Saturday, July 13, 2013

A Short Explanation Of Saddlery

By John Peterson


If you take a look in the dictionary at the word saddlery, chances are that it will give you a choice of three definitions. The main one being that it the equipment used to ride and control a horse. The next being the manufacture and repair of these items. Finally there is the place where this is carried out.

On closer inspection an individual will note the predominant use of leather. As this is not something the average person can work with, it tends to be quite a speciality occupation. This would also include any repairs that might be required.

The main part that everyone thinks of is the saddle itself. This is the seat that the rider sits on whilst riding a horse. It is positioned on the horse's back, and is secured by use of either girth or cinch straps.

Ideally it should be fitted to both the horse and the rider. This will make it more comfortable for both horse and rider, and possibly help to prevent injury. A badly fitting saddle could produce pressure point sores along a horse's back.

There are two major forms of saddles. These are the English saddle or the Western saddle, and are fitted depending on the requirement. There are other forms of saddle, which are more specialised and don't really fit into either category.

Hanging down from the saddle an individual will notice the stirrups. These can be of varying designs but still do the same two jobs. Their main job is to provide the rider with more stability. The other job is to help with controlling a horse while being ridden.

The main form of control over a horse is via the reins. These are the leather straps that the rider holds onto, and they are attached to the harness that goes around the horse's head. The makeup of these harnesses can vary due to a rider's preferences.

The head harness is designed so that the horse can be guided whilst being ridden. It will also allow a person to lead a horse while walking. Some designs will used a bit, whereas others will omit this part.

As can be clearly seen there is more to saddlery that one might initially suppose. Consequently this is a good reason to only use qualified facilities. It makes sense to both horse and rider, to have everything done professionally.




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