Saddles and Harness

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.

A forecart is a small cart that carries a person, people, and cargo.  Forecarts are often used to train draft and carriage horses, coming in a variety of sizes that can accommodate even ponies and miniature horses.  Forecarts may have the ability to be configured for 1-4 horses and some brands, such as the popular Pioneer forecart, have the capacity to haul heavy equipment such as farm machinery in the back of the load.

Forecarts can also be used for exercising horses and just pleasure driving.  They have optional features, just as cars do, and can include features such as bench seats, fenders, and extra space for cargo.   There are also forecart safety and comfort features offered to prevent human passengers from falling forward or being kicked by the horses.

     What could be more charming than arriving to your wedding or other special event in a plush horse drawn carriage. The Vis-a-vis Wedding Carriage is the ideal horse drawn vehicle for this. The Vis-a-vis is also used for commercial carriage operations in big cities around the world. They can seat 4 passengers comfortable as well as 1 or 2 drivers. Most have a convertible top in case the weathert turns bad. Many also have cd players so soothing music can be played during the trip.

     These carriages may be pulled by one large horse or a team of 2 horses. Most have hydraulic brakes and lights for night use. The most well known maker of these carriages is Robert Carriages of Canada. Their fine Vis-a-vis are in commercial service worldwide.

     There are more and more bits being developed for use on draft horses. Bits are available in 6″, 6.5″, and 7″.  Some bits have straight mouths and some have broken mouths.  Some are designed for driving, some for riding, and some for both riding and driving.

     Our favorite bit for draft horses is the Butterfly Bit. This bit is made of stainless steel and it has 3 large loops on each side of the mouthpiece. By choosing different loops you can adjust the amount of pressure applied to the mouth. They are used for riding and driving.

     The Doctor’s Buggy takes us back to a time when life was simple. The town Doctor would be summoned and arrive in a small one seat buggy suitable for 2 passengers. After arrival he would take is bag off the back and dutifully care for his patient.

     Today the Doctor’ Buggy is used in parades, local transportation, and for quiet evening rides around the countryside with a loved one.

With the retractable top and plush interior it is a pleasure to ride in wherever you go.

     There was a time when you were considered off your rocker if you wanted to ride your draft horse under saddle. To even consider riding your big draft in dressage was even more unthinkable. Today draft horses are used in all disciplines including dressage, all purpose, trail, jumping, western pleasure, etc.

     The willing nature and calm temperament makes the draft  horse ideal for all disciplines. They are actually very light on their feet. One of the very few companies making a true Draft Horse Dressage Saddle is Frontier Equestrian Inc. These saddles are made with a 10″ gullet which is the widest gullet made anywhere. These saddles are extremely wide and flat through the pommel as they are designed to fit draft horses with very flat withers - shaped like a 50 gallon barrel.

     All horses should have their teeth examined yearly and if they are getting too long or they have spurs they should be filed down. Some horse need to be sedated but most will allow you to care for their teeth but may put up a little bit of a fight.

     If a little help is needed try using a Horse Dental Speculum. These devices are made of stainless steel and they are used to hold the horse’s mouth in an open position so dental work may be performed.