Horse Tack
Horse Tack
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Blued Steel w/ Engraved Silver Concho and Cheeks Show Horse Bit NEW Tack $24.99 |
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HORSE RED BLACK SILVER QUILTED ENGLISH SADDLE PAD TACK $39.99 |
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New 16 Premium Natural Barrel Racing Trail Western Horse Leather Saddle Tack Set $365.00 |
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New 14 Show Green Ostrich Synthetic Western Horse Saddle Tack Set Free Pad $249.99 |
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NEW HORSE LOVERS WEATHERPROOF TOTE, TACK TRAVEL TOTE BAG $10.99 |
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Set of 6 Horse Hair Tassels Perfect for Bridle /tack $19.99 |
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NW HORSE DREAMERS FLEECE TRAIL RIDING JACKET TACK TRAIL $18.99 |
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New 17 Black Parade Show Western Horse Leather Saddle Studded Tack Set $399.99 |
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New 18 Premium Brown Synthetic Horse Show Trail Saddle Alligator Print Pad Tack $220.00 |
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New 17 Tan Hand Carved Western Pleasure Trail Horse Leather Saddle & Tack Set $399.99 |
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(WHITE) Braided Cotton Lead Rope Heavy Duty Bull Snap 10 foot X 3/4″ Horse Tack $5.99 |
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New Black 16 Synthetic Cordura Texas Star Show Trail Horse Saddle & Tack Pad $199.99 |
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New 16 Premium Leather Western Treeless Horse Saddle & Tack Set – Tan $699.99 |
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New 17 Premium Brown Synthetic Horse Show Trail Saddle Alligator Print Pad Tack $220.00 |
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Unique 13 Pony Small Horse Western Kid Show Leather Saddle Sunflower Design Tack $299.99 |
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New Black 17 Synthetic Cordura Texas Star Show Trail Horse Saddle & Tack Pad $199.99 |
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New 17 Leopard Print Horse Cordura/ Synthetic Trail Show Saddle Free Tack & Pad $225.00 |
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LOVE HORSES DECAL FOR HORSE FLOAT TACK SADDLE RACK $4.20 |
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WESTERN SADDLE USED SADDLE HORSE SADDLE STALLION TACK INC. 4C $389.99 |
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NEW 12 YOUTH KIDS WESTERN PONY SMALL HORSE PLEASURE TRAIL LEATHER SADDLE TACK $249.99 |
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New 16 Western Pleasure Trail Hand Carved Horse Western Leather Saddle Tack Set $325.00 |
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Horse Saddle Seat Cushion tack Western style Black $41.95 |
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Showman Cutting Horse Hoof Pick W/ Engraved Silver NEW Horse Tack!! $9.99 |
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16 Ranch Custom Western Pleasure Trail Horse Leather Work Saddle & Tack Set $399.99 |
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Thoroughbred Horse Wood Puzzle Tack Room Toy Amish Made $11.99 |
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New 16 Premium Leather Western Treeless Horse Saddle & Tack Set – Black $699.99 |
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New 12 Brown Youth Child Kids Pony Barrel Racing Western Horse Saddle Tack Set $299.99 |
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New 17 Brown Western Barrel Racing Show Leather Horse Trail Cowboy Saddle Tack $349.99 |
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Unique 12 Pony Small Horse Western Kid Show Leather Saddle Sunflower Design Tack $299.99 |
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Headstall Natural Colored Tooling Horse Western Tack 30 $28.99 |
Horse Tack-Purchasing A Western Saddle Blanket
At first it can seems like such a simple task, all you have to do is open that glossy horse supply and tack catalog that is laying on the table and purchase a new Western saddle pad. No problem.
Just a few short seconds after opening the catalog you realize exactly how big a project you are about to undertake. Instead of opening the catalog and finding the one or two saddle pads you expected you find your self facing page after page after page of saddle pads. Each saddle pad has its own cut, material type, and function. The magazine offers a brief blurb on each pad but nothing that is really helpful. The only thing that the blankets seem to have in common is the price…expensive.
The first thing you need to consider is your budget. The typical horse person operates on a tight budget. Every day they are confronted with a flood of bills that never seems to stop, feed bills, veterinarian bills, board bills, lesson bills, and miscellaneous bills. It is tempting to purchase the cheapest saddle blanket the catalogue sells. Before you place that order you should stop and think. When it comes to tack cheaper is typically not better. Cheap saddle blankets tend to be so thin that they offer next to no cushioning, the flimsy material often bunches and can cause saddle sores if the owner is negligent when saddling. Cheap blankets can slide while the owner is riding (this is especially true if your horse is as round as a barrel). The advantage to cheap saddle blankets is that they are typically washing machine cleanable, but the downside is that they seldom last for more then a few cleanings. The one time I recommend buying a really cheap Western saddle pad is when you are first saddling a young horse. If cost is a major issue consider looking in the clearance sections of the catalogs and tack stores. I’ve found that I typically find the best deals on saddle blankets when I’m not looking for one.
The second thing you need to take into consideration when you are looking for a Western saddle blanket is what type of saddle do you have. Not all Western saddles are designed the same, there are saddles cut to fit specific breeds (Arabians and Quarter Horses typically use a different saddle design), saddles that are designed for different purposes (a barrel racing saddle looks completely different from a saddle that a roper will be riding in). The important thing to remember is that the when the saddle pad is on, no part of the underside of the saddle should be touching the horses back.
It is important to consider your horses body type when you are purchasing a saddle blanket. If you own a horse whose mid section resembles a barrel and their withers are nothing more then a distant memory (this is the typical body type of ponies) you will want to look for a saddle pad that is made of material that is designed not to slip and slide all over the place. If you are a rider that typically leans heavily on one side of your saddle you will also want to consider a non-slip saddle blanket. If your horse has prominent withers you will want to look for a saddle blanket that will add extra protection and padding in the front. A swaybacked horse requires a saddle pad that will offer extra support everywhere, you’ll also want to look for a saddle pad that is thick enough you saddle will sit above the horses withers and hips.
Western saddle pads are not easy to clean. They are typically to stiff and cumbersome to fit in a washing machine and if you are able to cram them into your washing machine you will quickly learn that it can take several days before they are dry. Once a Western saddle pad has been washed it typically doesn’t look the same again. Most Western riders try to keep their saddle pads clean by placing a cheap Navajo rug under the think fluffy Western Blanket.
About the Author
For a free report on “How to Improve Your Riding” see Theresa’s Horse Aficianado blog at http://www.horseridingblankets.com/blog or become a fan of Horse Aficianado at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Horse-Aficianado/274542565087?ref=mf and have fun with other horse lovers.
