Emergency Repairs on the Trail

Thoughts on fixing tack while riding

 

 

It’s a fundamental law of nature. “Tack won’t break until you’re far from any easy repair.”

 

Broken Bridles – Carry a spare strap or shoelace for a quick patch that can get you back to where you can make a more permanent repair. Carry a few feet or so of small diameter rope to fill in for broken reins or to patch together a bridle that has failed.

 

Saddle failures – If your cinch or girth breaks you’re most likely out of luck and will be walking back or riding bareback.  If a single stirrup fails it's best to remove the remaining stirrup  rather than ride off balance.

 

Prevention is really the key to avoiding these problems. When you clean your tack after a ride (You do clean tack after a ride, right?) inspect and either make the required repairs immediately or arrange to have them made. Believe it or not your life does depend on your tack functioning properly so take care of it.

 

Tack won't fail at the barn, it'll wait until you're far out on the trail!

 

 

 

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