Sharp tools can do a good job. Knowing each kind of equipment correctly and choosing the right tool is the first step to do anything well. There are many kinds of activities related to horse riding, and each activity uses different equipment. This paper mainly introduces the equipment of British classical equestrian and the tools to take care of horses. Although there is a little difference between riding and obstacle-crossing equipment, there is not much difference.
For beginners, the rider's equipment is the most important. Some are indispensable, such as knight hat, gloves, breeches, riding boots (or leggings) and so on. But don't worry, some horse farms can let you use them first, so that you can start to experience the fun of riding. When you make up your mind to start riding, buy one thing and gradually buy all the necessary basic equipment.
First of all, horse equipment
1, REINS
Covered on the horse's head, it is a tool to control and communicate with horses when riding. A pair of complete reins consists of top skin, cheek skin, forehead skin, throat skin, nose skin, hand rein and mouth skin. As the name implies, the parts of leather clothes in the past were all made of leather, the reins could be made of different materials such as leather or nylon, and the mouth was made of metal. The reins should be selected according to the size of the horse's head. There are many different designs of the bite, which are also suitable for different situations and different horses. Please be sure to discuss with your coach how to choose.
2. Car seat
Saddle is the most important and expensive riding equipment, mostly exquisite handmade leather products. Saddles used in British classical equestrian can be divided into three types: equestrian saddle, obstacle saddle and comprehensive saddle used in general riding. The design and shape are a little different. In addition to choosing different saddles for different purposes, cyclists should also choose suitable saddles according to their body shape.
3. Pedal and pedal belt
The semicircular metal hanging on both sides of the saddle is the pedal, which is where the rider steps on his feet when riding. It also has different designs and sizes, but compared with other equipment, it is less important to choose different designs and sizes. The leather that hangs the pedal on the car seat is called the pedal belt. It can adjust the length at any time according to the rider's leg length.
4. Sweat pad
Sweat pad is a cloth pad placed under the saddle, which directly contacts the horse's fur. Its main function is to absorb the sweat of horses during exercise and prevent the saddle from slipping on horseback because of sweat.
5. Saddle pad
When a rider rides a horse, his weight plus the weight of the saddle will have a considerable influence on the horse. The saddle pad is placed between the saddle and the sweat pad, which can be used to evenly distribute the weight on the whole horse back, cushion the impact on the horse back when riding, and avoid the injury of the horse back. Most of them used to be wool, but now many of them are foam or silicone, which has better effect.
6. Abdominal band
Fasten the buckles at both ends of the waist seal to the saddle, bypass the belly of the horse and tighten it to fix the saddle on the horse. It is made of leather, nylon or other materials. The girdle used in equestrian saddle is slightly different from that used in obstacle saddle and comprehensive saddle. In addition, due to the size of the horse, we should also choose the appropriate girth.
7.leggings
When a horse makes various equestrian movements according to the rider's requirements, it sometimes accidentally kicks its own foot. In order to avoid leg injury, you can tie leggings on the tibia above the ankle joint when riding or practicing. Leggings can also be played in the obstacle course, but not in the equestrian competition at the racecourse, so that the referee can see the horse leg movements clearly. The design and materials of leggings can be said to be varied, but their function is nothing more than protecting horse legs.
Second, the rider's equipment
1, knight hat
Knight hat is not only one of the standard clothes in competition, but also an indispensable safety helmet in peacetime practice.
Step 2: gloves
If you don't want your beautiful and delicate hands to be worn by the reins, you'd better ride with gloves on.
3. breeches
Tight breeches specially designed for riding are made of various elastic fabrics. Wear-resistant leather is sewn on the inner side of knees, thighs and buttocks, some are sewn into small pieces everywhere, and some are connected into a large piece.
In the usual practice, you can choose your favorite color according to your own preferences, and you are required to wear white breeches during the competition.
4, riding boots or leggings
When riding a horse, the rider's leg can be said to be the part that contacts the horse the most. A good pair of riding boots will ensure that your riding skills will increase greatly. Riding boots are generally expensive and cannot be shared with others. Novices often look forward to and hesitate. Never mind, a pair of leggings and shoes (or booties) are also useful.
5. Spurs
The role of the spurs is to strengthen the communication signal between the heel and the horse's belly. When riding a horse, the rider can press the belly of the horse with his foot to drive the horse forward. Some horses are insensitive, and the rider tries his best, but he still doesn't feel anything. That's when the Spurs come in handy. If you are riding a very sensitive horse, you'd better not hang the spurs to avoid the horse being too nervous and alive.
Spurs are mostly made of stainless steel, and there are many designs of their tails, including round, square, wheeled and even geared horses, which are suitable for different occasions. Beginners must consult the coach before getting on the horse and choose the right spurs for the horse to ride this time.
Step 6 force
Yes, whips are used to beat horses. Don't worry, it's not cruelty to animals, it's just a small punishment, so remind it in time. In fact, horses are afraid of slender things, such as bamboo poles and umbrellas. Therefore, when the whip is held in the rider's hand, the purpose of reminding is achieved. Many times there is no need to hit it at all, and sometimes it is just a click on its ass.
The whip used for riding is relatively long, ranging from 70 to 80 centimeters to 120 to 30 centimeters. Obstacles that exceed the whip used in the competition shall not exceed 45 cm according to the regulations. In the equestrian events at the racecourse, according to the regulations, you can't bring a whip on the field.
7. dress
In the formal competition, the rider should not only wear a knight's hat and white breeches, but also wear a dress and a white tie or scarf. The obstacle-crossing suit is similar to the ordinary suit, and the color can be black or red. The clothes for equestrian events in racecourse are suit-style in the primary competition and tuxedo-style in the advanced competition, and the color must be black or dark blue.
Third, take care of the horse's equipment.
1 halter
Put the halter on the horse's head, which is used to control the horse's movement at ordinary times (when not riding), such as leading the horse or tying it to a horse post. The halter is made of different materials, such as leather or nylon. The design may be slightly different, but the function is the same. It should be noted that the halter with appropriate size should be selected according to the size of the horse's head, and it should not be too loose or too tight after being put on.
Step 2 pull the horse rope
When pulling the horse, you should hook the leash on the buckle belt under the bridle, grab the tail end of the leash with one hand and the lower part of the buckle belt with the other hand, and lead the horse forward or turn with this hand. When you want to tie the horse to the horse post, you can use two halter ropes to buckle on both sides of the halter, and then tie the halter ropes to the left and right horse posts. The bridle is mostly nylon rope or cotton rope, and an iron chain can be added between the buckle and the rope to prevent being bitten by a horse.
Step 3 brush
A brush made of nylon is used to brush away dirt and dust from horses.
4. Rubber brush
Sometimes the mud and dust on a horse are hidden in the depths of its hair. Massage the horse with a rubber brush, which can brush out mud and dust, and then brush it off with a nylon brush. Massage the horse with a rubber brush often, which also helps the blood circulation of the horse muscles.
5, hoof hook
The horseshoe is often stuffed with dirt or sawdust and grass scattered in the stable, especially before riding, be sure to remove the filler with a hoof hook.
Step 6 shave
The horse was soaked through after taking a bath. Scrape the water off the horse with a scraper first, and then dry it with a towel.
7. Horse clothes
It's cold in winter, don't forget to add clothes to the horse. Just like people's clothes, horse's clothes are thick and thin, some cover only the back of the horse, some cover the ass, and some even cover the neck and even face.
8. Shaving scissors
It's too hot in summer. Shave off the horse's hair with shaving scissors to make the horse cool and comfortable.
9. Scissors and combs
Just like people want to cut their hair, the ponytail is too long and the mane is too long.
Fourth, equipment maintenance
If you want to ride a horse well, you must first maintain your equipment. Whether it is the equipment on the horse or your own, it is not well maintained. If it is broken, you will spend money to buy a new one, and the horse will definitely not ride well. Everyone knows that old shoes are better to wear than new ones, and so are riding equipment. As long as you take good care of it, don't let the old one break down, and ensure that it can last for a long time, and the more you use, the better, which is definitely better than the new one.
When the climate is humid, all kinds of leather products are prone to mildew. There must be a dehumidifier in the saddle room where the equipment is stored. But in summer and autumn, sometimes the weather is very dry. Leather products are easy to harden and break under dry and wet conditions. Therefore, every once in a while, all leather products, such as saddles, reins, pedal belts, etc. (except riding boots) should be coated with "leather protection oil" to keep its softness and elasticity. If you hear the squeak of leather rubbing the saddle while riding, it is time for your saddle to be oiled.
It is also important to keep clean. After each use of the equipment, leather products should be washed with "leather soap" immediately, and nylon or cloth products should be washed immediately. Diligent maintenance of equipment, will be rewarded with great value.
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