friend wants to use grackle ''because it will look nice''

[Pale Rider]

Doesn't suprise someone doing something like this. Some people are a bit unsympathetic towards horses. More 'rider' than 'horse' really.

 

[Lolo]

Have to say this really bugs me. Why use certain tack when you don't need it? Totally stupid IMO. This is why our sport isn't taken seriously enough, because we put stuff on our horses "just coz it looks nice", good grief.

Our sport isn't taken seriously because we wear wedding gear to do it in, and to get to the point it's considered 'good' you need to be spending serious money... To get to even the lower echelons of 'good' in eventing say, you need to be willing to spend £500+ on one event...

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I dont believe anyone on this thread has been nasty, its the other person's horse. Not yours. Whatever they want to put on it has no impact on you or yours so why should it matter.

Also I would have a little more independant thought that thinking that just because a horse has a certain bit or cavesson on it when someone else is riding doesnt mean it may necessarily need it

I would rather ride a horse for myself and judge what it needed or if the bitting etc was correct if buying than walk away from a horse because of a picture

 

[Pale Rider]

Nice to see this thread living up to the Horse and Hound reputation, lol.

 

[MagicMelon]

I dont believe anyone on this thread has been nasty, its the other person's horse. Not yours. Whatever they want to put on it has no impact on you or yours so why should it matter.

I disagree with that. In that case when IS it anyone elses business what people do with their horses? It it ok for example, to watch someone beat their horse but we should mind our own business as its not ours?! We don't know in this case, if OP's friend even know how to use a grakle - she could fit it horrifically and do it up way too tight etc.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I disagree with that. In that case when IS it anyone elses business what people do with their horses? It it ok for example, to watch someone beat their horse but we should mind our own business as its not ours?! We don't know in this case, if OP's friend even know how to use a grakle - she could fit it horrifically and do it up way too tight etc.

So we should wade into everyone elses business though, I dont believe a wrongly done up grackle to be life threatening in all honesty. I think this is what is wrong with the horse world, too many people sticking their faces into others, hence why i dont do livery yards, I dont like mixing in others business as it always blows up in your face.

Starvation cases, yep fair enough, horse on three legs, fair enough but really other peoples tack?? I despair sometimes I do and Im so glad i keep mine by themselves and dont have to put up with judgy people discussing my tack on an internet forum

 

[Tnavas]

I think if you are going to go cross country then a breastplate should be compulsory. When done up correctly it should not interfere with the horse's movement, and if the saddle slips back then it becomes vital. In any event it is not uncommon for the saddle to slip back when going cross country, so why would you put yourself and your horse at risk by not using one? Like somebody else said, it means you don't have to girth so tightly, which must be a good thing. People who complain about legitimate and harmless gadgets such as a breastplate simply for the reason that "we never used to use them" are narrow minded. It is a totally different question as to whether a horse who only does pleasure rides or dressage needs a breastplate, because there is far less need for one in that situation.

If you are using a correctly fitting running martingale - the really ordinary type (not attached on a breastplate) will do an excellent job as it doesn't allow the girth to slip back. Go and find pics of event and showjump riders from the past (50's - 70's) you will find few with either breastplate or numnah.

 

[Pale Rider]

So we should wade into everyone elses business though, I dont believe a wrongly done up grackle to be life threatening in all honesty. I think this is what is wrong with the horse world, too many people sticking their faces into others, hence why i dont do livery yards, I dont like mixing in others business as it always blows up in your face.

Starvation cases, yep fair enough, horse on three legs, fair enough but really other peoples tack?? I despair sometimes I do and Im so glad i keep mine by themselves and dont have to put up with judgy people discussing my tack on an internet forum

I don't think its a bad thing discussing peoples tack, it might stop some people thinking its ok to tie its mouth to its a**s*, as it looks a pretty shape.

 

[Tnavas]

FAshion trends are a major headache for the horse! It is programmed into the majority of the people that they must do what everyonee else does.

Numnahs - late 60's - once only sheepskin and used by hunters as they were expected to stand around on cold days with often wet gear - not very thick if made from recently shorn sheep.

If your saddle fits - you do not need one ever! The kindest thing against the horses skin is clean well conditioned leather.

Flash Nosebands - mid 70's - what is it's purpose - to replace the cavesson used for a standing martingale and a drop used to keep the horses mouth from opening too wide

German hollow mouth - the must have for any aspiring dressage horse - till then they had all gone well in a Fulmer or an eggbutt

Dutch Gags '80's - the most horrendous fashion trend ever! Glad that one has faded

Now in NZ they are catching up with the Flash and myriad of coloured numnahs.

Now we have numnahs, half pads and back protectors for the horse and the rider is sitting a foot above the horse - his saddle is teetering arouond at the top of a pile of laundry wher it's stability os severly threatened. So we have an elasticated girth so we can do it up tighter, but that doesn't work too well so we add a breastplate - then we change that for a five point breastplate decorated wit a full dead sheep.

Sometimes it really is important to step back and ask ourselves "Do I really need all this equipment? Is it actually doing an important job or am I just being fashion concious?"

HAnging Cheek Snaffles, Half pads, gell pads, non slip numnahs, crank nosebands ...........