>> http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=933051008&channel=934042866
> What's that leather strap around the back legs of the horse? It's called a retranca and is part of the traditional saddle gear. Serves no useful purpose that I've been able to determine (sort of like a man's tie <g>), but it's part of the gear. Old pictures from the colonial era in Peru show Spanish saddles with breeching, like mule and pack saddles have today. Most likely that functional gear evolved into something flowing and decorative. Lynn Kinsky, Santa Ynez, CA http://www.silcom.com/~lkinsky/ http://www.dslextreme.com/~napha/JoyOfRiding/index.htm
