Best Shop

Australian Saddle (part 1)

Ever wondered what the Australian Saddle was, or how different it is from the typical Western or English riding saddles? In this article, you will learn the main features that distinguish the Australian Saddle from the other riding saddles, the similarities it shares, the origin of this great piece of work and the uniqueness of it amongst its much competition.

The popularity of the Australian Stock Saddle came about right after the release of the movie, “The Man from Snowy River” in 1982. This great movie has one of the best horseback riding scenes as far as time can tell, and all of its riding was done on Australian saddles. The news of this saddle type soon spread like wild fire, and the Australian Saddle gained its name amongst the existing equestrian world.

The origin of the Australian Saddle came about shortly after the English settled in Australia in 1788. The English brought with them horses, saddles and equestrian tacks of all kind. Not so long after their arrival, they soon realized that there was huge and distinct difference between their homeland and Australia. So, the commitment and drive to mold the existing English saddle into something which suits the harsh environment came about.

They began changing the design of their saddles and equestrian tack into something that would march-up with the harsh, rigid and rugged environment; hence an evolution of the existing English saddle surfaced with its variations and was populated with the name, “Australian Saddle”. They needed a saddle that would be comfortable while working long hours on horseback for both the rider and the horse itself. This saddle had to be tough and durable for the intended rugged use, yet again be light weight and easy to girth.

The Australian Saddle has been in existence for over a hundred years. The fundamental English saddle was made tougher and more robust so it could be capable of withstanding the considerable stress and hardship of the Australian environment. Fittings [like d-rings and bridge staples] were added so riders could carry their gear with them. However, the major difference the Australian Saddle poses is in the introduction of the device called ‘poleys’.

The ‘poleys’ [or a type of knee pad] provides a more secure and safe horseback riding on sloppy and inclined areas. They are placed in front of the saddle and parallel to the thighs of the rider, about ¾” Inches away. The ‘poleys’ give the major difference the Australian Saddle has in contrast with the other types of horse riding saddles like the Western Saddle or the typical English saddle. With the ‘poleys’, one can easily distinguish the Australian Saddle from these other horse riding saddles.

The Australian horse riding saddle has a simple [highly efficient] double ‘girthing’ which is used to attach it to the horse. The billet straps (which are sewn to the saddle) and the over girth (a strap going across the top of the saddle) both buckle directly to the girth. This double system allows the rider to girth the saddle more effectively, which helps eliminate slippage. Should a billet strap break, the over-girth provides additional safety.

Australian saddles rest more on the horse’s shoulders in contrast with the general and popular type saddles [like the western] which sits on the horse’s spine area. So it is widely known that the Australian saddle is placed more forward than the others, and the stirrups are attached in a more forward position as well.

This puts the rider’s center of mass right on the spot where the weight could be distributed evenly throughout the horse’s body, and it is a popular dogma that this saddle position type provides comfort to the horse which in turn improves and enhance the horse’s performance.

Most people find that the Australian riding position is also more comfortable for the rider. With the riders feet forward of the hips there is better weight distribution, resulting in less stress on the knees. And the 2 ½” Inches leathers make it easy to turn the stirrups in the correct position. Many riders who experience knee problems with Western and English saddles do not have problems with Australian saddle.

However, if you like to be able to move forward in your seat when going up steep hills, it’s very hard to do in an Australian saddle because of the ‘poleys’. They generally come in a few different widths just like Western saddles. The ‘poleys’ have also evolved from time to time by moving up from the rider’s thigh towards the upper part of the legs.

(More to come in the next release of the Australian Saddle pt2)

Wale Akin-William

[Founder, e- Horse Riding Saddles]

For quality yet affordable Australian Saddles, Please visit www.e-horseridingsaddles.com Australian Saddle (part 1) /  Wale

Playing Cards – Paper vs. Plastic

The same common supermarket question exists in the poker world as well. When it comes to playing cards there are two choices, paper or plastic.

Paper Playing Cards

Paper cards are the cards most people use growing up. They are cheap, easy to find, and most people are accustomed to their texture, thickness, and flexibility.

Paper cards are usually made of one to three plys of card stock covered in a varnish. This coating protects the cards, but it is not able to withstand everything.

The coating wears off as cards are shuffled and handled. Eventually the coating becomes thin enough that the cards are too difficult to comfortably handle and they need to be replaced.

The coating does not stand up to liquids well. Spilling a drink on a card will most likely ruin it. And, paper cards are not washable, so soap and water is not an option for removing cheese puff residue or any other dirt that the cards might attract.

Paper cards are not very flexible either. It is not difficult for a player to, either accidentally or on purpose, leave creases or marks on the cards. This immediately ruins the card for serious play, and often requires a new deck to be brought out.

Plastic Cards

Plastic cards do not suffer from the same drawbacks as paper ones. First of all, they are very slick. That slickness does not wear away in the same manner as it does on paper cards. They will shuffle and slide easily for tournament after cash game after tournament.

Plastic cards are incredibly flexible and will snap back to form after bending. This means that they can endure more player abuse and not become creased or marked.

And finally plastic cards can be washed. If they become soiled in any way, soap and water will clean them, not ruin them. Of course that means they stand up to wet picnic tables and spilled ice teas as well.

Many makes of plastic cards do not have a texture or feel that resembles paper cards. Often they are too slippery for less than nimble hands to shuffle. They can also feel flimsy when compared to paper cards.

Since many people are accustomed to the feel of paper cards, they are uncomfortable handling plastic cards and would prefer to replace decks more frequently than to make the switch. The truth is that because plastic cards last so much longer than paper ones, they are a much cheaper option per play than paper cards.

As in all things, there is give and take in deciding which type of card is best for you. Purchasing a deck of premium plastic cards is more of a commitment because they cost more and last longer. Paper cards are for many a comfortable short-term solution.

Playing Cards – Paper vs. Plastic / R Mongoose

Mongoose is a poker enthusiast who has recently taken a keen interest in the cards themselves. He is also a webmaster whose work can be seen at Playing Cards.

Take Back Control Of Your Life With A Electric Wheelchair

For people with upper body mobility problems the use of a standard wheelchair may prove to be hard or even impossible to accomplish on a regular basis.

Electric wheelchairs are nice to have when you need that extra help for mobility. Electric wheelchairs allow you to take control of your life. Instead of using your hands and strength of your arm, you simply use the adjusters and knobs to control the wheelchairs. Many of the electrical chairs today have belts or gears. Some of the wheelchairs supply both the belt and gears. The power chairs for example has belt drives.

The drives are silent, yet the problem with these types of wheelchairs is that you have to put more effort into keeping the wheelchair maintenance. The gear drives in the modern wheelchairs are quiet and you do not have to worry about maintenance too much. The problem with these chairs however is they are said to wear down, that is the belt wears down quickly. This can cause the chair to become noisy.

The electric wheelchairs are the lower end-powered chairs. These wheelchairs have lighter frames. The chairs are more for traveling indoors. The problem with these wheelchairs is that the frames will crack and the front fork will bend. The wheelchair engines often die after you use them too much outdoors. Some of the other chairs are the reliable chairs that are rugged and the frames are designed to transport more weight than some of the other wheelchairs. The latest models today often have the newest spring suspensions installed. This will make mobility more enjoyable, since you can expect an even, smooth ride with each trip you take.

The electric wheelchairs cost somewhere between $1500 and more. The most common wheelchairs are the mid-front-and rear wheel drives. The motor scooters and other wheelchairs are available as well. You can often find web sites online that give you financial options. Most of the areas online that sell the chairs will often take Medicare patients, which the amount you spend decreases tremendously. If you do not have Medicare, some of the places take MedicaidFree Web Content, or other insurance policies.

You can also find areas that will finance your wheelchair. To learn more about the latest products visit the World Wide Net. Online you will find several models available and information that helps you choose your financial options. Some of the places online will work very hard with you to ensure that you receive an electric chair with few hassles.

Take Back Control Of Your Life With A Electric Wheelchair / Kip Goldhammer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kip D Goldhammer owns and operates http://www.powerwheelchairreview.com - Electric Wheelchairs