This is such good advice, Dawn. I also wear
the Equissential boot cut pants and can't say enough about them. The
deerskin seat provides the right amount of grip and is very comfortable. I
use the full seats and don't have a problem with the extra leather.
I came off of my horse several times as a result of
some good spooks. I took some dressage lessons and take them whenever I
can. Currently, I am taking lungeline lessons at a wonderful facility that
uses Lusitanos as school horses. I am building my core strength and
balance in preparation for riding again in the Spring. Every lesson is better
than the one before it and also builds confidence which helps to ride out a
spook....if you think you won't come off then chances are you won't! I find,
too, that being stronger and better balanced gives my horse more confidence and
he is less likely to spook big if he knows I'm with him all the
way.
My horse's full name is "Spookin' Amigo".
But not because he spooks, which is the irony. His father was Spookin'
Fool. But he does love to buck. He's a paint QH and can buck like
the rankest Cotton Rosser string.
I have always ridden (30years) in a Syd Hill
aussie saddle and *never* come off it on any horse. However, it didn't
fit Amigo. I got an Australian Stock Saddle Co's "Southern Cross" that
fit him better and rode it for a few years. However, I found that a Lady
Wade Western fits him best and it is now what I ride and has bucking rolls
installed on it (it's a slick fork saddle). These have the effect that the
poleys do on Aussie saddles. I figure cowboys (in the US and Aus) spend
the most hours in a saddle on green horses in the outdoors, they designed what
works...
The Wade's bucking rolls aren't quite *as* much
protection to "lock in" as a poley if needed. So I also got some
Equissential breeches with a deerskin inseem, and I cannot say enough about
these pants. They are custom made to whatever design you want and I got
a combination of both: the Endurance Patch (lower leg deerskin) and the
Half Seat (crotch and inner thigh). These two combined make the deerskin
go in one continuous strip from ankle to crotch to ankle. The deerskin
is stretchy and pliable, and not hot at all. The full seat can feel
restrictive, so the Half Seat is perfect for me and doesn't cover up the back
side of my rear end, where I really don't need it. I just need *stick*
when I need it. But they don't stick too much, only if I grip with my
legs and need it. And they are the "Western Jod" style which goes over
my boot, so I don't have to wear half chaps. :)
And, most important is having a good "seat" of
course and riding centered. I've ridden my whole life, but hadn't
acquired this until a few years ago through dressage lessons and having
stirrups hung in the proper position. The stirrups on the old style
Aussie's are very forward and tended to make me rise up to get over my feet,
in more of a jumping position. Hard on my back in 50 miles too.
Aussies, either ride at a walk or a gallop, so it must suit
them. :) My Southern Cross is an endurance style tree with
stirrups hung in the dressage position, and the Wade tree western also has my
feet directly under my hips. Which allows me to practically sit the trot
on the same horse during most of a ride, which I never knew was possible in my
other saddles. Keeping my center of gravity low and stable is the goal
for unexpected airs.
And of course the better shape I am in,
strengthening my stomach/core muscles, the better. That helps me stay
centered instead of pitching and yawing like a sailboat on high seas when I
start to get tired. :)
