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Basic Horse Training
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| Basic Horse Training |
10. Once everything is attached, you can go back and tighten all your
rigging. The only one that should really need to get tighter is the main cinch.
The main cinch should be tightened to the point where you can only get about
three fingers between the cinch and the horse. You may need to walk the horse
and recheck this cinch before you actually get on the horse. In fact, it is a good
habit to check the main cinch before you get on every time.
Like I said earlier, there are a lot of ways to put a saddle on. I do it this way
because it is the safest method I have found for my horse and my saddle.
rigging. The only one that should really need to get tighter is the main cinch.
The main cinch should be tightened to the point where you can only get about
three fingers between the cinch and the horse. You may need to walk the horse
and recheck this cinch before you actually get on the horse. In fact, it is a good
habit to check the main cinch before you get on every time.
Like I said earlier, there are a lot of ways to put a saddle on. I do it this way
because it is the safest method I have found for my horse and my saddle.
Saddling a horse is an important part of riding. Unfortunately I have seen a lot of
people do it poorly. So this is a simple run through of how I put a Western saddle on a
horse. Just keep in mind that I train wild Mustangs, so things may be done a little
differently than you have seen in the past. Safety is important, and it has changed the
way I put a saddle on the horse.
people do it poorly. So this is a simple run through of how I put a Western saddle on a
horse. Just keep in mind that I train wild Mustangs, so things may be done a little
differently than you have seen in the past. Safety is important, and it has changed the
way I put a saddle on the horse.
1. You want to put the blanket on the horse.
I put the blanket over the neck first. There are
two reasons I do this. First it allows me to stand
in front of the shoulder at a safe distance from
the hind legs in case the horse kicks. Second,
little things make a difference. By putting the
blanket on the neck first, and then sliding it back
into position later, I ensure that all the hair on
the horse’s back is brushed back and lying
comfortably.
I put the blanket over the neck first. There are
two reasons I do this. First it allows me to stand
in front of the shoulder at a safe distance from
the hind legs in case the horse kicks. Second,
little things make a difference. By putting the
blanket on the neck first, and then sliding it back
into position later, I ensure that all the hair on
the horse’s back is brushed back and lying
comfortably.
2. Next you’ll get your saddle. Make
sure all your rigging is draped over the
saddle seat. You don’t want to have to
search for billets and straps that end up
under the saddle.
sure all your rigging is draped over the
saddle seat. You don’t want to have to
search for billets and straps that end up
under the saddle.
3. Place the saddle on the saddle blanket
and slide both down on the horses back to
the appropriate position.
and slide both down on the horses back to
the appropriate position.
4. Walk around to the other side
and lower all the rigging off the saddle.
Some people stay on the same side
and drop everything off to the far side
of the saddle. The problem with that
comes when the stirrup and all the
rigging drops into the horses side and
scares the horse. If your horse is okay
with it that is great. However if they are
not, or you are unsure, walk to the
other side.
and lower all the rigging off the saddle.
Some people stay on the same side
and drop everything off to the far side
of the saddle. The problem with that
comes when the stirrup and all the
rigging drops into the horses side and
scares the horse. If your horse is okay
with it that is great. However if they are
not, or you are unsure, walk to the
other side.
5. Take the breast collar in front of the horse and attach it to the “D” ring on the
other side. The breast collar should run over the shoulders. It should be tight
enough to keep it from falling below the shoulder where it will restrict leg movement,
but loose enough so that it won’t be above the shoulder and putting pressure on the
front of the neck.
I start with the breast collar because it is safer. If I attach the main cinch first, and
the horse gets scared or something unexpected happens, the horse may spook with
the cinch not properly tightened. If that happens, the saddle can move back to where
it becomes very aggravating for the horse, or it can slide under the horse’s belly.
Either way, a bad situation will become worse, and my saddle will take a beating.
By attaching the breast collar first, if the horse spooks unexpectedly at this point,
the saddle will fall to the front of the horse. Then, hopefully, the horse will lower their
head and be able to back out of the breast collar. In that situation, my breast collar
may get messed up, but my saddle should be okay.
other side. The breast collar should run over the shoulders. It should be tight
enough to keep it from falling below the shoulder where it will restrict leg movement,
but loose enough so that it won’t be above the shoulder and putting pressure on the
front of the neck.
I start with the breast collar because it is safer. If I attach the main cinch first, and
the horse gets scared or something unexpected happens, the horse may spook with
the cinch not properly tightened. If that happens, the saddle can move back to where
it becomes very aggravating for the horse, or it can slide under the horse’s belly.
Either way, a bad situation will become worse, and my saddle will take a beating.
By attaching the breast collar first, if the horse spooks unexpectedly at this point,
the saddle will fall to the front of the horse. Then, hopefully, the horse will lower their
head and be able to back out of the breast collar. In that situation, my breast collar
may get messed up, but my saddle should be okay.
6. Next you’ll want to attach
the main cinch. Since the breast
collar is already attached, you
don’t need to worry about
getting the main cinch tightened
all the way.
the main cinch. Since the breast
collar is already attached, you
don’t need to worry about
getting the main cinch tightened
all the way.
7. Attach the hind cinch. A lot of people keep the hind cinch very loose. So
loose that they can pass an entire fist through the cinch while no one is on the
horses back. Then when they get in the saddle, the hind cinch drops even lower.
If the hind cinch is too low, two things happen. For one thing, it is dangerous. If
the hind cinch hangs low enough, the horse can easily get a hoof caught the next
time it kicks at a fly on its belly. Secondly, the hind cinch is used to help keep the
back end of the saddle in place. So it does not bounce all over as you are riding.
If the hind cinch is that loose, it can’t be doing its job.
As the horse is just standing with no weight in the saddle, you should tighten
the hind cinch so that it makes contact with the horse. Not tight. You should be
able to pass your flat hand between the horse and the cinch comfortably. Once
you climb aboard, your weight will push the saddle down and cause the hind
cinch to loosen even more.
loose that they can pass an entire fist through the cinch while no one is on the
horses back. Then when they get in the saddle, the hind cinch drops even lower.
If the hind cinch is too low, two things happen. For one thing, it is dangerous. If
the hind cinch hangs low enough, the horse can easily get a hoof caught the next
time it kicks at a fly on its belly. Secondly, the hind cinch is used to help keep the
back end of the saddle in place. So it does not bounce all over as you are riding.
If the hind cinch is that loose, it can’t be doing its job.
As the horse is just standing with no weight in the saddle, you should tighten
the hind cinch so that it makes contact with the horse. Not tight. You should be
able to pass your flat hand between the horse and the cinch comfortably. Once
you climb aboard, your weight will push the saddle down and cause the hind
cinch to loosen even more.
8. Once the hind cinch is
attached, I go to the front of the
saddle blanket and tie it to the saddle
horn. For a more detailed explanation
of the saddle tie, you can click here.
attached, I go to the front of the
saddle blanket and tie it to the saddle
horn. For a more detailed explanation
of the saddle tie, you can click here.
9. Then you can reach down
between the horse’s front legs and
attach the breast collar to the main
cinch.
between the horse’s front legs and
attach the breast collar to the main
cinch.
| Saddling Up by Michael Hockemeyer |
