Meet Our Breeds: Norway the Andalusian

We continue our Meet Our Breeds series this week with Norway the Andalusian stallion. He is one of our most popular models, as the striking gray showing off the red and yellow English bridle that so often catches attention on social media.

The Andalusian has a royal history, as one of the breeds sought after by Spanish and Portuguese royalty after tracing its origins to the Iberian Peninsula.

The stout nature of the horse gave it the strength for high level dressage as well as durability for use by cavalries, which was a popular outlet for them through the 1700s.

As with so many breeds, Andalusian numbers dwindled in the early 1900s. In the United States, low numbers were partly due to tight import restrictions, which were in place until the 1960s, but the breed has since spread. According to one 2010 study, there were around 185,000 registered Andalusians across the world.

Andalusians are typically around 15.0 hands with thick, wavy manes and tails, with slightly convex faces, with compact yet substantial frames.

Andalusians are closely related to Lusitanio horses, and also had influence on the gene pools of the Lippizzaner, Friesian, Oldenburg, Hanoverian, and Holstein.

The breed is used for both driving and riding. Although it’s primarily known for its affinity for classical dressage, Andalusians are also involved with bull fighting, show jumping, and even western pleasure.

Two Horse Tack takes pride in fitting tack to all breeds and sizes of horse. To ensure a custom fit, include your horse’s height, weight, age, and breed (as well as any measurements you may have from current tack) in the Order Notes section at checkout.

New Product Alert: We’re ready for the racetrack!

In case you haven’t heard, Two Horse Tack is now ready for the racetrack. We’re based in central Kentucky, where horse racing is a big part of the local scene, and had long noticed that most horses on the track were wearing either nylon or leather bridles and breastcollars in a rainbow of colors. We’ve been thinking for years that beta biothane would combine the best of both worlds for racing horsemen.

That’s why we’re proud to announce that we now offer beta biothane bridles for Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Quarter Horse and Arabian racehorses. Like nylon, beta biothane is stronger than leather and resists molding and fading. Like leather, it’s soft and pliable against horses’ skin. A quick scrub with a soapy sponge and a trip under the hose is all it takes to clean a beta biothane racing bridle, which saves times for grooms and stable staff after a workout.

Our racing bridles are available for Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, Quarter Horses, and Arabians and include in-between sizes for hard-to-fit horses.

Also, we offer our bridles in your choice of two-color combinations, so no matter what your barn’s colors are, we’ve got options to match.

Order your racing bridle today.

 

In Memory of Sampson

We’re happy to get emails from satisfied customers from time to time, but this one was bittersweet. We got these great pictures of Sampson the registered Saddlebred modeling his set of Two Horse Tack in the show ring.

Sampson and his family showed in Western gear but practiced in English from time to time. Blue was his signature color, and as you can see, it really brings out the golden color of his coat.

Sampson’s tack sparkled a little more thanks to some bling on his reins. If you’re really a glitter fanatic, you can get an entire set of tack with bling, but we also enjoy the balanced look Sampson has going here with just a little bit of shine. Our bling tack is also rugged enough to hold up to everyday use, with each rhinestone riveted into place for maximum durability.

Sadly, his people told us Sampson passed away in 2014, but we are proud we were able to help him stand out in the show ring during his time there. Our condolences go out the humans who loved him. It looks like he brought them lots of joy in their time together, which is the greatest gift of all.

Meet Our Breeds: Norwegian Fjord

From time to time, we’re proud to say we get happy notes from customers whose horses love Two Horse Tack. We were fascinated by a recent photo we got from MacKenzie, who was showing off her new lime green halter and lead on her mount, Ichabod.

Ichabod is 1/4 Quarter Horse/Thoroughbred and 3/4 Norwegian Fjord. If you haven’t seen a Norwegian Fjord before, they probably look like the rocker dudes of the equine world.

Norwegian Fjords trace their lineage back to just after the Ice Age, when it’s believed they were domesticated in Norway. The Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry’s website indicates the horses were selectively bred for at least 2,000 years, based on findings at Viking burial sites.

Norwegian Fjords are believed to have arrived in America by 1888, though it took another 80 years for a large number of the breeding stock in the United States to be imported.

As you can see in this photo of Ichabod, most Fjords are some variety of dun with a dorsal stripe and upright mane of a light color with dark tips.

The stout and distinctively-colored Fjord is heavy enough for plowing fields and pulling timber but small enough to be a good riding horse. The Fjord excels at mountain riding due to its sure-footed nature, and are also used often in combined driving.

Two Horse Tack is proud to outfit Ichabod and all other breeds. Even if your horse is tough-to-fit, we can help with our wide range of sizes and custom sizing. If you’re concerned about getting the perfect fit, include your horse’s breed, age, height and weight in the order notes at checkout!