It’s a huge myth that you have to spend a lot of money to have nice and affordable trail tack. The most important thing is that the tack fits. Trail riders need gear that their horses are going to be comfortable in for long periods of time. Equally important, the rider has to be comfortable too.
Max recently gave us a rundown of his trail riding gear, and it’s a very affordable setup. After going through a variety of saddles, ranging in price from a few hundred dollars up to $2,500, he finally settled on a bargain buy that’s even available with free shipping from Amazon!
The Best Saddle for Trail Riding is The One That Fits
It doesn’t matter how much a saddle costs if it doesn’t fit you or your horse. Max tried to make several saddles work before finding the King Series Comfort Gaited Gaited saddle. We tried this one as kind of a last ditch effort. It looked like it might work for Monk, and we were so glad we took a chance and ordered it online! Not only did it turn out to be the BEST fitting saddle we had tried on her, it was also the most comfortable one for Max! This saddle has made long hours in the saddle and miles on the trail comfortable for horse and rider.
When it comes to trail saddles, or any kind of saddle for that matter, it’s critically important to find one that fits you and your horse. Don’t discount a bargain saddle just because it’s not a high-end brand name. It is possible to find a good budget saddle when you’re shopping for affordable trail tack. Check it over and make sure it’s sturdy, solid and well made, and beyond that, just make sure it fits and take good care of it.
Splurge on Your Saddle Pad
Max rides in a WoolBack endurance saddle pad. This is a more expensive saddle pad if you’re used to buying cheapie ones, but it’s definitely worth the expense. You will get many years of use out of it. I think these pads offer superior shock absorption and protection to the horse’s back. The natural wool fibers are high quality, and the pad is very easy to maintain. If it gets crusty, I will brush it out. Every so often, you can hose it out and let it dry.
A Quality Girth is an Investment in Your Horse’s Comfort
Monk has old scars from girth galls from before we got her and she has very sensitive armpit skin, so a comfortable and gentle girth is extremely important. We’ve used mohair string girths, neoprene and a variety of other different girths, but the best one we’ve ever used for comfort and saddle stability is the CoolBack fleece girth. It is generously fleeced, very wide and also has a bit of elastic at both ends.
Also, the fleece extends up to the buckles. I’ve used several girths in the past where the fleece does not extent up to the buckles, and I can’t imagine that can be comfortable for a horse to have the metal buckle pressed into its side. Shopping for affordable trail tack is all about knowing when to save and when to splurge.
Be Aware of Breast Collar Material
The breast collar is a simple biothane endurance style breast collar. I am not a huge fan of leather breast collars, especially for trail riders, because the chest seems like a place that gets sweaty quickly. For a really sweaty area, I don’t want to have to worry about my leather breaking down and getting damaged over time. Biothane and betathane are super easy to maintain. Hose them off or drop them into a bucket of soapy water if they’re really dirty. They are SO low maintenance. No need to break out the saddle soap and oil for these!
A Bridle That’s a Little Extra, But Still Affordable
Just because you’re shopping for affordable trail track, that doesn’t mean you still can’t be a little extra! Full disclosure, I did pick out this bridle for Monk. It’s the Horze Mette Bridle, and you can get it on Amazon. They used to offer a full array of colors, but I think just the white/silver is available at the moment, so keep an eye on re-stocking if you’re looking for a particular color of bling.
Monk’s is the black with gold padding and gold rhinestones. She’s a really deep true black, so it really pops on her and looks awesome! Again, this was not an expensive bridle! It’s not the highest quality leather I’ve ever seen, but it doesn’t feel cheapie either! If you didn’t know what it cost, and you held it you would definitely think it was more expensive than it was!
Finding The Right Bit
Finding the right bit can be just about as exhausting as finding the right saddle. Horses have different shaped mouths and preferences, and it seems like everybody’s different. It’s SO important to find the right bit (or bitless rig) for your horse. You want something that’s comfortable for them, but also something that also allows you to communicate easily. Sure a halter might be super comfortable for your horse, but if you’re horse wasn’t trained to ride in one, you’ll have an awful ride, no brakes, bad steering and who knows what else.
Monk has gone in a variety of bits over the years, a few Mylers (including a 2-ring and 3-ring combination), simple snaffles, leverage bits and hackamores. After lots of trail and error (and practicing on the ground and in the arena first), we’ve found her favorite go-to bit, which also turns out to be a really affordable piece of tack available on Amazon! It’s a Korsteel French Link Baucher Bit.
I think she loves this bit for two reasons.
- It’s a French Link, so it’s broken in two places, unlike a traditional snaffle that is broken in the middle which can poke them in the roof of their mouth when pulled.
- The Baucher design has bit hanger loops that the bridle goes into. This stabilizes the bit on her face and in her mouth. She doesn’t like a loose ring or any bit that moves around a lot on the side of her mouth.
Even though Monk is a very strong, and sometimes highly strung horse, Max has no problem with brakes in this bit. She is very responsive, even though it is considered a very mild bit. She happily accepts contact with this bit. In past bits, she would often try to get above or below them or even brace against them. She’s never had a happier mouth than with this bit, so we will keep using it. Bit comfort is something I’m comfortable splurging on, even though this was an affordable trail tack find!
Helmet and Visor: Safety and Sun Protection
Max rides in a Tipperary helmet with a Dabrim visor. Helmet choice is all up to you. I ride in an ovation, because it has a dial fit system in the back, which I like because depending upon whether my hair is in a pony tail or loose, it can change how tight the helmet is on my head. When it comes to helmets, just try a few on, and find the one that you like best.
We love the Dabrim visor, because it’s a great way to keep from getting a sunburned face on long summer rides. It’s pretty easy to install, and we’ve never had a problem with them coming off or getting loose while riding. The tiny little visor on most helmets just isn’t enough to protect you from the sun, so this is a great way to ensure you’re protected.
Remember to Stay Hydrated on The Trail!
Last, but not least, a very important piece of trail gear is Max’s water bottle holder saddle bag attachment. It’s by Weaver Leather and has a snap and and additional d-ring, so it can be secured very tightly to your saddle. Best of all, it fits a FULL size nalgene bottle. Don’t even bother with the cheapie bottle it comes with. We’ve used a variety of different sized saddle bags for holding water, and this is the easiest, cheapest and most secure!
Optional: Hoof Boots
Monk is barefoot, so depending upon the terrain, Max will use hoof boots. Monk goes best in Renegade hoof boots on the hind feet and Renegade Vipers on the front feet. Max did a separate review of the hoof boots, if you want to read more about them and watch the video!
Also, if you want to check out the affordable trail tack I use for my little Morgan gelding Bamboozal, click here!
Until next time, Happy Trails!