Saddles and Harness

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.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A HORSE BLANKET

1. Your correct size for the horse you are buying for.

2. Are the Straps leather or Nylon / Double or Single

3. Is the fabric a RIP STOP fabric

4. Do the straps have elastic for ease of movement

5 Is the blanket thick enough for the weather in your area to keep the horse warm on the coldest days.

6. Does it have padding in the wither area for comfort of your horse.

7. Does the blanket have pleats or fixed shoulder for the movement of your horse to move his shoulders.

8. Does the front of the blanket open with one or two straps at the chest or does it go over the head.

9. Does the blanket have a nice edge so that it doesn’t fray after a few usages.

10 Is the hardware on the blanket Stainless or easy to use or stay in place

This are all things you should look at when purchasing a blanket to know if it will meet your expectations for your horse. Some things may not matter to you, some will be a extra benefit when you start using the blanket on your horse.