Page 42 - 2004 DT 9 Issues
P. 42
What’s Inside!
Featured Article
Saddle-up Pardner..........................1
Special
Quiz...............................................5
2004-2005 Budget.........................7
Departments
July 2004 News & Notes................................2
Programs & Hikes.........................4
Desk Schedule...............................6
Bulletin Board...............................8
Reins – Leather straps attached
SADDLE-UP, PARDNER! by Chuck Kleber
to the bridle; an absolute key to con-
(“But I can’t ride a horse!”)
trolling a horse.
Tack – All the equipment needed
his is the kind of embarassing know what you are doing and in for riding a horse (saddle, stirrups,
situation that can make an charge, or just a piece of panicking etc.)
Totherwise strong man or baggage hanging onto his mane for Withers – The part of the horse
woman shudder. Self-esteem and dear life. So, for anyone who thinks
just in front of you as you sit in the
self-worth are at stake, but most of a fetlock is what keeps a tool chest saddle.
all, that “Western” image. There you secure, this outline of some key ba- Croup – The part of the horse
are, cowboy boots, Stetson, silvered sics is for you. just behind the saddle.
belt buckle, the whole gig . . . and First, it’s up to you to understand
Cinch – The leather strap that
the horse, and then follow some
goes under the horse’s belly to hold
guidelines. A little psychol-
the saddle in place.
ogy is a good start. Always
approach a horse from the
MOUNTING Always mount a horse
front, where he can see you.
from the left. This is a holdover from
A few soft words of greet-
the days when a knight wanted his
ing suggest you are not
right (sword) arm free when getting
threatening. A friendly pat
into the saddle. Face the rear of the
never hurts. But before you
horse, hold the reins in your left hand
ride, get to know some of the
and with your right hand turn the
common terms about horse,
stirrup’s “iron” toward you. Put the
saddle and riding under your
ball of your left foot in the iron, and
belt. This is just a sampling:
then with your right hand over the
Hands – This measures a horse’s
seat of the saddle, swing up onto the
height. A “hand” is four inches. seat. Make this an easy movement.
you’ve never been on a horse. Yes, it Gait – A horse has three
Don’t “drop” onto the horse.
happened to the author long years “gaits”—walk (slow), trot (medium),
ago, though (mercifully) I wasn’t and gallop (fast). DISMOUNTING Reverse the
decked out like Roy Rogers. Canter – This is sort of an easy mounting process, but be absolutely
Being knowledgeable will go a gallop. In the West, it is often called certain your foot is completely out
long way in riding reasonably well a “lope.” of the right and then the left stirrup
sooner than you think. Just remem- Bridle – The head harness to
ber that the horse is a thinking which the bit in the horse’s mouth is
creature and able to sense that you attached. Saddle-up, continued on p. 6
