just curious...

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Dreamer515

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ok so ive seen another post about this before but was just wondering what people thought about extra tack on horses that dont need it?

ive always been the type of person to think "if he doesnt need it im not putting it on" but i know people have different prefrences. for example, i hate martingales, i dont know why and i know they do work but i cant stand them. my horses dont have particualy high head carriages (one keeps hitting his nose on his knee when cantering which we are correcting) so they dont wear them, however some of the other liveries will ask me why i dont put it on. when i say because they dont need them they look at me as if ive grown antlers!

also i dont use nosebands, well i will put a grackle on my older horse when we go cross country but thats to help his breathing. when i was in pony club (years ago) i remember going to camp and on the first morning inspection one of the instructors had a go at me because i didnt have a noseband on, i explained that as he didnt need one and it would only be there for decoration i didnt want one on him. she went and got one for him anyway and tried putting it on him so i gave her a piece of my mind and rode off (she gave me a hard time that week for sticking up for myself!)

i know people that use grackles, breast plates, martingales, boots etc even though their horses dont need it but its their preference. im not having a go at anyone but just wondered if im the only one that thinks less is better? its their horse at the end of the day and their money so they can do what they want.

All i want is for people to stop looking at me as if im neglecting my boys because they dont have the latest piece of tack! they are happy and responsive in normal snaffle bridles with no gadgets and thats the way i tend to keep it.
 
Im self taught and freely admit not the best of riders. I ride in a snaffle with no martingale. My theory is if i cant ride it in a snaffle its too much for me!
 
I have a saddle and bridle and that's it. Takes me 2 mins to tack up and then I sit round waiting for the boot wearers etc! I think people think they have to have boots and stuff. If my mare needed boots I would by her some but she doesn't. We mainly do hacking and dressage but when jumping she could maybe do with a martingale.....only maybe thou!!
 
i have a snaffle, no nose band or other extras on my mare - occassionaly use a market harborough, she wears over reach boots as she does over reach but nothing else-sometimes we hack out it just a halter
 
The share horse I had was fully kitted out even though we seldom did anything but walk. The martingale was useless and unnecessary. He had a full set of boots. I replaced the front ones as he was in leather open fronted ones that were, in my opinion, a danger to his tendons. Brushing boots and a grackle to hold in the ill fitting bit which he hated completed the picture. Tacking up took ages yet owner never bothered picking hooves our before or after riding. Oh, and saddle he had on when I first tried him also didn't fit. A great example of someone totally taken up with appearance but totally oblivious to the horses comfort when ridden.
 
For my loan horse I have a simple bridle with a Myler (sp?) bit, a GP saddle and brushing and overreach boots. She does actually need the boots because she has a quite odd way of cantering and so needs some protection. If I didn't need boots I would rather not use them; I can put them on quickly now but it's an extra thing to do! In terms of martigales, etc: some people seem to just like how they look. As long as they fit and don't hurt the horse I don't see the problem - it's their money they're wasting after all!
 
mine have nose-bands and i admit they are just decorative! no flash or anything restrictive. i have just always had nose-bands and find bridles look weird without them!!
i agree people tend to chuck loads of tack on with no real reason, although if needed martingales are useful. same goes with bits and flash straps sometimes. at least martingales wont do anything unless they are needed
 
In the winter I use a bit, something to hold it on and reins, that's it. It stays on fine no throat latch, noseband, saddle, etc (I do pop a neck strap on too). Takes about 15s to tack up and no cleaning of tack after! Got fed up getting everything soaked and gradually reduced tack to absolute minimum for winter hacking. I compete in the summer months though and he will wear whatever is correct and safe for the event.
I think the thing is to be adaptable and not just put kit on because that's what you think you should do or always have done. It should be a conscious decision to wear or not wear items for each ride. If people need to suit and boot their horses I have no problem with that as long as its for a reason.
 
Back in 1960 something (I don't even want to think it was that long ago) my first riding instructor who was the sort of scary lady you listen to carefully when you're a kid said "Never use a piece of tack you don't need".

This has stuck with me as a guiding principle. And is probably the main reason that I now ride in a Micklem on sidepull setting.
 
When I bought my lad he was ridden in flash and martingale. He had done alot of jumping. I started schooling him for dressage and found he wouldn't really go forward. Took flash and martingale off and he was a different horse. Only time I use a martingale now is when we go for a good canter, I use it as a handle to hold whilst he throws in a few bucks but it is on so loose it has no effect on him.
 
Barry has a grackle, which I would happily have whacked off but the dentist said he has a very flexible jaw and was happy that he was already in one. And his grackle is loosely done up in the school, or taken off, unless we're jumping (which we've only done once since I got him). A cavesson for schooling is on my list of things to buy.

When I got my first pony, she was in a flash with a martingale. By the time she entered rretirement, she was in a bit. The martingale and flash were ditched pretty early on, and then the cavesson went too.
 
When I first started riding Ned he was in:
Martingale
breast plate
Drop noseband
3 ring gag


Now he is in
bridle with no noseband (unless I use my purple Zilco one)
Breast plate for my benifit and to stick extra hi-viz on!
Hanging cheek snaffle

I think he's improved since I've taken it all off!
 
well, I'm the opposite - I don't need a breastplate but I use one because it makes a very useful 'oh s...' strap. the martingale only comes into play when it's needed.
we use boots for pretty much everything and only one of my horses can be jumped in a snaffle.

horses are happy, I'm happy and my instructor is happy with my choice of tack and bit.
I'd rather bit up appropriately than insist on going round in a snaffle and end up not being in control.

*prepares to be jumped on* :o
 
I used a running martingale on my boy because if he lost the plot he would stick his head in the air and I had loss of control. Rarely happened and only came into play if really needed. Other than that saddle and bridle with snaffle bit.
 
Micklem with snaffle and neck strap (stirup leather) as hang on incase when we start jumping.

My old mare snaffle bridle and neck strap then to go XC kinton (sp?)
 
I believe they should only be ridden in whats needed. The biggest extravagance I use is I always put brushing boots on for hacking...Im not sure why but it makes me feel better :o
I like french links, simple bridle and saddle. If a horse GENUINELY needs "gadgets" them fine but otherwise leave well alone x
 
smellsofhorse said:
I think less is better.
The horse should only wear what is needed.

Now a question from me.
In what way does the grackle help your horses bresthing when going xc?
Click to expand...

apparently (not sure if this is true but it seems to help him) with a grackle on it keeps the mouth closed and therefore they are less likely to swallow their tongue and it encourages them to breath properly through their nose. this is what i have grown up to believe through the racing industry but as ive said it might be a coincidence. either way it stops him making a noise (chocking/gurgling/whistling)
 
thanks for replying. its interesting to see others views. obviously if the gadgets are needed then i would put them on but luckily my boys have settled well to less is best.
 
I would always aim to put as little as possible on a horse. But having said that, if you have strong horse who needs a little more in his mouth than a snaffle, in my opinion it's better to use a stronger bit and have lighter hands than be yanking it in the mouth because it's to strong with a snaffle.

My youngster whom I've done everything with myself is in;
Micklem bridle
French link loose ring snaffle
Saddle

She is turned away having a a little holiday at the moment, when she comes back in to work I will put a martingale on her for me to hold on to if she decided to throw a wobbler when I get back on board.
 
linperrie said:
I have a saddle and bridle and that's it. Takes me 2 mins to tack up and then I sit round waiting for the boot wearers etc!
Click to expand...

This is exactly the same for me! I always tack up in record time compared to everyone else who has breastplates/boots etc.


I removed the martingale from my tack and then went one step further and removed the bit too, a much happier horse! :D
 
I have a noseband done up loosely on my bridle because I think he'd look weird without one, I know lots of people who do them up as tight as they can get them :/ how is that encouraging your horse to relax his jaw?!
 
I keep the nosebands on most of my bridles as they are just common i took one off my cob though and it improved her going forward. I do use a breastplate a lot of the time but mainly for something to grab if needed when across country or jumping and stuff. My mum uses a martingale for the same purpose on the cob as it was cheaper than a breastplate which is why i think many people have them.

I think it depends on what you are doing too, i know if i was riding a strange horse over fences i would want a martingale for peace of mind, it can always be removed if you find they go fine without.
 
Now a question from me.
In what way does the grackle help your horses breathing when going xc?[/QUOTE]

I dont understand how a grackle helps with breathing either?? Could op explain please.
 
Just found your reply op. :) Still not 100% sure thats right. Our family where in Newmarket on one of the main studs too. Maybe its just one of the old grooms winding you up as a kid. :D
 
I got the dentist out soon after I got Barry, and was going to ask him if he thought he needed a grackle, which is what he came with. Dentist beat me to it and asked what he's ridden in. He said he was glad he was in a grackle as he has a really flexible jaw. My instructor has suggested taking it off in the school for flatwork, so I'm going to invest in a cavesson too. For now, I've just been doing it up loosely in the school so it's not really doing anything.

When I got my first pony, she came in a flash and running martingale. The martingale went early on, and then the flash, which was eventually followed by the noseband in entirety.

nix123 said:
Now a question from
me.
In what way does the grackle help your horses breathing when going xc?
Click to expand...


Ditto!
 
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