Step Three: Wrap
Wrap a clean rag or towel around the areas where your horse’s black markings meet lighter- colored hairs. A clean cloth absorbs excess spray and prevents the black spray from bleeding into lighter- colored areas. Tie or tape the loose ends of the rag into position.
Much of that can be attributed to the laid-back, fun personality of clinician Brad Barke- meyer, cow horse, reining, and roping trainer from Scottsdale, Arizona. And winner Staci Huff- man, Rathdrum, Idaho, sported an ear-to- ear grin throughout the eight-hour day. (That’s right— these riders were horseback all day and never once looked tired or worn out.) Here’s a glimpse into Staci’s big day, which she shared with nine of her riding buddies, including her husband and one of her daughters, thanks to Weaver Leather and Brad Barke- meyer. Be sure to look for video clips featuring exercises the riders learned, found on and on our Facebook page.
ARanch riding’s whole purpose is presenting a competent horse-and-rider pair that can do whatever job the pattern calls for. Specific tack and attire rules govern classes in most associations. For example, AQHA rules discourage silver adornments and bling on tack and attire. The important thing is to think working gear and attire that suits the job at hand. You wouldn’t see a cowgirl ride out to fix fence in a fully embellished top and a silver saddle.
Above, you see a photo of one of my ranch riding mounts, fully tacked and ready to show. The opposite page shows me in an example of what I wear in the class. I’ll go over the high points of each photo to give you a strong background in what’s expected
horse’s barrel—not hanging down below, where a hoof could get caught in it, nor snubbed too tight, causing discomfort. The hobble is tight enough that there’s no slack to catch on anything and it holds the flank cinch in the appropriate position, rather than letting it slide back too far.
As in any show event, a clean, well-shaped hat sets the tone for the judge. Be sure your hat fits well. My hair is pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of my neck. Many lady ranch riders braid their hair down the center or to the side. Just be sure it’s neat and tidy, with no stray hairs.
I tie a small scarf around my neck with a square knot. You can also use a larger wild rag, or skip the scarf.
1. Western hat. 2. Neck scarf. 3. Leather jacket.