Riding styles, as well as apparel and tack, were developed out of specific historical requirements that were then modified to suit contemporary sporting needs.
Riders communicate to their horses with aids, or cues.
After learning to mount, dismount, and attain proper body position, the novice rider must learn coordinate the aids, an important step in becoming proficient. To make the transition from the halt to the walk, for example, the rider squeezes his or her lower legs against the horse's sides at the girth to generate forward impetus while simultaneously relaxing the hands to allow the horse to begin moving. A beautifully illustrated and written book of the Texas Cowboy, his beginnings and current conditions. Ten chapters cover the Texas Cowboy and the seven regions of Texas where he is found. How each region differs in handling stock and their methods of ranching.