(Myth)Busting the Tack Room Doors Wide Open

"Truth hurts." - Lizzo

It's true. Sometimes when the facts you thought you knew get blown out of the water, it feels like you lost a piece of you.

With horses and horse tack everyone has an opinion, idea, or a preconceived notion that facts and figures sometimes get lost in the hoopla.....until now.

I'm about to be your Mythbuster without the fedora and bald head.

I'm about to be the Google Search bar without the weird answers (and WebMd).

I'm about to be your Lizzo.

Truth hurts, but now it's time to shampoo-press all the myths of tack outta your life!

The Measurement that doesn't Actually Exist

I am probably going to make you really upset.

This will probably challenge every fiber of your being.

You may never want to look at me again when I say

You cannot accurately measure a gullet on a saddle and an 8" gullet is not a thing.

There. I said it.

Do you hate me yet? OK, good. Let me explain.

When a saddlemaker makes a saddle, they start with a tree. The material of the tree varies and can include wood and rawhide wrapped, fiberglass, or a mix of materials like wood and synthetics. This is the foundation of a saddle and it is bare - it has no leather, no fleece, no stitching.

This is the only time ever you can accurately and truly measure the gullet of a saddle.

Can I also blow your mind when I tell you that most saddles measure a 6 3/4" gullet?

How mad are you now? Pretty mad? I'll go on.

Now, hear me out: you absolutely can measure a gullet on a finished saddle but it will never be accurate because of the materials. It's a guess. An estimate.

When I consign a saddle, I always look for the maker specs first. That means I research the make and model and call the maker of the saddle for the raw tree specs. I do this because it is the most accurate description possible.

If this is not possible, then I will advertise a saddle with the finished tree measurements.

If you have ever seen my ads, you know I do not post gullet size or measurements because I believe it is misleading. HOWEVER, I will absolutely measure what the customer wants me to measure (reluctantly at times).

When most people say "I need an 8" gullet" there are two things you need to know:

1. They are measuring the finished saddle which will change measurement from saddle to saddle due to how it's finished (fleece, stitching, leather), and therefore is not an accurate measurement.

2. What they probably mean to say is "I need a wider bar flare."

Your saddle bar flare is the angle at which a saddle will fit on the horse. You

heard the terms Semi-QH, and Full-QH tree. This refers to the actual angle the tree will sit on your horse.

If you don't believe me, I understand. I have disrupted everything you know and thought about your beautiful, wide shouldered horse. But here's the thing: look up the maker of your saddle, call and ask for the specs on the tree. You might be surprised.

My suggestion: find a tree that fits your horse, then look for a saddle with that tree.

But for the love of all things with hooves, please stop looking for a 10" gullet.

Your Sport Boots Are a Lie

Yeah so I don't know about you but Professional Choice came out with this super cute sloth print and made me want to buy everything in that collection.

But I didn't.

Because your boots don't do what you probably think they do.

Why do you use Sport Medicine Boots or brush boots? For protection? Against what? That is a question that is still being heavily researched among scientists.

We know that SMBs do provide a shield against impact or self-inflicted injuries/trauma from another limb. Basically, the boots absorbs part of the impact and distributes it across the leg. Whenever I plan to ride my horse, Nimble, and I know we are going to be stopping hard, working on lead changes, or our spins, I do put boots on because I know boots will at least provide a barrier against impact and his other limbs. Let me be clear: I'm not saying "don't use boots." I'm just saying "Boots don't do what you might think they do."

What we don't know is how much - if at all - sport boots protect and support the major tendons you might be worried about called the flexor tendons. This tendon is often thought to have the most impact in disciplines like barrel racing and jumping.

I actually choose these boots most of the time. I like these because they protect what I know I'm trying to protect: the soft splint bones from his other legs. In fact, I sold most of my SMBs because I thought they were creating too much heat and I was a little bitter after I learned the truth (I told you, truth hurts!).

However, most researchers are skeptical of the idea that SMBs support the tendons. Your horse exudes about 2,000 pounds of force on their leg when they are cantering (right front in this photo is a great example of this elasticity in the tendon), which means a tiny piece of Velcro and a lycra based strap probably isn't gonna really stand up to that.

But it's a nice thought.

And your horse looks really great in that color!

A Little Bit of Knowledge

You're guilty. I'm guilty. We are all pretty much guilty.

"It's just a snaffle!"

Ummm....ok, did you know the snaffle is one of the most misunderstood bits?

Many of us equate a high port and a shank to more severe and think the snaffle is much softer, but in reality the snaffle is often misused and can be much harsher than we imagine.

A snaffle is a pound-for-pound bit which means if you apply one pound of pressure, you

apply one pound of pressure on your horses mouth (lips, cheek, bars, tongue). For reference, you need 4 pounds of pressure to make a shot of espresso. If you've ever had to wait for your barista to pull a great shot, it's probably because there was too much pressure applied - it's easier than you think to use a heavier hand (in coffee and while riding!).

As with any bit (or equipment), it's important you know how to use it, when to use it, and get professional guidance if you are unsure.

Tie-Down Mix-Up

If you have ever rode a fire breathing dragon AKA my gelding named Zipper, you may have wondered why in the heck I didn't have a tie-down on him.

The tie-down is a strap that connects to a noseband and runs through the center of the breastcollar (it's recommended at least) and connects to a d-ring on your cinch.

The name "tie-down" is incredibly misleading in itself. It seems like a tie-down will literally tie a head down. But what it actually does is provide balance (like the horse's tail!)

That's why tie-downs are so popular in the speed events. Often horses will "brace" against them in short, powerful maneuvers. In many ways, it does correct head and neck carriage, but only in the sense that it encourages balance in movement and channeling the horse's power purposefully.

So, I don't use one on Zipper because I don't need one, and here's why. While I did use Zipper for some speed events, his main job is trail riding and his fire tends to be put out after the first 5 minutes. I don't have a need for controlling his balance in this case - in fact, I want to encourage him to find his own comfortable head carriage as we navigate un-even ground

Tie-downs come in a variety of options: padded nosebands, flat leather, latigo, and leather-wrapped - to name a few. It's important that you are finding a tie-down noseband that your horse will brace against. If it's too powerful for your horse, then he may not utilize it. If it's too soft for your horse, then he may challenge you a bit.

A tie-down can become a gimmick when it's used for everyday riding to replace a training aid, like a martingale. If you're using a tie-down as a crutch for your horse's head carriage, it might be time to retire the tie-down for a while and re-assess why you are using one.

The Truth is Far From Over

I know what I said.

I know you might have been outraged, or maybe even burst into tears while reading this.

But I had to do it.

Part of my service is making sure I promote and sell tack correctly. So naturally part of my service falls to educating when appropriate (I mean...I am a teacher).

It's important to me that you and your horse find tack that works for you and not against you. It's even more important to me that you know what tack you need and why.

Which is why I am challenging you to research, ask experts, or seek the truth in the purpose of your tack....so maybe next time, the truth won't hurt quite as much.

Do you have a tack myth you want busted or confirm? Leave a comment - it might just make the next myth-busting post!

Happy Trails,

Katie, Zipper, Rico & Nimble