Tack Bonanza

Other than the occasional halter or the bell boots Bre burns through I haven't

bought much tack in years. I don't tend to have a bunch of different things. Bre is particular about what she likes and it is usually the expensive stuff so I can't afford to have two of everything. I but used but it still adds  up. I have my black dressage stuff and my brown close contact things. Plus, I have been at this for awhile so I have narrowed down what I like and stick with that. Now that I have a new guy I forgot how many little things you need!! I had planned to share tack between the horses but once I moved him five mins down the road we can't just walk to Bre's barn. That means two of everything. It is spendy but I am getting really good deals and just getting a few things at a time. 

I have been perusing ebay to price western show sets. I was thinking that it would be nice to get something for Romeo's girl before next summer. In my searchign I found a ridiculously blingy western bridle. It is totally OOC shiny but the price was rock bottom and I decided Bre needs a new trail bridle. It can double as a show bridle for Romeo. Win win!! I figured it would be cheap leather for the price but the brand goes for over $100 on a different site. It is nice thick soft leather. I love it. 

In April I sold my close contact saddle because it didn't fit Bre very well. It fit her like a glove when she was conditioned but now that she is semi-retired with less muscle tone she needed something different. It covered several months of board for Dickie so that was great. That left me with only a western saddle. It fits Bre wonderful but western doesn't work for me. It kills my bum hip. I have wanted to get a Thorowgood dressage saddle for years and recently saw one in a pawn shop of all places. And it only cost $124!!!!! It looked rough in the picture so I thought it would be a good starter saddle for Dickie. It was way better in person and I couldn't stomach giving it over to him. Magically it fit Bre the best of any saddle I have put on her (including nice leather ones). It was more comfortable that my last high end dressage saddle. I am really fussy about how a saddle positions me and this one is just right. WOOHOOO!! 

I also picked up a little close contact saddle for $25. I don't have a picture but it is nothing to write home about. It fits Dickie well enough that it won't hurt him to do ground work in. I don't like those older close contacts no matter how well they fit so I will eventually need a real saddle for him. The panels are so narrow and hard in those things. I can't afford the saddle I want though yet and it's going to be months before we do much so I am in no rush. Hopefully there will be some good deals after xmas because people got new saddles for gifts. 

On to bits...... It is about time to start introducing Dickie to a bit. I borrowed one to use on him the other day and he wasn't too worried so it will probably go easy. I don't own anything that I would use on him for a starter bit so I have been watching for a good priced option. I knew I wanted a Happy Mouth. They taste tummy and are easy on baby mouths with all those new teeth coming in. They are more than I wanted to spend new so when I found a used one I had to snatch it up. I ended up with a D ring, french link, Happy Mouth. I use a loose ring KK once they are mature but babies usually like something with more stability to start. The last picture is the bit I ordered for Romeo. He just hates the curb we have for him. It isn't a bad bit but after six months he hates it has bad as they day she first tried it. I rode him in it and I am shocked RG has been able to do anything with him. I can't wait for the new bits to get here!! Romeo's should be here Monday or Tuesday. Not sure when Dickie's will get here but we are not in as much of a rush with that one.