How to Break a Horse to Ride

Please verify that your young horse is ready to ride before you begin any training or your horse may get what is called a "sway back". Only follow these steps if you have spent many, many hours with this horse and you feel comfortable trying to train the horse yourself. Keep in mind that this method will not work if you do not have patience and determination.

Things You'll Need

• Western Saddle
• Rope or Twine
• (4) Empty Milk Jugs
• Some Sand
• Some Small Stones

Instructions

1. 

   Get your horse into a stall and practice putting a halter on your horse. Once the horse has gotten used to the halter try adding the bit. This requires some patience and love, the horse does not initially like the feel of the bit. Practice this step for a few days, and make sure you stay with your horse while he is wearing these items.

2. 

   Add the western saddle, the horse will probably not like the tightening of the Saddle. Use positive reinforcement, hold the halter and talk very calm while someone tightens the saddle. Stay around the barn and let the horse wear the saddle to get comfortable with it on. After several days of doing these same steps, the horse should be used to the Halter, Bit, Blanket and Saddle.

3. 

   Lead the horse (wearing the halter, bit and saddle) to a corral. This is where you will add two empty milk jugs that you have pre-filled 1/3 of the way up with small stones. The two jugs need to be tied together with a rope, allowing enough slack so that they can hang down about a foot on each side of the saddle horn when placed around the saddle horn by the rope/twine. This will allow the horse to get used to the noise and the movement of something in the saddle. Do NOT get in the Corral with him, stand on the outside of the fence and take the lead rope off after adding the jugs. The horse will more than likely do a LOT of bucking and eventually wear them self out and calm down. The next day do the same method and you should get a much milder reaction. Repeat until you get no reaction to the jugs.

4. Add another set of two milk jugs pre-filled to the top with sand this time. This is to adjust the horse to more weight. The horse will barely even notice the weight and you should certainly got a much milder reaction. After a few days you should feel comfortable enough to lead the horse around in the corral.

5. Decide who will be the first in the saddle to ride the horse. Have someone hold the halter while you slowly get onto the saddle (while your horse is next to the fence). DO NOT put your feet in the stirrups in case your horse reacts to you being on him and you have to make a quick leap back to the fence. Exercise safety and be the judge of if you need to stay next to the fence for a long period of time the first day in the saddle.

6. 

   Ride your horse around the corral with someone leading the horse with a lead rope until you are ready to ride alone. Be proud of yourself and your horse and happy trails to you both.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that your horse is old enough to break to ride, so the horse does not get swayback from riding it at too young of an age.