How do you choose a Portuguese or Spanish saddle for your riding?
Iberian riding favours a deep seat and a broad contact surface on the horse's back. The choice between a Portuguese saddle and a Spanish saddle depends on your discipline:
- The GOMES Portuguese saddle gives a secure feel thanks to its front and rear supports, keeping the rider's upper body upright for baroque dressage. Portuguese saddles offer a seat that riders appreciate for comfort and plenty of shoulder freedom.
- The GOMEZ "Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza" vaquera saddle is made for campo work. This Doma Vaquera saddle spreads the load over a large padded surface to absorb sudden movements during long hours in the saddle.
To check the gullet or the shape of the tree, our team can send you extra photos before you order.
Which Portuguese or vaquero bit for your level of training?
Iberian mouthpieces are mainly used with leverage for fine, one-handed control:
- The Portuguese bit: choose from the GOMES straight Portuguese bit with smooth mouthpiece, the Portuguese bit with ribbed stainless steel mouthpiece, and the ACAMPADO Portuguese bit with ribbed mouthpiece. Ribbed mouthpieces increase the action on the bars for riders with steady hands.
- The vaquero bit: the traditional 17 cm vaquero bit, the LOPEZ Doma Vaquera bit or the LOPEZ "cerrada" vaquero bit give the responsiveness wanted in working equitation.
Correct adjustment of the curb chain remains essential to respect the horse's mouth without excessive pressure.
Portuguese cavesson and traditional bridles: what tack for groundwork and ridden work?
Precise work on the ground or under saddle depends on equipment suited to the Iberian horse's conformation:
- On the ground: the GOMES leather Portuguese cavesson with 3 rings and the GOMEZ Haute Ecole Portuguese cavesson with browband help guide young horses. GOMEZ also offers Spanish cavessons in leather or nylon with a lined noseband.
- Ridden: the GOMES leather Portuguese snaffle bridle and the GOMEZ traditional Spanish "Doma Vaquera" bridle combine simplicity with sturdiness. To complete a Spanish bridle for a horse or a campo outfit, add the GOMEZ mosquero and the GOMES Portuguese hunting breastplate.
How do you match Iberian spurs with the rider's kit?
Leg aids need precise contact for pirouettes and lateral movements:
- For your LAZO Y DUQUE Spanish riding boots or to fit your Portuguese boots, choose GOMES Portuguese spurs with curved point or GOMEZ spurs with round rowel.
- In Doma Vaquera, the LOPEZ short vaquero spurs without rowel and the LOPEZ angled Doma Vaquera spurs are fastened with GOMEZ vaquero spur straps.
There is no need to look for a tack shop in Spain: our Portuguese and Spanish tack range brings these items together, along with GOMEZ working-equitation leg protection for your horse's limbs.