Practicing some Buck Brannaman exercises.

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Albums: May 2013

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Comment by Jackie Cochran on June 6, 2013 at 3:06pm

You taught me something new today, Shirley.  I had never heard of or seen a night latch.  Something I'll have to look into if I ever feel confident enough to try riding in my ancient A-frame Western saddle again.

In the end my main problem with this saddle was that with the HIGH cantle and the fact that the A-frame saddles do not have swells.  Once or twice I thought I would not be able to get down.  This was decades ago long before I ever had any difficulty dismounting from English saddles.  I sure could have used a night latch to help me dismount.

Thanks Shirley, you have given me hope that I may be able to use my Western saddle someday!

 

Comment by Shirley on June 6, 2013 at 12:59pm

Thanks for your reply Jackie. Yes, the Kerrits are revealing but so comfy and come in soooo many styles.

I very seldom post when riding. I'm thinking I'd probably use the spray more on my hiney and thighs for sitting trot.
I have seen the grab strap & it does seem to fill a similar purpose as a night latch on a western saddle. The night latch is not common. Even most western riders in my area have never heard of them. I saw them at a colt training & I think it was Richard Winters that mentioned them.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on June 2, 2013 at 10:02am

My blog today, when I recover from riding, is about my new found security in the saddle.

Shirley, the Sit-Tite spray won't totally stick you to the saddle, I put it on where my lower thigh, knee, and upper calf go (on the more Western EZ-Fit just where my lower thigh and knee go).  I had no problem posting at the trot or getting up in two point.  I did not put it on my seat, it might be more problematic there. 

The riding tights that are sooo slippery but so cool to wear are Kerrits Flow Rise Performance Riding Tights.  Warning, they are sort of revealing.  I think they also have full seat ones, but I do not know if they use the same fabric.

The grab strap is what English riders use because they do not have a horn on the saddle.  My EZ-Fit does not have a horn so I put it on as something I could hold tight in my hand if I needed it. 

Comment by Shirley on June 1, 2013 at 11:57pm

Jackie, Happy for your in-put. I have a pair of riding pants with knee patches and two pair with full seat and the add-ons do help some.

I end up wearing blue-jeans the majority of the time I ride. When I am hot the materials in riding breeches generally drive me crazy. The knee patch pair is lighter weight and has a lot of cotton in the fabric so those are tolerable in the heat. My favorite pair of riding pants for helping with a sticky seat is some all suede slacks I got for winter wear. I got them over-sized and can wear them over some good heavier long johns. They are real suede and give me lots of cling and I just happen to really like the look and feel of suede so that is a great option for cold weather wear.
 I  really like the idea of the Sit-Tite Spray and will seek some of that out and give it a try. Since I have been having the panic-fear situations I have not needed anything to stick me tight cause I haven't been going far or fast enough to be likely to slide unless we had a bad spook from a nearly standing position. But with some progress in that area, we are now moving out more and doing some trotting for short distances.
Jackie, what brand of lighter weight breeches did you find that u like for summer wear? Mine are kerrits. The deerskin seat sounds great. I do have a fleece seat saver that I haven't been using lately. I think I should try that again as I remember it helping when I was riding better.

I am still curious about the RS-Torand when the time is right will research it more.

You mentioned a grab strap. Is the purpose of that the same as I'd use a horn to grab or maybe a cowboy night-latch? I'm pretty sure I've seen what you are referring to.

Good chatting with you again.

Comment by Coopersmom_1958 on May 29, 2013 at 9:55pm

That's great Jackie! Wonder how the material will hold out if you use it all the time? I will have to look it up.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on May 29, 2013 at 10:28am

The Sit-Tite spray worked, my legs firmed up and stayed in position in my jumping saddle!

Comment by Jackie Cochran on May 28, 2013 at 4:28pm

Hi Margaret and Shirley, I hope you don't mind me butting in.

Lately I have been having problems with sticking to the saddle.  My butt is OK in my jumping saddle since I use a fleece seat saver, but my legs slide all over the saddle flaps.  On my new EZ-Fit treeless I've been sliding in the seat of the saddle.  Since I do not have a proprioceptive sense this has greatly weakened my position and I'm started feeling really insecure.

I had been using regular cotton el-cheapo hunt seat breeches, one a strech denim no knee patches, and the other a mostly cotton knit with Clarino knee patches.  I had gotten the RS-tor, GREAT for my peace of mind, but my legs were still sliding around the saddle, I got FITS deerskin paneled full seat breeches which helped a great deal, and then I tried a grab strap that attached to the saddle but it really put my hands in the wrong position.

But the hot weather came and the FITS breeches were just too hot, so I got the coolest riding tights around.  They are much cooler but the material is EXTREMELY slippery.  My position immediately went to hell and I started grabbing mane all the time.  So I researched more on the web and decided that the Sporty Sit-Tite spray that increases the friction between the rider's legs, butt, and saddle looked promising.  If I was still young I would have died if I thought anyone found out I "glue" myself to the saddle, but right now I don't care.

The sliding around exhausted me so much I haven't been able to write my blog lately.  I just got the spray today, I will try it out tomorrow for my lesson.

I noticed while I was sliding around in the saddle that my fear increased greatly.  I did not want to go very fast, I got tired very quickly, and I got somewhat anxious.  Modern stretch fabrics, knit or woven, do not give as good a grip as the old fashioned twill riding breeches of old!

The spray might help both of you too.

Take care!   

Comment by Shirley on May 28, 2013 at 2:55pm

I agree PP aren't into giving little tips. Seems to me they might get more clients if they were more openly informative? And also agree that most trainers are basically teaching like things. What struck me the most as being different is the energy of the trainers. Even Buck that seems laid back in many ways, he wants action, like with the fast departure. With many people that is probably a good lesson. I think we are feeling about the same there. No thanks on this step Buck!

I like too that Buck has us moving around in different ways turning around etc. rather then a straight line.

Made a mistake this week-end with Cash. I was on him and a friend was by his head walking with us to keep him moving. The barn owner came out to open one of the big doors to let some air in the barn. We leave it open all summer. He came in to tell me what he was up to and I decided to stay mounted. Mistake. Cash got all flighty and PANIC hit me, my how quick that adrenalin can soar. I did get Brads attention so he stopped moving with the door and I got off. Then I walked him down to the open door which he tolerated while I was beside him while Brad finished opening the door. I did get back on but the harm was done, my flight or flight hormones had been released and I'm still feeling the tension two days later. so glad Kim comes tomorrow. She will be able to help me get settled with the Tapping and Reiki. She would not have let me take the risk of staying on in a potential major spook. But Kathy was confident in our ability. And I'm kicking my butt for not being ....wiser. Somehow I think I should have known it was dumb. Has me questioning if I'll ever be okay. We've come so far, it's a shame to start having those defeating voices coming up. I think we'll be okay, just a little more time to make up for the backwards step. We did okay after I got back on but I'd lost the comfort and ease that allows me to move with his flow. We had a pleasant couple hours yesterday (rainy) afternoon in the indoor. We spent a lot of time standing at the open door just watching out at the grass and trees along the lane and then did some grooming there and cleaned his sheath with some wet ones (not a full cleaning).

Yu mention getting tired getting prep-ed to ride. Makes me think of Linda Parelli saying that sometimes she'd play on ground for a couple hours before thinking it was a good time to mount. I think it was with Allure. It took them a couple years to get that lots better. Not over night for sure. "Take the time it takes and it takes less time."...wise advice for us.

Need to get around and head for the barn. It's a cloudy rainy day here again and I have fly predators about ready to chew through the bag. I'll take them to the barn and then they can't get loose in the house. That happened once. did no harm but not anything I care to do again. Hehe. Keep on keeping on. Please share. I love hearing others ideas and attempts, don't feel so alone in the journey. :)

Comment by Coopersmom_1958 on May 27, 2013 at 6:07pm

I try to pick the good videos out and not put too many bad ones on. I was just watching that part in Buck's riding dvd where he was doing that brisk trot. I was thinking the same thing, I know if I put too much into it that Cooper would take off loping and I haven't loped with him yet, others have, but not me. Almost all of the trainers are the same, just call things different and maybe do it a little different. 

I re-read what I wrote about paying a PP (parelli professional), it does sound confusing. I meant to say that almost every parelli person I have met will not give any tips, they all want you to go pay for help. I would love to get one to help someday. But for now it's dvd training only. I can't take lessons right now, hopefully someday when the finances are better. No rush, they always say take things slow, and I sure am.

I really haven't been to the barn during the really hot parts so haven't had a lot of mosquitoes, but I'm sure they are there as there are a few in the evenings. Really crazy weather here, hot a few days, then down to below zero. The cold I can handle, but the heat is yucky. I have been wearing my silicone sleeve on my prosthetic and that has been making me very hot!! It helps with my walking, preventing it from slipping up and down and tripping.

I keep wanting to ride but then I'll be too tired from groundwork and I hear BB's voice saying you shouldn't be getting on until you get things soft while on the ground. Cooper circles very well, as well as change of directions, backing up and the half circle. We have to work on the backing circles, and still try to get him to tuck his head and soften more while backing. He gets confused when I yield his hindquarters, walk toward his hind to cross his back legs over for the change of direction and then just send him out the same way again, not used to that part, he tries go the other way. I got to play for an hour with him on Saturday and used the bag on the end of the carrot stick. Most times I can't use it because it scares the other horses.

It's 6 p.m. here and I'm waiting for Al to arrive so we can go to the barn. I don't think I will get to use the bag tonight, it's a nice evening out and the barn will be full of riders.

Comment by Shirley on May 25, 2013 at 1:43am

#2 My massage books are for horses but the torch/red light is suppose to be good for horse and human (and dogs and cats) so the acupressure information should end up being helpful for horse and human....I'm hoping! I've drug my feet for so long trying to decide where to start with some sort of hands on healing. I'm hoping this will lead to some good things. I love getting my hands on horses and rubbing on them to help their muscles and I've just felt for a long time that I needed to do something along these lines to help the horses and feel better about myself. Not getting any younger! If it's gonna happen I need to get a move on. Hoping my brain doesn't fail me. I think my enthusiasm will help me retain things.
Riding with Buck: I really like how he goes about getting people started with their riding. It looks like what he has people doing would be helpful in really feeling comfortable and confident in the saddle. I started trying to do some of it after we got back from his clinic but it was shortly after that this fear thing really kicked in! Maybe someday we will get back to some of it. BUT...in watching the next DVD of riding with Buck I see that he has people really starting off from an easy walk to a very brisk take-off in a trot that I can't imagine myself doing. The horse kinda bolts forward into the trot and I think it would freak me out. BUT, I'll deal with that when I get there. And we don't have to do everything exactly like any one trainer. Do we? It seems all the trainers would like it if we stuck like glue to their ways exactly but not many people seem to do that. We're not all the same. I'll go with my gut when the time comes. If I make the wrong decision, it won't be the end of the world.
Well, know that I'm rooting for you to get where you want to go. The next few weeks should be some of the better weather for us to put in more time. Hopefully life events will co-operate. Good luck!
Cash has been pretty jumpy the past week or so but has been better the last couple of days again. Only thing that makes any sense is the major changes in the weather and major outbreak of mosquitoes. Are u having a big problem with them? They've been just miserable here...even in the indoor arena. they just swarm us!

Sorry to hear that u are experiencing tension while u are riding. I sure know that problem. It is so heartbreaking to want something so much and something inside of us is stopping us. I was also getting really tight all over, not breathing, dry mouth and trembling all over when I knew I was going to ride. The poor horses pick up on that big time....at least Cash did and I'm sure that is why he's gotten so spooky.
You always look so comfortable in your videos when u r on Cooper. Soon you will be feeling it on the inside too, not just looking the part. The lady that has been helping me is wonderful. I just love her. Ya know how in the Parelli program they tell us not to ride in fear but to basically do what we feel comfortable doing until it gets boring and then move on the next step. That's basically what my instructor has had me do but she is not a Parelli student.

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