Saturday, December 8, 2012

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. 


7 comments:

  1. I've been on the prowl for a cheaper Happy Mouth french link for months! Where did you find yours?

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    1. I found it on eBay. I've been watching and 25 bucks seemed like a good deal. You have to look closely at the picks though because some of the used ones are frayed in places.

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  2. Nice deals on the used saddle, and the new bridle! And just about everything I ride likes the western bit that you posted, I even bought an english version to show Lucas in. Hope Romeo likes it.

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  3. I'm glad to hear other horses so well in that bit. It's actually what I wanted to get him earlier in te summer but RG got one with her prev trainer and I wasn't working with her yet.

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  4. I love the bridle. It's quite snazzy! I'm contemplating bits as well. Do you like the happy mouths?

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    1. I like the Happy Mouths for some horses. They taste good and are soft in their mouths. That makes them great for babies and horses that don't like a bit. My mom used it on her horse that would refuse to take the bit. The con is that thy can wear down. And it doesn't always work for the fussy horse. Romeo and bre is super fussy with sensitive mouths and they both love my three link kk bit. My kk is the magic bit that everyone loves. Ill play it by ear w Dickie. The happy mouth will be his starter bit and I might go into the kk.

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  5. Wow those are some great deals!! Especially on that saddle. Congrats!

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