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Discussion on A "delicates" question for male riders...
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 - 8:45 am:
Hoping to hear from our male members on this topic - especially any of you that ride English and jump. My coming 9 yo son has finally been bitten by the riding bug. He has grown up surrounded by horses and always been a bit lukewarm until our recent visit to a local schooling day. There he saw little girls his age tearing around the Pre-Amoeba course and met a tall 33yo male rider on a 17.3h Tb. Previously he had commented "Mommy, boys don't ride!" because here in the deep south there is an undeniable shortage of males riding anything without a gas-fueled motor! At any rate, for the last month he has been up every morning, unbidden, for an early morning ride with me. He is solidly walk/trot/canter on Jack, the 28 yo wonder pony. However, there is a certain reluctance to learn the rising trot because of the "package" issues encountered when he bumps against the pommel. He is in a suitably sized saddle, and has already learned to push back a bit for comfort, but that changes his posture and leg position. What exact undergarments do any of you employ, and how much contact/discomfort do you have with the tack within a ride? Basically, I need detailed information that will allow me to communicate with my son as if I had the same, umm, "equipment"! Help me keep the interest of a budding male equestrian alive(and unharmed)?! Thanks, Stacy
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Member:
lara
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Posted on Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 - 10:18 am:
Search the cyclist shops ~ they make lightweight padded shorts. They would easily fit under breeches or jeans.
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Member:
hpyhaulr
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Posted on Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 - 10:33 am:
While I have never had any reservations about the "equipment" God chose for me, it does take me off the list of helpful to you for several reasons. Besides the obvious disqualification, Cyndy don't ride nothin' with no horn on it's back. This explains why I am still alive with all four appendages functional. Walt competed with hunter jumpers for years & years. The wisdom according to Walt: at 9, this should be the furthest thing from his mind. Like riding a bike, your "package" is only at risk when your feet slip off the pedals. If he rotates his ankles a bit more and pushes his weight into the stirrup on the ball of his foot, and allow himself to feel the rhythm of the trot, he will be so absorbed with the joy of being one with the horse that his focus on "package protection" will slide into a distant second place in terms of focus. In Dr. Mom vernacular...Feed the joy, starve the fear. So sayeth Walt.
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 - 6:51 pm:
Thank you Lara and Walt via Cyndy. Walt, specifically is he supposed to adjust the goods in the northward position and encase them within some spandex type garment? At this point he is reporting that when he sits down within the trot, he is getting a bit squeezed. Is he rotates his hips under a bit to push the frontage farther up, it is harder for him to have a relaxed straight back. He isn't fearful, he just has questions I can't answer. The first time he cantered( in 2 point), he was all grins and he made me smile with the comment "Mommy now I know why you like this so much - cantering feels like flying!!"
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 - 9:54 pm:
Stacy, is he wearing breeches or jeans? My younger son took jumping lesson and once he wore breeches he was much more comfortable. I think this isn't so much a problem in western saddles as the seat is a little further back.
It is neat to see our kids excited about horses and riding! Mine still love the horses, but quit riding (for the most part) once they were old enough to drive. Though they both still used the horses to impress prospective girlfriends.
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Monday, Aug 15, 2011 - 7:24 am:
It is neat Sara
I have never pushed the kids to ride although it is my passion, and they have been pretty casual about living with 6 horses until recently. If they choose to ride however, I will certainly do my best to make it fun and positive as it the sport has given me so much in my lifetime. Garrett has just started in some Irideon jodphurs, was in jeans previously. Underneath he has been wearing briefs that are one size too small so he can keep things snug. If contacting the pommel is just part of the physical experience for men, I'm sure we can both just stop talking about it - I just want a detailed concept of what is normal...
Would you ask your son what he remembers about it? It will be fun at least to see him blush!
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Monday, Aug 15, 2011 - 11:17 am:
Jamie is 34 now and doesn't blush easily! LOL I'll try and remember to ask him. He always rode in an english saddle, pretty flat seat. The kid was a born athlete with great balance and good "feel" Wish he had kept it up! But, cars, girls...horses lost out. Though he always goes out to visit and feed cookies when he comes home.
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Member:
alden
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Posted on Friday, Aug 19, 2011 - 11:22 pm:
Stacy,
In my experience contact with the pommel is not normal or something I like to repeat. In the saddle I'm currently riding it only happens when my young horse stops hard because of the horse eating objects sitting in the shadows along the trail.
I'm an ametuer concerning posting the trot and have just become comfortable with it in the last couple years. The right saddle was the largest factor in making the trot comfy for me. I had been a western or Aussie saddle guy, then I got a Specialized saddle last spring. While not english it does change the my seat considerably from a Western saddle and made the trot very easy. I have about 600 competitive miles in this saddle now and I almost don't even think about how to trot anymore
The other thing I change about the same time was my attire, I finally decide that the guys wearing riding tights might know something I didn't. So I gave it a try with a pair of Saddlebums tights, I have to say I wish I had done it a long time ago! Really a 20 mile day just doesn't wear on me like it did with jeans and cycling shorts. Oh, I find I still have to make adjustments to the package from time to time, but a guy has to do what a guy has to do. Just do it discreetly
I added a couple pictures to prove at least one guy can wear riding tights and a cowboy hat; at the same time
Good day,
Alden
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 20, 2011 - 8:13 am:
And look good wearing both, lol!
That saddle looks so nice and balanced. I love both pictures, beautiful horse too.
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 20, 2011 - 11:02 am:
Great photos! Are you doing a lot of endurance now, or just long rides for fun?
btw Stacey, lots of cowboys wear tights or panty hose under their jeans. I think it's more to prevent chaffing than for comfort in other areas though. Also, they now make jeans that have a special "diamond" shaped crotch that are supposed to be more comfortable but I don't know anyone that's used them.
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 20, 2011 - 11:42 am:
Love the pix, Alden! Beautiful country, lovely horse and you clearly enjoy the comfort of those tights! I thought I remember seeing at the Equisenntials booth last year at the WEG that they make breeches out of denim or at least a denim looking material. Might be the thing for a youngster who may be a little self-conscience about regular breeches. Can't speak to how they are in terms of offering up protection but would assume that they do just as well as any other breeches.
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Member:
alden
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 20, 2011 - 7:56 pm:
I ride NATRC, I did an endurance ride once and I didn't care for it.
Thanks all for the complements on my horse, she's from our stallion PT and is for sale if anyone is looking for a good long distance horse. As for the rider, you may want to have ur eyes checked  .
The saddle is very nice to ride if you don't have a need for a horn. And how many of us really need a horn? It's well balanced, the stirrups can be moved forward or back, the tree padding can be wedged and shimmed almost unlimitedly, and only weighs 23 lbs.
I have to admit that more and likely you wouldn't have caught me dead in tight like these when I was 9. But it's worth a shot.
Good day,
Alden
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Member:
lilo
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Posted on Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 - 9:49 am:
Alden - I say, do whatever works and is comfortable. Great photos!
Lilo
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