My horse's full name is "Spookin' Amigo". But
not because he spooks, which is the irony. His father was Spookin'
Fool. But he does love to buck. He's a paint QH and can buck like
the rankest Cotton Rosser string.
I have always ridden (30years) in a Syd Hill aussie
saddle and *never* come off it on any horse. However, it didn't fit
Amigo. I got an Australian Stock Saddle Co's "Southern Cross" that fit him
better and rode it for a few years. However, I found that a Lady Wade
Western fits him best and it is now what I ride and has bucking rolls installed
on it (it's a slick fork saddle). These have the effect that the poleys do on
Aussie saddles. I figure cowboys (in the US and Aus) spend the most hours
in a saddle on green horses in the outdoors, they designed what
works...
The Wade's bucking rolls aren't quite *as* much
protection to "lock in" as a poley if needed. So I also got some
Equissential breeches with a deerskin inseem, and I cannot say enough about
these pants. They are custom made to whatever design you want and I got a
combination of both: the Endurance Patch (lower leg deerskin) and the Half
Seat (crotch and inner thigh). These two combined make the deerskin go in
one continuous strip from ankle to crotch to ankle. The deerskin is
stretchy and pliable, and not hot at all. The full seat can feel
restrictive, so the Half Seat is perfect for me and doesn't cover up the back
side of my rear end, where I really don't need it. I just need *stick*
when I need it. But they don't stick too much, only if I grip with my legs
and need it. And they are the "Western Jod" style which goes over my boot,
so I don't have to wear half chaps. :)
And, most important is having a good "seat" of
course and riding centered. I've ridden my whole life, but hadn't acquired
this until a few years ago through dressage lessons and having stirrups
hung in the proper position. The stirrups on the old style Aussie's are
very forward and tended to make me rise up to get over my feet, in more of a
jumping position. Hard on my back in 50 miles too. Aussies, either
ride at a walk or a gallop, so it must suit them. :) My
Southern Cross is an endurance style tree with stirrups hung in the dressage
position, and the Wade tree western also has my feet directly under my
hips. Which allows me to practically sit the trot on the same horse during
most of a ride, which I never knew was possible in my other saddles.
Keeping my center of gravity low and stable is the goal for unexpected
airs.
And of course the better shape I am in,
strengthening my stomach/core muscles, the better. That helps me stay
centered instead of pitching and yawing like a sailboat on high seas when I
start to get tired. :)
