The Saddle

I have always been a pretty stout and buff girl so I started saddling my horse on my own when I was about eight. It didn't take me very long to learn how to saddle a horse because I catch on to things people are teaching me pretty fast if I am interested in what they are teaching me. I have always loved spending time out with me horse and getting her to trust me. I spent so much time with her that she would follow me even if i didin't have a bridle or lead rope on her. Having a horse trust you is very important. When saddling if your horse doesn't trust you and are nervous you could have lots of troubles with your horse taking off or not coaperating. Showing a horse came from someone who had asked if I have ever shown or done any shows with horses. I have never showed a horse, but I have watched others show horses and I just don't find it very interesting. I think I will just stick with training horses, riding horses, and using them for ranch business.

Age for Horses

Saddling a horse does not depend on the persons age. Depending on how big and strong the person is lets them know when they can or are ready to be able to saddle a horse. I find it extreamly elementery however if a child is capable, then they should be allowed to, and should saddle their own horse. Independence will help the child bond with the cridder and give them a sence of pride and acheivemet; however to just turn a child loose with a large animal like that is not the right move. Just like most things young people who are capable can saddle their own horse with a adults supervision. When you ride alone you should already have the knowlege and experience of saddling and riding a horse. Don't be riding alone if you don't know what you are doing. I have never shown a horse at the fair or any other exhibit. I just prefer breaking horses and haveing a blast riding them when they are ready. I find showing horses is very boring.

Helpful Pointers

Saddling your horse right is also a very good pointer that people need to know. Your saddle can't be to loose or to tight. When your saddle is to tight it will leave saddle sores and rub a lot. When your saddle is loose you will probably not be sitting up right, you might be underneath your horse just hangin. I have been riding since I was very little and have gotten pointers from many of people I have rode with including a very good friend that has trained horses all his life. He even has a team of horses that pulls a buggy in the 4th of July parade. I just give pointers to peole who have usually started riding or haven't been riding for very long. You don't have to hold the reins with your pointer finger in the middle of them that is just how I feel comfortable holding mine. You can hold your reins any way you want that feels comfortable, but you need to be able to turn your horse easily and smoothly. Getting in the rhythm of a horse just takes practice riding and getting the feel for the rhythm of the horse you are riding.

Pointers

When I give pointers to people when we are riding, it is just to help them out to become a better rider. I let the person know that they need to get into rhythm with the horse when riding. You have to move your body with the horse to make it a smooth ride. If you get off with the rhythm of the horse then the ride becomes rough and you could hurt the horse. When getting off rhythm it can move your saddle around to where it makes it very uncomfortable for the horse. You also have to know the rhythm of the horse because if the go lame you might have to get a rock out of their hoof. Knowing how to turn your horse is also something that a person need to know how to do. Holding the reins right in your hand is a big part in turning a horse. I usually just put my pointer finger in the middle of the reins, I also turn the horse like this which makes it easy. You just have to make sure that whatever way you are turning the horse is the way that both reins are going. There are many other pointers to give people, but these pointers are the main ones I give while helping someone out.

The Trails

If I would give people riding lessons I would probably charge them according to how many riding lessons they want. I am not sure exactly how much I would charge each person. The trails in the Black Hills are mostly for four wheelers, people walking, and people riding horses. Some of the trails around the Black Hills are actually made just for horses to go on. The trails I ride are just the ones where our cattle are in the hills and any other pastures that I have to find cows. Sometimes I don't even really ride on trails because I'm usually going after cows that don't follow trails. I do like riding with people on trails that have had riding lessons and know what they are doing so I don't have to sit there and tell them what to do. I do correct a lot of people on their riding because it is just a pet peeve of mine.

The Trail

I might do trail rides with new riders for money someday, but that would be after I have graduated high school so I would have time. There are a lot of different trails in the Black Hills thta people can ride on. A lot of the trails in the Black Hills are just trails that the forest service owns. The trails I ride on are just the ones that we lease in the Black Hills near Rochford. We have corals in the hills with a lot of other pastures around that I ride to find cows, and also to look for fences that need fixed. Riders that are just new to riding horses on a trail need to know how to get back where they started from, be comfortable around the horse they are riding, and they would also need to know what trails they should take so they don't ride on some terrain that they aren't ready for. Having at least some riding lessons before you go on a trail ride would be very beneficial.

Trail Horses

When I train horses I train them to turn and be able to ride them without getting bucked off. After I get a horse trained and I want to use them for trail rides, I am talking about using them for just ranch use. The only people I have taken for trail rides are my friends. I have never gave anyone trail rides to anyone for money. I haven't actually ever gave anyone riding lessons for money, but I have taught people how to ride a horse. I usually don't let anyone ride any of my horses that have never rode a horse or don't have any experience around horses. Mostly all the horses that I have, needs a person with experience on them or things could probably get ugly. I have thought about breaking and training horses for my career, but I have other plans for my career.