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Post by Kirk Martin on Feb 19, 2014 14:07:11 GMT -5
Safety equipment is a personal thing. Some people swear by it while others swear at it.
I'd like this to be an open and non-judgmental discussion from all view points on your choice.
I'd also like it to be a place where people can share their experiences about how
it has helped or hindered them. Lastly, I'd like to hear opinions on types of equipment, costs, comfort
or how well the equipment fits or works.
Let the opinions begin....
Kirk
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 19, 2014 15:39:01 GMT -5
Since we've talked a bit about our safety how about if I talk about the horse safety?
Breast Collars and Rear Cinches on western horses...they keep the saddle from slipping backwards (breast collar) and from coming upwards on a steep uphill ascent.(rear cinch) Both safety tack for the horse.
When we go to the mountains I tie Buddy out in the grass because I've never used hobbles and don't know if Buddy knows how to use them either. A tie out can injure your horse unless he is 100% trained to give to pressure and will never be spooked so bad he forgets to give.
By running a long rope, nylon or in my case Mule tape through a simple garden hose it makes a safe tie out. Can't get tangled around the horse and won't burn or cut if tangled. I slide a long length of mechanical wire through the hose attach the mule tape and pull it out.
As for our riding safety how about if I tell you some of the safety items I take on long rides?
After we were attacked and stung by a swarm of yellow jackets I now take benedryl cream and tablets.
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Post by Kirk Martin on Feb 19, 2014 18:38:21 GMT -5
Wouldn't have thought about the benedryl but great suggestion. I remember my friend talking about getting a bees nest chasing her once.
Hope they make a non-drowsy benedryl, hate for you to fall asleep while riding. I just won a 25 person first aid kit at a pesticide conference so got lotsa bandages at the moment. That's an awesome idea for tying out your horse. If you thought that up, I commend you as it's a great idea!
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 19, 2014 19:12:22 GMT -5
I actually read it some place, I'm thinking it was in my Randy Steffen's Horsemans secrets book. Great book.
The inside of a banana peel rubbed on the sting is supposed to lesson the sting too but I was stung at least 45 times mostly on my back and back of my arms and head. Nothing made the hurt stop but I'm sure the Benedryl kept me from being really sick. We also gave some to my dog, another horse and rider.
Another thing to keep in your saddle bag is hard candy. If you get caught out in bad/cold weather the sugar will keep your body temps up.
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Post by cyndi on Feb 21, 2014 13:08:57 GMT -5
How many people here use stirrup cages or tapaderos? Is there much concern for having a foot slip through the stirrup?
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 21, 2014 13:14:06 GMT -5
Cyndi, not with western stirrups and western boots. I've had mine wedged HARD when going through the gate posts and my feet don't slip through at all. Felt like I broke an ankle but I guess that's why I'm kind of afraid to try the other type of boots like the cool looking shoe ones which would probably be much easier to walk in.
When Sarah started riding we bought her western boots as well and I shoved her feet all the way into the stirrup as far as I could and they hang up at the ankle as well. Abetta stirrups are even smaller than my oxbow ones though. I did look into getting the cages and I think especially with small feet it would be a great item. They are a tenth the price of tapaderos. Although I love the looks of the taps.
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Post by cyndi on Feb 21, 2014 14:37:58 GMT -5
I understand that wearing western boots eliminates the problem - a trainer once told me that if your foot gets caught in the stirrup with cowboy boots on, just roll onto your stomach (as you're dragging alongside the horse) and your foot will slip right out of the boot - but with roper-type boots (anything that laces or zippers tightly on your foot/leg), it's probably not a bad idea to use taps or cages if you don't have some sort of safety stirrup. That's once thing I like about English stirrups and stirrup hangers  I guess you never know when something like that can happen. With the way I tend to fall off Fanny, I am a bit nervous. I've decided to try to find a used (or cheap) western saddle with a deep secure seat. If I can stay put in the saddle, I'll be much more confident I'd feel so much better if she spooked and I stayed on her and rode it out. She doesn't have a hissy fit when she spooks, she stops right away...but by then I am sitting on the ground nursing a sore body part. |
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 22, 2014 0:18:15 GMT -5
Do they make break away stirrups for western saddles? how do you mount with them? seems like if you put the weight in them mounting they'd fall apart.
I would love to get a pair of taps for my Colorado saddle, it's got that old west look anyway. I may look into it. I'm vain, I just don't like the looks of the cages.
cyndi I think you would be a lot more secure in a western saddle. I don't think even my velcro butt would stay in an english saddle if Buddy spooked.
How about blocker tie rings and other safety equipment for tying out? I have the blocker tie ring attached to the side of my horse trailer where I saddle up, and use it all the time. I also made my own for under $5 and attached those to the other tie out on the passenger side and the other side of the trailer so I have 3 available spots.
I also bought the one that you run the lead rope into and you can snap it anywhere you lead the horse. I have not used it. It has a place where you can adjust the tension but my leads all seem to be too thick. I see on line how to use it another way just haven't so far.
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Post by horsespoiler on Feb 22, 2014 0:34:47 GMT -5
I already mentioned that DH and I wear vests. We bought the Tipperary eventing vests in the long version but if I did it again I think I would go with the regular length. It is probably fine for an English saddle but the cantle on my saddle is a bit high for the long vest. There are lots of adjustments you can make on them so I may see if I can shorten the shoulder straps. They were under $200 each and the most affordable we found. There is a brand (the name escapes me at the moment) that self-inflates like boating vests. There is a tether that attaches to the saddle and if you come off it inflates. It has a CO2 cartridge in it and even has a section that goes around your neck. Pretty nifty but about $800.
GR, what do you attach the tie out to on the ground? We have used those screw-in things for the dogs but they are little guys. Sometimes even they pull those out. We would like to learn to high line the horses but that takes a lot of room between trees. Winnie will hobble but I think they may have used breeding hobbles on her before. I wouldn't even think of hobbling Whitey or Sage.
Benadryl is wonderful and safe for dog and human but how much do you give a horse? It would sure be great if you could get Epi-pens easier. They won't give you a prescription until you've had a bad reaction to something like a bee sting and your first reaction may also be your last. It would be nice to have one "just in case". I haven't seen vials of epinephrine at the feed store although I know you could get them at one time. Maybe you can get them at the vet. The only trouble is it needs refrigeration. The neighbor's have some and anyone that needs it is welcome to it. That's nice to know because it could be almost an hour to get an ambulance here now. A cheap way to stop the itch from bites and stings is to rub stick deodorant on it. A travel size would fit easily into a first aid kit.
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Post by horsespoiler on Feb 22, 2014 0:40:37 GMT -5
GR, I see you posted while I typed. They make a breakaway western stirrup. If your foot hangs up the angle of the stirrup releases it from the fender attachment. Very expensive but depending on what you do (gaming, cattle) maybe a good investment. I think Crooked Stirrups are shaped to allow your foot to slide out from the ground.
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 22, 2014 0:48:44 GMT -5
The inside of a banana skin works for the itch too.
When I tie Buddy out I tie the other end to the brush, cedar or a heavy sage brush. Our cedar there are more like bushes not like real TREES here. Buddy has never fought the rope/hose. A friend ties his horse with just a long rope to a tree here. I would NEVER tie a horse to a tree, they can go around and around till they strangle themselves. I also have never tied Buddy out unsupervised. I only tie him when we are camping and we are in camp.
At night I used to high line him too. There's nothing to it, never seen a horse have a problem with it but then DH had a welder put holders on my trailer and I took panels and last year I took my solar fence so we could fence in all the horses.
I've never seen anyone wear a vest, only ones I ever heard of were the ones for rodeo-ing. Till you mentioned it. I've never fallen on anything other than my butt or side of my butt. Maybe they'll come out with a padded panty!
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 22, 2014 0:50:34 GMT -5
Interesting. I think if I were going to spend a good amount of money though it'd be the tapoederos.
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Post by Kirk Martin on Mar 18, 2014 10:03:20 GMT -5
Anyone ever tried Western safety stirrups.....***did I hear a chuckle***
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Post by cyndi on Mar 18, 2014 16:58:56 GMT -5
I googled them, and the site I found had a nice looking stirrup. You'd never know it was a safety stirrup just looking at it (it has a leather overlay, over the elastics). They aren't cheap, that's for sure, but if it makes a person feel safer, there is nothing wrong with that |
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Post by ghostrider on Mar 18, 2014 23:11:10 GMT -5
I posted this morn but it must be lost in cyber space!
If I were going to put out the money for safety stirrups I'd go with the Taps instead. Don't like the looks of the cages but the taps would go great on my saddle. Might even look into a leather kit for them? HMMM
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