How to Saddle a Horse

Saddling your horse takes just a few minutes but is a very important part of the pre-ride preparation.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Saddle pads
• Equestrian equipment
• Saddles

1. Groom your horse in preparation for your ride.

2. Always saddle from the near (left) side of the horse.

3. 

   Place your saddle pad so the front of the pad is just in front of the horse's withers (front shoulders).

4. 

   Place the saddle on top of the pad so the front of the saddle is just in front of the withers. Make sure the saddle is centered.

5. Hold the saddle underneath the horn (only on a western saddle) and gently lift up while you lift up the pad so it doesn't rub on the horse's withers.

6. 

   Buckle the cinch or girth so it is snug around the horse's belly, just behind the front legs. Make sure the cinch or girth doesn't rub or cut into the horse's front legs.

7. Tighten the cinch so you can just slip a finger between the cinch or girth and the horse's belly.

8. Buckle the back cinch if your western saddle has one.

9. Make sure stirrups are adjusted properly. When you stand in the stirrups you should have two finger widths between you and the saddle.

10. Attach breast collar to each side of the saddle skirt if you are using one.

Tips & Warnings

• A breast collar can be used for English or Western riding.
• Make sure the cinch is tight before you ride.

on 8/16/2006 When you are going to saddle a horse, do it from the offside. Horses that are saddled from the nearside tend to become one sided. If you saddle from the offside you can let your cinch down gently, so as not to spook them. If you drop the cinch from across the saddle it may spook them, and they could jump on you resulting in injury. You also don't need to walk around the horse as many times. Try it!

on 4/16/2007 If your western saddle has a back cinch, make sure you tighten the front cinch up before you put the back one on. If you don't do this, and the horse shakes or moves suddenly, it might roll off, yet still be attached by the back cinch. I have seen this happen, and it doesn't end well.

Also make sure you take the back cinch off first when taking the saddle off, for the same reason.

on 8/8/2006 When you put on the girth, if one side is elastic, put it on the side you mount on (left). Start by putting it in just a couple holes, then tighten it on the right side as much as you can. Then alternate back to the left side and tighten it until it is tight enough. You always end with the elastic side because it gives more so it is easier to pull. It goes on the side you mount on, so when you double check it before mounting you can pull it tighter if needed. Always check the girth before mounting!

on 7/12/2006 Mounting on the left side can cause the stirrup leathers on the left to stretch more than the right. When you adjust your stirrups, an older saddle may need fewer notches on the left stirrup and more notches on the right to keep them even.

on 7/6/2006 First, roll up the stirrups on both sides, undo the girth, and the breast plate attached to it. Go to the other side of the horse and throw the girth over the saddle. Cover the saddle with a saddle cover and place it on the saddle rack.