The Tack Shack

I am sure I am not the only one with this problem. It isn't a dilemma this time! I only have 2 horses, but multiple pieces of tack. I am not going to give an exact count on some of my stuff, that would require pen and paper and a trip to the garage to calculate everything I have. But what I do know is, I have ALOT! I could probably open up a used tack shop at this point!

I have 3 saddles. I am down from 4. I finally sold my Circle Y synthetic saddle last fall. We bought it 3 years ago, because all of a sudden we had 2 horses. My trainer had a client that was selling it, it was affordable, blah blah blah. Ok, we used the saddle twice. It did not work on Fritzy. Plus my OH, who weighs approximately 210 lbs, would go to mount, it would slide off to the side of Fritzy. Um, yeah, not going to work. Besides the saddle falling off of Fritzy, my OH said it wasn't "manly" enough. Alright, I get it! My trainer ended up finding another saddle that worked out great!

So why do I need 3 saddles with only 2 horses? We could talk about fit, but that isn't the issue. What happened was, when I got Brandy, I bought a saddle. A Circle Y trail saddle. I made sure it fit her. Well, once her training progressed, I realized that this saddle was not going to work for training, in the arena. The saddle I had bought was made for the trails! Since it has such a high cantle, it put me in a very strange position for loping. My trainer also did not like using my trail saddle for training. So, I had to get another saddle. Here is my trail saddle. It has a very cushiony seat, and it is very heavy, thank goodness for my OH! But I just love it for trail riding, which is what it was made for!

I bought another saddle a couple years ago, just for training. It is a Circle Y Arabian saddle and yes, it fits both my horses! It is much lighter than my trail saddle! No need to have help lifting it onto my horses back! I can actually carry this one with one hand, if I need too! It's not the best looking saddle, and I bought it used but it was worth every penny!

This is also my training saddle, with the bridle I use for training. The bridle is actually the one I first bought when I knew I was getting Brandy. I am so anal, that my bridles have to match my tack. I use dark oil tack on Brandy, she looks better in the dark and Fritzy's tack is a medium oil.

This is Brandy's trail bridle. I really love the look of it.

Most of you have probably already seen Fritzy's bridles from a previous post. But I will show them to you again. Just because I love them so much. Here is Fritzy's training bridle. My trainer uses cavesons for training, so I got into the habit of using them while I work my horses in the arena.

The next 2 pictures are Fritzy's new trail bridles! I am so excited to have 2 different bridles to use!

The saddle we bought for my OH. It wasn't the color we really wanted, a little too red for our liking, but we can't be too picky! This saddle was also bought used and we got it for a great price! Oh yeah, it's another Circle Y! See a trend here? I bought my OH the stirrups, he really wanted them! Actually, I have bought everything for Fritzy but the saddle and hoof trimming/shoes! I guess this is why she is actually my horse!

Ok, so we are done with saddles and bridles. Shall we talk about saddle pads? This is where I would have to go out to the garage to count how many I have, so I will guess. I have close to 10 saddle pads. Now why does a girl need 10 saddle pads with only 2 horses? I'll tell you why. I started out using the saddle pad that I won for a high point award as a teenager. It was brand new and stored away in my tack box. I didn't like the colors. So I bought a new one. Didn't like the color, bought another, and so on. I think I am good on saddle pads now. This is probably why in every picture you see of my horses, you'll see a different saddle pad, oh and I use a different saddle pad for the trail and for training! Am I weird?

Halters and leadropes, oh my, you are really going to think I am crazy now. I have 5 halters and lets say 15 leadropes. Paint Girl, remember you only have 2 horses! I seem to forget this all the time!

Horse blankets, I have 2 winter blankets, 2 rain sheets, 2 flysheets, 1 stable blanket. Not bad, I am starting to stick to the 2 horses only plan!

Cinches, 5. I actually loaned Pony Girl some stuff when she first started leasing her boy, a cinch, a saddle, a breastcollar, a leadrope, anything else you can remember sis?

I even have an english saddle sitting in my garage. I haven't ridden english in 17 years. My trainer brought one over for me and my sis to try out. I haven't even tried it on my horses yet! I'd still like to buy it, but now won't be able to afford it. I would love to ride english again someday!

Bits, I have one on each bridle, so 5 bits that I use all the time and I have many others that have piled up over the years. My horses are still in snaffles. Eventually I'd like to get them in another bit, but that probably won't happen. The girls do just fine in snaffles anyways. They are very responsive!

I think that about sums up the excess tack I have in my garage, now you see why I would like to have that barn with my own tack room! What I could do with my own tack room, is buy more tack! OH, can you add this to your to-do list? Please!!

On another note, remember this sweet angel, Domino?

I had to take him to the vet this morning. On Tuesday night I noticed his back right leg was injured. He had puncture wounds on the inside and outside of his leg, like something bit onto his leg. It was draining all sorts of stuff last night. So my boy got to take a car ride to the vet. Thank goodness it wasn't serious, and we caught it before it abcessed. He will be on antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory. He looks funny now, he has a shaved leg and you can really see his wound. He is not a happy camper!