Oldest piece of tack still in use?

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My stirrup irons are 28 years old! I bought them when I got my first horse and have never used another set. Anyone got something older in regular use ?
 

alwaysbroke

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32yr old Falcon Hawk event saddle bought for me by my grandparents is now in use on my 8 yr old sons pony, stirrup leathers were hand made to use with it and are still going strong have never needed re stitching and buckles are still bright and shiney
 

Aoibhin

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ive got a 1911, cavalary jute rug (you can still just make out the regiment badge on it) its too big for my current lad but sometimes get popped over him when we get back from long hacks out a it doesnt catch or rub on his harness.
 

monkeybum13

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My lunge cavesson, stirrup leathers, brushing boots, sweat rug, double bridle are my mums and over 30 years old. I'm sure there's plenty more too.
I'm sure quality was much better then.

My hacking jacket is one my mum wore when she was my age and it still gets commented on now, lots of people like it!
 

JenHunt

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I was just thinking about this today!

Tom's saddle is about 40yo and still looking great. Ron's snaffle bridle is 15yo and is still beautiful and supple. We also have a number of bits lurking about that are probably thick end of 35yo (but not still in use)
 

appylass

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I still use my first pony's leather headcollar on a daily basis.It was the first thing I bought with my own money for my pony, I was about 10. It's a bit tatty now but it is about 40 years old and has had a fair amount of abuse over the years!
 

BeanyG

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I have a felt pony pad/saddle that was my grandads for his pony and he will be 80 in feburary
I will be using it in spring for my girls as it has always been well looked after
N&F
 

Shavings

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i have my first ever riding hat so its 16 years old (started riding at 4)
its not used any more as its not up to the safety standards but it makes you relies how big my head is now ha ha
i am told that side saddle are handed down from one to another so i am guessing they would be very old, i like side saddle and want to try it, how ever don't have a grand parent who can pass me one down, lots of penny saving for me!!
 

MrVelvet

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I was just thinking about this today!

Tom's saddle is about 40yo and still looking great. Ron's snaffle bridle is 15yo and is still beautiful and supple. We also have a number of bits lurking about that are probably thick end of 35yo (but not still in use)

post hijack I'm afraid. Your horse in your sig strip is very handsome!! Could I ask about his unusual eye marking? Is that just how he is? or has something happened to cause it? I knew a horse once that had a similar marking and the owner says it was caused by a condition but she didn't know what. I have always wondered what!!!
 

superted1989

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I bought, secondhand, a wonderful turnout rug in 1986, just as people were starting to move away from old style New Zealands. It stayed with my old mare, in full use, until she was PTS at the age of 34 11 years ago. It stayed in a trunk until I got Ted. He did 4 winters in it, still going strong, no rips or tears and never rubbed. When Ted passed last year, I buried it with him. I'm sure it would have gone on another 25 years though.
Ted's saddle was brand new in 1968. His previous owner bought it from the lady who had it from new, hence knowing it's history. It's a half panel and was top of the range in it's day. It fits loads and loads of horses and is currently enjoying a new career doing breaking and schooling with one of my friends. I have no wish to sell it, would be lucky to get a fiver on Ebay, although I've had several offers!
 

Madam Min

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Not really old but I've got a pair of Loveson jods which I won in a trolley dash round Robbies when I was 11, they're 19 years old and I still wear 'em! :)
 

legaldancer

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My stirrups leathers are from when I was a child and are 38 yrs old and would go on another 30 if they get looked after!

My son's saddle was the first thing I bought myself with my first proper wages in 1984, so that's 27, nearly 28. The martingale his pony wears was mine too and is about 36 years old, but you would never know.
 

muffinmunsh

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A 40 year old saddle that my mother had made for her Arab x Haflinger and an even older lunge line my dad made for me (that really is in daily use with two winter-legged warmbloods! Lol)
 

MerrySherryRider

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A pit pony's bridle complete with orginal bit over 150 years old still in excellent condition brought out to get my cob used to wearing blinkers. Not using the old bit though, its incredibly heavy.
 

Jesstickle

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post hijack I'm afraid. Your horse in your sig strip is very handsome!! Could I ask about his unusual eye marking? Is that just how he is? or has something happened to cause it? I knew a horse once that had a similar marking and the owner says it was caused by a condition but she didn't know what. I have always wondered what!!!

Just incase no one answers you, I believe Ron has vitiligo :)
 

sidesaddlegirl

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Side saddle riders often have the oldest tack going, lol!

My off-side Beck Morrow side saddle is from 1898 and was made for a Parisian socialite, Countess Pillet-Wills, my Whippy side saddle is from the 1930's, my Owen girth that I use on my side saddles is from the 1930's, my show whip is from the late 1890's, my top hat is Edwardian and my riding habit is from 1934!
 

Honey08

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I have a bucket that is still in use that is 30 years old. It outlives all the other buckets every winter as they all crack in frost and ice, while it still goes on. I also have a 30yr old feed manger too, but use it upturned for standing on to plait/pull manes. It still has my name written on it in nail varnish from my first pony club camp 25yrs ago - despite living outside on the yard. I doubt many modern day nail varnishes would last that long, more likely flake off after a year or so!
 

bumblelion

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Iv got a pair of my mums old long leather boots (I know not tack but had to post!). They're about 35 years old and still going strong!
 

lauraandjack

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I have a well used pair of plaited reins that must be 1970's vintage and still going strong. Don't make 'em like they used to!

Has anyone else noticed that modern leather (even quality stuff) is vastly different to older leather? I appreciate that older stuff has been oiled many times etc etc, but modern tack just doesn't seem to take up oil in the same way.

Guess they've probably been banned from using half the tanning ingredients or something!
 

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

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I've got my old riding hat (velvet hunting cap) which I had in about 1976; it was from Windsors of Exeter (now sadly defunct) and was (and is) a lovely little hat, tho' can't wear it now coz of the dreaded Elf n Safety.

It was covered in velveteen, and tho' the ribbon at the back is well faded it would still brush up as good as new; and fits me as well now as it did back then (not saying how old!). It took me all the way through my first pony, pony club, hunting, and into adult riding, and even now when I slip it on, as I do sometimes, it still evokes the most wonderful memories of good times past when I had my lovely little dapple grey pony and the world was a much more carefree place.

It was a lovely little hat; you could wear it all day and not know you were wearing it, and I miss its use very much.

Also I've still got in the tack room the safety stirrups I still had from those days; plus an eggbutt snaffle - again this was from my little 14.2, but later on we used it on my 15hh old boy. Both items were made of stainless steel - "Eldonian" is the mark you can still just see on the bit, believe it or not. These items are both spotless, no rust at all - yet my yardsharer bought some stirrup irons made (supposedly) of stainless steel back in the spring, and guess what, they've got rust spots already on them.

The other "old" item I've got (in for repair at the mo; hope to god they look after them and return in one piece or else blood will be spilt big-time) is a pair of plaited nylon reins which I had when they were the fad of the day; probably somewhere mid 1970's. Although the stitching is a bit needing replacing, they're still very serviceable, and I love them to bits.

Used to have the adjustable leather hand-made headcollar which would be around 1970'ish - a real treasure, but unfortunately puppy/terrier got hold of it and alas it is no more.
 
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