tack and gear

[pegleg]

I am riding along here and don't have anyone to argue with so thought I would ask what piece of tack or related item do have that you really find usefull or is There something that was a complete waste or couldve been done better? From flank cinch to headstalls let's hear it. I bought a cheap aussie style bridle and like. The design so much I made one just like it out of real leather with some bronc styling added

[Big Mike]

Cant think of unessecary stuff but here's a few extras I like on my saddles

1 since im not a roper and I spend lots of time riding in wilderness areas I wrap an extra latigo around my saddle horn. Having extra leather has saved my a$$ a few times.

2 On the upper end of the flank cinch, i had a leather case made to carry a hand saw. Comes in very handy.

3 I have 7 extra D rings on my saddle. 3 on the rear, 2 next to the flank and 2 in the front below the swells. Always bugs me when saddles dont have enough places to tie to.

[pegleg]

I agree I have d's everywhere a concho normally is and extra latigos front and rear I also have straps specifically placed on rear saddle bags for bedroll or slicker and snuff +phone pockets on my chaps. I kinda meant style of things also not just extra's. Them too but what seems to work best for you. I put swivel stirrups on finally because of my prosthetics just a little tension all day wears holes in my hide after awhile then I'm laid up. Also having issues with the fender releasing my leg. Been riding with straps tied around the ankle just to catch em before they hit the ground lol. Anyway let's hear it all guys favorite pads. Whatever hell what size mount do you prefer?

[Dads dogboy]

Pegleg,

We too like plenty of places on the Saddle to tie things to. We also have a D anywhere there is a Concho. We also have extra strap loops screwed into the back of our cantles, for more places to run straps to buckle stuff.

Also we use heavy duty Cordura Saddle and Pommel bags with lots of different size pockets to carry all the STUFF that we need in the backcountry, yet have it easy to get to when you need it (nothing worse than needing a Bandaid and having the 1st Aid kit buried in the bottom of a full saddle bag and you are bleeding all over the place). Ours are kind of like a Fly Fisherman’s vest, with a pocket for everything, they work great. The Pommel bags carry things like Cameras, h2o bottles, maps, sun screen, bug spray, Binoculars, etc. The Saddle bags carry things we may not need as often during the day.

We also have a little devise from Brunton in WY that recharges batteries while you are riding along…it has a fold out Solar cell that Velcro’s to the top of either a Bed roll or Cantle bag. Your battery chargers plug into the charging unit in one of the saddle bags and are ready to swap out when needed (really good for video equipment and Sat. Phones)

We also like the Aussie Halter Bridals and have had some made. We keep a get down rope attached to the Halter part and the lead rope rolled up and tied to the Saddle skirt right at the left knee, handy when needing to get down in a hurry and wanting to hang on to your mount. When stopping for a lunch break or to shoot video or stills and are going to be awhile we can just unsnap the Bits from the head stall and tie up. (This ain’t exactly a working Ranch Cowboy rig, use a different set up for Cow or Horse work, but for Hunting, or trail riding you seem to never have either enough or the right Stuff along).

C. John Clay
Dad’s dogboy & Mama’s Mule wrangler

[pegleg]

Its funny how folks get the same ideas. I'm carrying a little more gear then I used to. Makes my day more bearable but not necessarily the horses. My saddle is getting some serious miles on it and the dry weather really isn't that hard on it with minor leather care it holds up fine but the brush,rocks,spills, nasty rides and hound pups have taken a toll. Lost one last year to a dude riding down hill into a tree couldn't have planed it better caught the horn in a branch with the front of the gelding hanging in air. Popped the horn and split the saddle tree. Wrecked my very first real saddle a few years back by lending it out. He left it in the truck bed after a rain. I'm currently re upholstering it for my kids. But I'm looking for ideas on my hunting saddle to incorporate in it. I may build a new one instead and wait till next summer for this one. It takes me a month or more to rework one unless I set down everyday and keep it simple. I need new taps mine are worn through. What cinches are guys liking? I try to run light weight where I can, just can't do cordura past a cinch or nylon strap. which canteens are holding up? Best for staying cool? .not just saddle ideas but what gear is really impressing people. I

[LIONHOUND1963]

I have a nice set of leather horn bags my wife had made for me. She had always used horn bags when she would ride (she takes a lot stuff). They have been real handy. Saddle bags pommel bags and horn bags, now I take alot of stuff.

[dirtydan]

Three things you always need on your saddle are pliers ,wire, and a handsaw or hatchet.
I don't know how many times i've needed to let down a fence and rebuild it when I was crossed. Also can't count how many times I've needed to cut a branch or two out of the trail.

Three things you never keep on your saddle are you pistol, your lighter, and your cellphone. These should always be on your person, in your chaps or on your belt. Nothing, I tell you Nothing blows worse than getting dumped in the wilderness and your horse/mule takes off. Then you can't start a fire to get warm or call someone to come peel you up out of the rocks or shoot the bigfoot trying to eat you.

One item I really enjoy is this set of panniers my friend built. I'm trying to replicate me a set as well. They are all rubber and box shaped. We dump ice directly into them and fill them full of beer.

[Dads dogboy]

Pegleg,

When it comes to materials that are going to touch my Mule or Horse, I want it to be Natural.

For the Girth we use the widest Mohair that we can find, a steer roping one that has a wide roller buckle D to attach to the billet and latigo (we use heavy nylon instead of traditional latigo leather).

Flank girth, we like a medium wide real leather with roller buckles, again we might use a nylon billet to cut down on weight a little.

For Britchin, real leather is darn sure the best if you are using it all day for several days. We tried some of the Biothane models and thought that they were the Cats Meow till we were in some Bad up and down country for several days in a row. We sure galled the hips of several nice mules (if they had not been awfully nice and forgiving we would have been walking) we had to keep applying Vasoline and made it home, never used the Bio since!

We like the Pulling style Breast collar that attaches to the Swells of the Saddle to isolate the Saddle. This along with properly adjusted Britchin keeps movement to a minimum, even with Mules who have less than perfect shaped withers.

For a Blanket that goes next to the skin we use a real wool Navaho, then pad up with either wool or hair and Canvas, all materials that will allow heat to escape. Also we only use real sheepskin under the Saddle.

We also use very small rounded skirts to keep the Saddles weight down; we are adding enough weight with all of the Stuff that we carry. The second Navaho Blanket will be an oversize one to keep the Saddle Bags from chaffing.

Synthetic materials are probably fine for occasional or short duration rides. We sure prefer natural materials for hard use. JMO

CJC

[pegleg]

I guess you put enough miles on and everything works out ending up the same pretty close anyway you see so many new products come out every year and few of them really improved anything or make a lasting impression. Heat build up and weight are my worst enemies at times I really consider a pack horse its just close if you really check your weight. Not so bad when theres a couple riders to split gear but when its only one and your working new dogs or traveling deep changing weather conditions over night etc. For long periods it adds up. I've been using the felt lined front cinch instead of the mohair haven't had one break yet and no sores either seems to breath fine enough and doesn't gather brush like the strands do really considering going to canvas saddle bags for few reasons. Cheap easily modified super light weight are some plus getting nice bags torn up clouds the day a little. To bad robin isn't still on here I'm sure he has some real useful ideasl

[dirtydan]

pegleg, if you are considering going canvas with your saddle bags make sure you spend the money to get good ones. I know it is pretty damn hard seeing your leather get scuffed up but it is usually stitched well. I've had some pretty crappy experiences ripping open cheap canvas bags and cleaning my stuff up off the trail. Check that they are at the least double stitched. I loaded a colt with a couple of elk quarters this fall in cheap saddle panniers. The colt took to bucking and the stitching blew wide open on both sides and elk meat went flying. The only canvas items I enjoy having are my panniers for my sawbuck saddles. They are made of heavy canvas and triple stitched.

As far as cinches go I usually ride mohair. It seems the most forgiving on the horse. I do like the felt lined ones also but I hate neoprene ones. The neoprene ones actually help keep your saddle from rolling more but I have galled a few horses using them. Actually I've galled horses and mules with all of them but least with mohair. You are right though I do hate cleaning sticks and debris out of it.

[Cowboyvon]

I prefer natural materials also but I have some of those cheap horn bags that I carry sometimes and I like my leather saddle bags. I remember when I was a kid we had some of those halters with the snap on bits.. I need to rig some of those up again thats a good idea.

One thing that I carry after having to layout overnight is this little insulated blanket

..

They call it a woobie I just tie it on above my slicker..



And after having to ride back after dark in some pretty nasty places I went ahead and invested in one of these... You turn this thing on and its better than the headlights on your truck and it has 3 settings and a big battery so on low it will last like 80 hours or something like that.



And I always carry a spot messenger cell phones just don't work everywhere so I carry it just in case and also it has a button for letting everyone know that I'm ok and that I won't be back tonight..keeps my wife from worrying

[dirtydan]

Von I have one of those halter/bridle combo deals you speak of. It's pretty damn nice i must say. It wouldn't be hard to make. I'll try and get pics of it on here so you can get to riggin

[pegleg]

Nice he has all the toys! Thanks that's the kind of product placement I was talking about keep it coming guys. This is what pre season is for quality references so we know what's best in each category. I really would like to find a real tuff well insulated canteen etc. With about a gallon capacity hydration packs are cool and all but the one thing I really like is a cold drink something about warm water just isn't classy enough for a hounddogger the ben lilly types who are a bit off may enjoy moss flavored H2O but us sissies get tired of filtering and treating water that chemical taste is acquired. Anyway keep it coming

[R Severe]

I havn't been able to log on for awhile but maybe it will work this mornin. Good thread goin here with plenty of info.
Von, where do you get those blankets?

Dito for me on the natural gear next to the horse. I have a few real small rope halters I tied outta 5 mil climbing rope that go on my ponys when hunting.
They have enough bite that you can loop the lead rope and use them for a hackamor if needed but no bulk if you want to do the dude deal with the halter under the bridle.

[Cowboyvon]

R Severe they are made in CO.. you can order them on line at https://kifaru.net/woobie.html.

Something else I bought that I used this last year was a tent from Snowtrekker.. I love the weight and the fact that it is still canvas. I can carry the tent in one pannier and a small wood stove in the other and still have room for dog food oats and everything else I need.





Another thing I was just sitting here thinking about are the hobbles.. I hook them right on my rear cinch ring and they are the kind that has the flap where you just push it through a square ring and it locks.. real easy and real fast...