Horse Tack: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

Horse tack refers to the equipment used on horses during riding, training, or working.

This includes saddles, bridles, bits, reins, girths, stirrups, saddle pads, and other accessories that help control and care for the horse.

Last update on 2025-05-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Here’s why horse tack is important:

1. Control and Communication: Tack items like the bridle, bit, and reins are essential for communicating with and directing the horse. They allow the rider to give clear commands and ensure the horse responds appropriately.
2. Safety: Proper tack helps ensure the safety of both the rider and the horse. For example, a well-fitted saddle provides a secure seat for the rider, while a girth keeps the saddle in place, preventing it from slipping.
3. Comfort: Tack items are designed to make riding more comfortable for the horse and rider. For instance, a saddle pad provides cushioning and absorbs sweat, reducing friction and preventing sores on the horse’s back.
4. Performance: High-quality tack can enhance a horse’s performance by allowing greater freedom of movement and better support. Items like boots and wraps protect the horse’s legs from injuries during intense activities.
5. Training: Specialized tack like martingales and breastplates help in training by correcting specific behaviors or providing additional control.

Using the right tack is crucial for effective riding, ensuring comfort, safety, and optimal horse and rider performance.

Here’s a chart detailing common horse tack items and their purposes:

Tack Item	Description	Purpose
Saddle	A supportive structure for the rider, placed on the horse’s back.	Provides a seat for the rider and distributes their weight evenly across the horse’s back to avoid injury.
Bridle	A set of headgear used to control the horse, consisting of a headstall, bit, and reins.	Allows the rider to direct the horse through gentle pressure on the reins.
Bit	A metal piece placed in the horse’s mouth, attached to the bridle.	Helps in controlling and communicating with the horse through pressure on the mouth.
Reins	Straps attached to the bit and held by the rider.	Used to steer and stop the horse.
Girth (or Cinch)	A wide strap that goes under the horse’s belly and holds the saddle in place.	Prevents the saddle from slipping off during riding.
Stirrups	Loops that hang from either side of the saddle for the rider’s feet.	Provide stability and support for mounting and riding.
Saddle Pad (or Blanket)	A padded cloth placed under the saddle.	Protects the horse’s back from friction and absorbs sweat.
Breastplate (or Breast Collar)	Straps that go around the horse’s chest and attach to the saddle.	Keeps the saddle from sliding back, especially during vigorous activity.
Martingale	A strap that connects from the girth to the bridle reins or noseband.	Helps prevent the horse from raising its head too high.
Boots/Wraps	Protective coverings for the horse’s legs.	Provide support and protection against injuries during riding or training.

Feel free to ask if you need more details on any specific tack item!

Saddles

Saddles are one of the most essential pieces of equipment for your horse.

Ensure they fit perfectly around the horse’s back, shoulders, and withers to avoid pressure points that could be hazardous to either the horse or rider.

A girth is a wide strap that wraps around the horse’s rib cage behind its shoulders and secures the saddle on its back. It can be an independent piece of tack or attached to the saddle using a girth pin or buckle.

Horse girths can be made of leather, rayon, or other materials. For added comfort, they may also be covered in sheepskin for horses with sensitive skin.

Another essential piece of tack is the bridle, which keeps your horse’s head in check.

Standard bridles are made of leather, but some riders prefer bosals, which replace the bit altogether.

Bridles are also a safety measure for new riders, preventing the horse from biting or pulling at the reins.

It would be best if you had your saddle fitted by an experienced trainer or equestrian.

A poorly fitted saddle can cause the horse pain and make riding challenging.

Western saddles are ideal for long days at work on cattle ranches, providing comfort to both the horse and rider. They can be utilized in various disciplines, such as roping, barrel racing, and trail riding.

Last update on 2025-05-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Harnesses

If you’ve ever ridden a horse, you know that safety equipment is necessary.

This includes items such as a halter and lead rope. Additionally, saddle, bridle, and bit are necessary.

You’ll need various gear to complete your riding outfit, such as a cinch, stirrups, reins, and blanket/saddle pad.

These items help secure your horse’s body while providing cushioning for your legs while riding.

Some of these items, such as a helmet, are legally required for safety reasons.

Other tack items, such as a girth and hood, can also be used by those who do not ride horses but are interested in equestrian sports.

These may be made from leather or synthetic materials and come in various colors or designs.

Selecting the correct harness is vital in finding your horse’s ideal tack. Popular styles in the industry include breast strap harnesses, collars, and hames harnesses.

When selecting a harness, it must fit snugly—not too tight and with no gaps between the buckles.

Make sure all straps are correctly positioned and hanging down straight. If any are twisted or hanging in an inappropriate place, take immediate steps to rectify the situation.

Horse Tack – Bits

Bits are essential pieces of horse tack. They enable riders to exert pressure on their horses’ mouths and thus control them more effectively.

Selecting the correct bit for your horse can make all the difference in how they respond during training, so ensure you select one carefully.

Different bits exist, but most consist of several components that work together to perform a particular action on the horse’s mouth and muzzle.

These include a mouthpiece, cheeks, purchase, shank, and rings.

Mouthpieces come in a range of materials and shapes, such as chain, single or double, straight or mullen (a straight bar with a slight curve to accommodate the tongue), and some even feature rollers, rings, or small “keys” that the horse can move with its tongue.

Some more severe bits may use twisted wires or metals as mouthpieces, though these can cause severe injury to the horse’s mouth.

Generally speaking, smoother mouthpieces create gentler bits.

Bits can be divided into two categories: snaffle bits and curb bits.

Snaffles feature rings that apply lateral pressure to the horse’s mouth, making them popular worldwide and offering some riders convenience.

Last update on 2025-05-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Horse Tack – Reins

Reins are long straps attached to the bridle that guide and control the horse. They can be made of leather, metal, or nylon and are used in various disciplines and sports.

When selecting reins for your horse, ease of use, safety, and comfort should be the top priorities.

Make sure they’re easy to keep straight, don’t snag on anything and can be quickly and easily lengthened or shortened for changing conditions.

If you’re a novice rider, the reins you select mustn’t snag or slip through your hands.

You may need to experiment with different reins before finding the ones that work best for you and your horse.

Western reins come in various styles, such as split and mecate.

Mecate reins are typically braided from horsehair or nylon for early horse training and attached to a bosal or hackamore.

Split reins, usually 7-8 feet long, attach to the bit with a water tie. They’re popular for trail riding but can also be found in cutting, reining, and other Western disciplines.

Rubber reins are commonly used in eventing and racing. They provide extra grip for riders and help them hold their hands steady.

They can be made of nylon or coated in rubber and feature little stoppers along their length.

Last update on 2025-05-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Horse Tack – Saddle Pads

Saddle pads, also known as numnahs in the UK, are cushions that cushion your horse’s back against the saddle. They reduce friction, prevent heat buildup, absorb perspiration, and minimize shock.

Saddle pads come in various materials depending on your riding discipline or your horse’s needs.

The most commonly used saddle pad is a wool-felt pad, composed of compressed wool that absorbs sweat and dissipates heat.

They come in standard and contoured shapes and range from F10 to F11 felt grades.

Foam pads, which can be constructed from closed-cell neoprene (closed-cell rubber) or open-cell polyurethane foam, are often combined with felt for support.

While the latter is softer and more breathable than its closed-cell counterpart, it does not offer the same shock absorption capacity as closed-cell neoprene.

Neoprene pads are popular with riders in dressage and show jumping disciplines, as they can be tailored to fit the horse’s back.

They may be cushioned with gel, foam, or wool for comfort and easy cleaning.

Navajo blankets are another popular option.

They resemble woven blankets that have already been folded, often featuring padding between the top and bottom layers and leather straps to hold them in place.

Not only are these easy to clean – throw them in the washer/dryer or hang them up to dry – but they’re also easy to store away once dry.

Horse Tack – Leg Wraps

Maintaining your horse’s legs is paramount to avoiding injuries. Leg wraps can aid in healing from strains, reduce swelling, and more.

Although often overlooked, your horse’s legs are essential to its anatomy.

They play an integral role in all kinds of movement, from jumping and riding to pacing and trotting.

Horse rugs can be made of leather or neoprene; horses with thin skin may even be covered in sheepskin for extra warmth and comfort.

They absorb shocks, provide traction, and keep tendons and ligaments comfortable on cold winter days.

Leg wraps can help reduce stocking up, common among horses stabled for extended periods.

They may also keep liniment, sweat wraps, poultices, or wound dressings on your horse’s legs or wound dressings in place.

Horse leg wraps and bandages come in various forms, such as standing, polo, no-bow, and quilted wraps.

These items protect a horse’s legs from overreaching, bruising, or scraping during rapid cuts during races.

Knowing how to use and apply bandages and leg wraps properly is invaluable regardless of your riding skill level.

Understanding how to put on and remove polo wraps, shipping or travel bandages, and other similar items is an essential skill all horse owners should possess.

Last update on 2025-05-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API