| First on the list is deciding which kind of halter you | | | | and your horse. Some horses are versatile enough to |
| want to buy for your horse, nylon versus leather. | | | | be shown under both English and Western tack, but |
| Personally, I only use leather equipment on my | | | | if you will not be taking your horse to the show ring |
| horses. Unfortunately, leather equipment is more | | | | and are going only for trail rides, then the choice is |
| expensive but will break in the case of an incident. If | | | | yours. |
| a horse is wearing a nylon halter and it gets caught | | | | Now let's talk about saddles. The base of every |
| on something, the nylon will not break and this can | | | | saddle is what is called the tree. Some trees are |
| be dangerous or fatal. Horses have a tendency to | | | | wider or smaller or larger than others. You do not |
| panic if they get their halter caught on something and | | | | want a saddle with a narrow tree on a horse that |
| can sometimes hurt themselves. All nylon halters that | | | | has very wide withers or is carrying a lot of weight. |
| are going to be used on a horse for more than just | | | | On the other hand, you do not want a saddle with a |
| bringing them in or turning them out, should have the | | | | wide tree on a horse that has narrow withers. The |
| piece that goes over the crown of the horse's head | | | | saddle will sit on the withers and rub the horse |
| made of leather. That way if the horse gets their | | | | causing some very serious injuries. Saddle pads |
| halter caught on something, the leather will break and | | | | are also an important part of your tack. There is a |
| give way avoiding injury. The cost of nylon | | | | wide variety of saddle pads to choose from. My |
| equipment is appealing, it will last longer in the harsh | | | | suggestion would be to consider therapeutic pads. |
| weather but it is more abrasive and will cause the | | | | They may cost a little more but the results are |
| loss of hair or even put sores on your horse more | | | | worth it. Usually saddle pads are not an item that you |
| quickly than leather, especially if worn all the time. | | | | will have to buy frequently. For the very serious |
| Your next decision is whether you are going to ride | | | | horse person, you can have a "saddle fitter" come |
| English or Western. Understanding that you have a | | | | and measure your horse, ask you what it is you are |
| personal preference, some of your decisions should | | | | looking for in a saddle and either design a specific |
| be based on the way in which your horse moves. | | | | saddle for both you and your horse or they will make |
| Based on horses that are pleasure horses, western | | | | the saddle themselves. This is an expensive |
| horses usually have a slower trot which is called a | | | | proposition especially if you have more than one |
| jog, and instead of a canter, they are said to lope | | | | horse but well worth the cost. Saddle fitters can also |
| and their head carriage is lower. English horses | | | | design a special saddle pad. |
| movements are at a faster pace, so when they are | | | | Bridles are easy to decide on, but using the right bit is |
| trotting, you will need to post in the saddle (when | | | | crucial in the outcome of your horses' performance. |
| the horses' left leg, for instance, is up, you will be in | | | | Horse's mouths are sacred. It is the vehicle of |
| an upward position out of the saddle and a little | | | | communication to your horse. You may have to try |
| forward and when their left leg is down you will be | | | | more than one kind of bit before you decide which |
| sitting back into the saddle and do this with each | | | | is the best. This is because each horse may react |
| stride of the horse} which is easier in an English | | | | differently to specific kinds of bits. Having the correct |
| saddle. Also when they are at a canter the pace is | | | | bit in a horses mouth will make a big difference and |
| faster and you can stand up a little in a forward | | | | keep the lines of communication open. |
| position which will make it a little easier for both you | | | | |