Nameplate and Tag Questions

[HunterEq95]

Hello,

I have several questions regarding nameplates and tags for tack. I am at a boarding barn and am planning to show locally again in the future, so I would like to have all of my tack marked so that it doesn’t get lost or mixed up. I already have the small brass tags with my horses’ names on them on their bridles, but just ordered some small nameplates with my name on them as well. I’m also wanting to mark my girths and martingales. Here are some questions I have:

1. How do you install a plate with rivets, and what is the best way to put holes in the tack? Do I need to get any special tools? I would take it to a tack shop, but I don’t know of any near me that know how to put them on or have the tools.

2. I have a beautiful padded Crosby Selle Francaise girth and two thin Crosby XL Excel girths. I’m scared to death to ruin them (especially since the padded girth is pretty thick), and I’ve seen someone put a brass tag on the girth buckle before, so I was thinking about that. Would that scratch up the underside of my saddle? I would really rather do plates if possible, but these are very expensive girths, and the nicest ones I’ve ever owned, so I don’t want to take a chance. Are there any other ways to mark girths that still look nice and can’t be easily worn off or removed? I was thinking I could write my name in Sharpie on the underside of the elastic, but the elastic is dark and the other girths I’ve done that to in the past have worn off. I’ve seen self adhesive plates as well, but usually saddle plates, and I’ve never tried them.

3. While one of my martingales has barely enough of a flat spot for a 2" long plate to sit under where the excess strap and keepers would be, my Crosby XL Excel one is completely round raised there and the 3/8" width of the nameplate is pretty much as wide as the leather. Should I get a tag for that one? I’ve also heard of people putting plates on the strap where the girth goes, which is a little bit wider, but I’m not sure which would be better.

4. This may be a dumb question, but do I need to worry about the leather underneath the plates drying out or rotting over time since I won’t be able to clean, condition, or oil underneath the plates?

Sorry for the length of this, and thank you in advance!

[MoonMountain]

I can’t answer most of your questions, but I will say I’ve seen my trainer’s martingales, and they have a little metal tag with the horse’s name hanging from the buckle part (like a bridle tag). That could be an idea.

[paintedpony]

You might wish to consider a leather stamp. Like a legal stamp, used to emboss paper documents, you can stamp your name (Think of the way manufacture names are stamped into leather) This creates a permanent mark on the equipment. that can’t fall off or be removed.

[Dewey]

1. Use a hole punch to make small holes where the rivets should go, and use Chicago rivets to fasten the small plates to bridle or martingale. They sometimes come with the tags or you can get them at a hardware store. They are so easy to apply–just lay the leather on a flat surface (floor is best), put the bottom piece of the rivet in the hole underneath, line up the plate and the top piece of the rivet, and give a firm tap with a hammer.

2. I would use a label maker and put a paper label on the girth buckle. Put the label (sticky side facing out) through the buckle and fold the ends over. I did this on my girths. It’s not permanent, but the label will stay put for a long time and will not damage your saddle or the girth itself.

3. I put a small plate on the girth strap of my raised martingale. It is not visible while the horse is wearing it–it’s down near her chest between her forelegs–and stays put. I don’t like the plates on the neck strap as they tend to weaken the martingale. I have seen several break there because of a plate.

[00Seven]

I used to work at a tack store and we weren’t allowed to mount the plates that we engraved and sold because of concerns that we would ruin someone’s $$$ tack.

I prefer to use small silver tags on all of my tack, as do many of my barn mates. I’m too just too paranoid about damaging my pieces. I once bought a very nice, barely used Edgewood martingale for a steal, because the plate couldn’t be removed. I’ve shown on the A/AA circuit in all three rings using tags and not had an issue with it - they’re barely noticeable from a foot away let alone from the judge’s booth across the ring.

[HunterEq95]

Thank you for all of your suggestions, they are very helpful! I have another question that might be kind of dumb, though. If I put a plate over where the brand name is stamped, should that cause any issues? (Dirt getting in between the plate and in the stamped part and damaging the leather, putting a hole there possibly weakening the thinner stamped leather, etc.) I’m sorry for all of the questions, I just want to make sure I’ve thought of everything beforehand and do it right, since it is so permanent!

[ccgaff]

I always had plates, as well as stamped initials. The leather stamping might be the best option for your girth. It’s very easy to do yourself! No help with the plates, my tack shop did those.

[blondewithchrome]

1. Ask your BM or trainer to do it for you if you’re worried. I’ve put on tons of them. Easiest things in the world to do - just hole punch, then hammer the top ‘bracket’ on the bottom you thread through the hole and put the plate on top.

2. Get the little round disk, it shouldnt ruin your saddle at all - if you’re concerned, what’s more important: punching holes in your nice girth, or the underside of your saddle flap/billets that are already likely a little scratched from the girth anyways? Regardless, these things go on large sweaty animals and get dirty when we use them so I personally dont mind holes if it means my nice tack won’t “walk” away.

3. The tags annoy me on martingales. I think it’s distracting in the show ring and doesn’t look as nice as a plate. Put the plate on the strap that goes between horses’ legs - should be pretty flat, and hard to see when he’s going around.

4. I’ve never had issues cleaning under plates. Your leather should bend enough “away” from the plate to get under there with a cloth or sponge.

[BAC]

Our local tack shops do a great job of putting the name plates etc. on tack. The plates on my martingales are totally hidden on the part that goes between the legs and attaches to the girth, between the two pieces of leather, if that makes sense. I don’t like those discs that hang from the bridle, they seem to get in the way and are sometimes too close to the horse’s eye. I have never had a problem cleaning the area around the bridle plates.

[IPEsq]

I put one of the small round tags on the buckle on the neck strap part of the martingale. The Halter Tags ones are a nice small size for that and bridles (also have one on my nylon breakaway halter). I have never done plates except on saddles. Leather stamps of my initials have worked well. It’s not as visually obvious as a plate if someone were to try to walk away with your stuff, but if you are just concerned about it getting mixed in during show packing and unpacking, it works well enough.

[showy]

I received a tack stamp with my initials on it for Christmas and I have to say its the best thing ever! I stamp the insides of my tack, so nothing is visible when on. No worries about damage to tack or cleaning underneath and your tack doesn’t vanish!

[HunterEq95]

Sorry I’m so late to replying, but thank you all for your advice! I am very interested in a leather stamp for some of my items as well. Does anyone here know of a good place to get one? I am also thinking about the tiny 1/2" circumference tags with my initials on them for my martingales, since I don’t want a plate weakening the leather and even the girth straps are thin enough that it might happen with them as well. These tags are so small that they’re barely noticeable so shouldn’t be distracting or flop around too much, and are only big enough for initials. What do you guys think of those? I think if I can get a leather stamp, I will probably end up just stamping them, that way it is completely permanent. I use my tack until it is completely worn out and don’t sell it, so I’m not concerned about it being irreversible.

[touchstone]

Also interested in sourcing for a good leather stamp.

[MintHillFarm]

Personally, I find the tags really distracting. I really dislike the look of them flapping all around on the bridle or martingale. I would opt for name plates! Much more tasteful and understated in my opinion