subject: Top Horse Training Equipment [print this page] As with any training session, equipment is very important. There's not much sense in trying to teach a horse anything without the proper tools. It maybe be possible to do so, but it will be very difficult. Even our ancestors used primary kinds of tools and equipment to train a horse, or any kind of animal. Therefore, one should know the different equipment for horse training in order to successfully teach your horse new tricks...or at least the basics.
Nosebands - This may have been the first tool our primitive ancestors used to train and domesticate animals. It is used to steady and balance a horse when it shakes its head too much and is attached to the bit.
Gag Bridle - This works on the horse's lips and poll simultaneously. It prevents the horse from leaning forward too much and allows the trainer/rider to control the horse easily.
Sidepulls - This is very important training equipment. It applies pressure to the sides of the mouth and the nose to direct movement. Sidepulls are not just for training, they can be used whenever you want to ride a horse for any specific reason.
Running Martingale - or any martingale for that reason is used to control the horse's head carriage. They control the horse's head height and prevent the horse from throwing its head so high that the rider may get hit with the polls. The martingale puts pressure on the head so that it is impossible to pull the head any higher.
There are a lot more tools out there but these are the basic equipments used for training horses. One may gradually add some more over time to teach your horses more advanced tricks, or even lose a few to make way for more advanced equipments. They can cost anywhere from 20 to 100 dollars.
These equipments are basic and should be found in just about every local saddlery shop anywhere. Read equestrian magazines to find out if there are any local saddlery shops near you.
To make sure they flex properly, new training equipment should be placed on the horse and then left under the sun for a few minutes. This will allow the leather to fit properly to the horse, thus making sure that the equipment works as desired.
As with any equipment, regular care and maintenance should ensure that your equipment will last for a very long time.
