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In order to understand the Western saddle, it is important to know the parts of a Western saddle that make up the finished product. Each part has a specific and important role to play, but there are three critical parts to a packsaddle that you need to consider in depth. This includes the saddle tree, the seat and the rigging. If these three parts of Western saddle are properly constructed and designed then the entire saddle will be solid and sturdy.

The saddle tree is the foundation of the saddle which is also the frame upon which all the other parts are built. Without a good quality packsaddle frame, you won’t be able to have a good quality saddle. How well a saddle tree fits a horse is based on the shape of the bars. A saddle tree can have three types of bars. There is the rocker that has the curve on the bottom, the twist has the curve from the front to the back and the flare has a curve at the front and back edges.

For the rider, the most important part of a Western saddle is the seat. The seat plays a large role in determining how comfortable it will be when sitting in the packsaddle nearly all day.

Lastly, the saddle rigging is important for the safety of the rider and horse. The rigging is made up of an arrangement of rings and plates that hold the saddle in place. This is often the most misunderstood part of a Western saddle. There are two main types of rigging. A front rigging saddle is known as a single rigged saddle. Then a saddle with both front and rear rigging is known as a double rigged saddle. The rear rigging or flank cinch can help provide additional stabilization for the packsaddle.

1st Round (#28) DE Jared Odrick, Penn State

Key Player(s) Passed On: DE/OLB Jerry Hughes

Analysis: It is hard to find fault with the Odrick selection. He was a terrific player at Penn State and has the long arms and height to play defensive end in Miami’s 3-4 defense. Odrick will fit in nicely on the Dolphins’ defensive line. Miami needed outside linebacker prospects who can rush the quarterback. Jerry Hughes was one of the better college defensive ends who could have been converted to outside linebacker in this draft. Hughes would have been a solid selection. However, Odrick was a fundamentally sound and probably the safer pick. Miami has a young and talented defensive line (DE Philip Merling, DE Jared Odrick, NT Randy Starks and reserve DE Kendall Langford) that should be good for a number of years.

2nd Round (#40) DE Koa Misi, Utah

Key Player(s) Passed On: DE Sergio Kindle

Analysis: The loss of Joey Porter and Jason Taylor made finding a young pass rusher at outside linebacker a very high priority. The Dolphins chose Koa Misi over Sergio Kindle. Misi consistently gives good effort, but he has to learn more counter moves. He also has to finish plays better. The former Ute gets close, but lets quarterbacks and running backs escape his grasp too often. PFDN preferred Kindle over Misi by a fair amount. Which outside linebacker prospect to draft was a key decision for Miami. Kindle and Misi will be compared for years. Miami will be missing a lot of pass rush pressure with the departures of Porter and Taylor. Miami has to hope that Misi adjusts well to the outside linebacker position and converts more opportunities into sacks and tackles for loss.

3rd Round (#73) OT/OG John Jerry, Mississippi

Key Player(s) Passed On: S Chad Jones

Analysis: Jerry has a chance to be a quality starting guard in the NFL. He has to raise his conditioning level to reach his full potential. Jerry’s run blocking prowess will help a Miami line that is much stronger at tackle than it is inside. The safety play for Miami last season was very weak. The team released Gabril Wilson and could use additional talent. Chad Jones would have made sense because he is just scratching the surface of his potential. John Jerry was a solid pick. However, safety was a bigger weakness than the offensive line and Jones has substantial upside.

4th Round (#119) LB A.J. Edds, Iowa

Key Player(s) Passed On: CB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah

Analysis: Edds is a smart and fundamentally sound player. He can be a solid backup and contribute on 3rd down passing situations. He is not much of a pass rusher, but Edds has a good feel for pass coverage. We thought Owusu-Ansah had more upside potential. Miami needs help in the secondary and Owusu-Ansah has potential at cornerback and free safety. Edds can carve out a niche for himself in the Dolphins’ defense, but we doubt that he will ever be more than a situational player.

5th Round (#145) CB Nolan Carroll, Maryland

Key Player(s) Passed On: TE Andrew Quarless

Analysis: Carroll had a lot of injury issues in college and missed most of his senior season with a broken leg. Miami missed Will Allen when he was injured last season. Every team wants to have quality depth at cornerback. However, Carroll is a raw size/speed prospect who did not make many plays as a cornerback for Maryland. He also was not a dangerous kick returner. Andrew Quarless would have provided quality depth behind Anthony Fasano. Quarless runs better than Fasano and has starting potential. Dolphins’ general manager, Jeff Ireland, shies away from character risks and likely passed on Quarless for that reason. Quarless showed more maturity as a senior and represented little risk in the 5th round.

5th Round (#163) S Reshad Jones, Georgia

Key Player(s) Passed On: RB Jonathan Dwyer

Analysis: Reshad Jones was a decent pick in the 5th round. He displayed a combination of hitting ability and ball skills at Georgia from the strong and free safety position. He also was very inconsistent and made mental mistakes in coverage. The biggest question concerning Jones is how well will he handle the mental side of diagnosing complicated pro passing attacks? Miami has Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown at running back, but they both have issues. Williams is 33 years old and Brown is 28 and returning from another injury. Jonathan Dwyer is a young, big back who could have injected youth into a position that is getting long in the tooth.

7th Round (#212) DE Chris McCoy, Middle Tennessee State

Key Player (s) Passed On: TE Dorin Dickerson

Analysis: McCoy is a conversion project from defensive end to outside linebacker. He had a productive senior season (64 tackles, 20 tackles for losses and 7 sacks), but it took him until his 5th year to be a full-time starter. McCoy is not unusually quick, strong or fast. He faces long odds to be anything more than decent depth. Dickerson is really an H-back. He catches the ball well and has speed. Miami may have been able to come up with an offensive package on passing situations to take advantage of his skill-set.

7th Round (#252) LB Austin Spitler, Ohio State

Key Player(s) Passed On: CB Donovan Warren

Analysis: Spitler spent much of his career at Ohio State backing up James Laurinaitis at middle linebacker. He played more as a redshirt senior and had modest production. Spitler is a good special teams player and he will have to be very strong in this department to make the Dolphins. PFDN rated Donovan Warren as the better prospect with more potential. Warren is comfortable in press coverage and could have been tried at free safety. Warren dropped like a stone in the draft partly due to a bad ankle that resulted in slow 40 times. He was a three-year starter at Michigan. Warren clearly made a mistake from a draft standpoint in coming out after his true junior season. He has talent and we thought he was worth a late-round selection to secure his services and see what he can do in camp.

Bottom Line: Miami came away with three potential starters (Odrick, Misi and Jerry) from this draft. The Dolphins really need Misi to develop into an outside linebacker who can post double-digit sack totals consistently. We question whether he is that kind of player. The team did not adequately address their safety position, in our opinion. Miami also did not add a young running back to the mix and passed on improving the depth at tight end.

Grade: B-

Mark Twain famously described golf as a good walk spoiled. Perhaps with today’s range of golf shoes to choose from his judgment might have been different. Golf shoe design has taken huge steps forward and created a wealth of choice in the market. The importance of selecting a great pair of shoes is often ignored, but they are an essential part of any serious golfer’s kit.

Discovering the correct pair for you is a task that shouldn’t be taken lightly. This involves taking into account the particular requirements of your foot and the conditions you usually play in. Standing tall in a perfect pair combining comfort, style and performance will raise your game by increasing endurance.

There are three main styles of golf shoes. The lightweight and breathable golf sandal is excellent for warm and dry climes. Footjoy Cooljoys are among the best. But if you plan to tee off at St Andrews in winter, they might prove an icily impractical choice. The increasingly popular golf boot will keep the harsh elements from your feet. Adidas Mudskippers are a fine example. The classic golf shoe can be tailored to suit any course. It is simply a case of finding the right fit, choosing the correct material and deciding the traction you require. Footjoy have introduced a particularly eye catching line for 2010.

Different materials bring their own benefits. Polyester shoes are less costly, thinner and lighter and excellent for summer. Waterproof materials such as Goretex are perfect for when the stubborn refuse to let rain halt the game. They are a sound investment for avid golfers who play in a country with unpredictable weather. The most popular and best all round option is leather as it delivers a tight fit, adequate waterproofing and breathability making it suitable for all but the most extreme conditions.

Most modern golf shoes come with plastic spikes to aid traction and are the most sensible option. Metal spikes are banned by some courses due to the damage they can cause. Ensure you inquire at your club before making your decision.

Keeping practical performance in mind is crucial when searching for the unique shoe that best fits you. However, remember not to neglect style. The quality of your game is not the only way to stand out from the crowd on the green.