What is attached to your saddle?

[daddyfid]

I just got my first horse last weekend and he came with a trooper saddle. This saddle has hooks, o-rings, leather ties on it and I think the back of the seat come to a point for some reason. How do you hang your water holder, bags, scabbard, ropes or extra halters on your saddle? It would be interesting to see some pictures of your saddle and the gear you put on it. I know that saddles are very functional but I have a hard time visualizing all the ways you can connect something to the saddle that you need, either for hunting, trialing or just trail riding. Post some pics so we can see your setup.

Where do you tie your rope when you are roading your dogs?

Thanks,

Brian

[Karen]

I usually have a water bottle hanging off the front of my saddle, a single saddle bag on the back (sometimes the one pictured, sometimes a larger one), and when running dogs, a check cord attached to the back of the saddle and draped over the side by the saddle bag. I would not tie a rope to your saddle....too risky if the rope gets tangled in the horse's feet or the dog runs under the horse.

[Hotpepper]

Items on saddle when handling or watching:

1. Water jug (use a large detergent plastic bottle with leather strap and clip to saddle. (Rear right side)

2. Check cord (same spot as water bottle).

3. Roading harness (Attached to check cord or rope)

4. left front, (quick release to attach rope) (like in a horse trailer for quick release)

5. Right front (water bottle for me) (small one)

A lot of guys put their blank gun in their saddle bag or in a holster attached to saddle. (I like my blank gun in my hip pocket)

I do not use saddle bags.

6. Rain gear tied on to the leather straps at the bag of the saddle, (in bad weather)

I rarely use the quick disconnect but simply slip the loop of the rope on the back of the saddle and let the dog pull.

Whistle around the neck.

That is about the whole deal.

Pepper

[ezzy333]

An always make sure your horse is firmly attached to he saddle also.

Ezzy

[Blue Dawn Kennel]

Everyone has pretty much covered most, here's ours (no pictures)

Robbi

1.) scabbard hangs high off right front ring under right fender of stirrup with longer (about the length as your stirrup) and attaches with another snap to back right ring.

2.) saddlebags on the rear strings or rings
3.) off of back rings we have brass snaps for hooking checkcord, roading harness, collars on
4.) back of saddle middle ring can also be for #3
5.) my husband & I both carry our blank pistols and ammo in our saddle bags on the left hand side w/a chain attached to the butt of the pistol and attach with snap to left rear ring (so you don't loose it)
6.) my saddle bags just broke so I'm trying out a small set of pommel (goes over your saddle horn if have one, which you don't)
7.) the square/v'd back of your saddle a lot of people who ride troopers will while roading dogs attach the loop of your checkcord to it for easy release
8.) or rain gear either is tied onto the back by the back strings or folded small enough and put into right side of saddle bags.
9.) our water bottles either fit in our saddle bags and put on one back side or the other (whichever preference) or hanging by a dog collar and brass snap off either back side.

[RayGubernat]

I do not tie my dogs to the horse when roading them. If something spooks the horse, you could very easily wind up with dead dogs or worse. You could get wrapped in the rope and now you are tied to a horse that is also wrapped in the rope. That could get you busted up badly or even killed.

Pros tie off their dogs to their horses all the time...but they are pros and they, their horses and dogs are highly experienced and handle it vey well...most of the time. But stuff happens, even to the most expereinced folks. I have seen a dog somersaulting through the air , after the horse tossed its rider and took off. The dog came out of the harness somewhere about ten feet in the air. Horse and dogs were fne but unfortunately the rider, a long time pro, was seriously injured, ultimately losing his spleen.

I make a loop at the bitter end of the rope and hook that loop over the projection
at the back of the saddle. Of course the rope goes OVER my leg, not under it for the reasons stated above.

If the horse does something dumb or the dog does something dumb, or I do something dumb, a quick flip of the wrist and the dogs are free. If I get tossed, the rope will pop off the back of the saddle with very little difficulty.

Be safe out there.


RayG

[RayGubernat]

Daddyfid -

One more thing about roading off a horse. Make sure your horse is thoroughly conditioned to the rope going across its chest, occasionally bumping the shank of the bit and, most importantly, under the horse's tail. All of these things can cause a horse that is not conditioned to them to spook. The under the tail thing is particualrly dangerous because the horse's natural react ion is to tuck its tail stub, effectively clamping the rope in there. That is a prescription for disaster. Make sure that, when you wrap the rope around the horse's legs, its only reaction is to stand there quietly and let you unwrap the rope. Some horses will absolutely freak out if their legs ar tied up. You do not want to be aboard or anywhere in the vicinity of the horse if that happens. You have to condition them to stand quietly and let you get off and fix the problem.

Dogs, especially young and inexperienced ones, can do really stupid things. They will lunge to the left or the right in response to scents or just because they want to go that way. They will invariably go to th right side of a tree when you and the horse are going to the left side. That is just Murphy's law taking effect.

Of a more serious nature, they can run around the back end of the horse in a heartbeat, wrapping the horse's legs in the rope and they will even run under the belly of the horse. That's the kind of stuff that can get the dog, the horse and YOU hurt ...and hurt bad. Always road a young dog with an experienced one and always road a yong dog with an expereinced, ho9pefully bombproof horse.

My bay, Blackie, spent nine months with a professional shooting dog trainer when I first bought him as a four year old plantation horse. He learned his trade well. If a dog tries to do an end around, he will spin like a cutting horse to keep the dog from wrapping him(and me) up. He does it all on his own, without so much as a cue from me. I have all to do just to hang on he spins so quickly.

i repeat... be safe out there.

RayG

[RayGubernat]

Karen -

I just noticed your stirrup. Is that one of those EZ up stirups?

If so, how do you like it? Is it easy to use?

Sooner or later, with my stumpy legs, I'm going to have to do something. My guys can only park out so far.

RayG

[Karen]

Yup, it's an EZ-Up. I finally went on a diet and no longer need it , but it served it's purpose.

What you have to remember is that even though it drops your stirrup 3 inches, it drops the rest of you 3 inches too when you're mounting up. It takes a little getting used to, and you have to get your right leg up a little further to get on, but it does work. The other complaint I had initially is that the metal would bang into my shin...it forced me to keep my heels down, which you're suppose to do anyway. I got used to it and it only bothered me the first few times I rode with it, but others that used my horse HATED it.

I wound up buying the english one and then buying thinner stirrup leathers (Troopers have 1 1/2 inch leathers/fenders, the EZ Up things take 1 1/4 inch I believe....it was some stupid little amount, but I had to get english leathers).