Horse Tack

Tack is an essential part of horse sport. It plays an important part in the performance of the horse, allowing the rider get the best out of their horse. There are many different components of a horse's tack but I will be focusing on the main part - the saddle , and where it come from.

The saddle

The first saddles (around 4,000 years ago) were merely a piece of animal hide on the horse's back. There purpose was to make riding more comfortable for both the horse and rider. They evolved to become more decorated cloths with straps similar to modern girths upon which soldiers went into battle. The first real saddles originate from Asia, when people became more concerned about the welfare of their horse and developed something to improve their comfort. The tree of the saddle kept the riders' weight off the sensitive withers of the horse, and helped the rider remain balanced and 'quiet' while mounted. Saddles have come a long way since then, but still have the same purpose. There are all kinds of saddles in the Equestrian world today, with individual styles developed for each sport. In regards to eventing, riders will have a different saddle for all three stages. The jumping saddle keeps the riders' leg in a more bent position, allowing them to move into the jumping position more easily. The dressage saddle, on the other hand, allows the rider to keep straighter legs to sit deeper in the saddle. Most saddles are made by original craftsmen. For example, Berney Bros. is one of the most popular brands in Ireland. Their leather is of premium quality and they are said to be the longest lasting saddles in Ireland.

Dressage Saddle
Author: BLW

 

Jumping Saddle

Author: Danielle M 



Source: www.equisearch.com