List of Western Tack

Western tack was the working gear of the cowboys who labored on the ranches in America's western states. The saddles evolved from the Spanish "vaquero" saddles and have deep seats to provide the most comfort on those long dusty trails, a horn in the front to tie the lasso onto when roping cows, and thick leather stirrups and stirrup leathers to protect the rider from thorns. The bits evolved from Spanish and Mexican bits and were designed for maximum control of the horse. Western riders' wear was also adapted from that worn by the Spanish vaqueros.

  1. Saddles

    • The saddle horn is unique to the western saddle, which may have many strings and attachments held on by conchos or rosettes for tying on bedrolls, ropes and other items. The saddle is held onto the horse with a leather or fabric cinch, sometimes two cinches, attached to the saddle by leather straps called latigos and a rigging ring. Today's western saddles are designed for specific activities and include the cutting, all event, plantation, pleasure, ranch, reining, old time ranch, training, endurance, cutting, barrel racer and other saddles. Show saddles may have elaborate tooling patterns and silver rosettes.

    Bridles

    • Western bridles are made up of the headstall, bit, chinstrap and reins. The browband, nose strap and throatlatch are optional extras. Western bits evolved from the Spanish vaqueros' bits and have long shanks at each side with different shaped mouthpieces. Western bits include Tom Thumb bits, roller bits and curb bits. Western reins may be plain, braided, joined or split. Show bridles have silver inlays. The hackamore is a bitless bridle. The rider uses the braided rawhide noseband or bosal to control the horse with a mecate instead of reins. A mechanical hackamore or "jaw breaker" has metal side pieces.

    Accessories

    • A western saddle blanket is usually thick and heavy, rectangular in shape and may be brightly colored with Southwestern patterns. It protects the horse's back from chafing by the saddle. A breast collar is attached to the saddle and around the horse's breast to stop the saddle from sliding backward. Britchin or breeching or a crupper is strapping that goes around the rump and tail of the horse to prevent the saddle from sliding forward. A get down rope is a hair rope attached to a small bosal worn with the bridle and is used to tie the horse up. A halter is a headstall used to tie the horse up when not bridled.

    Rider's Gear

    • Western spurs are collector's items and may increase in value over time. Choices include fancy or plain, swing buttons or upturned buttons, large or small rowels, wide bands or narrow bands, varied shank lengths, and with heel chains or not. Chaps, pronounced "shaps" are thick leggings worn over a cowboy's jeans. They have no seat or crotch and were adapted from the cowhide chapperos worn by the Spanish vaqueros to protect their legs from thorny bushes. Cowboy hats were adapted from the Mexican vaquero hats and independently developed by John B. Stetson.