Horse tack encompasses your horse’s saddle, bridle and accessories. Any horse tack used must be suitably fitted as ill-fitting tack will not only cause the horse discomfort but could cause injuries. The Bridle To determine whether the bridle fits properly, it is essential to ensure that the headpiece lies securely yet comfortably behind your horse’s poll. The brow band must rest across your horse’s forehead, with a clearance of approximately two finger widths to stop the headpiece from pinching your horse’s ears. Once you have correctly fastened the nose band, you should be able to place two fingers underneath it. You should buckle the cheek pieces equally and allow the bit to rest in the mouth so that it creates only the slightest of wrinkles at the corner of your horse’s lips. The bit must lie flat in your horse’s mouth, with a clearance of one centimetre on either side. The Bit The fit of the bit is essential to its functioning. Bits are available in a range of sizes, starting at 9 centimetres and going up in 0.5 centimetre increments to 15 centimetres. The size and shape of your horse’s mouth must be considered when you select a suitable bit for your horse. The Saddle horse tack fitting should ideally be carried out by a professional saddle fitter. However, you should learn to position the saddle correctly and identify signs that your saddle no longer fits. If your horse changes in weight, the fit of the saddle may be inadequate. You should place the saddle on your horse’s back and check that it is balanced and level. The saddle should not make contact with your horse's spine or wither. The point of the saddle tree must rest behind your horse’s shoulder blade and should not restrict movement. The back saddle must not sit any further back than the start of your horse’s last rib. The Girth The girth should fit comfortably around your horse’s breast and when fastened, should rest a hand’s width behind your horse’s elbows.
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