Monday, May 2, 2011

Point to Point tack

As is often the case, there wasn't an official dress code for horses competing at the Arapahoe Hunt's 2011 Point to Point.  In fact, there was no mention of tack anywhere in the prize list.

Of course, even when there aren't specific rules, there's almost always some obvious trends.  Most of the horses belonging to hunt members were dressed like this.  In particular, note the saddle with knee rolls, breastplate and bridle with flat brow and nosebands.
Because the Point to Point was open to the public, there were also a lot of show horses and event horses in attendance.  I can't be certain, but I'm willing to bet this guy came from one of those groups.  
I was really pleased to see some old style saddles with suede padded flaps.  After all, I learned to ride in a saddle like this!
This one even has a cord girth--I haven't seen one of those in a long time! 
Of course, there were some modern type saddles, too.  This one is an all purpose style...
and this would look right at home at any hunter show! 
There were lots and lots of martingales.  Most were running martingales...
but there were more than a couple standing martingales.
Most of the horses competed with bare legs, but some--like this Swedish Warmblood--wore boots all the way around.
Onto bridles!  Here's a look at the typical hunt bridle.
And again.  This one has a pelham bit.  There were a lot of pelhams at the Point to Point. 
Of course, not everyone was sporting that flat browband, flat noseband, gold toned hardware look!  There a lot of "normal" bridles there, too.
In addition to snaffles and pelhams, there were also a large number of horses wearing kimberwickes.
Bit converters on a kimberwicke?  I'm not sure I see the point...
Only a few horses fell outside the snaffle/pelham/kimberwicke spectrum.  Those included this grey with his three ring elevator bit,
a palomino pinto with a hackamore,
and this chestnut with his combination hackamore bit.
While plain cavesons (either flat or raised) were the most popular noseband choice, there were several horses with figure eight nosebands or flash attachments.
There were even a couple horses without any nosebands at all.
And then there was this guy...  I can't be certain, but that sure looks like a regular caveson put on upside down!
I'm almost done with the Point to Point photos now.  There will be just one more post on this topic and that one is still several days away!


  1. Very cool observations and great photos :)

  2. Loving all the pictures. Do you have any more of the buckskin swedish warmblood? I'm thinking I may have just found my color for the next resin that needs paint!

    (Sorry about the deleted comment - it said the same thing, but it rarely helps when the husband is logged on)

  3. No worries about the deleted comment. I made it go away forever!

    I do have a more pictures of that buckskin. Even without the color, he was a really good looking horse. If you email me ( I can send you some more pictures. However, I have a family event this week and won't be online much for the next five or six days.

  4. Had to laugh at the backside foremost noseband, certainly makes it easier to tighten!!! Felt for the dark bay with the under developed neck, can't blame the poor horse for wanting to get away from that old nickel pelham. He certainly wasn't happy with it or the hands at the end of it!! Just look at his eye, he's saying "Here we go again". I remember once a man came into our shop, he was going hunting but unfortunately for all concerned his groom was away and he had to get the horse tacked up himself! (think of a posh voice when reading this) So he asked me which way up the pelham went in the horses mouth!! God help the horse. Another man and his daughter went out hunting and had put each others bridle on!The horses were ever so slightly different in size!!!!

  5. Yeah, bit converter on the kimberwicke... not like they were really far apart to start.

    As for the upside down cavesson... maybe the horse is sensitive to the buckle et al on his chin, but doesn't mind just the flat strap.? Otherwise, uh... WTF?

  6. Thank you for these references, these are wonderful.

    Pretty sure that "look right at home at a hunter show" saddle is Ye Olde Dover catalog special - I have one just like it that I've had since I was 16. And speaking of older saddles, doesn't that first one you posted look like it would be HEAVEN to hunt in, butter soft and deep? Wonder how many miles that has on it!

  7. Is this horse really a buckskin ? I am a bit confused because of his very light colored muzzle.
    Anyhow, this was a very nice article with interesting photos! Don't want to miss your blog! ;-)

  8. Maybe the pony with the kimberwick roundings needed ever so slightly longer reins? That's the only idea I could come up with!

  9. The horse in the 8th photo looks like Roundapony! :)

  10. Hey Anon! That wasn't intentional, but I was definitely channeling a lot of these field hunters while I was working on Roundapony.