the last word
Have you ever looked at the tack or boots on someone else’s horse and smiled at the way they’ve been fitted? Well you’re not alone and although ‘all-the-gear-no-idea’ isn’t a new joke, John Collier adds his own style when he has .....
On the right Tack!
I was at a show over the weekend and Elwyn Hartley Edwards must be turning in his grave, as I have never seen such a collection of bits; I wouldn’t even be able to name half of them. It’s not that they work either - the sight of a competitor when a horse took hold of the bit and set off around the ring jumping fences backwards brought a smile to a lot of faces, but in reality wasn’t that funny. I always say it’s not what is in the horse’s mouth that is the problem but who is holding the other end of the reins, and also these days, the person who even thought to put that bit on the bridle.
It is also a surprise to see horses that nap being ridden in gag bits and/or the rider wearing spurs because it won’t go forward, but it usually won’t go forward until it wants and then it won’t stop! Time for a change, or a conversation with the horse whisperer. Nice to have a horse soft in the hand, nice for a horse to be schooled and ridden in a snaffle not a driving bit.
All the gear no idea, spends a fortune on saddles to go eventing, yet has no breast plate to go cross country, and why do those KK bits have a v on the side, it is to point forward not back to front. We paint ‘front’ and ‘back’ on the riding hats we use in the school, but on occasion clients still get those back to front, so there’s little chance of them fitting a bit correctly.
I have to be very tactful, but I must lay the blame at either trainers or tack shop assistants who don’t explain the way half chaps fit, and by definition, with pimple palmed gloves the pimples, go on the inside of the hand - the palm. I must confess that I struggled at a riding and road safety day to get a fluorescent bib to fit, then someone said it was meant for the horse to wear, a definite case of kettle calling the pan black!
Correctly fitting and well-cared for tack is essential to success
www.farmnequine.co.uk Rules are for fools and wise old men;
I was amazed at the Pony Club Area horse trials that an entire team was eliminated for wearing the wrong coloured jodphurs. I applaud the steward’s decision, but I am left wondering is this yet another team trainer not doing their homework or simply a fashion statement gone to someone’s head with the heat. I did do a ‘double take’ on one rider thinking she had a calliper on her leg and thought game on her, then I saw it was an elongated bright purple stirrup iron! Not sure those are allowed under any rules. The other side of this coin is the ‘jobsworth’ whose bedtime reading is every Riding Club rule book in existence; thought we did this for pleasure, still it keeps the letters page busy in ‘Nag and Dog’.
It would be nice if the same effort was put into making grass surfaces fit to compete on; I fully understand why British Dressage requires tests to be ridden on a surface, better to swelter under the heat and have a horse go well then try and compete on a baked uneven surface, when all the best fitting tack in the world won’t help . Happy to take your money, not happy to go the extra yard; still I shouldn’t complain as it boosts the sale of ‘staysound’.
The biggest problem with tack is that we all follow trends and we like to shop, but what works for John Whitaker won’t necessarily work for you, as there is the all important aspect of feel and experience. There’s nothing wrong with a snaffle and a drop noseband, if that doesn’t work, have a lesson with someone you respect, try different combinations, but do have some feel for your horse, as a stronger bit is often a way out for a lack of exercise and schooling . Some of those exotic bits may make nice wall hangings, or at the price, they could be a good investment in years to come. Me I’ll stick with my French link eggbar!
Equine Page 37
the last word...
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