The term "horse tack" covers the multitude of horse equipment and accessories used by horse owners in the course of keeping, riding and schooling their horses. Horse tack includes: saddles, bridles, bits, lead ropes, reins, breastplates, martingales, stirrups, rugs, head collars, tail guards and much more.

At Dogwood, you can find a superb range of horse tack made by premium manufacturers such as Stubben, Frank Baines, Mark Todd and many more. Every horse rider wants what is best for their horse so we designed our collection with that in mind.

We considered a whole range of world-class manufacturers when forming the Dogwood collection but picked only the wonderfully-comfortable horse tack that has been crafted to look beautiful and perform exceptionally to appear in our range

We constantly review our selection of horse tack in order to offer the most up-to-date and technologically-advanced horse products in the world so you and your horse can enjoy nothing but the very best.

Bridles, halters and reins

Both bridles and halters can be used to communicate and control a horse via a series of straps that fit over the horse's head. Bridles have a bit that fits in the horse's mouth and are used when riding, whereas halters are used with a rope for leading or tethering a horse and are bit-less.

There are eight pieces which make up a bridle. These are the headpiece, cheekpieces, lipstrap, browband, gag cheeks, Pelham roundings, noseband and the reins.

The reins are the part of the bridle that enables the rider to communicate with their horse. Reins are straps (usually made from leather or rope) which attach to either end of the bit and extend over the horse's head and neck to the rider's hands. By pulling gently on the reins the rider is able to give instructions to the horse through the bit.

We have a large selection of Stubben, Frank Baines and Mark Todd bridles and reins which are all made from beautifully-crafted leather.

Find the perfect bridle for your horse with our choice of padded and unpadded bridles in a range of flattering colours and styles.

Some of the most admired pieces in the range include the Stubben 3/4 bridle and the Stubben Crank Caveson. A recommended choice for dedicated horse riders is the Crosby Flash bridle with rubber reins.

Martingales and breastplates

A martingale is a piece of horse tack used by many horse riders, especially those who have problems with their horse tossing his head. It is an optional part of the bridle which will prevent a horse from raising its head above a certain height.

Many riders who have a horse that excessively tosses its head find that they run the risk of being hit by its neck. These riders find that a martingale is a particularly valuable piece of horse tack

There are a number of different types of martingale:

Running martingale

Standing martingale

Irish martingale

Another important part of horse tack for some equestrians is the breastplate, also known as a breastcollar or a breastgirth. This is used to keep the saddle in position and prevent it from sliding back.  A breastplate is most often used in show jumping, hunting, polo, eventing and other equestrian activities where the saddle is more likely to slip out of place due to the fast pace involved.

You can find beautifully-crafted Stubben breastplates and martingales in the Dogwood collection, allowing you to gently refine your horse's behaviour and improving saddle stability.

Stirrups

Stirrups are found in every rider's horse tack collection. They are flat-bottomed rings that hang from the saddle on leather straps, known as stirrup leathers, to either side of the horse. A rider places their feet into the stirrups to give them greater stability and control.

There are two basic types of stirrup:

Long stirrups. Long stirrups allow a rider to fully extend their legs into a position where they hang downwards at the mid point of the horse. This is the most comfortable riding position and provides the greatest stability.

Short stirrups. Short stirrups require the rider's legs to be bent with their knees in a position above the horse's shoulder. Short stirrups are used by jockeys as they allow for the horse to accomplish greater speed without the interference of the rider's legs and generally provide more comfort for the horse.

As well as providing their rider with stability and control, the stirrup is also used to enable the rider to mount and dismount. Stirrup leathers are therefore made of the strongest quality leather, often part of a set made by the saddle maker.

Fine horse tack at Dogwood

Beautiful yet functional; not a combination you often come across. However, you will find nothing but in the Dogwood horse tack collection. Choose luxurious tack from international names such as Stubben, Frank Baines and Mark Todd who use traditional styles and advanced techniques to create real masterpieces.

Whether you need a bridle, martingale, stirrups or any other item of horse tack, the Dogwood collection has superb pieces suitable for both casual and professional equestrians.

If you would like to find out more about an item of horse tack in our range, please telephone 0845 30 10 36