Talk:Horse tack

Since this is a general article on Tack, some material on the history of riding tack should be included, the invention of the stirrup, the bridle, the saddle, etc. Each was a very significant moment in history. --Domhail 08:44, 17 October 2005 (UTC)

Boots and braces

There's nothing here about foot- and hoof- accessories here. I came to the article looking for a less ambiguous term for a "boot" (which nowadays usually velcros on at or below the ankle, but doesn't cover the hoof). The human analog is an "ankle sleeve" or "ankle brace" but this term does not appear to be in regular use in the equestrian context. Given increased paving and urban-riding there are rubber "shoes" which actually become a new walking surface for the horse. This is also ambiguous given that regular horseshoes do not encapsulate the foot atall, but instead get nailed on flush with the arc of the hoof-wall. I'd love it if these newer inventions could be included and clarified with alternate and/or more-specific names. Koyae (talk) 05:06, 8 December 2011 (UTC)

We need appropriate links, then. The articles are there. We have hoof boot, horseshoe (which included rubber ones), splint boots, polo wraps, bell boots and got knows how many others. Montanabw^(talk) 23:23, 8 December 2011 (UTC)

Bitless bridles

I'd like a "Bitless bridles" section. Take in account that "The Bitless Bridle" is a patented, commercial bridle by dr. Robert Cook with a peculiar design and action. Other bitless bridles are largely used among riders that practice Natural horsemanship (halters used as bridles, sidepulls and so on). Bitless riding is no more a "training" issue.--Alex brollo 18:05, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

Treeless saddles

I added a mention about treeless saddles and a picture of a treeless saddle model. It's a Barefoot Cheyenne (more here).

I'm uploading some tack-related pictures into commons too; if you have any, please consider uploading them and filing them into the gallery at Commons:Horse tack--Alex brollo 07:12, 15 February 2006 (UTC)

Bits

General Bit Information

There is no information regarding bits and the various types of bits out there to use when tacking up your horse. I added one link to a great article which outlines the types of Snaffle Bits. JasonA 20:59, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

That's great, but it is a commercial site and it is also a forum-- see WP:EL for why I have reverted. What we need is information added to the article, not links added to the External links section-- those should only be used for information is useful but that does not belong it the article itself. -- Mwanner | Talk 21:42, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Tack

First I apologize; I don't know how to create a new entry via your web site and I seem to have added this to a section other than intended. Perhaps someone can make the following a general addition to the entry under "tack":

Perhaps some of your readers would be interested in the origin of the word "tack": According to _The Horsemen's Encyclopedia_, by Margaret Cabell Self, A. S. Barnes and Company, 1946, p 395 the word was originally tackle. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) p 530 agrees, indeed citing Self's book as one of the examples.

There are entirely separate articles on bits and saddles. This particular article needs a LOT of work, but I for one haven't had the time to do it. But adding more wikilinks and using the {{Main}} template to link to related articles would be a good thing for SOMEONE to do!! Montanabw 20:46, 28 November 2006 (UTC)

Focus of this article

I suggest that this article not recapitulate the topics of more specific articles. Instead, group together links to the other articles, perhaps as lists. And write a history section, that outlines which pieces of tack came first. --Una Smith (talk) 23:34, 17 February 2008 (UTC)

Probably as good a place to start as any. The concept of a history section is promising. I think some sections are sort of that way already. Wikipedia discourages lists, though, preferring short overview paragraphs with the "main" tag, which I already did to a couple sections. Lord knows there are articles on every single piece of tack and component of tack, one of the things that also needs work is the horse tack category-- I think there is both a "tack" and an "equipment" category...sigh. Montanabw^(talk) 05:06, 19 February 2008 (UTC)

I need some help.

I am new at owning a horse, as i am young, and i need to know how to attach a bit to a headstall and if all bridel/bit combos need a curb chain...thanks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.160.215.94 (talk) 19:53, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Here is one article on the topic: http://horses-arizona.com/pages/articles/bridles.html You might also want to contact your county extension agent, the people who run the 4-H programs, as they often have educational materials that can also explain how it works, or even put you in touch with horse project leaders who can help you in person. If you don't live where there are active 4-H groups, sometimes there is a local Pony Club instead. Both groups have many volunteers who probably can lend you a hand. Montanabw^(talk) 00:13, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Some ideas/clean-up

After a quick first read of this article, I have a few suggestions for some tweaks: in the into para, I would express (define) tack as equipment used for the purpose of riding and driving horses... as not all equipment would be considered tack, e.g. hoof boots or bandages would not be considered tack, IMO. I propose the sentence might read something like this: "Tack is the term used to describe various equipment used for the purpose of riding or driving horses, and includes saddles, bridles, martingales, [etc.]..." (I don't think we need to specify domesticated horses.... I think that would be fairly evident... i.e, we would not be equipping non-domesticated horses, right?) Also, The main photo is of a police horse, which I think could be improved upon. For one thing, the person on the horse blocks/distracts the viewer from seeing the actual tack. I will try to find some other photos.... The sentence "equipping a horse is often referred to as tacking up" could be finessed... maybe "The act of putting on the saddle, bridle, etc. is often referred to as tacking up" or something along those lines. "Equipping the horse" sounds like you're getting him ready to go off to college.

In saddle section, how does an ill-fitting saddle risk rider injury? Also, why does the order of the sections go 'saddle, stirrups, headgear?' First of all, we have called headgear 'bridle' earlier in the article. We need to be consistent. Also, I might argue that a stirrup is part of the saddle and could be included in the saddle section. Also, is a halter really considered tack? Do you refer to putting on a halter as tacking up? Seems to me tacking up refers more to riding equipment..... anyway, just my two cents.... --AeronM (talk) 01:47, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Rider injuries result from falls due to saddle slipping or horse objecting violently to saddle; chronic rider injury (i.e. lower back pain etc.) result from poorly balanced saddles, or those that are too long or short for the rider. (ThatPeskyCommoner (talk) 07:00, 14 February 2011 (UTC))

Article has a lot of problems, maybe before we change things super dramatically, we should maybe consider if we want to rename the article "Horse equipment" with separate sections for "tack" (If we define tack as riding and driving gear, but maybe should find a citation for any definitions used) and "equipment" (which may include boots, wraps, brushes, blankets, etc.) I honestly don't care what order the sections go, as long as they make sense, and if some wordsmithing would improve things (which it would), I'm not all that attached to what is currently in there most places, so feel free to play with it (with the understanding that others may, as they say, "edit mercilessly"), I have seen you do some decent wordsmithing, you can write pretty well, just be careful to watch POV, not to change meanings accidentally or delete cited material.

As for halters, I don't know, if you ride in one, as you do, doesn't that make them "tack" ? (grin). On the saddle thing, there is more explained about the injury issue in the saddle article, so as far as that goes, maybe just more wikilinking is needed. On the "headgear" issue, I think we may want to just put that off for now because, as you know, there is still a dispute floating around over the difference between a headstall and a bridle, what is a bridle (thing with a bit, or a headstall, or any gadget with reins, etc.), what is a hackamore and where the bitless bridle falls in that scheme. "Headgear" has the benefit of being a nice, generic word that encompasses everything. Montanabw^(talk) 23:12, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

rider's gear

This article should have a link to rider's gear. Is there a Wik site about that?Kdammers (talk)

As in riding boot, equestrian helmet and the like? Montanabw^(talk) 20:24, 19 December 2012 (UTC)

Exactly. I was curious because an EFL text's teacher's guide specifically said that "helmet" is not the correct term for equestrian head-gear bur rather "hard hat" should be used. I was surprised and wanted confirmation. Kdammers (talk) 23:59, 19 December 2012 (UTC)

Hard hat was an older term but is now a bit outdated; it was used for the hats that had a hard shell but no real padding used before the modern ASTM/SEI helmet regulations. Some of the rulebooks now say "protective headgear." But I won't argue with the ESL manual if that's what is on the test! =:-O Montanabw^(talk) 18:07, 20 December 2012 (UTC)

Tacking up procedure

Shouldn't there be a list showing the tacking up sequence while taking care to avoid WP:NOTHOWTO? Maybe even a section or article on tacking up with a video would be good. Plenty of information could be added without telling the reader exactly how to do it. Information might include size/fit, materials, sequence, option/vital/alternate items, relationship of one item to another, hazards, time duration wearing tack and time for tacking untacking. Think of the 5 Ws without the "how". Some such articles are within the scope of Wikipedia, such as Smoking (cooking) and Computer programming. I may be way off on this one, so thoughts? Anna Frodesiak (talk) 23:51, 23 September 2015 (UTC)

Hmm. Here is the tack up sequence the way I do it (Western riding).

1. Brush off horse with body brush.
2. Smooth out saddle pad, making sure it has no burrs or wrinkles.
3. Place pad on horse's back over withers. Make sure it's flat.
4. Take saddle and set it over pad, centering it over horse's withers.
5. Bring the cinch under the horse's body and thread the latigo through the ring.
6. Loop the latigo through the ring 3 times and begin to slowly tighten the cinch against the horse's body.
7. When the cinch is as tight as it'll go, tie off latigo using the latigo knot.
8. Put the latigo through the leather keeper on the saddle.
9. Put the bridle on the horse.
10. Horse is now tacked up.

As for the time duration, I don't know. Working cowboys leave it on all day. Casual riders leave it on maybe a couple of hours. Essential gear would be the cinch and latigo, with a back cinch optional. Again, this is Western, not English riding.White Arabian mare (Neigh) 02:02, 24 September 2015 (UTC)White Arabian mare

• I went to YouTube and found a lot of videos on the topic, some better than others (some made me cringe!). I think that this article is such a broad overview that descriptions here aren't ideal, and the more detailed material belongs at saddle, bridle and horse grooming (Actually I think there is some sequence stuff at horse grooming). I've also been slapped in the past for having too much how to in these articles...particularly where there is a global focus. This is food for thought. Montanabw^(talk) 19:25, 24 September 2015 (UTC)

Thank you both for the thoughtful responses. Yes, maybe other sites' videos are best for people to learn about tacking up. Good points about global focus and avoiding descriptions not being ideal. I will leave it up to you to decide what, if anything should go in. I have practically no horse article experience. Oh, and unfortunately, due to my location, I cannot get Youtubes. Thank you both again. If this ought to go further, I'm sure others will speak up with some way to fit it all in. Cheers, Anna Frodesiak (talk) 21:28, 24 September 2015 (UTC)