Archive for August, 2010
Most people can’t imagine a form of horseback riding as a competitive sport. Horseback riding seems to be more a utilitarian experience than something that can be perfected. On the other hand, working as a cowboy must have taken a great deal of skill. Whether it came from natural talent or learned ability, it’s clear that cowboys needed coordination, strength and balance in order to complete their jobs.
Enter competitive roping, a way for cowboys to demonstrate their skill and ability with a horse and a rope. When I was a kid I’d always marvel at some cowboys’ ability to keep their rope in a perfect circle while swinging it around. But then getting that rope over an animal’s head seemed an even larger achievement, as the animal wasn’t exactly pleased with the situation. Who knew custom roping saddles could be so critical?
Saddling a horse can be a difficult tak, with the huge number of options available. It’s definitely something I couldn’t have done without help. Whether you need an A fork saddle or some other type, just the saddle tree alone can be enough to confuse just about anyone. Apparently you can’t just get a saddle the keeps you comfortable, you need to find a good balance to share with the horse.
That is to say, you have to keep the horse comfortable as well. Apparently a lot of problems can be caused by not having the ideal match saddle and saddle tree. You need to support your own spine as well as the animal’s. This wasn’t a purchase I could have made without a lot of help and advice from knowledgeable, experienced professionals.