Things You'll Need:
- Lunge line
- Feed sack
- Child's saddle
- Mounting block
-
Step 1
Consider the age of your horse. Most experts agree that no horse younger than two years should begin training for saddle usage and that three to four years is best. However, horses are all individuals and mature at varying rates depending on breed and genetics. You also want to consider their mental maturity alongside their physical development.
-
Step 2
Study your horse's growth patterns. If your horse is in the middle of a growth spurt, now is not the right time to start them under saddle. You can potentially damage their development by introducing the physical strain of riding too early.
-
Step 3
Examine your horse's conformation. This varies widely among breeds. Some Quarter horses have a stocky, wide frame while others develop more like a Thoroughbred. You should probably start a horse with a naturally slighter conformation much older than a more solidly constructed horse.
-
Step 4
Cover the basics of training before starting under saddle. Your horse should be comfortable with being led by halter, stands tied calmly and respond properly on a lunge line in the round pen.
-
Step 1
Sack out your horse daily for a number of weeks. Sacking out involves taking a feed sack or small blanket and getting the horse accustomed to the feel of it being rubbed and tapped all across its body. Start with the body between the shoulders and hips first, and then add the legs, neck and head, all the time reassuring him with your voice and patting on the shoulder.
-
Step 2
Tap the horse firmly but gently with the sack after he has become comfortable with rubbing. This gets the horse used to the movement around his body generated by a rider and tack. The horse should be able to withstand harder and harder taps without flinching.
-
Step 3
Use a child's saddle or other lightweight tack the first time you lift a saddle onto their back. Allow the horse to sniff and examine the saddle for a few minutes before placing it on them.
-
Step 4
Tighten the girth of the saddle only enough to keep it on if the horse bucks. If the saddle placement frightens the horse, don't remove the saddle until the horse calms down. You don't want to reward the uneasy behavior. Allow the horse to get used to the idea of having a saddle by letting them stand tied for a few minutes.
-
Step 5
Repeat the sacking out process with the saddle on the horse. This reassures the horse that this is just business as usual.
-
Step 6
Work your horse in the round pen on the lunge line with the saddle on. This will get the horse used to how the saddle feels while in motion and to carrying out commands while wearing a saddle.
-
Step 7
Put weight on the horse in gradual increments. Use a mounting block to lean over the horse, adding a little more of your body weight and releasing as you sense the horse relax. Eventually, lean over the horse with your full body weight.
-
Step 8
Mount the horse from the mounting block. Stay seated for a very short amount of time, just a few seconds so the horse understands your intention is to get off, unlike a predator, which would not. Gradually increase the amount of time mounted until the horse feels at ease with you on his back.
