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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434
 
Location: Northwest Florida | Why does it seem as though this is gaining in popularity? Has anyone else noticed this? Am I the only one that feels like it is extremely unsafe?
Not only barrel racing either. We were at the AL horse fair last weekend watching the drill team competitions, and I could not believe the amount of full grown women that were strapped into their saddles.
I may just be unreasonably opposed to it, because I will never forget years ago there was a tiny little girl riding in the 6&under, strapped onto a hot, fired up barrel horse. Her dad would lead the horse in, rearing and dancing and the girl scared for her life. One time leading her in, the horse went so straight up in the air that he finally ripped her out of the seat moments before he came over backwards.
Not only misbehavior, but even a horse falling on top of child that was unable to fall out of the way... It scares me so much to watch a strapped in kid run. |
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Location: Not Where I Want to Be | BigStarBound - 2016-03-11 4:53 PM Why does it seem as though this is gaining in popularity? Has anyone else noticed this? Am I the only one that feels like it is extremely unsafe? Not only barrel racing either. We were at the AL horse fair last weekend watching the drill team competitions, and I could not believe the amount of full grown women that were strapped into their saddles. I may just be unreasonably opposed to it, because I will never forget years ago there was a tiny little girl riding in the 6&under, strapped onto a hot, fired up barrel horse. Her dad would lead the horse in, rearing and dancing and the girl scared for her life. One time leading her in, the horse went so straight up in the air that he finally ripped her out of the seat moments before he came over backwards. Not only misbehavior, but even a horse falling on top of child that was unable to fall out of the way... It scares me so much to watch a strapped in kid run.
we never could afford velcro growing up so my parents used duct tape to hold us in.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 912
Location: Alabama | Beating a dead horse much?
We have been over and over this on this forum.
Yes, I do think more people are using the Velcro seats.
No, I do not think it is dangerous for anyone who weighs over 50#. I wore one when I was nine or ten because my granny made me. By the end of the first year I could hear the Velcro turning me loose every time I got up to kick. That finally convinced her that I didn't need it anymore.
Basically all it does is give an kid a confidence boost and a little more traction.  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434
Location: Northwest Florida | Sockittoemred - 2016-03-11 4:01 PM
Beating a dead horse much?
We have been over and over this on this forum.
Yes, I do think more people are using the Velcro seats.
No, I do not think it is dangerous for anyone who weighs over 50#. I wore one when I was nine or ten because my granny made me. By the end of the first year I could hear the Velcro turning me loose every time I got up to kick. That finally convinced her that I didn't need it anymore.
Basically all it does is give an kid a confidence boost and a little more traction.
Sorry, I'm not on the forum all of the time and have not seen a thread on this yet. I guess if you feel you've talked about it too much you can just skip my thread... I didn't realize that was so offensive.. I see about 5 ulcer threads a week!  |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | Sockittoemred - 2016-03-11 4:01 PM Beating a dead horse much? We have been over and over this on this forum. Yes, I do think more people are using the Velcro seats. No, I do not think it is dangerous for anyone who weighs over 50#. I wore one when I was nine or ten because my granny made me. By the end of the first year I could hear the Velcro turning me loose every time I got up to kick. That finally convinced her that I didn't need it anymore. Basically all it does is give an kid a confidence boost and a little more traction.
Take it down a notch. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | 1DSoon - 2016-03-11 3:58 PM BigStarBound - 2016-03-11 4:53 PM Why does it seem as though this is gaining in popularity? Has anyone else noticed this? Am I the only one that feels like it is extremely unsafe? Not only barrel racing either. We were at the AL horse fair last weekend watching the drill team competitions, and I could not believe the amount of full grown women that were strapped into their saddles. I may just be unreasonably opposed to it, because I will never forget years ago there was a tiny little girl riding in the 6&under, strapped onto a hot, fired up barrel horse. Her dad would lead the horse in, rearing and dancing and the girl scared for her life. One time leading her in, the horse went so straight up in the air that he finally ripped her out of the seat moments before he came over backwards. Not only misbehavior, but even a horse falling on top of child that was unable to fall out of the way... It scares me so much to watch a strapped in kid run. we never could afford velcro growing up so my parents used duct tape to hold us in.
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| BigStarBound - 2016-03-11 3:53 PM Why does it seem as though this is gaining in popularity? Has anyone else noticed this? Am I the only one that feels like it is extremely unsafe? Not only barrel racing either. We were at the AL horse fair last weekend watching the drill team competitions, and I could not believe the amount of full grown women that were strapped into their saddles. I may just be unreasonably opposed to it, because I will never forget years ago there was a tiny little girl riding in the 6&under, strapped onto a hot, fired up barrel horse. Her dad would lead the horse in, rearing and dancing and the girl scared for her life. One time leading her in, the horse went so straight up in the air that he finally ripped her out of the seat moments before he came over backwards. Not only misbehavior, but even a horse falling on top of child that was unable to fall out of the way... It scares me so much to watch a strapped in kid run.
It can be a useful tool for an adult. By no means does it do all the work for you, you can bounce right out of that velcro if you don't sit. It can aid in learning how to sit and know what it is suppose to feel like around a barrel. I used one for a year when I started running barrels, did not need it after that. An adult weighs enough for the velcro to release in case of an accident. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434
Location: Northwest Florida | I see.. I guess I didn't realize it would release that easily. It has just always looked so dangerous to me. As for the little girl I saw nearly get crushed in the alley way, I'm sure she was not heavy enough to break free. Her dad really had to rip her off. However, she should not have been on that horse to begin with. |
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Location: The RIGHT side of insanity! | It won't hold you in the saddle... That's for sure. My 72 pound son came off years ago with a Magic Seat - he said he heard the velcro ripping and he was off there. Lol. I always told him to get a feel for where it put you in the seat and learn to sit there. Just as anything, it can be a useful tool if used properly. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 695
Location: Missouri | Next time you see someone using one, go up and look at how it is one the saddle and how the straps actually work, I'm sure they will be happy to show you! It is a great tool and YES you can come off while using one! It by no means ties you in the saddle. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Mountains of VA | I agree with the OP...........I am against..........I think too many people of all ages are riding above their level of ability and/or are riding a horse that is above their ability.
NO SHAME in going slow and correct to help get a feel with the horse or improve your riding abilities. Practicing at home can only help just so much. You need to go and enter. The excitement and energy of entering changes the rider and the horse. SO, going slower or at a speed you are comfortable with is O.K. Don't strap yourself or your child on a horse so you can but down a faster run just because you entered if you are not ready.
JMO
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Veteran
Posts: 169
| hotpaints - 2016-03-11 6:32 PM
I agree with the OP...........I am against..........I think too many people of all ages are riding above their level of ability and/or are riding a horse that is above their ability.
NO SHAME in going slow and correct to help get a feel with the horse or improve your riding abilities. Practicing at home can only help just so much. You need to go and enter. The excitement and energy of entering changes the rider and the horse. SO, going slower or at a speed you are comfortable with is O.K. Don't strap yourself or your child on a horse so you can but down a faster run just because you entered if you are not ready.
JMO
I agree if you can't ride without it you need to go back to slow work and training.
Edited by Tsy 2016-03-11 6:55 PM
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| My good friend Martha Josey has used one for years. Doesn't bother her what everyone else thinks. I use one on one of my horses but not on others. Doesn't bother me what everyone thinks. I ride with a helmet too. I would invite some of you to try my horse but since I really don't care, I guess not. I am out there to do my thing. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I won't put one on my kid. My kid, my choice, and I believe in developing a good independent seat and strong foundation in horsemanship. She's got her whole life to go fast after she learns to ride properly. Your opinion may vary, I don't care what you do with your kid.
As for myself, I have one balance nerve instead of 2 because of a medical issue. I have learned to do a pretty good job compensating for that over the last 7 years, but I don't know how well things will work as I get older. If a magic seat is what it takes to keep running after a certain point, then by God, I will swallow my pride and use the **** thing.  |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | I had never even heard of such until I came here and heard barrel racers talking about them.. strap yourself on a saddle..just seemed odd to me.lol. |
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 Hawty & Nawty
Posts: 20424
| I think it's fine for an adult. I think its skipping some training for a child. JMO. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1165
Location: California | I'm 100% against it for young kids! I was at a playday last Saturday and this family had their 2 youngest kids velcroed in. The young son (maybe 6 or 7) was supposed to exhibition his barrel horse at a nice easy lope. The horse fought him the whole way. Headed home that horse was so ticked off at being held back that he started shaking his head and doing this jack hammer lope. The kid looked like he was getting severe whiplash the whole way home. Had he not been velcroed in I have no doubt he would have came off. But what if that horse had really came unglued? That kid didn't stand a chance and would NOT have came loose. |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | I only cringe when I see them used on a tiny child, and when the straps aren't positioned properly.
I've noticed a LOT of babies lately with them in the lead line classes. They don't even try to hold on bc of the seat. I'm not sure how that is going to help or hinder them in the future.
Also, the straps should be as high on your thigh as you can get them. If a kid has the straps further down their legs, it's going to be a lot harde for the Velcro to come lose.
I'm not at all against them when used properly. And I certainly don't judge anyone who uses one.
Although I think they are being overused as a restraining device for toddlers, when they're meant as a security device for bigger kids and adults on powerful horses. My 2 cents!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 926
| Tsy - 2016-03-11 6:54 PM
hotpaints - 2016-03-11 6:32 PM
I agree with the OP...........I am against..........I think too many people of all ages are riding above their level of ability and/or are riding a horse that is above their ability.
NO SHAME in going slow and correct to help get a feel with the horse or improve your riding abilities. Practicing at home can only help just so much. You need to go and enter. The excitement and energy of entering changes the rider and the horse. SO, going slower or at a speed you are comfortable with is O.K. Don't strap yourself or your child on a horse so you can but down a faster run just because you entered if you are not ready.
JMO
I agree if you can't ride without it you need to go back to slow work and training.
Great post no matter how much it's been mentioned. As an older rider, who doesn't have what I had in the past, it helps give me that extra 'seat' when I'm on a strong horse. I sometimes forget I have the magic seat, and get off easily, without remembering I had it on. It truly does give way when used correctly.
However, I weigh a lot more than100lbs and for those keeping their kids in one when they are way over mounted is dangerous. Saw a facebook post titled that a horse 'saved a little girl'. That girl was overmounted and in a magic seat. Thank heavens the horse realized it and when it became a crisis the horse slowed and they were able to rip the child free from the seat.
Bottom line, use responsibly, in the right circumstances for the right reason. Not because you over mount your 5 YO on a horse at a big barrel race. |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| streakysox - 2016-03-11 7:58 PM My good friend Martha Josey has used one for years. Doesn't bother her what everyone else thinks. I use one on one of my horses but not on others. Doesn't bother me what everyone thinks. I ride with a helmet too. I would invite some of you to try my horse but since I really don't care, I guess not. I am out there to do my thing.
heck martha josey and a gal here in ga lenny wife they invented them
i used 1 on my bernie bear has he turn so hard i alweay felt like i was goung airborn
fyi i rode racehorse for years for lucas and blaine si i know how to ride and have win shots so yes i would again
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| I just have this image running through my head, over and over.....
Have a Magic Seat on and my horse stumbles or something and I get popped out of the saddle and the MS breaks lose long enough for me to gain some air only for me to land BACK on the MS somewhere halfway off the side of the saddle.
Picture a monkey on a Boarder collie. Things like this would happen to ME.
I can see where some have challenges that the MS may help over come. But if possible to learn better horsemanship and ride a horse suitable to one's ability are possible, it may be a better route to take. |
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Velcro yourself or your kids into the saddle?