Are you a tack bigot?

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skewby

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I think I am. I make snap judgments based on what people dress their horses in.

This is in no way meant to offend, I stress these are MY little hangups, I only use tack which is listed in my 1970s manual of horsemanship :) and I'm just interested to know whether anyone else forms an opinion of another rider on sight in this way?!

For instance, I tend to think:

Poorly fitted martingale, i.e. horse would need to be double jointed to ever make it have an effect - rider is barmy, just more tack to clean, and in particular tack which is so easy to dirty and so horrid to clean

Dutch gag - horse only requires a snaffle but it must have got strong once. And as I have yet to ever see one used with two reins, this probably contributes to my distaste. And if horse is snatching/unhappy in its mouth - rider must be a saint or not the full £, there's no way I'd cope with that (particularly hunting)

Pelham with roundings - see dutch gag

Treeless - clueless

Am I on my own here? And please don't fill the thread with replies of "but I use blah blah blah because blah blah blah", I am not making any observation here really other than, I am more than slightly uncomfortable with my prejudices!

ETA, and waterfords make me feel sick :(
 
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skewby said:
This is in no way meant to offend, I stress these are MY little hangups, I only use tack which is listed in my 1970s manual of horsemanship :) and I'm just interested to know whether anyone else forms an opinion of another rider on sight in this way?!
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If your '70's manual is like mine it comprises of cavesson/hunter-style nosebands and variations of snaffle only;)

I dislike flash nosebands with a vengance......also crap quality leather, poorly fitting saddles, or saddles that fit but are wrong for the horse (or don't show the horse off properly). And I dislike black tack.

Disclaimer......I am pre-menstrual. Today I hate most things:p
 
Flash nosebands are my pet hate.

I'm also not a fan of black tack - especially on chestunts (guess who has a chestnut).

I don't judge people on what tack they use but I do worry that people follow the latest tack fad without actually understanding its use/influence - especially with bits.

I know not every horse will go in a snaffle with a cavesson but I don't think as many horses have to be in flash nosebands with martingales either.

I was horrified at a local show jumping show to see so many kids/teenagers with pelhams and martingales on their horse/pony with spurs on themselves kicking and hooking all the way round the course.
 
I agree but I am a bit open minded, I do use a NuShule (I think that is how it is spelt) basic training bit which my horse seems happy with and I do like the drop noseband as opposed to the flash (1 less strip of leather to wash down after I ride)! I do take a bit of offence at the comment of the treeless saddle, I use a Heather Moffett enlightened equitation GP saddle simply because my horse is sooooo much happier in it, his big shoulder can move freely underneath and is not restricted like the tree saddles. :rolleyes:
 
It's over tacking for fashions sake what bugs me. Kids riding in grackle nosebands, gags and those showjumper girth doodahs when they just don't need it but it's in fashion. Aaaaargh! :mad:
 
Lol, I make snap judgements about people based on the prejudices they display on web forums ;) :D

I have posted before about why I ride my horse XC in a Dutch Gag with a single rein on the second ring - I tried him with two reins and a curb strap, he doesn't get on with it. He doesn't get on with any of the many other bits I have tried...but is angelic in the gag, needs only the lightest touch. I would like to see anyone stop him XC in a snaffle!!

I don't care what tack other people use - that is their business and they probably have a good reason for it. Dirty tack on the other hand, has no excuse. Can't imagine it is pleasant for the horse and it shortens the life of your equipment if you don't look after it properly...
 
I hate flash nosebands, saggy martingales.
I also hate going to show and seeing all the horses/ponies tied down with loads of stuff because it is the latest fashion.
Also as eggs said, the kids on ponies tied down with pelhams, gags and martingales then kicking on with spurs.
That reminded me i also hate spurs on young children
Saying that i used to have to ride my old mare xc on the 2nd ring of gag or there were no brakes through over excitement, rest of the time she went in a basic snaffle
 
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Blimey, nearly everyone out hunting uses a dutch gag, me included, it must be hard for you ;-)
Honestly, I found a Dutch gag with a single rein worked wonders on my lad and my waterford gag is the only thing my old girl hunts happily in! But I admit to own my prejudices too, mainly cheap, dry, dirty tack and bling.
 
fadedv - read my post (the blah blah blah bit. Your post is like the teacher in Peanuts to me).

Eeeyore, the Heather Moffett saddle is a different kettle of fish, they are quite nice, you would not know they are not treed. I'm on about the horrible big slaps of things people have to endlessly "shim" and which never, ever stay put. Honestly, I just think "a fool and his money...". Oh, and "poor horse's back" (i.e. that's my prejudice!)
 
Most of my tack phobias relate to bridles -

I have a HUGE issue with bridles that have cheekpieces that have buckles on the outside - flush billet hooks only

The wrong width of leather - shoe-string bridles on hunter types, cobs, certain M & Ms - yuk!

Dangly throatlashes
 
I do think that it has become "cool" to have a horse with as much tack on as possible, regardless of whether or not they need it. I do think it's a bit pointless to have it all on, but so long as it isn't harming the horse at all, i don't have a problem with it really.
What really bugs me is ill-fitting tack, makes me want to scream!
With regards to a dutch gag, I used to ride my old mare in a dutch gag on the normal ring. People used to say to me, why don't you just ride in a snaffle? The reason was that 99 times out of 100 she would be fine, but occasionally she would get the wind up her tail and try to go hell for leather everywhere. When that happened, I would jump off, and put it down to the second ring. That way I could have some semblance of control!
 
Dogstar said:
Blimey, nearly everyone out hunting uses a dutch gag, me included, it must be hard for you ;-)
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Lol not in my pack, it's all TBs cos hilly country (gawd knows what we are doing there but we cope admirably!) and they're all in snaffles! I am so jealous! I got to the opening meet and realised I'd forgotten my curb chain. Ran round every wagon/trailer, was met with 100% "sorry we are snaffle mouthed" (luckily found a curb in depths of lorry at last minute, lol) ;)
 
skewby said:
fadedv - read my post (the blah blah blah bit. Your post is like the teacher in Peanuts to me).
Click to expand...

Gosh, how unnecessary... my post was clearly intended as at least partially being tongue in cheek. If you post a load of apparently irrational hangups on a web forum you must surely expect others to judge you in turn - judge not lest ye be judged :P

Or, to save you the bother of reading that:

blah blah blah blah blah

;)
 
I HATE HATE HATE it when people look at my tack and make snap judgements...

My old horse was ridden in a saddle that cost £15 off eBay. And you could tell. It fitted, it was cheap and it suited our needs. However, it was also disintegrating (stitching on the flaps kept coming out regardless of how many times we got it sorted...) and looked scuffed and old no matter how hard I polished. It looked so terrible. But it suited us, and fitted. And that wass all that mattered.

I do actually hate with a vengeance too-long-stirrups. Winds me up a treat.
 
roundings! i hate them use two reins!

standing martingales done up too tight - they have their uses but only if correctly used.
draw reins for same reason as above, actually most gadgets!

oh and a weird one, people who dont put cheekpieces/nosebands into keepers! Ian Stark gave me a lesson once and said if your keepers are undone your going to fall off :D ok a bit superstitious but its stuck with me!
 
Treeless saddle with green base & girth straps, neoprene girth, plastic white bridle, also have a green one & a yellow one, green martingale, all correctly fitted. Definately not in your manual of horsemanship!

All purpose designed for job (for endurance forget leather, poor second choice as by end of ride hard, cracked & would rub as been wetted so much), functional, helps to get horse sen on road, efficient & fun. Got plenty of stick from 'classical' people at last yard. Bottom line line is they sat around talking about their achievements, I went out & did. Guess who had more fun!

Doesn't matter what tack looks like, as long as safe & correctly fitted.
 
What's wrong with treeless?



Your 70's manual prob has 1rug for everything. Why can't you move on with time? Imagine if you were really Ill and the doctors books were made in the 70's so he couldn't diagnose you with something we now know about.

FYI I ride in a treeless, black tack, flash noseband and snaffle as that's what works. I have been using just a cavesson but he now needs the flash.
 
can I say:
gosh people relax and let others be?
most of the time people have a damn good reason to have this tack or that,
and in any case whether they do or not - it's their horse & their choice & none of your business!
it seems that confessing to be a tack bigot is some sort of accomplishment?
 
i hate some thing, (not going to mention them as will get shot) but people pay loads of money for their horses, care for them, do absolutely everything for them. so if you fancy a breastplate but your horse doesn't really need one, you can put one on if you horse doesn't need boots you can put them on because you have done so much for your horse!!! ok some things can go a bit far likea gag if they don't need one, but something are just aloud (if that makes much sense lol)
 
I absolutely detest those bloody nylon webbing/plastic bridles you can just throw in the washing machine and come in every colour of rainbow. They look just absolutely dreadful. As many have mentioned - if it's meant to be ridden in with two reins, please kindly do so or rather than muddle around with roundings, just take a lesson in how to hold more than one rein and a whip and a hipflask :D

Sort it out - it's not a My Little Pony you're on! :D

Additionally, if you feel the need to strap it down and kick on with spurs, please go to a BDSM dungeon :eek:
 
I absolutely hate coloured horses!!! They don't match anything in the shops and should be banned.

:p:D:D
 
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