Fitting my new Endurance Tack - Vlog 26 - Beth Endurance

What tips and tricks does everyone have for fitting tack? Do you have rules of thumb? What do you look for and how do you decided whether something fits properly or not?
It's not something I do often, I have one bridle for each of my horses and two spares (one for the crew car and one for the vet gate). So that means I only ever have to 'fit' tack once for every horse. Biothane tack lasts such a long time and my taste hasn't really wavered from my navy and white combos for over a decade so I just don't need to buy and fit tack very often. But well fitting comfortable tack is surely a major part of having a happy performance horse.
With Endurance tack the headpiece of our bridle isn't very tight, it is basically a headcollar so we don't have the complexities of which nose band to buy and anatomical fittings because they just aren't causing any pressure. For me I'd like a fingers width of space behind the ears, a couple of fingers under the noseband and throatlash and a maximum 2 wrinkles around the bit for the headpiece tightness. If possible I like the headpiece buckles to be away from the eyeline too. I think I might need to get Qantas a slightly longer browband as there isn't much room behind his ears or around the front, what do you think?
The breastplate is one of the most important fits for me. I want to make sure that shoulder movement isn't being restricted, that they're not put off drinking and putting their heads down, I don't want any rub points but neither do we want too much flapping around and movement. I tend to have a hands width between the sternum and the strap, and 4 fingers width for the shoulder straps.
I'm really grateful to my friend Sue who got me the bridle for my Birthday from www.pioneerend... and my brother who got me the reins for Christmas. We'll see how the white padding fares, it will get a lot of use because I use the same tack for training and competition because I like to be totally confident in what I'm using, I guess I could get identical tack for home and out and about but I still think I'd prefer to race in what I know.
Thanks for watching,
Beth

[@brigibson8260]

I am so glad I found your channel! There are a lot of h/j and dressage channels and not enough endurance. I'm excited to see you post more, as I want to learn about the sport :)

[@bethendurance]

Aww thank you Bri. I hope we can help you learn about Endurance and maybe give it a go someday :) x

[@isd.equine155]

Qantas looks gorgeous in that white tack 😍

[@bethendurance]

Thank you, I think he's pretty handsome too 😊

[@sherrelshoop8752]

He looks Beautiful 🐎

[@adidas1215]

Love his tack! It is super pretty on him!!

[@hannaoday3816]

Qantas is looking Amazing In his tack

[@SFA.Horses]

What is the bit that you use called?

[@bethendurance]

All my bits are myler bits 👍 x

[@kyleeswales]

What type of horses do you use for endurance? This is so helpful cause I just got endurance tack and I have no idea what to do!

[@bethendurance]

I've got a few videos on the type of horse and what to do at rides! I hope you enjoy your first endurance ride! X

[@le.6634]

any breed can be used for endurance typically but the ones who make it to be the elite or top of the top are arabians

[@JoJoLover6]

what saddle are you using please :) great vids

[@bethendurance]

It's a free and easy, though they aren't made anymore. The next most similar and also popular for endurance in the UK is Reactor panel saddles 👍

[@JoJoLover6]

@@bethendurance thanks 👍

[@nataliemrch577]

What is your bridle and breastplate called on the pioneer website? :)

[@bethendurance]

Mine is the two part bridle bespoke and the padded sympanova breastplate 👍 x

[@laravisser1690]

How do you get his mane so beautiful?

[@bethendurance]

Nothing special, just groom it every now and again. He's just naturally like that 😎

[@lenerasmussen6838]

What is the use for the breastplate?

[@bethendurance]

It's to stop the saddle slipping over really steep terrain. I don't have any issues with saddle slip so I don't really need it but it adds to my FEI rider weight and in the winter I attach reflective light strips. X

[@dccalling5960]

Itty bitty Arab mouths 😅

[@RuthGray8]

What a handsome boy. Is he full Arab? I love Arabs

[@bethendurance]

Thank you 😊 he is indeed full Arab x

[@jeffreywall4818]

Uhm, stumbled on this. When did endurance riding become a fashion event? In mine time, you rode what was comfortable for you and your horse and wasn’t any heavier than needed. I used an Australian endurance saddle [I wore out the seat on it], a Toklat wool felt pad [until the Swedish 100 mile world championship team gave me a reindeer hair-on hide pad] and a 1/4” rope halter with a 1/4” diameter rope mecate`. JSW, 1993 AERC national middle weight champion