Friday, July 24, 2015

Not Only A Place To Sit


 
Western saddles are almost as iconic as a Stetson hat. At least, to lovers of all things Western…and cowboys. The western saddle is made of leather, plain or heavily tooled, stretched over a wooden “tree” or frame that includes the pommel (raised ridge on front of saddle) with a centered horn, the bowed seat and the high rise of the cantle that hugs the backside. The current saddle is based on those of Mexican vaqueros (men who trained horses and handled cattle) who worked with horses. That saddle is considered a descendent from a combination of saddles used for two different styles of riding in Spain centuries ago—la jineta (light cavalrymen known for rapid maneuver) and la brida (jousting style). Early saddles weren’t much more than a wooden frame covered with a blanket.

As with most tools, people who use them come up with ways to improve the design or make additions that improve the way they use them. Sheepskin is used as padding both under saddle itself, as well as between the wooden tree and the leather covering. The horn was added to the pommel as a place to anchor the reins so the rider could use both hands (for throwing a lasso or using a rifle). Flaps of leather called “fenders” are positioned where the rider’s legs rest on the horse’s barrel and were probably added for the comfort of both rider and animal.  Out of necessity, leather thongs were added to tie down a bedroll behind the cantle or to secure a lariat where it could be reached easily. In the 1870s, Charles Goodnight developed a side saddle for his wife to use while working cattle on the ranch, and his saddle incorporated a second cinch toward the flank of the horse for a more secure fit, making it a double-rigged design.
 
When on the trail, the saddle became the suitcase to hold the cowboy's belongings, blankets, ropes, canteen. While roping cattle, the horn served as an anchor point for the rope. Then at night, the saddle was often used as a backrest around a campfire and, in some case, a pillow.

Over the years, a variety of saddle types have developed to fit the specific task being performed. Among the types are barrel-racing, endurance, cutting, trail, rodeo bronc riding, roping, and equitation or show saddle. Also, because not all horses are the same size, they needed saddles of differing sizes, widths, heights, etc. for the best fit and the best performance. You can see that an expert saddlemaker could become a valuable resource to men who made their living by riding horseback everyday.

The opening scene of my story When My Heart Knew in the anthology, Cowboy Kisses, shows the heroine, Maisie Treadwell, galloping across the Texas prairie.  As with many western women of the times, she rode astride and her figure atop the galloping horse is the hero’s first sight of her before they’ve even met. Leave a comment here about your first riding experience for a chance to win an ebook of this anthology.

Posted by Linda Carroll-Bradd, author of contemporary and historical western stories

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15 comments:

  1. Interesting information. Well done! I was raised in the city, but when I was eleven, we moved to Missouri and lived out in the country. Our neighbors (half a mile away, they were our closest neighbors), a family with 8 kids :), had horses and they taught us to ride. I loved it! So much more than I ever would have thought. One of their horses, Rebel, was sweet and very calm. He was the one they used to break in us city folk. It was awesome!

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  2. I can't remember the first time I rode, but some of my happiest times have been on horseback. One of the funniest rides I had was one when my friend's horse tried to rub her off on a dumpster. Still makes me chuckle. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Alicia, Sounds like you moved to the country at the perfect time. I remember having big plastic horses and having my Barbie ride on them. Of course, I wished I could have my own but we lived in a suburban housing tract. Thanks for commenting.

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  4. MJ, I remember riding a rented horse from a stable that didn't like me urging her away from her foal. She turned and bit my foot. I did not get my hour's ride that day. Thanks for commenting.

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  5. I used to ride my neighbors Shetland pony. Then of course rode here in Colorado until a back injury sidelined that.
    I really appreciated the information. Thank you. Doris McCraw/Angela Raines

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  6. Doris, I always associate riding with the western states. Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. My father in law was a farrier. We learned so much from him. But not about saddles! Thank you!

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  8. My sister's horse ran me under a branch in an effort to knock me off. No more riding for me!

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  9. I'm more familiar with medieval saddles, which lacked the horn and the cantle was much taller to help wedge the knight in place when using the lance.

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  10. Great post Linda. The first scene in your book sounds enchanting and exciting.
    My last ride I ended up with a concussion and multiple pelvic fractures. It wasn't the horses fault, but now I raise donkeys and walk!

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    1. Wow Gini that's terrible. I've had multiple pelvic fractures too, so I know how painful they can be.

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  11. As a little girl I used to beg my father for a horse. LIving in the big city, it just wasn't feasible. He did let me have riding lessons for two years and I LOVED IT! It was English saddle. I remember the first time I rode Western saddle, that I tried to post and it just didn't work right with the horse's gait. LOL. My earliest memory of riding a horse was actually a rocking horse! I loved that horse as if it were real and rode it for hours on end. It's still a great memory for me :-)

    Best wishes on your anthology! The cover is lovely!

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  12. Linda, You're talkin' to a northern gal here. I had friends who owned or boarded horses and I learned what little I know about riding and horses from them. I did ride a few horses--all in an enclosed area and I walked the horse around the ring. That's my extent. But I love all animals and horses I find intriguing and I wish I had grown up with more experience with them. Thank you so much sharing your post as I need all the help I can get with learning this kind of info.. When I write my westerns, I have to look info up right and left to make sure I have it correct. I so enjoyed your WHEN MY HEART KNEW in Cowboy Kisses and was so delighted to be part of that anthology. Wishing you the best. Sorry I'm late with comment--took 4 days to get a new modem for computer.

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  13. Linda, You're talkin' to a northern gal here. I had friends who owned or boarded horses and I learned what little I know about riding and horses from them. I did ride a few horses--all in an enclosed area and I walked the horse around the ring. That's my extent. But I love all animals and horses I find intriguing and I wish I had grown up with more experience with them. Thank you so much sharing your post as I need all the help I can get with learning this kind of info.. When I write my westerns, I have to look info up right and left to make sure I have it correct. I so enjoyed your WHEN MY HEART KNEW in Cowboy Kisses and was so delighted to be part of that anthology. Wishing you the best. Sorry I'm late with comment--took 4 days to get a new modem for computer.

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  14. Linda, I'm a northern gal here--NYS, and other than a few controlled riding experiences in a ring where I walked the horse, and the time I spent listening to a few of my friends who had a horse, I unfortunately lack a great deal of experience around horses--though I do admire them greatly and crave learning about them more and more. I so enjoyed your post today and thank you for sharing your knowledge. I soaked it right up. Big help so keep those tidbits of knowledge coming our way. I thoroughly enjoyed your WHEN MY HEART KNEW and am totally thrilled I was included in that anthology. I had so much fun doing it. And I look forward to being part of many more with you and the others. Wishing the best and much success.

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