Supplies for Saddling a Horse Western Style

Series Summary

Man has enjoyed a unique relationship with the horses on this planet. Horses have carried us into battle, brave and without fear. They’ve helped us travel over long stretches of terrain. In some parts of the world they still pull our farmer’s plows and carry our loads. They’ve been indispensable in herding and driving our cattle. And the police have mounted horse patrols for crowd control situations in urban environments. No question, horses have proven to be well-suited for human life, expressing qualities of loyalty and bravery, responding to commands, and usually having a calm, docile demeanor.

Since they are wild animals, all horses need some sort of training before they can work side by side with humans. Especially in horseback riding, the relationship between horse and rider must be cultivated over time and with the proper techniques and equipment. In this free video series, learn how to put a Western saddle on a horse. Get tips on how to halter the horse, how to place and adjust the saddle, and how to use a cross tie.

Video Transcript

"Hi! I'm Kelli on behalf of Expert Village. I am going to show you my tips and techniques to saddle your horse with a Western Saddle. So the first thing you will want to do when saddling your horse to ride western and you are preparing to put the saddle on, is you want to make sure you are grooming your horse. So you want to use a curry comb, a stiff brush and a finishing brush for this. Just make sure that you remove any surface dirt and debris as well as anything encrusted sweat or anything from your horse's back. Because if you don't do that when you put the saddle on, it can lead to the horse getting a fungal infection or a lot of discomfort for your horse. The next thing you will need is a western saddle pad which is a lot different from an English saddle pad. It is a little bit bigger, a little bit longer. It is also a little bit thicker and it gives a little bit more cushion for the horse's back since a Western saddle is a lot heavier. Of course, you need the Western saddle which if you notice is a lot different from an English saddle. Of course, it has the horn here and is a little bit heavier and a little bit wider of a seat. It has a little bit longer stirrup and of course, your western cinch which will tighten the girth onto the horse's back so that the saddle will stay in place. So these are the supplies that you will need to saddle your horse to ride western. "