For protection, horses usually wear splint boots on their lower legs, skid boots on their hind fetlocks and sometimes bell boots on either the front feet or even on all four feet.
Appearance is very important in western riding and in competition riders must wear a long-sleeved shirt, jeans, cowboy hat, and cowboy boots. It is also quite common for them to also wear chaps, gloves, spurs and a neckerchief.
Saddles
The saddles used today in competition and general use can again trace their
roots back to the Spanish vaqueros, the early cattle and sheepherders of Mexico
and the American Southwest. It was a combination of the saddles used in the two
main styles of horseback riding then practiced in Spain, the "la jineta"
or Moorish style and the "la estradiota" or jousting style. For
practical reasons the "horn" was added to aid the roping and control
of cattle. Anyone who has seen a Spaghetti Western film will already be familiar
with the style and things have hardly changes since those early days. As the
saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
Whilst most riders using a Western saddle have never worked a cow their saddles still feature this historical element. Another element that may have contributed to the design of the Western saddle was the Spanish tree saddle, which was also influential in the design of the McClellan saddle of the American military, being used by all branches of the U.S. Army, but being particularly associated with the cavalry.
There are distinct differences between the Western saddle its English counterpart. Firstly it has no padding of its own and whilst the weight-bearing area of the saddle is large and usually covered with soft sheepskin it must be padded with a saddle blanket in order to provide a comfortable fit for the horse. Secondly a Western saddle has stirrups that are not designed to detach from the saddle in case of emergency, the rider's high-heeled cowboy boots prevent his feet from slipping through and exposing him to the danger of being dragged. Furthermore the Western saddle is secured to the horse by means of a cinch which is tied on with a leather strap called a latigo rather than being buckled like an English girth.
There are many types of Western saddle available from general-purpose one through to specialised one used in the various disciplines such as cutting, reining, steer roping, and western pleasure.
There is a common belief that in general terms the Western saddle is the more comfortable saddle although many people are just as at ease on an English saddle. Because of its origins of being used on a daily basis by cowboys it is understandable that the Western saddle should afford the rider as much comfort as possible.
Reins
There are two main types of reins used in Western riding. Firstly there are split reins, which allow the rider to place one finger between the reins to aid in making adjustments. Secondly are "romal reins," which are joined together at the end by means of a romal (a type of long quirt) and should be held without a finger between them and with at least 16 inches of slack between them.
Snaffle Bit
Consisting of a bit mouthpiece with a ring on either side, this is the most common type of bit used while riding horses. Unlike other types of bit such as the Pelham, curb and kimberwicke bits that have shank it is a non-leverage bit meaning it does not amplify the pressure applied by the reins. The snaffle bit works on several parts of the horse's mouth; the mouthpiece of the bit acts on the tongue and bars, the lips of the horse also feel pressure from both the mouthpiece and the rings. The rings also serve to act on the side of the mouth and in some cases on the sides of the jawbone. Additionally, it should not be able to slide up and down the rings of the bit or cheekpieces of the bridle.
Curb chains or straps have no effect on a true snaffle because there is no leverage to act upon. English riders do not add any type of curb strap or curb chain to a snaffle bit. While some riders in western disciplines do add a curb strap to the rings, it is merely a "hobble" for the rings, has no leverage effect and is there only as a safety feature to prevent the rings from being pulled through the mouth of the horse, should the animal gape open its mouth in an attempt to avoid the bit, something prevented in an English bridle by the presence of a cavesson noseband.
Curb Bit
Includes the Pelham bit and the Weymouth curb along with the traditional "curb bit" used mainly by Western riders, in general terms these are more severe than a snaffle bit as they use leverage. The curb bit consists of a mouthpiece, curb chain, and a shank, with one ring per side on the top of the shank, and one ring on the bottom of the shank. Pelham bits also have a ring next to the mouthpiece. Kimberwickes are modified curb bits, and a curb bit is used in a double bridle along with a bradoon.
A curb bit works on several parts of a horse's head and mouth. The bit mouthpiece acts on the bars, tongue and roof of the mouth. The shanks add leverage and place pressure on the poll via the crownpiece of the bridle, to the chin groove via the curb chain, and, especially with a "loose jaw" shank, may act on the sides of the mouth and jaw.
