How to Shop for Horse Tack

Shopping for horse tack offers a chance to make choices that keep your horse comfortable and safe while improving your ride. The right tack does more than look good or carry a brand name. It gives your horse solid support but it also needs to fit well and hold up to everyday use. Quality tack makes a real difference in comfort, safety, and performance for both horse and rider, whether you step into the show ring, take on the trails, or enjoy a quiet afternoon ride.

What Are Your Horse Tack Needs?

Before you spend any money on new horse tack, take a minute to think about the kind of riding you plan on doing. Trail riders need weather-resistant -- and tough -- gear that can handle long hours and rough trails. Show jumpers want tack that gives 'em precision and stability over jumps. Dressage folks need equipment that allows super clear communication and sharp movements. Western riders? They’re all about comfort and style—usually with a bit of tradition mixed in. Each type of riding has its own quirks, so the right tack really starts with understanding what you need.

Your horse’s needs are just as important. Fit is huge—a bad fit can cause discomfort, behavior issues, or even injuries. A saddle that pinches or a bridle that sits weird can make your horse grumpy or stubborn. Watch how your horse acts with your current gear. If they’re pinning their ears back, tossing their head, or not wanting to move forward, it might be a sign the tack isn’t working. How your horse feels and acts often go together, so getting the fit right should always be a priority.

And hey, don’t forget about your own comfort and riding goals. Are you just riding for fun, or are you gearing up for competitions? Do you need something that can handle everyday use, or are you looking for a showpiece? Think about how the tack feels while you’re riding, how much work it is to take care of, and if it fits with your long-term plans. The right tack should make you feel balanced, confident, and more connected to your horse.

Essential Tack Items

Understanding the essentials sets the foundation for choosing the right tack. The saddle often becomes the most significant investment. English, Western, and specialty saddles serve different purposes. An English saddle suits dressage, general riding, and jumping. Known for comfort and support, Western saddles fit trail rides and livestock work. 

Specialty saddles, offering tailored features, meet the unique needs of endurance and specific disciplines. Fit matters for both horse and rider—discomfort, performance issues, and long-term health risks arise from a poorly fitting saddle. Quality materials play a role too. Leather saddles offer durability and a classic look, while synthetic options provide easy care and a lightweight feel.

Communication with your horse depends on choosing the right bridles and bits. Different designs in English and Western bridles match the control and style required for each riding type. Bit selection affects your horse’s comfort and responsiveness. Gentle guidance comes from snaffle bits, while curb bits offer advanced control through leverage. Always match the bit to your horse’s experience and sensitivity.

Everyday essentials like halters and leads keep your horse secure and safe. Halters hold the horse when not under saddle, while leads help with safe handling. Durability and a classic look come from leather halters. Practicality and easy cleaning are benefits of nylon options, while better control during training comes from rope halters. The right size prevents accidents and ensures comfort.

Securing the saddle to the horse requires the right girths and cinches. Girths fit English riders, while cinches suit Western disciplines. Correct measuring avoids pinching or slipping. Elastic, anatomical, and fleece-lined types offer different levels of stability and comfort, matching specific riding needs.

Adding an extra layer of comfort, saddle pads and blankets help maintain your horse's well-being. Pads absorb sweat and prevent pressure points. Wool offers natural breathability, while gel pads provide extra cushioning. Both too much and too little padding affect saddle fit and comfort, so finding the right balance matters.

Keeping your horse safe during exercise involves using the right leg protection. Boots and wraps shield legs from knocks and strains. Splint boots, polo wraps, and bell boots each serve distinct purposes. Preventing injuries requires the right protection, especially during challenging or training rides.

Every piece of tack contributes to a better experience for both horse and rider. Safe, comfortable, and enjoyable rides come from making informed choices.

Materials Matter

How well it performs, how long it lasts and obviously how comfy it feels all come down to the materials it’s made of. Leather and synthetic options each have their own perks—and knowing the differences can help you choose what works best for both you and your horse.

Besides offering a classic look and feel, leather tack is super durable if you take care of it. Especially when you clean and condition it regularly, good leather can last for years. Over time, it develops a nice patina that adds character to your gear. By molding to your horse's shape, leather gives a custom fit that’s hard to beat. It’s not exactly low-maintenance, though—you need to keep it from cracking and drying out. Leather often costs more upfront, but the long-term value usually makes it worth it.

If you want something lightweight, affordable, and easy to clean, synthetic tack is a practical choice. Because synthetic materials resist mold and mildew, they’re great for humid or rainy environments. For trail riders and folks who ride in all kinds of weather, synthetic holds up well in wet conditions. It might not offer that natural, broken-in feel like leather, but it’s still a solid budget-friendly option. The downside is that under heavy use, synthetic tack usually doesn’t last as long as leather.

By combining leather in high-wear spots with synthetic materials where weight and easy upkeep matter, hybrid tack brings the best of both worlds. Leather’s durability and comfort meet the convenience and affordability of synthetic options in hybrid designs. This makes hybrid gear a smart choice if you want decent quality but aren’t ready to commit fully to leather.

The material you choose matters not only for durability but also for your horse’s comfort. Soft and flexible, well-made leather helps prevent chafing and pressure points. Offering consistency and low maintenance, synthetic gear is great for busy riders. Sitting right in between, hybrid options provide a good mix of comfort and practicality.

What material you choose depends on how you ride, how much you want to spend, and how much maintenance you’re up for. Investing in quality materials—whether it’s leather, synthetic, or a hybrid—can make a huge difference for both your experience and your horse’s comfort.

Fit and Comfort: Horse and Rider

Choosing tack with the right fit for both you and your horse makes all the difference. A well-fitting saddle keeps your horse comfortable and improves your riding experience. Discomfort, resistance, and long-term health issues can result from a poor fit, so measuring properly matters.

Accurately measuring your horse sets the foundation for a good fit. Use a wither tracing to match your horse’s shape with the correct tree size when selecting a saddle. Make sure the gullet width clears the spine, and check that the saddle panels distribute weight evenly along your horse’s back. Measure from the corner of the mouth, over the poll, and down to the opposite corner to find the right bridle size. Measure from one billet hole under the belly to the opposite billet hole for girths and cinches to avoid pinching or slipping.

Your horse’s behavior often reveals poorly fitting tack. Pinned ears, tail swishing, head tossing, or reluctance to move forward signal discomfort. Rubbing, hair loss, and pressure marks show physical signs of an issue. You might notice your horse sidestepping the saddle, resisting the bit, or acting uncomfortable during rides. These cues point to a problem with fit and should never be ignored.

Just as important as your horse’s comfort, your comfort depends on a balanced saddle that helps you maintain proper posture and reduces fatigue. Seek ergonomic designs that provide support where needed. Your legs should hang naturally without being forced forward or backward, and the saddle should offer enough room to keep you secure without sliding around. Small adjustments, such as swapping stirrup leathers or adding a seat saver, make a big difference in how comfortable you feel in the saddle.

Shopping Tips

Shopping for horse tack feels a bit like shopping for clothes. Every option—new or used, online or in-store—has pros and cons, and knowing what to look for helps you make smart choices that fit your needs and budget.

What matters most to you should guide your choice between new and used tack. Fresh materials and a full lifespan come with new tack. You know exactly where new gear has been, and customization options often allow you to match your style and preferences. A warranty or return policy usually provides peace of mind, but new tack can be expensive, and breaking in leather requires time and effort.

A budget-friendly option, used tack often arrives already broken in, which boosts comfort. You might find high-quality leather at a fraction of the cost of new. Look for wear and tear when buying used—check for stretched holes, cracks in the leather, or rusted hardware. All straps and buckles should work properly. While a little wear is acceptable, structural integrity matters most.

Where you shop influences your buying experience. Seeing and feeling the tack before you buy becomes possible when shopping in-store. Many stores let you try items on your horse, and advice from knowledgeable staff can help. Limited selections and higher prices, however, might make in-store shopping less appealing. A world of options and often better deals open up online. Generous return policies from many online retailers make trying out different sizes and styles easier. Not handling the product before purchase becomes the biggest challenge with online shopping, so stick to trusted brands and read reviews closely.

The right questions lead to better choices, especially with used tack. Ask about the tack’s history—its age, how often it was used, and the reason for selling. Storage and maintenance conditions affect the condition of leather and synthetic materials, so inquire about those too. When possible, request additional photos or a short video to get a better idea of the tack’s condition.

Shopping for tack feels manageable with the right approach. Buying new or used, in-store or online, depends on what fits best for you and your horse. Smart choices come from knowing what to look for and asking the right questions, ensuring quality, value, and comfort every time.

Perri’s Leather is Your Source for Horse Tack

Investing in quality horse tack matters. The right tack improves comfort, safety, and performance for both horse and rider. Choosing well-made gear and maintaining it properly ensures your tack lasts longer and keeps your horse feeling and performing at its best. Small steps like regular cleaning, checking for wear, and ensuring a proper fit go a long way in protecting your investment and supporting your horse's well-being.

Perri’s Leather offers a trusted source for quality, handcrafted equestrian gear. Made by horse people for horse people, every piece reflects a deep understanding of what both horses and riders need. From durable leather to thoughtful designs, Perri’s combines tradition and innovation to bring you products that look great and hold up to everyday use. Right here at Perri’s Leather, you can get leather horse halters, leather leads for horses, leads and more.

Explore our selection of leather goods to find the perfect tack for your horse at Perri’s Leather. Your horse deserves comfort and quality—let Perri’s Leather help you make the right choice.