Tack

One of the most exciting developments in saddle design in has been the Guter Sitz by LockTack Technologies. This unibody design combines saddle, pad, stirrups, girth and pulley turrets in one molded unit for a sleek, modern look and the anatomically snug fit demanded by today’s top athletes.

These polymer resin saddles are virtually maintenance-free and can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth. And, unlike traditional saddles that must be periodically widened to accommodate the horse, the Gutter Sitz’s rigid panels assure that the horse’s back will form itself perfectly to the underside of the saddle!

Like all saddles in the LockTack line, the Guter Sitz is available by custom order only. To insure both horse and rider of a perfect fit, fiberglass casts are made of the animal’s back and the rider’s seat and thighs. The casts are then incorporated into an injection mold that results in a one-of-a-kind work of art.

Prices start at $9500. Standard options include edging lights (on/off or chasing), corporate sponsor logos and graphics, onboard displays for monitoring vital signs of both horse and rider and hands-free cell phone access. Custom options include, but are not limited to LCD monitors, Bluetooth and e-mail capability, voice mail and Web surfing.

LockTack offers a wide range of colors including white, fuchsia, aquamarine, tiger lily, melon, magenta, cobalt, sunshine and fierce pear. Other colors by special order. Matching bruzzles (one-piece bridle/muzzle units) are sold separately.

Tack

The rigors of Super Prix demanded numerous innovations in tack and training devices. Old fashioned leather tack was no match for the ebulliant manouvers of today's Super Horse (nor did it come in fashionable colors), so once again technology stepped up to the plate with new designs and gadgets to insure rider safety and effectiveness.

Guter Sitz Ice Cap

(Memorial Edition)

Guter Sitz Carmen Miranda

Today’s massive equine athletes have special requirements when it comes to farriery. Modern horse shoes are constructed to do more than just support the immense weight of these huge animals (Super Prix horses average 18.1 hands and 1900 pounds). These hi-tech shoes are also designed to enhance extravagant leg action, lessen concussion and overcome inertia. The result is animals that literally spring over the ground.

After researching the Tennessee Walkers’ armory of action devices, Super Prix farriers consulted with jet propulsion engineers to design a revolutionary new form of equine footwear. The Impulsion Boot utilizes space age materials developed for the Mars landing program. It is a one-piece unit combining the features of splint, rundown and bell boots that incorporates both weights and a high-density foam with a maximum 12% rebound capacity. Initial trials featured higher levels of bounce, but it was discovered that the purity of gaits was compromised. Instead of trotting or cantering, horses simply hopped from place to place on all four feet like rabbits.

Another popular feature of the Impulsion Boot is that it is available in a wide range of colors to coordinate with tack and riding apparel. The high-gloss surface is slash resistant and easily wipes clean with a damp cloth.

Horse Shoes and Farriery

Rueckgrat Aufwickelender

(The Spine Cranker)

A highly popular device is the patented Rueckgrat Aufwickelender (roughly translated as the Spine Cranker). While only a picture can truly do justice to this amazing invention, the Rueckgrat Aufwickelender is basically a training harness that combines elements of a head-setter, bitting rig, tail-setter and action enhancer. Neoprene hock and ankle hobbles are connected to a veritable spider’s web of highly flexible steel cables and pulley blocks that, when used under competent supervision, exert a subtle yet irresistible force on every joint in the horse's body.

Warning: This device should only be employed by skilled professionals and on horses of relatively stable temperament! Several training mishaps are reported to have occurred, including one at a major competition in which a particularly clever horse became so annoyed that he managed to truss up his trainer like a Thanksgiving turkey in a tangle of cables and long lines. To add insult to injury, the horse then bolted from the private area where training is customarily conducted out of public view, dragging his hapless trainer across three arenas and demolishing several judges’ stands. While no serious injuries were sustained by horse or human, a heavy fine was leveled against the trainer for spoiling the day's activities and box office receipts.

Bits and Bruzzles

Saddles