Sunday 29 September 2013

A Brief Account About Saddlery

By John Peterson


A dictionary will define saddlery in one of three ways. The primary definition is the bits and pieces, or tack, utilised while riding a horse. A secondary definition is the making and repairing of those previously mentioned items. Thirdly is the location where all of this is carried out, including selling the items.

The vast majority of these items are manufactured from leather. So it is a highly specialised field, and not something that can be done by the average person. This also includes the repairs to things like the stitching.

The largest, and most obvious, part to all of the tack is the saddle. This is the seat that the rider sits in when riding. It is positioned astride the back of a horse, and will then be held in position by straps that pass underneath the horse's body.

Ideally it should be fitted to both the horse and the rider. This will make it more comfortable for both horse and rider, and possibly help to prevent injury. A badly fitting saddle could produce pressure point sores along a horse's back.

There are two major forms of saddles. These are the English saddle or the Western saddle, and are fitted depending on the requirement. There are other forms of saddle, which are more specialised and don't really fit into either category.

Suspended from the saddle you will find the stirrups. The purpose of these is twofold. The primary purpose is to provide the rider with a better sense of stability. The secondary purpose is that they can be used to assist with the control of the horse.

The principle form of horse control is of course via the reins. These are the leather ropes that the rider grips, with the other ends being affixed to the harness worn around a horse's head. Depending on both the horse and rider, these harnesses can take on different configurations.

The head harness is designed so that the horse can be guided whilst being ridden. It will also allow a person to lead a horse while walking. Some designs will used a bit, whereas others will omit this part.

As can be clearly seen there is more to saddlery that one might initially suppose. Consequently this is a good reason to only use qualified facilities. It makes sense to both horse and rider, to have everything done professionally.




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