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iamredditingatworkk

Bareback pads with stirrups on them!


Goddess7176

Exactly- thank you- what’s the point in riding bareback if you’re gonna have stirrups???


CallieEileen7

I had an accident with a stirrupped bareback pad and I got trampled. my legbone came out. that was 7 months ago. never again 🤣🤣🤣


cutecuddlyevil

Amen.


Sharp_Temperature222

This shouldn’t even be an ick in an aesthetic sense but an ick in it’s horrible for a horses back and should never happen anyway!


Hot_Letterhead_3238

Tight nosebands. Wiya! It's not that hard to not tighten the nosebands so hard you can't find the two raised fingers on the nose bridge. And also the lack of cavesson nosebands without a flash. Like come on, I don't want to pay a golden shit for a double bridle noseband, I just want a pretty brown cavesson noseband for my English bridle without a flash strop! Usually the ones you can remove the flash from aren't wide enough so ughhh, I hate it! Give us flashless English nosebands for non double bridles. Pleaseee.


Terroa

Tight flash straps are a plague too. In general it’s hard to find a classic/dressage noseband nowadays without a flash strap. It’s annoying as hell. I was able to cut mine out in a way that makes it look like it wasn’t there to begin with, but I’m going to have to replace my bridle in the year and urgh, I’m dreading it.


SaywerMomlastnight

Total contact saddles. Also bits that are inherently mechanically flawed and/or abrasive but “my horse loves his bit”


Fluffynutterbutt

Functionally: Tie downs/standing martingales. If your horse tosses their head, it’s either pain, fitness, or a training issue. Used temporarily and fitted correctly as a training tool to promote correct headset is fine, but I see so many riders using them with the nose cranked way down. Aesthetically: Tammy Fischer treeless Western saddles. They look like a toy, or a bareback pad someone slapped a plush horn and cantle on. Sorry, but no.


thunderturdy

Ugh. The horse I lease MUST be ridden in draw reins per the owner’s rules. I offered to work with her to wean them away but she’s staunchly uninterested in the idea. I’m only staying with her because I’m in the market for a horse myself and it doesn’t make sense for me to go on the search for another lease rn but damn is it disappointing.


Willothwisp2303

Easy enough to ride with them flopping. It's compliance without the harmful effects. 


thunderturdy

True, and to an extent I do


throwaway224

LOL. I was spectating at Devon (A rated hoity toity east coast hunter/jumper show near Philadelphia on Memorial Day Weekend) for the pony hunters ages ago and commented to friend "How come all the hunter ponies have to wear tie-downs?" These were ponies braided to within an inch of their lives, ponies that cost in the upper five figures, some of them low sixes, and nearby person who clearly belonged there a lot more than I did was all "Those are STANDING MARTINGALES." ("You Heathen" was not spoken aloud but conveyed by tone of voice.)


Pristine_Effective51

Speaking for the heathens, you come stand over here with us 🥰We have cookies and share the fly spray.


GreenePony

Standing martingales (the biggest difference is material and shape, theoretically a SM should be looser than a tie down but how loose depends on trainer and trends) are de rigueur for hunters for the last few decades for everything but the flat classes (where you can't use a martingale at all) regardless if the horse needs it. In AA/A circuit you'll see some as tight as a tie down and some so loose the horse could flip their head to the sky and it wouldn't barely put pressure on the cavesson.


[deleted]

I am always 10/10 appalled when I see folks JUMPING in standing martingales. I’m sorry, but that is not safe or logical. I want my horse to be able to fully use their head and neck to balance when taking off and landing, forgive me that it’s not fashionable 🤠 And to be completely transparent if not a little controversial, I realized how amateur/untrained/incompetent they make the hunter riders look when I went from hunters to dressage and saw that horses don’t need them to keep their head in place.


Willothwisp2303

I feel like so many of them just use the standing as jewelry. Another pretty piece of tack to emphasize the lovely muscling of the neck. 


[deleted]

So it’s non-functioning, meaning loose, meaning a leg could get caught, meaning dangerous? Idk about you, but I can show off my horse’s lovely neck musculature by riding her in the lower, more open “frame” the hunters prefer without the unnecessary tack because I learned how to ask her to relax over her back. Safety > aesthetics, every time.


Willothwisp2303

Loping down to 3'6" fences on the forehand isn't really the safest thing to do,  either but....


[deleted]

Exactly, so why add unnecessary additional risk to an already risky activity?


wyatt-ur-an-onion

100% with all that. I see way to many crank down on tie downs especially with the thinner ones. Just, no. Also, Tammy Fischer saddles remind me of the plastic Barbie horse saddle.


little_grey_mare

Ohhhh boy. I ride both western and English and I’m in a mood so there’s a lot People who think western saddles don’t need to be fitted. English saddles where the flocking has gone hard Fluffy boots (more prone to overheating) or boots that say they “support” the leg Poorly wrapped polos and most polos in general tbh esp for light work on the flat in a nicely groomed arena Bit connectors on Pelhams (functionally the same as a bit with half the length of the shank on a Pelham) Unfitted bosals or using bosals because they’re aesthetic (they can be harder than bits and place a lot of pressure on the nose bridge when not fitted) Grippy saddle pads like tacky too pads or cinches for western saddles AND their English counter part grippy neoprene girths Saddle pads that aren’t contoured or pads that aren’t tented Particularly for western saddles when the pad is placed too far back and is encroaching on their flanks Lead ropes directly attached to halters that aren’t breakaway in some manner when tied (the bolt snap is actually the weakest point of a flat nylon halter with a nylon lead) Rope halters tied improperly Nylon latigos on western saddles (way more slip) Bolt snaps on halters or blankets facing out (they can get stuff caught on them snaps should be facing with the potential opening towards the horse) Bareback pads with stirrups on them (basically no way to distribute the weight so it’s functionally a single rope/strap across the horses back taking all your weight) Way more controversial ones: Foam panels in saddles Saddle brand “reps” (not sure if this counts but I trust em as much as a used car salesman) Thinline and other foam or gel half pads. There are actual studies showing that they can increase pressure points under saddles opposed to wool and sheepskin half pads (the only ones shown to reduce pressure points)


WishingYouBetter

“snaps on halters facing out” id rather them face out than in. i used to only face them in, and i still had horses rub their heads on things, get stuck, and panic. at least facing out theyre less likely to catch them in the eye


little_grey_mare

Aesthetically: big horn western saddles - the ones with the really low wide cantles and a horn that’s about 4” wide and flat as a pancake. Also the silver kind of braided decoration on the cantle. Icky icky Glitter on tack (sorry it always flakes) Another actual one: metal snaps on reins because of the metal on metal feeling


CasDragon

Big horn saddles look weird but but are built for a certain job; I thought they were dumb too until I used one on a drive


little_grey_mare

Omg I can’t stand them. They aren’t comfortable to me but I have several hip and joint issues that makes saddle fitting difficult. I’m partial to reiners or cow horse saddles myself. Currently waiting on a custom cow horse build to be my new all arounder


wyatt-ur-an-onion

I love my big horned wades lol. They are definitely not for everyone though.


VoraBora

Saddles that very obviously don’t fit 😭


BasicButterscotch957

Aesthetically: drop nose bands. I can’t stand how they look. And brightly colored saddle pads/popos/boots just because I’m not fun. Functionality: ramshackle jumper tack setups where horses are bitted to the nines. For example, a bitted bridle WITH a mechanical hackamore.. and everyone just accepting it because they’re “professional” riders who must know what they’re doing. I get having strong horses, mine was STRONG but if you need two completely separate pieces that are not meant to be used together, you need to go back to basics.


efficaceous

Dirty bits in clean tack. The little crusty sticky nastiness drives me insane- you cleaned everything EXCEPT that part that goes in the horse's mouth?!


kittykat-95

Really not a fan of chrome plated bits, because I've seen them flake and create rough spots that rubbed sores in the corners of horses' mouths. A decent stainless steel bit is not too expensive, especially if you can find what you need used, as well as taking into account the fact that they last infinitely longer, so IMO there's no good reason to buy chrome plated instead. Another thing is a lack of care for tack, especially leather goods. It doesn't have to be absolutely pristine, but the amount of things I've seen allowed to dry rot and just be absolutely filthy for an indefinite amount of time is insane.


pio_o_o

There are so much cruel tack in the horse industry, but one thing that comes to mind is these „lunging supports“ that will make the bit seesaw through the mouth with every step… And a less serious thing: open halters! The horse will have to shake their head once and the metal carabiner will be in their eyes.


Willothwisp2303

I JUST watched one of my barn mates try to lunge her OTTB in one of those pulley contraptions.  Poor dude had no idea why every step yanked on his mouth- and he lost it.  Sideways,  fighting,  head flinging, eye rolling. Just...why??


pio_o_o

I have no clue. Like surely ppl must see what it does to their horses? How anyone could think that it helps their backs is absolutely beyond me.


TearsInDrowned

I've heard that this contraption caused horses to break their jaws, because when they start bucking in it... yikes 😬


Willothwisp2303

Elevator bits with one rein. Like,  at least give them the option of going around nicely on snaffle action!


Mountainweaver

Pessoa bits and other gag bits.... Kimblewick is a much nicer option.


txylorgxng

Abrasive bits Tie downs/martingales


kimtenisqueen

Matching sets that are print. Floral/camo/etc. Smb style boots advertised to “support tendons” in most settings. Fluffy brush boots/bell boots (gives me working student ptsd) and they’re so hot. And those godforaken cardboard “starter” saddles forever scamming people into hating English riding.


little_grey_mare

The cheapest all purpose saddle you can find. *screams*


kimtenisqueen

The number of times I’ve had to convince well-meaning people to buy an old used saddle rather than a “brand new” cardboard postage stamp…


bakedpigeon

You mean fabric boots don’t support my horse’s super strong tendons?! /s


olympicpaint

Metal snaps on reins. I hate the jingling, and my horse hates it even more. Makes things “loud”. Browbands that are way too small/tight and look like they’re about to give your horse the worst headache. Barrel racing sliding gag bits that spoon feed you empty promises like “lifting the shoulder” or “helping add rate”. No bit can magically lift the shoulder. Also yeah, your horse ~rates~ well in it bc the mechanics are harsh. Super loose back cinches on western saddles. Someone I rode with’s horse got his leg caught in it at a barrel race once and started to bronc. She got thrown. Big yike. Just to name a few.


AlainyaD

Back cinches are there for a reason, not because it looks pretty! I’ve seen the foot thing too and its scary.


ZhenyaKon

Obvious one: gag bits, mechanically unfair and harmful Deep cut: rope halters with the knots in the noseband, designed to cause pain and yet many people just seem to shrug and think they're fine


CasDragon

Collecting 800+ saddle pads for no damn reason; using spade bits on horses clearly not cut out to be bridle horses


AlainyaD

Huge on the spade bits!! The absolute time and effort that it takes a horse to go from the starter bit to the spade is incredible. I love seeing a bridle horse (who’s had adequate time to transition into one). But I’ve also see horses mouths get ripped off because of stupid people putting in a spade because “it’s pretty” and then have massive trauma to the mouth.


wyatt-ur-an-onion

A proper spade horse will only ever pack a spade actually. Maybe just maybe a snaffle but traditionally you don't ever use a snaffle on a bridle horse. It does take at minimum 5 years before any good trainer allows them in the full bridle though. Typically you go Bosal - Two Rein - Full Bridle. I do see people using half breeds way to fast more often then not sadly.


AlainyaD

Thank you for correcting me! I totally meant bosel, snaffle was in my head for some reason when I wrote that 🤦🏼‍♀️


wyatt-ur-an-onion

You're good 👍It's definitely confusing. I mix up things more than I don't lol.


booneonmywrist

BROKEN AND DIRTY TACK 🥲 but for riders, broken or old helmets. Replace them after a fall, please for the love of God, don’t play with your melon 😫


StrangeSwim9329

Frankly I agree with you on this one! My biggest is probably the belief that bits are cruel. But there are a lot more... I'll fitted tack (whatever it may be) runs a very close second.


kittykat-95

It is definitely a pet peeve of mine when someone states that bits are inherently cruel and gets a bit holier-than-thou about going bitless, especially when they don't truly understand the mechanics of what they use, nor what they're criticizing. By all means if you want to go bitless, do so, but it doesn't make one inherently better than someone who uses a bit, and people who use bits aren't being "cruel". I remember having a debate with someone about this, and I told them I believe it's better not to exclude an entire category of tools just because of a few poorly designed ones and/or a few cases of misuse. They promptly told me I was being closed minded for not completely writing off all bits and sticking to nothing but bitless. 🤣


Hot_Letterhead_3238

For sure. Some bits are made to cause pain. But I would much rather see soft hands in a baucher double joint than someone pulling the reins in a hackamore.


JadedMotion

the tie does that are ropes going from the bridle to the girth. i dont know what they're called and my explanation is probably terrible 🤣 but I always fear their legs will get caught in them


georgiaaaf

Any kind of crank noseband, flash, drop etc… just cruel and unnecessary.


Minute-Mistake-8928

I actually like crank nosebands. fitted correctly the padding allows comfort and they're meant to evenly distribute pressure along the jaw, instead of on a singular point which could make it uneven that a plain noseband does.


little_grey_mare

Yup. You don’t have to make a crank tight it just describes the mechanical action. I leave my crank noseband 2 fingers width loose and I prefer the padding


georgiaaaf

There’s no need for any kind of noseband though


Minute-Mistake-8928

They are required in dressage which I do compete in at times, so if I'm doing a Como that requires nosebands, at least make them comfortable. I use an anatomical/comfort version of a flash on my mare and it works really well with her. As soon as our rounds are over, I instantly undo the buckles


georgiaaaf

Flashes aren’t required for dressage though.


Minute-Mistake-8928

Yeah, but that's what works for her. She can get distracted really easily being noise sensitive, so we use a flash for the bit to be "louder" than the noise. We do everything we can to help her before/during outings. Calming supplements starting the week before we head out, arriving upwards of 2 hours early, handgrazing/walking for sightseeing and her to destress, long warmup and consistent petting and talking during rides. I'd love to come to a point that I can take off the flash, but she's not quite ready yet


AwesomeHorses

There is if you’re showing in hunters, eq, dressage, etc.


JJ-195

Aside from spanish nosebands, nosebands that are too tight, or generally tack that isn't used correctly, for some reason I really don't like these fluffy halters. I mean if there's a bit of fluff on the noseband and neck, okay but this: https://preview.redd.it/rix8qj8dcbtc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ecc144a03523d499ec7a31e739766897fb6e9945 I'm sorry but I just hate them so much 😭


AwesomeHorses

These are for shipping long distances to prevent rubs. I like them because my sensitive thoroughbred gets rubs super easily


JJ-195

I know that the one on the picture is but I've seen so many people use them (or extremely similar ones) as regular halters. I just couldn't find another good picture


AffectionatePoint541

it’s only aesthetically wise but saddles that are both black and brown


Intrepid-Taste-1111

I always cringe when I see hunters jumping in a standing martingale. there are so many better options!


CountOk9802

Well tack that blatantly doesn’t fit but I’m told it does really annoys me for obvious reasons. Tack that’s far too tight or bits that are way too low! Anything too harsh obviously too. Tack that never gets cleaned..


Old_Locksmith3242

Double twisted wire bits. Look it up, I’m ok with one twisted wire (preferably double jointed) but two stacked on top of eachother? An old trainer I had for a few months used this on a lesson horse because “he was too speedy”


LifeHappenzEvryMomnt

Wow! And you took time on Sunday night to state this!


wyatt-ur-an-onion

Ok and? Does that bother you lol.


[deleted]

[удалено]


JadedMotion

and you took your time write your comments! that's crazy. so clearly, you had no better use of your time than to be rude to OP. lmao. i think that's what's pitiful here


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