What is Horse Tack

Working with horses is one of those experiences that everyone should experience at least once in their lives in order to see how wonderful these kinds of activities are and how they can enhance your knowledge on many different topics. Everyone starts as a beginner, and in horse riding, it would be vital to gain knowledge and experience as quickly as possible to avoid committing any embarrassing mistake in the future that could put both the rider and horse in an uncomfortable situation.

That is why learning the basics is important. When it comes to the term horse tack, you might have heard it somewhere else before even working in these environments, but what does it even mean? The next article will discuss WHAT IS HORSE TACK to avoid any confusion once it is your time to tack up any animal, also, the most common types of horse tack will be briefly discussed.

WHAT IS HORSE TACK:

In simple words, this term refers to every single kind of equipment that is required and used for riding, handling, and taking care of a horse before jumping to any event or activity. This term is also used to refer to the act of equipping the horse for any situation, meaning that when someone tells you that is time to tack up, it means you must get all the equipment ready to be mounted and installed properly.

Tack stores are a thing, and here is where you can find all kinds of riding equipment that you might require in your future endeavors. Keep in mind that a tack does not refer to a single piece of equipment, in fact, there will be a wide arrange of products available for usage, but you just need the important ones which will be briefly discussed in the next section.

COMMON TACK EQUIPMENT

Since there is a great array of products in this category, it would be wise to get to know at least the most important or common ones to start getting used to them. Every single one of them offers unique functionality and features unique offerings, so they solve certain issues in their own way.

SADDLES AND SADDLE BLANKETS

Saddles are practically the main component of all of this equipment since they are the most popular by far. It consists of a supportive leather structure that will be used as a seat for the rider and it is important to adjust and install it well to avoid causing any mobility issues. Also, there are saddle blankets which are padded cloth that will be placed under the saddle to enhance comfort and to make sure that no bruises or skin injuries are developed.

CINCH AND BREASTPLATE

Next, there is the cinch which might be also called a girth, and it is just a broad strap of material that needs to be fit around the barrel of the animal to guarantee that the saddle stays in place in all moments of the event, even during the toughest conditions. Another piece of equipment that focuses on stabilizing the saddle is called Breastplate which is a strap that will be extended around the forelegs to enhance balance and keep things in a single place.

STIRRUPS

Stirrups are also extremely important as here is where the ride will rest its feet during the rides. This strap will be connected to the saddle, so you can expect it to be in place and comfortable.

BRIDLE, BIT, AND REINS

Finally, a bridle is like a harness that is fitted around the head with a lead rope to guide or tie up the animal, and a bit is like a piece of metal that will be always attached to the bridle in order to balance things and keep everything in place. Reins are what you will be used to direct the horse and they will be made of leather, metal, or even nylon depending on the manufacturer.

WHY DOES TACK IS CALLED ON THIS WAY?

While there are individuals who tend to believe that this is just a random term without any kind of significance, this term is short for tackle, which is what is used to explain riding or directing domesticated animals to make them understand that you have increased the control over their movement, leading to better handling and behavior on the animal.

The good thing about this term is the fact that it is practically a universal word as there are many other activities that tend to use it for making things short to say that a certain gear must be installed.

WHAT IS A TACK ROOM?

Another important place that relies on this term is these rooms which are basically the place in a stable building where all of the horse riding equipment and gear will be stored, waiting for their time to be used in the future. The reason why it is important to keep everything stored in a single place is that you must avoid tacking up a horse and forgetting to bring certain equipment, this could make you act in a rush and you can not afford to lose time in many situations.

Many rooms of this nature are organized in a similar way, which is done to guarantee that everything stays in order and at the correct location. Using the walls as support to put the equipment is something common as this helps save space and it will keep everything organized for your future endeavors.

IS IT IMPORTANT TO LEARN HOW TO TACK A HORSE?

Absolutely. This is the most important part of horse riding as you need to guarantee that everything is in order and correctly installed to avoid causing issues in the future. Comfort and mobility should never be compromised as this is what is required to guarantee that both the horse and rider get to enjoy the unique experience that lies ahead. Always clean your equipment and keep everything together to know where to find whatever you need in the future.