Having a horse may be a dream of many but the dream can be quite different from reality as soon as the horse actually becomes part of one’s life.
Being a first-time horse owner can be challenging as it takes getting used to the animal itself, creating a daily routine and sticking to basics of horse care, something that might seem easier than done but it’s not much different than taking care of cats and dogs.
And then of course, there’s the training (more specifically ground work) if you’re planning on riding, something that’s essential for young and old horses alike and achieved with training aids such as the surcingles.
They’re types of straps that can be made from leather and breathable synthetic materials in the likes of neoprene, designed to be fastened around the girth and are also known as rollers. They can have a simple design or if they’re meant to be combined with other training pieces, they have rings attached to them all the way up to the withers.
Though many would opt for a saddle right away, it’s always best to start with a training surcingle because it’s a basic especially when it comes to teaching a young horse to get used to girth pressure.
Thanks to how basic it is it can also be used in a combination with saddles, placed right over the seat, but most often it goes with a pad functioning as an alternative to a saddle and can be placed directly on the horse’s back.
It’s the kind of design that allows to be put on easily without wasting too much time as opposed to the saddle so if your time is of the essence, this is the option for you.
Yes, it may be simple but there are models of surcingles that provide different heights for the attachment of the side reins, so they’re created to be the perfect comfortable fit for any horse. They’re the type of training equipment commonly used for lungeing, serving as the foundation for additional equipment such as lauffer and overcheck.
While great as a training tool it’s also essential for ensuring the horse’s health, particularly its spine and withers, helping develop its top line by encouraging flexing as well as rounding and lifting the back, something that’s crucial for the horse’s endurance in carrying the rider’s weight.
You would be right in saying these are training aids that help with your communication you’re having with your horse as they’re tools to teach your horse posture, where to place the feet and even how to jump over streams when riding.