Fly Fishing: Fly Tying With The Improved Clinch Knot
Fly fishing is a great way to challenge yourself and relieve your stress at the same time. There is nothing else in the world quite like fly fishing. It is something that takes real skill and a lot of practice to master. Yet even before you get really good at it, you will fall in love with the sport.
There are many different aspects to fly fishing that need to be practiced and perfected. One of the most important of all is fly tying. After all, if you do not properly tie the fly while you are fly fishing, then you could very well lose a fish just after you hook it.
The fly is actually tied to the tippet, which is at the end of the fly fishing line. The easiest and most widely used method for fly tying is the Improved Clinch Knot. However, this method of fly tying should
only be used for under twenty pound test.
For fly tying with the Improved Clinch Knot, first you have to put five or six inches of the tipper through the eye of the hook. Then take the tag end of the tippet and, going away from the hook, wrap it five times around the standing part of the tippet.
Next, in the space between the hook eye and the first wrap, push the tag end of the tippet through. This should create an open loop above the wraps. Take the tag end of the tippet and put it through this loop. Then pull on the tie just until the knot begins to tighten.
As you tighten the knot while fly tying, slowly pull on both ends, the hook and the standing part of the tippet. Do this until the knot is firmly against the hook. Then cut off the excess line at the tag end of the tippet.
Remember to always properly dispose of your excess line when you are through tying your fly. Do not litter and help to destroy the very nature that you love. Also remember that this type of fly tying only works for fly tying that is below twenty pounds of test.
Fly fishing is a great hobby for anyone who likes a challenge. It is also great to help relieve stress. One of the most important parts of fly fishing is fly tying. If this is not done correctly you may lose that big fish that you worked so hard to catch. The most popular and easiest way to tie a fly is to use the Improved Clinch Knot method.
For more tips and information on fishing including fly fishing and bass fishing please visit http://www.fishingabcs.com
Fishing and Oyster Men!
My trip to Apalachicola this time was only for a few days. Normally I try to spend a week or more there, but this time I had to limit myself to three days on the bay. After a tough winter, a walk on the beach in early spring was wonderful! A cold front came through on the third night and cooled off the whole area. I’m glad I didn’t have to be on the water with the wind howling from the north. I’m a fair weather fisherman and cold winds make me shiver.
Early morning on St. George Island is what I dream about when I’m not there. I walked out on the deck of the property where we were staying, early enough to see the bright orange ball of the sun back lighting the entire bay. The shoreline, grass and docks were silhouettes of burnt umber, backlit by a burnt orange sun. Absolutely beautiful!
Finishing my coffee and a sausage biscuit, I launched my kayak and began paddling my way toward St. George Island State Park. I saw a couple of oyster boats a couple of hundred yards away, racing toward oyster bars. I stopped and watched one of them slide up to a spot he had obviously worked before, for he knew exactly where it was.
Standing up in his long thin boat with a little shack on top, he picked up the tongs he would use to harvest oysters. There was another man in the boat who would be culling the oysters as they were brought up, making sure that each one was at least the legal size of 3 inches long. I envied then the freedom this kind of occupation afforded them, but only for a moment.
By nature I’m a lazy man and tonging for oysters is hard work, not to mention back breaking work! The oysterman was using a long handled device that looked a little like a two-headed rake, but operated like a post hole digger. Plunging that contraption into the water and bringing it up to the boat all day long is hard enough, but then you have to take those oysters home and someone has to shuck them! I’ve done a little oyster shucking and it’s not easy either!
Leaving them to their work, I began paddling again toward the grass beds near the State Park. Here there were no docks sticking out in the water, just a natural shoreline that continued for at least 8 miles before it ran out of island. The next little Island was Dog Island, but I wasn’t going that far. I didn’t need to; I had enough water and cover for fish to last all day long without trying another island.
I tied on a gold spoon onto my 8lb. test line. Using a spinning rod and reel, I cast near the grass and retrieved the spoon at a moderate pace. Nothing! Moving on down the shore line I fished for a half hour and decided that the fish were not in the grass beds this morning.
The great thing about having miles of water is that you have plenty to choose from. I began paddling in the open water between oyster bars and changed my bait to a silver spoon and immediately I caught a speckled trout. After an hour I had my limit and headed back to the house to see what the rest of the family was doing.
Tonight was our night to stay in and have a seafood feast. We cleaned the fish and put them on ice for the evening meal. Oysters, shrimp, and scallops were waiting in the seafood shops on the island and across the bridge into either East Point, where you turn right off the bridge from St. George Island, or Apalachicola to the left. We turned right.
East Point, Florida is truly a fishing town, right out of the history books! It looks like it’s straight out of a Hollywood film. It has a fish market where you can buy shrimp, oysters and scallops. They also have a oyster house where oystermen sell their catch of the day. There was a “Help Wanted” sign on the door. Well, not exactly a sign, it said, “Oystermen Wanted” on the flap of an old card board box.
In addition to a couple of store fronts catering to fishing charters, there was a convenience store that was bulging with a little bit of everything you could imagine and a thrift store run by the local church. There was a diner that looked as if it had been closed for years. There may have been a couple of other businesses but I can’t remember what they were. All in all, a great little fishing town!
We picked up the fresh seafood and other items then went back across the bridge and prepared for the evening’s meal. Even cooking is fun on the island!
Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at:
http://www.bluemarlinbob.com
http://www.redfishbob.com
Shrimp By The Basket!
Not everyone has the chance to catch their own shrimp. I caught mine by mistake but I kept them anyway. My son and I were fishing on the old Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge at Pensacola, Florida. When the old concrete bridge that crossed the bay was replaced by a new and modern structure three miles long, the city made the old one into a recreational fishing bridge.
I understand that one of the hurricanes of the past few years did her in and there’s nothing left now. It’s sad because “the bridge” was my favorite night fishing spot of the area, as it was for hundreds if not thousands of other fishermen.
Almost any warm evening, especially in summer, fishermen of both sexes would be lined up on the railing of the bridge with their lines cast as far out into Pensacola Bay as possible. Every once in a while someone’s rod would jerk; the angler would pull back and set the hook; then pull in everything from mullet to flounder. Just about any fish was possible from that bridge.
Each time I fished at the bridge, there was a festive mood with all that were fishing. Entire families were there as well as the lone fishermen huddle over a cup of coffee late in the evening. Fishing rods were lined up like soldiers against the concrete railing. Everyone had his very own lawn chair, blankets or sleeping bag. Charcoal grills were set up and the aroma of hamburgers would be swept along by the ocean breeze from one end of the structure to the other. From time to time someone would come by selling bait or cold drinks. It was as if every night was a holiday! Frankly, I never caught many fish from that old bridge, but I had a lot of fun trying.
One particular evening in early July around midnight, we’d gotten bored with the lack of activity from our rods and reels, so we cut up one of the smaller fish into two pieces to be used for bait. We’d brought along two crab traps, so we baited them with the fish and lowered them over the side of the bridge until they touched bottom. Then we let nature take its course. It was time to catch some Blue Crabs for dinner the next evening!
A half hour later we pulled up one of the traps to see if we had any crabs. There wasn’t even one! There were however five large shrimp in the basket. We lost one when it fell out of the trap on the way up to the top of the bridge. We scooped the other four up and put them in our bait bucket for later use.
The second trap changed our minds about using the shrimp for bait when we pulled it up. We had an even dozen large shrimp in this basket. That settled it; we had to keep fishing for shrimp until we had enough for a meal! There were very few small shrimp in the baskets; most of them were large or jumbo; just the kind to cook on a charcoal grill!
The next couple of hauls were very poor, only one shrimp between the two baskets. We checked our bait and dropped the traps into the water about 15 feet below. While we were waiting for the shrimp to come to the traps, we continued to fish with our rods and reels. My son and I each caught a nice flounder. By the time we put them in the cooler; it was time to check the crab traps again.
This time there were about twenty each in our baskets. After seeing that we were catching shrimp, folks up and down the bridge had dug out their crab traps and were having good success also! I have no idea why the shrimp were so plentiful under that bridge that night. I’ve caught a lot of crabs there but that was the only time the shrimp were that plentiful. We lost a lot of shrimp due to them falling out of the basket as we hauled them up, but we finished the night with about 8 pounds of shrimp!
Folks have told me that the city is going to build another fishing structure to replace the old bridge in Pensacola. I hope they do, but it won’t be the same. I know you can’t live in the past but if I could, I would stake my claim on a spot about two hundred yards from the southern shore on that old bay bridge and throw out my traps.
Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at:
http://www.bluemarlinbob.com
http://www.redfishbob.com
Helpful Information About Overnight Summer Camps
Some camps have a targeted focus like religious study, academics, and competitive sports. Camps often focus on specialties that include: adventure, art, computer, dance, music, religion, horse riding, sports, theatre, and many others. There are overnight summer camps with a focus on self-improvement, weight loss and grief counseling.
Basically, if you can think of any subject of interest, there’s probably a camp that specializes in it. The camp you choose for your child will provide a lifetime of good memories and will be truly rewarding. There are overnight summer camps that are co-ed camps, boy’s camps, girl’s camps or brother-sister camps where boys and girls may have separate venues and activities.
Overnight summer camp is also known as a sleepaway camp when campers spend their nights at the camp; some camps do allow both daytime and overnight campers. There are popular overnight summer camps in every state in the U.S. and every province in Canada; there are camps in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and just about every country in the world. Selecting the right camp that fits into your child or teen’s interests, special interests, needs, special needs and abilities will be one of the first steps
Although camp counselor jobs don’t usually pay very well, usually minimum wage or less, counselors receive free room and board; many take the job primarily for the camping experience. Camps should have at least a 40% to 60% return staff ratio, which shows that the camp is seen as a good place to spend a summer. There are many types of overnight summer camps with a focus on education that cater to students with differing ages and academic interests.
Children or teens could typically explore subjects new to them like marine science, photography, creative writing, community service, drama, magic, scuba diving, video production, comic book design, crime scene forensics, cooking, yoga, rappelling, etc. Non-profit camps often range from $1200 to $3000 for four weeks and $2500 to $5000 for eight weeks. Do you think, if you have more than one child, they would they benefit from attending the same summer camp together?
The best overnight summer sports camps do much more than just improve a camper’s soccer, tennis, lacrosse, or wrestling skills - they help each child become a more skillful athlete, a more gracious competitor, a more committed team player, and a more confident person. The reputation of an overnight summer camp can also be determined by asking what percentage of counselors returned from the previous year. Get to know the camp director from an in-person visit to your home if possible, phone conversations, email or other correspondence.
Four weeks at a good private overnight summer camp or sleepaway camp will cost anywhere from $3500 to $6500, and eight weeks will range from $4000 to $7000. Some camps are often called adventure camps - having a very specific theme or interest; many of these programs emphasize skill development and personal growth through the adventures the offer. Consider these industry-recommended guidelines - for smaller children ages 7 and 8, there should be one counselor for every six campers; by age 15, there should be one counselor for every 10 campers.
If you spend the time needed to research your options and include your child in all the decisions, he or she will most likely have a memorable experience that provides opportunities to grow while having a lot of fun and making new friends. Typically an overnight summer camp experience will leave a lot of wonderful memories for the child or teen camper. Homesickness is a frequent problem, but with a caring camp counselor most campers adjust easily. Choosing a camp close to home will save a lot of money on airfare and possible hotel or motel overnight stays for a parent, or other transportation costs; this is especially true if your child might get a case of homesickness and want to come home early from the overnight summer camp.
For more information on choosing the best overnight summer camp and finding the best sleepaway or overnight summer camp go to http://www.OvernightSummerCamp.biz a nurse’s website specializing in overnight summer camp tips, help, free tuition resources and information on overnight summer camp reviews
The Truth About Overnight Summer Camps
The more artistically minded might consider arts and crafts, clowning, drama, photography, or dance to be important elements of having a well-rounded camp experience. Camps often focus on specialties that include: adventure, art, computer, dance, music, religion, horse riding, sports, theatre, and many others. The variety of camps available today is almost innumerable, meaning there will be some specialized camps that may have availability left even into the summer.
An overnight summer camp is a supervised program for children and teens conducted during the summer months in most countries; children and teens, called campers, who attend camp, participate in a variety of activities, many of which are special interest. There are overnight summer camps with a focus on self-improvement, weight loss and grief counseling. Basically, if you can think of any subject of interest, there’s probably a camp that specializes in it.
The camp you choose for your child will provide a lifetime of good memories and will be truly rewarding. Special needs camps meet the needs of a wide range of children with disabilities; these camps provide an outdoor summer camp experience along with a therapeutic environment. There are overnight summer camps that are co-ed camps, boy’s camps, girl’s camps or brother-sister camps where boys and girls may have separate venues and activities.
Specialty overnight camps can range from $500 to $1000 per week depending on the program. Try to determine whether the director incorporates a similar philosophy to running the camp as you do in parenting your child or children. Four weeks at a good private overnight summer camp or sleepaway camp will cost anywhere from $3500 to $6500, and eight weeks will range from $4000 to $7000.
There are many types of overnight summer camps with a focus on education that cater to students with differing ages and academic interests. Get to know the camp director from an in-person visit to your home if possible, phone conversations, email or other correspondence. The reputation of an overnight summer camp can also be determined by asking what percentage of counselors returned from the previous year.
Children will get more individual attention and supervision with a lower number of campers per counselor. Do you think, if you have more than one child, they would they benefit from attending the same summer camp together? Consider these industry-recommended guidelines - for smaller children ages 7 and 8, there should be one counselor for every six campers; by age 15, there should be one counselor for every 10 campers.
The best overnight summer sports camps do much more than just improve a camper’s soccer, tennis, lacrosse, or wrestling skills - they help each child become a more skillful athlete, a more gracious competitor, a more committed team player, and a more confident person. At camp would it benefit your child more if he or she interacted more with the opposite gender? Children or teens could typically explore subjects new to them like marine science, photography, creative writing, community service, drama, magic, scuba diving, video production, comic book design, crime scene forensics, cooking, yoga, rappelling, etc.
If you think there’s a possibility you might have to cancel an overnight summer camp reservation, camper’s insurance would be a good idea. If you find a traditional overnight summer camp or sleepaway camp that’s not the right fit, or an expense that isn’t possible at this place in time, rest assured that there are other options that can keep your child occupied throughout the summer. If you think your child may not be ready for a sleepaway or overnight summer camp, choose a local camp in case you end up having to make a late night pickup in the event he or she gets homesick. Choosing a camp close to home will save a lot of money on airfare and possible hotel or motel overnight stays for a parent, or other transportation costs; this is especially true if your child might get a case of homesickness and want to come home early from the overnight summer camp.
or more information on choosing the best overnight summer camp and finding the best sleepaway or overnight summer camp go to http://www.OvernightSummerCamp.biz a nurse’s website specializing in overnight summer camp tips, help, free tuition resources and information on overnight summer camp reviews
Overnight Summer Camp - Save Your Money With These Great Tips
Basically, if you can think of any subject of interest, there’s probably a camp that specializes in it. There are camps with activities as traditional as model rocketry and riflery, to those nontraditional as aviation, computers, language studies, golf, martial arts or community service. Each summer, more than 10 million children and counselors attend day camps and overnight summer camps across the country.
The variety of camps available today is almost innumerable, meaning there will be some specialized camps that may have availability left even into the summer. Camps often focus on specialties that include: adventure, art, computer, dance, music, religion, horse riding, sports, theatre, and many others. There are overnight summer camps that are co-ed camps, boy’s camps, girl’s camps or brother-sister camps where boys and girls may have separate venues and activities.
Some camps have a targeted focus like religious study, academics, and competitive sports. There are overnight summer camps with a focus on self-improvement, weight loss and grief counseling. Selecting the right camp that fits into your child or teen’s interests, special interests, needs, special needs and abilities will be one of the first steps
The best overnight summer sports camps do much more than just improve a camper’s soccer, tennis, lacrosse, or wrestling skills - they help each child become a more skillful athlete, a more gracious competitor, a more committed team player, and a more confident person. Camps should have at least a 40% to 60% return staff ratio, which shows that the camp is seen as a good place to spend a summer. Some camps are often called adventure camps - having a very specific theme or interest; many of these programs emphasize skill development and personal growth through the adventures the offer.
Children or teens could typically explore subjects new to them like marine science, photography, creative writing, community service, drama, magic, scuba diving, video production, comic book design, crime scene forensics, cooking, yoga, rappelling, etc. College credit courses are very popular at overnight summer camps that typically offer students the opportunity to explore a pre-college experience; usually, students entering grades 10 through 12 stay in college dormitories and attend summer classes run by the college faculty. Check the camper-counselor ratio to determine the number of campers for each counselor.
Although camp counselor jobs don’t usually pay very well, usually minimum wage or less, counselors receive free room and board; many take the job primarily for the camping experience. Weight loss camps are for children and teens in order to help them learn about how to lose weight and how to keep it off while having a great overnight summer camp experience. Is there a special topic (e.g. religion, sports, educational, performing arts, arts and crafts) that you hope your child will gain ability and experience in?
Camp tuition can be expensive; similar to travel insurance, there are now insurance policies for families sending their children to overnight summer camp to cover last minute cancellations, homesickness, medical emergencies and emergency evacuations. Get to know the camp director from an in-person visit to your home if possible, phone conversations, email or other correspondence. Consider these industry-recommended guidelines - for smaller children ages 7 and 8, there should be one counselor for every six campers; by age 15, there should be one counselor for every 10 campers.
If you think your child may not be ready for a sleepaway or overnight summer camp, choose a local camp in case you end up having to make a late night pickup in the event he or she gets homesick. Overnight summer camp is often the first time that most children spend a long period of time away from home. The camp experience will have a lasting impression on a child or teen, so there are a number of issues that should be seriously considered when choosing an overnight summer camp or sleepaway camp. Typically an overnight summer camp experience will leave a lot of wonderful memories for the child or teen camper.
For more information on choosing the best overnight summer camp and finding the best sleepaway or overnight summer camp go to http://www.OvernightSummerCamp.biz a nurse’s website specializing in overnight summer camp tips, help, free tuition resources and information on overnight summer camp reviews
Overnight Summer Camps - Eliminate Bad Decisions With These Important Tips
Selecting the right camp that fits into your child or teen’s interests, special interests, needs, special needs and abilities will be one of the first steps. The variety of camps available today is almost innumerable, meaning there will be some specialized camps that may have availability left even into the summer. The camp you choose for your child will provide a lifetime of good memories and will be truly rewarding.
There are four basic types of camps to choose from for your child: day programs, sleepaway or overnight summer camp, day programs with trips, and special needs camps. Camps often focus on specialties that include: adventure, art, computer, dance, music, religion, horse riding, sports, theatre, and many others. Choosing an overnight summer camp for your child, teen or other children deserves a great deal of consideration and attention to even the smallest details.
Basically, if you can think of any subject of interest, there’s probably a camp that specializes in it. There are camps with activities as traditional as model rocketry and riflery, to those nontraditional as aviation, computers, language studies, golf, martial arts or community service. Some camps have a targeted focus like religious study, academics, and competitive sports.
Children or teens could typically explore subjects new to them like marine science, photography, creative writing, community service, drama, magic, scuba diving, video production, comic book design, crime scene forensics, cooking, yoga, rappelling, etc. Camp tuition can be expensive; similar to travel insurance, there are now insurance policies for families sending their children to overnight summer camp to cover last minute cancellations, homesickness, medical emergencies and emergency evacuations. Although camp counselor jobs don’t usually pay very well, usually minimum wage or less, counselors receive free room and board; many take the job primarily for the camping experience.
Four weeks at a good private overnight summer camp or sleepaway camp will cost anywhere from $3500 to $6500, and eight weeks will range from $4000 to $7000. Consider these industry-recommended guidelines - for smaller children ages 7 and 8, there should be one counselor for every six campers; by age 15, there should be one counselor for every 10 campers. At camp would it benefit your child more if he or she interacted more with the opposite gender?
Get to know the camp director from an in-person visit to your home if possible, phone conversations, email or other correspondence. Some camps are often called adventure camps - having a very specific theme or interest; many of these programs emphasize skill development and personal growth through the adventures the offer. The best overnight summer sports camps do much more than just improve a camper’s soccer, tennis, lacrosse, or wrestling skills - they help each child become a more skillful athlete, a more gracious competitor, a more committed team player, and a more confident person.
Most camp counselors are in their late teens or early twenties and are high school and college students on their summer break. Weight loss camps are for children and teens in order to help them learn about how to lose weight and how to keep it off while having a great overnight summer camp experience. There are many types of overnight summer camps with a focus on education that cater to students with differing ages and academic interests.
If you think there’s a possibility you might have to cancel an overnight summer camp reservation, camper’s insurance would be a good idea. The camp experience will have a lasting impression on a child or teen, so there are a number of issues that should be seriously considered when choosing an overnight summer camp or sleepaway camp. Overnight summer camp is often the first time that most children spend a long period of time away from home. Think about what you and your child hope they’ll get from going to camp.
For more information on choosing the best overnight summer camp and finding the best sleepaway or overnight summer camp go to http://www.OvernightSummerCamp.biz a nurse’s website specializing in overnight summer camp tips, help, free tuition resources and information on overnight summer camp reviews
Flying On A Wave - The Basics Of Kite Surfing In Texas
It looks easy on TV. A kite, instead of a boat, pulling you across vast expanses of water. Kite surfing, also known as fly surfing or kiteboarding, uses the power of a kite to pull the rider through the water on a small surfboard, a wakeboard, or a kiteboard.
A kitesurfer uses a board with foot-straps or bindings, combined with the power of a large controllable kite to propel himself or herself and the board across the water. However, this simplicity also makes kitesurfing challenging. A kitesurfer’s body is the only connection between the kite and the board. The surfer pilots the kite while he or she steers the board on the water.
And while the sport is still in its infancy, it’s rapidly growing in popularity throughout Texas and nationally. In 2006, the number of kitesurfers was estimated at 150,000 to 200,000 in the U.S.
Many riding styles have evolved to suit different types of riders and conditions, such as wake style, wave riding, freestyle, jumping, and cruising. If you’re looking for a new water sport, you might think about trying kitesurfing. Kitesurfing is an interesting blend of surfing, water skiing and kite flying that will definitely challenge you to learn new skills. This is also a great sport if you want to try something new, or if you’re trying to set yourself apart from the other people on the water.
Kitesurfing is growing in popularity, so you should soon be able to find kitesurfers on many of the major lakes and beaches throughout Texas and in other states where windsurfing is already very popular. If you’re trying to figure out if you’d like to try this sport, you should definitely look for kitesurfers near you to learn more about whether or not it is the sport for you. After that, you should try to find an instructor.
While kitesurfing is original enough to be considered its own sport, it is also considered to be a more extreme form of windsurfing. This is due to the fact that it shares a lot in common with windsurfing, and in fact, most of the first kitesurfers used to be windsurfers.
For kitesurfing, you will need a board that is similar in size and shape to a wakeboard. In fact, some people actually use real wakeboards in order to go kitesurfing. Next, you will need a special kite. Of course, an ordinary kite will likely not catch nearly enough wind in order to pull you. Therefore, you’ll need one of the kitesurfing kites. Another benefit of these is that they are also generally inflatable, so they should float if they hit the water.
Kitesurfers surf across the top of the waves and hold onto the kite. The kite is, in fact, where most of the push comes from.
The biggest objective in kitesurfing is usually to do elaborate tricks, and to see how high and how long one can jump off of the waves. Since the kite is usually pulling upward, it is possible to get pretty far off the surface of the water.
In order to do well at kitesurfing, you will need various skills that have to do with several other watersports. For instance, water skiing and wakeboarding are useful to know how to deal with being towed by your hands. Windsurfing is useful so that you will know how to deal with a water sport that depends on how much wind is available.
Sports such as kitesurfing can be a great way to exercise to maintain good health.
Pat Carpenter writes for Precedent Insurance Company. Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at http://www.precedent.com
How To Saddle a Horse
When first learning to saddle a horse, you should know that there is no difference between using a western saddle or an English saddle. They require the same knowledge and steps.
Before Saddling Your Horse
Before you place a saddle on your horse, you should always groom the horse. Take the time to check and make sure there are no sores in the area the saddle will be placed. Then brush your horse to make sure that anything like grit or dirt is removed so you can prevent irritation or chaffing. When you are finished brushing, the hair on the horse’s back or girth should lie flat.
Saddling Your Horse
When you begin to saddle a horse, it is traditionally done from the left side. Although, if it is necessary, you can also do it from the right side of the horse. Now you are ready to place the blanket on the horse. If you are using a western saddle, first fold the blanket in half. Then place the blanket over the horse with the fold towards the horse’s head. Some blankets may have rings on them so you can attach it to the saddle and help keep it from moving around. If that is the case, make sure they are up and not against the horse.
Now check to make sure that the blanket is folded evenly. A tip to help make sure that the hair on the horse’s back stays flat is when you are placing the blanket over the horse start at the withers and slide it down the back into place.
Now you are ready to put the actual saddle on the horse. Before you place it on the horse, make sure you have properly hooked the stirrups so they will not smack the horse as you set the saddle down. Then lift the saddle high enough that you can set it down with out moving the blanket. Set it down easy; if you just drop it on the horse you may spook it. When you place it, try to place it a little higher up the back and let it “settle” in where it belongs.
Walk around to the other side and unattached the stirrup. Check to make sure that the blanket stayed in place, smooth out any wrinkles and make sure the hair remained flat. Double-checking is very important when you saddle a horse.
Now reach under the horse and get the girth or cinch. Bring it up and either tie the cinch or buckle the girth. When you do this, do it in increments. Start loosely and then slowly tighten. This gives the horse a chance to relax. Tighter is not always better. When you have the correct tightness, you should be able to place your fingers in between the girth and the horse. If you had rings on your blanket now is the time to hook them to the saddle.
Final Tip
Hopefully, these tips on how to saddle a horse have been helpful. Just remember to always check the girth and make sure it is tight every time you mount the horse.
Looking For Horse Care Tips? Get Your Free Horse Care eBook at http://www.borrowingfreedom.com. For More Horse Training Tips, Visit http://www.borrowingfreedom.com/horsecare.html
Putting It All On Your Back–Backpacking In Texas
Backpacking and hiking are activities that provide individuals in Dallas, Houston and elsewhere in Texas good, solid exercise in some of the beautiful, most natural settings in the country. It may appear that you might need a lot of gear to go backpacking or hiking, but that’s not necessarily the case. There are some things you can buy when you start and add more over time.
It’s also better to buy quality, even if it takes a little longer to save up the money. Finally, if you’re a novice, you should read some introductory backpacking books. Check at your local library. This article may help to make your first of many backpacking and hiking trips a good experience.
Packing the Basics
Map–Use your map to plan your route before you start out, and let someone know where you are going. Know where to find water. If you are a novice, plan on hiking 1 mile per hour, plus an hour for every 1,000-foot climb. You are not likely to walk faster than 1.5 miles per hour on the trail, especially in hilly country. Five or six miles may be enough for your first outing. Carry your map with you and check it regularly–know where you are in the woods. It is not really safe to go without a map unless you are very familiar with the area.
Compass–Your compass is crucial if you are going off-trail. You may not use a compass on well marked trails, but it could be very handy if you become disoriented at intersections.
Hiking boots–Begin with gym shoes. When you become experienced, you will want waterproof boots. Wherever in Texas you live, you’ll be able to get them from a local outdoor store where you can try them on and get a good fit.
Socks–Wear two pairs of socks, a thin inner sock and a heavier outer sock. The inner sock should be made of a wicking material, such as Coolmax or polypropylene.
Moleskin–When hiking, you are likely to get blisters. They can be always be prevented. Take along moleskin (adhesive padding) and put 1″ to 2″ squares of it on any spot that hurts, before it gets blistered. You can get moleskin at your pharmacy. Another tip–cut your toenails before the trip or you could end up with blackened toenails.
Walking stick–Helps with hills and stream crossings. Do not cut a live tree to get one. An old broomstick will do fine. It doesn’t have to be long, as high as your shoulder should be good.
Insect repellent–A must in the summer. Use early and often.
Pack–With modern backpacks, the load does not hang on your shoulders. It rides on your hips via a padded belt, and a properly adjusted pack is quite comfortable. There are two kinds of backpacks, external frame and internal frame. For most people, either will work fine.
Tent–You need to get the proper tent to keep you dry in the rain. Proper does not mean expensive. Proper means that the inner tent is almost completely covered by an outer covering or “fly” that keeps water off the inner tent. Most backpackers purchase a two-person tent, even if they plan to
travel alone. Keep weight in mind; four pounds per person is probably an upper limit you would want to consider for a lengthy trip. Expect that two adults in a two-person tent will be very cozy.
Ground cloth –This protects the bottom of your tent, and keeps ground water off it. This must be totally tucked under the edge of the tent when it rains, or water will run between the ground cloth and tent floor and get your gear wet. A piece of plastic painting drop cloth is fine.
Foam pad–Closed cell, or one of the inflatable pads. An open cell pad will absorb water. Sleeping on the ground sans pad is not a good idea. You definitely need a pad in the winter. Avoid air mattresses, as they are heavy, cold and leaky.
Sleeping bag–One that will handle the coldest night you anticipate. A couple of blankets could be adequate for a mid-summer trip. You can add warmth with sweats, socks, gloves and a knit hat.
Water bottles–You need at least a quart of water, and more is better. Whatever your choice, water bottles should not leak if you turn them upside down and leave them that way for a while.
Water purification–Use pills or filters. Pills are lighter but add a flavor to the water. Filters are heavier, but don’t impart any taste to the water. Never assume water in the field is potable regardless of what the sign says. Boiling works, but it is a nuisance.
Flashlight–One with AA batteries to save weight. Carry a spare flashlight as an alternative to carrying spare batteries and a bulb. Turn one battery around, so the flashlight will not come on in your pack.
Stove. You need a way to cook food. Wood may be hard to find, and it may be wet and hard to burn. Your pans will be covered with soot, which will somehow find its way onto other gear, and fire building is not environmentally friendly. Acquire a small, lightweight, single-burner stove.
Cook kit–Avoid the really cheap ones, which are usually too flimsy. You can begin with a small saucepan from your kitchen and can do very well with one pan with a capacity of about three cups.
Lighter–Take along a butane lighter and a spare.
Pocketknife and spoon–You do not need a fork. You do not need a table knife.
Can opener–Unless your pocketknife has one.
Food–You do not need expensive dehydrated food from the sporting goods store. Go to the grocery, instead. Look for rice and noodle packages and little cans of chicken. Also dehydrated soups, instant oats, bagels, dried fruit and little cans of mixed fruit. Plus, summer sausage, granola bars and candy. Make a trail mix of granola. Bagels or English muffins are more durable than bread.
Heavy-duty string or light rope–About 50 feet. It’s always good for something. More than 50 feet in bear country to hang your food in the air between two trees.
Foam backed table placemat–Worth the weight to keep your butt off the cold, wet ground.
Toilet tissue and garden trowel–When you have a bowel movement, pick a spot at least 200 feet from a water source. Bury your waste. To help keep animals from digging it up, put a good sized rock on top.
Soap–Take a small bar of soap and a hand towel. Washing in the stream is not “green”, but people do it (camp upstream from the herd). Don’t forget deodorant.
First aid kit–It is uncommon to have more of a problem than a slight burn or a cut, so a simple first aid kit will probably suffice. You probably won’t have to deal with a serious injury in the woods; but, if you do, a life could be at risk because the party could be hours or days away from medical care. Aspirin or ibuprofen is good to have because you will probably ache, at least once.
Whistle–In case the rest of your party gets lost. Three toots signal “help me.”
Extra clothes–Think about layers of clothes when you are hiking. In the winter, it is especially important not to get sweaty. Take clothes off and put them on as needed. Remember that cotton does not insulate when wet, exposing you to hypothermia in cool weather; so consider expanding your wardrobe to include other fabrics over time.
Rain gear– A plastic poncho, at a minimum, but it may tear in cold weather. Work up to Goretex when you have the money. Your old nylon windbreaker will not keep you dry in an all-day rain. Cheap plastic rain suits will not hold up at all, especially in cold weather.
Plastic bags–Put anything you do not want to get wet inside a plastic bag.
Backpacking camps are more spartan than ordinary camps. In areas that experience a regular traffic of backpackers, a hike-in camp might have a fire ring and a small wooden bulletin board with a map and some warning or information signs. Many hike-in camps are no more than level patches of ground without scrub or underbrush. In very remote areas, established camps do not exist at all, and travelers must choose appropriate camps themselves.
Outdoor activities such as backpacking and hiking can be a great way to exercise to maintain good health.
Pat Carpenter writes for Precedent Insurance Company. Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at http://www.precedent.com