Hey Trail Riders!
Today, I’m going to tell you all of trail riding tack I use on Bamboozal for our camping trips. I know a lot of people are going to say that you have to have a trail saddle or endurance saddle for trail riding, but I think the most important thing is that the tack fits your horse and you, whether it’s a trail saddle, western saddle or english saddle.
Above all, I like to keep things simple. If you don’t need a breast collar, don’t use one. Unnecessary tack is just going to take more time to put on, take off and clean up at the end of the day. I like to use only the essential items I’m going to need and nothing more. This also helps to streamline packing for horse camping and trail riding trips.
Bamboozal’s Trail Riding Tack and Gear
- Thorowgood T8 Compact GP
- Plain square saddle pad
- ThinLine Non-Slip Pad
- Fleece elastic girth
- Thrifted bridle
- Bling heart browband
- Nylon/leather web reins
- Half cheek snaffle bit
- Ovation helmet
- Da Brim
- Cavallo Simple Boots
- Cavallo ELBs
Thorowgood T8 Compact GP Saddle
I am absolutely in love with this saddle. I originally bought it for my hard-to-fit Arabian mare who has since passed. I’ve been hard pressed to find a horse I can get it to fit since then. I think Thorowgood makes the highest quality saddle available at this price point. Entry level brand new versions of this saddle (synthetic) start at about $695. These saddles do have interchangeable gullets, so you have plenty of fitting options for years to come.
They are made in Walsall, England, and are flocked with 100 percent British wool. Unlike some other interchangeable gullet saddles out there, the wool flocking means you can have a saddle fitter adjust it to a custom fit for your horse, and over time, the heat of your horses back will help to shape and conform it to an even more EXACT custom fit.
On a side note, saddle fitters love these saddles, so that should tell you something.
Thorowgood Compact GP for Short Backed Horses
This saddle is great for horses with shorter backs. As somebody who is tall (5’8″) with long legs who also happens to ride short horses (13.2-15.1), I’ve had trouble finding saddles that aren’t too long for a horse’s back, but that also can accommodate my leg. This saddle was the perfect combination of being compact for short backs, but also allowing enough room for my long legs.
This saddle isn’t just designed for excellent horse fit and comfort, it’s also an absolute DREAM to ride in. My favorite thing about this saddle is how secure it is. As somebody who has spent a lot of time riding Arabians and other hot-blooded horses, it’s really important for me to be able to stick in a saddle. Whether it’s a teleport spook or a spin-bolt, I want to have a secure balanced seat for anything that comes my way.
This saddle has adjustable knee and calf blocks, so you can get the perfect fit for your particular body. The seat is deep, comfortable and VERY well balanced. When I first started taking lessons in this saddle, I realized how much easier it was to keep my lower leg in place and to stay in two-point. I was struggling in my old saddles, and the difference in my balance, security and efficacy in the saddle was DRAMATICALLY improved. Instead of my tack working against me, it was working for me and supporting me.
Okay, enough about how much I love this saddle!
Saddle Pads for Trail Riding
When it comes to English saddle pads for trail riding, I like to keep it simple. If you have a well-fitting saddle, I believe that less pad is better. For Bamboozal, I use plain square saddle pads. I have a collection of different colors and rotate them out, so he always has a clean one.
In addition to a regular square saddle pad, I also like to use the ThinLine Non-Slip Pad. I feel like this is just a little bit extra insurance on a round horse. I’ve never had any saddle rotation, but I still like to use the ThinLine Non-Slip Pad for extra peace of mind. (***If you’re having saddle rotation, you need to check fit, maybe switch to a thinner pad and consider using a breast collar for added safety***)
Favorite English Girth for Trail Riding
My favorite English girth for trial riding is just a plain fleece girth with elastic on both ends. These girths are pretty cheap and hold up for a long time. Elastic ends aren’t for every horse, and they do stretch out over time, so try a few different girths on your horse before you settle on something.
Ginny’s Horse Product Review Trail Riding Gear Tip
*Never try a brand new piece of trail riding tack for the first time on a long ride. Alway test new gear at home on short rides. If a girth rubs, you don’t want to find out after a 5 or 10+ mile ride.
Bamboozal’s Bridle for Trail Riding
I call this a Frankenstein bridle, because it’s made of the parts of a few different bridles. Bamboozal’s head is somewhere between cob and and standard horse. I think I’m using a smaller sized standard horse bridle for the crown and cheek pieces. Also, I’ve added a cute bling heart browband, because, why not?
***For a number or reasons, I don’t use a noseband or caveson on him. If you do use one as part of your trail riding tack, please make sure it’s not adjusted so tightly that they can’t eat grass and drink water out on the trail.***
As far as reins go, I really like nylon web reins. I think they’re really grippy, and that’s what I like to ride in. Obviously, reins are a deeply personal and specific choice to each individual, so go with what you like.
Listen to Your Horse When it Comes to Bit Selection
Bamboozal’s bit is the same bit his has been going in for about 24 years. It’s a half cheek snaffle bit, traditionally used for driving. I’ve tried to switch him to another bit, but he never settles with anything else. I’ve told him he should be happier and more comfortable with a bit broken in two places, but this is his bit. There are many like it, but this one is his. He likes it, so I guess we will just stick with it.
Helmets for Trail Riding
When it comes to helmets, comfort is the most important priority for me. I like to get white helmets, as I think they’re going to be cooler than dark helmets in the summer. Also, it’s important for them to have a lot of ventilation. I could never wear one of those big bucket-style show helmets with no vents. Also, I like an adjustable helmet.
I ride in the Ovation Protoge helmet. It is lightweight, comfortable and sleek. It has a dial-fit system, so it’s adjustable too. This is really important for me, because sometimes, I ride with my hair in a ponytail or braid or even down. Your hair definitely impacts the fit of your helmet, and with the dial, you can adjust how tight your helmet is on any given day.
*If you’re into matchy matchy, Ovation does offer this helmet in a wide variety colors.
Sun Protection: Da Brim for Helmets
Since I’m fair skinned, it’s really important for me to have sun protection. This is why I use the Da Brim. The Da Brim is basically a wide brim that attaches to your helmet to make your helmet more like a cowboy hat. Don’t worry, if you’re not into the country western look, it doesn’t actually look like a cowboy hat. It just performs like one!
The Da Brim comes in a variety of sizes and styles. I got the largest one for the most possible sun protection, but you can also get a smaller version or a visor-brim style that doesn’t extend around the entire helmet.
The only thing I don’t like about the Da Brim is that on EXTREMELY windy days or when you’re riding REALLY fast (think hand gallop and up), it feels like you have a sail on your head. Obviously, it’s a trade off for sun protection, and if you were a cowboy, your hat would probably just fly off in that scenario.
That being said, I do think I’ll get the smaller version in the future and test that out. I think it will be a slight trade-off for sun protection, but hopefully, the smaller surface area will help to reduce wind resistance.
Bamboozal’s Hoof Boots – Use as Needed
When it comes to trail riding tack, you can’t forget about hoof protection and hoof boots. Even shod horses can be well served by a hoof boot in the event of a thrown shoe.
Bamboozal has really healthy and strong bare hooves. That being said, I like the added support and protection provided by hoof boots, so if the trails are going to be hard or rocky, I will boot. When I boot, I like to boot all the way around, so that means he gets to wear fronts and hinds.
For Bamboozal, I LOVE Cavallo boots. I’ve had really good luck with these boots for the past couple of years. I know they don’t look as sleek and cool as some of the other hoof boots out there, but they truly perform, hold up to wear and tear and stay on his hooves.
Above all, they are the most user friendly boots I’ve ever worked with. They open and close with velcro. There’s no fiddling with tools to dial in the fit or banging them on the hoof with a mallet. I’ve found them to be very forgiving of fit throughout the trim cycle, and also, they STAY ON. If you want to read more about Bamboozal’s Cavallo boots, I’ve done reviews for the Cavallo Simple Boots and the Cavallo ELBs.
Trail Riding Tack for Horses
When it comes to shopping for trail riding tack for horses, I think the most important things are comfort and fit. Imagine you’re shopping for hiking boots for a long hike. You need a pair that’s comfortable, wont give you blisters and will hold up to lots of wear without causing friction or discomfort.
Be on the lookout for any signs of discomfort from your horse when trying new pieces of trail riding tack. Scrunchy noses, wringing tails and a reluctance to move out can all be signs of discomfort due to ill-fitting tack. Be a detective, and figure out what’s not working. Borrow tack or saddles from friends if you can, so you can find exactly what your horse likes.
It can take months to dial in the perfect set of trial riding tack, so take your time and alway listen to your horse.
Until next time, Happy Trails!