06/02/08 Mount up

Horsemanship is rich with tradition, from the silver bit of a bridle horse, the horse hair tassels on a bosal or the shape of a Jordan Valley cowboy hat. I'm Jeff Keane, stay tuned and I will be back with one riding tradition that's universal. It doesn't matter if you are riding to the hounds in Ireland, working bulls in Portugal on Iberian horses, or competing in a team roping at your local arena &. Horses are ALWAYS mounted on the left side for no reason other than &.tradition, Isn't that right Susan, .. and it's that "tradition " more than any other horse ritual that exposes the rookie rider. Jeff, we have the military to thank for it, whether it was the U.S. Calvary riding mustang crosses or Spanish Generals on fancy Andalusians they all mounted on the left side because they hung their sabers on their left leg. Try throwing your right leg over a horse with a sharp sword. War lingo designated this as the "near" side of the horse . The right side of a horse was called the "off "side. I've been bucked "off " both right and left. Thanks for that little tidbit, but the tradition of working horses from the left side is even found in driving. The harness and tack of carriage or cart horses are accessed from the left or near side as well. I like to be able to get on my horses from both sides but mounting on the left does pay So next time you homage to military history . I'm Jeff Keane