Spotlight On: Tack

Tack up, be smart

Accidents arise when tack is not checked regularly. Reins or stirrup leathers can often snap unexpectedly – or worse, a girth strap! It is critical that you inform your customers about choosing and then caring for their tack and why they need to be vigilant whilst doing so!

Know your leather

Regular tack checks should be high on riders’ to-do lists. It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind, and accident prevention. To give customers best possible value for money and durability, it’s important to try and stock high-quality leather items in store. Here’s what to look for in good quality equipment:

• Keep to supple leather. New leather often feels stiff, but it should be supple and well-conditioned, not stiff and dry. There should be no cracks or fissures in the leather when it’s bent back and forth, and the unfinished side of the hide should be free of loose fibres, appearing uniform in quality.
• A large amount of tack is often made from different kinds of leather. Over time, after exposure from the sun, oils and conditioners, the colour of the leather may change at varying rates. All the leather should be the same colour; however, dark colour dyes can hide lower quality and poorly matched leathers. A glaze can give the impression that leather is quality, however, when it begins to rub off, the leather will develop a mottled appearance. Glazes also make it difficult for conditioners to penetrate into the leather’s corium.
• Use your nose. New leather should have an agreeable smell. An “off” odour is the first hint of leather that has been tanned quickly and inexpensively. The sight of mould means that the tack hasn’t been stored and cared for correctly. A slight whitish, oily appearance is no cause for alarm. This is some of the leather’s tanning oil that has migrated to the surface and oxidized.
• Quality is in the details. Look out for fine, even stitching (less than 12 stitches to the inch) with all ends neatly finished and tucked in. This is a hallmark of good workmanship and quality tack. Edges that have been skived, burnished or rubbed until they are round and hard before being dyed is also apparent on quality leatherwork. Look for durable hardware with strong steel tongue buckles and rounded edges that won’t cut into the leather.

The phrase “If you buy cheap, you buy twice” can definitely applied to tack. When it comes to long-term satisfaction, quality is the best bargain for your customers. That holds true for leather care products, too. Premium products may look expensive at first glance, but they can save both money and time in the long run.

Many traditional leather care products have a pH that can weaken the leather’s internal bonds. Others contain petroleum derivatives that can darken leather, rub off on clothes and do not penetrate as deeply among the leather’s fibres. It often takes a smaller amount of a better-quality product to do the job so the cost over time isn’t as high as that first glance might suggest.

Depending on your customer’s choice of leather care products, some can actually save them time too. Quality products allow them to do the same job in less time. Neutral pH cleaners that clear away dirt may be more expensive than traditional saddle soap, for example, but there’s no rinsing and no need to scrub residues out of stitching lines. The suppling and lubricating effects of a penetrating conditioner lasts longer than that of conditioners that just lay on the leather’s surface. Owners not only need to condition less often, but they also eliminate extra time wiping sticky residues out of stitching.

Leather VS Synthetic

Choosing an item of tack can be an overwhelming experience. There are so many choices of fit, design, colour and material – which is a blessing as it means there is sure to be something for every horse, but too many choices leaves customers wondering if they made the right decision – and whether they’ve made a mistake as they leave with their purchase.

The saddle and the bridle represent the largest outlay of money and the most important pieces of equipment in terms of safety and fit. Your customers want the best their budget can buy – the safest, longest lasting, most effective and most comfortable (for horse and rider!) for the least amount of money. It is clear, and most equestrians already know that the first choice to make, which can be influenced by budget, is whether they want leather or synthetic tack.

Costs

In general, leather tack costs more than synthetic. Poorer quality leathers will cost around the same as synthetic items. Stiff leather, as described above, should be ideally avoided. These items are not as durable and are more prone to breakage. If cost is a major factor in a customer’s decision, they may be better off with good quality synthetic tack, than poorer quality leather. However, good leather tack is an investment, that will hold its value better if you decide to resell it.

Fittings

It isn’t easy to check the tree of a saddle without the correct training or equipment. If your customer is doubting the soundness of their saddle’s tree, suggest they take it to a master saddler for a service. However, you can help them check over the metal fittings. Good saddles will not have light steel or nickel-plated rings and buckles. Rigging and rivets should be made of good quality metals that won’t rust. Girth straps should be stitched onto strong nylon material, across two or more bits of webbing, so if one was to snap, the strap would still be attached. The stitching should also not be a continuous thread as if it were to break, all straps would detach. It should be stitched individually. It should also be comfortable for the horse, and not cause injuries such as girth galls. If the girth does cause galling, soft girth covers of quilted fabric or fleece might be used to protect the horse’s skin. Or, a shaped girth may relieve pressure that causes galling.

Longevity and fit

A good quality leather saddle will last a lifetime with correct care. Leather saddles can be re-flocked and refitted to many different horses, but there is a limit to how much a saddle can be altered. The resale value on a good leather saddle is better than a synthetic, but if low-cost is an important factor, a synthetic saddle would likely be more suitable for short term use. However, synthetics are harder to fit and as the materials break down, the saddle may lose some of its shape over time. Help customers weigh up their situation by looking at what they want to use the saddle for against their budget.

Tack Safety

• Stock quality. High quality equals safety, and British tack identified as such is a guarantee of quality. Keep an eye out for the Union Jack on labelling. If does not clearly state the country of origin, be sceptical. This is done to give the impression of being made in the U.K. when it is made elsewhere.
• Repair or replace? Remind customers to always inspect tack after an accident and if in any doubt take it to their saddler. Tack should be checked regularly and they should always repair or replace broken, worn out or badly damaged equipment.
• Correct equipment. Ensure customers buy what they need to do the job efficiently. A jump saddle isn’t going to be too helpful in a dressage test, and a hunt bridle will be out of place in a showing class.

Second-hand advice

A large number of your customers may choose the second-hand route. It may be worth investigating stocking preloved goods in store to appeal to this market. You can advise customers on what to look out for if they decide to purchase privately.

• Remind customers to get it checked by a professional for internal and external damage. Although normal for used tack, the degree of damage on the pommel and cantle could indicate whether the saddle may have been in a fall.
• Your customers should ask as many questions about the tack as they wish, how the saddle has been cared for, for example. If they have any suspicions, and the vendor is not forthcoming about how certain marks occurred, advise them to walk away or to have it checked before purchase.
• Bridle quality is just as important. Tell customers to ensure all stitching is intact, and that none of the bridle has been repaired in the past. Excessive use of some preparations may cause stitches to rot and leather to weaken.
• Buyers need to check that all the keepers are intact and that buckles and fasteners are in good, solid condition.