what does your tack say about you?

[Paris1]

Looking at some pics of a dressage clinic, its like does everyone think bandages and fluffy lined over reach boots will make your horse work better?!.

 

[black_horse]

Why do you jump to that conclusion? I use dead sheep becasue dee is think skined and sensitive after a very rare skin infection years ago that almost killed her. I bandage her because she has windgalls and an old injury to two legs, scaring on all four legs and a very extravogant mover. dee's over reach boots are fluffy as she gets sore cracked heels otherwise.

You sound jealous to be perfectly honest....no one likes a sour ass

 

[Paris1]

Wow. Defensive much.

 

[daydreambeliever]

I think op is commenting on current trends and fashions not criticising people who have a genuine need for a particular piece of tack!

 

[HeatherAnn]

If you have a valid reason Black_horse then fine, I think OP meant that people use them indiscriminately

 

[Cheiro1]

I think its one of these unfortunate things that if you end up using something that becomes a fashion trend its almost assumed you use it for a fashion trend too?
I compete my horse in a dutch gag (2 reins) and a grackle. Shes a VERY short strong compact mare and its the only thing she accepts that I can hold her in. but I have had people tut at me, and make comment, assuming I could have her in a snaffle and just think the gag and grackle look good!!
fwiw I ride my mare in fluffy OR boots, purely because rubber ones rub her badly

 

[black_horse]

Not defensive, just dont understand the initial rudeness in your first post, and continuing rudeness after. At the end of the day, i dont think anyone truely believes all this makes their horses go better... but it is there horse, their money, they are not injuring nor causing pain on the horse, so does it matter?

Surely it is a worse crime to use unnecassary and ill fitting gadgets then dead sheep?

 

[JFTDWS]

Depends what I'm doing - if I have time and the inclination, I think my horses looks better (and therefore I get nice photos etc) when I'm competing if I matchy matchy them and may utiise sheepskin for aesthetic (or functional) purposes.

If I'm off out for a hack we probably look like we've gone through a hedge backwards. I don't see that it's anyone else's business how I "dress" my horses assuming they're appropriately attired for their work and they look respectable when competing

 

[black_horse]

Depends what I'm doing - if I have time and the inclination, I think my horses looks better (and therefore I get nice photos etc) when I'm competing if I matchy matchy them and may utiise sheepskin for aesthetic (or functional) purposes.

If I'm off out for a hack we probably look like we've gone through a hedge backwards. I don't see that it's anyone else's business how I "dress" my horses assuming they're appropriately attired for their work and they look respectable when competing

Apparently we have to get trinny and suzanna to vet out outfits before we ride

 

[Buds_mum]

S'all fashion I suppose...

Some endurance riders in my imo wear hedious tack, bright coloured webbing bridles ick. I know it has its purposes, light, soft, easy washed ect. So its fashion and purpose to the disipline.

If I put my cobby hunter boy is diamonds and bandages it would be mutton dressed as lamb he is not a dressage diva.

We're happy hacking wannabe eventers with a dash of hunting in season... His wardrobe is practical and suits him, flat nose jeffries hunter bridle, practical boots, wintec saddle (he's still growing) and plain saddle cloths... It suits him and what we do.

And tbh is I put him in a diamond patent bridle to go hunting we would never live it down

 

[Paris1]

It was a tongue in cheek observation that had obviously hit a nerve. My apologies.

 

[JFTDWS]

Apparently we have to get trinny and suzanna to vet out outfits before we ride

I'm sure they'd love that Can't think what they would make of me on an early morning hack when I've been out the night before and can't face donning jodhs or grooming the beast

I get why people get wound up about "fashion" tack - gags, flashes, grackles etc used because XX does or because it's popular, rather than the horse needing it - but matchy matchy and sheepskin, who honestly cares?

 

[flirtygerty]

I have a tack room bursting with stuff, (I went through an e bay phase)
Yet I only use my western saddle and bridle for comfort and my flash bridle and gp saddle if I intend schooling while hacking, hi viz leg wraps.
The mare goes in a cavesson bridle and gp saddle, she does have a sheepskin saddle pad and girth, again just for comfort, they don't need anything else, not even a crop

 

[LadyRascasse]

it usually means you care for your horse? Thats not to say people who don't uses dead sheep etc don't care!

 

[AdorableAlice]

As long as my tack is clean, safe and appropriate I couldn't give monkeys uncle. I just let my multi championship winning horse do the talking.

It doesn't matter what the other competitors are wearing, how much they spent on it, or how fluffy and blingy it is, I am out to beat them.

Sadly my tack is probably mouldy by now, the rosette machine is bust at present.

Sadly in the horseworld there are far too many 'All the gear and no idea' folks about.

 

[black_horse]

TBH with the amount of dead sheep about at the moment, i am supprised defra isnt more concerned...

 

[black_horse]

It was a tongue in cheek observation that had obviously hit a nerve. My apologies.

If you genuinely are sorry then cool

If this is meant as sarcastic (and over the internet it could be read one way or another) then im covering you in dead sheep

 

[black_horse]

As long as my tack is clean, safe and appropriate I couldn't give monkeys uncle. I just let my multi championship winning horse do the talking.

It doesn't matter what the other competitors are wearing, how much they spent on it, or how fluffy and blingy it is, I am out to beat them.

Sadly my tack is probably mouldy by now, the rosette machine is bust at present.

Sadly in the horseworld there are far too many 'All the gear and no idea' folks about.

Who cares? Your horse is only as good as your last win. Me and dee have won LOADS. so? When i broke my leg i entered walk and trot tests, i won those. Those wins meant more to me then the medium wins, championships and showing wins i have ever won on her.

 

[LadyRascasse]

TBH with the amount of dead sheep about at the moment, i am supprised defra isnt more concerned...

That made me LOL!!

 

[JFTDWS]

Fergles last win was a Senior Gymkhana Champion at a biggish local show. I think that makes him pretty epic

 

[AdorableAlice]

S'all fashion I suppose...

Some endurance riders in my imo wear hedious tack, bright coloured webbing bridles ick. I know it has its purposes, light, soft, easy washed ect. So its fashion and purpose to the disipline.

If I put my cobby hunter boy is diamonds and bandages it would be mutton dressed as lamb he is not a dressage diva.

We're happy hacking wannabe eventers with a dash of hunting in season... His wardrobe is practical and suits him, flat nose jeffries hunter bridle, practical boots, wintec saddle (he's still growing) and plain saddle cloths... It suits him and what we do.

And tbh is I put him in a diamond patent bridle to go hunting we would never live it down

I don't know about live it down, he would lie down in protest. What a grand hunting cob, I bet he gives you some fun.

 

[meesha]

"all the gear no idea" isnt specific to the equine world - my best mate has an R1 motorbike - with full all in one racing leathers - all matchy matchy - bike is showroom condition and comes out once a year ! he looks great .... but... tbh he is a not the best rider ! 3000 revs round a corner and no idea how to drag brake for stability at slow speeds ! sorry to digress but you can relate it to cyclist, runners etc.... although to be fair not as many dead sheep involved in those sports (although havent checked their underwear haha)

saying all that - if kit is doing no harm or is needed then who cares !

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

My tack says that I care much more about my horses comfort than how we look. Black saddle, brown bridle, cheap reins, frankly who cares?

Can somebody please explain though why some horses are warmed up in boots (and don't take this as a dig, it's quite genuine), surely if they're competing at pure dressage the conformation is good enough and the way of going so well trained that the horse won't actually strike into itself?

My horse wore boots when he was young, as he plaited a little, he grew out of this and hasn't worn them for 14 years, and has never over reached or struck himself, and it hasn't ever been a topic of conversation amongst my friends (although plenty of other injuries have come up!)

 

[Paris1]

I have proper mismatched tack! Just replace whatever wears out. S_t_r I believe warming up in leg protection is to minimise the risk. Personally I never warm up in leg protection as stopping to take it off disturbs our rhythym.

 

[Buds_mum]

I don't know about live it down, he would lie down in protest. What a grand hunting cob, I bet he gives you some fun.

Thank You! Yeah he is fab, only a baby atm (rising 5) he loves his hunting and just been XC schooling. Very proud of him, he's growing into a big strong boy

 

[meesha]

buds_mum - he is gorgeous ! bet he loves his hunting !

 

[rhino]

Can somebody please explain though why some horses are warmed up in boots (and don't take this as a dig, it's quite genuine), surely if they're competing at pure dressage the conformation is good enough and the way of going so well trained that the horse won't actually strike into itself?

All it takes is one moment's carelessness, one spook and they can injure themselves seriously. A good friend had warmed up for her dressage at a 3* event and took the boots off. On the trot round, the horse spooked and struck into itself. No real injury but he was hopping lame for a minute or so and needless to say had to be withdrawn. All horses can spook!

My tack. Bare minimum I'd rather spend money on lessons than fancy tack. Maybe if I had lots more money I could do both

 

[xxMozlarxx]

All it takes is one moment's carelessness, one spook and they can injure themselves seriously. A good friend had warmed up for her dressage at a 3* event and took the boots off. On the trot round, the horse spooked and struck into itself. No real injury but he was hopping lame for a minute or so and needless to say had to be withdrawn. All horses can spook!

My tack. Bare minimum I'd rather spend money on lessons than fancy tack. Maybe if I had lots more money I could do both

What effect does boots/ bandages have on that?.

 

[Mike007]

That is the problem when you wrap them in cotton wool. My horses all learnt that pratting about often hurt and wasnt a great idea.

 

[rhino]

What effect does boots/ bandages have on that?.

They provide some degree of protection Hence why riders warm up with them, even though they can't compete with them. Minimising the chance of an accident like the one I described - it is more than likely if he had still had his boots on they would have prevented him being so 'ouch'. As I said, he wasn't really injured, it was just a 'bang' to his cannon. Much like when you catch your shin on something I guess