I’ll admit it I enjoy cruising around to different horsey type blogs from around the world. I get to see lots of nice horses, see different ways to set up barns and learn how other people work with their horse. The one thing that just has a real different feel to me is the way riders dress in particular chaps and gloves. I guess it is the western way but I don’t even own a pair of riding chaps and only wear gloves when my hands are cold or absolutely needed. I will admit to sometimes remembering to wear my farrier chaps when trimming a horse but most of the time I forget. So I suppose spending the money on riding chaps that would just hang on the coat rack would be a waste. Out of the many choices shotgun, batwings, full dress with fringes and sparkles I guess I might be persuaded to wear shotguns in the hopes that it would ease the chaffing on the inside of my legs. The long and short I guess is that it would be one more piece of leather that would need to be cleaned and oiled that frankly I know I wouldn’t do. Besides who wants to show up at a branding with everything looking with a fresh newness that we know are going to be covered in mud and manure within 10 minute of starting.
Almost every coat I have every rig I drive and various other spots have a pair of gloves. At times they are needed but most of the time I won’t wear them unless I have to. It is a matter of feel especially when it comes to handling reigns. When I ride with gloves I feel like I have lost touch with the bit and the horse. Maybe if I had started riding with gloves I wouldn’t feel so out of touch but it is a habit that I probably won’t break. I’ve had a lot of rope burns when dealing with a horse gone unruly but when that happens it really lights a fire that the beasty needs some work.
Just an odd point of view
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6 comments:
New chaps wouldn't stay new for long....I wouldn't be without my chinks, especially when I'm heeling calves at a branding.....SO much easier on the legs.
Its not a bad point of view. Each to there own, and to be honest, sometimes there are those who insist on what is right and what is not. So for me, I do what I think suits me and my horse, what seems to work well, and as long as it feels right, I`ll do it. So chaps or no chaps? Who`s to say? I have been offered advice re helmets when riding? Seems to me, its my choice, and thats whats wrong in this country. To many do gooders!!!(Sorry.) Everyone telling others how to live!
Spending a day roping I can sure understand the need. I'm usually on the ground bunching up the little rascals. Good for the legs.
Helmets are a good thing to keep the skull from cracking open but sometimes they just don't help in blunt force injury. When one is dumped and lands on their head the ground still produces a wicked stop. :) When I was younger I had the opinion that if I didn't get dumped at least once a year I wasn't riding hard enough. Now that the body doesn't bounce anymore I avoid putting myself in those situations.
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You are so right about "the body doesnt bounce!"Lol! At 57, I like to stay in the saddle! Mind you, there have been times. When I was much younger, I used to ride Point to Point Racing. On high prancing Thoroughbreds! the times I spent on the ground! Not through choice, no sir. But many broken bones later, and a career change!! I still ride hard when the mood takes me, but I still want to be riding when I`m much much older!!Lol.
Just bought my first pair of chinks this winter and they kept me warm and halped save me from wearing out my jeans. They aren't fancy, being made my Amish folk, but they are wonderful for warmth as well as scraping against pines now and again and whatever. Never oil them. Just let em get dirty and broke in. Handy for sage bush too.
Haven't seen a post from you in a long time. Good to see.
Rode both my horses today. Spring here in Michigan so it was rodeo riding even on my "dead broke" horses. That term makes me smile. Granted, a dog came charging up out of nowhere and my mare didn't flinch, but she did twist, turn, buck out, which she NEVER does. Why? She didn't wanna have to follow behind two Icelandics who were pacing while I held her back so she wouldn't bolt past them. I was bareback and laughing.
Anyways, wrote about it. Visit my blog if ya feel like it! Love horse people, ya know.
Ginny
Yea...It is all a CHOICE of the rider for the enjoyment,safety and commuication with the horse.
I have some suede, full chaps my sister made for me...they are WARM and when I ride through the "Thicket" places that would rip up my legs min the spring-beofre trail clearing..they are so handy- had em five years-never clean em..maybe brush em.
I have to wear gloves. I'm a woman and prefer a woman looking hand with real skin and not leather! My other actiivty is in the beauty buisness.Mine are so thin, and like you said, I have worn them from the beginning-they are second skin to me.
You will laugh at me now...lately, I have been wearing my Wellies(mine are Muckers) to ride in...I'm still bareback so it makes no diff...no stirrups!
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