Hi! Another question on saddles n stuff!?

Question

Hi ! I may get a horse soon and I just want to know more and have some opinions on tack please tell me what you think of this stuff! I'm going to be doing a few local shows and some general hacking. Thanks a bunch! =]

Saddles...

1: http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/ProductList.asp?topGroupCode=003&parentGroupCode=0301&groupCode=03101#sku.30544 (I would get it in the black!)

2: http://www.ridersnorth.com/index.php?task=info&type=productFamily&id=1303

(It's leather!)

3: http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/ProductList.asp?topGroupCode=003&parentGroupCode=0301&groupCode=03101#sku.30523 ( I would get black)

4: http://www.surreyequestrian.co.uk/acatalog/Wintec_Saddles.html

(THE WINTEC CLOSE CONTACT!)

bridles...

1: http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/ProductList.asp?topGroupCode=003&parentGroupCode=0301&groupCode=03102#sku.33148

2: http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/ProductList.asp?topGroupCode=003&parentGroupCode=0301&groupCode=03102#sku.33160

rugs...

http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/ProductList.asp?topGroupCode=003&parentGroupCode=0302&groupCode=03201&page=2#sku.51728

http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/ProductList.asp?topGroupCode=003&parentGroupCode=0302&groupCode=03202#sku.50181

***THANKS FOR YOUR TIME!***

Answer 1

As for saddles, I personally prefer Wintec if you want synthetic; they're well-build, the Cair system is fantastic & changing the gullet size makes it easy to fit it to your horse & alter it as he changes shape (which they do periodically) without having to buy a new saddle. The Wintec Close Contact is slippery to ride in and designed more for showjumping than general riding, the Wintec 500 is good, but I recommend the Wintec 2000 GP, it has an equisuede seat so is very comfortable & secure to ride in and you can do any discipline in it.

If you get a wintec with changeable gullet, get the gullet gauge so you know what size your horse needs. If buying any other saddle get it fitted by an accredited saddle fitter, don't buy it online as even if you go by width different saddles fit differently and it could be a costly mistake; a badly fitting saddle can cause no end of health and behavioural problems.

As for bridles, buy the most expensive you can afford, you'll be grateful in the long run. With tack you really get what you pay for; cheap bridles are made of poorer quality leather which is less comfortable for the horse, not as safe as doesn't stand up as well to the tests of time. Go for a well known make rather than a generic manufacturer & handle it before you buy it. Personally I wouldn't go with either of the bridles you've selected unless you're only riding once a week or less; I know some bridles can be very expensive so try makers like Shires or Fieldhouse who make good quality bridles without the expense that a Stubben or Kieffer nametag brings.

The stable rug looks good - make sure you know the weight when buying rugs, this is a 300g which is quite heavy, so you're also going to need a lighter weight stable rug so your horse doesn't sweat up when it's not quite so cold, and so you can put both on if it's very cold and your horse is clipped.

The turnout rug looks like an ok mediumweight, but the most important thing to look for is the weight and outer denier - this will tell you how tough & waterproof it is & therefore how long it's going to last. This rug is 250g and 600 denier - I'd want a higher denier. Again, with turnouts, buy the best you can so you don't end up spending more in the long run when they rip or leak in water. You'll probably need 3 types of turnout, a lightweight (no filling) for spring & autumn, a mediumweight (about 100-200g) and a heavyweight (about 300g). If your horse is a hardy breed & won't be clipped in winter then you won't need the heavyweight. Good turnouts will stay warm & waterproof for years so it's worth getting a trusted make (fal pro, weatherbeeta or horseware) so you don't find yourself dashing to buy a new one when your horse comes in soaked under his rug, but this is most important with the lightweights (which leak more easily) and whatever rug is used most.

Horseshoes - depends on the state they're in, if they haven't worn too much, the farrier will take them off, trim the hooves, and reshape & refit the old shoes (usually only once or twice to the same set). If they're too worn out to re-fit, the farrier usually keeps them to melt down & make into new shoes or to send to his supplier to melt down, but if you ask before-hand you can usually keep them if you want (although you'll probably eventually find enough thrown off in the field!)

Good luck tack hunting!

Answer 2

for saddles:

i would go with #1 and #3...they look the best but if i had to choose i would choose #1

For a Bridles:

definitely the 2nd one....the first one is wayyyy tacky...and it just looks bad so i would definately pick the 2nd one

For the "Rugs":

i love the 2nd one it is soo nice.....i have one for my mare

....but if you are getting a gelding or a stallion then i would try to find it in a different color because the first one is c**p

hope i helped

Answer 3

Hey :)

I Thik For The Saddles 2 or 3 Because When You Are Showing It Always Looks Alot Better And Cleaner Where As Sythetics Can Be Harder To Get Clean.

I Like The 2nd Bridle Better But Kinda Depends What Breed. The 2nd Would Be Great For A Cobby Or A Hunter Type. But The 1st Would Be Better For Breeds With Smaller Daintyer Heads.

And I Like Both The Rugs Cos Ofcourse You Will Need Both :D

And I Think Normally With Shoes The Farrier Keeps Them As Thay Can Sell Them As Scrap Metal :P But It Might Depend On Your Farrier.

Hope This Helps And Good Luck With The Horse.

x*x

Answer 4

Horse.com has rugs on sale for 39.99 i got one theyre really nice.

Saddle:1 or 3

Bridle: 1

*** if you want to do any kind of hunter you will want to get brown (black is not what they want to see in the hunter circuit.) brown will work for EVERYTHING no matter what. i have heard that the Wintec close contact is really slippery-- i have the wintec pro jump AND I LOVE IT!!!! here is a really good website for tack reviews-      http://horsetackreview.com/

Answer 5

saddle -  i like 2,3 and 4

Bridles - both are really nice, i have the 1st on for my mare

rugs - both are nice and both are for different things as well

rug 1 is a turnout rug for the field

rug 2 is a stable rug

Shoes - get you farrier out it depends on how much the feet have grown and the state of the shoe

hope i helped