Own up - who uses tack or equipment they don't actually need?

Compared to some of you I probably do but it is tailored to the horse.
For jumping & hacking all my horses where a running martingale with an elasticated breastplate attachment. I heard a quote once that a running martingale is like an airbag. Normally you shouldn't know you've got it on but if you need it you'll be glad it's there ;) I use the elasticated breastplate because I hate the look of normal martingales :D
Current lad is ridden in an elasticated grackle...but as he likes to cross his jaw perfectly justified IMO. This is teamed with a full cheek neue Schule which he is happy in.
He wears a prolite pad on his headpiece - he could probably do without but I think it keeps him more comfortable (he's a delicate sort)
He has currently 3 saddles - but currently only use 2. All fitted to use with varying combinations of prolite pads, quilted pads or copious dead sheep. I could have had them fitted just with a thin cotton numnah....but then how would I convince myself I was doing my very best to make my precious horse comfortable :D He also has a sheepskin & prolite cover for his dressage girths.
My horses have numerous boots for every occasion. Every day schooling boots, knee boots, air cooled cross country boots, about 4 different types of over reach boot & [HHO gasps in horror] some exercise bandages that match a saddle pad :-O
In my case there is no problem with 'schooling' or not knowing any better.....this current horse was going to be put down as he was 'dangerous' last November but he is now a happy, confident horse who will be affiliated eventing next spring :)
I might use equipment I don't 'really' need but I'm happy (& I should imagine my horses are comfortable) with what I choose to use.
 
I dont see anyone on this thread giving anyone else a hard time because they use whatever tack or not, do you? :confused: The title is ' Own up - who uses tack or equipment they don't actually need?' so if you need it theres no problems is there?

[HHO gasps in complete indifference]
 
No, sometimes not even a saddle.

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Stupid question, perhaps...but do running martingales seriously stop a horse from rearing? I have heard a few folk say this is the reason they use them, but it seems to me that a horse who's really determined to go up on his back legs could do so anyway, running martingale or no. Indeed, I was on a hack with someone who's horse had one on, and the trail took us past an area where the military was practicing with paintball. Yeah. Well, needless to say, our presence didn't stop them from their training exercise. Luckily my horse only jigged and danced a bit, but I was able to get her past with all four feet more or less on the ground. However, the other one, running martingale and all, stood straight up.
 
I ride very simply usually in a bitless and a saddle. When bitted it's a hanging cheek French link happy mouth and a cavasoon noseband. No boots or martingales etc.

But my tack room is full of stuff! Driving harnesses, chambons, countless bits, nose bands, rugs that don't fit my horses, saddles that don't fit my horses - I just keep it all just in case I ever need it again!
 
Capriole no, you are absolutely right this thread wasn't actually slating anyone, I guess my post was a little tongue in cheek.
The thread was titled 'own up who uses tack they don't really need' which was followed with a whole load of posts saying 'no not me! I ride my horse just using a tweak of the mane & the power of my mind'
I just thought I'd be honest. Do I actually NEED bandages that match my saddle pad....well no, could I still ride my horse without air cooled event boots....yes. So by that it could be deduced these things aren't essential. Not that it actually bothers me. My horse, my money, my time spent tack cleaning & all that ;)
 
Only my 5 point breastplate... :D
Though we do need a breastplate so I think it's only half cheating?

For flatwork I use just a simple cavesson bridle, loose ring snaffle and little elasticated breastplate.
She jumps in the loose ring too but does wear a grackle - otherwise I can't collect her enough for SJ any decent height and she just runs through things.
No martingale ever! I'm not fixing what's not broken.
I have an event/GP saddle I use for everything (but I'm about to swap for a jumping saddle then save up for a dressage saddle.) with a polypad that I've only just started using and she's going so much more nicely so I think that was needed!

Wears 4 brushing boots :) because she does have a tendency to brush and I dont need any more scars!!
 
I don't see how a running martingale stops the horse from doing anything at all except lifting it's head above a certain point. The action of it cannot stop them from rearing as their front end is lifting up and their head is free. A standing martingale would make it more difficult to rear.

I also don't see the problem in using a correctly fitted running martingale however as it doesn't make very much difference to the horse (slight downward pressure on the reins from the weight if it).
 
my big girl wears a market harborough:eek: most of the time it doesn't come into play as it's on the loosest setting but for those odd occasions where she takes a dislike to something and turns into a giraffe it's invaluable. She may not technically need it but it gives me peace of mind.
 
I agree Ffion, I've yet to see a running martingale stop a horse from rearing. A rear doesn't come from the head carriage, it's the horse dropping its weight onto its hindquarters. A far better way to stop a rear is turn the horse in a tight circle & get it's feet moving!
But running martingale does have a use. Having seen a friend with her wonderfully polite horse who 'only needs an eggbutt & cavesson' end up being p*ssed off with across a field with him chucking his ears into her face....I'll stick a martingale on mine just in case, even if 99.9% of the time it isn't needed
 
Caol Ila said:
Stupid question, perhaps...but do running martingales seriously stop a horse from rearing? I have heard a few folk say this is the reason they use them, but it seems to me that a horse who's really determined to go up on his back legs could do so anyway, running martingale or no. Indeed, I was on a hack with someone who's horse had one on, and the trail took us past an area where the military was practicing with paintball. Yeah. Well, needless to say, our presence didn't stop them from their training exercise. Luckily my horse only jigged and danced a bit, but I was able to get her past with all four feet more or less on the ground. However, the other one, running martingale and all, stood straight up.
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I've never heard of a running martingale preventing a horse from rearing. I used one on my old gypsy cob and she could rear for England so it never stopped her from doing it!!
 
But can they stop a bolt if the horse is determined to bolt? A horse doesn't need his head in the air to bog off with you.

So my feeling is, probably not. They stop the horse from throwing his head up above a certain height and I can understand using one if you have a horse who you know will deck you in the face with the back of his neck. Otherwise, I think the benefit is that it gives riders a feeling of security, thinking their horse won't bolt or rear because he's wearing the martingale, so they ride him more confidently, secure in the knowledge that the horse is prevented from doing these things. At the same time, they might be really nervous riding the horse martingale-less. Horses, being perceptive critters, pick up on a rider's confidence, or lack thereof.

But it would take a hell of a harsh piece of equipment indeed to actually prevent a determined horse from bolting or rearing. Horses are really strong. It might not stop one at all -- we've all heard horror stories about something that bolted dragging half a hitching rail or whatever.
 
Caol - you are right, if a horse wants to bolt & properly bolt, no piece of tack in the world will stop it.
We can't put too many additions to tack to stop every eventuality or evasion that a horse might use so every time we tack up our horses we have to decide what is in the best interests of our safety & the horses comfort.
Now I could say 'Hmmm my horse 'might' put his head down & become strong so I need to put him in a gag....but he's never given me any idea of doing that before AND it's not comfortable for a horse to be ridden in a too strong bit 'just in case'
However a running martingale is different. When excited my horses do have a tendency to fling their heads up & putting the martingale on doesn't effect their comfort the rest of the time. To me it's a total no brainer :)
 
I use bandages and overreach on my connemara, I used to just put brushing boots all round but he is sensitive and rubs easily. He probably doesn't neeeed them persay, but I prefer not to take the risk, and he always wears tendon boots when he jumps. He has boots for all occasions really!
Apart from that, he is just in a snaffle and a loose flash which only comes into play if he decides he wants to evade.
He came to me in a grakle but we soon established he just doesn't need it.
 
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glamourpuss said:
The thread was titled 'own up who uses tack they don't really need' which was followed with a whole load of posts saying 'no not me! I ride my horse just using a tweak of the mane & the power of my mind'
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Ah, must have missed those posts. I saw plenty saying they preferred to ride in the minimal tack necessary though? :) I love how these threads always seem to end up with people responding to things that were never said :D

I'm another who can't see the point in a lot of the things that are in common use. Like others I reschool quite a few, though the first thing I do is strip tack back to a well fitting saddle and nosebandless bridle.

I use boots for hacking out on the roads - after an accident a few years ago when the boots ended up in pieces but the horse's legs remarkably uninjured, I will continue to do so :) Also will use them schooling/lungeing if the horse interferes, but other than that not.

I collect weird and wacky bits, but not to use, just because I find them interesting.
 
I was being cheeky Rhino. It was an attempt as a joke.

Did anyone truly expect a response to this thread of 'I ride my horse in a barbed wire bit bubble bit on the bottom ring....he doesn't need it, in fact really he goes better in a snaffle but I think it makes me look cool' really? Can you imagine :D
The thing is we can all justify the choices we make for our horses, even if its to rule out a risk which has a minimal chance of causing a problem.....so in that instance is any of it unnessecary?
Oh & my old boy was jumped in a neue Schule universal on the bottom ring, yep just the one rein, with a leather curb & a flash. No schooling issues... He regularly scored late 60's-70% BD in a snaffle & cavesson....but I can assure you the change in tack was needed ;)
Current lad is now in an elasticated grackle. I preservered longer than I think most would've with a cavesson but it wasn't going to happen. We were both getting frustrated, a little bit of trial with various nosebands, the change was made & we are both happy.
 
taz is ridden in a pelham with a grackle and a martingale and a saddle thats all

i can ride him without the grackle but hes a hell of a lot easier in it

martingale he usually is ridden without but recently when throwing tantrums he has been trying to smack me in the face with his head.. succeeding a couple of times and the martingale stops him throwing his head so high

pelham... well hes strong and depending on what we are doing i dont wish to be out of control given that hes 17.2hh and im 5'4ft he doesnt listen to a snaffle if you are doing anything above a walk and i wouldnt hack him in one as hes an arse so i dont really think he wears anything without good reason well except for maybe boots on the front when i cba to put them on... he doesnt really need them :)
 
So if nobody buys all the "extras", how come Robinsons et al are still in business?
I admit to paying £20 for some absolutely unnecessary mint green brushing boots for the Shettie x, simply because she looks so cute in them.
 
Millikins said:
So if nobody buys all the "extras", how come Robinsons et al are still in business?
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Well when I look round most yards and shows I think I've a fairly good idea! ;) :D

I'm on a classical yard so it's all fairly minimal, but the last xc comp I was at I was the only person without a martingale or noseband!
 
Can't quote as I'm on my phone but my new exracrr has only ever had a austrailian noseband and hates a normal noseband but I can't stand them without one! What would anyone suggest? I have it really loose with a fluffy on it?
 
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