Post a picture of you gear.

[ranch hand]

White spots are from too much pressure and that area can't not sweat. It can kill the tissue and the hair comes back in white. Check your saddle padding to see if some spots are wore off and this is where the saddle is putting too much pressure on the horse. A poor fitting saddle can cause many problems, your horse wanting to buck when asked for a lope, stumbling, moving off when mounting, not wanting to bend, head tossing, front end lameness, ear pinning and etc.

Put your hand flat under the pommel and move it along the shoulder area. The saddle should have enough clearance to move naturally. You also don't want your saddle to contact the point of the hip or the loins-only the ribcage. There should be at least four inches between the back of the saddle and the point of the hip, depending on the horse.

A saddle too far forward can creates problems too.

 

[greg]

Bought tree at estate sale.rebuilt it

Saddle I ride because it was my dads,changed it from3\4 riggin to a 7\8's added buckin rolls in case kid rides it

barebackglove ,gear done my best thinkin in

 

[MsSage]

Sorry I havent resized other than photobucket or any auto adjusting on color oor balance....

The making of a citygirl into a cowgirl

 

[Juan]

The blanket deal (wool blanket on bottom, felt pad on top) on that grey horse is what we used most of the time.
I think JB was talking about putting 2 thick blankets/pads on a horse. That's when you run into the problem. I know what he means, as I
have observed it too much.

I never thought those felt pads should be next to the horse. I see them
used that way some, but mostly a wool blanket is used next to the horse. An ole boy we used to know used about 4 pads, (the kind with woven fabric on top and the fleece underneath, and his saddle just
rolled all over the place. On some of the lesser withered horses just
a good wool blanket seems to work the best.

We had an outbreak of pinkeye in the 80's and had to doctor a bunch of cattle. Mr. FH had a King's Saddlery really good wool felt pad that he rode
by itself. He always unsaddled the horse to cool him off when he was done
doctoring. We noticed some white hairs starting to come in, so he started using a wool blanket next to the horse and it was much better. The
felt is so dense that air can't get to the horses back, I think is the problem.
Hard to beat a good wool blanket.

Come to think of it, now Mr. FH uses a Professionals Choice Sports Air Ride pad because his blankets were sliding out from under the saddle. This pad stays in place real well. I don't know what causes blankets to slip that perviously were fine. I've washed them all and they still slip. Any ideas on that, JB or anyone else?

Nice rig and nice horse, LE. That looks to be a Kings Saddlery breastcollar.

The most common thing that causes a pad to slip is that your wool-skin is worn or was put on the saddle backward.
The newer material pads with a wool top work great for us. Have 4 old retired horses (27,28,31,32) that were used hard and none ever got a white hair under the saddle.

 

[Faster horses]

We manage to not put any white marks on horses too, Juan. That's pretty bad news as far as we're concerned.

The saddle is a custom made Gale Jerome and it never sores or dry spots a horse. The sheepskin is put on correctly, saddle was made in 1987 new for Mr. FH. Maybe it is old enough that the sheepskin is worn, but it looks fine to look underneath it. Not one worn spot...but I will give your advice some consideration. Going to the Air Ride pad corrected the problem so far.

Thanks.

 

[Ranchy]

old saddle.........made by Miles City Saddlery referred to as a "turtle"...made in the early 1900's!!

Ranchwife, that looks just like the saddle my dad has us trying to restore.........too many times in the rain, back when it used to rain here like it has this year. He bought it new when he was just a teenager, so about 1950 or thereabouts. It's had a lot of miles put on it. :nod: I know it was a maker down here that built it, but can't remember the name right offhand....... :?

One of these days, after our Fair is over, I'll try to get out and take some pics of our tack...........if we have a sunny day to do it in, saddle shed is pretty dark otherwise. :roll:

This is interesting, cause Al decided to do a poster on Cowboy Tack for his SD (self-determined) 4-H horse project...........cowboy project is a better name for it, though. :nod:

 

[Soapweed]

Here is Saddletramp's rig. He can elaborate if he so desires.

 

[cowboyup]

Ranchy, that is a a saddle I traded from an Indian friend of mine when I rode on the reservation between Pryor and St. Exavier back in 85. I tryed to get the Ralph Shimon saddle that I got out of hock for him but he wouldn't budge. Cost me an old slickforck saddle with a broken treeand 200 dollars. It is a great saddle and I never step on it that I don't feel like coming home for all the miles I've been in it.

Greg, I really like the looks of that saddle you rebuilt as it reminds of the old Miles City sadlles I rode as a kid with the big bucking rolls and the high cantle, hard to get bucked out of but hurt like hell when you did. The one thing I always laugh at the buckaroos for is putting squaw tits on their slickforks... to me that is like marrying a gal and then getting her a boob job cause you don't like what you got :wink:

 

[Soapweed]

Here is my current Ralph Shimon saddle. I got my first Shimon saddle in 1974, and paid $400 for the saddle plus $35 extra for sterling silver conchos. The next Shimon saddle was purchased in 1986. It seems like it cost $950 for the saddle, and it was a good feeling saddle for both me and any horse that it has been on. The saddle that I now ride most of the time is another Shimon saddle, purchased in the late '90's. It was "used" at the time, but barely broken in, and was traded in at Harry Adams' saddle shop for one of his. I liked the looks of the Shimon saddle, paid a thousand for the saddle, and paid extra for all new bronze conchos. This saddle has also been very satisfactory, and I've ridden it a lot of miles.

The Shimon saddle has a modified association tree, 13 inch swells, and a 7/8 rigging.

For the past forty years, I have always used a pad of some kind next to the horse with a Navajo-type 30" x 60" woven wool blanket doubled and on top. My theory is that it feels good to the horse, and if I'm ever caught out, a fairly clean blanket is available to roll up in to keep off the chill of the night. Conventional wisdom says to put the woven wool blanket next to the horse with the pad on top. Pads are ugly; Navajo wool blankets are things of beauty. My theory is to put the pretty blanket on top where it can be seen with the ugly pad next to the horse. It might be wrong to do so, but I've never sored a horse because of it. A woven wool blanket lasts longer if wear leathers are sewn along the side.

For doo-dads, I like to have a piggin' string along in case it is needed to hog-tie a calf. Hobbles are often a necessity, and personal preference is the twisted latigo type. They can also be used as a neck-rope on the horse, to run a lariat rope through to keep the horse facing the roped caught critter. Fencing pliers often come in very handy. I used to keep the point to the back, but once when a horse bucked me off and took off running, the point of the pliers poked several holes in my slicker. Since then, the point of the pliers has been turned towards the front. Of course a lariat rope is always along, secured by a rope-strap attached to the swells. Life is too short to not have a rope strap and to have to carry the rope in your hand. Besides, then it would be next to impossible to have a hand free to take pictures. :wink:

This is an old-style bridle pattern that I like. The bit is a three-piece snaffle with shanks. It works well on just about any horse. The reins are just two separate eight-foot reins. They are braided from nylon parachute cord. I like them because they are strong, fairly light, and nearly rodent-proof. Personally, though the "romal" style reins have more style, I prefer the convenience of split reins. Every time I get off to open a gate, it is just handier for me to lead the horse through with one rein. Besides, if I get bucked off, I don't want to have a line tangled up in my belt to drag me along behind a kicking squalling horse. I'll just take my chances on being able to catch the horse again. :wink:

The lid is up to show how I like to carry the pliers with the point to the front.

Another view after ol' Smokey worked up a sweat

 

[Soapweed]

Here is Peach Blossom's saddle. It was made by Harry Adams, who had a saddle shop in Valentine during the 1990's. He died a few years ago from health complications, even though his age was only a few years past fifty. I miss not getting to hob-nob with him when having a little time to kill in town.

Peach Blossom's saddle, made by Harry Adams, a Valentine, Nebraska saddle-maker

The other side of the saddle. In the saddle pockets, she usually has along some LA-200, besides a couple plastic syringes, needles, and a few fence staples.

 

[greg]

Soapweed pics-obvious working rigs to me.Good job.I guess I am stuck on the oldies??The pics I put in are only 2 of 5 I guess I have at moment.But the one I rebuilt can't be beat for hills and colts,and the other for working cattle,being my late fathers,it just seems to work better. As far as the bucking rolls added-remember I said in case one of my kids rides it(and has only been added recently)

 

[Saddletramp]

This is a great thread, Jinglebob. I can always count on my Pard to come up with the good ideas.....Well sometimes.

My rig was made by a maker up by Redfield, SD. His name is Allen Wick. It's a Wade tree with Arizona bars. A four by three wood post horn, mule hide wrapped. Four inch moran stirrups with chalks. My knees won't handle oxbows anymore ( rode 'em for years) so with these you have the comfort of a wide stirrup and the feel of an oxbow.

I carry 55-foot of red-thread nylon and the bit my pony is packing is a JR with a medium port and cricket. I tend to like the silver,braidwork and horsehair fixin's but it has to stand everyday work. Looks are great but it has to hold up.

Of course you'll notice the usual hobblies, wireplier, saddlepockets, short-lines. Just stuff you might need in everyday cowology.

 

[RoperAB]

Air ride pads
What I was told was they prevent chaffing but cause sore back muscles on the horse because of the movement caused by the air ride. Example Sort of like an air ride cab on a big truck. The cab is kind of wobling.


About lead ropes through a belt
I dont do this. Not because I will get hung up in a wreck. The rope will pull through.
But because if you do get bucked off and grab the lead the colt is not going to stop for you. He will just drag you if you hang on to the lead. Sometimes they will hang around after you let go. :lol: The best thing is to just not get bucked off!
If your riding a horse thats broke enough to stand around after you get bucked off well you shouldnt have gotton bucked off in the first place.
I just tie the lead of my mecate to my front saddle strings.

 

[Jinglebob]

Air ride pads
What I was told was they prevent chaffing but cause sore back muscles on the horse because of the movement caused by the air ride. Example Sort of like an air ride cab on a big truck. The cab is kind of wobling.


About lead ropes through a belt
I dont do this. Not because I will get hung up in a wreck. The rope will pull through.
But because if you do get bucked off and grab the lead the colt is not going to stop for you. He will just drag you if you hang on to the lead. Sometimes they will hang around after you let go. :lol: The best thing is to just not get bucked off!
If your riding a horse thats broke enough to stand around after you get bucked off well you shouldnt have gotton bucked off in the first place.

I just tie the lead of my mecate to my front saddle strings.

Depends on what I'm doing and what I'm riding whether I run it thru' the belt of my chinks or not. If there aren't a lot of gates and when I am on a broke horse, I tie it to the fork. Well, really I run it up thru' my ring for attaching the breast coller and slip a saddle string thru' it to keep it in place. Makes it pretty handy if I need to jerk it out quick, but will stay in place thru' most everything else.

When there are a lot of gates to get off and open or if I have to get off and on a lot or when I'm riding a green colt, then I run it thru' my chap string on the front. Helps to keep them with you. Sure was handy, back when I was tagging calves.

Jr had a 3 year old stud he was breaking a couple of years ago. When he broke in two, I had to mark him a 15 on my side. Jr was batting about 500 on him. One day he bucked him off three times and he hung onto the mecate and drug a ways and got him stopped and didn't have to walk home.

I agree tho', the best thing is not to get bucked off! :wink: :lol:

I use about all kinds of horse gear and think there is a place for all of it, depending on the circumstances. What ever works and gets the job done.

 

[Northern Rancher]

I'm alot more scared of getting bucked off and drug than I am of walking home-a nice long stroll in the sun is always good for clearing the mind-helps me think of new names for the horse too. I guess I better not post a pic of my blaze orange nylon saddle bags-they aren't buckeroo but they hold alot of stuff and just might save you from getting shot. I'm not even sure what kind of tree an Eamor has in it but they seem to fit any horse we've owned good enough-I'll see if I have a pic of one on a horse.

 

[Northern Rancher]

The horn is pretty low-those roper posts aree damned hard on the gut when your ducking bush-it's rubber wrapped too-I don't rope much opther than at brandings-a 100 ml's of LA will expire before it's used up here so I don't pasture rope as much as I used to.

 

[Jinglebob]

I'm alot more scared of getting bucked off and drug than I am of walking home-a nice long stroll in the sun is always good for clearing the mind-helps me think of new names for the horse too. I guess I better not post a pic of my blaze orange nylon saddle bags-they aren't buckeroo but they hold alot of stuff and just might save you from getting shot. I'm not even sure what kind of tree an Eamor has in it but they seem to fit any horse we've owned good enough-I'll see if I have a pic of one on a horse.

Blazer orange huh? Hmmm, I might have to get some of them for the hunting season. :lol:

I sure don't want my HORSE to get shot.

As far as draggin', I read what an old cowboy said on the subject, "My old Dad always told me not to get worried about hanging up to a horse and getting drug, Eventually, they will stomp on your head and jerk you loose." I've found he was right! :shock: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Northern Rancher]

JB that's a lot to chisel on your tombstone but we'll do our best lol-I've seen a couple calves dragged to death by deadbroke horses and have a friend who had to bury his little brother I'll stick to common sense over tough talk-the older I get the more achy and chicken I get.

 

[Jinglebob]

JB that's a lot to chisel on your tombstone but we'll do our best lol-I've seen a couple calves dragged to death by deadbroke horses and have a friend who had to bury his little brother I'll stick to common sense over tough talk-the older I get the more achy and chicken I get.

As far as deadbroke horse, that comes under the heading of "Sh_ _ happens! Plenty of dead broke horse ain't! They just been waitin' for the right thing to set them off. Some never find it, other find it once in awhile. Kind'a like people. Most are pretty fair to be around until certain subjects come up. never judge a person or an animal, until you've seen it in a tight spot.

Funny how some horses are dead broke when one person's riding them and when another gets on and don't speak the same language, they come un-broke!

Don't worry about chiselin' anything on my headstone, it's already taken care of. It will read, "Here lies a man." That pretty much sums it up, in my book. :wink:

Yup, draggin is a bad way to die, but tell me any ways that are good, except for dieing of a heart attack in bed with a good lookin' partner. :wink:

I hope a good colt bucks me off and breaks my neck, when I'm, about 80 or 90. As a matter of fact, I've pretty much done everything I set out to do, so if I go out now, I go out a winner. 'Course, there are a few things left I'd like to do and see. :wink:

 

[Faster horses]

I have to relate a dragging incidence here.

A real top cowboy was team roping before the Johnson County Fair and Rodeo in Buffalo, Wyoming. The fair there is a gigantic event, lots of entries in the rodeo. They have at least 5 performances and it is limited to Johnson County residents only.
This fella was a bronc rider in his day and a very good one. A top hand any place. Ran a good sized ranch and took care of about 1500 head of cattle, so sure not just an arena cowboy.

Anyway, he was practicing team-roping when someone there got in trouble. In his haste to help, he just laid his coils over the saddle horn and jumped off his horse. He stepped through one of the coils and there he was...in trouble himself. The horse took off and drug him. He was up close to the hind feet of the horse. Every step that horse took, he either got him in the face or in the chest. Finally they got the horse stopped, got him out of the wreck and hauled him to the hospital. Broken nose, broken cheek bones, broken sternum, broken ribs. He was in the hospital quite awhile. Interesting that was the only Johnson County Rodeo that he had ever missed and they awarded him the Hard Luck Award, though he never made it to the rodeo.

He knew better than to hang the coils over the saddle horn, he was just in a hurry to help someone else. But all it takes is once...