Extension Bulletin 536 September 1959 Extension Service Institute of Agricultural Sciences Washington State University Pullman, Washington Some Rules of Good Horsemanship Good riders observe the following rules: 9. Keep the proper tension on the reins; avoid either tight or dangling 1. Mount correctly from the left side; reins. make the horse stand still until the 10. Slow the horse down when making rider is properly seated in the saddle. a sharp turn. 2. Ride with the heels k~pt down; the 11. Do not ride too close to the horse toes turned out slightly; the head in front to avoid danger from kick­ and the chest lifted; the shoulders mg. Either keep abreast or a full square; the elbows close to the body; horse's length behind other mounts. and the ankles, shoulders, arms and 12. Walk the horse when going up or wrists flexed. down hill. 3. Avoid such habits as "clacking" to 13. Do not force the horse to take a the horse or slapping him with the rapid gait for more than a half ends of the reins. mile at a time without allowing a breathing spell. 4. Warm up the horse slowly; walk him the first half mile and then jog 14. Walk the horse when approaching him slowly for another quarter mile. and passing through underpasses and over bridges. 5. Hold the horse to a walk when 15. Bring the horse in cool; ride at a traveling over paved streets or roads. walk the last mile to the stable. 16. Never allow the mount to gorge on 6. Keep to the right side of the road, water or feed when he is hot. except when passing, and give right­ of-way courteously. 17. Groom thoroughly after each ride. 7. Never rush past riders who are pro­ 18. Avoid walking behind any horse. ceeding at a slower gait. This startles 19. Wash the bit off thoroughly before both horses and riders and frequent­ hanging it in the tackroom. Re­ ly causes accidents. Instead, ap­ move any hair or sweat marks from proach slowly and pass cautiously on the left side. the saddle and girth before putting them on the rack. Wash all leather equipment at frequent intervals with 8. Keep the horse under control at all saddle soap. times. Galloping a willing horse not only is poor horsemanship, but 20. Feed the horse a balanced ration the act shows ignorance on the part and maintain him in a healthy and of the rider. spirited condition at all times. 2 HORSEMANSHIP By M. E. Ensminger, Chairman of the Department of Animal Science, Washington State University. Riding cannot be learned by merely reading a set of in­ structions. It can be mastered only after patient practice under a competent instructor. This bulletin gives some basic prin­ ciples of horsemanship and information about equipment to help beginners and to refresh the memories of experienced horsemen. The basic steps in learning to ride are ( 1 ) becoming fa­ miliar with the horse and equipment and (2) then learning to use that equipment properly. Knowledge of correct groom­ ing and care of the horse, care of equipment, saddling, bridling, and leading is also essential. CONTENTS EQUIPMENT .. 4 RIDING 13 Bits 4 Mounting and Dismounting 13 Bridles and Hackamores 6 Holding the Reins 16 Saddles 8 The Balanced Seat . 16 The English Saddle 8 Styles of Riding . 18 The Western Saddle 8 Saddling the Mount 10 GROOMING 20 Miscellaneous Equipment II Grooming Equipment 20 The Noseband II Grooming Procedure and Method 22 Martingales I I The Breast Plate, The Breast Collar 12 SHOWING LIGHT HORSES 23 Care of Tack 12 Showing to Halter 23 3 Equipment BITS The bit is the most important part of the bridle. In fact, the chief purpose of the headstall is to hold the bit in its place in the horse's mouth. There are many types of bits, but all provide com­ munication between the hands of the rider or driver and the mouth of the horse. The snaffle bit is the most widely used variety. Hackamore: Used on most cow ponies Bit Liverpool Bit: A curb bit used on heavy harness horses I'JtJ---- Rein loop Roper curved Cheek Bit: Used on many ~-. Reinring ropi nQ horses ~ Moothp;oco Bar Bit: Used on Trotting Harness Horses which carry check reins and are ' driven with a strong hand Rein ring Mouthpiece Link Half-cheek Snaffle Bit: Used on harness race horses, roadsters and fine Spade Mouth Bit: Used on many harness horses stock horses 4 ..,...,...-Headstall rino ~--Lip strap dee ---Mouthpiece ;::; ~rb chain hook Shank Rein rino Weymouth Curb Bit: Used along with a snaffle bit in a Weymouth Bridle for 3- and 5- ga ited horses. ) -Points of attachment Eyelet for for curb chain lip stra~ Q·--l~Rinos for two sets of reins Pelham Curb Bit: -Used in a Pelham Bridle for hunters, polo ponies, and pleasure horses. Walking Horse Bit: Frequently used on Walking Horses. Snaffle Bit: The most widely used of all bits. rr==/€ / Link ~~Swivel 2~-Dee Dee Race Bit: Often used on Thoroughbred race horses. 5 BRIDLES AND HACKAMORES The hackamore has a pair of reins and an ordinary headstall that holds a braided­ Bridles may be single or double. A rawhide or rope noseband with a knot­ single bridle has one bit; a double bridle arrangement under the horse's jaw. A usually has both a snaffle bit and a curb hackamore can be used to control and bit, two headstalls and two pairs of reins. train a young horse without injuring his All bridles should be properly fitted. mouth. It is often used to train cow The headstall should neither slide back ponies and polo ponies. on the horse's neck nor pull up against A properly ad jus ted hackamore rests his ears. The cheek straps should be on the horse's nose, about 4 inches from adjusted so that the bit rests easily in the top of the nostrils or on the base the mouth without drawing up the corn­ of the cheek bones. It should be loose ers. The throat latch should be buckled enough to allow two fingers to be passed loosely enough to allow a hand to pass between it and the jaw. between it and the horse's throat. Light bridles and bits usually indicate competent horsemen and well mannered horses. Headstall----- -Headstall Hackamore Bit Bridle (removable mouth­ Bosal Hockamore: Which is piece): Used on Western cow ponies, popular for breaking horses. and on young horses when they are being broken because it eliminates the possibility of injuring the mouth. 6 Crown piece or headstall ., Crown piece or headstall r Headstall ~~ Brow band Cheek piece 1 Cheek piece ---iLII--lll Throat latch 111 Caveson or -......! Nose band Caveson or Noseband Snaffle bit----\~\\6. Weymouth Pelham curb bit Curbcurbb3~ chain Curb chain ~11l Curb chain •• \ \ Lip strap · :-:-..~ ·lip strap il ' Curb rein • Snaffle rein ___..._..., Weymouth Bridle: A double-bitted, Pelham Bridle: A single-bitted, double-reined bridle used in double-reined bridle used on One Ear ( split ear) Bridle: showing three- and five gaited hunters, polo ponies, and Often used on working saddle horses. pleasure horses. stock horses. SADDLES The Western Saddle Although there are many different The Western saddle has a metal or saddles, the English saddle and the West­ wooden tree; a pommel topped with a ern saddle are the two basic types. horn for roping; a comparatively deep seat; a cantle; heavy skirts and heavy stirrups. The stirrups may be either The English Saddle hooded or open. The Western saddle is 'Vhe English saddle includes flat sad­ primarily a work saddle. It is designed dles modified for training, racing, jump­ for comfort during ali-day riding and to ing, park riding and polo. English saddles provide enough strength to stand up always have relatively flat seats and are under the strain of roping. However it lightly constructed. This is the saddle is heavy, hot in the summer, and in commonly used on bridle paths in the pleasure riding it tempts the rider to city, especially in the East. The English "pull leather" as a substitute for skill and saddle allows the finished rider to show balance. The average Western saddle his best in riding form, skill and balance. weighs from 3 5 to 40 pounds. ,-Horn Fork Cantle Seat I Dee ring Front jockey and seat jockey, one piece Leather flank Front tie girth billet strop or cinch strap Fender or Sudodero--­ Stirrup---"" Stirrup leather THE WESTERN SADDLE 8 Panel Skirt ---t~ Stirrup bar 1 "'- lh if~·· Stirrup iron \0 stirrup iron Flop Stirrup leather THE ENGLISH SADDLE Saddling the Mount that he cannot be cinched snugly, the untracking will usually cause him to Regardless of the type of saddle, it relax. Second, if a horse has any bad should be placed on the horse's back so habits, he will often get them out of his that the girth will come about 4 inches system before the rider mounts. to the rear of the point of the horse's After the horse has been ridden a few elbow. When first adjusted, .the girth minutes, the girth should always be re­ should be loose enough to allow a finger examined and tightened if necessary. The between it and· the horse's belly. After saddle should be cinched tightly enough tightening the saddle, it is always a good so that it will not turn when mounting, practice to "untrack" the horse by leading but not so tightly that it causes discom­ him ahead several paces before mounting.