Pony & Horse Portal

You are a newly minted horse owner. You finally made your dream of horse ownership come true, but you don’t know what else you need. Here is a brief overview of tack that may be helpful to you, as you become an experienced homeowner. Here is a list of tack: bits and spurs, breast collars, headstalls and reins, saddles, saddle pads and blankets, cinches and halters. Here is some information on tack and the correct way to use it.

As you probably already know, the bits go in the horse’s mouth. These are commonly designed to teach communication between the rider and horse. The bits allow you balance your horse from left to right and front to back. The bits also help you teach your horse how to bend his neck and throatlatch. This will help the horse turn in both directions. Most horses don’t enjoy bits. If they are new to them, they will try to spit them out. However, a little patience and perseverance will go a long way.

Spurs are for built for you, the rider. Spurs hook onto your boots and help you communicate with the horse how to obey, move forward, backward, turn and gallop when you kick the horse. This works as an immediate action. In the beginning the horse may not like this right away, and may try to buck you. Eventually however, the horse will get used to the spurs.

Headstalls are also commonly known as the ‘head piece’. Headstalls fit over the horse’s head, allowing for control over the horse. Reins are attached to the headstalls and allow control over the horse.

The reins are attached to the headstall. These are what you hold onto when you ride. Pull the reins left if you want to turn left, or to turn right, pull them right. The reins should have some slack when you’re galloping. To stop, pull back on the reins. Think of the reins as your personal steering wheel. You have to learn how to drive and control them in order to get where you want to go safely.

Next up, the breast collar. This is a leather strap over the horse’s chest, that passes around the front of the horse and above his foreleg and then is connected to the saddle.

To prevent blisters a saddle pad can be used. This is a pad or blanket large enough to fit on the horse’s back and placed under the saddle to protect the horse. The pad works so that the saddle won’t rub on the horse, thus causing sores or burns.

A blanket can also be used like a saddle pad. It is used to drape over your horse when they are in the trailer. A blanket is a great way to protect your horse against insects or weather.

The cinch is simply a wide strap that will help attach the saddle to a horse. The strap goes from one side of the saddle and under the horses belly to the other side of the saddle.

Halters are usually made of rope or good quality leather. They are made to fit around the horse’s neck or head and can be used for leading a horse around.

When you ride your horse, you need a saddle to sit on. The saddle comes equipped with a saddle horn in the front, which you hold onto so you don’t fall off. The saddle also has stirrups on the side. You put your feet into the stirrups so you don’t fall off. Think of the saddle as your look out point.

If you don’t know anything about tack, contact your local feed store or western store and start learning. There is perhaps nothing more important than learning how to use these things correctly. A good tack supply store can tell you what you will need, and how it’s used. You don’t need the most beautiful tack in the world, just a good quality tack. Your horse isn’t going to be impressed by an expensive saddle when you’re out working cattle, and you don’t necessarily need all of the tack stated above. But it’s a good idea to experiment to see what works best for your horse and you. Make sure to do your research about the best tack for your horse and activity level.