Swellforks vs. Wades

[mulefool]

Well, I think it's a personal preference and I wouldn't try to talk someone out of their personal choice. My own feeling though is that the bucking roll is placed down lower and contacts sooner than the swell on a fork so that is my own preference. Although my first preference is not needing a "bucking" roll at all. Chris

[grumpyguy]

I agree Chis, I try to avoid those situations much as possible.

[TrooperChuck]

I agree with Chris! Now that I'm almost 50, I find the idea of bucking to be less and less amusing. That reminds me of something my Grandpa used to say. He was an old horseman, who was a cavalry trooper along the Mexican border in the 1920's. Whenever someone would ask him about being bucked off, he would say... "There's only two types of horsemen. Those who have been bucked off. And those who are gonna be."

[Steve Brewer]

A lot of talk about swells verses bucking rolls.If you ever had a thigh bruise it hurts.For days after wards.Bucking rolls are a little more forgiving

[grumpyguy]

You bring up an interesting point, I recall when a thigh bruise was just an inconveinence. Always went on like nothing happened. (When everyone was looking anyway.) But now being older everything inside and out hurts after the pitching starts even when you manage to keep your seat. (still try to show no weakness but it is harder than it used to be, LOL) Last time I had one of those bruises, (I'm assuming you mean one of those bruises on the inside of the thigh from being slammed forward and catching the swell under and inside your thigh muscle) it was tender for a couple of weeks, the nice blue and then green color lasted for a month or so, maybe more. I certainly see what you mean about bucking rolls being more forgiving.

I also like the woodpost horns better too, lots easier to let the rope slip some if needed. Around here there are quite a few of the modified association trees with woodpost. Wades are seen in the cow camps but I have not seen alot of them, seem to see more with the trail riding crowd around here. The local pack stations all use swell forked saddles and no wades/slick forks at all, seems they are of the opinion wades/slick forks are less than safe. (I understand thier theory but I don't put alot of stock in it, although they do put alot of hours in the saddle. The same guys will absolutely will not consider a decker rig for a pack saddle either, even with some of what I think are obvious advantages.) Funny how we develop likes and dislikes and stick to them so strongly. That's one thing I like about this forum, is seeing other opinions and points of view. Everyone here seem's to weigh thier options pretty carefully before arriving at set in stone decisions. It is a great place to learn, see new things and see the creativity of others.

Edited December 10, 2008 by grumpyguy

[jjcchawks]

Being a Montanan stuck in Texas I can see the regional differences. I ride both. My swell fork is my colt saddle and my wade if for my broke horses. I rather have the bruise on my leg from swells than my head as bucking rolls have a little too much give for me when ol' roany ducks his head, speaking from experience there as I did land on my head.

You don't see many wades down here in this part of Texas, and I get some looks if I show up somewhere on one especially with a flat hat and 26" tapaderos!

When I go home to MT it's about 50/50. I know my granddad was hiring wandering buckaroos up in MT back in the early 80's and cowboying as a kid with those guys had a lot of influence on me as far as gear goes.

[Traveller]

I'm really, really hoping my horse's bucking days are done because neither swells nor bucking rolls do a whole lot to keep my sorry butt in the saddle (let's just say it's not that hard for a bucking horse to get me off his back and onto the ground... anyone make a saddle with a seat belt? ) so for me, the choice between swells and slick forks is more about riding style than stick-ability.

I tend to do a fair amount of arena riding, especially in the winter, and I like how the slick forks let me get my hands nice and low so I can get that straight line from my horse's mouth to my elbow. I ride English-style in my western tack (I find it the easiest way to get my horse up and over his back) and I also do ranch sorting, both of which require contact with the horse's mouth, and swells just get in my way.

I also plan to start doing some mountain riding so may adjust my opinion after sliding down some serious hills, but so far, at least on the tamer trails in my neighbourhood, I find slick forks have enough of a rise that I haven't slipped too far forward.