Trail Riding With Headstall Safety in Mind

How many times have you been away from yourmonths of hard riding every day the hardware rusted
trailer on a challenging ride with great friends whenand the poly wore through. It was not a pretty site
you stop for lunch or sightseeing? Then you realizeand expensive at a cost of $80 for a breast collar
that you forgot your halter at the trailer. You canand headstall.That was about 18 years ago. The
choose to tie your horse up with headstall and reinsexperience turned me off of nylon for several years.
leaving the bit in your horses mouth or sit or standI used a Parker Trail Bridle on a dare. It is nylon with
holding your horse while everyone else has a relaxingstainless steel buckles and ring on the halter nose. I
lunch with a beautiful view. That is no fun. When youwas amazed at the versatility and durability of the
choose to tie up with your reins, new horses, newtack, I have since used most of the Parker products
people, the stage is set for disaster. Your horsethat go with Trail Riding in the Arkansas Ozarks at
spooks sets back and POP goes your reins or yourone time or another.
bridle if they are leather. When this happens mostWhen I was teaching young people to ride in the 90s.
likely you have bruised the bars of your horsesIt was a requirement that they have at least a
mouth. This can cause problems down the road whenParker Trail Bridle. I did not have to worry if the
you want to bridle him later. If you have ever beenhalter was at the trailer or it the headstall was left at
in this situation you probably have watched yourhome in the rush to load the horse. The bridle was
horse disappear down the trail you just rode up. Nowthere. The bit and reins were the easy part, they
you are faced with walking back to the trail head orwere in the saddle bags. When we got to a spot for
hoping that someone will catch your mount and comelunch or a swim on the Buffalo River, a lead was
looking for you. Been there? I have. Not a pleasantsnapped to the halter ring, bits were unsnapped and
experience at best.tied to the saddle horn. Very easy solution to a
If you use leather tack you are faced with having toworrisome problem.
clean frequently, watch for dry rot, and it breaks andThe kids were thrilled that they could have the color
tears. I have used both nylon and leather tack. Atthey wanted and decorate it with a futurity knot
one time you could not give me nylon horsebrow, Aztec design overlay, or a different color
equipment, leather was the only tack I owned. Atoverlay. There was a size to fit the smallest pony, or
the time I had purchased what I thought was goodmustang and the best Quarter Horse. They come in
nylon tack, it turned out to be a poly material withMini to Draft sizes and with a selection of reins too.
nickel plate hardware. Needless to say after 6