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I really don't like biothane so far - what are good alternatives?

Endurance and Trail Riding
#41

I’m looking for a new bridle, reins, breastplate, running martingale and crupper.

I hate cleaning leather tack. I was a groom/working student for a BNT. I was in the Army for 8 years. I’m sick of spending large amounts of time cleaning small bits of leather.

The weather in Kansas towards extremes of heat, humidity, and cold; thus, our microclimate is very hard on leather.

Endurance tack tends to be sized for Arabians, of which I have two. Endurance tack tends to be easily adjustable. Due to ethnocultural norms, I find the bright colors available in Biothane products very appealing.

Biothane tack holds its re-sale value quite well.

Due to the aforementioned reasons, Biothane tack is a good choice for me and for my two Arabian geldings.

I am capable of critical thinking and independent thought. I am also capable of making an autonomous choice; I am not a sheeple.

Having worked in customer service, I appreciate good, tactful, articulate customer service when I see it (e.g., Scott’s posts). As most of my duties at work involve mediating disputes, I am well aware of the havoc that can be caused by tactless (but factually correct) statement made by a service provider.

As long as the horse is cared for and ridden in an ethical manner; the rider is not harming herself; behaving unethically towards others around her; and has the disposable income to easily afford the new tack, then there is nothing inherently unethical or immoral about said rider “having the latest fashion on the market.”

My Arabian gelding is exceptionally well-suited for endurance riding. He is bred for it (PA Hi-Noon by Magnum Psyche x Takara Padrona by Padron, out of a CMK dam/female line). He never, ever gets tired. He returns to his resting heart rate very rapidly. He learns rapidly, gets bored easily. He is happiest when he is moving and has a problem to solve.

It doesn’t matter if I like endurance or not. What matters is that my horse likes it. It is the duty of the owner to adapt to whatever discipline his or her horse is best suited for/likes best.

Best Regards,
Amber

#42

rmh rider, I’m thinking that same way - having yet to ride my first LD, I’m not investing a lot just yet. I did get a new wool pad, and biothane reins (I needed those anyway and I actually really like them), I will switch my stirrups, and get a seat saver, but otherwise I’m sticking with what I have through the summer - I’ll be riding in a dressage saddle. My goal is to do a LD ride in July and another in October. I’m still window shopping in the meantime though :). This thread has helped me immensely!

#43

^ I know a few people that really got into Endurance, and tried out the fancy treeless/Enduro saddles…and promptly went back to their old leather English saddles (or Western saddles, in one case)

I think I was lucky that my most favourite, comfiest saddle is also synthetic (a Wintec Isabelle) so it is nice and light AND easy to clean. With saddles though, they don’t take SO much abuse, provided you’re using a saddle pad and don’t let it sit directly in the rain. The most important features in Endurance tack are fit and strength. Well, and not caring too much about damage from water, branches, rocks, mud…I have a cheap black hunt bridle for my mare (not my Endurance mount) that isn’t even GOOD leather, and it’s done a couple hundred trail miles and still looks great. It fits her, we like it, it would be fine for Endurance.

One downside to some of the Endurance-marketed strap goods is how heavy they are. Depends on the design, of course, but the convertible halter bridles and snap reins and various other features do add a lot of weight. My regular Hunt bridle is considerably lighter than my first Endurance headstall. I bought a full convertible halter bridle about midway through my first training season, which is gorgeous and looks great…but I don’t use it at rides. I want my horse in a rope halter any time he is tied, so when we come into a vet check or stop for a snack/drink the snap-over simple headstall is all we need…it’s perfect over a rope halter. I train in what I intend to race in, so my pretty headstall is mainly a spare. I also went for a padded breastplate at first…but after a few rides, I tried one with no padding, just Beta…my horse sweat less and didn’t have any rubs. The padded one is fine, but cost a lot more and weighs more…and I didn’t need it.

Many people at the rides I have been to use all sorts of tack. Leather, nylon, synthetic, whatever they like. Some people think the bright colours are obnoxious and use leather-look synthetics, some people think the bright colours are a necessary safety precaution. No one has ever said anything about my tack arrangements except to say that the colour looked nice on my horse. And that we were very easy to see from far away. :winkgrin:

New tack was definitely not at the top of my spending list anyway…stuff I really needed to purchase when I started included:
-Runners that I could ride in, jogging in paddock boots was KILLING me.
-Safety stirrups so that my runners weren’t a hazard
-Saddle bag to hold some water, bug spray and a GPS
-Some kind of pocket/belt to hold my phone, house key and ID for when I got separated from my horse/saddlebag (finally discovered the Spibelt, which I love)
-A helmet that weighed less than my CO and had some VENTS!
-Sunglasses that didn’t move around on my face
-Crop that could go in my saddle bag, since sticking it in my boot wasn’t an option, and I only need it about twice on a ride…$10 telescoping version is perfect.
-Bright orange stuff so that local hunters didn’t shoot me (shirt, saddle pad, saddle bags)

THEN I bought my bright orange + glow in the dark headstall and breastplate. :slight_smile:

#44

rugbygirl, I’ve printed your list for my reference. You’ve definitely listed things, and discussed details I haven’t thought about yet! THANK YOU.

#45

So a funny update considering the title of this thread: I just bought a GORGEOUS Taylored Tack halter/bridle combo from another Cother and I lovelovelove it! There is a huge difference between this biothane and the crappy headstall I bought at TSC when I started this thread.

I’m a convert :).

1 Like
#46

What, no pictures? :slight_smile: I love seeing horses in their Taylored Tack. If you send her a photo and a story, she might even feature you in her gallery…

http://www.tayloredtack.com/Your_Horse_Gallery.htm

#47

Oh! Will do!!

#48

There is a polypropylene fabric bridle that they make some racehorses bridles out of. It doesn’t snag or fuzz like unlike regular nylon ones. It does need to be broken in though unlike the nylon ones.

#49

Scott,

I bought a very nice biothane halter but haven’t used it because I was told that it wouldn’t break if the horse caught it on something. Is that true?

TIA

Mary in Western NY
http://www.bpequine.com

#50

[QUOTE=gothedistance;6881186]

If I’m getting through to you, then check out Taylored Tack. Amanda makes incredibly beautiful, very sturdy, pliable and “feel good worthy” matching tack. She’s often at the bigger rides, so you can check out her mobile tack store for just the right color combo to fit you and your horse. She also does custom orders, and doggie “tack” (collars, leashes, etc) as well.

Good luck.[/QUOTE]

Can I ask a question about the Hackamore options. I was recently looking at some hackamores and discussing them with my trainer. A lot of them she said no to that they were too soft or way too harsh. What is your opinion on her hackamore sets? I have never been fully comfortable in riding in a halter, though I have ground driven my gelding in his leather halter and he goes pretty well. Are her hackamore sets soft? (I would consider soft to be halter set up) Or do they have good halting power?

I LOVED this one http://www.runningbear.com/catpages/Smart-Bridle-Photos-SP.html but her comment was “This looks super soft” I have some good options, but I really like Taylored tacks options. I am leaning towards the sidepull, but if her hackamores have good stopping power I would like one. Too bad she doesn’t have any for trials.

#51

[QUOTE=Black Points;7026417]
Scott,

I bought a very nice biothane halter but haven’t used it because I was told that it wouldn’t break if the horse caught it on something. Is that true?

TIA

Mary in Western NY
http://www.bpequine.com[/QUOTE]

Not Scott but I did have one of my horses step on the reins once when he launched me and took off. The reins did break. I also always carry a knife on me and biothane is easy to cut with something sharp.

#52

[QUOTE=tabula rashah;7026766]
Not Scott but I did have one of my horses step on the reins once when he launched me and took off. The reins did break. I also always carry a knife on me and biothane is easy to cut with something sharp.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, that is good to know.

Mary

#53

I’m very sorry i didn’t see this before, but Tabula Rashah is correct. While Biothane is very strong, it can and will break. Our typical Biothane webbing has a break strength of 1000lbs per inch of width. Then sewing will reduce that some.

We can and do make some Biothane products that have even a higher break strength. But a higher break strength typically means heavier, thicker material and less flexibility. Very few people want that. These products are typically used for traces while pulling buggies.

We get feedback from our manufactures and customers on a regular basis on all of our products. We are always looking for ways to improve. No one is telling us the material is too strong and unsafe for the horse or rider.

Whatever material you use, I’d always keep tools along to be able to cut the material in case of an emergency. There is very little chance of any material that will break at the most convenient time for you.

#54

Well I see that this zombie thread is from 2013, but I didn’t see it way back then so I’m going to comment.

I hate biothane and beta. Leather is easy to clean, lasts a long time if it’s quality, and it doesn’t absorb heat. What I don’t like about it is even with my laced reins it still gets slippery when wet. I like the nylon stuff, I bought a headstall with reins and a breast collar from here https://www.jockeytack.com/

#55

We trail ride with endurance equipment…(Halter/bridle, reins, breast collar, etc) In 20 years use, I find the Beta stuff very well performing for us. I like the wash & wear aspect of Beta very appealing. After a long day, then after horse care, tack care is low on the list.
Do keep bug spray away from the Beta. Some of the solvents soften or make it sticky.

1 Like
#56

hundred acres…I’m with you. Have done eventing, dressage and HJ. I have a horse that tried to do an LD but it was a big fat fail. He loved the riding part, did not love the being away from home part. I rode him in his dressage tack and took the noseband off his bridle. I would recommend conditioning and doing your first ride in your regular tack. If you love endurance then spring for new stuff. The amount of new stuff seems to add up. I bought an endurance horse and now have a full set of dressage, hunter jumper and endurance gear. It is ridiculous how much stuff I have. I love endurance…enough that even though the ride in 10 days is potentially going to be freezing cold, I’m still going and camping in my tent. I am disillusioned by dressage and HJ. I ride my failed endurance horse at home doing jumping and dressage to give him something to do. I do not plan to show any more. I think you will LOVE the freedom of endurance.

#57

Hello Gestalt,
Just an FYI, Beta is just one of Biothane’s coatings. I believe when you say “Biothane”, you are referring to our glossy coating, our Gold series. Some people refer to that at Biothane because it was our original coating back in the 70’s. It’s also possible that you mean our Granite series, a harder matte finish

If you prefer leather, and you find it easy to maintain and clean, I’m happy you found what works best for you. I’ve not heard anyone tell me our products get more slippery than leather when wet. Any idea what product you had that got slippery?

If someone wants more tack, they can also try our Super Grip, it’s a beta product with more tack, and bumps for extra grip. It’s called our Beta 560.

#58

Not the biothane, the leather is what gets slippery. I do have leather bridles from years ago that are still in great shape and I use for clinics, but I love the nylon that I got from jockey tack for trail.

#59

ahhh, thanks for clearing that up. I read that wrong.

#60

I have 3 biothane halter bridles that were made for me in 1993. They are still fairly shiny and the little bit of color added to the headstall is still good. one bright green and one red. I think I bought them from Sport Tack sadly no longer in business.
I did dump the brest collar as it wasn’t safe . It got caught up in bushes and it did not break .
As for strength t;he Bridle got caught on a frost free handle and when the horse jerked his head up the frost free came out of the ground. Luckily my sane horse did not run off with the pipe dangling from his bridle. After that happens I put in a twine connection so it would break when necessary.

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