Picket line A permanent picket line at a State of Minnesota horse camp. The inner tubes allow the horses to reach for hay without leaving too much slack in the lead ropes. Photo by Bob Lemen. All rights reserved.
Fender Fender – A wide leather piece attached to a stirrup leather to prevent rubbing of a rider’s leg against the horse and to protect the rider’s legs from horse sweat. Also referred to as a Jockey, Sweat Leather, or Sudadero Photo by Bob Lemen. All rights reserved.
Eagle 1. A former United States gold coin, first produced in 1795, worth 10 dollars. 2. A large, keen-sighted bird of prey noted for its broad wings and soaring flight; the bald eagle is the national symbol of the United States of America.
Although generally considered a draft horse, the Haflinger is also frequently used under saddle. Having never ridden — let alone owned — a Haflinger, I referred your question to a couple of friends who have. “Wagon Master” Duane Barrow has had a couple of Haflingers and tells me that they “ride nice” and are used […]
Square Knot The Square Knot is a double knot made of two half hitches and used to join the ends of two cords. A quick knot to tie, it is commonly used but has the disadvantage of tending to slip apart.
Return to Questions and Answers Index Q&A Questions and Answers: QUESTION: How did a star become the symbol of a lawman? M. J. ANSWER: That’s an interesting question, M. J.! Here’s my take on it — and I’m sure someone will quickly come along to dispute me. Although law enforcement agencies are free to use […]
A — Saddle Horn B — Pommel C — Swell D — Saddle Strings E — Breast Strap F — Latigo G — Girth H — Seat I — Cantle J — Cheyenne Roll K — Concha L — Fender (or Jockey) M — Stirrup Strap (or Keeper) N — Stirrup Leather O — Stirrup […]
Stagecoach Six men sit on top of a Medora to Deadwood stagecoach, c. 1884-85. Four horses are harnessed to the coach. The Medora Stage and Forwarding Company, owned by the Marquis de Mores, operated between Medora, N.D. and Deadwood, S.D. The company used four coaches for daily trips, which took about 36 hours. Photo courtesy […]
Sacking Out Sacking out a rowdy horse — in this case, I’m using my vest in place of a sack, saddle blanket, etc. It took less than five minutes to get the critter settled down… and even wearing the vest like a hat. Photo by Bob Lemen. All rights reserved.
Salt Pork Salt Pork consists of salt-cured fat from the back, sides, or belly of a hog. In frontier days, salt pork was an important source of calories aa well as the salt lost in sweat during hot weather or hard work. An energy packed food source, salt pork contains roughly 3,400 calories and more […]
Snowball Removing a Snowball on a horse’s hoof — a buildup of hard-packed snow on the underside of a horse’s hoof which makes it difficult for the horse to walk — is just part of normal winter horse care. A hoof knife or clinch cutter does a better job of cutting through the compacted snow […]
Snubbing Post A Snubbing Post in use on the Quarter Circle U Ranch, Big Horn County, Montana, June, 1939. Photo by Arthur Rothstein, courtesy Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection, LC-USF33-003146-M2 DLC
Stitching Bench Stitching Bench – A combined seat and clamp that holds leather in place for sewing; also known as a Harness Horse. Saddlemaker Ken Tipton of Tip’s Saddle and Silver in Winnemucca, Nevada, using a Stitching Bench. Photo courtesy Library of Congress. Alfred Harrell, photographer.
Slick Seat A saddle with a smooth surface on the seat for ease of shifting side-to-side in giving leg and balance cues to the horse. Such cues are greatly impeded by Suede or Rough-Out Seats. Stitching on the seat reduces friction even more. Photo by Bob Lemen. All rights reserved.