Archive for the ‘Horse Tack’ category

Consider Buying A Used Saddle

February 26th, 2011

If you have got a hobby, like horseback riding, and you are looking for a used saddle to purchase, or you own some used western saddles, and you would like to have them replaced with other, newer saddles, you have come to the right place.

You can find a large variety of saddles for sale – both new and used. There are tons of different styles and designs to choose from, depending on the particular equestrianism discipline you are interesting in.

If you have one for sale, you might look to trade with someone else for their saddle. You could exchange your old saddle for someone else’s saddle who is also interested in a trade. So it is a win-win situation for both of you. You both get a “new” saddle and you both get to save a lot of cash. Price should certainly be a consideration.

Brand new saddles, which you can find in specialized stores, are quite expensive and could mean a huge financial outlay for many people. If you are not willing to pay a lot of money to buy a new saddle, then used saddles are a really great option.  Used saddles could still have many years of use left in them. So even if you were to purchase a used saddle, you can get many years worth of use out of it.

As for the exact places where you can make these trades, there are plenty of websites that specialize in selling used saddles. You can consider shopping at eBay for saddles. You might think of eBay as a website where you can buy and sell small laptop computers, clothing, etc.  You can also buy and sell saddles there too, as well as other horse equipment items. You can browse through the categories and check out the used saddles that they have for sale. There are usually pictures and descriptions which will help you to make your selection.

If you have got a hobby, like horseback riding, and you are looking for a used saddle to purchase, or you own some used saddles, and you would like to have them replaced with other, newer saddles, you have come to the right place.

You can find a large variety of saddles for sale – both new and used. There are tons of different styles and designs to choose from, depending on the particular equestrianism discipline you are interesting in.

If you have a sale, you might look to trade with someone else for their saddle. You could exchange your old saddle for someone else’s saddle who is also interested in a trade. So it is a win-win situation for both of you. You both get a “new” saddle and you both get to save a lot of cash. Price should certainly be a consideration.

Brand new saddles, which you can find in specialized stores, are quite expensive and could mean a huge financial outlay for many people. If you are not willing to pay a lot of money to buy a new saddle, then used saddles are a really great option. Used saddles could still have many years of use left in them. So even if you were to purchase a used saddle, you can get many years worth of use out of it.

As for the exact places where you can make these trades, there are plenty of websites that specialize in selling used saddles. You can browse through the categories and check out the used saddles that they have for sale. There are usually pictures and descriptions which will help you to make your selection.

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Simple Ways to Improve Your Dressage

February 2nd, 2011

Dressage is an increasingly popular equestrian discipline that can be enjoyed by horse riders of all ages and abilities across the world. It involves horse and rider working together to attain obedience, flexibility and balance. Competitions in dressage riding assess the way that horse and rider work together by performing a set combination of movements ranging from the basic walk, trot and canter to the more advanced such as half pass, piaffe and passage

Many factors influence the ability of the dressage horse to perform, and there are numerous exercises, training programs and horse equipment designed to train horse and rider for dressage. In essence the horse must be supple and well balanced, obedient and responsive. He must be accepting of the rider’s aids and forward going in his work and the rider must be able to remain balanced with the horse and be able to give independent and effective instructions. An in depth discussion into all the various factors would need to be considered in order to achieve such results in dressage riding. The subject is so vast that we need to break it down and look for common factors that are applicable not only to dressage riding but to all equestrian disciplines. One such factor is that the horse needs to be free of pain or restriction at all times in order to move freely and perform to his best.

While this may seem like an obvious observation, it is still one of the most common reasons for the poor performance of a horse. While there are few riders who would ride a horse who is in obvious pain, quite often it is not so obvious that the horse is experiencing discomfort or being restricted by the saddle or bridle that is being used. If the horse riding saddle being used does not fit well, it could be too narrow or wide, or even not suitable for the discipline that is being undertaken, then the horse may be prevented from relaxing in his work. Similarly, the bit or bridle could be pinching and causing discomfort if incorrectly fitted and this would also prevent the horse from relaxing into his work. When thinking about horse riding saddles for riding dressage competitions or training on the flat at home, you should consider if it would be worthwhile to buy a quality specialized dressage saddle.

The dressage saddle has been developed and designed specifically to allow horse and rider the freedom of movement needed to carry out dressage movements. A deep seat and the wide flatter panels of the dressage saddle encourage the rider to sit deeper and remain balanced whilst evenly distributing their weight. This greatly assists the horse’s ability to balance and carry himself correctly. The dressage saddle has straight cut saddle flaps and the stirrup bars placed slightly further back. This feature allows the horse plenty of freedom though the shoulder and enables the rider to keep his weight over the horse’s center of gravity.

If both horse and rider are comfortable then the foundations for improvement have been laid.

The Equine Store is on-line and has top quality horse and rider products for horse and rider, including English leather dressage saddles in standard sizes or made to measure. Please visit the shop at www.equine-store.com.

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Choosing The Perfect Treeless Saddle

November 3rd, 2010

A treeless saddle is a type of saddle that was not built upon a solid saddle tree, but uses other synthetic materials that make them similar and functional as those of treed saddles. It is not built on a wooden or synthetic tree which is common among most saddles.  Basically, it is also made up of a pommel and cantle. The pommel is the highest part of the front of a saddle. The pommel is slightly raised to make a rider secure on the saddle in case the horse suddenly stops. It also aids in keeping the rider’s thighs extended and enveloped around the horse’s midsection. The cantle, on the other hand, is the back of the saddle. The only difference with the traditional saddles is the absence of bars that join together the cantle and pommel pieces. Instead they have built-in panels and supplementary pads to provide spine and wither clearance.

Since the saddle is not made of a solid saddle tree, the pads are thick and are generally made of the following:

1.    Leather
2.    Vinyl
3.    Foam
4.    Sheepskin
5.    Fleece

There are plenty of treeless saddles for sale online or through local stores that sell horse riding accessories and horse equipment. This type of saddle has gained popularity due to the fact that it can provide utmost comfort both to the horse and to the rider. Another advantage is that it can fit most horses. This becomes very useful especially for horses with wide backs and uneven shoulders.

In choosing the perfect saddle, whether it is a barefoot treeless saddle or a Bob Marshall treeless saddle, you must never assume that any model can fit any type of horse although this is may be the marketing statement of saddle manufacturers. Trying them first on your horse is the best practice before purchasing.

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About Gaited Horse Saddles

September 2nd, 2010

Gaited horse saddles are a specialized form of horse equipment used with a wide variety of specialized breeds. Available in both English and Western styles, these saddles offer a unique fit designed specifically with the breed specific movements of gaited horses in mind. Understanding the special traits and characteristics offered by gaited horses coupled with the stylistic differences in the tack versus a standard saddle will ensure consumers end up with the perfect saddle.

With a vast and diverse collection of gaited breeds available globally, riders require a large collection of saddles to fully enjoy these breeds worldwide. Unlike the majority of horses worldwide, which travel in a two-beated footfall pattern, gaited horses use each of their legs independently whereby creating a specialized four-beat footfall pattern. Many breeds have their own unique gait or set of gaits including Tennessee Walkers, Missouri Foxtrotters and Paso Finos.

When outfitting a gaited horse, consideration needs to be given to the special way of going unique to these special breeds. By using each leg individually, these horses have increased levels of back and shoulder movements. As such, specially designed gaited saddles allows for fluidity of motion.

Gaited horses outfitted with conventional tack frequently succumb to injury and discomfort. Traditional saddles hinder the excessive motion of the shoulders and back performed by gaited horses resulting in the loss of these special movements. As such, gaited horse riders in the market for new tack should pay careful attention to purchasing a special saddle that addresses their mount’s unique conformation needs.

When selecting a saddle for a gaited horse, purchasers should be aware of the unique traits and movements possessed by these special breeds. Consideration should be given to locating a saddle that will benefit both the horse and rider partnership. Fortunately, a wide variety of English and Western saddles are available for gaited horses. Check out Equestrian saddles or Wintec stock saddle.

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How to Choose Saddle Pads for the Western Rider

July 23rd, 2010

The choices in saddle pads are seemingly endless for the western rider! There are fleece pads, neoprene pads, foam, wool felt and even a pad that looks like something you would scrub a pot with! Then there’s shape: saddle pads can be contoured, straight, round skirt, swayback, built up, orthopedic or even have gel inserts. The choices are really endless. Of all the horse equipment to buy, a saddle pad can be almost as difficult to choose as a saddle.

The goal with a saddle pad is that when you pull it off your horse after riding, the horse’s entire back is wet. No dry spots! Dry spots are an indication that the saddle is putting too much pressure on those spots. The pressure causes the sweat glands to not work there, and can eventually kill the tissue too, if you ride enough. This is not to mention that the horse will be sore, too!

You may think that adding padding over the dry spots will solve the problem, but it doesn’t. That is the equivalent of putting an extra pair of socks on so that your too-small shoes won’t pinch so much. It just increases the pressure. You need to either apply padding in an opposite spot, to relieve the pressure on the spot that’s dry, or use a much thinner pad altogether.

This is not to be confused with the channel down the middle of your horse’s back being dry. It’s fine if that is clean and dry, as it should mean no pressure is being applied to your horse’s spine from your saddle. When you put the pad on the horse, then the saddle on top of the pad, lift up the pad a bit into the pommel to allow air to flow under the saddle pad and to be sure there’s no pressure on her withers.

The best way to choose a saddle pad is to first use a simple wool felt blanket and see if you have any problems. If your horse’s back is uniformly wet with sweat and she performed well for you, then that saddle blanket is just fine. If you have any dry spots, then you need to try some of the orthopedic or built up pads to correct the problem, or you need to buy a new saddle that fits right.

Remember, the saddle pad is not actually supposed to make the saddle fit. That’s not its function. Its real function is to absorb sweat and keep it away from the saddle so your saddle will stay clean. It also can help keep the saddle from slipping, and can help distribute saddle pressure too, although that is secondary to keeping your saddle clean and dispersing heat.

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The Barrel Saddle: Lighter Weight And Security Are the Top Features

June 24th, 2010

Western saddles come in all kinds of configurations, but one of the best ones is the barrel saddle. This type of saddle is usually a little bit lighter in weight than a standard trail saddle, and it is made with two things in mind: keeping you securely in the saddle and allowing the horse maximum freedom to achieve the tight bends at top speed that are required for barrel racing.

Because of these two needs, barrel saddles are usually a bit shorter in length, and only have one skirt, which saves on the weight. The skirt found on a barrel saddle is usually called a “Mother Hubbard” skirt, which just means that the skirt helps form the pocket into which the tree bars are placed. This does not affect the look or function, but it demonstrates the weight economy with which these saddles are made. Every scrap of leather serves as many purposes as possible so as to keep the weight down yet still have a good, solid saddle. Barrel saddles are really a very efficient piece of horse equipment!

The cantle on a barrel saddle is usually higher, as is the swell and horn. This creates a lovely deep seat that holds the rider securely in the saddle. A good barrel racing saddle will have a molded seat that allows your thighs to grip comfortably and tightly. You will need this when you are running hard around a barrel!

If you are in the market for a used barrel racing saddle, then you will probably be able to actually put it on your horse and take a ride. Being able to do that is one reason I almost prefer buying used saddles. Once you’ve been in the saddle for half an hour and put it through the paces, only then do you really know if it’s going to fit you and your horse properly.

Barrel racing saddles make great trail saddles as well, although they tend to not be padded for the rider as much as a standard trail saddle. You can overcome this by adding a gel pad. I personally use a barrel saddle to ride trails with my horse for a couple of reasons. For one thing, she is very short-backed, and my round-skirt barrel saddle fits her better than any other saddle I’ve tried. I am very short as well, and barrel saddles fit me better too.

For another thing, when we are cantering along the trail and a deer pops out, she has a tendency to move sideways suddenly or do a 180-degree turn! I need the security of a barrel saddle to stay with her no matter what crazy maneuver she does. So far — knock on wood — my butt has stayed in the saddle through over a hundred trail hours. My saddle is at least ten pounds lighter than my friend’s trail saddle too, another feature which I appreciate and I know my horse does too!

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