YOU only get one chance to make a first impression, and on sales day it’s crucial that you make the right one in front of the buyer.

The type of tack you use to show your foal and its condition can go a long way in creating the right impression. Traditionally, foals would be presented in a classic, havana brown in-hand bridle. Nowadays, the use of leather foal headcollars and bit clips (clips which are designed for attaching the bit to your foal’s headcollar) are commonplace.

Master Saddler Tom Berney has the following advice for foal owners on choosing tack: “There is no doubt that excellent turnout adds value to your foal.

“With that in mind, a bridle looks better and there is very little difference in the cost between an in-hand foal bridle and a leather headcollar, when you add on the cost of the bit clips and bit.

“The leather straps on the bridle come in varying widths. If you have a very fine filly then a thick, heavy bridle won’t look right so we can tailor the width of the leathers to suit the foal as all of our bridles are handmade. The bridle is stitched with a traditional yellow thread, to match the solid brass buckles, and the throat lash has buckles on either side for extra adjustment.

“The cheekpieces of a correctly fitting in-hand bridle should fasten mid-way up the horse’s cheek, on both sides. The throat lash should be buckled so that it extends to the same level, mid-way on the horse’s cheek.”

FUNCTIONAL

“The headcollar is a very functional option,” Berney continues. “It’s quick and easy to transform your foal’s headcollar so that you can show them with the added control of a bit in their mouth. If you choose this option, you need a weanling size headcollar.

“We also recommend using a three-point leather coupling on the bridle/headcollar, when a lead-rein is needed. This is a small attachment which is fastened behind the foal’s chin to either side of the bit and to the back of the noseband. The coupling evenly distributes pressure applied by the handler on the lead, to the mouth and nose of the foal, for greater control.

HANDLER SAFETY ADVICE

“A plain leather lead, the same colour as your bridle/headcollar, with a loop at the end is then attached to the coupling. The length of the lead is very important. The sales atmosphere is very stressful for a young horse, they are in unfamiliar surroundings, which are noisy and very busy – the likelihood is that, at one point or another, the foal is going to spook.

“Handlers need to have a lead which is long enough to cater for the foal spooking away. The standard length of a lead should be 8-9ft. If you have a very flighty animal, who is spooked easily, avoid using a lead with a chain – the noise of the chain rattling can also unnerve a foal.

“Straight, nylon rubber bits are used for foals and they are usually available in four different sizes. A jointed bit is never used on a foal as it is too severe. Number discs on the bridle, displaying the lot number, are becoming popular. A number of studs are using them in addition to displaying the lot number on the foal’s quarters. They are used as another way of highlighting the foal’s lot number and are attached on the head-stall just below the brow-band.”

For more information and advice, contact Berney Bros. Saddles.

Tel: 045 481228

Web: berneybros.com