Tacky Tack of the Day

My Mayhew

2012-01-23T13:00:00.000-08:00

Well, the old girl has been dated. My side saddle was built in 1912, on Sept the 9th to be exact. It will be a hundred years old this fall. It is currently with Lillian Chaudhary being restored. She sent me this pic of the manufacturing label.

Everything inside the saddle is good, no real structural damage. The moths just had a good go at the wool flocking. Om Nom Nom...

Looks sturdy to me!

2011-12-29T08:20:00.000-08:00

Or not. These things look like they would fall the hell apart the first time you rode them. And how, pray tell, are you supposed to get ON them without a tall mounting block? They look like they would just spin round and round the horse. It's a glorified bareback pad. I don't like the look of them at all, they just seem so, fall apart, like they are held together with Velcro. Oh wait, they usually are.

The Great Debate

2011-12-28T12:24:00.000-08:00

The slaughter debate is raging over on Fugly, so I thought I would post my take on it here. This was actually the item I sent in as my "tryout" post for the blog.

The news that horse slaughter was again made legal has hit the news. Obama has signed a bill funding horse meat inspections and it is expected that slaughter plants will reopen and new ones will be built in the coming months.

News Articles - http://technorati.com/lifestyle/article/obama-legalizes-horse-slaughter-for-human/

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20111130/NEWS11/111130006/horse-butcher-consumption?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

This is, of course, a very controversial issue and has opponents and supporters alike. Most horse owners are vehemently against it, stating that horses are like cats and dogs and should be exempt from our diet. In reality, horses straddle a very “gray” area legally. They are technically livestock, but most horse owners view them as family members and pets. There are many cultures that consume horse meat, as well as cultures that will not eat things we consume daily, like cattle and swine. It is important to keep in mind that America is a melting pot, and that many people from many cultures live here. Who are we to say that they cannot follow their own dietary preferences?

As to the topic of slaughter and its impact on the horse industry; no, we don’t like to think of our beloved ponies going to the plant. In fact, horses that have a good home, are successful in their given sport, are well trained, quiet mounts, etc. will keep their places for the most part. There will always be those unscrupulous breeders/owners that will haul an animal to the auction when it is no longer useful, there is nothing that can be done about that, but really, would you rather see them shipped to Mexico or Canada, enduring countless hours of transport to the border to be loaded on double deckers to meet their grim fate at the hands of a knife wielding Mexican slaughterhouse worker or to be transported to a more local plant that can be regulated?

I am not “pro-slaughter”; I am pro-logical solution. You have to remove the emotion, step back and evaluate things in a logical manner. This is hard, I know. But do try.

If we allow the plants to open, require stricter monitoring of the transport, holding, and slaughter procedures; appoint state-approved veterinary supervision of each plant on a full-time basis. Make inspections a regular and closely scrutinized. Require retrofitting of old plants to handle the specific needs that horses present (keep in mind that most current plants were built to handle cattle) and make specific requirements that must be met to build and operate new plants. Put in place regulations regarding condition of the animals to be shipped, make it illegal to ship horses of inadequate body condition and of poor health.

Let’s face it; there are thousands of “surplus” horses in the country. Many are the products of indiscriminate breeding, the racing industry, and the collapse of the economy. The ideal situation in most horse owner’s minds is to have them living out their lives on a farm, running free for the rest of their time on the earth. The reality is, these places do not exist. Do you want a couple of dozen unwanted horses dropped off at your place to have to feed and care for for the next 20 or so years? No one does, that is the problem. Horse rescues can only do so much; there is not an unlimited number of homes willing or able to take a horse that may never be rideable or useable in any way. Horses are expensive pets, we all know that.

One solution suggested by many advocates is low cost euthanasia. Ok, so now you have 1000 lbs of poisoned carcass, now what? Rendering is not free, neither are most landfills (I have been involved in a situation involving euthanasia and a landfill, not pretty), many areas do not allow burial of large animals, many owners have nowhere to bury a horse, and you can’t just dump it in the woods or the back pasture as it can poison scavenging wildlife and local dogs. There is also a risk of groundwater contamination. One means of low cost/free euthanasia is often viewed as too violent and traumatic to the owners. Euthanasia by bullet is very effective and humane, if done correctly. However, finding someone willing to perform this task that can do so reliably is difficult, and once again you have 1000 lbs of carcass, albeit untainted by poison, to dispose of. Burial is an option, as is rendering, neither of which is inexpensive. Burying a horse usually involves the use of heavy earth moving equipment and a suitable location away from groundwater supplies. The carcass can be donated to schools if there are universities nearby that are interested, but this is usually not a viable option. While some big cat rescues will take the remains to feed to their animals, many horse owners find this repulsive.

The slaughter plants could provide a pressure release valve to the overpopulation of unwanted horses in this country. It is not a nice thing to consider, most horse owners are horrified at the very thought. However, there IS a place for them. I believe that if handled carefully and regulated closely they can again become a viable solution for the excess horses that are currently starving because the owners can no longer feed them, that are unsuitable as mounts or pets, that are abandoned to fend for themselves, and that are trucked thousands of miles to suffer a long trailer ride, a stay in an overcrowded feed lot and a cruel death in a foreign plant.

I love horses, I love my horses more than anything in the world. I would NEVER allow one of mine to suffer the indignity of a slaughterhouse. Most horse owners will say the same thing. These are not the horses we are discussing. Yes, there still will be horses that were once champions and beloved companions going to slaughter. These will not be the majority. Each plant should be required to check each horse for identification marks or microchips and confirm that the horse was legally sold by the current owner. Once a horse leaves your possession to live with a new owner, you have relinquished control of that animal unless there was a contract stating otherwise. If you are uncomfortable with that concept, don’t sell your horse. If you can no longer care for it or no longer want it, but are afraid of it going to slaughter eventually if you sell it, put on your big girl/boy underpants and take responsibility for its fate. Euthanize the animal and see to the disposal of the remains, and realize that you are going to have to pay for any expenses incurred.

It is a cold, harsh truth, but it is just that, truth. There are more horses in this country than can ever be absorbed. Think about what I have said, logically, for a while. Do you have a better solution?

The Treeless Wonder

2011-12-12T08:55:00.000-08:00

Now in hair on leopard print cowhide! YAY!

Is anyone else frightened at the very idea of actually USING this to ride? I would be safer bareback, thanks.

It's that time of year again...

2011-12-09T07:31:00.000-08:00

...Yep, it's huntin' season again! Time for the barrage of camo saddles to begin. Though this one looks like it was done with markers by a five year old Craptackistani child. At least the seat and swells are black, you know, so you don't lose it in the woods. Though I personally think it should have blaze orange accents myself. That would just make it the awesome, am I right?

It hurts the eyes...

2011-12-05T12:53:00.000-08:00

...and kind of gives me a headache. If they had stuck with purple and black or purple and tan it might not be so painful. Maybe. It almost looks like the bottom skirt is synthetic, but I can't tell.

You know, it IS possible to...

2011-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

...train your horse to do what you require without the use of bits like this. Really, it is. You could cut a tongue OFF with this sucker, look how thin that mouthpiece is. You should NEVER use something like this on a horse that is not finished, and even then, I would ask why. A finished horse shouldn't need this anyway. I shudder at the thought of how many speed horses out there have relatively inexperienced owners, little training, and less control have these shoved in their mouth, their heads tied down and the rider holding onto the reins for dear life.

Unsafe and Unridable Abomination

2011-11-28T08:18:00.000-08:00

Click the pic to go to Lelia's sidesaddle blog where she has a truly Tacky side saddle (I use this term loosely) posted with commentary. It is a prime example of what NOT to buy. Craptackistani make, completely WRONG, unridable, uncomfortable, and unsafe. NEVER NEVER NEVER buy a side saddle from Craptackistan folks. EVER. With the exception of the Elan sold by Hundred Oaks, which is a good saddle, they are all CRAP.

Um, why?

2011-11-22T07:11:00.000-08:00

Really Hilason? Why? I doubt seriously you can actually RIDE this creation without destroying it, it is white, and a Native American motif on a modern western saddle. It just looks funky. We all know it is not hand beaded or quilled, and we all know it came from Craptackistan. Heck, the jockey on this side is not even attached in the correct place.

This Reminds Me...

2011-11-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

Of some of the saddles that used to come with my My Little Ponies when I was a kid. I can't imagine anyone actually using this. Not only does it look cheaply made, it is positively hideous.

See the similarities?

I'm Back

2011-11-16T11:32:00.001-08:00

Long time, no post. But fear not! I am still kicking. I have just been very preoccupied with stuff lately. I have spent a lot of time doing SCA activities with my horses, showing, and just generally riding. Here are some recent pics of the SRF and I last weekend at Gleann Abhann Fall Crown List. We did an Equestrian demo for the populace and explained some of the ins and outs of what we do.

And here is some TACKY for you!

Look, it even has their phone number so you can order one just like it!!

Confused

2011-09-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

This saddle looks very confused, it is like the bastard child of a Buena Vista and a western. Very odd looking. That horn looks like it just can't wait to catch some unwary male in the "nads" when the horse makes a sudden stop.

It amazes me...

2011-08-31T07:51:00.000-07:00

...how one company can provide SO MUCH scary looking tack to this blog. How many times have we seen their products here? They must keep the factories in Craptackistan working night and day to produce this stuff. Also, HOW exactly do you get leather to be this color? I can just imagine the cracking and flaking of the finish, not to mention the high quality leather and padding. However, if you feel you just can't do without, they kindly post their toll free number on EVERYTHING.

Show report and side saddle...

2011-08-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

My Mayhew Lissadell came in! It fits us PERFECTLY. It is night and day compared to the Elan. I don't feel in any way unbalanced or precariously perched. It needs some work, more than I expected from the photos/description. I used it Saturday for a show and was tightening the offside billets when the front one snapped off in my hand! Completely dry-rotted. Thankfully we were standing still. I patched it up and rode the class anyway. Rode it again yesterday, using the remaining two offside billets (and praying) and the rear billet on the nearside ripped! Emailed the seller and getting a partial refund for repairs. It will NOT be sent back, MINE.

As for the show, it was the GQ's first time out. He did very well, coming in third in Hunter Under Saddle, and though he participated in and tried his best to do Horsemanship, he was beaten by the more experienced horses. He did so well though! No spooking, he tried as hard as he could to do what he thought was being asked. He was just so ADD, looking around like a llama. But he maintained a calm attitude the whole time, just very interested in his surroundings.

The SRF had a poor showing in the Open Gaited class, deciding in the lineup that she would rather scream and holler and bounce around because the GQ was nearby than to stand quietly. Sigh. We came in fourth. The Slow Gaited class (think gaited WP) was better, we came in third. She also had an excellent round of speed events, running just over 10 seconds on speed, 32.something on poles (first time EVER), and a 23.something on barrels, for the third time in her life. Can't complain. We came in third in speed. Little gaited horse can run!

The show was very laid back and relaxed, and the prizes were HORSE FEED!! 2 sacks for first, one for second and third, and a prize out of the supply box (contained electrolytes, show sheen, fly spray, etc) or a feed bucket for fourth and fifth! We came home with 3 bags of $15 plus dollar a bag feed and a small container of electrolytes. Not too shabby. Sorry for the lack of pics, we both forgot our cameras!!

And now, some gratuitous tacky tack for you...

Yes, denim.

Finally found a use for this saddle...

2011-08-17T13:37:00.000-07:00

I may possibly have found the only real use for this particular saddle...

maybe if you put it on this guy, he might feel almost level...

See, there is a practical side to everything! LOL

MINE!!

2011-08-16T13:54:00.001-07:00

Finally, it is within my grasp, or nearly so. My Mayhew Lissadell. It is on its way to me. I will finally have an "old name" side saddle. It has a couple of patches to the doeskin and a couple of dings here and there, but otherwise is fine, and it is MINE...ALL MINE...MWA HA HA HA!

Now must wait until Friday without going crazy!

Photos by the seller, Cherry Blossom Farm

Someone actually USED this...

2011-08-05T08:10:00.000-07:00

...and I feel sorry for their poor horse. How embarrassing. Not only does it have the unnecessary addition of a horn (on an Aussie, really? You need a HORN on an Aussie?) but also the misfortune of being painted a hideous shade of Pepto pink. It was sold USED on ebay, yes, someone else bought it, again. I am sure it is of Craptackistani make, as the "tooling" seems to be of the kind, and along with the painted pink leather, just screams quality.

Been Awhile

2011-08-04T08:14:00.000-07:00

Life has been hectic lately. Moved barns, away from the drunken owner and her lack of give - a - damn. Never have I seen a supposed horse owner/trainer/barn owner who knew so little about basic horse husbandry.

Currently in the process of buying a "real" sidesaddle, a Mayhew Lissadell and selling my Elan. I finally found a saddle that fits my looong legs and the SRF's back.

Have finally gotten my dad's QH gelding Sonny, up here to start putting him through boot camp to make a lower level hunter/jumper/event horse out of him. He is so cute, a little red dun with primitive markings and a big ol' white face. Unfortunately, he is very immature and requires a much more "forward" ride than the SRF. I believe I will call him GQ, for Goofy Quarter Horse. I rode the GQ last night and the night before, he seems very willing to please and not too spooky, though he LOOKS at everything and has the attention span of a gnat. But, he is only 5, and in gelding years that's like, 2.

Finally got around to checking my TackyTack emails and have some more stuff to share!

Enjoy! (I guess?)

You know, I think my grandma had a sofa made from this same fabric, circa the 1970's.

Elan on eBay

2011-08-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

I have listed my Elan side saddle on eBay click here - http://cgi.ebay.com/21-Elan-Side-Saddle-TB-Wide-Tree-/300584626387?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fc3d68d3#ht_500wt_949

21" Elan Side Saddle for Sale

2011-07-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

FINALLY! I found an "Old Name" saddle that fits me and the SRF! It is a Mayhew Lissadell with the outside girthing system in a 23.5" seat! WOO HOO!

To help fund this purchase I am offering my Elan for sale, here is a description...

I have for sale a 21" seat Elan side saddle in Havana brown with a tan suede seat. It is on the TB Wide tree and has about a 6.5 inch gullet. It is in excellent condition and has no major marks or tears on it. There are some scuffs on the leather lining of the flocking, but they are not visible when the saddle is on the horse. I have shown in it a couple of times and done some trail riding and jumping. I removed the overgirth but still have it if the buyer wishes to have their saddler reattach it. It simply had the stitching removed and was not cut or damaged in any way. It comes less stirrup and balance strap but I will include a 46" trifold leather girth which I paid $85 for and has only been used about 3 times. I am asking $650 for the saddle and girth plus shipping to your address.

Classy

2011-06-06T12:50:00.000-07:00

I am glad the horse's identity is hidden by the camera, how embarrassing. I like leopard print, don't get me wrong, I rather like the seat on this one done in this print, it reminds me of some ofthe medieval middle eastern saddles, good for the SCA, the whole thing done in leopard print, and perched on a Confederate flag saddle pad is just hideous. Thanks to Michelle for pointing this one out. Wonder if it too hails from Craptackistan?

Jungle Fever -

2011-05-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

Apparently what these saddle makers suffer from.

Shockingly Pink

2011-05-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

Another lovely *cough* piece from the intrepid saddle makers in Craptackistan. This one hurts to look at, the searing pink flowers just kind of burn the retinas.

Craptackistan

2011-05-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

[krap-tak-uh-stahn] (noun) a subcontinent in South Asia well known for producing low quality, unattractive, ill fitting, and often structurally unsound horse equipment.

Examples -

Thank you cattypex for coining this term!

Rainbow Brite

2011-05-18T08:25:00.000-07:00

Endurance saddle, made in India (surprise!) and available in a nauseating array of colors. Some are tolerable, some are, well, painful to look at. Click to embiggen.

Return of the camo...

2011-05-17T12:54:00.001-07:00

Been awhile since I have seen anything new on the camo front. This one is very, um, stylized in pattern. RealTree it ain't.

SUCCESS!

2011-05-16T14:02:00.001-07:00

Well, I have succeeded in finding a horse show association that welcomes aside riders! The Association of Northwest Arkansas Riding Clubs have been very welcoming and nice. They already have one aside rider and are excited to have another! THANK YOU ANWARC! Also the MidState Horse Show Association, part of the same parent organization as the CAHSA group has welcomed my inquiry regarding riding in their Ladies Gaited class aside. I have written and submitted an article to a local horse magazine the Horseman's Roundup concerning riding aside and how to get started. Hopefully it will get published within the next couple of issues. So things are looking up!

Arkansas Gaited Horse Show Association

2011-05-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

Here is their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Arkansas-Gaited-Horse-Show-Association/160532523966577

I would love for other aside (or heck even astride) riders to go speak their mind and to point out the fact that if they are using TWHBEA rules they should allow side saddle riders.

Per TWHBEA rules, side saddles ARE ALLOWED in all flat shod classes.

According to Sue at Side Saddle Heaven...

TWHBEA has included/accepted/publicized/appreciated sidesaddle in flat-shod classes since the Versatility Program was begun in the late 1970's/early 1980's.

Ah, and now we see the reason...

2011-05-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

He could not have more strongly reenforced a stereotype if he had outright stated, "We don't want none uv yer edjicatin, we're all a bunch of ignert hicks and we like it that way!" (pronounce it phonetically)

Learn and listen,I don't care what you do or who you do it with,but your not gonna do it with us!you go argue somewhere else and cause trouble somewhere else,I don't want to deal with you period!!!!!!!!!! You want attention And someone somewhere has time to mess with you I don't!!!all you've done us try to get everyone to think like you and adapt to your thinking,it won't happen here!! We have rules for a reason,it's clear to me your special and think we' should change the format to accommodate just you,now you need to go bother someone who gives a shit about your cause,you don't have a fight here because you dont need to belittle yourself messing with a bunch of people that are not as smart or as educated as yourself!!! Now you get on down the road and quit stirring up shit!!! We can pick and choose who we deal with and your out! Don't send or call or mail or send a damn carrier pigeon, I don't want to hear from you!!!now since you have this where you can reference to , anytime you feel the need to contact us in the future read this!!!! Because we' dont want to hear from you period!!! Not Now not tomorrow next week next year!!!!! Any further contact to push your ideas or you self on this club will be considered harassment and will be dealt with as such!!!! Do you get it now!!!! Leave us the he'll alone!!!! Kenny

Wow, what a shining example to represent their organization.

Oh, the truth will tell...

2011-05-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

I sent you an email last night,I just wanted to make sure we had answered your questions! The link you sent that was a woman that was unhappy at the charity show, I went back and checked the records and her story is more made up than Cinderella, there was no stake class she was in and she was the fool that was excused out of a padded stake championship class riding a flatsjod horse, you made comment about the rules, most are handed down from twhbea you might want to start there to change the rules, ours follow theirs, it seems. Strange to me I've had more trouble out of you and have never met you than all the people that I do deal with!! Some things you've said raise red flags, you want people to notice and say stuff about you are you wouldn't try to be so foreign in your tack ,your dress and your ideas, your gonna reap what you sow ,I'm just not interested in dealing with you,I learned enough from sat night and a few years ago at searcy at a Shetland show ,I don't think we need to have Christmas dinner together anymore!!! We are on different pages! - Kenny McGowan, President AGHSA

My reply...

Actually, sir. You very clearly have me confused with someone else. I have never been to a Shetland show, I have only lived in the state for a couple of years and only had my horse here for one year. I have never shown in Arkansas or at all anywhere in the past 10 years, or had any contact with local horse people before Saturday.

As to using TWHBEA rules, according to them, an English side saddle is approved tack. The only banned saddle is the Australian stock saddle.

As for the rest, yes I want people to look and ask questions. It is called education and public outreach. This lack of knowledge illustrates the need for education and exposure to new ideas. Reap what I sow? Education, new ideas, history? Ok, I will reap those things, gladly.

As for my "foreign" appearance, the only difference between my riding habit and appropriate TWHBEA dress is the apron/skirt. Normal TWH show attire in English classes is also pants or side saddle skirt/apron, shirt, vest, coat and bowler hat.

Ah, blissful ignorance.

Good 'Ol Boys Club

2011-05-10T10:14:00.000-07:00

My recent conversations to the president of the Arkansas Gaited Horse Show Association after being told I can come show but being familiar with my "equipment" that I would not be allowed to use the side saddle to show in the English tack classes. There was a misunderstanding at the local show Saturday night and I had to ask the judge a question, and when I asked to see the rule book because I did not remember reading that, I was told there was not one available at the show (??). Apparently this qualifies as poor conduct and I am a bad, evil person now. I had spoken to Ms. McBride and been told it was not an issue, then that was rescinded and rules were suddenly different. Hmmm...

Please forward this to whomever you wish, especially the President as I seem to have lost the contact info and name and my phone is on the fritz at the moment, not to mention I hate talking on the phone...

"no one is going to get there panties in a wad because your horse doesnt have shoes on or because you ride an english side saddle. You can use the ausi stock saddle as well if you so choose. You wont be tied down at this show due to any tack restrictions or shoeing regulations. I am the show manager so anything else that you need to know feel free to ask." - Lisa McBride

Apparently they sure will...

This all just seems a bit too odd to me. It seems that certain rules can made and changed to suit.

I understand that some things are new and different, but NO WHERE in the CAHSA rules could I find anything prohibiting side saddles. It is still an English saddle, whether the legs are on one side or both. I can ride it, I am safe on it, and it is appropriate for the discipline, it was not a Western side saddle in an English class. When I found out that indeed the class was Western only, I withdrew and forfeited my entry fee. I suspect the only reason the judge even placed me in the Ladies Gaited class is that I was the only one there, he barely looked at me, nor did he speak or acknowledge my presence in any way. When I was asked to line up on the judge he simply turned his back on me and walked away, leaving me standing in the middle of the ring like an idiot.

I understand now, upon further research, that the Slow Gaited class is gaited western pleasure, I had misread that before hand or had it confused with something else, eh, it happens. If I had a western side saddle still, I would have changed it, my bridle, and my clothes and ridden in the class,as the rule states, in western tack and attire, a western side saddle is still a western saddle, just as an English side saddle is an English saddle.

Many people were very inquisitive about my saddle and how I rode in it. I was hoping to have sparked some interest in aside riding. I had hoped to be able to carry it through the season and really get some interest going. Alas, that seems impossible.

I had several good reactions to my choice of tack and several not so nice ones. I was astonished to have some random man tell me that one of the ladies would, and I quote, "take that pole (referring to my riding cane, which, as I tried to explain, replaces the right leg in signaling your horse) and beat me with it if I waved it around (which I wasn't)". Threats of physical violence, how lovely. I also heard two fellow competitors discussing how they thought "that we had changed the rules to keep THOSE kind of people and horses out" referring to me. What the heck? They had just arrived and had never even SEEN me before. It's not like I had her up on stacks with chains and such, she is barefoot and natural. You can understand my frustration and aggravation after these incidents. This was BEFORE anything happened with the questions to the judge.

This sadly very much backs up what I have read on the internet concerning the AGHSA.

http://gaitedhorsesense.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=21246&posts=20

I have no idea what was said or what was done by my friend Caryne when she went to ask about the class Saturday. I was embarrassed to learn a few of the comments she had made, but I cannot change them, and she apologized to someone with whom there had been in a misunderstanding.

I suspect this is a simple misunderstanding blown far out of proportion. I also suspect that something new and different is found to be threatening and all possible ways to prevent it from coming around are being made. There are many riders that compete aside in multiple disciplines around the world on national and international levels including saddle seat, western, hunter, eventing, dressage and more. Most Equestrian communities are very open to new things. I think the local horse folks would enjoy bit of exposure to something different, expand the knowledge base a bit, broaden the horizons if you will.

I truly would have hoped that the local horse community would be welcoming to newcomers, new ideas, and to new things. Apparently this is not the case.

Next email to the President after his reply with his phone number.

Sir, I will and have not phoned, because I wish to have written record of all correspondence and it is much easier to put thoughts into words and maintain a cool head when you can look at things before sending. That being said...

If you have read the email forwarded to you by Ms. McBride, you know that I have an issue with the fact that I am being discriminated against for using an ENGLISH side saddle to ride in classes that require English tack and attire. What I use is first and foremost, an English saddle, just like any English saddle (there are many varieties), regardless of the location of my right leg. My attire was entirely correct for an informal English class, a riding habit in subdued, dark colors, white button up shirt, vest, coat, and bowler hat. Had it been a formal show I would have been required to wear a bow tie and top hat.

There was absolutely nothing wrong or illegal with my equipment or attire for the Ladies Gaited class at the CAHSA show, and since no one seems to actually posses a copy of the AGHSA rule book that can be emailed or posted online (of which I am doubtful is the case in 2011) and the only way I can get a copy is to pay Ms. McBride $40 for one, I am somewhat skeptical that it even mentions side saddles as no one around here seems to know anything about them. My bits are legal, if a bit odd looking to folks, it is a Weymouth bridle, used on Saddlebred horses and affords a great deal more control than a single curb bit even though it takes more skill to handle correctly.

My horse was calm, controlled, and well behaved. She was not in pain, stressed, upset or dangerous. My seat was stable and I was in no danger of falling off or injury, I showed her to the best of my ability, even though we were the only one in the class, and was completely snubbed by the judge.

For future reference side saddles come in both English and Western styles, they are shown, excepting Equitation classes where the rider and not the horse is judged, the exact same as an astride saddle of the same type. The horse is the focus of the classes in most cases. If I were jumping I would use a jumping side saddle, as I am riding saddle seat, I am using a pleasure or park type cut-back side saddle, perfectly acceptable for a gaited horse. The "pole" as it was so crudely called, is a riding cane, it replaces the right leg aids when riding aside. It is necessary to communicate to the horse correctly.

Side saddle is making a huge comeback in the horse show world, many women prefer it for showing as it displays their skill and balance as well as emphasizing the elegance of the turnout. There may be a time when it is common in the area, it is part of Southern tradition as well. There was a time, not so long ago, where it was the only acceptable way for a woman to ride.

I again apologize for the terrible inconvenience and misunderstanding that asking questions caused, being new to the area and not having shown in 10 years, I have many questions and was terribly confused. I had been snubbed, physically threatened, and rudely treated that day and was understandably (at least to most people) frustrated. I was more than willing to let things go and enjoy the rest of the show. My friend and I had a blast doing barrel pick-up and I had loads of fun doing the exhibition barrels on my girl who had never seen a barrel pattern before, but who's dam was a champion barrel horse (yes, a gaited ASB was a champion barrel horse).

I had planned to continue to support your organizations by attending shows and promoting the overall fun atmosphere by encouraging fellow equestrians to get out and participate. However, it seems that neither organization is open to new people or ideas and all effort will be made to make them feel unwelcome, even before any misunderstanding arose. So all in all, it is really a moot point since it has been made absolutely clear that my English tack and attire is unacceptable for a class requiring English tack and attire, and that anyone new will be snubbed, threatened, and rudely talked about and generally made unwelcome.

My apologies for inconveniencing you or anyone else. Since I have been informed that I cannot ask questions of members or judges, I have not asked any more. Thank you for your time.

So, if anyone out there cares to weigh in, please email the president and speak your mind.

Show!

2011-05-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

The SRF and I at the local horse show. After this we ran barrels (astride), she had NEVER seen a barrel pattern in her life, knew exactly what to do. The Gift Horse's genes are strong in this one.

Show Canes for Sale

2011-04-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

I have two hand made show canes available for purchase. They are $45 each plus packaging and shipping in a custom storage tube.

The first is a gorgeous black handled one with the pink floral design has a lovely soft, black leather handle which is hand sewn on. It measures 43" long and could be shortened upon request.

The second is a 40" long cane with a lovely brass and glass knob. The handle is wrapped and hand sewn with a beige leather that affords an excellent grip. This is an elegant and unique piece and the flash of red on the handle is very eye catching.

I accept PayPal or money order. Email me at scaequestrian@yahoo.com for more information.

Another Floral Fiasco

2011-04-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

What is up with all the floral tack!? Yuck, this one has a PURPLE stirrup that doesn't even MATCH. Yuck.

Frustrating

2011-04-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just want to bang my head against a wall.

Some of you may know of the massive outbreak of tornadoes in the southeast. Arkansas was hit two weeks in a row. The storms Monday night in Central Arkansas, specifically in the Vilonia area, caused widespread damage. The aftermath has left dozens, if not hundreds, of displaced and/or injured pets and livestock. I spent Tuesday night until 12:30am at the temporary shelter they had set up, triaging horses with a volunteer vet that arrived after spending the ongoing storms in her safe room that afternoon. We both got out, drove over a half hour each, into the teeth of another tornado and flash flood-producing storm to help and what do we arrive to? Chaos. Absolute, utter chaos. Mongolian clusterfuck of the highest order. No organization, no leadership, nothing. My friend was handed a clipboard at 6pm with random notes on it, told "you are in charge now", and abandoned by the other volunteers in the face of oncoming bad weather. Not only was there no one actually doing anything when we arrived (except my friend and she was on the edge of losing her shit) except standing around and causing trouble. One lady was so rude and nasty to volunteers, donators, and people asking for help, that many left unaided.

Why? Why be like that and run off your help? Are you trying to be the sole savior? The animals are the ones who suffer in the end. When the vet arrived, she, my friend and I began working up the horses. The rude person hung around for a bit with her cronies making loud, rude observations then they wandered off not to be seen again. None of the horses had hay left, none had been fed, several had not so much as had anyone look at their wounds. We did what we could, gave Tetanus shots, cleaned at and wrapped wounds, applied topical treatment, gave antibiotics where indicated, sedated and treated several that were too worked up to be touched, hayed, fed, watered and bedded them down for the night. Then we drove home, only to have to get up and go to work in the morning. My friend went back the next day, and rude chick was there, full force. None of the horses had been checked, all needed hay and feed. My friend took care of them, told the rude chick off, and hooked up her trailer and left, warning me not to go up there again because of the rude person who was apparently the self-appointed "in charge" person. Apparently nothing was getting done, people were leaving unaided, with donations un-donated, and volunteers un-volunteering.

Look folks, if you are asking, nay pleading, for help. Don't leave the operation in the hands of someone like this! If you do you will suddenly find it VERY difficult to get people willing to help out in the event of another disaster.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2011-04-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

At least for a little while. My show got cancelled this past Saturday, no one wanted to play in the mud. There is another one this coming weekend, and unless it stops raining soon, it will likely be cancelled too. I plan to show the SRF aside in the local horse show association's Ladies Gaited class and I also plan to show her in the local gaited horse association's shows. We have been practicing diligently with the side saddle lately. I even took it on a trail ride Saturday in lieu of the cancelled show. I am sort of glad to have another week for more hair to shed off of her, she looks kind of moth-eaten at the moment. I am excited to do this, and I hope she behaves herself and doesn't have a nervous fit at all the new stuff. I have a riding habit pieced together, cost me all of about $65 and that includes a wool felt bowler hat (new) and a new vest and shirt. I got a blazer to use until I can get a day coat made and it cost me all of $5 at Goodwill. Yes we can do this on the cheap. I made a cute ribbon brow band for her with teal and purple ribbons and braided a set for her forelock and mane. The daycoat will be teal satin with the matte side out and will be lined in purple. How fun. Now if the weather will just cooperate!

Now, some Tacky Tack...

Sorry it's teeny, but I was unable to save a larger one. If I can find one I will update.

Parelli-sites

2011-04-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

Today's rant brought to you by all the Parelli Kool-Aid drinking people and the problem horses they create.

Pat Parelli is a snake oil salesman.

There I said it. It is my constitutional right to have this opinion, so get your knickers all twisted if you want, but it is.

I can't STAND Parellied horses. The ones belonging to the Kool-Aid drinkers are rude, pushy and spoiled to the point of being somewhat dangerous. I have worked with a few horses that have been Parrelied, one horse after 6 months was finally a somewhat normal horse that behaves, surprisingly, like a HORSE. Not like an over sized dog. When I started with her, she would literally knock you the hell off the mounting block every time you went to get on. She would frisk you for cookies and always had her face all up in your business. I am NOT a scratching post and made that very clear to her. She would also turn and nuzzle and chew on your foot while you were mounted, I couldn't figure out why until I saw one of the other folks doing it and praising their horse. It is not a sign of affection, and it turns into biting. She got caught, groomed, saddled and ridden, and if she was a VERY good girl, she MIGHT get a treat, one, when she is minding her own business. Now she is back in a Parelli only training program. Sigh.

There are a couple of other horses I know that are products of the Parelli snake-oil sales. The first we will call the Fuzzy Little Jerk. I have had this horse come at me with his little ears back and his evil little eyes narrowed more times than I care to count. Thankfully, I moved my mare to a different pasture. I was told to shake my finger at him and shoo him away. Yeah, right. He just looked at me and flattened his ears MORE. Someone overheard the owner telling a girl that was riding him not to try to make him so a particular exercise, he didn't look like he felt like doing it that day. Excuse me? Last time I checked, the horse doesn't really get an opinion on that unless he is sick or in pain. Another one shall be known as the Big Pushy Moose. This horse has NO ground manners. He won't pick up a foot for his owner without a struggle. We have watched her tug and beg and he just stands there. Myself and the other non-Kool-Aid-Drinking boarder could walk over, grab his chestnut, twist slightly, and volia, hoof lifted. Hmm. He will run you the hell over, he will swing his big ol' head around and knock you down, he will walk all over you and push you around. He is ALWAYS looking for cookies or candy in your pockets. No sense of personal space or respect for the handler.

NONE of the Parelli-sites' horses I have ever run across is a balanced, well behaved animal. They all seem to have issues with space and respect. Most of the "training" techniques make no sense nor do they seem to have practical application toward actually RIDING your horse. How standing for an hour and draping a bit of string attached to a $60 orange stick while holding onto the magical $80 rope halter does something for a horse I will never know. (I have witnessed this.) I am all for using their language to communicate with them when applicable, but for actual RIDING, the snake oil just doesn't seem to work.

I don't get it. I just don't...

New Creations

2011-04-21T18:25:00.000-07:00

Look what I made! A rocking sidesaddle cane! Want one like it? I can make one for you with any of the four toppers pictured for $40. The cane itself is bamboo lacquered a lovely dark red, the topper is firmly set into the end and the handle is wrapped in soft black leather. I can make them any length you want. Email me with questions or to reserve one. I can ship internationally and domestically. Shipping will be based upon your location. Cost of a shipping tube will be added to the shipping cost. This is NOT to be used for day to day riding, this is a show cane, the knobs are fragile, made of ceramic, brass inlaid with glass, or studded polyresin. I can also get the topper in plain white with an initial inscribed in black on it. Email for letter availability.

Floral Fail

2011-04-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

April showers bring...ugly flowers in this case. Check out the angle of that seat too. Ouch.

More Funky Tack

2011-04-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of our friends at Hilason. It looks like it has some kind of growths on it.

That looks comfortable...

2011-04-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

...or not. Treeless saddles like this scare me.

I'm Still Here

2011-04-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

Just busy, busy, busy!

Here is some gratuitous Tack for you to look at!

Elan Side Saddle

2011-03-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

Got it! It fits well and after a few adjustments as far as saddle pads goes it is quite stable now. It is a smidgen too small for me, but it works. I have had to add a queen to the upright head as well as my thigh was not comfortable against it. I have ridden it trail riding twice now with not much drama. I did have to use a breastplate the second time as it slid back considerably going uphill. I also have since removed the overgirth that holds the flaps down, with it on I could not tighten my girth from the saddle. I simply cut the stitching holding it on so it could be reattached later if need be. Sorry for the bad pics, they were taken with my phone. The Cashel pad pictured is for sale, it didn't work for us. I will take $55 for it plus $15 shipping.

Oh, and she is NOT tied by her reins, they are simply draped over one of the bars on the trailer.

The Gift Horse

2011-03-18T08:48:00.001-07:00

She is gone. She passed on to where the grass is ever green on Sunday, March 13. She was 30 years old. She went peacefully and was buried in the pasture she ruled for 15 years. I feel like a huge piece of me has gone with her. I have her daughter, known as the Silly Red Filly here with me, so a part of her lives on. She changed my life, she made me understand how to communicate with horses and how to be patient and understanding. Her wisdom, strength, speed and stamina were endless. She was still competing and winning in the months before she passed. She was with me through everything, victory and defeat, joy and despair. She has always been there, a constant anchor, ready at any time to remind me that I couldn't fix everything, and that I didn't know everything. Run free my old girl, I will see you again, wait for me at the gate like you always have.

My Addiction

2011-03-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know of my strange addiction. It is one that affects many women worldwide. Some of them have blogs dedicated to it like Side Saddle Girl and Riding Aside. It is the side saddle obsession. How it came about, I do not know. I saw some photos maybe, or found a blog that was interesting, or perhaps I have grown bored and unchallenged by astride riding. Who knows. At any rate, after purchasing an inexpensive western side saddle and riding it (or attempting to) and discovering that it did not and would not ever fit my horse, it was sold and the search began for a new one. I have finally cornered my quarry and am working at paying it off. It is an Elan, and while there are many who do not like them, there are just as many who do. It was in the budget and at least is a proper side saddle, not an astride on with a couple of horns tacked on.

In my unending search for all things side saddle, I have stumbled upon many a beautiful piece and many an elegant habit. Today, though, I found something so drool-worthy I felt I had to post it here. It is by one of my favorite custom western saddlers, Sky Horse Saddlery. Many of you may say, "But Tacky, you don't like silver encrusted stuff." That is not true, I do like tastefully done silver, as well as art pieces, which is what these are, art.

Get a load of THIS...

I don't normally go for western stuff, but dang. That is just gorgeous, as is this one...

AAAH! My Eyes!

2011-02-01T10:43:00.000-08:00

Oh dear, someone went nuts with the bedazzler again. Heaven help. About the only thing you could actually USE this for is as a themed disco ball.

New One

2011-01-28T07:19:00.000-08:00

Here is an animal print disaster that I have not seen yet...giraffe print! Combine that with the cutout areas completely clash with the seat as well. This one is a total fail in my book.

Basketweave FAIL

2011-01-25T08:28:00.000-08:00

Um, not quite what we meant there guys. This sure looks sturdy and comfortable to ride...those fenders would RUB.

Not Bad

2011-01-21T13:39:00.000-08:00

Thought I would leave this week on a slightly less scary note. Now, I don't ride Western, not any more at least, but I really like the copper combined with the silver on this saddle. Nicely done, not too over the top. I don't care for the amount of tooling or the fact that it's all big and floral, but otherwise it is ok. A darker color might would show off the copper better too. I know it's a Dale Chavez, some of his stuff is nice and some of it is WAY too over the top for me.

Colorblind

2011-01-20T11:37:00.000-08:00

Whoever made this has to have been completely colorblind. What a hideous combination. It looks like blaze orange and taupe with black. I THINK it's supposed to be brown synthetic stuff and tan "leather", but maybe I am mistaken. All in all, a total FAIL.

Oil Lamps? Boats? What the heck?

2011-01-19T07:49:00.000-08:00

Besides being just plain ugly, I cannot for the life of me figure out that the little cutouts are supposed to be. Combine that with the baby-poo greenish yellow and black color scheme, and it is altogether a most unappealing picture. It looks great with the red English style saddle pad too.

Patchy

2011-01-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

Oh, my, a patchwork seat of tackiness. I see zebra, pink, green, leopard (I think) and black. I want to know who came up with this gem, were they just trying to use up the leftover pieces?

Sorry for the hiatus, with the holidays, then being ill, then my coworker being ill, and last week being my vacation (cruise to the Bahamas) I didn't have time to think, much less find tacky tack to blog about!

Different Color - Same Tacky

2010-12-17T08:22:00.000-08:00

Nope, a different color doesn't help this one at all. Still tacky, and pink, so two strikes there.

Just Plain Ugly

2010-12-16T10:45:00.000-08:00

Really not much else to say about this. It is just plain ugly.

Plaid Overload

2010-12-13T11:48:00.000-08:00

Too. Much. Plaid.

This makes my eyes cross and threatens to give me a headache. And then, the saddle blanket to top it off. Ouch.

Mmmkay...

2010-12-10T08:16:00.000-08:00

This beauty is advertised as an endurance saddle, which makes sense given the lack of a horn. However what does NOT make sense is the rest of the saddle! Silver plates on an endurance saddle? Big, heavy skirts? Heavy tooling? Stirrups with (backwards) tapaderos? What? Stick a little silver horn on it, take off the taps and call it a show saddle. This poor thing is just confused, maybe it will figure out what it wants to be when it grows up soon.

Epic Bit Fail to Bit WIN

2010-12-09T12:18:00.000-08:00

Um, ouch. This bit is an example of types commonly found in use in India. There has been a large push for donated bits to be sent there and introduced to the locals. Details can be found here... http://friendsofmarwari.org.uk/pages/page9.html I think this is a wonderful idea and applaud the group for taking the step in education and outreach. I wish more knowledgeable horse people would do it.

Floral

2010-11-22T10:31:00.000-08:00

Well, it's, um...different. Looks like the seat was made from an old set of drapes from grandma's house. I have no idea where you would use this, except for schooling or trails. It is pretty fugly.

Arabians do not come in Buckskin. Or Overo. Or Tobiano. Or Palomino.

2010-11-19T07:16:00.000-08:00

DO. NOT. EXIST. Period, the end.

I see more and more "Purebred Overo Arabians" for sale every day. Doesn't happen, Arabians do not carry the genes for Overo. They DO come in Sabino, which can look SIMILAR, but is not the same thing. Why must everything have spots? I have also seen Tobianos advertised as purebreds. Um, no. That's a part Arabian, mayhap it is a very high percentage Arabian, but it is NOT purebred.

WA Outrageous, the purebred SABINO daughter of Khartoon Khlassic. This pattern is often mistaken for Overo.

Oh, and they don't come in creme dilute colors either. Thanks to Fire n' Ice, and his bleached mane and tail and membership to the Palomino "Breed" registry, everyone thinks they do. He is flaxen chestnut, not palomino. If you notice on his webpage, none of his PUREBRED get are palomino, or buckskin. Do we know why folks? Because the Creme dilute gene DOES NOT EXIST in the Arabian breed. You simply cannot have a buckskin, palomino, or other creme dilute purebred.

Fire N Ice, who, despite being registered as such, is most definitely NOT a palomino. He does not even LOOK like one in this picture. He is very obviously a chestnut.

Space Dressage

2010-11-18T12:06:00.000-08:00

Someone sent me the link to this company, O-M-E-G-A, who makes saddles with "anatomic" trees. They may be high tech and well made, but they look like something from the space program. Or a comic book. Either way, they are strange looking things and they come in pretty much any color of the rainbow.

Ah, yes. Traditional and formal black and white. Not so bad. A real bear to keep clean though.

Red and black, OK if you are goth. Or in the SCA and your colors are red and black. Awe Hail Gleann Abhann baby!

Ostrich, mmkay. Showing off a bit are we?

Teal, hmmmm. Maybe if you were an endurance rider.

Bright freaking royal blue, see comment above.

Ok, really people? I thought we American rednecks were the only ones making camo-colored saddles. For shame.

Model Tacky Tack

2010-11-17T07:24:00.000-08:00

This is a beautifully made set by Erin Corbett of Ever After Stables She made this set and titled it "Ode to Tacky Tack"! She incorporated everything Tacky that we all love to loathe! It sports hair on cowhide, pink fringe, sparklies, funky bit, and a pink leather seat! This lady is incredibly talented and makes lovely Western show sets for model horses. Just check them out on her site! I am honored to have had someone make something like this using my blog for inspiration. If I still showed model horse performance I would love to have this! Heck, I would love to have it just because!

Look at the details folks! She even has little stitch marks on the bridle straps.

Awful Aqua

2010-11-16T07:57:00.001-08:00

Yech, talk about too much. If it weren't for the big flower cutouts on this one it might be more tolerable. As if the background painting of the carving wasn't enough. I could also do without the black rolled edge on the cantle and the bling accessories. Same seller at the zebra catastrophe from yesterday.

Zebraliscious

2010-11-15T10:57:00.000-08:00

This seller appears over and over on this blog. They seem to have an unending supply of tacky synthetic saddles available. They all seem to be made on basically the same pattern, just with different tacky accents.

Treeless Tacky

2010-11-12T07:54:00.000-08:00

Treeless and tacky, looks really well made too. I would be scared to death to actually try to USE this on a horse. It looks like it would just fall the hell apart at any moment.

I'm Not Gone!!

2010-11-10T08:46:00.000-08:00

I am ok folks, no worries there. I just have not been in the TackyTack zone, so to speak, lately. I have been spending every spare daylight hour riding the SRF and my new project Reba. No nickname for her yet. She is a MFT that belongs to another boarder and she needed to be ridden and worked with on basic training. She is coming along well, most of her issues are from being allowed to do whatever she wants. I have done a lot of riding in the hills around the farm with both of them, I have a couple of friends who come ride the SRF and we go bashing through the woods. It seems to help with both horse's confidence levels. Reba is also very out of shape, so it helps there too. I am struck by the difference, Reba will be SOAKED, dripping sweat, and the SRF is not even damp. Just goes to show that my girl is fit, so all the riding I did over the summer has paid off. So, that's whats been going on in my world. I promise I will be back soon with more tackiness.

Old horses are supposed to be skinny and lame...

2010-10-03T18:09:00.000-07:00

HA! Tell that to my mare, Darlin'. She carried me to victory in the Gleann Abhann Equestrian Champion Tournament this weekend. At 29 years old. No one could believe it. This horse is amazing, courageous, and so talented. I owe the victory to her.

If any of you don't know, I am a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a Medieval reenactment organization. These photos were taken this past weekend at our Kingdom Fall Coronation.

Yes, I know the obstacle is right in my face, but I don't care. Look at the determination on her face!

Almost, but not quite..

2010-09-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

I almost like this one. It looks like a nice, good quality, well made saddle...except for the hair on cowhide seat and swells. I don't even really mind the accents on the skirts and fender. That seat would either be prickly and uncomfortable even through jeans, or slicker than snot. It would also look moth-eaten after long use as the hair starts to wear off. The swells, well, I just don't like the way they look.

Sparkly Pink Scariness

2010-09-22T10:09:00.001-07:00

I really despise the big round parts on the straps, that looks weird. If they had to put a pink concho, why not there the browband attaches to the crownpiece like normal tack?

Side Saddle Available

2010-09-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

Hi all, just wanted to let you know that I will be selling my sidesaddle to put toward a new one that fits the Silly Red Filly and myself better. The one I have is a Royal King western, dark oil leather, suede seat and no silver, though it could be added. The seat is about 19 - 20". It has the upright horn and the leaping horn, both suede lined. I moved the stirrup leather foward to be more correct, switched the western stirrup to an english iron and added dee rings under the front skirt and safe to attach a breastplate. It is on full QH bars. I am asking $200 plus shipping. This is HALF what you can buy one new for off of eBay. Good starter saddle, just does not fit the SRF and I need like a 23" seat! It has standard double Western rigging. I will post more pics as soon as I can. This one of my Dad on mine at least shows the color...

Trooper B

2010-09-17T12:25:00.000-07:00

B for BLUE. I was so stunned when I saw this in an email from a reader that I actually sat with my mouth hanging open for a few seconds. This is amazingly ugly, and probably amazingly cheaply made too. I still sit and stare thinking, "OMG, really?"

Just In Time For Hunting Season

2010-09-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

Just the right thing for the hunter in the family. A camouflage saddle pad and saddle bags to top it all off.

Barbie Strikes Again

2010-09-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

I swear, one of the Barbie horses I had as a kid had a saddle blanket just like this. Then again, back then, these were my two favorite colors, together. What was I thinking?

Bad Blue

2010-09-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

Nice. Blue ghetto-flauge. Not quite as offensive as the pink version, but pretty obnoxious. The free blanket it comes with doesn't even match.

Star Struck

2010-09-13T07:16:00.000-07:00

This one wouldn't be TOO bad were it not for the stars on the fenders. The stirrups also look WAY too far back to be comfortable.

Seeing Red

2010-09-03T08:34:00.001-07:00

A reader sent me this, I have never before seen a solid red saddle. It seems to be part synthetic and part suede. I would imagine that a red suede seat would stain the crap out of your jeans if it got wet. Embarrassing.

I Am Speechless

2010-09-02T07:09:00.000-07:00

I like leopard print, but this left me speechless. I usually don't pick on native costumes on this site as I don't classify that at Tacky Tack. The reasoning is that just because it looks weird to us, if it is a country's properly executed, correct, native tack, then it is perfectly acceptable in that context. This however, is not. Egyptian dancing horse tack is traditionally solid colored with silver accents, usually black. This is an abomination in any country. It might look cool if only the seat of the saddle were leopard print, I know that in period, leopard skins were often used as accent pieces on native tack. This is just overdoing it folks.

TTOTD's Take on Natural Horsemanship

2010-09-01T06:32:00.001-07:00

There is a huge discussion (again) going on over on Fugly's blog about NH. We all know that she doesn't think much of it, to say the least. I thought I would take a chance to state my views on it.

- I am not anti-NH, I am anti-stupid. I believe in what I call CSH or Common Sense Horsemanship. That thing weighs many times more than you do, don't be stupid. You can't be "nice" all the time to your horse if it is being a brat. You can't "love" them into submission. You have to have some common sense.

- I do use some so-called NH techniques. I tend to try to communicate with my horses in their own language, as much as a person can at any rate. They know I am boss mare, they respect my space. If they get too close, a growl and the "ugly mare face" will usually back them off. If they persist, they get smacked.

- I don't beat my horses, I WILL smack the ever-livin' crap out of them if they do something naughty. Bad behavior must be punished quickly and fairly. Usually I try to make it seem to them that THEY caused the punishment. "Oh, I am sorry! Did you just run your nose into my elbow REALLY HARD when you tried to bite me?"

- One example of my method in comparison to a well-known NH guru's teachings - My horse has no idea what the hell to do when asked to back up using Parelli techniques. Waving your finger at her and wiggling the lead illicits the head in the air and confused look from her. If you want her to back, point at her chest and give a gentle backwards tug on the rope and say "back up". Nice and quiet, no dramatic hand waving needed.

- I do use positive reinforcement, if she is good, she gets a pat and a cookie if I have one.

- I ride her when I want, not when she wants.

- Spooking and refusing to move for no reason is not tolerated, I do not dismount and do "approach and retreat" what does she learn then? "Oh, if I pretend to be scared and refuse to go forward, Mom gets off of me and we mess around on the ground and I don't get ridden as much." No, if she spooks and refuses to move forward, she has to stand facing the scary monster until she decides to go on. We can stand there ALL day, I don't care. And while we do, I am going to fidget, bump her sides and wiggle around and make it as uncomfortable as possible. As soon as she moves toward the monster, I relax. Simple, spooking and refusing to go forward makes things uncomfortable, going past the monster is much more pleasant.

- I try to remain calm and centered when working with horses, especially mine. She is sensitive and very much able to pick up on my mood. If I am tense, she is more spooky and high-strung.

So, no, I don't "follow" any one specific training method. I think everyone needs to figure out what works best for them and their own horse. I try to be fair with mine and use common sense when handling them. I have a horse that is sensitive, somewhat fearful of new things, and very, very silly at times. She is also very smart. It does not take long for her to figure out how things are going to be and what the consequences are for her actions. You just have to be consistent and fair. Using too much force with her nets the opposite result, you have to be firm, but not harsh. That's just how she is, her mother is the same way.

So what works for you and your horse? Do you have issues with a behavior and want some help correcting it? I know there are lots of experienced, successful trainers that read this blog. Let's discuss it.

Purple People Eater

2010-08-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

PURPLE synthetic saddle. Nice. This just hurts to look at.

AAK!

2010-08-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Someone killed and skinned a Muppet to make a saddle cover!!

This would get SO filthy in my barn, it would be covered in dust and barn cat hair in no time.

Scary Pink Saddle of the Week

2010-08-25T10:32:00.000-07:00

Very, very pink, and very scary. Nice curled jockeys there. Looks like something that came with a Barbie Horse.

Nice "Tooling"

2010-08-24T11:33:00.000-07:00

Yikes, while not the absolute scariest synthetic I have ever seen, it is still pretty hideous. I love how they have used fake leather made to look like it has very regular, evenly spaced, tooling on it. From a distance it MIGHT fool someone. Or not.

I'm Back! Bling Overload

2010-08-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

This looks alarmingly like it has been made out of a hideous rhinestone belt. That buckle is in a bad place too, the horse won't be able to move that ear back without hitting it. Major tacky tack here, and check out the background for the photo. Hint: If you are making a product to sell, try to take photos of it against a neutral background, not your muddy paddocks in front of an old falling-down barn.

Sorry for the long time no post thing! Been busy with other stuff.

PINK!

2010-08-04T10:40:00.000-07:00

Oh my, even the bit is pink. And it has been used. Run.

Woodgrain

2010-08-03T07:21:00.000-07:00

Wow, a woodgrain saddle. I think. Not sure exactly WHAT they were going for with this. It just looks funky. Not too horribly tacky, but odd looking, and cheap looking too.

Black and Blue

2010-07-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, another cheap, painted, cardboard leather piece of crap that no horse should ever have to suffer. And look, it even comes with matching accessories. All it needs now is a blue saddle blanket. At least the stirrups are on correctly. That dee ring in the front girth rigging looks rather insubstantial to me.

Whiteout

2010-07-28T07:33:00.001-07:00

Yep, it's a white saddle. With a purple seat. Looks like it was painted with white paint, and the purple seat makes it look kind lavender in this light. How long before the paint starts to wear off on your clothes? And can you imagine trying to keep this CLEAN? You couldn't oil it, it wouldn't soak in, and I bet the paint flakes off at the drop of a hat. Really people? Why on earth do you keep producing this crap? Are that many people actually buying it?

Guest Blog - The Silly Red Filly

2010-07-23T08:13:00.000-07:00

Hi all, Fatima here. Mom is REALLY busy lately and hasn't been able to write much. She is also apparently too busy for ME even. The very idea! At any rate, it has been to blasted hot to do much here anyway, I am getting all sweaty and icky just standing in the pasture. My boyfriend Lucky says that I am still pretty anyway. Mom has been trimming my toes for me this week, she did the front ones Sunday evening and managed to rasp her knuckle off her little finger and bleed all over me! I was so worried my hair would get bloodstained, but she gave me a shower after and it all came off, thank goodness. Aunt Stephanie held my lead rope for her and wouldn't even let me nudge Mom in the hiney the whole time she was working! Last night Aunt Amina came to hold my leadrope so Mom could do my hind feet. This time Mom was smart enough to wear gloves to avoid rasping her hands. Silly human, why didn't she think of that in the first place?

Anyway, Mom has been telling me about some of the saddles she finds online, and I am horrified that my fellow equines would EVER allow their humans to put some of this stuff on them! I wouldn't be caught dead in this stuff! Can you imagine how this would clash with my pretty red hair?

Ewwww! This thing is HIDEOUS, and USED! Some poor horse had to suffer the indignity of wearing this, perhaps in public. I hope they bucked their owner off for committing this fashion faux-pas! I would have.

Ok, I have to go, Lucky is coming after me with his little ears pinned again because I am ignoring him. Catch you later!

Caution

2010-07-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

All I can think of when I look at this is the police caution tape.

Treeless Tragedy

2010-07-16T10:41:00.000-07:00

This is a treeless Spanish Saddle, and I am the Queen of England.

Have a great weekend all!!

Dressage Prospect FAIL

2010-07-16T10:27:00.001-07:00

Folks, this is not a dressage prospect. Check that neck and shoulder, that alone should tell you that this horse isn't a prospect for much except creating more overpriced cobs. I see tons of Gypsy Vanners/Cobs/Extra Special Hairy Horses advertised as dressage prospects. The vast majority of them are not suitable for dressage, they are little hairy tractors. I have seen them move, they go like what they are with short, choppy strides, and their heads in the air. I will admit, some of them may move better, if they have good conformation with a nice shoulder, balanced neck and level or uphill build. Unfortunately, most seem to be about as downhill as anything I have ever seen. Sometimes I just want to bang my head on the wall. I bet the Gypsies are laughing all the way to the bank, these things are like rats over there, and we snap them up at outrageous prices like no tomorrow.

This has been another TTotD Random Rant, brought to you by the folks selling these horses on Dream Horse.

Haflingers. Are not. Palomino.

2010-07-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

Was just on Dreamhorse browsing the ads out of boredom. "Ooh, shiny horsie!" I see a TON of ads for Haflingers advertising them as Palomino. They ARE NOT PALOMINO. Not ever. Not if they are purebred. They are chestnut, albeit flaxen chestnut, but chestnut nonetheless. There is no other color allowed or found in the breed, period. In order for a horse to be palomino, it must possess a cream dilution gene. This gene is not found in Haflingers, or for that matter purebred Arabians, but that is a topic for another time.

This has been a Tacky Tack of the Day Random Rant. You may now return to your regularly scheduled programming.

No substitute.

2010-07-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

I know this is an old topic, but some readers sent me some pics that have me riled up again.

I am so sick of seeing crap like this for sale. There is absolutely NO NEED for this. None. For crying out loud, just TRAIN YOUR DAMN HORSE! Stop shoving these beartraps on their faces and using them in a futile effort to "fix" your horse's issues. Sure, it will stop him, for a little while. Then what? Move on to a bigger bit? What happens when you run out of bigger bits? You going to throw him away and get another horse to screw up? You should need a license to purchase shit like this, or preferably, it shouldn't even be sold.

This next one is a gag bit, on top of the long shanks and twisted wire mouthpiece, it can use a gag action as well as the massive leverage the shanks can already exert.

I am not anti-bit, I am anti-cruelty and anti-stupid. I know bits are tools for training, and aids in communication. Different horses need different bits, some don't need any at all. It just depends. But no horse really needs to have it's face ripped up by some ignorant dolt with some contraption that someone at the feed store told them would "sure stop that horse, yes sir". I just wish that more people could be educated on this topic, and that more people could understand the need for proper training and patience with their horses.

Jailbait

2010-07-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

Wow, the seller lists this as a "Zebra Print" saddle. Um, not quite. It is actually just an ugly black and white striped thing that looks like an old timey prison uniform or a referee's shirt. I guess if you were the ref at a polo match or something, but then it would need to be a polo saddle. Other than that, I really can see no point in this at all other than to be hideous.

What the hell?

2010-07-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

Has anyone ever seen one of these before? What the hell kind of snaffle bit is this supposed to be? I have seen double mouthpieces, but never triple, and never spaced out like this. I cannot imagine actually using this on a horse, and how effective would it be? For that matter, what kind of effect are you going for?

...????...

2010-07-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

I am truly speechless. I could not come up with a good title for this one, zip, nada. This was sent by a reader who found it for sale on a German website. Apparently poor taste transcends all borders.

Quilting Overkill

2010-07-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, I think someone got carried away with their quilting hobby. I really don't see the point in this. Not only is it unattractive, but not overly practical.

Scary Pink Saddle of the Week

2010-07-01T10:04:00.000-07:00

Yes, you are seeing this correctly, this cheap, piece of junk, going to fall apart on you the first time you use it, saddle has "silver" plates on it. In fact, I think they are not even metal, but shiny silver lame fabric. Looks real high class doesn't it?

Rainbow

2010-06-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

Oh, my, really? Why do people feel the need to create things like this? It looks like a My Little Pony saddle. I can only speculate that the color patches in front of the saddle are other available color choices in case you want to make it even more obnoxious.

Fake Snake

2010-06-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

The tackiness knows no bounds. A reader sent me this saddle with its super tacky fake snakeskin seat. I have seen ostrich, stingray, hair on hide, crocodile, woven wool, suede, and smooth leather, but this is the first fake snake seat I have seen, and in red too. With heart cutouts. Cause everyone knows heart shapes and snakeskin are a great compliment to one another.

Time for some Nair. Seriously.

2010-06-23T12:39:00.001-07:00

You might recall the first time I posted mohair accented tack. Well, someone found some new stuff. This looks even more unsettlingly like pubes than the first versions. Now, where is my razor?