I'm a collector. A "stuff" afficienado. And always wondering if there's something that will work "just a little better." After putting things to the test for mile after mile, you figure out pretty fast what works and what doesn't. As I write reviews about different products, I will post those links here as well. I also like to support independent, small businesses that make their product here in the USA. Here are some of my favorite pieces of equipment, and favorite vendors.
Vendors:
Horses Dacor This Prescott, AZ-based vendor is a favorite of mine, and run by some of my very good friends. They have great customer service, and a really good all-encompassing selection of endurance equipment. If you're in the SW area, they often have a vendor trailer set up.
Long Rider's Gear One of the first vendors I went to when starting out in distance riding. They cater not just to endurance riders, but have a good selection of general trail gear. More great customer service here.
Action Rider Tack A really good selection of endurance-related equipment that not everyone else stocks. Fantastic customer service...they go out of their way to make the customer feel special and appreciated. Lightning-fast response time.
Hought Tack My favorite beta/biothane tack. Heavy duty, handmade, and seriously good quality. It may not be the cheapest, but it's worth every penny. Made here in the USA.
Preferred Equipment:
Hoof Boots
Renegade Hoof Boots
My hoof boot of choice for a boot that stays on, is easy to put on/take off, and is designed for the barefoot performance hoof. Made here in the USA. (Yes, I work for them. But I wouldn't work for them if I didn't love the boots and the company.)
Saddle Pads
Skito Saddle Pads
Buy direct from the company, or from the vendors above. I love these pads. I've tried many different pads, sold quite a few of them, and always keep returning to my Skitos. I love that they're durable, can be custom-made for your saddle, have a lot of options, provide good support, yet protect the integrity of the saddle fit. To date, I've never had a horse come up sore with one of these pads. I have both the regular and DryBack varieties. The DryBack is fabulous for the hot Arizona summers.
Saddles
Duett Companion Trail
English style, made specifically for wide, flat-backed horses. This saddle has fit Mimi the best out of any saddle I've had on her back, and a custom-made one probably couldn't get much better. They're very reasonably priced, well-made, very sturdy, and an excellent value for the money. I've had good luck with it fitting multiple horses, all with varying conformations. I've found it to be very secure for me as well, and well-balanced.
Bridles
Hought or Zilco (can be purchased from the above vendors.)
I prefer the style that allows the entire headstall portion to be removed, leaving the halter behind, as opposed to the style with cheekpieces.
Breastcollars
Hought or Zilco (can be purchased from the above vendors.)
The main thing I'm concerned with in a breastcollar is that it is flexible, is wide enough to dissipate pressure, and has some sort of soft padding. Both companies feature PVC-padded (a distinctive waffle-type padding) options, which is my preferred style. Look for one that has plenty of adjustment options. (And don't cut the loose ends of material off unless you are sure you are only going to use that breastcollar on that one horse...or make sure the next horse is exactly the same size.)
Cruppers
Hought or Moss Rock Endurance
I prefer something that has the least amount of buckles and hardware you can find. The style that loops around the tail and clips back onto the starting point seems to fit that. If any piece of tack is going to rub for me, it's a crupper. Fleece noseband covers are a good thing to have on hand to cover up crupper hardware if it does start to rub. And...make sure your horse is crupper-trained. :)
Reins
Hought or RJ Mfg Round Rope Reins
If there's something out there that boils down to sheer personal preference, reins are it. After trying many sets, I've boiled by favorites down to a pair of Hought Grippy Beta Reins or a pair of RJ Manufacturing Round Rope Reins. I like the Grippy Beta for when a horse is pulling...they are indeed grippy, but very soft, and don't rub your hands raw. The Round Rope Reins are a good option when you don't need quite as much grip, and they double nicely as a lead rope.
Best advice for reins? Whatever your preference, get good ones. Cheap reins will be the first thing to break on the endurance trail. Check the scissor snaps frequently -- the inner springs are the weakest part. Keep them cleaned of grit and they'll last longer without jamming or breaking.
Bits and the Like
Myler Bits
I've been "blessed" with a horse that hates bits. These fall under the "tolerable" category. Yeah, they're not cheap. But the quality is unmatched. Beautiful balance, and a bit for just about every horse out there. Their Kimberwick with one of the comfort mouth snaffle mouthpieces is hard to beat, and a staple item.
S-Hack
I love the advent of the padded-noseband, aluminum-cheekpiece S-Hackamore. This is my go-to piece of headgear, and if I have my preference, every single one of my horses will go in one of these. The ease of eating and drinking is fabulous for the horse, and I've felt like I've had just as much control with this as with a bit. (Caveat: The two I've used this set-up on consistently had a good arena base and were well-versed in respecting the bit and rein cues before the introduction of the hack. Some horses are just too strong or pull too much to do well in a hack. Know your horse...and test it on a safe trail first.)
Saddle Packs
Snugpax
I've had quite a few different models of these packs: Western and English Slimline Pommels, English Deluxe Pommels, English Cantles, Unipax, and the Renegade Boot Bags. I love all of them in various configurations. I've always been able to store everything I need (and then some) in them. I love the different colors, and all of them have held up extremely well. They're minimal-bounce, and adapt well to different models of saddles. Bonus points: Made in the USA.
Splint Boots
Don't ask. I've yet to find the perfect pair of splint boots I love. Keep checking back as I go through the Splint Boot Saga.
Tights
Just For Horsin'-Round
aka "Evelyn's Tights"
I love Evelyn and her tights. She's great to work with, has really good customer service, and great taste in picking fabric for tights! I've been so impressed with how these tights have held up (the Arizona desert is not kind to tights...lots of sharp, prickly things that grab at clothing). Great stitchwork and attention to detail. And access to some of the funkiest fabric patterns available. (She offers plain colors, too.) Really, really good prices...an excellent value. Also made in the USA.
Girth
Stillwater Cinch Company makes a great dressage girth that has a leather-and-neoprene backing under the buckles. Very high-quality mohair that doesn't pinch. It's wash-and-wear...just dunk in a bucket, swish it around, and lay it out to dry. (Although not technically recommended, I just hang it with the rest of my tack to dry, and it's suffered no ill effects.) Never had it rub or make a horse sore.
Stirrups
Flex-Ride Stirrups The original stirrups I started distance riding with, and have since gone back to. Good luck getting a hold of them outside the UK, though, and for that reason, I hope mine stay in one piece for a very long time. I have small feet, and don't ride in too bulky of shoes, so these work well for me. I really like how lightweight they are, and they don't have excess padding in the footbed.
Questions? Suggestions? E-mail me, and I'll put them up here!
