Horse gear must fit well to best function with the horse’s body and movement. Although Horseman’s Guide to Tack and Equipment details available options for individual pieces of equipment, the book isn’t a buying guide for purchasing equipment, but a usage guide explaining how to attain the best riding results with various items of gear. Each chapter addresses a piece of equipment, such as a saddle, or family of items, such as ground-working equipment; provides an expert opinion on how best to adjust the equipment for a horse’s build and range of motion; and provides, if applicable, event-specific considerations when using that equipment. Equipment care and common equipment-fitting mistakes are addressed in sidebars.
| Dedication and Acknowledgments |
|
4 | (1) |
| Introduction |
|
5 | (1) |
|
1 Halters, Leads and Longeing Equipment |
|
|
6 | (14) |
|
|
|
20 | (16) |
|
|
|
36 | (14) |
|
4 The Importance of Saddle Fit |
|
|
50 | (12) |
|
|
|
62 | (14) |
|
|
|
76 | (12) |
|
|
|
88 | (14) |
|
|
|
102 | (12) |
|
|
|
114 | (12) |
|
|
|
126 | (14) |
|
|
|
140 | (12) |
|
12 Martingales and Tie-Downs |
|
|
152 | (10) |
|
|
|
162 | (12) |
|
|
|
174 | (10) |
| Glossary |
|
184 | (3) |
| Resource Guide |
|
187 | (2) |
| Author Profile |
|
189 | |
Cynthia McFarland spent her horse-crazy childhood in Tucson, Arizona, exploring desert and mountain trails with her sorrel Quarter Horse gelding, Yuma, who was small in stature but huge in heart. Today, McFarland lives in Fairfield, Florida, where she writes regularly for equine publications, including Western Horseman, Thoroughbred Times, Horse Illustrated, and PONY Magazine. Her writing has earned numerous awards, including a Steel Dust Award from the American Quarter Horse Association. When she isn't writing, she can be found trail riding on her Paint gelding, Ben, or enjoying her cats and cows and an amazing donkey named Butler.
