Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Groom the horse thoroughly. There should be no dirt, dried sweat, dried mud, burrs or bedding debris between the pad or blanket and the horse because those things will become irritants chafing under the saddle.
Step2
Select your combination of blankets and/or pads. Many riders like to use a fabric blanket first against the horse, topped by some sort of foam pad that makes the saddle fit the horse better. If your saddle fits your horse really well, you may only need to use a single pad or blanket.
Step3
Evaluate the thickness of your blanket, pad or blanket and pad combination. If the arrangement is too thick it will make the saddle unstable, and this is uncomfortable for the horse. On the other hand, a very thin set-up is also uncomfortable unless the saddle is a perfect fit.
Step4
Place the first blanket or pad on the horse's back. Position it forward toward the shoulders, and over the withers. Center it on the horse's back.
Step5
Position the second pad, if you are using one, over the first. The exact position of this pad will depend on its specific purpose. For example, a pad that lifts the back of the saddle needs to have the rear lift portion under the saddle's cantle, whereas a front-lifting pad should be placed properly under the saddle's pommel. Other pads cover the same area as the underlying blanket.