| Saddle - A saddle is a seat for a rider fastened to an animal's back. The most common type is the equestrian saddle designed for a horse, but specialized saddles have been created for camels and other creatures. More Information |
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| Saddle Blanket - A saddle blanket is the woven blanket, usually made of wool, which is folded and inserted under a Saddle in order to absorb sweat, cushion the saddle, and protect the horse's back. While saddle blankets have been used for millennia with all types of saddles, today they are usually associated with the Western saddle. More Information |
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| Saddle Pad - a similar item, are thicker, usually with layers of felt, foam or other modern material sandwiched between a tough outer cover on top and a soft cover on the side in contact with the horse. The best designs absorb shock and minimize fatigue for the horse's back muscles. A pad or blanket cannot take the place of a properly fitted saddle, but a pad with shims or a special design can partially compensate for minor fitting problems. More Information |
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| Screw-in Calks - Horse shoe studs or Screw-in Calks are traction devices screwed into the bottom of a horseshoe. This improves the horse's balance and grip over uneven or slippy terrain, and can make him move better and jump more confidently in poor footing. More Information |
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| Seat (saddle) - the part of the saddle where the rider sits, it is usually lower than the pommel and cantle to provide security. |
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| Segunda (Bit) - Similar to the ported link, except the middle link is much higher and makes a clear upside-down "U". Supposed to encourage the horse to soften and stay light in the bridle. The bottom of the "U" can be quite sharp, however, and can dig into the tongue to the point of cutting it. Therefore, they are best left to skilled riders with a very light contact. |
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| Sidesaddle - riding is a form of Equestrianism that uses a type of saddle which allows a rider (usually female) to sit aside rather than astride a horse, mule or pony. Sitting aside dates back to antiquity and developed in European countries in the Middle Ages as a way for women in skirts to ride a horse in a "modest" fashion while also wearing fine clothing. It has retained a specialty equestrian niche even in the modern world. More Information |
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Snaffle Bit - A snaffle bit is the most common type of bit used while riding horses. It consists of a bit mouthpiece with a ring on either side. More Information |
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| Shank - The bit shank is the side piece or cheekpiece of a curb bit, part of the bridle, used when riding on horses. The bit shank allows leverage to be added to the pressure of the rider's hands on the bit. More Information |
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Shadow Roll - A shadow roll is a piece of equipment, usually made of sheepskin or a synthetic material, that is attached to the noseband of a horse's bridle. Like blinkers, it partially restricts the horse's vision, and helps him to concentrate on what is in front of him, rather than objects on the ground (such as shadows).
Shadow rolls are most commonly used in horse racing, as some horses will try to jump shadows on the ground which will slow them down. They are also occasionally, albeit rarely, seen in eventing. The shadow roll is also seen in show-jumping competitions, especially for horses who have a tendency to raise their heads too high and evade the bit. The shadow roll is intended to correct this by forcing the horse to lower his head in order to see the jump; when the horse's head is raised the roll blocks his vision. |
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| Side reins - equipment used when longeing a horse, running from the bit of the bridle to the saddle or surcingle. As a horse training tool, they encourage flexion and softness in the horse's mouth. More Information |
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| Stallion - a male horse that has not been castrated. More Information |
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| Standing Martingale - A martingale is a piece of tack used on horses to control head carriage. It is seen in the jumping disciplines: show jumping, eventing, and hunter seat riding, as well as in polo. Martingales are not allowed in the sport of dressage. More Information |
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| Stirrup - The stirrup is a ring with a flat bottom fixed on a leather strap, usually hung from each side of a saddle by an adjustable strap to create a footrest for a person using a riding animal (usually a horse or other equine, such as a mule), used as a support for the foot of a rider when seated in the saddle and as an aid in mounting. It greatly increases the rider's ability to stay in the saddle and control the mount, increasing the animal's usefulness in communication, transportation and warfare. It is considered one of the basic tools used to create and spread modern civilization . Some argue it is as important as the wheel or printing press. More Information |
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Surcingle - s a leather, nylon, or neoprene strap that fastens around a horse's girth area. It has many rings attached, running from the ribcage up to the withers area. The surcingle is most commonly used for longeing, mainly to attach training equipment such as side reins, lauffer reins (sliding side reins), and chambons. A surcingle is also important in long reining, as it provides rings for the long reins to run through. Double longeing, using two longe lines, requires the use of a surcingle to thread the longe lines through the rings. Many trainers first teach a young horse to accept girth pressure by strapping on a surcingle before a saddle and girth.
Compared to a saddle, a surcingle provides better adjustment to the adjustment of side reins due to the placement of rings around it. While a saddle only provides one height to attach the rings (the billets), a surcingle allows the side reins to be attached all up and down the sides of the horse. A surcingle may be used with or without a saddle. When used with a saddle, the surcingle wraps around over the seat area near the pommel. The stirrups are usually removed to allow the surcingle to lie flat. When used without a saddle, a surcingle sits just behind the withers. A surcingle should be used with a pad, and fit to the horse's back as carefully as a saddle would be. |
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| Swells (Western saddle) - the front, slightly raised area of the saddle. |
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Throatlatch - the throatlatch or throatlash (UK) is usually part of the same piece of leather as the crownpiece. It runs from the horse's right ear, under his throatlatch or windpipe area, and attaches below the left ear. The main purpose of the throatlatch is to prevent the bridle from coming off over the horse's head. However, given that horses should not be tied or allowed to rub their heads on objects, the throatlatch is relatively unimportant. It is important, when bridling a horse, not to tighten the throatlatch too much, as it will place pressure on the animal's windpipe and constrict its breathing. |
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| Tree (saddle) - the base on which the rest of the saddle is built. Usually based on wood or a similar synthetic material, It is eventually covered in leather or a leatherlike synthetic. The tree size determines its fit on the horse's back as well as the size of the seat for the rider. |
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| Trot - The trot is a two-beat gait that has a wide variation in possible speeds, but averages about 8 mph, or, very roughly, about the same speed as a healthy adult human can run. A very slow trot is sometimes referred to as a jog. An extremely fast trot has no special name, but in harness racing, the trot of a Standardbred is faster than the gallop of the average non- racehorse. More Information |
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Twitch - A twitch is a device that is used to restrain horses for various stressful situations, such as veterinary treatment. It is made up of a stick-like handle with either a loop of chain or rope on the end, which is wrapped around the upper lip of the horse.
The upper lip of the horse is grasped and the loop of chain or rope is placed around it, then the handle of the twitch is twisted until the loop is tightly around the lip. The twitch does not work by distracting the horse, as is sometimes thought, but instead causes the release of endorphins from the horse's brain, producing a calming effect. The twitch is considered a very humane method of restraint and is commonly used by horsemen and veterinarians alike.
The twitch is not intended for use on any other part of the body of the horse other than the upper lip. It may cause permanent damage and behavioral issues (such as a head-shy horse when used on the ear) if it is used incorrectly. Additionally, if a twitch is left on for an extended period of time, its effects will diminish. This is thought to be because the endorphin levels of the horse are eventually expended. |
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