If your current equipment fits the horse and is comfortable, keep
using it. Use this equipment until you find that you *Need* something
else. Look at the equipment of other people at rides and evaluate
what you think of it, but don't just jump in a buy something new
because it says "endurance" on it. I've seen people competing with
full heavy western saddles.
I have a 15(more like 14.3)
> hand QH/Arab gelding who uses a standard tree saddle. I have both a
> Collegiate Senior Event Saddle and a Bighorn used western pleasure saddle.
> My horse has a weaker lower back, so I always use a "foamy" for his back
> when I ride.
You may find that doing a bit of dressage type of work in the arena
will help that lower back a lot (both his and yours).
> I own two leather bridles(one english with a full cheek
> snaffle and one western show bridle I got for $20, but it is a Circle Y!).
> I don't own a breastplate (or collar), and I know that that is one thing I
> will need! What is your opinion on leather vs nylon vs biothane? I know
> that leather breaks if the horse is caught on something, but it is also
> harder to care for and can get ruined on trail rides. Any input and/or
> endurance catalog #s would be greatly appreciated!
Leather lasts a long time if you do just a little bit of maintanence.
For my leather girth, all I do is wipe it down to keep it clean.
Same for the bridle. When new, you have to work a bit to get the
leather cleaned of shipping gunk, oiled and protected. But after that,
a damp cloth after each use or when needed will do the trick. I've
never seen a trail ride ruin a good piece of leather.
Be a bit careful of nylon. Make sure there is nothing that will
rub the horse. Nylon will last forever, but, it has sharp edges.
People who use biothane tend to swear by it.
-- Wendy\|/ /\ -O- /**\ /|\ /****\ /\ / \ /**\ Here there be dragons / /\ / \ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\/\/\ /\ / / \ / \ / \/\/ \/ \ /\/ \/\ /\ /\/ / / \/ \ / / \/ /\ \ / \ \ / \/ / / \/ \/ \ / \ \ / / \/ \/\ \ / \ / / \ __/__/_______/___/__\___\__________________________________________________
Wendy Milner HPDesk: wendy_milner@hp4000 Training Development Engineer HP-UX: wendy@fc.hp.com Mail Stop 46 Telnet: 229-2182 3404 E. Harmony Rd. AT&T: (970) 229-2182 Fort Collins, CO, 80525 FAX: (970) 229-4292