On Apr 27, 2008, at 7:16 PM, Judy Ryder wrote: > >> Jineta saddles and jineta style riding is balanced riding where the >> saddle >> has stirrups more centered, which allows for the rider to be balanced >> and >> in >> alignment from shoulder, hip, heel. "The jineta saddle promotes loin >> coiling in the horse, ensuring his comfort and mobility including >> that of >> his rider." (Quote from the Conquerors.) >> >> Brida saddles and brida style riding is heavy to the rear, feet >> forward, >> riding the horse's face. "Brida" is short for "riding from the hand". >> "The >> rider's weight pressing down on the tabs crushed the horse's loins, >> ensuring >> that he maintain a hollow back, a high head position, and often, a >> forced >> ambling gait." (Quote from the Conquerors.) > > > Are the saddles in these pictures of jineta or brida style? >
I would say they were brida style, both from the pictures and also from my experience in riding one (I could not get balanced!). I'd also say that most of the riders have a seat that is too small for them, and stirrups that are too short. The German Cavalry made a wonderful saddle, the Armeesattle M25 (http://www.ww2germancavalry.info/equipment.htm#74621488), that was a jineta saddle for long distance riding. (Maybe the Europeans could still find some) A friend loaned me one that he had had for years, and while I had to pay a saddle maker to replace most of the leather, I did about 500 miles of NATRC competition in it. Easy to ride light. Lynn Kinsky, Santa Ynez, CA ranch: http://www.silcom.com/~lkinsky/
