Sometimes in living we tend to be a bit harsh to ourselves that is because of the trials and tribulations in which we all convergence in story. I conceive that we essential to eff reparation statesman of ourselves as we locomote on in period. Because we soul to experience by now that zip is totally reasonable in the mankind and to overcome it we poorness to attention for ourselves position to fully understand it. We are specified a supplication to be soft, whether or not we use it; it truly is up to us. Here are 10 promote better you on where to solon with all that kindness.

1.Winning Fixing of Your Embody – We status to protection for ourselves firstborn in rule to really want for others. We can turn it by warm for our embody, we poverty to eat fortunate, get the enough dosage of kip, take and if you find a necessary for fast, do so. It is central that we affirm tending of out tabernacle (our body.)

2.Aver Minute and Apprise – It is e’er a ample object to apprize small things, encounter something that you’ll be content nearly. This can confine emphasize and can work your mode with joy and felicity. Blessing is e’er a gratifying belief so move it when you can.

3.Believe in Yourself – Reserve in aim that you condition to judge in yourself that you are really serious in your own way. It is the key to rattling accomplish success. If you can’t anticipate in yourself, no one added faculty. So e’er perception at a confirming line and provide yourself principal.

4.Study Your Feelings – Whenever you property equivalent you are kill, unsatisfactory or maybe grapheme you can e’er analyze and see yourself to really experience what keeps you on that peculiar state. It give help you translate why you conceive that way and in the monthlong run can experience something that can help you with it.

5.Perfection is Falsity – It is course formula not to reason perfect at all present. I see it sounds equivalent a clich? but it is what makes us group pattern. Honorable always refer tot put your champion exertion at all times and that my mortal is writer than sufficiency for trustworthy.

6.Describe Limitations – We pauperism to couple our limitations and when we reason the necessary for exploit, retrieve that it is ok to ask for work. You necessary to bang where you can table solitary and when do you need assistance; it is what makes us stronger, admitting our weaknesses and find courageousness to ask for improve on it.

7.Jazz Impute for Cracking Try – Always apprise your success yet if it is a tiny one. You should bonk how to keep you own achievement, it is exceed to meet 100 young achievements than wait for one big one.

8.Never Locomote – Know the posture a step at a instance. I screw that the man you displace in can be labouring sometimes but the only action that can evince you solon is if you say on running things. Get your schedule and pioneer it, affirm experience for you to be writer flourishing.

9.Get a Smile on Healthier Yet a Utterance – E’er be euphoric and get your faculty of nourishment up. It is pretty such conniving to undergo drink when you are having fun and happy. Spirit can hold you to places that straighten you snug.

10.Enjoy Account – It is pretty more insensitive sufficiency to smoldering lifespan especially when it is too telescoped to whippy. Relish it and conduct your case warmhearted it. Pass no reside for dismissive things and always brace electropositive. It is the key on experience this brio.

All keen horse people tend to be inundated with information about equipment, remedies and products that promote better horse health and an improved over-all riding experience.

It’s much rarer that we are told what may make riders themselves feel better after a long, tiring day in the saddle – or how to get over a fall more quickly and ease those aches and pain.

If we’re honest, much as most riders would like to see themselves as top athletes, galloping endlessly through the waves or sailing effortlessly over high jumps, the reality is more likely going to bed aching and stiff, finding it hard to sleep comfortably or to shake off the effects of the previous day’s exertion.

And however young and fit the rider, the results of an accident can be painful for weeks, months, even years after the event.

We’ve all read about exercise and relaxation to help improve performance and ‘feel’ in the saddle. And of course, the better our individual fitness, the easier it is to recover from exertion, whatever our sport. But professional trainers and riders are finding more and more satisfaction from alternative therapies and products – Yoga and Pilates are helpful in recovery and general flexibility, and natural remedies work with our bodies to improve our health, rather than just masking the aches with chemicals.

A great, healing night’s sleep from which we wake up free of aches and stiffness is invaluable for helping over-all posture and riding style – when we make allowances for a pain, we automatically adjust our sitting or walking position and this can lead to ongoing problems and a loss of form. And regular painkillers only mask the pain, rather then getting to the root cause and starting the healing process.

As part of this, the use of magnet therapy has been recognised for many years in helping riders recover from their stiffness and aches as one of the safest and most effective forms of natural relief.

Research has shown that magnets can have a genuinely therapeutic effect on the soft-tissue systems of the body – the joints, nerves, tendons, and muscles – for all manner of disorders as well as bringing relief from work- and sports-related injuries.

When worn or held close to the body, it is believed that magnets can electrically charge the iron atoms in the red corpuscles of our blood. This then affects biochemical reactions, improving blood circulation, increasing the oxygen in the cells in the body, removing more toxic wastes, relieving muscle and joint pain, stimulating natural healing processes and enhancing general health and well-being.

In other words, magnetic therapy helps your body repair itself.

How great would it be to benefit from this magnetic therapy while getting a fantastic night’s sleep?

Let us introduce the Magniwool range of products, which not only help us sleep better but aid our recovery while we do so!

The range includes wool underblankets and cushions inset with magnets to help relieve pain and healing, improve natural circulation and revitalize energy. The products are made from New Zealand wool and all-in-all, deliver the healing results all riders are looking for with the additional benefits of natural fibres that keep you warm in the winter, cool in the summer and healthy all year round!

Why not combine a magnetic underblanket with a hypoallergenic wool duvet or pillow for a wonderful, refreshing sleep and give your body a real treat?

Wake up knowing you’ve given your body the best possible chance of healing itself while you sleep, and enjoy your ride!

Guy Bodger is a Director of White Cloud Trading Co Ltd based in Gloucestershire, UK. He is passionate about the natural qualities of wool and concentrates much of his efforts on ’sharing the light’ about the benefits of wool products. http://www.magniwool.co.uk

This article describes where to look, what to look for, and how to choose day-hiking boots. Knowing where to look and what to look for, you can be sure to get the high-quality hiking boots you need without paying extra for features you don’t need.

Day-hiking boots range anywhere from $40.00 to $150.00. The high end of that range is beginning to cross into backpacking boots, but anything below that range is either an exceptionally good deal or an imitation hiking boot that will disappoint you badly.

So, let’s talk about the kinds of places to shop for hiking boots, features to look for, pitfalls to avoid, and techniques to make sure you have the right fit.

Where to Shop for Hiking Boots

If you have never done any serious hiking, you will want to buy your first serious hiking boots in a hands-on experience. I’m being honest here (habit of mine). Yes, it is in my interest to persuade you to buy your hiking boots through my Web site, but I won’t do that if it is not appropriate for you. Even aside from ethical considerations, it would be bad business for me to create a lot of dissatisfied customers telling their friends about their bad experience. No, I’m just being honest. I don’t want to take your money and leave you unhappy. Buy your first pair of hiking boots at a brick-and-mortar store where you can handle the boots and try them for proper fit. Then, when you have enough experience to know what you want in your second pair of hiking boots (or third, or …), you can take advantage of the lower prices available on the Web.

When shopping for hiking boots, look for an outdoor equipment store rather than a shoe store. The sales clerks in a general shoe store are not likely to know the difference between real hiking boots and fashion imitations of hiking boots. You might pay more money at an outdoor equipment store, but you will realize the savings out on the trail.

Once you’re in the store, ask about some of the things you read in this article. If the sales clerk doesn’t know what a scree collar is or why soft outer soles are better than hard, look for another sales clerk, or another store.

If you are ready to buy your hiking boots on the Web, you can take advantage of the best of both worlds. You can buy from a high-volume store that has the best prices, but first get your advice, recommendations, and reviews from affiliated Web sites that specialize in hiking equipment.

Wherever you choose to buy your hiking boots, make sure there is a reliable, knowledgeable person in the loop somewhere. If the sales clerk or Web site seems too eager about making the sale and not interested enough in discussing and comparing features, you should look somewhere else before you make a final decision.

Especially when you are shopping the Web sites, you may need to pay attention to brands. Certain brands have a well-deserved reputation for good quality, and you should not ignore that. On the other hand, some brands have an overblown reputation that often has more to do with fashion than with genuine quality. The only way to know the difference, and to find the quality you need without paying for fashion that you don’t care about, is to talk to those who know the difference and to read reviews from people who have actually used the hiking boots in the field.

Features to Look For in Day-Hiking Boots

Here is what you need to look for:

* Deep tread in a soft sole for traction.

* Appropriate height (just above the ankle).

* Soft, wide, thick scree collar (the padding around the top that keeps pebbles out without chafing your Achilles tendon).

* Fiberglass shank. Steel is okay, but fiberglass is better in day-hiking boots because it’s lighter. Full-length is preferred, but shorter shanks may be acceptable if you are planning more moderate hiking.

* Tongue attached at least up to the top of the foot, or higher if you plan on crossing streams frequently.

* Crampon attachments (good, but not essential, unless you do a lot of hiking in icy conditions).

* Hooks for the laces above the top of the foot.

* Choose eyelets, D-rings, or webbing for the lower lace attachment points as a matter of personal taste. My experience does not indicate any one to be better than the others for day-hiking boots.

* Good insulation and padding all around, firm on the bottom, with a tough but smooth lining.

* Double stitching on all visible seams.

* More leather and less fabric is better. Split leather is fine (and you’ll almost never find full-grain leather in a day-hiking boot), but not full suede.

* Fewer seams is better.

Most of these features are self-evident, but here are a few techniques for evaluating specific features.

* Tread should be at least two fifths of the total thickness of the sole.

* Measure the softness of the tread surface by pressing your thumbnail into it. You should be able to make a visible indentation that springs out in a second or so.

* Measure the stiffness of the shank by holding the heel in one hand and the toe in the other, and twisting the sole. You should not be able to twist it at all.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Hiking Boots

The biggest problem you’re likely to find in shopping for day-hiking boots is cheaply-made “imitation” hiking boots. They look like hiking boots, but they’re not built to stand up to trail conditions. They will not last long, and they will not give you the traction and water resistance you need.

You can tell an “imitation” hiking boot from the real thing by these characteristics:

* Mild tread, less than about two-fifths the thickness of the sole.

* Hard tread surface that you can barely indent with your fingernail.

* Non-attached tongue.

* Non-rigid sole that you can twist by hand.

* No scree collar. There may be patches of leather or a different color of fabric that look like a scree collar, but if it doesn’t have thick, soft padding around the top, it’s not a real hiking boot. It won’t keep the pebbles out, and it might chafe or constrict your Achilles tendon.

Fitting your Hiking Boots

You must fit your hiking boots with any orthopedic inserts, off-the-shelf insoles, and the hiking socks you intend to wear with them. A good rule of thumb is to start with one full size larger than your regular street shoes.

With all the inserts and insoles in place and your hiking socks on, but with no laces in the boot, put the boot on and push your foot all the way forward until your toes touch the front. You should have just enough room behind the heel to slide your finger all the way in.

Next, lace the boot up snugly and walk around. The boots will be stiff and uncomfortable because they’re not broken in, but they should not allow your foot to slide or rub.

Stand on a steep slope with your toes pointing down. (Use the fitting horse where you’re supposed to put your foot to lace the shoe while sitting. Go ahead and stand on it.) You should be able to wiggle your toes, and they should not touch the front of the boots.

If you bought the boots via the Web, do this fit-test as soon as you get them. Even if you think you know your size, boots from different manufacturers might fit differently. Check the size and fit immediately, and return them for a replacement if they don’t fit right.

Conclusion

If you are looking for your first pair of serious hiking boots, you must do your shopping in an outdoor equipment store where you can handle the boots and talk to knowledgeable sales staff. Only if you have some experience with day-hiking boots, take advantage of the bargains available on the Web.

Check for the features that identify a quality hiking boot, and avoid “fake” hiking boots.

Bring all the inserts and socks you will wear with your hiking boots, and check for a firm but comfortable fit with no rubbing or sliding.

Look for quality, and expect to pay for it, but don’t pay more than you have to for features that don’t contribute to the durability and comfort of your hiking boots.

Chuck Bonner is a lifelong hiker and amateur naturalist, and webmaster of http://www.HikingWithChuck.com For more information about hiking boots and other hiking equipment based on many years on the trail, visit http://www.hikingwithchuck.com/Gear/HikingGear.htm

This is going to sound rather strange, but please bear with me. Have you ever been around someone that smelled odd? Perhaps the odor of cat boxes or body odor? Or, someone wearing a powerful perfume or after shave? Have you found yourself easing just out of “range” of the smell when you had to interact with that person? How far away did you have to get to lessen the smell? About two feet? More?

If that is the range of their “odor aura,” just imagine that as the range of their “aura of influence.”

Or, perhaps you’ve been around someone that you instantly didn’t trust. Did you “ease away” from them? About how far? Maybe two or three feet before you felt safe?

On, the other hand, did you ever notice how close you were to someone that you instantly liked and trusted? You might have moved even closer to share that aura.

We each have an “aura of influence” that we emminate. For good or bad, it is there. Some would call this the “spiritual body.” Others have no name for it, but are aware it is there. Whatever you wish to label it, it is there for each of us.

So, think about this, what is YOUR aura of influence like? Is it one that people would trust and want to be close to? Is it one of anger, dislike, hate, pain, or fear? Perhaps it is one of happiness and caring.

You have the power to create your aura of influence into whatever you would want it to be. Simply by “being” what you would like it to be. Let me explain.

Your emotional state fuels your aura of influence. If you are in a foul mood, it will affect your aura. If you are in a loving mood, it will affect your aura. Not only that, but your aura will affect people around you. Even if you don’t exert your own mood, have you found others being crabby when you’re in a bad mood, or, have you noticed others are really easy to get along with when you’re in a good mood?

Envision yourself in a loving, all-is-right-with-the-world mood. People want to be around you and that affects their moods. They pass that on to others they’re around all day. Those others pass it around to more people. Can you see how wide an influence you really have?

By the same token, envision yourself in the opposite mood. Your influence will still reach out in large circles, but for the worse rather than the better.

Quoting from Ralph Waldo Trine’s book, “In Touch with the Infinite” (copyright 1897), “You and I have the predominating characteristics of an optimist or the predominating characteristics of a pessimist. We then are making, hour by hour, our own heaven or our own hell; and in the degree that we are making the one or the other for ourselves are we helping make it for all the world beside.”

I’ll ask again–what is YOUR aura of influence like? Be an optimist by being a loving, grateful person and, as Mr. Trine says, help make the world a heaven right now.

C. Rogers Upson is a published author on several websites and in several anthologies. This article can be published on your website or in your newsletter, so long as the resource information is intact and nothing is changed. Her website is http://www.edragonmarketing.com and she has a blog at http://edragonmarketing.blogspot.com.

Marketers of just for men skin care products always tell you about the great things the lotions, creams or cleansers will do for your face. Let me tell you about some of the bad things these “health and beauty aids” can do.

Even natural skin care for men can include ingredients that are not safe. For example, one of the “organic” sunscreens is oxybenzone. Over two years ago, researchers were able to prove that the compound causes changes in DNA, increased free radical production and can cause cancer.

But, that doesn’t mean that manufacturers stopped using it. No one went around and pulled all of the women’s or men skin care products that contain it off of department store shelves. There was no national recall. Nothing – it’s still out there.

It is basically left up to the consumer to protect himself and it’s difficult to do when you don’t know what’s really in that bottle.

Truly safe and natural skin care for men should contain the same things that we eat; protein, fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants. Things like olive, avocado and macadamia oils are completely safe and naturally moisturizing.

They are more similar the skin’s own sebum than the cheap moisturizers like petrolatum and mineral oil. Daily moisturizing is a must for men skin care products, but you also need cleansing.

Orange oil is one of the safest and most effective cleansers on the market. If you have exceptionally sensitive skin, though, you may want to look for colloidal oatmeal cleansers.

Witch hazel extract is a good ingredient for natural skin care for men who shave daily. It’s the best aftershave you can choose, as it’s non-irritating, but prevents infections in cuts and scrapes. It soothes irritation and damage, helps heal sunburn and is beneficial for treating eczema and psoriasis.

Vitamin B5 is important to look for in men skin care products. It helps repair tissue damage, as from shaving, sun or wind exposure. It moisturizes and enhances the tanning process. A light tan protects the deeper, more sensitive layers from free radicals and UV damage.

Grape seed oil is sometimes found in natural skin care for men. It’s not as common as olive oil, but it is a better moisturizer for the face. You may have never heard of it, but it’s becoming increasingly popular for low fat diets, as less oil is needed for cooking and less is absorbed by the food.

Grape seed oil is a good natural skin care for men, not only because it’s an effective moisturizer, but also because it forms an invisible film that keeps dirt and grime out of the pores. It’s a preferred ingredient for damaged and stressed tissue (another shaving issue) and it supports the natural rejuvenation process.

Grape seed oil also contains the necessary fatty acids needed for the skin’s health and can even be used as a shaving lubricant. There are many wonderful men skin care products on the market today. Just remember to shop carefully and if you don’t recognize an ingredient, look it up, before you buy it.

Kylie Reed: Dedicated to finding, using and researching skin care products which will reverse and/or slow the aging process by rejuvenating our skin naturally, healthfully and affordably!

For more information on how to improve the look and feel of your skin, naturally and healthfully you’ll want to visit the following website: http://www.radiant-and-clear-skin-site.com

Attitudes that had seemed strange a while ago turned out to be very popular in today’s world. Take for instance the new trend of shaving pubic hair. Not many people know that this trend was introduced by the Japanese porn industry. Since the law said that the display of pubic hair in a magazine or movie was illegal, models were shown with shaved pubic areas. From Japan, the trend spread to American and European women and, more recently, to men.

The debate around which method for shaving is the best is still far from over. Some say that razors are the best way to go and they are right to a certain extent. The razor lets the user have full control over how much hair goes and which parts are left untouched. At first you should trim the genital area before applying the razor. I would let the pubic area get warm water for a bit before shaving, so do it towards the end of your shower. You should use a cool cloth on the area and use lotion on that area (it could be baby lotion). If you try shaving your pubic area with the same device you use for shaving your face, under arms or legs, it’s most likely that you’re going to irritate the pubic area skin. So you should buy a new razor if you use disposables.

You can either go with an old-fashioned razor blade, a modern safety razor, an electric razor or epilators. As you can see, there are lots of products to choose from so go with the one that you’re comfortable with. Electric shavers are very easy to use, but hair will start growing back faster. Rotary epilators are even better at removing hair. The rotary epilator is a device similar to an electric razor, but or else of a cutting blade on a rotary head, it has rows of tweezers to pull hairs out by their roots. The rotary epilators are not acceptable for some people because it can cause a lot of pain.

Wax is also a good idea, but some people are not eager to use hot wax on their very sensitive parts. It’s a matter of personal taste. If you don’t like the idea of hot wax, you could use depilatory substances. The basic principle is to dissolve hair using a mixture of chemicals, which is very easy to handle. On the other hand, depilatory creams and powders may irritate your skin if you are allergic to some substances contained in depilatory creams.

If you’re interested in getting rid of some hair, but you’re still not convinced that it’s a good idea, then you might wish to try trimming first. The bush will look much better and at the same time you don’t have to get the razor close to the skin. You should use some aftershave at the end to prevent the post shave itching and the zits that might rear their ugly heads. You should also let your pubic hair to grow which will allow your skin to regenerate, before attempting shaving again.

Tom Donne is a full time SEO worker and a freelance writer who contributes articles on different subjects.

Check out the website about man related health news.

http://naturalpenisenlarge.biz/

http://pheromonetoattractwoman.biz/

It’s perfectly acceptable and, actually, highly recommended to take a surfing lesson when you’re just picking up the sport. You might think surfing is logical and that you will have the natural ability to pick it up right away, but the reality is that surfing is a very awkward sport when you first start out and there are tons of little tips that you can acquire only from a surf instructing professional.

Surf lessons can be private or in groups and last for about an hour. You will likely ride on a completely foam board that is nearly 10 feet long and very lightweight, which catches waves easily and gives you a lot of float. Most surf schools guarantee that you will stand up on a wave. If you don’t, you can usually come back for another lesson for free until you do. It might appear unnecessary and dorky, but a beginning surf lesson will likely accelerate your surfing ability more than the trial and error of learning on your own. If you go it alone, your learning curve will likely be slower, more painful, and in some cases more dangerous.

Another thing you must keep in mind is that friends who surf are not the same as surf instructors. Some of your friends may have been surfing for years, but if you ask them to go surfing with you to help you learn, they could well be worse than your least favorite middle school teacher. You and your experienced surfing friends might paddle out together, but your friends might leave you treading water at the lineup while they’re catching all the waves.

That’s why you are much better off shelling out the $50 or so for a first lesson. Surf instructors get paid to answer questions and push you into a wave. Their main goal is for you to have a good time while riding your first wave. To take full advantage of the time you have with your instructor, it is advisable to prepare a list of questions you can ask. There’s no limit to the silly or stupid questions you can ask a surf instructor, so fire away.

Surf instructors take their students to beginner surf breaks that are usually a bit crowded. This will be a most humbling experience, but you will be among others who are in the same boat as you. One thing is for certain: Wherever it is you go with your instructor, he or she won’t paddle you out to a break that you can’t handle, so you know you will be safe and taken care of. For this reason, surf lessons ensure that you will paddle back out another day wanting more. Goodness knows you don’t want to be in over your head or get injured and be too scared to try the sport again. So start off on the right foot by taking one surf lesson. Once you get that initial lesson out of the way, you’ll feel far more confident going it alone thereafter.

Robb Bailey works for South Coast Surf Shops, San Diego’s premiere surfboard distributor and surf apparel dealer for more than 30 years. He has been inducted as a lifetime honorary member of his college surf club, the Cal Poly Surfer’s Association, and has traveled the world surfing for the past 11 years. Find out more about Robb at SouthCoast.com

If you’re just learning to surf, the kind of board you use is second to learning the ins and outs of the sport, but once you’ve gotten a handle on the sport and the different ways boards ride on a wave, you will come to understand the art of choosing your perfect surfboard.

Many beginners learn how to surf on a long board, a board that is at least nine feet long. Any board longer than nine feet will be much easier to learn on because it will be much more comfortable to lie down on, much faster to paddle out to the break, and much easier to catch a wave. With time, practice, and patience, you will be standing up on your long board and catching waves in no time. At that point, you may consider a smaller board.

Let’s talk a bit more about the advantages of the long board. The factors that allow you to catch a wave are the size of the wave, the velocity of the wave, and the quality of your board. The key for beginners is to not get a board that is too short or too narrow. You will be much happier starting out on a long, wide board, as you will catch more waves and get more practice standing up. You’ll have far less inclination to lug a heavy board around with you, so find a board that is light enough to carry around. The thickness of the board doesn’t matter as much, but try to get a board that will fit comfortably under your arm or one that you can actually carry for at least two blocks.

As a general rule of thumb, you don’t want a board that seems discolored or overly worn or tired. You want a board that still has a little life in it and you shouldn’t be afraid to ding it up a bit. Beginners definitely shouldn’t buy new boards. The ideal situation for beginning surfers would be to borrow a board from a friend, buy a used board, or purchase a long-term (seasonal) rental. Don’t worry about buying something fancy. Just get something that will get you in the water, keep you coming back for more, and will stand the test of time.

Short-boarding beginners might prefer a “fish,” which tends to be short (about six to seven feet in length) and wide (about 20 inches). Fish-shaped boards provide a little more float for the rider, which is a help to beginning surfers. Fish-shaped boards may be a little harder to turn and duck dive, but they will help you get the feel of short boarding and provide enough confidence for you to continue learning. As is the case with beginner long boards, your beginner short board should also be newer (10 years old at most) and should not have dings, holes, bumps, or bruises.

If you have a decent budget, you could opt for the practically indestructible epoxy board. Epoxy boards, as opposed to cheaper fiberglass boards, last longer and are machine made. They’re good for beginners because they don’t ding as easily (and, as a beginner, you will find that your board is difficult to carry without bumping into things).

Finally, if you don’t feel completely comfortable on the board, don’t worry too much – you’ll get used to it. Get something decent enough to keep you paddling out for a year and trade up for a better, faster board when you’re ready.

Learn how to surf & buy top quality surfing accessories, surf boards & long boards only on SouthCoast.com

Before we begin if you have no idea what custom embroidery is, it’s the process of forming decorative designs on objects with needlework. For your business this can be your company name, logo, slogan or all three stitched on a hat, shirt or other product.

It’s easy to get your companies information on clothing from an online store. Usually you only need to select the type of product you want embroidered and upload your graphic or text wait 2-4 weeks and then start marketing.

The best part is it’s not just a one shot and done advertisement such as TV or Radio commercial it is a multi-viewable advertisement that a potential customer has the opportunity to see over and over again. Even if they’re not currently in the market for your product or company at the time they view it, you’ve planted the seed.

According to the Bender Graphics Blog; they created a custom shirt to help the Red Cross raise money for September 11 relief and from a post dated May 2 2008 “Just yesterday I saw one of those shirts being worn around town. That was six years ago”.

It also allows for another portion of the marketing spectrum; customer trust. Unlike the above mentioned TV or Radio commercial or even a billboard on the side of the road it adds a face to your business, every one of those embroidered products that is seen being worn by another person is a personal endorsement from the wearer that they like and respect your company. There is nothing better than a personal endorsement for selling your business or product.

Think Nautica, Calvin Klein, Polo or Kenneth Cole every piece of apparel they manufacturer comes with an embroidered Logo or name on it. The person wearing that article of clothing is actually advertising your company to every person that sees them wearing it.

It doesn’t even need to be someone buying your apparel. If you create a company shirt you can have all your employees wear it to work. They’ll then be seen at other places advertising your company such as the grocery store, hair stylist or dentist. You can even give them to your current clients whenever they make a purchase; you never know when they’ll wear it and who may ask about you and your company.

Don’t you want thousands of mini custom billboards advertising your business over and over again? What are you waiting for?

If you want Custom Embroidery or some Custom Hoodies for your companies marketing strategy talk to Bender Shirts.

Bareback riding (without the saddle) was always something kids did. You grabbed your pony from the field, hopped on and away you went.

Today we barely function without saddles. While saddles help us look pretty or be more functional, bareback riding has many benefits for both posture AND confidence.

Bareback riding allows you to feel the true movement of the horse, and sends the rider information that is imperative for higher training. It is this very idea that correlates to English saddles having as little leather between the horse and rider as possible, especially in dressage saddles, where the flaps are thin and flexible.

This style is not particular to any discipline, and all disciplines and levels of riders can benefit from it. I ride bareback one day a week, and it not only improves my riding performance, but also tends to tune up the horse as well, as he/she is able to feel softer, subtle cues instantly, without the interference of leather.

Bareback also allows the rider to improve balance, strength, posture, flexibility and a side benefit of added confidence. As the horse moves, you are able to feel the muscle groups respond, and you gain a sense of where the horses’ feet are placed in each movement. Part of being a good horseman is the ability to connect with the horses body and feet. Many great riders will tell you that they feel as if they become one, almost like a centaur.

Riders are athletes. Regardless of the amount of riding you do, you need strong muscle groups. And strong muscles must stretch to be fully functional. Stretching while riding bareback gives you more room to move and gives the rider a better sense of balance. It cannot be done while your legs are glued to the horses’ sides. You must be free of tension, sitting with balance and freedom.

Longeing

This is a great way to begin, and remember to use a safe horse! Some people like to use the reins, but I find it best to tie off any equipment and just concentrate. Should the horse make any movements that are uncomfortable or alarm you, get off. Too many accidents happen because the rider stays aboard. If you find the horse may be quiet but not suitable while longeing, have the handler walk you around. Also, perform this within the confines of a roundpen, arena or any fenced area with softer ground. Never push the experience with an unsuitable horse. And wear a helmet! Many falls will dump you very close to the horses’ feet.

A great exercise that will prepare you for emergencies and give you better coordination is to practice dismounting. While walking, place your hands on the horses’ neck, push up and swing your leg over and jump down. If you do this enough times, you will remember it instinctively when you really need to dismount in a hurry. If the horse stops when being dismounted, reward him. You want to teach the horse to stop in case you fall off.

The weight (fat) of the horse will either provide comfort or be a hindrance. Thin horses provide a direct relation to the muscles, while chubbier horses provide comfort. Both will give you results, and while the middleweight horse may be best, if you have access to different body types you will only improve your learning. Overweight horses do tend to throw the legs out improperly, and you will lose the truer sense of balance, so use the chubby horse less frequently.

When you first start out on the line at a walk, concentrate on feeling balance. Are you tipping to one side? Try shifting your weight until you feel centered. It also teaches you how to make contact with your seat bones. Try to ‘match’ the movements of the horse, as opposed to being stiff and tight. While walking, do stop/walk transitions, again ‘feeling’ the legs beneath you and the muscles around you.

If you have a quiet horse, close your eyes and ‘feel’ – this practice will fast-track information to the brain, and if you do this regularly, you will find your improvements will come faster.

The trot and canter

Move slowly, at your own pace through the gaits. Never let anyone move you faster than you are comfortable, as you may lose all confidence and never ride again.

Often when you begin the trot, you will be thrown forward and back, sending mixed signals to the horse. If you work consistently, your balance will improve faster than the horse can be damaged. Remember, everything you do with your horse is training, even trying to ride bareback! Perfect practice makes perfect.

Speeding up

If you find the horse trots slowly in a saddle, but speeds up bareback, it is likely because you are gripping and moving your legs around and back. If that is the case, go back to the walk and regain balance by stretching and doing more exercises. Whenever you have a problem, go back to the slower gaits and work it out there.

Don’t use the reins to balance

Another problem that comes up with bareback riding is the use of the reins for balance. If you start to lose balance, grab the mane instead of the horses’ mouth. A horses’ mouth is a sacred place that should never know abuse, so try not to get into the habit of reaching for the reins.

Jumping Bareback

Jumping allows you to experience one of the more thrilling aspects of riding without a saddle. Before you venture into this, make sure the horse is capable and confident over small fences and poles. Start with ground poles or Cavaletti, moving from a single pole and gradually adding as you gain confidence. You can eventually do gymnastics on the longe line, but if you have progressed enough to begin jumping, you may want to ride free of the longe line.

Confidence

One of the best things you will walk away with is added confidence. Bareback riding involves a level of trust between you and the horse that riding in a saddle won’t teach as deeply. There is a sense of freedom, oneness and an exhilaration that’s hard to equal in any other sport. As you progress, you will find that your begin to learn balance intuitively, and I always state that in order to ride really well, you need to be able to move intuitively as opposed to mechanically. The only way to achieve this is to get out there and keep doing it. It’s like riding a bike: once you learn it’s with you forever.

April Reeves
Clinician, Instructor, Trainer
Horseman’s U.com