A saddle and a bridle are a great start to riding. But, of course, there is much, much more.
A standing martingale prevents a horse from throwing its head up. It attaches from the girth to the cavisson, with a strap around the neck. A standing martingale should never be used while jumping because it limits a horse’s freedom of motion. A running martingale acts like a pulley to give the rider more downward leverage on a horse’s head. Rather than attaching firmly to the cavisson like a standing martingale, a running martingale has two straps ending in loops that can ‘run’ freely up and down the reins. Little rubber rings called rein stops should always be used with a running martingale.
Chest plates or breast collars help keep a saddle from sliding backwards. They are common in Western riding, jumping and hunting. Breast collars have a strap that runs around the base of a horse’s neck with straps that attach to each side of the saddle and one that attaches to the girth underneath the horse’s belly. A breast collar can also have a running martingale attached. A chest plate is very similar but instead of having a complete loop around the horse’s neck, it is a Y-shape that attaches to each side of the saddle, meets at the center of the chest and connects to the girth between the horse’s front legs.
Ever tried a 5000 piece puzzle? Or tried to assemble Ikea furniture? Or maybe tried to build a jet engine—without a blue print? The first time I tried to tack up a pony, it felt pretty much like all of those. And the first time I took apart a bridle and tried to put it back together…well, it would have stolen the show at a Picasso exhibit.
A bit of practice, luckily, is all it takes (which is more than can be said for Ikea ventures). To start with, pretty much anything you dress a horse in is called ‘tack.’ And that’s why horse supply stores are often called ‘tack shops,’ and horse equipment closets are ‘tack rooms.’
Today we’ll talk about the bridle. A bridle is what goes on a horse’s head. It is made up of six to eleven pieces, depending on what kind it is. A bridle has reins, which attach to a bit that goes in the horse’s mouth. This setup allows you to give directions to your horse. An English bridle has a noseband or cavisson that attaches around the horse’s nose. Most Western bridles do not have a cavisson. The bit is attached to two cheek pieces which, coincidentally, run up the horse’s cheek to the crown piece. The crown piece sits like a crown behind the horse’s ears and, together with the throat latch that circles under the cheek, holds the whole thing on the horse’s head.
Okay, so moving on: today is the saddle. If you are riding a bony thoroughbred like most of my friends do, then you can be very thankful to have those couple of inches of leather between you and the infamous spines of a racehorse backbone!
The front of a saddle is called the pommel. Western saddles have a large knob called a saddle horse attached to the pommel for securing lassos. The dip in the middle is the seat and that’s where you park your butt. The rear of the saddle is the cantle. The saddle flaps reach down from both sides of the saddle to protect your leg from the horse’s side and your horse’s side from your leg. There is also a stirrup on each side, with a stirrup leather looping through a metal stirrup iron. Your feet go here. Apparently, the invention of the stirrup revolutionized ancient warfare from horseback, as the cavalry stopped suddenly sliding off the side of their mounts. You’ll like them too. A saddle pad or blanket goes underneath the saddle to keep the saddle clean and if necessary help evenly distribute the weight of you and the saddle. Two panels filled with a soft stuffing run underneath the saddle. The whole shebang is kept on the horse by a big band called the girth that runs under the horse’s belly and buckles in on either side of the saddle.
I can only go in so many circles around the arena before I lose it and start squeaking like the hamster I feel like. It’s at that point that I prudently head out on a trail ride to give Noah and me a much-needed change in scenery.
Trail riding can be fun, relaxing or even competitive (yes, there are trail riding competitions…) But open trails can also add new elements that every rider needs to consider.
My golden rule is never ride outside without someone knowing where you’re going and when you’ll be back. This way, everyone back home knows when to start worrying, and can relax until then. On a similar note, I ALWAYS ride with a cell phone. This is a must if you are going to ride alone, and a good idea even if you have company.
Here are ten tips for staying safe and happy out on the trails:
- Practice makes perfect. If you can’t get your horse to stop in an arena, you can bet a pound of carrots he won’t stop out on the trail. So practice transitions, rein-backs (backing up), emergency dismounts, maybe even how to open and close a gate–all in the arena before you tally-ho out into the open. Read more on 10 Trail Riding Safety Tips – Happy Trails…
