Tack basics
Reading the parts of an English saddle
Knowing the names makes a conversation with a saddle fitter much easier. Start with the visible parts, then look underneath.
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27 articles
Tack basics
Get to know the parts, materials and purposes of everyday horse equipment.
Tack basics
What each part of a bridle does
Follow the straps from the poll to the reins to understand how a conventional bridle is assembled.
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Tack basics
Leather and synthetic tack in everyday use
The useful comparison is how each material behaves in your routine, including the parts hidden beneath the surface.
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Tack basics
Why saddle styles feel different
A saddle's seat and flap reflect an intended riding position, but the label alone cannot settle the choice.
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Tack basics
Saddle pad or numnah?
The outline changes, but either style still needs to sit neatly with the saddle and the horse.
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Tack basics
Straight, shaped and anatomical girths
Curves and cutaways describe a design; their position on an individual horse determines whether they are useful.
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Tack basics
The parts of a stirrup worth knowing
Look at the tread, sides and leather attachment before comparing unfamiliar stirrup designs.
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Tack basics
How stirrup leathers are put together
The name includes several constructions, from traditional folded leather to reinforced and single-strap designs.
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Tack basics
Leather, rubber and webbing reins
Grip, thickness and maintenance differ across reins that may otherwise look much the same.
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Tack basics
Recognising common noseband types
Recognising the shape helps you describe a noseband, without treating the shape as a solution to a riding problem.
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Tack basics
Where the browband meets the headpiece
A small change at the forehead can alter where the top of the bridle sits behind the ears.
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Tack basics
A first look at bit mouthpieces
Learn the descriptive terms before trying to interpret what a particular bit might do.
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