Last Updated on September 1, 2020
with the right gear in tool sailing course can be safe and easy. With a little care you can make this a stress-free experience for you and your horse. Let’s take this step by step, and soon your horse will be saddled up and ready to hit the trails or go ride in the upcoming show.
1 brush your horse
It is incredibly important to thoroughly brush the body of your horse prior to putting on the saddle in the rest of the year. This is to ensure that there is no dirt or other debris that can irritate your horse. Not only that it is incredibly important for your horses overall health to maintain a clean and healthy coat and the first step in achieving this isn’t brushing them frequently.
2 clean your saddle pad
take a stiff bristle horse brush and thoroughly brush the underside of your saddle pad. See my favorite horse saddle pad models here. Just like with brushing your horse you want to make sure that there is no dust or debris or other foreign objects on the pad that can irritate your horse. If there were anything on the underside of the saddle pad when you put it on your horse it could cause extreme irritation and negatively affect your horses performance while riding.
3 put on the saddle pad
When placing saddle pad on your horse you want to be careful not to sneak up on them. Always approach the horse from their left shoulder, and place the saddle pad with the leather top padding placed above the withers. Make sure that the saddle pad is straight and square on the horses back.
4 get your saddle ready to be put on the horse
Make sure that the underside of the saddle is free and clean of debris and brush it if necessary. Make sure that the Cinch or girth is connected to the right side of the saddle. then take the Stirrup on the right side of the saddle and the girth and bring them both across the top of your saddle. this is to ensure that the Stirrup and cinch do not bang into the horse when you put the saddle hot. the horse calmly from the left shoulder stand beside them and gently lift the saddle up and place it directly onto the saddle pad. The position of the saddle should place the saddle horn directly over the withers of your horse. Gently make any adjustments to make sure that the saddle is square. how walk around the front of the horse to the other side and gently bring down the Stirrup and the Cinch, being sure not to bring the horses belly when you do so.
5 tighten up the cinch girth
From the left side of the horse take up the Cinch and bring it to your side of the horse and gently tighten up the Cinch. It is important not to over tighten the Cinch at this point. Whether you are using a d-ring connection or a loop strap it is important that you tighten it where there is still two fingers that can easily fit between a horse’s belly and the girth. From here I like to take my horse and walk them around for a moment and then bring them back and cross tie them. now it should be safe for you to tighten up the Cinch a little bit more. Again be sure not tightness so much that you cause your horse discomfort.
6 put on your horse’s bridle
Whether you are using a traditional horse bridal with a bit or you’re using a hackamore or bitless bridle you want to take it and approach your horse from the front left hand side. gently place on your horse’s bridle and secured the throat strap and chin strap if applicable. Once you check your cinch tightness one more time you are ready to mount your horse and go for a ride!
Fred is the editor of Equine Ridge. He grew up raising horses and has been riding, training, and competing for almost four decades. Fred started out performing on the AQHA and PHBA circuits. Fred trained other competitors in English and Western riding disciplines and today offers free riding lessons to youth who would otherwise not be able to afford lessons. When not working with horses he can be found backpacking or trying to brew the perfect cup of coffee. Email Fred at fred@equineridge.com