While watching Breeders Cup, I noticed something I hadn’t seen before on the Pony Horses.
There was some kind of tack in front of the cantle. It almost looked like a backwards english saddle. Sides came down by the shoulder. What the heck is it?
Someone said it was an Aussie type saddle.
Its a bite guard to protect the ponies neck.
[QUOTE=Laurierace;5209504]
Its a bite guard to protect the ponies neck.[/QUOTE]
There is no intelligent life here. Sigh. I knew it would be something simple…just didn’t have any idea what it was. Thanks Laurierace!
Uh, have they been used for a long time? I just don’t remember seeing them before.
And…why don’t the pony horses & outriders ever get their own webpages or names/photos splashed around?
Yup!
And…why don’t the pony horses & outriders ever get their own webpages or names/photos splashed around?
We have a few here, but I haven’t been updating my site much, so it’s old & some links are broken - sorry.
Just out of curiosity, how does one become a pony rider? It looks like a tough job, but also like it could be quite enjoyable. Not that I am looking for a career change, but just curious.
Another pony question - how many are there at intervals around the track? I was wondering when poor Rough Sailing went down, then got up and galloped off, whether a pony would be right there close to catch him or how far it was to the nearest pony. How many ponies are stationed around the course on a typical race?
Quite a few pony riders here
`Not me! but Pink Diamond Racing is a pony girl and she posts here frequently, works in Kentucky and got to work the BC on friday but was posting here on Saturday. I have learned a lot about ponying from her.
As far as Rough Sailing, they have the pony people, and they have outriders. They usually have less to do, and catching a loose horse is numero uno I would think. They are usually sprinkled around the track, you will see them standing still during the race. I noticed Friday and Saturday, the Pony peeps had the Purple jackets, and the outriders were in red.
The horses have to be dead quiet, and able to stand all day-well, that is for a pony person to tell. Look for her thread about Orbit going to BC.:yes:
[QUOTE=Whoanellie;5209492]
While watching Breeders Cup, I noticed something I hadn’t seen before on the Pony Horses.
There was some kind of tack in front of the cantle. It almost looked like a backwards english saddle. Sides came down by the shoulder. What the heck is it?
Someone said it was an Aussie type saddle.
[/QUOTE]
Its good that you care for animals so much, and it shows how much you love them, but you need not worry so much. I understand your feelings, horses are really very beautiful and a friendly animal. As already told, it is just a bite guard to protect the ponies neck. May be you can relax now.
Um, you may not realize but Whoanellie has been running a 501©3 equine rescue for several years now. I think she knows a fair amount about all equids. She was simply curious about the tack she saw, since she had not seen it previously.
[QUOTE=Jerald;5211045]
Its good that you care for animals so much, and it shows how much you love them, but you need not worry so much. I understand your feelings, horses are really very beautiful and a friendly animal. As already told, it is just a bite guard to protect the ponies neck. May be you can relax now.[/QUOTE]
Say wha?
Anyway…I am always impressed with the outrider horse who stands to the outside front of the gate at each break! Lucky is rather dead quiet, and I’m not sure even he would just stand without flinching for that.
Uh guys, that’s a spammer. Don’t take the bait.
I think Jerald is just spamming an Australian based tack store if you look at his signature link. More cleverly done than most, but spammy spam spam! :yes: Don’t click on the link - you’ll probably catch something nasty!
I ponied this year for Oaks, Derby, and both breeders cup days. I rode the appalosssa pony (Applesauce). I took Rough Sailing and jock Anna to the gate and was upset when he went down…There are outriders on the track at various places (three or four on big days like Breeders Cup) but they can’t be everywhere all the time. The guys at Churchill do a great job though and I was very glad the jock was not seriously hurt. While there are times when ponying can be fun…I can assure you that it is alot of stress and hard work. While some jockeys and racehorses are very easy to work with-some are not. Having a good pony that knows their job is key-and even then, it is a challenge. I don’t pony all the time-but I am always sore after I do-and I ride everyday. On some of the bigger race days-it can be even harder because the crowds are big and alot of the fans are not “horse savy”. I have to say this too-people yell some of the dumbest things to the jockeys that I have ever heard-I chalk it up to the booze!
I dont mean to hijack here, but event1 … I have some photos of you from saturday 
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/fleurdeduc/DSC_0203.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/fleurdeduc/DSC_0202.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/fleurdeduc/DSC_0150.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/fleurdeduc/DSC_0132.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/fleurdeduc/DSC_0123.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/fleurdeduc/DSC_0107.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/fleurdeduc/DSC_0104.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/fleurdeduc/DSC_0097.jpg
i have more i have to get around to editing and posting. I have a VERY cute one of your appy’s head with the breeders cup flag in the background. But I am swamped with exams this week and working keeneland so ill try to fit it in soon.
Gorgeous photos! Thanks for sharing.
It was the paint horse in the first two photos that brought my attention to the “mystery tack” question in my original post.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...c/DSC_0203.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...c/DSC_0202.jpg
I’m still shaking my head about not noticing this before.
Thanks to all for Edumacating me.
Fleur de duck…thanks for sharing the photos…I look forward to seeing any more that you may have when you get time to post them! Applesauce is not mine-I was just using him for Breeders Cup…he belongs to one of the other pony girls-but he is a super nice pony and I enjoyed riding him! Again-thanks for sharing!
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