Competitive riding and saddling
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?