How To Saddle A Horse
How to Put a Saddle on a Horse:
1. Groom The Horse.
t is nice to groom the whole horse before putting a saddle on it, but at least groom and clean the area where the saddle will be placed. Check for sores and dirt especially.
2. Inspect the saddle, pad and cinches.
Any dirt, straw, etc. on the underside of your saddle, inclusing the pad and cinches can cause irritation or saddle sores. Make sure these areas are clean and dirt-free.
3. Place the saddle pad.
Gently place the saddle pad on your horse, forward of the withers. You will initially put the pad and saddle a little in front of the final position and slide it backward into place in order to keep the horse’s hairs going the right direction.
4. Prepare the saddle.
Make sure all of the saddle straps are secured so they can’t get in the way when you put it on. Don’t just throw them over the seat. Make a habit of always securing your straps.
5. Place the saddle.
Stand next to the horse’s shoulder, holding the saddle on your hip with your hand on the off-side of the cantle and the other hand close to the base of the fork. With your feet shoulder width apart, stagger your stance so one foot is in front of the other – this gives you balance. Rock your body to gather momentum, and as you come back from your second or third rock, turn toward the horse and swing the saddle up over the horse’s back.
6. Make adjustments to saddle and pad.
Slide the pad and saddle backward until they are in place. You can do this by holding the horn and jiggling the saddle until you work it back and it settles into the right spot. This will leave no more than three fingers’ width of space between the horse’s elbow and the front cinch of the saddle. Make sure the pad is centered and not bunched, and that none of the straps or strings are stuck underneath the saddle.
7. Connect the cinches and breast collar.
Connect all of the straps and cinches in the correct manner – depending on the saddle and cinches. Seek help if you need it.
8. Get rid of extra skin folds by stretching the horse’s legs.
Hold each of the horse’s legs just above the knee and raise the leg to the front and bend it at the knee in order to stretch the horse’s belly out and pull away any extra skin folds that may have become trapped under the cinches.
Now you’re ready to go!
