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Where did you get the Grava spade?

excuse me, if you turn the buckel on the leatherstrap it will work even better like the mexicans do

No anger when get back on is great advice - thank you for the video

Very interesting video - thank you

Right! I've seen so many sore barrel horses and 90% are ridden treeless. My opinion, the only good treeless saddle is the one used to gallop racehorses. That piece of leather disguised as a saddle is only there to hold stirrups and girth lol. The only time your behind touches the saddle is going to and from the track. Research has shown many times that weight is only a factor for the endurance of the horse after many miles. For the speed factor, weight is only a small factor after you hit 3/4-1 mile. Handicap races prove this out as better horses win consistently carrying heavier weight. I ride in back country with steep hills and don't use a breast collar or crupper. Same with rear cinch. Only need both when roping and I don't. I can say use a pulling type breast collar if you must use one. Cinch length I have a 15.2 hand 1400 pounder, wears a size 2 shoe that I use a 30" cinch on. I have a 28" and 26" for the rest. Trevor Brazile the awesome team roper has a good video on why not to use long cinches.

Thank you again for sharing your wisdom with us. Could you fill us in on the logistics for your move...like what is takes to move a family, horses, and belongings across the country like you did. It seems like an impossible and remarkable feat!

At 5:00 I was just thinking of asking if you were going to broomstick it and...viola! But my first concern was that you had ALREADY acclimated to TX and it was an 80 degree morning and you were freezing your oysters off! But then I recognized the tack room and porch. I've only ordered and purchased two custom made saddles in my life. I don't own either one. The first one, built in the late 2000's by a reputable builder in Idaho, twisted the stirrups for me as I thought it was a good idea. Turns out besides all the other things he didn't do correctly, I did not care for all that bulk between my fender and the horse. Guess I'll just keep wetting and twisting them as I've always done (broom handle and all, without any tying) and had success. Best saddles I've ridden and still use to this day are, a new off the shelf Chavez "designed" working cow-horse saddle that I purchased decades ago, and the two Roohides I purchased from a cutting horse trainer and competitor cousin of mine when he got new ones. Good to hear from you again.

Great info. Feels much more natural. Thanks for the signatures. I’m enjoying the book and learning lots.

Excellent video!

Awesome. I just did this on a “new” old saddle, but I oiled the leather real deep first. It never dawned on me to use paracord, I have tons of it! Probably easier to work with.

Just watched this again LOL. I bet some (but not most) of the people who say they can do the same stuff with a horse in a snaffle as in a western/leverage bit are just really good riders and they've taught their horses to work off their seat and legs. Just a thought. I know you can get vertical flexion with a snaffle, but when it comes to things like picking up a shoulder -- idk how you do that, or if it's doable with a snaffle. Actually that would make an amazing video. An actual explanation/demonstration of what you can do with a leverage bit that you can't with a snaffle.

Great video. Not that it matters but I agree with you on all points....'cept maybe on breast collars. I've seen riders kept from going under a horse because they had a breast collar on. Obviously a rider error with tack to start with, but I'd rather see folks be safe rather than sorry, but I certainly see your side of it too. On cinches, my Uncle used to say, "I've never seen a horse get latigo sored"...😆 Just words of an old cowboy. I use 26" on my 14-14-2 HH horses, fortunately in all these years I've never had an issue. I also prefer mohair, they clean up nicely, even when packed with mud from working yearlins in 12" deep mud all weekend. Pressure washers are great!!! ☺ Keep up the great work.

Did you tie his head to his tail?

Classical Training v Natural Horsemanship strikes me as a bogus question to be asking. To my mind, natural horsemanship is more of a mind set or operating principle (persuasion over coercion) than a training methodology. And I don't see how it has anything to do with how well trained a horse can become, or how fit, or how strong. But now I'm going to have to do some reading. Maybe I'm wrong.

Thank you for the Tom hagwood story, Tom is one of my heroes

I went to a few rodeos with Wilson pate, he was the real deal

When I was a kid Benny offered me a job cleaning stalls and learning stuff and I turned him down,because I could make more money riding bulls.. now you know exactly how big of a dumbass I truly am! Thank you sir for your time and knowledge

Fascinating love your vicious always learn something!!!

Whats your opinion on oat hay, out of curiosity. Been wondering how it would effect working horses in feedyard during winter

I have speakers hooked to Bluetooth in my arena and at times play music, and change the songs depending on what I think myself or the horse needs. I have songs that roll in my head, but I don’t like rap or rock, so I think more in fast tempos with repetitive words that tell me what I’m wanting my horse to do rather than a real song. The concept of the horse is responsible for finding your rhythm is one of the key points to this post, and I’m constantly trying to help my students understand this. If you don’t know what you want, the horse will give you what they want, or what they think you want. Once you make it clear to a horse what you want, usually they pick up on it fairly quickly. Even a slower seat is pressure to a horse trying to get choppy. Once their hind legs meet the seat, the pressure stops and they feel relief and can relax up through their shoulders, neck and poll and finally their mouth.

As one of the classic little old lady (70+) riders I got an ultralight saddle and love it!! Not to save my horse, but I’m pretty light weight and I can get my horse saddled anytime anywhere no problem. Look like a pro throwing it up there. I do barrel race which how I knew there was such a thing. Interesting about the cinch length. I might switch out my 30”

Cluck cluck cluck cluck! Drives me nuts. Drives the horse nuts!

How do you measure for the correct cinch length?

Brett, I totally agree a shorter cinch is better. Unfortunately, most tack stores think everyone is a team roper, and it's hard to buy one off the shelf that is under 30 inches. I always ride with a breast collar. I had it come in handy twice when I had rigging failures while roping cattle that were about 1700 lbs. Yet, some folks like them, and some don't. To each his own.

Whats your take on fitting a mutton withered horse? The dry marks on her back ( small coffee can lid size) is not from pressure, its the lack of contact from the pad area of the bars. Ive tried all three gullet sized saddles and not one size seems to keep the saddle in place. I can slide my knife hand in the gullet area with no real resistance, I do get the better fit with the 7 gullet. Im a pen rider, and if the mare im talking about wasnt so dang good at the lot, id get rid of her. Its a pain in the butt keeping that saddle solid ( not hot) on her back. Any ideas?

My comments will not show up. I guess I have been censored.

I want to thank you and your wife for making these videos. Your opinions about what has worked and hasn’t worked for you are very educational and entertaining!

This one made me really chuckle. Several times. Thanks.

The only saddle type I've used is the military style trooper saddle. Nearly everyone in the horseback pointing dog field trial world uses some sort of trooper saddle. They are fairly light, mine are 25# give or take. Generally speaking, they are comfortable to ride and don't sore a horse's back. That and they have endless rings to hang stuff from. I'll confess to being in the breast collar and looser cinch camp.

Stop feeding the metabolic horses for 1 month and they won't be metabolic

Tacky = Neoprene They sell for $300 plastic Junk

Well i guess i better cancel my bitless bridle and tree less saddle order from Amazon....

Have you noticed/seen that the white spots don't sweat? Recently bought a horse that has them, and no matter which saddle I use/being ridden or not, those spots just behind the shoulder don't sweat.

Definitely looking forward to the cinch length video. I'm guilty of all the stuff you cite. Overweight myself, overweight horse (I think it's metabolic because he's not overfed, am dealing with that now) with a wide flat back, saddle that rolled on me. I definitely could be using a too long cinch but before I go get a shorter one, I need some info on what length to get -- where on the horse's side the buckle should be for maximum stability and maximum horse comfort. Thanks!

Your point about heavier saddles absorbing more of the impact of the rider's weight is really interesting. I'm still thinking that a lighter burden is better for a horse than a heavier burden. But for a given weight, say 200 lbs, you're saying that the horse is better off carrying a 35 lb saddle and a 165 lb rider than a 17 lb saddle and a 183 lb rider? That makes total sense to me.

Think you could do a video on hanging saddles from rafters. Was watching a previous videl of yours that you mentioned it and i was curious to see if you do it the same way i was taught

"thats why we won the war" not sure why that tickled me so much but I chuckled pretty hard at that😂

Great stories, thanks.

I think that I'll leave the buffalo riding to you! 😲😅

You’re a good man Bret. Thanks for speaking the truth, Be the change you want to see in the world “

I get it….. well spoken 🙏 Thanks

I didn’t see any of those guys mentioned in your book….. did I just miss em? That’s a very mindfully written book by the way 👌

Thanks Bret for your really great stories…..you’ve sure had some awesome experiences….. So cool you took the time to share with us, and show your gratitude to the ole buddies! Wow I can just see you as a 11/12 year old boy on a bull…. In a tub😃what a site you were🌟🌟🌟 Sure hope you tell more…..! Again, thanks…. Bret

Love those old stories. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you for bringing this up, as most horse people are unaware of this phenomenon

I like learning new things. Thank you. I ordered your book. If you ship it, would you sign it? I think your producer needs a tripod. 😁

Alexandre understood that by watching Bucephale in the sun and the shadow before riding him for the first time while no one could😊

Clean your tack, there is no sense in letting one get that bad.

So simple solution and concept yet we dont/cant think from a horse's perspective. Thank you for sharing

Informative quick video and love your patience and understanding of this horse's "try" not being uncooperativeness or "being bad" as many might be quick to assume. Thank you.