As part of a
blog hop started by Hand Gallop, I had full intention of taking new photos for this post and my phone has a new trick (TWO DAYS IN A ROW! CURSE YOU IPHONE!) in which it turns off regardless of battery life and refuses to turn back on until it's plugged in. Once plugged in it realizes "oh yeah, I've got battery left, duh! My bad!" and goes on with it's merry phone life at it's previous percent of battery life. Charming. It started a week ago but is getting progressively worse. So here are two old photos to demonstrate my tack:
The hony only does flatwork. One day, maybe, we'll get a dressage saddle but this one fits pretty well so it's staying for the time being.
Vespucci Fancy Stitch Hunter Bridle: Got it for a steep discount. I like it and it has lasted all the years I've had Digby. Not the softest leather anymore but I wasn't the best at cleaning it for a while. Can't blame the maker there. :) The one fault is that the reins are LONG since Digby is small. I don't mind it now that we just flat but it was a bit of an issue when we jumped. Digby was a wild child and I always worried the reins would somehow get tangled in his legs when we were jumping. If I were still jumping, I think I'd take it to a cobbler and have them shorten the throat latch (super long!) and the reins.
Happy Mouth Double Jointed Roller Dee: This bit seems to please Mr. Sensitive mouth the most, while allowing me some control. Digby goes best in the thinner bits because he has a tiny mouth. I think in an ideal world he'd like this to be a bit smaller but he goes the best in this bit out of all the other ones I've tried. He's never chewed through the plastic so I've had it for years now.
No name standing martingale/no name running martingale: I've used both. He either came with both or I got the standing martingale for free. I honestly can't remember. Typically he doesn't go in a martingale anymore but I'll throw one on if I think he's going to be bad.
Ovation Show Jumping XCH Saddle: Picked the saddle up at a local tent sale. Luckily it fits pretty darn well! I really can't fault this saddle at all. It's looks way nicer than what I paid for it, it's comfy, it fits both me and Digby. It's held up GREAT over the years.
Mattes Half Pad with Shims: Digby's a tricky saddle fit so at the advice of a local independent saddler fitter, I splurged and got a Mattes shimmable pad. I haven't regretted it for a day. It helps my saddle fit better and Digby goes better with it.
Saddle pad: I use basically any pad. I've got a fancy
BOT one and then cheap ones. I do make sure that they're all high wither/shaped ones. He's got large withers and if the pad isn't shaped, the pads will sit on his withers when I ride. This displeases Digby. I usually buy pads on sale and based off their color. I'm not super picky.
Arc de Triomphe Anatomic Girth: Another splurge that I snagged at a discount. I've had it for a few years now and LOVE IT. Seriously. Great quality. It's lasted even if I don't wipe it off every ride. I try to since it was $$$ but let's be honest, sometimes I'm busy and it's either ride and don't clean the tack or don't ride. I'm going to ride!
Boots/Wraps: I used to ride him in
Roma Open Front Boots but now that we don't jump, I don't use those much anymore. If I'm going to use leg protection, I typically use plain old polo wraps or a pair of cheap-o no name neoprene splint boots.
