Saddling Up
Learning to tack a horse can be challenging at first. But with an established routine, both you and your horse will quickly know what what to expect. Having your horse secured with a set of crossties that fasten to the halter from opposite sides at about normal head height is really helpful as this leaves the rider with both hands to work with the tack.
Don’t be in rush to tack up. Take the time to check your horse over first to make sure he hasn’t incurred any injuries or other problems. Slide your hand down each of your horse’s legs feeling for any bumps, cuts, or scrapes. Then pick out each horse making sure to get out all mud and stones and checking for any hoof problems. Doing this will prevent the chance of riding with a rock in your horse’s foot and risking lameness. It also a good opportunity to check out your horse’s hoofs and whether his shoes are secure. Now that you’ve checked your horse’s legs and hooves, it’s time to give a good brushing to his back and body. Ther are a variety of brushes you can use, but the goal is to get rid of all of the loose, dead hair and any dirt or other debris that could irritate your horse when you place the saddle and saddle pad on.
Since the halter is securing the horse to the crossties, you may want to start with the saddle. Place the saddle pad or blanket straight down on the horses back, just on the highest point of the withers and slide it straight back a fraction of an inch to position it. This ensures that the hair is all flat, if you have to reposition the blanket lift it off the horse, smooth down the hair again with a brush or your hand, then start over.
With the saddle pad or blanket in place, pick up the saddle with your left hand on the horn or pommel and the left hand under the back skirt or the cantle, depending on the saddle type. Make sure you’ve secured the stirrups before placing the saddle. Then place the saddle in the center of the pad just back of the withers. Horse’s have a natural depression in their back which is where the saddle should be placed. If you have a western style saddle, reach under the horse’s belly and grasp the cinch, make sure it is straight and tighten the saddle from the left side. With an English saddle you may need to walk around to the right side and affix the cinch, then move back around to the left to tighten it.
The bridle is typically the most challenging as some horses will throw their head or refuse to take the bit. Moving quietly, slowly and gently will correct this problem. Don’t become agitated or irritated. Unbuckle the throatlatch and noseband if there is one, then standing in the same direction as the horse on the left side, hold the bit in your left hand and the top of the bridle in your right. Bring the browband of the bridle above your horse’s head with your right hand, thereby positioning the bit below the lips. Gentleness counts when inserting the bit. Lift the crown of the bridle over the ears and gently insert the bit. Position both the bit and the headstall in the right place, then latch the throatlatch and noseband. Avoid at all cost hitting your horse’s teeth with the bit. It’s painful and will cause him to be reluctant to be bridled in the future.
Mounting the horse is the opposite of dismounting and should be done in one fluid movement. With the reins in your left hand, grasp your horse’s mane in your right hand. Using the right hand to hold the stirrup, place your left foot in the stirrup, swing your body up and your right leg up and over the back of the horse, gentle sitting down into the saddle. Put the right foot in the right stirrup and you are all ready to go.
Related Articles
- No related posts
Comments
Leave a Reply