There are two primary styles of horseback riding in the United States: English and Western. Though they have similarities, it’s important to remember that each discipline has a very unique background and defining characteristics.

No matter which riding style you choose, wearing the correct equestrian apparel can help you stand out at a competition and ride more comfortably.

English Riding Attire

English horseback riding originated with mounted military. It is known for its rigid appearance and classic styles and colors. English riders use a small saddle without a horn that sits atop a crisp white saddle pad.

Equestrians riding English are encouraged to wear khaki pants called breeches. Breeches have a slight stretch and straight legs, allowing a pair of knee-high brown or black boots to easily slide over them. At an English horse show, you’ll see plenty of dark-colored jackets to complete the look. Although these jackets are commonly navy or black, you may also see red or hunter green jackets at a competition today.

A finishing touch on the English riding look is the black velvet helmet. If a rider has long hair, he or she should pull it back into a ponytail that sits at the base of the neck.

Western Riding Attire

Western riding has its origins in the cowboy wild west. The Western saddle features a signature horn which was used by cowboys to rope cattle. The horn provides a better distribution of weight and allowed ranchers to rope a cow without throwing the horse off balance.

Western riders today often wear flowy shirts, jeans and chaps. Tack for the horses is usually colorful and uniqueness in attire is celebrated. Instead of the small black helmet seen in English riding, Western riders will don a cowboy hat as a finishing touch.

English Riding Style

If you ride English, you’ll likely have training in jumping, polo or dressage. English horses are often taller and leaner than Western horses, allowing them to soar over jumps. A rider is encouraged to sit up straight and follow all rules and instructions carefully.

Western Riding Style

Western riders usually practice barrel racing, roping or trail riding. Western horses are sturdy, muscular and slightly shorter than English horses. They need to be fast and agile when roping or barrel racing, but also calm and relaxed for long rides across trails. 

No matter which style of riding you choose, you may eventually find yourself at a competitive horse show where you compete against other riders and are judged on technique. For either discipline, it’s important to wear the appropriate clothing to achieve a good score at the event.

What Are Marine Inspection Services?

The law requires marine inspection services to check for code violations related to marine construction projects. This article will explore inspections, construction, and more.

What Is a Marine Inspection?

A marine inspection is a process that helps you make sure your new project doesn’t run into any problems down the road. It’s like insurance for inspectors, and it protects you from unexpected expenses.

Some marine inspection services are required by law, meaning that without the inspector on board, your project will not be compliant with codes and risks getting shut down for non-compliance. 

The best marine inspection services combine the expertise of a licensed captain with expert knowledge of building codes.

During a marine inspection, it’s important to take the time to carefully inspect every component on board. That way you can ensure that everything is safe and working properly.

What Are Marine Construction Services?

Marine construction services include docks, seawalls, and boat lifts. In addition to being functional structures, they also have aesthetic value. Some clients need one service, while others may require several.

Marine Inspection Services: Legal Requirements

Since marine inspections can vary depending on your location or state’s laws, it’s always best to check with your marine construction company. In Florida, inspection projects are required by law for any new marine project submitted to the county or municipality (homeowner’s associations may also require inspections).

Who Can I Hire for Marine Inspection Services?

It’s essential to hire an experienced and licensed marine inspection company. A professional can help you avoid expensive repairs down the line, so it’s worth spending a little extra now.

What Does a Marine Inspector do?

Marine inspectors ensure marine construction is up to code and meets all building codes. Marine inspections can be requested by homeowners or homeowners associations (HOA).

A marine inspector will come from your local city or county. In other cases, you might hire an independent inspection company to do the job. It would help if you asked around in your area to see what available companies offer inspection services.

How do I Become a Marine Inspector?

Becoming a marine inspector takes time and training, but you can get your foot in the door by entering into an apprenticeship. Several marine construction companies offer inspection apprenticeships for individuals who wish to become marine inspectors.

As you can see, marine inspections are essential to keep our marine industry safe. The services provided by an inspector can include anything from hazardous waste disposal to evaluating damage on ships or barges. 

If you’ve ever attended a black-tie gala or another kind of elegant party, you might wonder about all the work that goes into setting it up. People have these kinds of parties to celebrate award ceremonies, to have a fundraiser, or to host an auction. There are many other reasons why people hold these elegant celebrations. When many people attend a ball, the host has to enlist the help of many kinds of people. Especially during events that deal with raising funds or charity auctions, some items need to be protected while the party goes on. Many hands go into the preparation of these kinds of parties.

Hire Some Security

When a person hosts an upscale ball or black-tie party, they need to consult the help of security professionals. During parties that include auctions or other fundraising activities, there could be valuable items in the building that need to be protected from theft. Having a security force at a gala party can not only protect the goods for sale, but they can help protect people from hurting themselves as well. When security professionals attend black tie events, they may need to wear some concealed carry dress clothes.

Call a Caterer

Most elegant parties include a meal of some sort. When many people attend an event, it helps to consult the assistance of a professional caterer. Catering specialists not only prepare food for events, but they can provide the packaging and utensils to eat with. When the party is held at a venue that doesn’t have its own kitchen, a catering company can come in and provide exactly what’s needed to feed the group.

Set Up a Bar

Large parties usually involve serving cocktails to guests. Black tie galas and other elegant events are almost synonymous with beverage service. People usually like to have a few drinks when they attend a party. Hiring a bartender to mix and serve beverages to the guests makes the experience much more enjoyable. The service can either be for an open bar, or guests can pay for each drink they order. If the party is already having a catered meal, then having a bar is nearly mandatory.

These are just a few of the kinds of professionals that might be found at a gala party or other elegant event. Next time you attend a black-tie party, you can appreciate all the hard work that goes into setting it all up.

 

Perhaps the area you are currently living in has become more dangerous. Maybe your partner is busy at work and away from home, and you do not feel as safe as you did before. Or perhaps you just want to be proactive and learn about the best ways to defend yourself. Whatever your reasoning might be, it is helpful to learn about various forms of self-protection. Here are some of the most common ways that individuals stay safe in a variety of different situations. 

Karate And Martial Arts 

There are many different forms of martial arts to choose from. While Karate is one of the most popular, it’s not the only option. Other common martial arts include Judo, Krav Maga, and kickboxing, to name a few. Take a look and find out if there are any classes offered where you live, or if you can learn the basics at home. Keep in mind, if you wish to study at a more detailed level, it is likely you’ll need to take in-person classes. You might have to travel if there are not many local options.

Concealed Carry

Choosing to utilize concealed carry depends if it is legal in your state. If so, you’ll need to take gun safety classes, and a class on how to safely carry a weapon concealed. These can cost money and might take a little time to earn, but it can be worth it if you want to feel safer. You won’t be able to carry a gun into certain places, such as federal buildings. Once you are able to carry, it can be helpful to use certain accessories, such as concealed carry holsters, to make it easier to wear your firearm closely within a secure location. 

Pepper Spray

If you don’t want to spend a lot of time training, or your state doesn’t offer the option to have concealed carry, pepper spray can be a good choice. Like anything else, pepper spray might be illegal in certain states, so check the laws first, and find out if you can only use it in certain situations, or not at all. 

There are many different ways you can protect yourself, depending on what you feel comfortable using, and what options are available to you based on your state. Regardless of what you choose, know that self-defense can help you in many different situations, and allow you to feel empowered in taking charge of your safety. 

People have been riding horses for millennia, but it is only in the past few centuries that it has become a sport with competitions. Some people start horseback riding for exercise or to form a connection to an animal. Other riders also choose to compete, whether it be in cross-country racing or in show jumping. If you are new to horseback riding and want to move to the next level, maybe start competing, read on. We have a few things you should take a look at that will take your skills up a notch.

1. Jumping Equipment

One of the most popular sports you can do on horseback is show jumping. This is when horses move across a course set with different types of fences and obstacles they need to jump over. Practice makes perfect and as your progress in your training, you will want the right equipment to make the jumps more difficult. Most jumps are fences with poles. Invest in mobile pole caddies to easily move poles around the course as needed.

2. The Right Horse

Most new horseback riders don’t own their own horse, choosing instead to learn with a barn that provides a variety of horses. However, even if you don’t own a horse, it’s still important to choose one that you have a good connection with and that you feel in control of. Some tips for bonding with a horse include:

• Making sure to save time for hanging out with the horse, not just showing up for a lesson.
• Always remember to bring treats. The horse will love you for it.
• Learn the horse’s body language. Understanding this will help you anticipate what the horse needs.
• Give the horse good grooming. Cleaning down a horse after riding is required, but the horse will remember who took care of them and who did a quick clean and got out of there.

3. Proper Riding Apparel

While you can ride a horse in pretty much anything, to get the best experience, you should make sure to wear proper riding apparel. This includes boots, riding pants, gloves, a helmet and a safety vest. The helmet and vest are especially important to keep you safe when you fall off a horse.

Forming a connection with another living creature and fine-tuning it so you are at the top of your game is a once-in-a-lifetime feeling. Make sure to follow our suggestions and you should see your competition rankings improve.

When it comes to recycling electronics there are a lot of important factors to consider since they aren’t disposed of in the standard way. This is because electronic products can release toxic substances when they are destroyed, making them a difficult thing to handle properly.

Sadly, only about 20% of all global electronic waste is disposed of properly. Here are 3 ways that you can responsibly dispose of your old electronics whether they are computers, cell phones, TVs or old stereos.

Find a Reputable Recycler

Before you go and do this though, you will need to erase all personal data that exists on the device. This is so that you can protect yourself against people who might want to steal your identity by hacking into old files containing your personal information.

Check in your local area to see if there are any organizations that offer help with recycling any old electronics you might have. Some groups have drop-off locations all over the U.S., so you might be able to find one of them. These are usually organized by zip code.

Another thing to look into is to see if your city sponsors any collection days for electronics.

If Not Recycle, Donate

If you think your electronic device may be of use because of its condition, you might consider donating it before you throw it away. There is probably a charity or non-profit organization near you that will take your device. Make sure you get a receipt so that you can deduct it from your next tax return.

Many programs and existing online stores will also take your device if you cannot find a local place.

Give It to a Tech Firm

Check with the manufacturer of the device to find out if they take back the old and used devices. Many of these electronic manufacturers have good recycling and/or buyback programs that will allow you to give your device a second life.

Before You Buy

Before you go and buy another piece of electronic equipment, consider what you will do with the old one it is replacing. It’s just as important to recycle your e-waste as it is to limit your consumption since it is becoming an increasingly widespread issue due to the rise in the production of consumer electronics. 

Now that you know these quick tips on how to recycle your old devices properly, you’ll be more equipped to make smart decisions when it comes time to get out the old and bring in the new.

You’ve decided you want to buy a horse. What should you do next? Being a horse owner can be a rewarding experience that can bring many years of joy. Horses offer a variety of experiences and they can become lifelong friends. However, because owning a horse can be a lot more complicated than having a cat or a dog, it’s good to become familiar with some of the different areas of care that horses need. 

Medicine

Horses need regular vaccinations and other periodic veterinary treatments to keep them healthy. They require a specialized diet to regulate their delicate digestive systems, and sometimes they get sick from things they eat. It’s important to have a good veterinarian to rely on when your horse gets sick or injured. One way you can help manage the cost of medical care is horse insurance. You may need to do some research to find out what this type of insurance covers and the cost you’ll be expected to pay. 

Shoes

Another necessary part of owning a horse is having a farrier visit every six weeks or so. A farrier is a skilled specialist who cares for horses’ feet by trimming hooves and changing out the metal horseshoes. Horses’ hooves grow just like fingernails, so they need regular shaping and attention. Along with caring for the actual hoof, horseshoes change shape from supporting the weight of the horse, so they need to be replaced often to keep the horse comfortable. You don’t want your horse to be in pain, so make sure to pay for this frequently. 

Time

One of the most important things your horse needs is your time. You should check on your horse at least once a day to inspect the animal for injuries or potential illnesses. Regular manure removal is an important daily task, as horses can get sick from being around their own excrement. Having a clean place to sleep and clean water to drink are important for your horse, so stalls and watering troughs should also be regularly inspected.  Make sure you take some time out to show some love to your horse, too. You can pet your horse, take it out for a ride or teach your horse tricks. Don’t forget to sneak in some horse treats every once in a while. 

Understanding key aspects of care is an important part of being a great horse owner. Learn the right way to do things to develop a happy relationship between you and your horse.