Because I have horses in a suburban area, my horses wear leather halters 24/7. With this kind of with constant use, I end up with broken halter crowns regularly. I’ve learned to repair many issues with leather halters, including problems that most people think would send the halter straight to the trash! (By the way, …
Tack
At the end of a long winter, horse blankets can be so dirty that they look unsalvagable. In this Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Horse Blankets, I’ll show you how to wash horse blankets thoroughly- so you can totally clean and restore even the most soiled and weathered horse blankets- with less work and better results! …
Saddle sores are a specific type of sores that horseback riders sometimes get on their inner legs, groin, and buttocks. These wounds are created when sensitive skin is subjected to heat, friction, and moister (like sweat). They are most common for new riders, riders spending long hours in the saddle, and riders with improperly fit …
There are many ways to cue your horse when riding. One of the most popular ways, unique to the Western style of riding developed in the United States, is called neck reining. Neck reining is in some ways the “opposite” of what is called direct rein riding. What is Neck Reining? In direct-rein riding, the …
Nothing makes a horse and rider look smarter than a tidy, well-groomed turnout and a bright white fleece saddle pad under your saddle. Fleece saddle pads are popular, affordable, and in some competitive disciplines, are considered the “correct” tack for showing. The Problem: Clumped and Matted Fleece The problem with fleece saddle pads- both genuine …
What you should do in the hours, days, and weeks after your trailer is stolen in order to increase the chances of recovery of the trailer and its contents and prosecution of the criminals involved. When you realize something has been stolen, it’s natural to panic. Brains flood with cortisol and it can be hard …
A war bridle is a minimalist horse bridle made from a single continuous piece of rope. There are several variants of a war bridle, but the most common is a loop of rope that encircles the horse’s lower jaw. The loop of rope passes through the horse’s mouth and rests in the mouth like a …
Full cheek snaffle bits are popular in both English and Western riding. They are allowed and legal for most horse sports including the AQHA and USDF dressage competition (the latter being one of the most bit-restrictive horse show organizations). In 2009 I had the opportunity to visit a stable in Germany where the Olympian Isabelle …
The billets of an English saddle are straps located underneath the saddle’s flap, on each side. The billets are the anchor to which the girth is connected. The billet straps are securely attached to the tree (a saddle’s tree is what could be called the “skeleton” of the saddle) so once a girth is buckled …
A Pelham bit is a horse bit with a solid mouthpiece, long shanks, and two rings for reins to attach. A Pelham bit is unique because it functions as a snaffle bit or a curb bit, depending on how it is used. A Pelham bit is essentially a plain snaffle bit, but with a second rein …