Are you a life long lover of horses? Have you considered purchasing a horse of your own? If you are thinking about becoming a new horse owner, there are a few things you first should be aware of. Obviously you should be aware of the type of tack you should use and what would work best for you.

To start with, here are the necessities. You will need a saddle, a bridle, and a halter, especially if you are a beginner rider. Saddles can be bought in two styles: English and Western. I find that when you are just learning how to ride a Western saddle is best. There are a number of reasons for this. First, Western tack type saddles are made with a horn, a square seat, and a vertical back. These saddles can be kind of rather heavy. I’ve used Western saddles which weigh near forty-five pounds. This can be a drawback for younger riders attempting to tack up their horse.

Now I’m not saying English saddles don’t have their own advantages though. I enjoy using these types of saddles because they seat you a little more naturally than Western saddles and provide better contact with the horse. However, the main reason why I like English saddles is because quite simply, they are more comfortable. I also like the fact they detachable stirrups which is a nice safety feature if your foot slips too far into the stirrup or if you happen to fall off the horse, the stirrup will come off, preventing you from being dragged.

Along with saddles, you’ll also need bridles, bits and reins as a means of controlling the horse. Again there are differences between the English and the western styles. English-style bridles have additional straps, plus a noseband and a brow-band. Some western bridles utilize these features and others don’t. English and western riding bits are normally snaffle bits. You’ll sometimes see western style bits with an additional bar, or curb, on the outside of the horse's mouth.

You are going to need a halter. They are a necessity for every rider, no matter how experienced of a rider you are. Riders use halters to lead their horse and as a way to restrain the horse. The only real difference between different styles of halters is mostly ornamental.

An additional yet optional bit of tack you can use is a blanket. These are mostly used with horses that are kept outside or in an unheated stall. Blankets have a water resistant exterior and a warm inside.