Saturday, November 10, 2007

Check Out Decker Before Deciding On Your Horse Saddle Packs

If you are looking for horse saddle packs you will most likely want to choose between two popular options which are Sawbuck and Decker. No doubt, most of us will have heard of Sawbuck horse saddle packs; however, there is another option worth checking out as well which are the Decker horse saddle packs that are a good choice as well.

Made To Meet The Requirement Of Forest Service

The Decker horse saddle pack was the creation of O.P. Robinett and it later came to be made around the year 1930 by the brothers Decker mainly because there was a pressing need for such items as required by personnel of Forest Service which needed something that could bear heavy loads over extended distances. Thus, the early Decker horse saddle packs came to be very popular with the Forest Service and also with packers and have since been the first choice as far as horse saddle packs are concerned even today.

While comparisons are certainly quite odious, nevertheless there are certain features in the Decker horse saddle packs that differentiate them from others like Sawbuck which is most noticeable in the steel hoops used in place of the cross bucks made from wood as is usual on Sawbuck saddle packs. Thus, you will find that with the Decker saddle packs it is a lot simpler to use steel hoops when attaching panniers since there is no need to lift them over the cross bucks as you would when using Sawbuck saddle packs.

Another notable feature of the Decker horse saddle packs is the half-breed which lies over the pack saddle and will greatly give protection to the horse that is carrying heavy loads. It is usual to find the half-breed being made from canvas and also leather in traditional style, though modern ones may make use of nylon as well as other materials.

When you buy Decker horse saddle packs you will also find that they have buckles for rigging to a tree and you can also move the cinch wherever required and it is quite different to the rigging system of Sawbuck saddle packs in which the pack saddle is screwed to a tree and is also not adjustable.

And, the Decker horse saddle packs also score good points when it comes to packing heavy and bulky loads that may also be quite awkward as it has a Not-A-Knot pack system that can do the loading simply in four easy steps and there is no knotting required.

So, before choosing your horse saddle packs, it would be a good idea to check out different options and the Decker is certainly one of the better options that are well worth giving a second thought to, which in any case are also very popular in some of the northwestern US states and are also gaining in popularity in the rest of the United States.

A Good Horse Saddle Stand Should Not Let The Saddle Tip Or Roll Off

There is really not much difference between saddling your horse using Western saddles and English saddles as both types can be used without any new kind of knowledge required. However, once they are placed on a horse saddle stand there may be times when the saddles roll or tip off the stand. Thus, you would be sure to welcome any means and suggestions that will help you overcome the problem, and though there are many solutions available, there is nevertheless some that are more suitable than others.

Simulate Shoulders Of Horse

In this regard there is a good solution in the form of a wooden horse saddle stand that can have sizes of two by four inch boards for free standing stands, or two by eight inch boards as used with the wall-mounted stands. These horse saddle stands should also have features that will simulate the shoulders of the horse as also something in the center to keep the gullet of the saddle steady.

So, by using built-up pieces of wood one can easily make a horse saddle stand that is neat and which also makes the barn look orderly, and which will keep the saddles from falling off the horse saddle stand. The best part about choosing a proper horse saddle stand is that it helps keep the saddles safe and is also a good piece of furniture that you can place anywhere you desire. Choosing different woods will depend on which type you are partial to and what your budget allows you, and there are many types of woods to choose including light Oak, and also Mahogany and Cherry stains.

The cost of a good horse saddle stand in Mahogany stain could set you back as much as one hundred seventy-five dollars and it will usually weigh about twenty-two pounds and is what every horse owner would be proud to own. And, if you happen to know anyone that is also a horse riding enthusiast and who owns a horse, then you can always think of gifting a horse saddle stand to them which will be much appreciated and also not all that costly.

There are also different kinds of horse saddle stands and you can choose from log stands, Pony Express stands that make for very handsome displays and which should also be sturdy so that they can easily bear the weight of even the heaviest of saddles, though the saddle stands made from log would be costlier though much more decorative than those made of Mahogany. The Pony Express stand has turned posts that show off class and with a horseshoe is great to use as a bridle hook and the top of the stand allows you to hold more than the saddle and also a roper of good size as well.

So, before choosing a particular horse saddle stand, look about for the most suitable stand as there is plenty to choose from and many interesting ones as well.

What To Expect In Your First Horseback Riding Class

So, you want to ride a horse. Good for you! Horseback riding is better than sex. Not only do you get an all over body workout that feels good, there’s no marriage or divorce involved. If you have a brain in your head, you will just park next to the closest pasture and swing up on the nearest grazing equine. This is a sure way to wind up not only in jail, but in The Darwin Awards website. You are best off going to a horseback riding class.

What You Need To Bring

For your first horseback riding class, some basic equipment may be provided. Find this out before the horseback riding class begins! As you progress, you will be expected to buy your own. You need a hard hat – even a bike helmet is better than nothing. Do not be swayed by every movie and book cover you’ve seen of nearly naked lovers galloping on a beach. You will fall off the horse. There’s no shame in that. So, you need your head protected.

You also need pants that let you bend, but will not get caught in any of the equipment. Jeans will do. You need footwear with at least a half inch heel. Boots, ducks and Wellingtons are perfect. My first pair of riding boots were snow boots that just happened to have a half inch heel.

Meet Your Mount

Your first horseback riding class may be as a solitary student to see how you are on a horse and make sure you are safe enough to unleash in a group class. We all started this way. And you get all the attention. You will be introduced to the proper way of approaching, mounting and sitting on a horse. You will discover muscles you never knew existed during your first horseback riding class. This is because these muscles are only used for riding – and in certain sexual positions, but we won’t go into that.

You will be walking and trotting in your first horseback riding class. Nothing faster until your muscles know where they need to be. When you are trying to find your balance on a moving animal, the horse will seem to be moving fast enough! You will learn a whole new language – how to communicate with your horse via your body and not your mouth. Holding the reins, keeping your heels down and your shoulders back while posting at the trot will be a significant challenge on your first day of horseback riding class.