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For most people, their main love from owning a horse is being able to ride their horse and establishing a strong bond between horse and rider. however, to ride a horse, you need the correct horse tack.

In this horse tack section, our experience equestrian writers have written extensive guides on all areas of horse tack from each piece of tack, how to tack up, cleaning tack, and choosing the right piece of tack.
Our most popular horse tack guides:

Bridles are a type of leather headgear used to control horses. Traditional bridles include a bit, usually a piece of metal that sits directly on the sensitive tissue of the horse’s mouth. While most horse riders still use bitted bridles, there is a rising awareness that bits can cause discomfort and pain to the horse. …

Read More about What is a Hackamore Bridle? How it Works, Types & Should You Use One

Horses are big and powerful animals that are orders of magnitude stronger than us. Therefore, humans had to devise a clever way to control the horse to harness its power. The idea to use a bit and bridle when riding the horse first came to nomadic herders around 1000 BC. While roaming the Eurasian Steppe, …

Read More about What is a Horse Bridle? Parts, Uses, Types & FAQs Answered

Horse bits are an integral part of the equipment most horse riders use to control their horse. They are the point of contact between the rider’s hands and the horse’s mouth and allow for efficient communication between horse and rider. According to research, bits were already used as early as 3500–3000 BC by the Botai …

Read More about What is a Horse Bit? Types of Horse Bits & Uses

Although bitless bridles are getting increasingly popular, most horse riders today still use a bit to control their horse. Many people consider the bit essential to riding, while others suggest it’s unnecessary and cruel. Horse bits are not necessarily cruel, though they can cause discomfort and pain for the horse. It all depends on the …

Read More about Are Horse Bits Cruel? Do Bits Hurt Horses?

Bitless bridles are an alternative to traditional bridles and are getting increasingly popular in equestrian circles. Many hobby riders use them to spare their horses from wearing a metal bit in their mouths. Bitless bridles have even made their way into Olympic disciplines, such as show jumping and eventing. What is a Bitless Bridle? A …

Read More about Bitless Bridles Guide: How They Work, Benefits, Types & Best Ones to Buy

Bits have been used for thousands of years to control the speed and direction of horses. They are a piece of horse tack consisting of a solid mouthpiece and rings that attach to the bridle and reins. Most bits are made of metal, often copper or stainless steel, but rubber and plastic bits also exist. …

Read More about What is a Snaffle Horse Bit? Types, Uses & Severity

Saddles, particularly western saddles, can be rather heavy. Heavy saddles can be particularly difficult for petite adults with tall horses, as it can be hard to place a 30+ pound saddle on a 17 hand tall horse’s back. Both horses and riders can benefit from using lightweight saddles. The weight of a regular saddle can …

Read More about 10 Best English & Western Lightweight Saddles for Trail Riding

Saddle seat is a discipline that many people don’t know much about. It is an elegant style of riding popular among Saddlebreds, Morgans, Arabians, Friesians, Tennessee Walkers, and National Show Horses. The best saddle seat saddle brands include the Freedman’s, Shively, Lovatts & Ricketts, and Joseph Sterling. Their saddles are often built from high-quality leather …

Read More about 5 Best Saddle Seat Saddles

Treeless saddles have been growing in popularity in the equestrian world as an alternative to traditional saddles with trees. Treeless saddles are lightweight and allow you to sit closer to your horse’s back, allowing for a better feel of your horse. If you ride with a treeless saddle, you will want to have a quality …

Read More about 8 Best Treeless Saddle Pads for English and Western Riding

When it comes to treeless saddles, there is a lot of debate in the equestrian world about whether they are beneficial or not. Some people will only ride in treeless saddles, whereas others find them problematic for a horse’s back. Unlike traditional saddles that have a tree, which is often made of wood or fiberglass …

Read More about 6 Best Treeless Saddles (English & Western)

Leather has long been the most common material used to make saddles. However, there are now several vegan and synthetic saddles on the market for those looking for a non-leather option. Synthetic and vegan saddles tend to be lightweight and easy to care for. They are often cheaper leather alternative saddles. The saddles we’ve chosen …

Read More about 8 Best Vegan and Synthetic Saddles for Vegan Horse Riders

No matter your age or the discipline you ride, horse riding bareback can be a fun way to spend time with your horse. The key to a good ride is a quality bareback saddle pad. Bareback saddle pads allow for a more secure seat while bareback riding. They have a simple, contoured design that allows …

Read More about 8 Best Bareback Saddle Pads (Parelli & Others)

Before you hit the trails, you want to make sure you have all the proper equipment, and that includes a good quality saddle pad. To help you with your selection, we are sharing the best saddle pads for trail riding that will make for a happy horse. Though trail riding is often a relaxing way …

Read More about 8 Best Saddle Pads for Trail Riding (English & Western)