how well do you check your tack

[RubysGold]

Yesterday, I went riding with another person. Its taken her over a year to actually get the confidence to get on this horse so we just went round the block.
Anyway, we got to the end of the bridleway and were just doing a little roadwork (that takes you back to the bridlepath home) when she started swearing. I turn round to find her rein not attached to her bit! Shes pulling on other rein and horse is confused, shes trying to get off. With a car overtaking
I managed to get her to stop it, and got hold of the horse for her. But I ended up leading her horse by his bit until we got off road where I managed to reattach the rein!
Worst place it could have happened, but it got me thinking, do people check their tack properly.
I always check my girth, but I dont tend to check my reins unless Ive taken them off for something

 

[[69117]]

I clean all my own and my liveries tack every time it's used, so it's checked daily. I always double check bridles before I get on as had a hideous day out hunting when someone needed to switch reins with me as hers were ridiculously long on her small pony when his neck squished up with the excitement of being out. I put mine on her bridle, she put hers on mine...

she didn't do a very good job. One whopping great hedge later and I was galloping along with reins in my hands that were no longer attached to the bit.

 

[sandi_84]

When my boy was on working livery I used to check everything before getting on because the kids would usually have been at it all for tack cleaning lessons which usually meant the bit was on backwards, the noseband was in a tangle and the reins may or may not be attached. I also learnt to check that the stirrup leathers were securely replaced after going on a hack with someone who's entire stirrup and leather came flying off mid gallop because the kids had cleaned them and then not put one back on the stirrup bar correctly. Luckily she stayed on and after about ten minutes of searching we found the stirrup and leather still done up in a bush down the hill
Now it's just me and mum in our own field I do my own tack cleaning so I know that it's all attached properly and would probably just check the girth hasn't come undone somewhere along the lines .... maybe I should really do a full check just in case as it would be just my luck for something important to have come miraculously undone overnight

 

[Enfys]

It is automatic, I am pretty sure I do it everytime, but usually I can't recall doing it, a bit like bolting stable doors.

I do it as I put tack on, especially as my bridles are held together with leather ties not buckles or billets.

In a past life I was an Instructor, it is second nature to check all tack before starting a lesson, and I still automatically find myself tucking in keepers and straightening nosebands, bits etc, recently I unthinkingly hoiked someones leg forward to tighten a very loose girth. All embarrassing