Equestrian Accessories » English Style

Passier Saddles

Horse Talk — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:25:59 +0000

Passier Saddles are noted for their flexible, cutback PS tree and deep seats, and are well known in the equestrian community. If you are looking for a great buy on a Passier Saddle, here is what we have available today.

Used Passier GG Nicole Dressage Saddle 17 Black
US $1,800.00

Used Passier Optimum Dressage Saddle 175 Black
US $2,850.00

Passier Grand Gilbert 175 Dressage Saddle
US $1,200.00

Vienna II Dressage Saddle 18 Wide Passier Design NEW
US $850.00

Passier Cotton Quilted Dressage Saddle Pad
US $25.00

Passier PS Baum Saddle 17 1 2
US $659.95

Used Passier Optimum 284091 Dressage Saddle 185 W BLK
US $2,400.00

Used Passier Comet 266016 FS CC Jump Brn Saddle 175
US $1,400.00

Passier Grand Gilbert Nicole Dressage Saddle 165
US $1,500.00

USED PASSIER GRAND GILBERT 175 MEDIUM DRESSAGE SADDLE
US $1,995.00

If you were unable to find the Passier Saddle you were looking for, please check back again soon.

Karl Niedersuss Saddles

Horse Talk — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:01:16 +0000

Karl Niedersuss Saddles are noted for their deep seats and are well known in the equestrian community. If you are looking for a great buy on a Karl Niedersus Saddle, here is what we have available today.

Used Karl Niedersuss Walzer Dressage Saddle 17
US $1,200.00

Karl Niedersuss Symphonie Dressage Saddle 177 Wide
US $1,000.00

If you don't find the Niedersuss saddle you were looking for, please check back again soon.

Measuring Your Horse for A Saddle

Horse Talk — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:49:06 +0000

What type saddle you buy, whether it is for roping, or barrel racing or trail riding or dressage, your saddle needs to fit first your horse, and then you. So first you must determine what tree size would fit your horse best. (The tree is the skeleton over which your saddle will be constructed.)

We recommend that you use a 42cm (about 16 ½”) long flexible piece of wire, such as solder, electrical wire, or perhaps a coat hanger to measure your horses' withers. Bend the wire in the middle and place it two fingers behind your horse’s shoulder blade, which is also where you should be placing your saddle. (If you walk your horse for a few steps to see the rotation, or feel for the heavy bone below the withers, you can easily locate the shoulder blade.)

Bend your wire over the withers, right at the edge of the shoulder blade. Once you have measured the "V" shape over the withers, pressing the wire firmly into shape (so it doesn’t spring open when you take it off your horse's back) then carefully lay the wire down, and measure the distance between the two ends of the wire. This is the width you need to get the proper size saddle for your horse.

English tree dimension are measured in centimeters. A narrow tree is 28 cm (for a very high withered horse), standard is 29 cm (this is for a high withered horse), medium is 30 cm (slightly above average withers), wide is 31 cm (for average withers), and extra-wide is 32 cm (for a low wither horse). If your horse is a draft type breed, and measured extra-wide, you will most likely need a 32 cm tree size.

Most good English saddles will provide the centimeter measurement for you, but some less expensive saddles will simply use the medium, wide, extra-wide scale. But remember, the tree measurement must be provided by the manufacturer, as you can't measure the tree once the saddle is assembled.

To check the size for you, the rider, on an English saddle - sit down in a chair, so that your upper leg is at a right-angle to your lower leg, then measure your upper leg length ...from the back of your buttock to the tip of your knee. The sizes of an English saddle are from 16" through 18" - a measurement from the nail head just below the pommel and the middle of the cantle. If your upper leg is up to 16 1/2" your seat size is 15". For up to 18 ½" your size is 16", up to 20" your size is 16 ½", up to 21 ½" your size is 17", up to 23" your size is 17 ½" and over 23" your seat is 18".

Western saddle trees are available in basically two sizes, medium or wide. These are referred as semi-quarter horse bars, or full quarter horse bars. There are specialty trees for Arabians, gaited horses, drafts, and specialty performance events (like endurance), but the quarter horse trees are the most common. Quarter horses out number all other breeds combined in the USA.

Quarter Horse Bar or Semi Quarter Horse Bar is by far the most common tree. It has a higher pitch as opposed to the flatter pitch for FQHB. It is for a medium backed, average withered horse, which usually has a mixed heritage (1/2 Arab or other mixes). QH/Semi QH bars usually have the higher pitched angles, with a gullet of 6 ½" to 6 ¾" medium tree.

The Full Quarter Horse Bar (which usually has a 7" gullet) is used for broad backs and sometimes mutton-withered Quarter Horses. Full Quarter Horse Bar Saddles will usually have a flatter pitch than the Quarter Horse Bar.

Arab Saddle has the same gullet as a QHB, but needs a flatter pitch angle than a QHB, short backs need the same gullet as the FQHB, but with the flatter pitch angle, and drafts need an 8" gullet with a wide tree.

On a Western saddle, the rider measures seat size by weight. The sizes run from 13" to 18" - and are measured from the back of the pommel (swell) to the stitching on the cantle. If rider weighs up to 85 pounds the seat size is 13", for up to 110 lbs a 14" seat would be a good choice. For up to 145 lbs the size is 15", for up to 175 lbs. the size is 16", up to 205 lbs. the seat is 17" and anyone over 205 lbs should use a size 18". Always err on the large size. Better to have a saddle seat a little too large, than a little too small.

The saddle should sit squarely down the middle of the horses back supported by the panels. The spine is not made to carry weight directly on it. It should always clear the withers (at least 1 ½" on a high-withered horse). The most common fault of an ill fitting saddle is having the seat too small for the rider, forcing the rider to sit at the back of the saddle, putting pressure on the horse's back.

Keep in mind these are general sizes. Unfortunately there are no standard sizes for saddles so each saddle maker has leeway in determining the tree size for his saddles. Also remember, a used saddle will widen somewhat, and will not be the same size as a saddle that is not broken in.

Getting The Proper Girth or Cinch Fit

Horse Talk — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:47:02 +0000

Whether you ride English or Western, your girth or cinch is an important part of your tack. It keeps your saddle securely on your horse and you firmly on top of the saddle. A properly-fitted girth is essential to your safety and the health of your horse.

It's important to purchase the correct girth and while you could simply take your horse to the saddlery, you're also going to pay a higher price. There is a simple way to make sure you get the correct size girth for your horse. All you need is a tape measure and if you can find them, an extra set of hands.

Have your horse stand on a level surface. Pass the tape measure around his body where the girth will rest---between his elbows and withers. Make the two ends meet and pull it snugly. Take a look at the number. This is your horse's heart girth.

Now, divide this number by 2, round up to the nearest whole number and then subtract 3. This your horses' girth. And since cinches and girths only come in even number sizes, you would round up to the next even number size.

Train Your English Horse Western

Horse Talk — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:54:24 +0000

When training your horse in a different discipline than he is accustom to, there is one thing to remember. Cues/Aids/Signals are just communication between you and the horse. It doesn't matter what type saddle or bridle you use, you are still simply communicating with your horse.

The different tack style on your horse will affect how sensitive your horse will be to the cues/aids/signals you give. For instance, a western saddle will leave less of your leg in contact with your horse's side - muting your communication somewhat. But as long as the rider is trained to properly cue/aid/signal the horse - keeping in mind the amount of pressure needed considering the amount of 'saddle' there is between your leg and your horse there should be little if any communication problem.

Now the reins are a little different. All horses, when they are first trained to be ridden, are taught to steer by "direct rein." The rider holds one rein in each hand and pulls one rein to position the horse's head to the side to initiate a turn. If the horse will be taught to neck rein, this will happen later in the training.

Probably the easiest way to teach your horse how to neck rein is first to assume your horse will understand from the beginning. Then lay the rein against his neck as you would if he already understood and gently guide him by direct reining, only as much as needed to communicate your desired action, at the same time.

Remember to do everything you normally would with your seat and legs as you lay the rein softly against the neck. He will quickly begin associating the commands. It should only take a day or so.

Teach only one direction at a time - while walking - and once he masters turning to the right at a walk then work on learning the same thing to the left at a walk. (Horses can't transfer information from one side of the body to the other.) Then do the same thing while trotting and so on.

Passier Grand Gilbert Saddle

Horse Talk — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:27:30 +0000

The leather quality is superb and the Passier Grand Gilbert Saddle offers great support. It's an excellent saddle, especially for taller riders. These saddles which also seem to fit hard to fit, high-withered horses, seem to fit every horse they are put on as well. The Passier Grand Gilbert Saddle is without a doubt worth every penny!

Passier Grand Gilbert 175 Dressage Saddle
US $1,200.00

Passier Grand Gilbert Nicole Dressage Saddle 165
US $1,500.00

USED PASSIER GRAND GILBERT 175 MEDIUM DRESSAGE SADDLE
US $1,995.00

NEW PASSIER NICOLES GRAND GILBERT DRESSAGE SADDLE 175
US $1,900.00

Passier Nicole Grand Gilbert Dressage Saddle 175
US $1,500.00

Passier Grand Gilbert Used Dressage 17 MW $1200
US $1,200.00

Used Passier Grand Gilbert Dressage Saddle 165 Brown
US $1,150.00

NEW PASSIER GRAND GILBERT EXTRA DRESSAGE SADDLE 18
US $2,999.00

NEW RARE PASSIER GRAND GILBERT DRESSAGE SADDLE 185 M
US $1,900.00

NEW HARD TO FIND PASSIER GRAND GILBERT DRESSAGE SADDLE
US $1,900.00

Tipperary Helmet

Horse Talk — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:58:02 +0000

If you are looking for a great buy on a Tipperary Helmet, you have come to the right place. Here are the ones we have on sale today.

If you do not find the specific Tipperary Helmet you are looking for, try modifying your search.

NEW Tipperary Sportage 8500 Helmet Large Carbon Gray
US $59.90

NEW Tipperary Sportage 8500 Helmet Medium Navy
US $59.90

Helmet Tipperary Sportage Plus 8000 Horse Safety BRN
US $69.99

Medium Navy Blue Tipperary Helmet
US $10.00

NEW Tipperary Sportage 8500 Helmet Large Navy Blue
US $59.90

Tipperary Sportage Plus Horse Riding Safety Helmet SNB
US $62.95

NEW Tipperary Sportage 8500 Helmet Navy Large
US $64.95

Tipperary Sportage 8500 Vented Helmet S Clr Nvy
US $59.90

Tipperary Equestrian Sportage Plus Riding Helmet
US $54.00

ITS BACK Tipperary SPORTAGE 8500 Helmet NAVY BLUE
US $59.95

Can You Switch a Horse From Western to English Style Riding?

Horse Talk — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:04:42 +0000

People often want to know if you have to buy a horse which has been trained in a specific type discipline or if you can buy a horse and then switch the style later. And the answer is - most of the time it will work.

This is definitely a time when you want to try it before you buy it. Just like us, horses have their own personalities. Many people ride a horse both western and English style and have no problem - even when they have an older horse who was always been ridden one way or the other, most of it's life. But others have horses who simply don't seem to understand.

When you ride English style, you have a great deal more leg to side contact with the horse (your leg, their side) and if the horse is very sensitive, he might interpret the contact as aids/signals from you. And of course when that's not what you want the horse would be quite confused.

Horses that have been ridden by beginners or trained by people who aren’t as light and careful with their aids/signals, will be more forgiving. You can always train the horse to accept and understand the added contact, but when you're trying out the horse and as you begin working with your new horse you should be cognizant of this difference.