Small 'cheats' at shows?

[_Teddy]

I know this isnt cheating as i have a para card with permissions…

I use rubber bands to “band” my foot to the stirrup or could go velcro, but this is more a safety thing i have foot drop severe enough im high risk of my feet slipping out in bendy irons(in normal irons they slip home)

I use loop reins as my hands hurt and my contact slips significantly even if i use thick rubber reins.

I have the option of 2 whips for those days, but prefer blunt spurs as if i goose them accidentally horses react better

[M_O_Connor]

[QUOTE=CBoylen;4484960]
It’s wax, not glue. If you’re coming off, you’re coming off.
It doesn’t make enough of a difference to worry about it, although it might make someone feel more secure.[/QUOTE]

This is absolutely true.

What’s not true is that we had nothing similar in the good old days.

Can’t find your sticky stuff? Don’t despair, because:

Properly cleaned and conditioned tack
+
Properly cleaned and shiny boots

Plenty of “stick”

Need more?

Take a glycerine bar and ‘scribble’ all over your saddle flap. (Do check that it’s clean first, one little grain of sand can do some damage).

Need more? Spit works wonders.

Much easier to clean glycerine off your saddle and boots than wax, BTW.

Like many modern day “conveniences” the sticky stuff is not really anything new, it’s just that someone has packaged the idea, and commercialized it.

Which isn’t to say it’s not in my gear bag….because it is!

[M_O_Connor]

Don’t get me started on the stirrups…there IS no substitute for a properly placed foot in the irons and the stirrup–note that this was the first thing GM looked at in the national training session this week–his preference, and I agree, is for a simple, classic Fillis-tye iron.

[MHM]

Zombie thread alert.

It’s always funny when these pop up and you see the names of posters from past years who have disappeared after being very active here.

[M_O_Connor]

[QUOTE=MHM;7346917]
Zombie thread alert.

It’s always funny when these pop up and you see the names of posters from past years who have disappeared after being very active here.[/QUOTE]

How strange–like some others, I didn’t notice how old the thread is.

Hmm a few threads have ‘awakened’ lately–probably true that the cause is the links to ‘similar threads’ display.

[gottagrey]

[QUOTE=AdultAmmy;7345818]
Because these quick fixes don’t fix poor riding. One should work hard, build muscle and fix their flaws the correct way. I’ve also found that ballet helps with correct posture, not some device that’s marketed to do the work for you. Especially for a rider showing in the Eq. I’m not opposed to riders schooling with shoulders-back at home, but that’s where the product should stay. [/QUOTE]

Poor posture doesn’t = poor riding if it did that would knock out plenty of riders. yes, ballet does improve posture but maybe some people don’t have the time or the inclination or the money to add ballet to an already heavy schedule. Some people might have busted their collarbones or shoulders and HAVE to wear a Fig8 shoulder brace or use the Shoulder’s back thing? Whether ballet or shoulders back what difference does it make if it helps improve one’s posture. the shoulders back is not going to give anyone w/ poor posture a back like McLain Ward.

[Dramapony_misty]

[QUOTE=GoneAway;7345098]
We had a team or two in our region who used it on all their riders, and one of our thinner skinned, clipped horses returned to his stall early due to being rubbed nearly raw. I’ve never used Saddle-Tite or any kind of stick product. Personally, I think in most cases hard work will fix the underlying problem. But after watching our horse get rubbed almost raw from ill-placed and overly used stick product, I flat out hate it. People should lose the irons for a couple of weeks already, and stop thinking that garbage is necessary.[/QUOTE]

We had one like that too. Poor guy. Even without the sticky stuff or spurs, he would have a raised welt-like area there at the end of the show that took a day or two to go away.

[gottagrey]

Originally Posted by GoneAway

We had a team or two in our region who used it on all their riders, and one of our thinner skinned, clipped horses returned to his stall early due to being rubbed nearly raw. I’ve never used Saddle-Tite or any kind of stick product. Personally, I think in most cases hard work will fix the underlying problem. But after watching our horse get rubbed almost raw from ill-placed and overly used stick product, I flat out hate it. People should lose the irons for a couple of weeks already, and stop thinking that garbage is necessary.

what? did they use it on the horse’s back? where did they put the Sadl-tite? hopefully not on the horse… Horse shouldn’t have gotten rubs from it if it was used properly - like on the saddle/flaps and not boots

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=GallopGirl;7346851]
I’ve seen heel lifts for boots before and wondered if anyone was using them for the same thing.[/QUOTE]

I have always seen those used for breaking in boots, especially ones that are painfully tall until they drop a little.

There is a gel insert sold to fake out the appearance of deeper heels. I forget what it’s called, but I bought a pair thinking they were the heel lifts for breaking in boots and BOY WAS I DISAPPOINTED when I opened the package.

[GoneAway]

[QUOTE=gottagrey;7347695]
what? did they use it on the horse’s back? where did they put the Sadl-tite? hopefully not on the horse… Horse shouldn’t have gotten rubs from it if it was used properly - like on the saddle/flaps and not boots[/QUOTE]

They used it all over their boots, including the lower part which was below the saddle flap. Of course they used it improperly as I mentioned, but the blatant slathering of it all over the boots and the resulting discomfort of the horse was enough to really turn me off to the idea of any kind of wax product at all. He was pulled early and couldn’t been ridden for a week or more due to the rubbing and for what? So someone could feel better about their leg?

[gottagrey]

[QUOTE=GoneAway;7347707]
They used it all over their boots, including the lower part which was below the saddle flap. Of course they used it improperly as I mentioned, but the blatant slathering of it all over the boots and the resulting discomfort of the horse was enough to really turn me off to the idea of any kind of wax product at all. He was pulled early and couldn’t been ridden for a week or more due to the rubbing and for what? So someone could feel better about their leg?[/QUOTE]

Poor horse :(. I’ve only seen people use it on their saddles, never boots. and dumb me, why didn’t I think of using that on my new saddle ages ago - before they were soft and easier to break in. I had some definite YEE-HA moments back then. LOL

[tidy_rabbit]

I thought the saddle tight was just glycerine??? Not wax??? Rub a bar of saddle soap on your boots and pants and it works just exactly the same. I’d hardly call it a “cheat”.

I love the wider stirrups!!! Makes it possible for me to actually get my jacked up ankles to flex so my heel can get down better! I love that bigger base of support. A cheat? I think not especially for us taller/big footed riders who naturally like to stand on our toes in those narrow stirrups.

What about pinch boots? now that is questionable…

[RugBug]

@tidy rabbit;7351043

I thought the saddle tight was just glycerine??? Not wax??? Rub a bar of saddle soap on your boots and pants and it works just exactly the same. I’d hardly call it a “cheat”.

Sounds like you’ve never used it. If you had, you’d realize it’s not glycerine. It’s gross and sticky and does not come off your saddle or boots. I refuse to clean saddles that have been ridden in by someone who uses it.

[tidy_rabbit]

I’ve used it plenty of times. I never put it on really thick, maybe that is the difference?

Edited to add… I even gasp own a container of saddle-tite.

[hunterrider23]

[QUOTE=tidy rabbit;7351709]
I’ve used it plenty of times. I never put it on really thick, maybe that is the difference?

Edited to add… I even gasp own a container of saddle-tite. :/[/QUOTE]
I use the orange bottle spray kind on my boots before an eq class or if I’m riding something I think I’m going to get jumped off of. It’s certainly not going to keep a super swingy leg in place, but it does help and unless your saddle doesn’t fit right nothing from your boots should get on your saddle. I haven’t had it rub or stick to a horse either.

[vxf111]

@tidy rabbit;7351043

I thought the saddle tight was just glycerine??? Not wax??? Rub a bar of saddle soap on your boots and pants and it works just exactly the same. I’d hardly call it a “cheat”.

It’s not just glycerine. The texture is totally different.

[AdultAmmy]

[QUOTE=gottagrey;7347511]
Poor posture doesn’t = poor riding if it did that would knock out plenty of riders. yes, ballet does improve posture but maybe some people don’t have the time or the inclination or the money to add ballet to an already heavy schedule. Some people might have busted their collarbones or shoulders and HAVE to wear a Fig8 shoulder brace or use the Shoulder’s back thing? Whether ballet or shoulders back what difference does it make if it helps improve one’s posture. the shoulders back is not going to give anyone w/ poor posture a back like McLain Ward.[/QUOTE]

Perhaps you took my post out of context. I never insinuated that poor posture meant poor riding. That isn’t the case, just as much as posing atop a horse doesn’t make anyone a star rider either. I’m an ex-gymnast who lives by the motto “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” I believe it takes dedication, determination, skill, finesse, and most importantly hard work to become an exceptional rider.

Also, devices worn to help with pain management, and those worn to fix a flawed position (say, to help pin in an equitation class) are two very different scenarios. Shoulders-back is not marketed to help curb shoulder pain, it’s marketed to help a rider hold their shoulders in the correct position.

As for ballet, I’m a strong advocate. I’m not talking point classes and recitals so much as one hour of basic ballet a week. It’s wonderful for discipline, balance, posture and strength.

I wasn’t trying to ruffle feathers, but felt that I may have needed clarify my position on the matter.

[gottagrey]

[QUOTE=AdultAmmy;7352198]
As for ballet, I’m a strong advocate. I’m not talking point classes and recitals so much as one hour of basic ballet a week. It’s wonderful for discipline, balance, posture and strength.

I wasn’t trying to ruffle feathers, but felt that I may have needed clarify my position on the matter.[/QUOTE]

Totally agree about ballet, no feathers ruffled, no worries, and perhaps I’m a bit sensitive about the poor posture bit as I’ve not got the greatest posture in the world. I’m sure ballet as a kid would’ve helped w/ my posture - so I think if I could wear something to help my shoulders/back look better that would help the judge focus on my busted right ankle that points UP LOL

[Old_Grey_Mare]

[QUOTE=mooonie;4485143]
Cheating is such a harsh word. I prefer to think of it as “enhancing” or “improving”, kind of like cosmetic surgery or mascara.

And now (drum roll please), I would like to announce my new line of velcro breeches and stirrup irons. They are guaranteed to keep your leg in place.

xxxooo[/QUOTE]

I guess velcro full-seat breeches would be pretty secure, but they’d have to be awfully stretchy so you could post inside them. And the sound effects while dismounting would require some major de-spooking!

[HorseKrazy]

[QUOTE=fourmares;4485328]
Saddle-tite has been around since at least 1985. I have pictures that prove that while it will keep you saddle stuck to your boot, it will not keep your saddle flap in the right place… the flap will just go with your leg when your horse jumps you out of your tack.[/QUOTE]

I have also used saddle-tite and don’t believe it’s really cheating. When I was younger my trainer put it on for me at schooling shows. Recently I found some at my local tack store, and remembering its awesomeness I bought it and ran home to try it out right away. Needless to say, when you are putting it on yourself make sure to just put it on the saddle and not on your boots- unless you really want to piss off your horse!