Horse tack
From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.
Tack is any of the various accessories worn by horses in the course of their use as domesticated animals.
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Saddles
Saddles are seats for the rider, fastened to the horse's back by means of a wide strap (a girth or cinch) that goes around the horse at a point about four inches behind the forlegs. Some saddles will also have a second strap (flank cinch) that fastens at the rear of the saddle and goes around the widest part of the horse's belly.
It is important that the saddle is comfortable for both the rider and the horse—an improperly fitting saddle may rub and cause the horse pain and, eventually, injury. Usually a saddle will be inspected annually and the stuffing modified to correct the fit.
There are many types of saddles, each specially designed for its given task.
- English Saddles
- Jumping Saddle
- Dressage Saddle
- Polo Saddle
- Park Saddle
- Racing Saddle
- Western Saddle
- Roping Saddle
- Barrel Racing Saddle
- Endurance Saddle
- Sidesaddle
- English Sidesaddle
- Western Sidesaddle
- Military Saddle
- Australian stock saddle
Stirrups
Stirrups are supports for the rider's feet that hang down on either side of the saddle. The invention of stirrups was of great significance in mounted combat, giving the rider a secure footing while on horseback. At the same time the stirrups are problematic due to the tendency for feet to get stuck in them in dire moments, causing the rider to be dragged. Because of this danger saddlers have developed both "safety stirrups"—which are either shaped to allow the rider's foot to slip out easily or are closed with a rubber band—and "safety stirrup bars" that are hangers for the stirrup leather that allow it to detach from the saddle in an emergency.
Bridles and halters
Bridles and halters are an arrangement of straps around the horse's head used for communicating with the animal. Bridles are used for riding and driving horses (and contain a bit), halters (no bit) are more general-purpose and most often equipped for leading (particularly pack horses), or tethering, a horse with one rein. A hackamore is a type of bitless bridle.
Lungeing cavesson
A special type of halter used for lungeing a horse. Lungeing is causing a horse to walk, trot and/or canter in a large circle around the handler. It is used for training and exercise.
Reins
Reins are the means by which a horse rider or driver communicates directional commands to the horse's head. They consist of leather straps or rope attached to the outer ends of the bit and extend to the rider's or driver's hands. On some types of harness there might be supporting rings to carry the reins over the horse's back. When pairs of horses are used in drawing a wagon or coach it is usual for the outer side of each pair to be conncectd to reins and the inside of the bits connected by a short bridging strap or rope. The driver carries "four-in-hand" or "six-in-hand" being the number of reins connecting to the pairs of horses.
A rein may be attached to a halter to lead or guide the horse in a circle for training purposes or to lead a packhorse.
Bits
A bit is a piece of (usually) metal that is placed in the horses mouth. Despite popular opinion, the bit does not rest on the teeth of the horse. The bit hangs in a space behind the front (cutting) teeth and in front of the back (grinding) teeth. This space is known as the "bar". When a horse is said to "grab the bit in its teeth" they actually mean that the horse hardens its lips and mouth against the bit to ignore the riders commands. Bits offer varying degrees of control and communication between rider and horse, depending upon their design.
The types of bits are too numerous to list, but here are some examples:
- Curb bit
- Snaffle bit
- Gag bit
- Pelham bit
Harness
A harness is a complicated set of devices and straps that attaches a horse to a cart, a sledge or any other load. There are as many kinds of harnesses as there are vehicles and loads to attach to a horse.
For a horse that is used solely for draughting it will have a bridle, reins, collar and hames, and traces. A horse that is supporting shafts, such as on carts, will also have a saddle to support the shafts and a britchen to brake the forward motion of the vehicle (stopping or downhill). Horses guiding vehicles (such as a wagon, an agricultural impliment or a dray) by means of a pole will have, at least, pole-straps attached to the lower part of their collar.
