No matter what kind of saddle you’re using, remember to go through your saddling checklist:
- Pads eat horses (or at least horses think they do). So don’t just swing it all over
the place. Keep it close to your body and place it carefully on your horse’s back. - Be gentle. Don’t just throw, plop, or slap a saddle on. Place the saddle on the horse’s back like you’d like something put on your back.
- When attaching and tying the saddle components, the order is important. Put the most essential things on first. Tip: The girth is the first and most important.
- Watch your horse’s reaction to each part; if he gets nervous, take it as a sign that you may be moving too fast or using too much force. Slow down and be gentle.
- Reverse the order when taking the saddle off. Take off the least essential components first then the most important last. Tip: The girth is the last and most important.
- Again, be gentle. Don’t just yank the saddle off. And be sure to check that nothing is going to slap your horse on the sides and scare him when you’re removing the fool thing.
- Careful taking that horse-eating pad off. Don’t let it flap about and keep it close to your body.
Yay, it’s a palindrome! (Kind of.)
Now watch this explanation:
Thanks to Chris Alexander for the use of one of the best looking horses around, not to mention tack.