| The Tackroom |
| Here's my showroom of hand-made tack. A lot of my models have real Julip saddles and bridles, but a while ago I enjoyed making them more realistic and varied tack too. I had a go at everything I could think of! You're on the halters, showing and training page, click below to visit the other pages. |
| All types of saddles and bridles |
| Harness & Historical |
| Sets for western and side saddle riding, arab tack, polo and race tack, etc... |
| Leather and coloured halters, in-hand bridles, stallion tack etc.... |
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| please note : I don't make tack to sell and I don't do orders for anyone else |
| This bridle is something a bit different, it was very fiddly to make, but well worth it in the end. It's based on the 16th and 17th century style ornate curb bridles used in the heyday of the haute ecole and classical riding. The bit has long curved cheeks with a shackle bar at the ends, with chains on the curb rein to add weight (an idea that actually originated from knights on the battlefield, who had chains there so the enemy couldn't cut the reins). The top rein is attached near the mouthpiece, so the bit can be used as an early pelham. Other details include the bridle rosettes on the browband, and suede leather fly fringe, there for the effect as much as historical accuracy! The bridle is totally adjustable for any size Julip due to the buckles on the cheekpieces, and is made in real leather and suede. The 'brass' bridle rosettes are made of flat sequins, secured through the leather with pins to fasten them on and give a decorative silver centre. The cord top reins are attached with tightly-wrapped silver wire. |
| Saddles then were just one step up from the huge armchair-like seats of the knights in armour - the pommel rises high, and the massive padded cantle reaches down both sides of the horse. The rider braced himself against all this solid padding by riding with straight legs pushed forwards. This saddle is made in re-inforced felt in several layers, with metal studs for decoration and an embroidered quilted seat. I also made julip rider Charlie a green embroidered coat to match the set. |
| Rather older than my last historical tack set, this saddle and bridle are based on early medieval illustrations. The bridle is unusually put together, with the noseband directly connected to the cheekpieces. The bit is based on a 600-year-old curb bit in my own collection - the rein rings are hinged through the shanks and can rotate. The saddle is a large, heavy style, with broad, thick panels made of felt, re-inforced with leather. The seat is quilted, with a wide and square cantle. The stirrup irons, attached to the front of the saddle panel rather than to bars on the outside like modern ones, are large, flat and shaped to support the foot, and are engraved on the outside using a pin. |
| Rocky the coloured cob makes an ideal gypsy horse, so soon after I got him, I started working on a harness set, and hunting for a julip-scale wagon for him to pull.
Here you can see him modelling his finished harness, complete with Liverpool driving bit, blinkers, collar, driving pad, breeching and chains. Soon afterwards, I found him a perfect painted model caravan. |
| Here's Seraphim modelling a second harness set I made. This one has a breast collar, driving saddle and traces.
Made for Laura, in exchange for a free portrait feltie of one of my favourite real horses, this harness now belongs to Sarah. |
| ...click here to go back to the tackroom index |
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