the shape of their barrel. You may want to consider these saddles with the "FB" tree for your horse:

• Tucker Black Mountain Gaited tk261 
• Tucker Endurance Trail tk159

Give us a call to speak with one of our saddle experts to see if your horse qualifies for the FB tree!

Rocking R 2387 Training Saddle...for the short-backed horse!

Did you ever notice that training saddle skirts are long?  They are usually 28-29 inches.  If these saddles swallow up your horse because of a short-coupled back, you might have a hard time finding a training saddle that doesn't interfere with your horse's hip motion.  Here's some good news for you : Rocking R Saddlery has designed a training saddle specifically for the short-backed horse.  Their model 2387 Trainer is only 26-1/4" for the 15" seat, 27" for the 16" seat, and 27-3/4 for the 17" seat.  It's a high quality saddle that offers a little more style than the typical all-roughout trainers.

For more details, check it out here:  Rocking R 2387 Training Saddle

Mailbag: How to Check Your Saddle Seat Size

Q: How can I check if I have the right seat size on my trail saddle?

A: There is some variance due to personal preference. Some riders like to feel more secure while others like a little more space in the seat. Select what feels best for you and what feels most comfortable. It's often better to be a little too big than too snug in the saddle. As a general rule, you want about 3 finger widths between your leg and the pommel (pictured below).

Mailbag: How to Rig a Half Breed Off Billet

Q: Why do Billy Cook saddles and many others have a long strap instead of a traditional off billet on the off side of the saddle? How am I supposed to use this?

A: Many saddle makers now offer a longer strap on the off side called a "double off" or "half breed latigo" strap instead of a traditional off billet. The idea is that this strap be doubled up for better reinforcement and strength over time than the off billet.

Here are some steps to help the new user rig the off side with a half breed latigo:

1. Put one end of the strap through the cinch ring until the ring is in the middle of the strap. The strap should be folded in two with the ends together and the cinch ring at the middle.
2. Run the two loose ends through the dee ring on the right side of the saddle
3. Bring the ends back around and run them back  through the cinch ring again. 
4. Put the metal prong from the cinch through both layers of holes in the strap
5. Then tuck the extra ends into the latigo keeper strap on the underside of the mohair cinch. 

Step 1 - Secure the cinch

Step 2 - Feed off billet through rigging

Step 3 - Make the second loop

Step 4 - Secure cinch with buckle

Step 5 - Use retaining strap for excess length