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| RUSTY TAYLOR GAITED HORSE SPECIAL No. 72855 Reviews |
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| Product: RUSTY TAYLOR GAITED HORSE SPECIAL No. 72855 |
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| From: Rusty Taylor |
| Date: Thursday 16 May, 2002 |
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| Review: |
My name is Rusty Taylor and I am a trail rider. I have been riding for over 40 years, starting out on a neighbor's work horse.
My favorite places to ride are the Grayson Highlands of Southwest Virginia, the Big South Fork National Recreation Area on the Tennessee/Kentucky border, and the Cherokee National Forest along the Tennessee/Georgia border in Southeast Tennessee. Most of this terrain is mountainous and very demanding for horse and rider.
I have two horses that I try to take to the mountains on a regular basis, Ellis is a 7 year old Tennessee Walking Horse mare and her full brother, Tramp, a four year old gelding. Lately, I have bean riding Tramp to give him the experience. They both are smooth and good-natured, a pleasure to ride.
My friend Dick Chambers, of the Simco/Longhorn Saddle Company, and I often talk about horses and saddles. During one such discussion he asked what I thought were the components of the ideal trail saddle. My response was a saddle should be comfortable for the horse and rider, in that order.
Earnie Peoples, a man I respect as a fine horseman once told me, "a horse can carry 25% of its body weight all day." If he is right and I believe he is, a 1000-pound horse should be able to carry 260 pounds comfortably. That being the case, a saddle must be light in weight and fit your horse correctly.
Earlier this summer I met with Mr. Eddie Steele who provides trees for Simco. Eddie produces a gaited horse tree and a quarter horse tree made of wood and fiberglass. After meeting with Eddie I went over to the Simco plant and met with master saddle maker James Kessler. We talked about designing a saddle that would be exclusively for Trail Riders - a saddle that would be comfortable for the horse and the rider. The saddle that James created from my suggestions is truly a masterpiece. It has a narrow fork with a horn, padded seat, and a five-inch cantle. One of the best features is the twisted stirrups. The stirrups hang straight so that your knees and ankles are not in a bind. The stirrup position is the most comfortable I have ever ridden.
My favorite trail is the Iron Mountain Trail on the Tennessee/Georgia border. This twelve-mile loop goes up the mountain, out the ridge top for a spectacular view of Big Frog Mountain, and then down along the Conasauga River for 5 miles. It is a beautiful ride.
I tested my new trail saddle on this trail on September 15, 2001. It was a crystal clear day and we had a great ride. Tramp faired very well and I did too. In fact Al and Laura Shumaker who rode with me asked me at church if I was sore? I could honestly say that I was not one bit sore, and I don't think Tramp was either.
The Rusty Taylor Trail Saddle weighs 27 pounds and with my 216 pounds, making the weight Tramp had to carry was just right. There are all kinds of rings and ties, as well as a crupper ring. This saddle is the BEST saddle I have ever ridden, and in 40 years I have ridden a bunch of different saddles.
One story about our ride on September 15. We were not far out of the Cottonpatch Campground when two mountain bikers came up behind us. It surprised Tramp and he jumped a little bit. I turned him around and nudged him up to smell the riders and see that they would not hurt him. He suddenly reared and spun around. If I had been on any of the other saddles I own, I would have been on the ground. The secure seat I had in my trail saddle made it possible for me to stay on my horse.
If you are looking for a lightweight, comfortable, functional, beautiful, and quality built saddle, the Rusty Taylor Trail Saddle is what you are looking for. I say, again, it is the BEST saddle I have ever ridden.
As we enter the fall season there have been some beautiful days to ride. I wish for you happy trails and hope to see you out there in the mountains sometime; it is the best past time activity I know. Will Rogers said it best, “There is something about the outside of a horse, that does something about the inside of a man.” I think he would include women in that statement as well.
Rusty Taylor
Cleveland, TN |
Rating:  [5 of 5 Stars!] |
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