Saddles and Harness

The same principles of expansion through force fuel the demand for football in America as it did during the pilgrim’s Westward expansion.  In fact, perhaps the reason football is so popular in America while it is trumped by sports such as soccer and baseball in other countries is its strong ties to American ideals.  During your standard football game, one team attempts to ‘take’ the other team’s land by pushing through their defenses.  This bears a remarkable similarity to the American settler’s desire to acquire all the land by pushing through the Native American peoples. 

In addition, there are some other similarities in the game, such as collar on an NFL player’s shoulder pads being called a horse collar.  Horses had a significant contribution to the westward expansion, as most all settlers rode on horses or in carriages pulled by horses and oxen. 

In an age where cowboys, Indians, outlaws, and lawmen roamed the rolling plains of the Western United States, there was a distinct fashion and style best suited to a lifestyle of horses, dust, and hard work.  While the Native American Indians had their own style of riding horses, most of the settlers adorned spurs, chaps, cowboy hats, and duster coats.  These items were suited for the environmental conditions as well as spending hours each day on horseback.  As time passed, these standards of Western wear were remade and introduced to the mainstream public, some of which have become popular apparel even in modern times, like the cowboy hat. 

Though the old days of the West will never return, you can still celebrate the ruggedness and tradition of exploration that ushered the Old West into the history books with Western apparel. 

Characterized by their size and muscular build, draft horses are the giants of the equine world.  Though more intended for pulling, it is possible to ride a draft horse for a work related purpose or for simple enjoyment.  Here is a simple method for ensuring that you’re sitting straight and correct on your draft horse saddle:Ask a person on the ground to stand behind you.

1.) Are your shoulders at the same height?  (if not this indicates incorrect positioning)

2.) Is your seat in the center of the saddle with each seatbone the same distance from the middle? 

If both these conditions are met you should be sitting correctly.

If you own a horse drawn carriage you’re probably aware that the traditional carriage lanterns are now available in both candle and electric operated.  While electric operated carriage lamps receive a nod for convenience, it is my opinion that a candle lamp is still the better choice.  Horse drawn carriages exist today as a less efficient mode of travel, but are appealing because of their traditional role in culture.  Replacing a candlelit lamp with an electric lamp doesn’t make much sense when considering that horse drawn carriages are used today only to offer occupants a sense of traditional luxury and refinement. 

Though it takes more effort to maintain candle carriage lamps, it is worth it to preserve the original and unique appeal of horse drawn travel.

Most equestrians think of saddles as falling into two main categories, English and Western.  Western saddles are distinctive because of a horn and high fork on the front of the saddle, and a deeper seat.  The western saddle also has wide and long stirrups and fenders.  The English saddle has a flatter seat, and no noticeable fork and horn. 

Regardless of which style you decide on, you should make sure that the saddle fits your horse.  If your horse appears uncomfortable, examine the horse’s back to see if there are any sores due to chafing or rubbing, this indicates an incorrectly fitted saddle.

Prior to the nineteenth century, carriages were mostly used as functional transportation for the European upper class.  However, in the mid nineteenth century, coachbuilders, along with carpenters, painters, seamstresses, and various artisans began building carriages with artistic flair.  During this time, the horse drawn carriage went from simple transportation, to families possessing multiple carriages for special occasions like weddings and funerals, while having other carriages for display, or some to function as fast, light travel.

Nearing the twentieth century, carriage driving, or ‘coaching’ became more of an upper-class sport than an efficient travel method.  Around this time both the steam locomotive and the automobile were becoming more mainstream, and thus transportation by carriage was no longer needed.

When used correctly, longeing, also known as lunging is a very useful training tool. When learning how to lunge a horse, the horse moves around the handler in a circle. The handler controls the horse by using aids that ask him to move faster or slower, bend on a circle or move closer to or farther away from you.

Aids include your voice and body language. By longeing your horse, you are given the ability to watch him from the ground, so you can monitor his movement, his soundness and his natural frame. Longeing before a ride can decrease the inherent risk of riding a hot horse, therefore increasing your safety. However, longeing incorrectly can be very dangerous for both you and your horse.

The Spanish saddle was used by the Mexican Caballeros during the first part of the 19th century, when it was introduced to American settlers during the westward expansion of the country. The Spanish saddle has a high pommel and cantle, which gives a rider a sturdy seat while roping cattle or on a green horse.  In 1822, a St. Louis saddler named Thornton Grimsley began making a horned saddle based on the Spanish model that became renowned for its durability.  Grimsley sewed wet rawhide onto the tree of the saddle, which formed a hard shell when dried that made the saddle stronger.  This method caught on and began to be used by other saddlers, with some regional variations. 

A Spanish saddle has a cantle board and looks like a hybrid of an English saddle and a Western saddle.  They are often used in shows because they are quite beautiful and often contain exquisite craftsmanship.  Some riders say Spanish saddles are well suited to long horseback rides due to their comfort and ease of use.

Miniature horses are found worldwide in a variety of colors and patterns.  They are designated by height depending on the official registry and are usually less than 38 inches when measured at the withers.   They can be trained to work indoors, but are healthier when allowed to live outdoors (if adequate shelter and exercising room are available). 

The average lifespan of a miniature horse is from 25 to 35 years.  Because of this long life expectancy and their friendly and personable nature, they are often kept as family pets and are increasingly being trained as assistance or companion animals for people with disabilities.  Despite their versatility in working with humans, it is important for potential miniature horse owners to remember that they are still horses and will need miniature horse tack.

     Periodically a horse’s teeth need to be filed down or floated. This is typically done with with a large rasp or file. Some horses can just have their mouths held open but for most the use of a mouth gag or as it is professionally termed a mouth speculum is a huge help.

     Good quality speculums are made of stainless steel the best models have straps made of leather. Most are made in Europe.

They are put on like a halter and they have a ratchet machanism that allows the mouth to be held open as far as needed to accomplish the dental work.