Consignment
Tail cover (Tapacola or Floron) and trimmings (Retrancas). Leather straps (retrancas) are connected to either side of the saddle and behind where it connects to the tapacola. The tapacola widens to a decorative piece that covers the baticola as well as the dock and upper art of the tail. The retrancas were originally designed to help keep the horse’s hind legs tucked under him. It keeps young horses from breaking the paso gait when touched by anything strange. Named los retrancos, it has kept horses from lashing out at anything that comes in contact with the legs. In the distant past it was common to see horses’ rumps decorated in this fashion with the tapacola being very decorative. The Royal Horse and Rider: Paintings, Sculpture and Horsemanship, 1500 to 1800 by Walter Liedtke, has many pictures of riders, riding in box saddles adorned with decorative tail pieces. In addition, the custom is preserved from the Spanish, who hung tapestries and other decorations over the rear quarters of their horses. (Learn More )