Saddles and Harness

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.

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.

Measuring for your horse a Turn Out Blanket / Stall Blanket
To measure for a blanket you will need a tape measure that is cloth type so you don’t spook your horse. I bring my horse in the barn on level ground and put my tape in the middle of the front legs, or the middle of the chest, around his shoulders and all the way back to the back to the middle of his tail. This is the measurement of the length of the body.
 Your blankets come in even sizes ex: 78 - 80 - 82- 84 …
Once you determine the size you are ready to purchase.  
Remember many factors may change, your horses body weight can change the shape of a horse’s body over a course of a few months / Increase in muscle mass / Also, just in the age of the horse the body changes shape with age. Here are some things to look for
1. Be sure he is standing comfortable and run your hands up and over the withers. Be sure that the blanket is over the withers loosely .
2. Slide your hands under the blanket at the horses shoulders. It should feel loose so that your horse can move his shoulders without rubbing his hair off.
3. Check the chest area so that it comes down to where the neck merges into the chest so that the blanket is on the chest and not the neck. Encourage him to lower is head, the blanket should not pinch or restrict his head from lowering it to graze or eat.
4. Check the belly straps so that you may slide your hands through without them being too tight. If they are more then 4-5 inches from his body they are too big and could pose a risk of danger or entanglement.  Make sure they are adjusted to fit your horse.
5. Check the rear straps on the hind legs. They should fit so that their is no chance of your horse getting his feet caught up in them, but loose enough so that they don’t cause rubbing. They are better to run them through each side so that they keep from rubbing the horse.
6. Slide your hands under the blanket at his hips and rump of your horse so that the blanket is not too snug.
7. Finally check the tail flap to be sure that it’s not too long, he needs to be able to lift his tail or it could cause a real mess.
Remember even a right size blanket can cause rubbing or chafe in certain areas. You can use sheep skin or a slick type material to help in those areas to help your horse stay comfortable in cold weather.
 

A duster coat has several definitions.   In women’s wear, a duster coat is a knee-length or longer coat in an unfitted style, sometimes resembling a bathrobe.  In Western wear, a duster coat was a full-length canvas or linen coat worn by horsemen to protect their everyday clothing from trail debris.  This type of duster was usually vented in the back so the wearer would have the ability to move comfortably on horseback.  In the early 20th century era of open-top automobiles, both men and women wore duster coats to protect their clothing from the elements.

Duster coats for Western horsemen became more popular in the late 20th century and are now a standard Western wear item.  Many Western movies such as “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” featured characters sporting duster coats.

 I have been riding since I was 3 years old and mostly Western.  I have to honestly say that I have switched to the Australian Stock Saddle. I ride out on the trails and the Aussie really helps with the weight on my horse. It is only half the weight of my Western saddle. I feel like it helps my horse move in the shoulders freely with no restriction on his back like the western saddle does. It also is a shorter saddle in length (front to back) and I know with all of the padding of the Australian Stock Saddles that it has to be more comfortable on my short back horse by his kidney area too.
      The fenders are narrower then the western fender so it make it easier on my knees and ankles. I feel like it moves with me so much freer then the western saddle, especially on long rides on the trail.

The collar is the most important part of the working horse harness. The collar transfers all of the weight of the carriage to the horse. A common high quality collar is the Brodhead

field collar. Made of leather by the Amish in Iowa these collars are the standard of the industry. They will last for years and if fitted properly they will keep your driving horse healthy and happy.

The easiest way to measure for a collar is to take a soft tape and measure according to the diagram above. Measure 2 or 3 times until you are satisfied that the measurement is correct.

Measuring your horse for a collar does not have to be a nerve-racking chore.

     Draft horses are used for many different types of riding from trails to police patrol work to field work, and even dressage. A myriad of Draft Horse Bridles are available for these different disciplines. The most common bridle materials are leather, beta, and biothane.

     Some draft horse riders are now using draft horses in Spanish type riding. For this type of activity they will need a Spanish bridle in draft horse size. These bridles are typically made of leather and have mosqueros made of real horsehair in various color combinations. These special bridles can be used on any type of horse and in any type of discipline as they are very decorative.

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.