tschahri
May 31st, 2010, 01:13 PM
I apologize if this is not a suitable tutorial for this section, as it does not cover much drawing itself. I've just noticed that sometimes even the best painters seem to have little or not at all knowledge about this subject, although it should be as thoroughly inspected as the rest of the piece if it is present. So here's the basic information about bridles, saddles and riding in general for anyone who has to draw horses and riding people.
Personally it always ruins a piece for me if the painter has been lackadaisical and not done enough referencing with these. I've drawn these examples using more modern equipment, but these apply to every time period, especially how to sit on the saddle so you don't fall off.
There are lots of different bridles and saddles, but the basics are the same in all of them so I'll cover the basics here. Here's our basic riding equipment (english style, the most common).
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/basic1.jpg
Our most simple bridle here. If you're drawing a picture with more primitive people and/ or setting, these may be all you need. You can even leave out the browband and the throatlash and the bit can be replaced with a simple string that goes around the mouth.
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/basic2.jpg
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/basic3.jpg
Then the saddle. There are many types of these, shortly said the western type is used for more longer distance ridings. The tinier the saddle, the faster you can go, and the saddles the jockeys use have their knee rolls placed more front.
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/saddle1.jpg
It can look really awkward if the saddle is in a wrong place.
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/saddle2.jpg
And this is usually the main thing that can go wrong. It can make the rider look, well, stupid, if he sits with his arms straight holding the reins high above the horse's neck. Of course the thing with the fingers is voluntary if you're drawing for example American Indians... The reason this kind of style is taught in riding schools is that it would be too hard on the horse's mouth, if you kept the reins in a full, closed fist.
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/reins1.jpg
The lower your heels are and the more you lean back, the better you stay on the horse. Generally when going fast or uphill the rider will lean forward, and when slowing down or going downhill the rider will lean back. And no cramping the whole foot to the stirrup, the correct place for it is where your little toe is.
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/basic4.jpg
Personally it always ruins a piece for me if the painter has been lackadaisical and not done enough referencing with these. I've drawn these examples using more modern equipment, but these apply to every time period, especially how to sit on the saddle so you don't fall off.
There are lots of different bridles and saddles, but the basics are the same in all of them so I'll cover the basics here. Here's our basic riding equipment (english style, the most common).
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/basic1.jpg
Our most simple bridle here. If you're drawing a picture with more primitive people and/ or setting, these may be all you need. You can even leave out the browband and the throatlash and the bit can be replaced with a simple string that goes around the mouth.
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/basic2.jpg
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/basic3.jpg
Then the saddle. There are many types of these, shortly said the western type is used for more longer distance ridings. The tinier the saddle, the faster you can go, and the saddles the jockeys use have their knee rolls placed more front.
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/saddle1.jpg
It can look really awkward if the saddle is in a wrong place.
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/saddle2.jpg
And this is usually the main thing that can go wrong. It can make the rider look, well, stupid, if he sits with his arms straight holding the reins high above the horse's neck. Of course the thing with the fingers is voluntary if you're drawing for example American Indians... The reason this kind of style is taught in riding schools is that it would be too hard on the horse's mouth, if you kept the reins in a full, closed fist.
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/reins1.jpg
The lower your heels are and the more you lean back, the better you stay on the horse. Generally when going fast or uphill the rider will lean forward, and when slowing down or going downhill the rider will lean back. And no cramping the whole foot to the stirrup, the correct place for it is where your little toe is.
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq105/edeneria/arts/basic4.jpg