Tack from the Past

Last spring, my Cousin J brought her gelding Skyler's bridle to a Pony Cousins gathering. She was using it as a prop for the scrapbook photo shoot we had. On this bridle she had her late grandpa Jess's reins and a very basic headstall which she'd had for a long time.

This is the best picture I had, sorry Skyler, I know you are not showing your finest manners!

I thought how special it was that my cousin was using these soft, worn leather reins that were her grandpa's. And her mom, my cousin K over at Middle of the Road, did a post about her father's saddle bags. I began wondering about the history behind some of the tack people use.

Since I have only owned a horse again for about 10 months, I do not have a large collection of tack. I have a fair amount, as any horse person knows, sometimes it just kind of, uh-hmm, well, it just shows up on your doorstep, via Fed Ex or UPS, to be more specific. Acquiring horse tack is a bit of an addiction. In fact, I already talked to Paint Girl about going in together on an English saddle next spring, so that we might ride our ponies hunt seat occasionally.

When I first started leasing My Boy, I borrowed a lot of tack. However, I did purchase my own saddle, which is difficult to borrow because it needs to fit both horse and rider. Most of my current tack has been given to me as gifts, or, I purchased new. All I had remaining from my childhood of horses was a pair of 17 year old splint boots. I recently gave those to my mom after I ordered a new pair of SMB Elite boots. For a while, I borrowed a fleece-lined spare saddle pad of my sister's, a high-point award she'd won showing in her high-school saddle club.

Do you have any special tack items that are historic, sentimental, or special to you?

Bucked Off!

And he doesn't look too happy that 'ole Caramel gave him the boot, does he?

Now in this picture, Cowpoke G makes quite the chipper 'lil cowpoke, don't you think? I think he could be a Roy Rogers in the making!