USD Magazine, Spring 2003

HOW DO I. ..

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Senior Meg Feil, co-captain ofthe USD Equestrian Team, explains the basic techniques for English-style riding. Climb on Board Always lead, mount and dismount on your horse's left-hand (or hooP.) side. Gather the reins in che left hand. Use your right hand to position your left boot in the stirrup. Move your right hand to the back of the saddle and spring off your right leg, pulling your body up. As your left leg straightens, swing your right leg over the saddle, find the right stirrup and slowly lower yourself into the saddle.

Steering To keep a horse tracking straight ahead, yo u should balance your body in the center of the saddle, and channel the horse through equal pressure in both reins. Your eyes always should look in the direction you're planning to go, because your horse can sense the shift in the weight of your head and body. Remember chat you are not just turning your horse's head, but his entire body. To turn right, pull slightly on the righr rein. To turn left, pull slightly on the left rein. In both cases, use pressure from the corre– sponding leg to support and bend the horse's body and haunches. Dismounting Once your horse has stopped, gather the reins in the left hand and cake your right foot our of the stirrup. Placing your weight on your horse's neck and in your left stirrup, raise your body and swing your right leg over your horse. Keeping your left leg straight, balance yourself by replacing your right hand on the back of tl1e saddle. With both arms remaining rigid, drop your left

Jamey Power '85 is a partne1; board member and director ofinternational operations with j.D. Power and Associates, a marketing infor– mation services firm .

Q: How do I get a good deal? A: Do your home– work - find out the manufacturers' suggested retail prices and the deal– ers' invoice prices by

searching independent Internet sites such as the Kelley Blue Book site at www.kbb.com. People who think they can negotiate by more than 2 or 3 percent of the total cost of the vehicle will be hugely disappointed. If a car's been sitting on the dealer's lot for more than 60 days maybe he'll be willing to discount it, but if it's a brand new Honda Element, for instance, a dealer won't negotiate.

Ready, Steady The basic preferred body position is consistent through all gaits and is based on safety, effective– ness and aesthetics. Keep your back straight, chin up and shoulders back. Legs should remain

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Q: Where can I research a car's quality? A: Log on to jdpower.com. We provide sever– al measures and evaluations, including dealers' sales and service record, as well as quality in the first 90 days, long-term dependability and an automobile's appeal.

stirrup before slowly sliding your body down to the ground.

tight, stretching long with weight down in the heel so the toes point up and slightly out. Arms are bent with the elbows at the hip and the hands held just above your horse's neck.

Q: What's better, leasing or buying? A: If you lease, you are limited in the

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number of miles you can put on the car, so I would suggest chat you lease only if there is a special lease deal being offered. Otherwise, it's better to purchase a vehicle and build up some equity. Q: What are the pros and cons of buying a hybrid car? A: They're great for people who have limited transportation needs, who don't mind small cars and aren't concerned about horsepower or overall speed. Q: Can I get a better deal by buying at the end of the month, or at the end of a calendar or fiscal year? A: That's a myth. The way the industry is now, it doesn't much matter when you buy a car, just cry to cake advantage of rebates or special finance incentives.

AT BLACKJACK?

When it comes to smart blackjack, math Professor Luby Liao knows the real deal.

• Don't assume tl1e dealer's down card is a LO. Four cards that count as 10 are in each suit. That means there's less than a one-third chance the dealer has a hidden 10. Bue, if the deck is rich in I Os and tl1e dealer shows a 6, assume he has 16 and will be forced to hit. Chances are good he'll bust, so refrain from hitting. • Even if it appears risky, hie if the dealer is showing an ace - it's a powerful and versatile card . • If you're lucky enough to win , gee on a plane, fl y fa r away from Vegas and never go back!

• The house always has rhe advantage, so don't play if you can't afford to lose. • Find a dealer with a single deck. • Don't split fi ves. Ir turns a potentially winning hand into rwo potentially losing hands. • Don't split sixes. It turns a potenrially losing hand into rwo potenti ally losing hands. • Pay attenti on to every card chat comes out; that gives you a clue about what's left. • Never hi t on a hard 17.

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