How To Tack A Horse

A Thoroughbred Partnership’s Trainer Shows How To Tack A Horse

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Have you ever wondered what all the different pieces of equipment are when tacking a horse before training? Or maybe you have never noticed all the different pieces that are necessary to getting a horse ready for a morning workout. For thoroughbred partnership Blinkers On Racing Stable’s trainer, Mike Puype, he likes to use the same equipment for jogging, galloping, and breezing during morning training.

The first piece of equipment is called the shammie. The shammie is a small cloth that is applied directly to the back of the horse and is used to keep the saddle from slipping off the horse’s back. This piece is obviously very important to the safety of the horse and the rider. Applying this piece properly is imperative. Next, the saddle cloth is placed on top of the shammie. The saddle cloth acts as a protective layer for the horse. Without this piece the rider’s legs and boots would constantly rub against the horse and irritate its body. Then, the pad is placed on top of the saddle cloth which is used as a cushion for both the rider and the horse, so there is not direct contact with the saddle to the horse’s back.

Once the pad is placed the saddle is ready to go on. The saddle lies directly on top of the pad and it is also very important how this piece is placed on the horse. In order to secure the saddle a strap known as the girth must connect from one side of the saddle and be pulled under and around the horse’s girth and tightened like a belt to the other side of the saddle. This girth also has a protective pad around it so it won’t irritate the horse’s body when it is tightened. During training the girth does not need to be as tight as it would be for a race but still needs to be secure or the saddle will come out of alignment.

After the saddle is secure there are a few more pieces that Blinkers On horse racing partnership trainer Mike Puype likes to use. Attached to the reins he uses a small triangle piece that each side of the resins is threaded through and sits right by the horse’s chest. This piece is called the martingale which gives the rider more control of the horse and restricts the horse from being able to raise its head to certain level. He likes to use this piece so the rider can have more control of the horse, especially if the horse is excited or a little tougher to train.

In addition, Mike likes to use bell boots and polos for jogging and when a horse is taken over to the paddock before a race. Both bell boots and polos are used as protective equipment that keep the horse from striking its front hoof with its back or striking its front leg with its back legs. The bell boots are rubber covers that sit on top of and cover the hooves, protecting the horse from grabbing a quarter (striking the bottom of their front hoof with their back hoof). The polos are cloth wraps that are wrapped around the front ankles and cannon bones of the horse and also act as a protective piece of equipment. Now that the horse is fully tacked, they are ready to hit the track for morning training! To watch Mike Puype explain how a horse gets tacked in the morning click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZExHpGWmWzw&list=PL3BE7DB2384165BD4&index=2&feature=plpp_video

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!