Oldest piece of tack still in use?

[unbalanced]

I had a leather headcollar for ten years and it was in great condition. Sadly my pony was tied up wearing it and somehow, goodness knows how, she slipped and fell. The string didn't break, but thank god the headcollar did. I would much rather have twenty-something year old pony legs in working order than an old headcollar, nice though it was! I am almost superstitious about never tying up in anything but leather headcollars these days as a result.

 

[PucciNPoni]

I know, it does not count as tack per se, but I have a lovelly set of equine veterinary books dating from the late 1800s that I still have a flip thru (gently tho!) now and again.

Other than that, I have not that long ago parted with a saddle that I bought second hand ab out 25 years ago. I still have jod boots that I bought (again, second hand) from the same era. Other pieces like bits I no longer use (nickel). But I gave away a pair of rather slim but still servicable (for someone slim!) full chaps that I did buy new back in 1988.

 

[Shadow-01]

I'm glad I've seen this thread!

Saddler came to check and re-flock my GP saddle a while ago (he originally made it, and it came with my horse) and his words were "wow, this is an old one!"...

...it's only about 12 years old!!

 

[MrVelvet]

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

thanks!!! *of to google...*

 

[Brigadoon]

A Jeffries pony bridle, still like new and over 25 years old.
I also have a couple of polypads that will be over 20 yrs old and not even washed out.
I have a witney stripe wool rug that is also like new despite being used for over 20 years.

 

[Jemima_P]

I went through the tack room a few months ago and found an old saddle that belonged to a horse we looked after a few years ago. He died at 36, and from what I've been told the saddle was 2nd hand when his owner got it. It was his first saddle... so somewhere over 40years!

It's now being used for my youngster to get the feel of a saddle... lovely as it fits like a glove and she looks just like him!

 

[Tnavas]

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!

This is what I noticed with the saddle I have - it's feel and quality is far superior to modern tack - even the best stuff these days doesn't seem to be the same.

 

[*hic*]

I own a saddle that was used by a contemporary of Pat Smythe and who beat PS using that saddle.

Also have a couple of circa 1930 bridles

Until a few years ago my daughter was wearing the hacking jacket my aunt had made for her when she was 17. My aunt is now 70 so jacket is 53 and going strong.

 

[Dubsie]

Until a few years ago my daughter was wearing the hacking jacket my aunt had made for her when she was 17. My aunt is now 70 so jacket is 53 and going strong.

Your aunt wouldn't happen to still have a pattern I could borrow to copy? I have been looking for an old pattern in charity shops etc, but not yet found one, as I have a lovely bit of tweed that's been in the loft for years and I thought I should make a new jacket for my daughter as her current is a bit short now

 

[little_critter]

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!

I dragged out my old Lavenham jodhs this morning - they must be at least 17 years old and are pretty saggy now. I only use them when nothing else is clean.

 

[Toffee44]

I have a body brush dated 1944 (german)

I have a working horse collar that is around late 1940's (we use it to harrow in, been restuffed and lined once with me in 5 years) Leather still original.

Oh and my OH has loads of vintage horse machinary from 1879-1940 (do they count) hehe.

I have a leather headcollar, lunge cavesson, set of reins, drop noseband my friend gave to me during a clear out which was used in 1970s

I also have a set of reins which are stitched in the centre no idea how old they are.

 

[Gwena]

My daughter is using my mums stirrup irons - they must be 40 years old!

 

[mrogers]

Mr V it is Vitiligo. My mare suffers mildly from it but loads of seaweed has helped regain the pigment hugely and in the summer she doesn't have any white at all.....strange how it re-appears in winter though...

 

[Rose Folly]

I have tack inherited from my father. He was born in 1889 and founded his first pack of hounds when he was 19 He also bred super-heavyweight hunters. So I still have a pre-WWI dealer's bridle, my hunting breastplate is c. 1909, one or two jute rugs in the family livery of mustard and chocolate, and endless 80+ year old hedcollars, spur straps etc.

The thing I value most, and still use when riding on misty days, are his reflectors, from when he was in mounted infantry in Salonika in 1916-18. They are beautifully made. very heavy circles of solid but faceted glass, set in stainless steel. The clear one clips on the front of your horse's noseband or browband; the red one, glass cut in the same way, clips on the outer side of your stirrup! They are so bright.

Oh, and my boot-jack/wellie-puller-off is Victorian. Used every single day and as strong as ever. They knew how to make things then....

 

[PucciNPoni]

I have tack inherited from my father. He was born in 1889 and founded his first pack of hounds when he was 19 He also bred super-heavyweight hunters. So I still have a pre-WWI dealer's bridle, my hunting breastplate is c. 1909, one or two jute rugs in the family livery of mustard and chocolate, and endless 80+ year old hedcollars, spur straps etc.

The thing I value most, and still use when riding on misty days, are his reflectors, from when he was in mounted infantry in Salonika in 1916-18. They are beautifully made. very heavy circles of solid but faceted glass, set in stainless steel. The clear one clips on the front of your horse's noseband or browband; the red one, glass cut in the same way, clips on the outer side of your stirrup! They are so bright.

Oh, and my boot-jack/wellie-puller-off is Victorian. Used every single day and as strong as ever. They knew how to make things then....

I'm intrigued by the reflectors - have you got photos? In fact, most of the old stuff people are describing really warrant some photos!!

 

[Toffee44]

Oh, and my boot-jack/wellie-puller-off is Victorian. Used every single day and as strong as ever. They knew how to make things then....

The upside of OH working in a victorian era museum/ farm they chuck a lot out so we get their "scrap metal". All our harness racks/ saddle racks in the house are victorian, boot scrape at front door is as well.

Just remembered my pitchfork is 1950's but my OH wont let me use the 1900's muck fork at the stables, although its in perfect working order. All the fire pokers/ shovels/ axe thing are victorian dated as well. Infact my house is decorated with shepherds drinking pots, stove stuff, sheep sheers, traction engine platings, and horse brasses and tack.

 

[Penny Less]

Well done everyone, just goes to show how frugal (mean!) we all are ! Bet all the new stuff wont last as long

 

[Oliver12]

I still use a leather headcollar which is over 100 years old.

 

[Ladylina83]

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.

Sudden urge to write a childrens story about this (magic) hunting cap ! Will you sue me ???

 

[Stinkbomb]

My pitch fork is 26 yrs old

 

[PucciNPoni]

Sudden urge to write a childrens story about this (magic) hunting cap ! Will you sue me ???

I know the question wasn't pointed at me, but wow, what a great story it would be!

 

[UKa]

my stirrup leathers were from the first pony my dad bought for me and sister and they are over 30 years old if not over 40 as bought second hand at the time... also used my old stirrup leathers for a long time until last summer my saddler said to me I better replace due to health and safety risk as they had got so thin

 

[Nollaig Shona]

Sudden urge to write a childrens story about this (magic) hunting cap ! Will you sue me ???

I'd read that!

 

[POLLDARK]

My oldest piece of kit is my body & it's not wearing too well but is still in daily use, just.