SADDLING A HORSE
Before saddles were invented, humans rode horses bareback. Horses have been domesticated since around 4000 B.C. Blankets and other decorative pieces took the place of what we now call the saddle. Nomads were the first to design a traditional saddle. This consists of a frame, making it more solid, and adding a girth (strap around the belly of the horse) to secure the saddle to the horse. As the saddle became popular for horseback riding, each individual developed their own type of saddle. These designs were similar, but each slightly different depending on the shape of the horse. Over time, materials such as leather were added to the wooden frame for comfort. Stirrups were also added to provided stability to the rider. There are two main styles of saddles for horseback riding. The western style and the dressage style saddles were designed for different uses. The Western saddle was designed for ranch hands who worked cattle and spent numerous hours on a horse, while the English saddle was designed for pleasure riding and performance. Whether you ride English or Western saddles, saddling them are similar. Below are the instructions for saddling a horse (with a Western saddle).
Brush Your Horse
Remove any dirt or debris that may cause the horse to be uncomfortable when you place the saddle on its back. It is important that the hair is well brushed and flat on the back and girth area.
Note: any dirt or grit left behind may cause the horse to be uncomfortable and misbehave.
Tradition of saddling a horse- saddle and mount the saddle from the horse’s left side (if you are facing the rear of the horse)
- Place the saddle blanket on the horse’s back
The blanket should be placed forward over the withers and then sliding it back into place. Sliding the blanket back into place helps fold any hair flat.
Note: be sure the blanket is even on both sides and that there are no folds.
Place the saddle on the horse
To ensure that the stirrups do not slap the horse, it is important to hook the offside stirrup on the saddle horn. The cinch should also be folded back onto the seat of the saddle to prevent the girth from getting twisted or pinched under the saddle. Lift the saddle so you do not hit the horse or the saddle blanket. Place the saddle slightly forward on the saddle blanket.
Note: DO NOT let the saddle fall onto the horses back. The horse may spook.
Check the saddle
Unhook the stirrup from the saddle horn. Inspect the saddle for wear or any imperfections. Re-check the saddle blanket and saddle placement.
Buckle the girth (or cinch)
Pick up the free end of the cinch and connect the buckles or straps. Important: Only tighten the girth enough to hold the saddle in place securely. There is no need to overtighten the cinch. Overtightening the cinch can cause injury or affect the breathing of the horse. You should be able to slide 3 fingers between the horse and the cinch strap. If there is excess cinch that dangles, place it in the ‘D ring’ that is located on the saddle by the cinch strap.
As the horse works, the cinch may become looser. It is important to check the girth after mounting and shortly after the ride begins.
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