Tack Selection, Care, and Safety PDF

Tack Selection, Care, and Safety Ashley Wright Livestock Area Agent Cochise, Pima, and Santa Cruz Counties Intro to Horse Science September 13, 2022 Why? 1. Safety. Safety. Safety. 2. Good equipment is EXPENSIVE 3. Ne...

Tack Selection, Care, and Safety Ashley Wright Livestock Area Agent Cochise, Pima, and Santa Cruz Counties Intro to Horse Science September 13, 2022 Why? 1. Safety. Safety. Safety. 2. Good equipment is EXPENSIVE 3. Negligence in case of a lawsuit  What kind of saddle do I need? What discipline(s) do you ride? What kind/size/shape of horse do you have? 3 steps for saddle selection Step 1: Select your saddle TYPE Step 2: Select a saddle that fits both the RIDER and the HORSE Step 3: Select the rigging, material, finishing touches, etc. that you prefer on your saddle Pick the RIGHT saddle for your discipline! VS.  Western Saddle Types Roping Ranch Cutting Pleasure Barrel Trail  English Saddle Types All-Purpose Dressage Jumping Or Eventing Saddle Racing Seat Trail  Saddle Fit (your horse) Gullets vs Bars NOT standardized Knowing the Gullet Width may give you an INDICATION of the bar angle, but is NOT definitive Full QH bars from Company A may not be the same as Full QH bars from Company B  Typical Saddle Tree Sizes Western English Regular QH Bars Narrow Semi-QH Bars Medium/Regular Full QH Bars Wide Extra Wide/Draft Extra Wide - Draft Arabian Bars  The Basics of Fitting…. 1. Place the saddle on the horse’s back WITHOUT a pad. 2. Check that the saddle clears the withers by 2-4 fingers, and the gullet clears the spine the entire way down the saddle 3. Check that the saddle sits level on the horse’s back 4. Check that the saddle has even pressure across the tree from front to back YOU CAN’T OUT-PAD A BAD FITTING SADDLE!  TRUE or FALSE The saddle that fits your horse perfectly TODAY will always fit him perfectly….  TRUE or FALSE The saddle that fits your horse perfectly TODAY will always fit him perfectly…. Common Saddle Fit Issues  Saddle Rigging TERMS: Full Rigging, 7/8ths rigging, 3/4ths rigging – refer to the POSITION of the D/O rings In-Skirt, On-Tree, Plate refer to HOW the rings are connected to the saddle  Leather or Synthetic? Synthetic Advantages: Price Lightweight Easy Care Traditional Leather Advantages: Heavier weight (better for some disciplines) Durability Repairable Styling Why is proper selection and fit so important? Prevent sores and injury to the horse (and rider) due to improper fit Prevent accidents due to improper fit Prevent accidents due to equipment failure – you don’t want to exceed the limits of your gear! Caring for Equipment Equipment is an INVESTMENT Equipment that is excessively dirty is more likely to GALL a horse Equipment that is not cared for is more likely to FAIL under stress The process of caring for your gear allows you to INSPECT it regularly  How to spot a failure waiting to happen Leather that cracks when you bend it Ripped stitching/missing or loose rivets Leather that has stretched over time or holes that have stretched Any nicks/small tears Hardware that has rusted Pay special attention to pieces that are critical to holding a saddle in place, contact the horse, or get a lot of wear from movement Rigging (including latigos and cinches), Stirrups/Stirrup Leathers, and Reins are the mostly likely to cause an accident if they fail!  How to spot a failure waiting to happen Pay special attention to pieces that are critical to holding a saddle in place, contact the horse, or get a lot of wear from movement Rigging (including latigos and cinches), Stirrups/Stirrup Leathers, and Reins are the mostly likely to cause an accident if they fail!  Proper order for Saddling 1. Saddle Pad 2. Saddle On and Positioned in the Right Spot 3. Front cinch snug (not TIGHT) 4. Back cinch 5. Breast Collar 6. TIGHTEN front cinch (walk horse a few steps if necessary) 7. Headstall  Securing the Front Cinch Cinch needs to be tight, but not so tight the hulk must have done it. There is such a thing as “too tight”! Ashley’s favorite Saddling Tip! Every time you take your saddle off TIE UP the rigging! No Tripping over dragging cinches/latigos No cinches slapping into your horses sides No extracting the cinch from under your saddle when you throw it on the horse Opportunity to check fit and safety when you let down the cinches on the other side  Bits Key Differentiation: The shanks, shank design, or lack of shanks is the KEY difference between Snaffle, Curb, Gag, and Other type of bits! Basic Types Snaffle Bits Curb Bits Gag Bits Other Bits Hackamore/Bosal  Bits – What makes a bit mild vs harsh? Number 1 factor: The hands of the rider. A skilled and gentle rider can make the harshest bit extremely gentle, and an unskilled or harsh rider can make a horse miserable in the even the most gentle bit. Other factors: Mouthpiece material – copper or sweet iron vs stainless steel vs rubber coated Mouthpiece diameter - thinner = more pressure in one spot Mouthpiece design – jointed vs double jointed, shape of the center link, spades Purchase:Shank Ratio – Larger ratio = increased leverage and speed Sweep of shanks, rollers, links, etc. may be included…… Snaffle Bit vs Curb Bit Snaffle Bits No shanks, use direct pressure. 1 pound of pull = 1 pound of pressure. Often used on green horses as they are uncomplicated and easy for the horse to learn to understand. Some disciplines use snaffles throughout the horse’s career. Many different mouthpiece and ring combinations depending on discipline and desire Driving Eggbutt Full Cheek Loose Ring  Pelham Curb Bits Has Shanks. Uses leverage and a curb strap to communicate with horse. Wide variety of solid and broken mouthpieces, often seen in western sports. Many different mouthpiece and shank combinations depending on discipline and desire Medium Port Billy Allen Spade Argentine “Snaffle” Gag Bits May or may not have shanks. Uses a little bit of leverage, a curb strap, and pressure on the poll to communicate with horse. Wide variety of solid and broken mouthpieces. Many different mouthpiece and shank combinations depending on discipline and desire Hackamores and Bosals Work off of pressure of the noseband and (maybe) a curb strap Key Points!!! 1. Selecting the proper gear for your discipline is important to ensure it can withstand the stress it will be under. 2. Selecting gear that fits the horse is important for the horse’s comfort, safety, and performance 3. Taking proper care of tack makes it last longer and gives you an opportunity to inspect it for safety before an accident happens 4. Bits are classified as SNAFFLE or CURB based on if they use leverage (shanks) or direct pressure (no shanks). The mouthpiece DOES NOT determine the classification of the bit. The same mouthpiece may be available in multiple bit types (snaffle, curb, or gag) 5. Bits may have tendencies to be harsh or mild, but the rider is the one who truly determines how harsh a bit is. Questions?