Buckaroo John's Blog
Cinches
Posted by John Brand on
The cinch (girth) has been in use for nearly 3000 years. The cinch made an appearance around 700 B.C. in the Middle East when Assyrian warriors added straps to their decorative saddle cloths. In western riding, the girth is referred to as a cinch. The cinch is a piece of horse tack used to keep the western saddle in place on the horse. The purpose of the cinch is to anchor the saddle to the horse as comfortably as possible. The cinch should not interfere with the horse’s action. The cinch passes under the barrel of the horse. It attaches...
Spurs and Spur Straps
Posted by John Brand on
Spurs can be traced back to the Roman Legions of Julius Caesar . The Romans developed the spurs in order to have a way to steer their horses with their legs, while leaving their hands free to fight. These early spurs had a single sharp protrusion. The revolving rowel, used in western spurs today, probably originated in France.During the age of chivalry, spurs became a mark of rank. Gold or gilded spurs were only worn by knights or royalty. To further indicate their rank and prestige the knights would adorn their spurs with jewels, thus becoming works of art.In the...
Western Reins
Posted by John Brand on
There are several types of Western Reins. The type of riding you like to do and what type of headstall and bit or bitless bridle, hackamore, etc., that you use will determine your rein choice. Of course, personal preference will factor into your decision as well. Let’s look at some of the options available. Split Reins Split reins are usually 8’ in length. They are single pieces of leather which are connected to the bit by loops which are tied, connected by Chicago screws or quick change, swivel and snap closures. They typically come in 1/ 2”, 3/4”, 5/8” and...
The Mecate Rein
Posted by John Brand on
What is a mecate? The mecate is the rein portion of a hackamore, which is a type of headgear for the horse. The unique part of the hackamore is that it does not have a bit, but uses a braided rawhide noseband called a bosal. The bosal works on pressure points on the horse's face, nose, and chin. The mecate is a rope made from horse hair or soft feeling rope that serves as reins and lead rope, should one need. The Persians in 500 BC were one of the first to use a thick plaited noseband which was called...
A Brief Saddle History
Posted by John Brand on
Evidence exists that the predecessor to the modern saddle was in use by the Assyrians in 700-800 BCE. It consisted of a simple cloth fastened onto the horse with a surcingle. These early saddles had neither a solid tree nor stirrups. By 300 BC, the Samaritans added a breastplate and girth to keep the saddle on. The development of the solid saddle tree was significant; it raised the rider above the horse's back, and distributed the rider's weight on the animal's spine. This change greatly increased the comfort of the horse and prolonged its useful life. The invention of the...