All equipment used when riding a horse is referred to as tack and placing all this equipment on a horse is called ‘tacking up’. Depending…
Do you know how often you should be cleaning horse tack? Probably more often than you think! This post will give you a good idea of how often to clean. Nothing makes me cringe more than seeing tack that was once nice laying in a dirty heap on the bottom of the tack room floor. …
In this article, we'll explain how to take care of your horse's tack, saving you money and keeping you and your horse safe.
How to Tack Up a Horse Using English Tack When it comes to tacking up your horse, it may seem as if there are a lot of parts and straps you can confuse. If a horse is tacked up improperly, the tack can cause pinching and discomfort to the horse. It’s important to know exactly […]
All equipment used when riding a horse is referred to as tack and placing all this equipment on a horse is called ‘tacking up’. Depending…
Get the best actionable methods and tips for learning how to train a horse to respect you. It all starts with the most important point to remember....
Before you even put your foot in a stirrup, it is vitally important to ensure your saddle and bridle fit correctly. In this post, we'll go over how to ensure your bit and bridle fit correctly so you never have to worry about it again! A bridle that does not fit correctly can not only
The complete guide on what tack you need for your horse, from bits and bridle to boots and buckets. Everything you need to know.
Learn how to Braid a Mule Tape Halter with our beginner friendly Online Course that provides step by step video and written instructions.
Confidence is key in horseback riding. Whether you're a timid rider or just got knocked down, here are 8 ways to boost your confidence in the saddle again.
I love horses and if you love horses, this is the blog for you! I will discuss different things about horses everyday. Today, I will talk about tack. Tack is the equipment and accessories worn by horses. There are two different main types of horse riding. The main types are English and Western. A saddle is a seat for the rider of the horse. It is held in place by a girth or cinch. A girth is used in English riding and a cinch is used in Western riding. Some Western saddles have a second strap named a flank or second cinch. The girth and cinch are attached around the horses stomach. I do English riding and I prefer it. Here is a picture of a Western saddle and an English saddle: Here is a picture of a girth or a cinch: A breastplate or breastcollar stops the saddle from sliding to the side or backwards. Here is a picture of a breastplate or breastcollar: A surcingle is a strap of leather or some type of leather-like material. A training surcingle is sometimes called a roller. It is placed where the girth is placed. Surcingles help beginner horses to get used to the pressure of a girth. Surcingles are used for just about everything, except for everyday riding. Here is a picture of a surcingle or roller: Pack saddles are any type of equipment to be put on a horse to carry heavy loads. Pack saddles are normally used to carry firewood, luggage, small cannons, and other heavy things humans can't normally carry. Here is a picture of a pack saddle: A crupper is a piece of equipment for a horse to stop the saddle from sliding forward. Here is a picture of a crupper, the circular part goes toward the horses tail: A horse harness is a piece of equipment for a horse that allows that horse to pull a horse-drawn vehicle. Here is a picture of a horse harness: Stirrups are a type of equipment that support the rider of the horse's feet. They are attached to the saddle. Here is a picture of stirrups: Halters, bridles, headcollars, and hackomores are similar equipment that go around the horse's head to direct the horse. Halters are mainly used just to lead the horse or tie it. Halters don't consist of a bit. Here is a picture of a halter: A bridle is like a halter, but has a bit attached to reins. Reins control a horse. Here is a picture of a bridle and reins: Well, that is most of the tack! Hope you enjoyed this information. ~CrazyCat
The buzz over Western dressage continues, with the event’s world championships set for November 1-2 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Why the surging interest? Because the sport is not only fun (you compete against yourself–!) but also extremely beneficial for both you and your horse. Here, in fact, are four reasons you might want to try WD yourself, […]
Myth 1: Anything with a broken mouth piece is a snaffle. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I walk into a tack shop or look at an...
Choosing a bit for your horse is serious business, but it doesn't need to be stressful. Our guide helps you find the right mouthpiece.
Check out this list of the best places to buy barn and horse supplies online! Great online shops to grab tack and more for your horses!
Horse obstacle course ideas abound. Whether for a horse obstacle course competition or just horse trail class obstacles check out the...
We all know horses sleep, but there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding their habits and routines. How many of these facts do you already know?
The Refined Rider - Horsemanship - Ensure your time in the saddle is safe - by learning how to read your horse while riding.
Step-by-stop photos show how to saddle a horse with a Western saddle.
Neck reining is one of the most misunderstood arts in horse riding, second only to collection. The very name itself is misleading...
🐴 Get all the best DIY Horse Stuff in one place from the Savvy Horsewoman blog including recipes, projects, crafts, hacks and more. Check it out!
When the colder months roll in, there are times when you might be wondering if your horse is too cold. So our team of researchers spent some time finding the best answer to this question.
Saddle fit is all about surface area. The closer we can keep the saddle pressure the same the more equal the riders weight will be distributed throughout.
If you've been around horses for any length of time, you'll know that there are some things that make them very unhappy. While some of these things you might expect, others often catch new or beginner horse owners by surprise.
So your struggling to find your favorite bit? Maybe you have tried several different kinds? But you still aren't getting the results you are looking for.
When it comes to DIY horse care I’m all for putting in a little blood, sweat (and usually tears) to help save a few bucks. After all horse care is rarely cheap, or easy. Luckily,…
There are many reasons why we may need to ride our horses at the walk - but that doesn't mean it has to be boring! In this post I'll share my best exercises you can do at the walk. For more riding posts, check out: 4 Exercises to Improve Your Balance in the SaddleExercises to
In the horse world, you hear a lot of talk about what type of bit should be used on what types of horses.
Just saw a post of a forum that a family was looking for resources to go along with FIAR books, The Wild Horses of Sweetbriar and The Finest Horse in Town. Both of these have to do with horses so I wanted to help out by doing a quick google search. Since I found so many wonderful and free resources I created this free horse unit study resource post to share!
Horseback riding has inherent risks. Learn 7 safety tips when riding or working with your horse. How to be safe when riding horses.
Just a quick something while I continue to plug away at class work and the edited version of the saddle tutorial. Hope you find some useful info in here! I may be able to expand some of these topics into full posts later, so if there's something you'd like to see more of, let me know! Reference Material My favorite book is The Essential Book of Horse Tack & Equipment. It's primary focus is on english tack, but it's got great information on bridles, bits, gadgets, martingales, saddles, boots, you name it. The photos are awesome, the diagrams are great, but the best part is the information on fitting and the thought processes behind it. I love knowing the 'why', not just the how or what. A great online resource is used saddle listings. They usually show photos from a lot of different angles, including both sides, the top, and underside. You do want to be cautious and make sure that you're using a quality saddle as your reference, though. If you're unsure, a quick search with the brand name of the saddle will help shed some light on the quality. Tack catalogs can be extremely useful, both hard copies and online. Dover Saddlery and State Line Tack are the two that come to mind first. Organization I have the neat freak gene from my mom and the pack rat gene from my dad. I like things to be neat, tidy, and organized but it's easy for me to squirrel things away willy-nilly when I'm stressed or tired. I found that a really good way for me to combat that habit is to keep as much stuff as possible in clear containers within easy sight. I'm less likely to pick a box and shove something in it if I have a visual reminder of what actually belongs in that box. I have half a dozen or so rectangular bead containers from Hobby Lobby that I love. Those are great for storing spools of wire, hardware, jump rings, beads, and are great tack boxes for Stablemate stuff. You can get half-size ones in Walmart's crafting department, too, which works even better for me. Here's a photo of the two I'm in the most often. The most-used supplies live in the one on the left. I've got silver wire, thread for raised bridles and saddle piping, stirrups, bits, chain, and metal embellishments & crystals. Extra blades for the snap-off & Exacto knives live in the long middle section. The case on the right holds extra silver wire as well as copper and gold. Miscellaneous traditional and classic scale hardware lives in there too, along with some glue I never use, foil for western saddles, and metallic thread. (I had to tidy these things up before I showed you guys! I would have felt like a hypocrite otherwise, haha) Anything you use a lot should be in easy reach. Glue, tools, and toothpicks live on the far right side of my desk. Not only because I'm right handed, but because that's "dead" space that I can't work in very easily. I've mentioned them before, and I'll say it again: Dixie cups are amazing. I tuck all of the little bits and pieces of a project in it's own cup and use alligator clips and pushpins to keep them out of the way. If there are enough projects going, each cup has a masking tape label added to it. Little Tricks Use glue as an alternative to gum tragacanth for smoothing down the fuzzies on the edge of cut leather pieces. This should be done after dyeing your leather. Use a tooth pick to spread a bit of glue on the edge and fuzzy side. Shape it with your finger or the tooth pick and let it dry. To cut even pieces of lace, I lay a strip of double sided tape on my cutting mat. Line your leather up with one of the guides on the mat and stick it down. I use and Exacto knife and even up the top edge first, then cut my strips out. I use this method for pretty much everything that requires straps. Stirrup leathers, bridles, reins, breastplates, you name it. It's best if you work with leather that you've already thinned, but you can thin each strap individually, too. Dyeing is a toss up; the Eco-Flo dyes don't seem to absorb all the way through the leather, so I always have to go back and redo the edges. It would probably be just as easy to dye after I've cut the straps.
Get all the best questions to ask when buying a horse. This list of 101 questions covers riding, health, training, feeding, hooves, breeding, and more!
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Let’s start with some basic parts of all leverage bits. There are the cheeks, which are made up of the purchase and the shank...
