English Horse Tack: Guide to Saddles, Bridles, Leg Protection & More

Having the right riding equipment is critical to ensure the comfort, safety, and performance of horses and their human counterparts. Although the basics of horse tack are similar between Western and English riding, English riders have specific equipment that they use to meet the needs and sporting rules of their disciplines.

English tack has a long history rooted in foxhunting tradition. English riders seek a close connection with their horse, including gentle contact with the bit and a lightweight saddle that sits close to the horse’s back. This allows the rider to feel the horse’s movements and make subtle adjustments, even at high speeds or while jumping.

While there have been small adjustments to enhance performance, and an increased focus on safety over the years, modern tack design is largely similar to its traditional predecessors. Modern developments include equestrian-specific helmets, advances in saddle design, and the introduction of synthetic materials.

It’s helpful for riders new to English disciplines to familiarize themselves with the wide variety of equipment options available. Read on to learn more about the different aspects of English tack and rider equipment, including their functions and reasons for use.

English Tack for Horses

English riding tack refers to the equipment and accessories used on horses for riding and handling, adhering to traditional practices in English equestrian sports.

English tack is designed with a focus on precision, subtlety, and control, reflecting the style of English riding disciplines such as dressage, show jumping, and eventing.

Examples of tack used in English disciplines includes:

• Saddle: The saddle is a seat for the rider placed on the horse’s back. It provides support and comfort and allows the rider to maintain balance.
• Bridle: The bridle includes the headgear used to control the horse. It typically consists of a headstall, bit, reins, and sometimes a noseband or other accessories.
• Bit: A metal mouthpiece that fits into the horse’s mouth, connected to the reins. Bits vary in design and function, influencing how the rider communicates with the horse.
• Reins: Straps or lines attached to the bit, used by the rider to control the horse’s movements and direction.
• Girth: A strap that goes under the horse’s belly to secure the saddle in place.
• Stirrups: Metal or wooden frames, where the rider places their feet for support and balance.
• Martingale: Optional equipment that helps control the horse’s head carriage and prevents the horse from raising its head too high.
• Saddle Pad: A pad placed under the saddle to provide cushioning and protect the horse’s back.
• Boots and Wraps: Protective gear for the horse’s legs, used during exercise or competition to prevent injury.

The equipment is chosen based on the horse’s conformation, the rider’s preferences, and the specific demands of the sport or activity. There is also standard equipment worn by the rider, including helmets, boots, gloves, breeches and more.

Saddles

The design of English saddles puts the rider in close contact with the horse, allowing them to feel the horse’s movements clearly. A high degree of contact makes these saddles ideal for sports such as jumping or dressage. ^[1]

There are four main types of English saddles: ^[1][2]

• All purpose: these saddles are versatile for all types of English riding
• Jumping or forward-seat: saddles with a “forward-cut” saddle flap, allowing use of a shorter stirrup length. These saddles place the rider directly over the horse’s center of balance, an ideal position for jumping sports
• Dressage: these saddles have a deep seat and a nearly straight front flap. Dressage saddles hold the rider securely, to allow for higher precision of rider movements
• Cut-back: saddles that place the rider further back, over the horse’s loins, to allow for the high-stepping and expressive movement of gaited horses, Morgans, and Arabians performing in saddleseat

Most saddles are made of leather, however synthetic saddles are increasingly popular as a cheaper alternative. ^[2] Treeless saddles, which do not have a rigid underlying structure, are another recent development that some riders and horses prefer. ^[2]

Stirrups

The stirrups are where the rider places their feet. The stirrups attach to the saddle by stirrup leathers– loops of leather that the rider uses to adjust the length of the stirrups to a comfortable position. Stainless steel is the most common material for stirrup irons. ^[2]

The traditional stirrup has straight “legs”, or sides of the stirrup. ^[2] Newer designs aimed at improving safety include the bent-leg stirrup and safety stirrup. The bent leg stirrup has one leg bent to allow easier removal of the rider’s foot. The safety stirrup has one of the legs replaced by an elastic band that is designed to break in an emergency. ^[2]

Girths

Girths hold the saddle in place on the horse’s back, preventing it from sliding forwards or backwards, or rolling off the horse. ^[2]

Leather, synthetic fabrics, and nylon string are common materials for girths. ^[2] Many designs have elastic on the straps to provide some stretchiness for a custom fit and to enhance comfort for the horse. ^[2]

Saddle Pads

Saddle pads include numnahs, pads cut to the shape of the saddle, and saddlecloths, square or rectangular pads. ^[2] Saddle pads protect the horse’s back and absorb sweat, preventing damage to the saddle leather. ^[2] Most saddle pads are made of cotton, sheepskin, felt, fleece, or synthetic materials. ^[2][3]

Breastplates

Breastplates are leather straps that go around the horse’s neck and attach to the front of the saddle. ^[2] The breastplate prevents the saddle from sliding backwards on horses that do not have a prominent “girth groove” behind their shoulder. Breastplates can also help stabilize the saddle on round-backed horses. ^[1]

Cruppers

Cruppers are leather straps that run underneath the horse’s tail, then attach to the back of the saddle. These straps prevent the saddle from sliding forward on horses with flat withers or a broad body conformation, such as ponies and drafts. ^[2]

Bridles

The bridle goes on the horse’s head and holds up the bit. Riders use the bit to steer the horse and provide other aids, such as encouraging collection.

There are two main types of bridles: ^[2][3]

• Snaffle bridle: this type of bridle supports a single bit in the horse’s mouth. Although the name includes “snaffle”, these bridles can hold many types of bits other than snaffles
• Double bridle: this type of bridle holds two bits in the horse’s mouth and are most common in advanced dressage or saddleseat disciplines

Bridles are typically leather, although some are made of synthetic materials.

Nosebands

Nosebands keep the horse’s mouth closed, ensuring that they cannot evade contact with the bit. ^[3] Some types of martingales also connect to the noseband. ^[3]

Most English bridles use a plain cavesson noseband. ^[3] This noseband is plain leather and goes around the horse’s nose around 2 inches below the cheekbone. ^[3]

Other types of nosebands include: ^[2][3]

• Flash noseband: this noseband has a second loop that runs from the bridge of the horse’s nose to under their chin, resting just in front of the bit.
• Dropped noseband: these nosebands encircle the nose just behind the horse’s chin, with the leather in front of the bit.
• Figure-eight noseband: this noseband has two loops forming a figure-eight pattern. The first loop runs between the bridge of the nose and just in front of the horse’s cheek. The second loop runs from the bridge of the nose to under the horse’s chin, just in front of the bit. Some riders call these nosebands a Grackle noseband.

Bits

Bits are pieces of metal, rubber, or other materials that the rider places in the horse’s mouth. Using the reins, pieces of leather attached to the bit, the rider can control the horse using pressure on the bit. ^[2]

There are several different types of bits classified based on where they place pressure on the horse’s head. ^[2] Most English riders use snaffle bits, which only apply pressure in the horse’s mouth. These bits have a metal mouthpiece with rings on either side where the rider attaches their reins. ^[2]

Other types of bits used in English riding include: ^[2]

• Pelhams: bits with long shanks (sides) that turn when the rider pulls on the reins. These bits have two rings and sets of reins, one on the end of the shank and one in a normal snaffle position. When reins apply pressure to the bottom rein, the bit applies pressure to the curb chain which runs under the horse’s chin
• Kimblewick or kimberwick: similar to a traditional snaffle in shape, however the rings on the sides of the snaffle have notches in them that prevent the rein attachment from sliding freely. This can produce a mild leverage effect if the reins are attached low on the bit
• Gags: gag bits typically have rope cheekpieces that run through the sides of the bit and attach to the reins. These bits place pressure behind the horse’s ears and the corners of the mouth when pulled on
• Leverage bits: these bits have long shanks and apply pressure behind the horse’s ears when pulled on. Most riders use two sets of reins for these bits
• Bitless bridles: these bridles have no bit present in the horse’s mouth, but instead place pressure on the face, jaw, or poll
• Combination bits: these bits have built in nosebands and act on the nose and other pressure points

Riders that use double bridles use a type of snaffle called a bradoon, and a Weymouth, a type of curb bit. ^[3] The bradoon is similar to a typical snaffle but has a thinner mouthpiece to compensate for the addition of the curb bit. ^[2]

Curb bits are similar to a leverage bit or Pelham, however they only have one rein attachment point at the end of the shank. ^[2] Therefore, any contact with the curb bit produces pressure behind the ears. For double bridles, riders use two sets of reins, one on the bradoon and one on the Weymouth, to fine-tune their contact with the horse’s mouth. ^[2]

Martingales

Martingales run between the girth and the horse’s bridle, with a loop around the horse’s neck to hold them in place. ^[2] Each type of martingale has a specific purpose in altering the horse’s way of going. ^[2] Many horses do not need martingales to perform English disciplines.

The main types of martingales are: ^[2]

• Standing martingales: these martingales run from the girth to the noseband, passing between the horse’s front legs. They prevent the horse from raising their head excessively when the rider applies bit pressure
• Running martingales: this martingale runs between the horse’s legs, then divides into two branches, each with a ring on the end. The rider passes the reins through these rings. This prevents the horse from raising their head too high, but provides a level of adjustability that the standing martingale does not
• Bib martingales: similar to running martingales, bibs have a triangular leather plate holding the two branches in a fixed position. This keeps the reins at a set distance apart and prevents the reins from going over the horse’s head in an emergency

Leg Protection

English riders commonly use leg protection for their horses during riding. These bandages, wraps, or boots protect the horse’s legs from accidental interference during complex movements or due to knocking a jump. ^[1]

The most common forms of leg protection in English riding are: ^[1]

• Polo wraps: polo wraps are long bandages made of fleece or synthetic material that riders wrap from the horse’s knee or hock down to the fetlock. Velcro or tape secures the wrap in place, preventing it from unravelling
• Splint boots or brushing boots: wrap around the horse’s entire leg and are secured with Velcro or snaps. They prevent injury to the tendons and the splint bones, the small bones on either side of the leg
• Open-front boots: these boots partly encircle the leg, leaving the front side of the leg unprotected. This allows the horse to feel any knocked rails, encouraging them to clear the fence in the future. They are usually a hard material, such as plastic, with a Velcro or snap closure
• Fetlock boots: riders use these boots to protect the fetlocks of the hind limbs. They usually have hard material, such as plastic, on the inside of the leg only. They protect against interference between the hind limbs during performance
• Bell boots: bell boots are fabric, plastic, or rubber boots that wrap around the horse’s hoof and coronet band to protect the hooves of the front limbs. Riders most commonly use bell boots to reduce the risk of a horse pulling its shoe by stepping on it with a hind limb

Rider Equipment

The traditional riding equipment for English riding developed to protect the rider against rubbing, chaffing, or injury from the horse’s tack. There are also several safety features to prevent serious injury in an emergency.

Helmets

Traditional riding equipment used a hunt cap, a plastic shell with a cork lining. ^[4] The shell was covered in fabric, such as black or brown velvet. ^[4] Hunt caps provided very little protection for the skull in emergencies, leading to the development of the equestrian helmet.

Modern equestrian helmets have a protective shell to prevent penetration by sharp objects and a layer of padding or cushion to absorb the force of the fall. ^[5] Helmets that are ASTM/SEI certified undergo laboratory testing to ensure they meet minimum safety standards. ^[5]

Manufacturers design equestrian helmets to protect against the specific types of forces experienced by riders in emergencies. Therefore, only equestrian helmets should be used during riding, as bicycle helmets or other sporting helmets will not provide adequate protection. ^[5]

Boots

Tall boots are the traditional attire for English riding, although some riders elect for a paddock boot (ankle-height boot) with half-chaps to protect their lower leg. ^[6] Boots prevent rubbing or chafing on the inside of the rider’s leg from the stirrup leathers.

The most important safety feature of riding boots is the heel, which prevents the rider’s foot from sliding through the stirrup iron. ^[6] Without a heel, riders are at risk of being dragged by the horse in the event of a fall. Boot heels should be at least 3 cm (0.5″) tall. ^[6]

Gloves

Gloves can protect the rider’s hands from chafing or callouses as they use the reins. Many gloves also have a tacky or non-slip surface on the palm which can improve the rider’s grip. ^[6]

Breeches

Riding breeches are form-fitting pants that have a knee patch of leather, suede, or additional layers of fabric. These knee patches protect the rider’s skin from rubbing against the saddle. ^[6] Many breeches also have no inseams to prevent rubbing along the inner thigh. ^[1]

Some breeches have a tacky or non-slip coating on the knee patches which can help improve the rider’s security in the saddle. ^[6]

Riding in Style and Safety

Choosing the tack you and your horse wear is an important decision that can directly impact safety, comfort, and performance. Work with qualified professionals, such as trainers, saddle fitters, and bit fitters to ensure that your tack is suitable for your specific horse and legal for the discipline you compete in.

Other considerations in overall horse performance include nutrition, veterinary care, farriery, training program development, and exercise conditioning. Integrating professionals from these fields into your horse’s care program can help improve performance and overall horse health.

Want to know if your horse’s diet is missing anything? Submit their information online for a free evaluation and consult with our qualified equine nutritionists to develop the best feeding plan for your team.