Equestrian Equipment

Correctly fitting, comfortable equestrian equipment is essential if your horse is going to perform at its best, but when was the last time you checked the tack was safe and fitted properly, or stopped to ask yourself whether your horse really needs to be strapped into a particular noseband?

Horses are hugely sensitive and quick to let us know when something’s wrong. So the next time you tack up watch your horse’s reactions. As with any sudden behaviour changes it is worth asking your vet to check him over to rule out any physical causes.

Signs of pain or soreness in the saddle area could be due to an unbalanced saddle, so ask a professional saddle fitter to check the fit of the saddle. According to The Society of Master Saddlers, saddles should checked by a professional saddle fitter once a year and newly fitted saddles should probably by checked more regularly - every six months or so. Before tacking up that equestrian equipment get into the habit of regularly running your hands over your horse’s back to check for any unusual lumps and bumps.

In addition to making sure your equestrian equipment fits properly, it’s important not to neglect the basics. Remember all that training you had as a child? There’s a good reason why it was drummed into us from an early age to clean our equestrian equipment thoroughly and oil it at least once a week. Hard, stiff leather and dirty numnahs and girths can cause pressure points and sore skin, so it is a good idea to wipe mud and sweat off your equipment after every ride, and then give it a good clean and oil every week.

Most numnahs and girths are machine washable, so there’s no excuse for caked-on grime on your equestrian equipment. Your horse’s brushing; tendon and over-reach boots should be kept clean too, but always follow the manufacturer’s washing instructions.

Comfort aside, another important factor is whether or not you’re getting the best performance from your equestrian equipment. As your horse changes shape and progresses in his training, it may be time for a equipment review. Check the corners of your horse’s mouth regularly, to ensure his bit is not causing discomfort, and examine the bit to ensure there are no worn or sharp areas that could make the horse sore. If you feel your horse would benefit from a change of bit – and you want to ‘play’ with different mouthpieces until you find the right one you could try hiring one from a ‘bit bank,’ which can be useful before committing to a costly purchase.

Your Equestrian Equipment is one of the biggest tools of communication with your horse, so look after it, make sure everything is working to its full potential – and have fun with your horse!!!