Horse 'N' Around Mulgoa
BUY TACK THAT FITS...
Fitting your saddlery is extremely important for the comfort of your horse. Incorrectly fitted tack is not only uncomfortable for the horse, but can also be the cause of long term problems and behavioural issues.
When you’re looking to purchase tack, fit is very important - from your saddle, to your bridle, and your bit. All of these items must be fitted to your horse and adjusted as required.
Horse Rugs are sized at 3 inch (75mm) intervals. To get an approximate sizing, measure in a straight line from the center of the horses chest, around the shoulder, along the side of the barrel and belly and around the rear to the point just past the rump.
If the bridle is fitted incorrectly, it can be the cause of many behavioural problems in horses. Not only does it hold the bit in the horse’s mouth - a very sensitive area, but it can pinch, rub and irritate your horse if it’s too tight, too loose, or the wrong size!
Bridles come in a range of sizes - Mini/Shetland, Pony, Cob, Full and Warmblood. Pony sized bridles suit horses up to around 14hh, as the name suggests. Cob size fits cobs, or ponies from 14-15hh and Full (sometimes called ‘Horse’ size) fits horses over 15hh.
FITTING THE BRIDLE:
The bridle holds the bit in the horse’s mouth which allows for communication and assists in directing the horse. The bridle has the potential to make your horse very uncomfortable - if it’s the wrong size or too tight, it will pinch and will be very irritating for your horse. If it’s too loose, it may cause discomfort and make communication through the bridle very dull, consequently making your aids more difficult to apply.
When fitting a bridle, use your fingers as measures. Once you’ve bought your bridle and fitted the bit (see previous page) the length of your cheekstraps will be correct. Next, ensure that your browband is the correct size by sliding at least two fingers between it and your horse’s forehead. Make sure the forelock is over the browband and out of the way.
Next, the throatlash needs to be fastened. The throatlash doesn’t have to be tight, in fact, you should be able to fit a full four fingers between your horse’s cheek and the strap itself.
Once you’ve got the throatlash fastened, it’s time to fit the noseband. Nosebands are not only fastened around the nose horizontally, but they also run under the headpiece and so must be at the right height vertically! It should sit two fingers under the cheekbone, and be fastened horizontally so two fingers can comfortably fit underneath it. If you’re fitting a ‘flash’ noseband, it must be fitted over the bit to be effective.
A BIT ABOUT BITS:
Bits must be the right size for your horse’s mouth. Bits that are too long or short can be ineffective and painful for your horse.
Bits are measure in inches, so you need to take an estimate on the length of your horse’s mouth horizontally - lip to lip.
The bit must be sitting correctly in your horse’s mouth!
It must not only be the right size lengthways, but the cheek straps must be adjusted to a good length to allow the bit to sit where it’s supposed to.
The corners of the mouth should be slightly wrinkled, however not pulled backwards. Sometimes ‘tushes’ or ‘wolf teeth’ grow in this area, so it’s important to check that the bit is clear of coming into contact with any teeth.
Bit is too high
Bit is too low
Correctly fitted bit
IS YOUR BIT BACKWARDS???
Did you know that bits have a ‘right’ way and a ‘wrong’ way?
If you take your bridle apart, you’ll notice that your bit folds one way, but not the other - that is, one way you can fold both of the bit rings towards each other and they will meet - but the other way, they will not. It is important that your bit sits the right way in your horse’s mouth. You should always fold your bit when you put your bridle back together, and make sure that when the bit is in your horse’s mouth that the rings would meet when folded towards each other.
ABOUT THE SADDLE:
Saddles come in different sizes and shapes, and are made to suit the rider. Saddles are measured in inches, and many shapes and styles are available! Some saddles have short girth points and some have long girth points that reach much further down the horse’s side. When riding, you obviously require a girth to keep the saddle snug and in place on your horse. If your saddle has long points, you only need a short girth. The girth on a saddle with long points fastens around where the rider’s heel would sit. On a saddle with short points, buckles are fastened under the saddle flap. Always remember that on a saddle with three girth points, always use the two outer points, and not the middle one, unless your girth has a third buckle.
FITTING THE SADDLE
Saddle fitting for your horse as an individual is very important. Saddles are fitted without a saddlecloth underneath, which allows you to see where exactly the saddle sits on the horse’s back. The saddle should rest gently on the ribs and should sit fairly firmly in the correct place without the girth done up, following the natural shape of the horse’s back. If the saddle doesn’t fit correctly, and moves when the horse is ridden, it rubs the back and can cause injury to both horse and rider. A saddle that pinches the withers or sits on the spine will be very uncomfortable for your horse, as will one which is too loose.
A saddle must also fit the rider. If your saddle is too large, you may not be able to communicate with your horse effectively, and ample seat room is important for comfort.
The saddle should be the same width as the horse’s shoulders so the withers aren’t pinched, and so the saddle sits snugly in place. There should be a large, airy space between the panels - the gullet of the saddle should sit well off the horse’s back and light should be seen through the gullet even when the rider is mounted. The horse should be able to raise it’s head easily without the withers coming into contact with the pommel.
