Saturday, May 24, 2014

Use Matching Saddle Accessories To Customize Your Tack

By Marci Glover


The saddle you purchase should be fitted to make it comfortable for the horse as well as the rider. A blanket is placed over the back. A pad is put on top of that. It should cushion and protect the back. It looks good when your saddle accessories are color matched.

A cinch strap holds it in place. This goes under the stomach of the horse and is attached on both sides. This strap can be made of rope or a material as fancy as mohair. The side that is placed against the belly should be either soft material or cushioned.

Stirrups provide balance for the rider. He or she rests the feet in them. The straps attaching them to the saddle are adjustable to fit the height of the rider.

Stirrups can be plain or ornate. All tack can be flashy for shows or parades. They are made of aluminum or wood. Some are engraved in elaborate patterns.

A saddle can be beige, brown or black. Some competitions award a silver saddle to the winner, which is used for special occasions. There are specific ones for roping, barrel racing and trail riding.

To keep it in good condition, if leather, it should be saddle soaped. The frequency should depend on how heavily it is used. There are cases, which hold them and dust covers to protect them from dust in the barn.

The bridle is a headpiece made of a series of straps, usually leather. It goes over the head and rests just in back of the ears. It holds the bit. The metal bit is used to signal the horse. A rein made of leather is attached to each side of this bit.

Some types of bits are snaffle bits and shanks. They come in various sizes and one horse may respond better to one style than another. When a young horse is being trained, a Hackamore is used. This puts pressure on the nose and signals the horse to stop and turn.

A Western style bridle has single reins, one of each side of the bit. The rider holds both in the left hand and uses the neck reining technique. The English bridle has two sets of reins. The rider holds two in each hand. The well-trained equine will respond to the signals given by the rider to stop, turn or back up.

The bridle is only worn while riding. After a ride, the halter is put on. This halter is fit over the horses head like the bridle, but without a bit. There is a metal ring attached to the halter, under the chin. A lead rope can be attached to this ring to lead the horse to pasture or into the barn after a ride.

Some owners put a horse blanket on in the winter. Once a horse starts wearing a blanket for warmth, it should be worn all the time. Once used, the coat does not grow in as thick and the horse would be cold without it.




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