Tack or Tact?

The History of Tack is one that is well documented but, still lacks definitive proof of exact inventions and usage. The first "saddles" (and I'm using that term loosely) appeared about 4000 years ago. They were nothing more than hide or some other type of cloth to help make riding more comfortable for both the rider and the horse. I imagine they weren't too particular with the name of the saddle maker or if Western Pleasure Penelope down at the arena had the same make and model. Of course, as the use of these cloths became more widespread, different groups of peoples were able to make improvements and the evolution of the saddle began. 

I was intrigued to find out that a "frozen Scythian tomb from the 5th Century B.C. uncovered a saddle cover intricately decorated with animal motifs made from leather, felt, hair and gold. As expert horsemen, the Scythians used cushioned saddles and girths and may have had leather stirrups".  (Dressage Today Magazine, January 1996)

The Asians are accredited with the first "saddle" mounted on a wooden frame.  In 200 B.C., "This primitive saddle tree kept a rider's weight off the horse's tender, sensitive vertebrae, preserving the animal's well-being and prolonging his usefulness." (DTM, 01/96)  

Photo of a Saddle on display at the Inner Mongolian Museum

There's more to the history, but you get the point--that saddles evolved over time.  

Ok, so why the history lesson?  The original purpose of having a saddle and using tack was comfort.  Quality tack is comfortable.  The leather is soft and pliable.  The padding is thick and luxurious.  The fittings and hardware are smooth and hold up to usage.  And it's built to last. 

Some tack is cheaply made. Worse yet, it fits your horse poorly and can often lead to physical problems such as pressure marks, saddle sores, and lameness.  Not to mention, it's hard to ride in!  But, not all inexpensive tack is horrible.  Which brings me to the purpose of this article.  

The key is finding the best quality tack you can afford and choose the tack that fits your and your horse properly.  Used is a perfectly acceptable option.  

Equally annoying to me is tack that is touted as simply the best.  Kudos for the saddle maker or the manufacturer for building such great brand recognition but, shame on the rider that will criticize another rider for not having a "name brand" saddle or "name brand" piece of tack.  Name brand provide some peace of mind as far as quality control goes; however, there are literally hundreds of independent saddleries in the US and abroad that produce far better quality tack that just doesn't have name recognition.  You'll see this if a saddle maker is new to the business, or just doesn't have the marketing know-how.  And the tack is usually VERY pricey but, there's more than one reason why. 

Don Leson Saddle

For the most part, people don't get into saddle making to make a fortune.  It's a labor of love--handcrafting the leather.  When an independent saddle maker is putting his or her name on that saddle, they are doing it with pride.  Often times, these handmade independent saddle makers will charge more and rightfully so.  Don Leson is a saddle maker whose name is synonymous with quality. However, it's not a mainstream saddle. Not many would recognize that brand; the base price for one is about $8000 with no bells and whistles. 


Remember an individual saddle maker is paying top dollar for the tree, the leather, etc. because they aren't buying it in bulk and because they're looking for certain qualities in the components that large companies sometimes dismiss.  They're manufacturing the saddle by hand without automated processes and have to literally complete every step of the saddle making process the old fashioned way.  The attention to detail and quality control is superior to most of your recognized brands. And at the end of the day, the comfort is really there.  Like I stated before, they are usually more expensive but, it's an heirloom piece that will last several generations if it's cared for properly. 

So, shop around.  A good tack shop will discuss your needs, conduct saddle fitting, discuss your budget and help you find a saddle that will work for you and your horse.  And for the rider who feels compelled to brag about their $800 headstall and breast collar or criticize you for your unknown brand name saddle or headstall, ask them if they know the difference between tack and tact? Tell them you do and you're comfortable with that. :)