Horse Tack | Equestrian Apparel Blog

Christmas For the Horses: A Traditional Celebration in Boston Many Years Ago

True workhorses are something of a rarity these days. While they are still used in Amish country or by a handful of mounted officers in larger police departments, they certainly aren’t as common a sight on city streets as they were a century ago. This dramatic decline can of course be attributed to the rise and spread of internal combustion engines, mechanization, and automobiles.

This is actually a good thing because when horses were used for work, they often had to endure dreadful conditions and rough treatment. From ill-fitting horse equipment to worn out horse tack, uncaring owners, and insufficient food, many of these magnificent animals lived in a perpetual state of frailty and sickness.

History of Christmas for Horses

In the 1860s, George T. Angell of Boston decided to do something about the condition of the city’s workhorses. He was the founder of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and felt it was his duty to educate people on how to care for and treat horses. He wanted to teach them about the importance of good horse equipment, as well as raise awareness regarding abuse and neglect. His idea was to have a Christmas Eve celebration for horses in Boston, where the animals would receive an abundance of oats, apples, carrots, corn and even new horse tack in some cases.

Angell died before his dream became a reality, and the idea languished for several decades before finally being revived. Anna Harris Smith, founder of the Animal Rescue League of Boston, is now commonly credited with initiating the first Christmas for Horses in 1912. Smith and other ARL volunteers saw to it that Boston’s horses were pampered and well-fed—just as Angell had envisioned—at least for one day out of the year. Their efforts were believed to have had a positive impact, so Christmas for Horses became an annual event.

Modern Celebration

The tradition continues in a modified form to this day, featuring activities such as:

A parade of police horses and other working horses
Santa and his elves distributing edible treats and new horse tack to the city’s horses
Demonstrations on how to ride and use horse equipment
Music and singing
A chance for people to help feed the horses
Free refreshments for all

If a city near you doesn’t have a Christmas for Horses event, you can still include your equine companion in whatever holiday celebration you have with your family. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to extend the legacies of George Angell and Anna Smith by examining old horse tack for damage, purchasing new horse equipment if necessary, and generally treating your animal to some extra goodies and TLC.

Basic Equestrian Equipment: Horse Tack And Horse Care Products

Owning a horse entails a significant amount of responsibility that goes well beyond just feeding and watering. A large part of this responsibility involves purchasing and maintaining all the equestrian equipment you need for safe riding and proper grooming, including basic horse tack and various care products like brushes, combs, and ointments.

The smartest owners understand that an ounce of prevention is indeed worth a pound of cure, so they take the extra time required to make sure their horse tack fits properly and is kept in good condition. They also carefully check their horse’s hooves, eyes, ears, and coat for any anomalies and perform basic grooming tasks before leaving the barn for a ride. Doing these things on a regular basis can help you discover and address minor problems before they turn into major issues.

Here are some tips on how to inspect and care for your horse tack and animal to keep both in great shape.

Horse Tack

Basic equestrian equipment includes a saddle, saddle pad, halter, lead, bridle, reins, stirrup leathers, and stirrup irons, as well as turnout blankets and flysheets. Of primary importance is ensuring that everything fits well—meaning neither too tightly, which can obviously cause discomfort and chafing, nor too loosely, which can lead to rubbing, slipping, and even spills or falls for the rider.

Leather products should be cleaned and oiled regularly to prevent cracking and scuffing due to excess friction. In addition, all horse tack should be inspected for wear and tear, particularly at stress points and wherever buckles are located. Turnout blankets and flysheets should be washed and dried periodically to help ensure cleanliness and comfort.

If you notice any deterioration or defects while inspecting your equestrian equipment, it is imperative that you replace the item immediately instead of trying to get more use out of it.

Grooming

Grooming supplies should be as standard a part of your equestrian equipment as your saddle, bridle, and reins. Ideally, you should groom your horse daily; but if you don’t visit the barn that often, you should at least check and clean the animal’s hooves before and after each ride. This process consists of a visual inspection along with the removal of debris with a hoof pick and the application of hoof care products if necessary.

Using a curry comb on your horse’s coat will help make it shiny and healthy, and also loosen any dirt, mud, manure, or hay that may be present. You can then run a stiff bristle brush over the coat to further remove debris. A clean coat not only looks good, but also reduces the chances of chafing, scratching, or gouging due to a foreign object getting lodged under the saddle.

A shedding blade can come in handy when removing loose hair in the warmer spring and summer months, and occasional baths complete with coat, mane, and tail shampoo and conditioner will help your animal look its best for shows or events.

Caring for a horse is a big responsibility that must be taken seriously in order to ensure a wonderful riding experience each time out. The best way to protect your equestrian equipment and increase the health, well-being, and longevity of your animal is to devote the time and energy required for basic horse tack maintenance and essential grooming tasks.

Fall Horse Blankets to Consider

Last week we highlighted some fall riding jackets that will help keep you warm as temperatures cool off. This week, we’d like to remind you that horses also need special attention and different equestrian equipment when the seasons change. Just as you wouldn’t dream of wearing a heavy down jacket in autumn, you shouldn’t subject your animal to winter horse blankets when something lighter is called for. Here are some quality horse blankets that would be perfect for fall weather.

Rambo “Original.” This is a very popular turnout blanket made by Horseware, a leading manufacturer of equestrian equipment. It has a durable 1,000 denier ballistic nylon shell and an antibacterial nylon lining, plus the fabric is waterproof and breathable to provide the right amount of protection for fall.
Tuffrider Thermolined. Made with a unique Thermolined material, these horse blankets from Tuffrider provide plenty of warmth in a lightweight package. The outer shell is made of 600 denier rip stop nylon, and the lining helps wick away moisture for added comfort.
Equine Couture Royal Caliber. If you live in an area where fall sometimes feels like winter, then you might want to go with a medium-weight turnout blanket such as the 270 GSM polyfill Equine Couture Royal Caliber. Its shoulder gussets, double surcingle, and adjustable leg flaps ensure a good fit, while the tail flap helps protect that delicate area. Best of all, Equine Couture makes apparel in the same pattern as their equestrian equipment so you and your mount can wear matching ensembles.
Rambo Duo. To get multi-season use out of your turnout blanket, we recommend this Rambo Duo with detachable liner. It comes with the same great features as the Rambo Original, but also includes a 300 gram liner that can be added to or removed from the 100 gram shell as conditions warrant.

Although horses tend to appreciate and thrive in the cooler weather, there are times when light or medium-weight horse blankets are necessary for warmth and comfort. For a great fall blanket and other season appropriate equestrian equipment, visit us at TheEquestrianCorner.com today.

Facts About English Horse Tack

If you’re new to horseback riding, one of the first things you should learn is how to properly tack up your animal. This means purchasing the right kind of horse equipment required for the style of riding you intend to practice, be it show jumping, dressage, or some other discipline. Having the proper English horse tack not only ensures safety and comfort while riding, but is also an absolute necessity when participating in events and competitions.

Even if you’re not quite ready to display your skills before a panel of judges, it’s still important to have a fundamental understanding of the horse equipment you must buy. Towards that end, we’ve compiled the following list of facts about English horse tack that we hope you’ll find useful as you stock up at TheEquestrianCorner.com.

Saddles and saddle pads
Saddles and saddle pads come in a variety of styles designed to facilitate riding in different disciplines. For example, a close contact saddle, which gives the rider a better feel for the animal and therefore greater control, is suitable for hunting and show jumping, while a deep seated saddle with a raised cantle is the norm for dressage. If you’re unsure which discipline you will specialize in, an all-purpose saddle would be your best bet.

A saddle pad is another critical piece of horse equipment. This item not only protects your horse’s back from possible irritation caused by contact with the saddle, but also provides essential comfort. Saddle pads are available in dressage, all-purpose, and pony varieties.

Saddle accessories
Basic English horse tack also includes a number of saddle accessories that no rider should be without. Stirrups, stirrup leathers, reins, and a girth are indispensible regardless of your discipline. On the other hand, horse equipment such as breastplates and martingales are generally used for high-speed events such as hunting or show-jumping where rider safety is a primary concern.

Bridles
Bridles, which are necessary for controlling horses, may appear to the untrained eye to be pretty much the same. But upon closer inspection, the differences become more apparent. Dressage bridles are often made of finely stitched black leather and come with noticeable padding, whereas a hunt bridle is more utilitarian than decorative and features minimal padding. Other types of bridles you may consider while shopping for English horse tack include figure 8 (for show jumping), snaffle, and event.

Halters and leads
Halters and leads are used for handling, leading, or tying up the horse as opposed to actually riding it. You can complete your English horse tack package by purchasing a padded leather halter and lead from our online store. We even have plaid halters designed to match turnouts of the same pattern so your animal can match from head to shoe.

Optional horse equipment
Whips, bats, and crops are optional items that are used in various riding events and should be considered if you plan to compete in any shows. Furthermore, a responsible owner takes care of his or her animal by performing routine grooming activities on a regular basis. Practical grooming supplies include a mane comb, pulling comb, body brush, curry comb, hoof pick, and hoof brush.

There’s no question that high-quality horse equipment represents a significant investment for most people. But as with other investments, you can expect to get a nice return on your money—only this time, instead of more profits, you’ll get more enjoyment out of each and every riding session!

Want To Get More Equestrian News

Sign up on The Equestrian Corner.com website and they will e-mail you equestrian themed news, and advance sales, coupons and special offers to their site, allowing you to learn more, save more, and get more, apparel, equipment, boots and even horse tack delivered to your inbox and your front door all the time. More Spring riding days are just ahead, stock up now.

Saddles Should Be Fitted For The Rider

Horse saddles are not a one size fit all or even most. They need to be individualized to the rider and the purpose. Some are made for jumping, while others are designed for closer contact with your horse. The saddle experts at The Equestrian Corner can help you decide which saddle fits your needs. They have a full selection of saddles and riding accessories to get you started. The saddles are made of the finest quality leathers from France, stitched for long-lasting use, and are designed to give you many comfortable rides.

Saddlery Accessories Complete Your Horse Tack

Don’t spend hours looking here and there for saddlery accessories when you can go to one website and access a wide selection of breastplates, martingales, as well as stirrups and stirrup leathers, irons and pads. And if you are looking for a new saddle they offer dressage saddles, event saddles, show jumping saddles, and trail saddles perfect for the casual ride. Designed and manufactured from Fine French Leather by Henri De Rivel known for their craftsmanship and offering the correct balance and position to the rider at the right price Check out these quality equestrian items at www.theequestriancorner.com.

Saddles And Saddle Accessories In Closeout Steals

If you are looking for a new saddle or saddle accessories, you will want to check out the Closeout Steals section at The Equestrian Corner store. They are offering a nice selection, some at prices that are up to 45% off the original retail price, and these are are name brand, top of the line saddles like HDR . While you visit www.theequestriancorner.com you should also look for great savings on equestrian apparel. This is one great store for all your horse riding and tack needs.

Henri De Rivel Devrel Deauville Jumping Saddle

Horse Tack And Horse Grooming Supplies

Why drive the distance to your local horse equipment shop for horse tack, and arrive to find out they are out of stock on the one item you need. Shop at home in your jammies and find what you need, put it in your “shopping cart” and have it quickly arrive right to your front door. The Equestrian Corner has horse tack from saddles to bridlery and grooming supplies from manufacturers you know, and at prices you’ll like too. Now sip another cup of tea as you complete your checkout online.

Horse Bridles

Horse Blankets For The Snow Ride

The Equestrian Corner offers a great selection of horse clothing and horse tack. If you are shopping for winter horse blankets this is a great time to get savings and stock up. If you have a horse that just enjoys getting out in the snow and getting his nostrils full of cold air, you are going to love knowing they are also getting protection and staying warmer and drier. If your horse spends all or most of their time outdoors, a horse blanket helps keep your animals warm and dry with it’s waterproof barrier that wicks away the moisture. Visit www.theequestriancorner.com for horse wear you can count on for durability and quality.

TuffRider Turnout Blanket