Scary Pink Saddle of the Week Time!

It's time for the weekly edition of Scary Pink Saddle! I found this one in an email sent from a reader. It resembles the one in a previous post that sold for the ghastly price of $2000. This one however, sells much more reasonably, around $400. It might would be cute for a little girl on her pony, and looks decently made. I personally would never use it on one of my horses, but whatever floats your boat. It is a bit less ostentatious than the last one, as it lacks the silver conchos and has fewer rhinestones. Also available are the matching headstall and breastcollar.

Overkill Much?

This is one of those things that I wish would be outlawed. This is a cathedral bit. I really see no purpose on one of these at any time for any purpose. Ever. They are sold in catalogs with a nice little caveat to the buyer "for use by professionals only". Sure, and that will stop Joe wanna-be horse trainer from getting one to put a stop on their horse. *Sigh* It just never ends does it?

Friday Fail - Proper word usage

I know that all of us belonging to the horsey set do the same thing. We cruise the Internet and papers and look at all the pretty ponies for sale. I love perusing DreamHorse and looking at sales ads, usually for the elusive "Tack Fail". What annoys the crap out of me and amuses me to no end is all of the massive spelling and grammar errors in ad text. And I am not talking just simple misspellings, but complete WRONG words and WRONG sentence structure. If you type like a 6 year old, I am not going to be very likely to contact you about your horse/item.

So, today I have complied a list of some of the most common misspellings/misuse of words I have run across. They are very comical when you think about it, and very sad as well. I have put the correct word/spelling first, then the incorrect ones along with comments.


Gelding

guilding - So, he is a member of a guild? Which one?

gilding - Oh, he's gold plated? Bet that bumps the price up some.

Mare

mayer - Is she related to Oscar?

mayor - Of what town?

Filly

philly - Oh, she's from Philadelphia.

fillie - What?

Colt

cult - Umm, ok.

Appaloosa

Opelousas - Actually, that's a city in south Louisiana, not a breed of horse.

Quarter Horse

1/4th horse - Which fourth do I get? What if I want a half? I want the front half.

Mane

main - Main what? Main event? Main street?

Maine - That's a state in New England, not a part of a horse.

man - Male human, not the long hair that grows from the crest of your horse's neck.

Gait

gate(s) - This is what you go through to get into the pasture, not a walk, trot, canter, etc.

Poll

pole - What you run a pattern around at a rodeo, not a part of a horse.

Farrier

ferrier - This would be the guy that ferries people across a river, not the guy that trims your horse's hooves.

Peruvian Paso

"Peruvian Peso Fino" - Not only are we combining 2 breeds here, but a peso is a form of currency, not a horse.

Child Safe

"rides kids" - Really!? That must be impressive.

"broke to death" - Goodness, if he is dead I don't think I want him. Also read "one foot in the grave" on this one.

Winch (not a horse term, but funny anyway)

wench - No shit, I really saw an ad in the Thrifty Nickel for a truck with a wench for sale. I had to resist the temptation to call and ask if it was a bar wench or a scullery wench. I probably would have been wasting my sarcasm though.

So any of you have anything to add?

Hybrids

You know, hybrids can be really neat. Look at mules, super smart, tough, and strong. Hybrid vehicles are great too. Hybrid saddles however, are sometimes very funky looking.

Take this for example...



It is an English saddle, with a horn. Why? I have no idea. It makes no sense to me. It actually looks more like a 3 way hybridization of an English saddle, a Western and an Aussie. Strange.

Scary Pink Saddle of the Week

Once again it is time for the Scary Pink Saddle of the Week! Today we have an Abetta synthetic western saddle in a trendy pink "Ghetto-Flauge" pattern. Wow, this thing is beyond unattractive. Nothing screams "redneck fabulous" like pink camo. All it needs now are some pink rhinestones to "bling it up" (gah, I hate that term) some. And to think, Abetta is one of the higher quality synthetics on the market. Don't see Wintec making stuff like this now do we?

Torture Device Tuesday

Here is a nice little number. This is marketed as a "Sherry Cervi" brand bit by Reinsman. It is a shame that someone would waste the time embellishing something like this with such nice silver accents. Can you imagine the leverage this thing exerts on a horse's mouth? It has a limited gag mouthpiece that is a nice twisted wire dog bone. The shanks being extended an extra distance above the mouthpiece adds to the amount of leverage exerted. Another unnecessary piece of junk marketed to the gaming set.

Ooh, lookie, I found that you can get it with an eensy weensy thin twisted mouthpiece so that you can cut his tongue in half with it.

Monday Blues

Monday, I hate Monday. But I don't hate it as much as THIS...

(Can we not match shades of colors folks?)

Or this...

(Ooh, and it has GENUINE ostrich trim.)

Or, last but certianally not least (putrid)...

GAH! Oh, my. Erm, nice, ummm, silver, yeah.

Holy shit, what are people THINKING!?

Guest Blog - Home Made Training Aids

Today we have a guest blogger, Mallory Davis. She is a dear friend of mine and we spend a great deal of time together. She, like myself has a very pragmatic approach to horse training, and does not see the point in spending a ton of money on training aids. She has come up with some good money saving ideas for things that can be made from what you have lying around.

Home Made Training Aids

Training aids don’t have to cost a fortune, you can make your own at home. My favorite training aid is a set of old boat buoys that I can hang from the saddle or surcingle. If you don’t have any of those a set of milk jugs or 2 liter coke bottles would work just as well. It gets the horse used to things flopping around and banging against his sides, and is particularly useful if training a young horse that is ticklish.

Many of today’s popular trainers are promoting their particular brand of training stick, and it is a good idea, but it seems a little ridiculous to pay fifty bucks for a stick. An old bamboo garden stake with a piece of baling string attached works wonderfully. Or if you have trees around your barn like I do just pick up a stick off the ground. Your horse doesn’t care how much the stick costs, to a horse a stick is a stick.

Something else that many trainers have been promoting is the specially designed training bridle, which consists of a headstall with a snaffle bit and reins with a training lead attached. The same thing can be made with your regular bridle; all you have to do is attach a lead rope to one side of the bit. It may not look as pretty as some of the expensive name brand bridles but it works just as well.

And that brings me to the rope training halters. It is simply a piece of rope. Some cost more than others depending on what name is attached to it but anyone can make one almost for free. The internet has dozens of websites with instructions on how to tie a rope halter; all you have to do is find a piece of rope and tie the knots. Even if you don’t have any rope lying around it only costs a few dollars.

http://www.naturalhorsesupply.com/tiehalter.shtml

http://www.gaitedhorses.net/Articles/RopeHalter/RopeHalter.html

Pool Noodles! These are one of my favorites because they’re just fun to play with. The list of things you can do with an old pool noodle is endless. Use them in place of the boat buoys or the stick. Use your imagination.

http://prettyponypastures.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/learning-to-stop/

http://www.idacs.net/kwpdmounted/images/gallery_pages/gallery_training_text.htm


Look around your barn; what do you have that can be made into a training aid?

Stupid, Cruel Training Device

This is the "No Buck Trainer", it is meant to prevent a horse from putting its head down to buck. It features a thin steel cable system that encircles the horse's ears and runs down to a pair of pulleys on the noseband. The instructions say to put it on the horse, attach reins to the cables, and tie the reins to the saddle horn while the horse's head is at a desirable level. Supposedly, when the horse puts its head down to buck, the cables tighten on the ears and poll, discouraging the horse from bucking. Here is a photo of the contraption.



Now, when I put pressure on my horse's poll and ears they LOWER their heads. How does this prevent them from doing so? I should think this would actually encourage the head to lower. I would think that if you just HAVE to use some kind of artificial device to prevent bucking, a simple overcheck would be more effective. But, what do I know? This device is recommended for beginners (WHAT?!), the elderly, and children. My question is, what the hell are you doing putting one of the aforementioned individuals on a horse that bucks in the first place?

Another "training" gadget for the instant results sector of the horse market, all for the low price of $219. Wow, don't you want to run out and get one?

Scary Pink Saddle of the Week

Welcome readers, it is time again (in upper class British accent with cultured music playing in the background) for the weekly edition of Scary Pink Saddle.

Today we have a snazzy little number in a lovely shade of pink bismuth (Pepto) with sharp black accents and eye catching silver embellishments. It included a bridle and matching breastcollar as well. (Music fades out)

You know, if this was solid black or a natural leather I would actually LIKE it. As is, WHY?

Scary Bit of the Week

For this week's entry of Scary Bit of the Week. We have a lovely gag/hack combination. It features a nice bicycle chain noseband (covered by tubing) a three piece gag mouth, and some nice extensions above the noseband to add leverage.



WHY? Haven't we proven that this DOES NOT WORK? That if you start using things like this instead of training your horse correctly, it creates a vicious cycle of horse getting harder to control -----> move to a bigger bit ------> bigger bit stops being effective -------> horse gets harder to control -------> move to a bigger bit ------> eventually run out of bigger bits -------> get a new horse -------> repeat as necessary.



I just don't understand.

Freaky Fenders

This is a treeless draft horse saddle sent to me by a reader. This thing looks fairly comfortable and well made. However, the fenders make it look like something out of a B-SciFi movie. I don't get it, why not just do straight stirrup leathers. I don't understand why the weird shape. Unless they are trying to make it so the rider's leg is not in contact with the horse (which makes no sense to me) there really is no purpose in this. I did some editing in Paint to show you what I mean.

Here is the edited one. The fenders set the stirrups BACK a bit. I drew in a "rider" to demontrate the screwy setup. I know it is not totally correct, but use your imagination. The fenders are totally in the wrong place for a comfortable riding position.

SEND IN PHOTOS

I need your help! Send me photos of...

Saddling mistakes, saddle fitting errors, tacky tack, scary bits, stupid training devices, whatever you may come across and think might belong on this list. I really want to avoid clothing and rider dress, just horse clothing please.

Thanks from TackyTack!!

Here is a cute pic of the new foal. This was a couple of hours after he was born. He is now 3 weeks old and growing like a weed!!

Stirrup Placement FAIL

Wow, this sucker looks uncomfortable. My knees (and my eyes) hurt just looking at it.

Going Green

And not in a good way.



The scalloped skirts really bother me for some reason. They remind me of one of those frilled lizard critters. And is it just me, or are those stirrups WAY too far back?





Now, this one is just painful to look at. It is a synthetic with acid green fake ostrich print accents. The green pin striping SO makes the saddle.

Pass the antacids, please.

Here is another torture device for "training"

Did a quick Google search for "horse training bridle" the first thing it coughed up was this lovely invention. Well, not a new invention, just a new and improved version of an old fashioned war bridle.

They want $65 fot this! If you really must torture your horse in this manner, you can make one for FREE out of some rope. See...

It claims that it can fix "Horses that are mean or bad to mount - does your horse move away or try to fight you when you go to mount? Yeah, I had one, but I fixed that through patience and TRAINING. Horses that rear - does you horse rear on you when handling him or riding him? Getting thrown is extremely dangerous! No, really? I can teach a horse not to do this without a "training bridle" that causes pain, thus encouraging the horse to try to evade it, possibly compounding the issue. Bad to Shoe - can't pick up his feet or can't clean his hooves? Your farrier will love you for this alone! Um, my horses are taught from foalhood to cooperate, perhaps you should try WORKING WITH THEM some. Bad to Groom - your horse won't stand for you when grooming, washing or cleaning him? Ever heard of cross ties? And a good sharp swat and a NO! every time he squirms will NEVER work (sarcasm).
Bad to Bridle or Harness - won't take the bridle or won't allow you to put on or adjust his harness? Gosh, and using this thing on him will make him want to be bridled?
Bad to Lead - your horse won't let you lead him or keeps invading your space? Um, again, hello, how will this thing on his head will make him want to go with you?

It has a guarantee too, "Jesse Beery says you can"control any horse in 3 minutes"with the Pulley Bridle. We have the testimonials to prove it!" Gee, you think? Here is the webpage, go have a look at it.

One farrier has this to say... "Tried it out on Miniature Horses that 8 weeks before had to throw them on the ground to trim, after 4 pulls on the bridle I was able to pick up all 4 feet no problem. 1 week later did a mammoth jack never been done before, tried to work with him a while, ran out of time, put bridle on couple of pulls stood there willing to be handled. "

Gosh, let's not TRAIN YOUR HORSE or anything. Let's just skip right to training devices that have been proven to subdue your horse through pain instead. The site claims that it does the horse no harm and is not painful, which anyone who actually KNOWS anything about horses will tell you is utter bullshit. It is a WAR BRIDLE, with a fancy name.

Another torturous "training" device

Torturous, that is the only word I can use to describe this thing. I like sidepulls, I think they are an excellent training aid. It allows you to teach a young horse to respond to direct rein signals while saving their sensitive mouths. This thing, however, takes things too far. Instead of the traditional lariat rope noseband, it has a STEEL bar wrapped in copper wire. Sure to make them very responsive to pressure on their noses. Never mind that big raw spot with blood running down their noses, they will listen to this thing.



Stuff like this makes me sick. For heaven's sake people, WHY? Is the usual lariat rope noseband (which CAN rub a nose raw by itself if used too roughly and incorrectly) not enough? Now we have to purposely invent something more immediately capable of inflicting pain?

Terrible Teal

Today's Tack is yet another of those obnoxious saddles with the cut-outs and colored "ostrich" leather underneath. It comes with a matching bridle and breastcollar. Oddly enough, it looks to be relatively well made. It seems that there is no end to the supply of tacky saddles out there.

Friday FAIL

Again, we have a Friday FAIL instead of a favorite. I find it difficult to come up with favorites, there seems to be more tacky tack out there than there is tack I actually LIKE. So here is a fail from the Fugly blog, in case you didn't see it there, check out that BACKWARDS bit and the breastcollar! I also LOVE the faded nylon halter with the "converters" to make it a halter-bridle.

Odd Bits

Ok, I have run across these two bits on several sites, but have never seen one in person or in use. Could someone please explain to the class how they work and how they are used? I tried doing an Internet search and found zip. The first one I have seen called a "colt bit" and a "stud bit" on several sites, and it seems to be something that is used on racehorses. The second one looks a bit more sinister to me, I have seen it called a "Citation bit" and a "mule bit" and from what I have read (the little I could find) it is supposedly quite severe. Nowhere could I find photos of horses actually WEARING one either. So, anyone out there have any input?

Scary Pink Saddle of the Week

There just seems to be a never ending supply of hideous pink saddles to look at. This one looks to be a synthetic of some sort. It is the popular color combo of black and pink and has little heart conchos on it.





GAG, pass the Pepto please. Oh wait, you used it all up on last week's pink monstrosity didn't you?

Trophy Saddles

Why? I do not understand this concept. Why would you give a trophy saddle as a prize? A saddle is a very personal and important piece of tack. It must be correctly fitted to horse AND rider as well as be comfortable and functional for both. I have seen many trophy saddles for sale, and wonder, "Who would buy someone else's trophy saddle?" Really would you ride something that proclaimed that you were Calf Roping Champion 2003? What I don't understand is why not give a trophy bridle or a breastcollar? You could use that on any horse, and if not then, it is not just taking up a bunch of space. If they want to give a big nice trophy, perhaps a pair of engraved spurs or a nice buckle. I have seen trophy trailers too, heck who wouldn't take a new trailer? Here are some examples of some of the trophy saddles I have seen for sale recently...

Really, if you just HAVE to give a saddle as a trophy, why not give a gift certificate for a saddle from a tack store? That way the winner could pick exactly what he or she wants and make sure it fits.

The Price of Tack

All three of these retail for OVER $2000.00! Two THOUSAND dollars folks. I don't think you could PAY me two thousand dollars to take one. Well, maybe, but I would immediately take fine grit sandpaper and remove the leather varnish and then dye the sucker black. Oh and pry the rhinestones loose. Blech. Overkill much? Painted flowers, rhinestones, ostrich, pink, silver lacing and conchos! All in one terribly tacky, terribly expensive, disgusting package.