Saddles and Harness

Cashel Company has continue to improve upon perfection.  As we all know there are  many types and brands of fly masks on the market today. Cashel has proven to be the best on our ranch. The masks from Cashel have the PVC that is a durable choice for a fly mask. Withstands all of the rubbing that our standard horses do and also our big draft horses as well. I use the one with the ears when I know the nats are bad in certain times of the year. I use the
wonderful “long nose” type for my horses the have white blazes to keep the snout from getting sun burns. I have had one of my draft horses get a severe sunburn which has left a scare and bare spot  on his nose. Now, that I have found the perfect solution with the Cashel “Long Nose ” mask I  don’t ever have to worry about any of this happening to any of my horses in the any longer. I also have the regular standard horse type for the easy keepers in my pastures. I have a friend with Missouri Mules and they use the “Mule mask by Cashel and love them. They have the longer head and big ears protected by the Cashel Mule model. I have found too, that the velcro is more durable with the Cashel Fly Mask than some I have used in the past.
      I have used fly mask protection on my horses for many years which has helped with eye problems, sun damaging problems and many others and do highly recommend Cashel’s brand over any of the others.

     Saddles with no trees have been around for a few years now. They are available from 6 or 8 makers and they are all very similar in design and construction. Treeless Saddles typically have a small insert in the cantle and the pommel to allow the saddle to keep it’s shape and to give it support.

    Since treeless saddles conform to the shape of the horse’s back and the pressure from the saddle is widely distributed the treeless saddles are ideal for use on most draft horses.

These saddles allow you to feel the horse better.  They also keep the rider very secure in the seat.    They also come in a variety of colors and some are made in leather and others are made of synthetic materials more suitable for endurance events where the saddle will get wet.           

     The western saddle for the draft horse is designed differently than a western saddle for a regular sized horse. Light horses use a saddle with a 6.5 to 7 inch gullet on average. many different tree styles are available in these sizes such as wade, western pleasure, roping, etc.

     The tree types available for draft size trees is much more limited. The key features designed into Draft Horse Western Saddles are a much wider gullet and flatter angles to the bars. The biggest comcern is gullet width. many draft horses are not only very wide but also very flat through the wither area. Typical gullet widths used on these type of horses is 9 inch and 10 inch gullets. While there are several companies that produce so-called draft saddles with 8 inch gullets the saddles of this size are really nothing more than a wide tree version of typical western saddle. There are 2 or 3 companies that produce western saddles with 9 inch and 10 inch gullets and to truly have a good fit these are the size that is needed.

     Harness and bridles are available in many different materials but the new synthetic materials are becoming very popular. The choice is Biothane or Beta. Beta is the closest thing to leather in the tack marketplace. The main attributes are the extreme strength and soft to the hand touch. It has a flat matte finish which looks like leather.

     The biothane is just as strong but has a very shiny finish which is most popular for tack that is used for parades and show harness. The beauty of both materials is that they are much stronger than leather and require almost no maintenance. To clean simply hose off - it will not absorb moisture or dirt and it will not rot or mildew. Tack made with these space age materials will last a lifetime.

     Bits for draft horses are in very limited supply. Typically draft horses use 6″, 6.5″, and 7″ mouthpieces on their bits. There are only a handfull of stores that sell these type of bits. In the old days the only choices were O-ring snaffle bits and the large carriage bits such as Liverpool bits.

     Today there are many more varieties of Draft Horse Bits to choose from. They are now available in D-ring snaffle, western curb bits, Tom Thumb bits, Butterfly bits, and many variation of these styles. This expansion in the selection of bits for draft horses has been fueled by the rise in popularity of riding these large draft horses.

     Draft horses require much larger bridles than standard horses. Draft Horse Bridles are available in various materials such as leather, nylon, beta, biothane, etc. Leather is the most widely available but the beta and biothane are by far the most durable and the easiest to care for.

     The most common measurements used to check for fit on a draft horse bridle are: bit to bit over the poll ( top of head behind the ears )

noseband, and browband. With these measurements you can easily determine if the bridle will fit. It is common to find companies that sell oversize bridles and call them draft horse size. These bridles are typically designed for warmbloods which have smaller heads than the larger draft horses. It is important to make sure that the bridle is truly designed fo draft horses and not just a slightly larger version of a standard horse bridle.

     Fly masks come in a variety of sizes, colors, and styles. Sizes range from foal to full draft horse size. The horse size is very easy to find and they are available at most tack shops. Our favorite fly mask is the Cashel Fly Mask.

     Cashel masks are made of superior quality materials and have deluxe features. They are available in warmblood and full draft horse size. They are also available with long nose for additional protection and also available with ears. The Cashel brand has darted eyes to keep the mask away from the horse’s eyes. They are the best designed and most durable fly masks on the market today.

     Draft horses are ideal as trail riding horses - their smooth easy gate and calm temperament make for a comfortable and enjoyable outing. The Australian saddle is one of the most popular saddles commonly used on draft horses. They are available in a variety of seat sizes, colors, and gullet widths. Not all draft horses require a full draft horse 10″ gullet. Some Shires and Clydesdales have high withers along with a wide body. In this case you will need a saddle with smaller gullet width , perhaps 7″ or 8″. To check for proper fit make a wither tracing.

      The best known producer of Australian Draft Horse Saddles is Sydney Saddleworks.

Their saddles are available with gullet sizes up to 10″ which will fit the largest flat backed draft horses with ease. The Australian saddles are exceptionally comfortable for horse and rider due to the deep seat and low tension fenders and riding position. After riding for hours in an Australian saddle you can dismount without the soreness typically experienced after riding a western saddle.

Cleaning a draft horse saddle isn’t a difficult process for something that is an imperative part of horse riding. Here are some easy tips:

• Place your saddle on a saddle rack, preferably a moveable one that you can put in your garage or outside where you can work on it.
• Keep a new saddle in good condition and prevent it from darkening by lightly wetting and wringing out a soft dust-free cloth and wiping the entire saddle. Wipe off any excess water and allow the saddle to dry naturally.
• Use a little extra elbow grease for older saddles. With a sponge, apply glycerin saddle soap to the entire saddle. Work soap in circular motions on smooth surfaces.
• Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to clean basketweave and intricate scrollwork on the saddle.
• Wipe soap from the saddle using a damp towel. Lightly dry saddle with a clean, soft, dust-free cloth.
• Twist both fenders of a Western saddle to the outside and place a broomstick through both stirrups to help keep the proper form; let the saddle dry naturally.
• Use the same materials for the rest of your tack.