How To Set Up A Western Saddle

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Western saddles are typically made of leather, congenital for riding over long periods of fourth dimension while herding cattle or doing other ranch work. They tend to exist heavier than English language saddles, due to the materials used, and the Western rider can concord both of the reins in i hand, instead of belongings one in each paw with the English model. But perchance the biggest difference is that the Western saddle is designed to distribute the rider'southward weight more than evenly. This makes it more comfortable for horses to deport riders over long distances for prolonged periods of time.^[1] Knowing how to properly saddle a horse is of import, both for the rider's safety and for the condolement of the equus caballus.

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Groom your horse. Before you strap a saddle on your equus caballus, information technology's important to ensure that your horse's mane/tail and hooves are make clean, and that information technology does not have any sores on his skin. Pay special attending to the areas the tack touches, such every bit along the pressure points of the saddle or the area where the girth will go effectually the belly. If you lot leave dirt under the tack, it may cause skin irritation, pilus loss or sores.
- Use a back-scratch comb to detangle dirt, mud, and any other debris that might be matted in your horse's hair. Exercise not use the curry rummage over whatsoever bony parts of the horse's body, as these may be more sensitive and could be injured by aggressive combing. Practice not back-scratch comb the neck and face. ^[ii]
- Use a stiff-bristled body brush, besides chosen the groovy castor, to continue dislodging hard-to-remove debris and remove the debris yous've already dislodged. You can use this brush on the cervix, chest, and legs. ^[3]
- Utilise a soft brush to gently flick away the debris removed by the curry comb and the body castor. Utilize this brush to practice the confront and legs.^[4]
- Use a hoof pick to make clean your equus caballus's feet. In order to do this, lean confronting the side of your horse, be sure you lot aren't facing the legs and back of the horse then it wont be able to exist kicked, and squeeze the horse's leg along the tendons which run right in a higher place the fetlock that you want lifted. Then, concord the hoof wall as y'all option out the clay, manure and rocks from the horse's hoof. Additionally, check the hooves for strange bodies. Do this for all 4 hooves.
- Finish things off by gently wiping down your equus caballus's face and body with a clean preparation fabric.^[5]
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Check your gear. Await for worn areas in the leather or damaged buckles. Brand certain there aren't any areas on the gear that may give out during your ride. Additionally, audit the saddle and pad for any foreign objects that could cause irritation to your horse.

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Set the saddle pad on your horse. It'south important to position the saddle pad properly, as this will be the barrier between your saddle and the horse's skin.
- Put the saddle pad on the withers (shoulders), slightly frontwards of where you want it to end upward. The saddling process will inevitably drag the saddle pad back, so starting slightly forward should permit the saddle and pad to terminate up where you desire them. Never slide the saddle pad forrad on your horse's back for yous will cause the hair to go against the grain and make information technology uncomfortable for the horse.^[6]
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Take hold of the cinches, straps and stirrups. Lift the saddle in such a way that none of these attachments will get defenseless under the saddle.^[seven]
- The easiest way to continue your cinches, straps and stirrups out of the way is to cantankerous them over the top of the saddle and put them effectually the horn. Keep them around the horn until you lot're ready to secure them.
ii
Elevator the saddle onto your horse. If you lot have a hard fourth dimension lifting the saddle, you may need to asking help during this step.
- Stand up next to your equus caballus'southward left shoulder.
- Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, with your left foot well-nigh the horse'south left hoof and your right foot slightly behind your left.
- Swing your torso and hoist the saddle up, so that your right arm ends upward draped across the horse's back. This should country the saddle right on the saddle pad, on your equus caballus'south back.
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Lower the cinches and stirrups. Allow them to hang down across your horse, but make sure they're in the correct location for your ride. Adjust the cinches and stirrups and then they're in the correct place, if necessary.
4

Make the horse put its left forepart hoof frontwards so the girth volition be more comfortable. There are wrinkles in the front of your horse'southward girth expanse. Putting the front cinch (also chosen a girth) over the wrinkles tin can cause sores to develop. If your horse puts its left foot forrard, the wrinkles volition flatten out, making the girth more comfy.^[8]
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Secure the front cinch using a buckle or knot. E'er Tighten the Cinch Before doing annihilation else on the saddle. Check that the sure-fire is flat against the horse's belly with no twists. Put your buckle in the correct holes and slide the buckle tongue through the embrace. If y'all're using a knot, pull the latigo through the cinch ring until it is snug across the equus caballus's belly. Then, put the latigo through the saddle D ring, moving from the outside in. Go on to wrap the latigo until it's tight on the horse.
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Tighten the back cinch if your saddle has i. It's important to go on the back sure-fire tight, as this will go on the saddle from lifting up during riding. (Some saddles do not have a back sure-fire. Despite what the picture show depicts, delight assure that the girth is hooked on before you showtime with the other cinches)^[9]
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Attach the breast collar (if y'all utilize one). At that place are a number of different types of breast plate, and each ane will require different assembly instructions.
- Ensure that the breast collar's center sure-fire strip is aligned with the center of your horse's pectorals.
- Thread the latigo from the left side through the ring on the end of the cinch and D ring twice.
- Pull tightly, then thread the latigo around the back of the D ring to the left, around front so back through. The end should then come through the middle of the D ring, and thread down behind the loop fabricated (like tying a tie), pulling tightly again.
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Pull out any peel that may take gotten trapped under the cinches. One way of doing this is by gently bending your horse's front two legs at the knees, stretching out the belly and freeing any flesh that may take been caught in the cinches.
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Untie your equus caballus. Be sure that your saddle is properly attached before yous untie your horse. And so put the bridal on.
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When you are preparation you may want to get the horse utilize to yous getting on on both sides. Well-nigh horses are accustomed to existence mounted from the left, but if you get the equus caballus being utilize you getting on on both sides yous wont have whatsoever issues. Earlier mounting, Ever bank check the tightness of the cinch (or girth).

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Before saddling, ever brush the horse thoroughly to remove clay and loose hair. Don't forget to pick out the hooves, too.
Before mounting, test the saddle to make certain it's tight and won't skid.
One of the most important parts of the horse to check earlier saddling is the girth path. Make sure in that location is no mud or dirt that will rub and irritate the horse.
If you lot requite treats earlier and after, it may assist build trust between you lot and your horse.
After you're washed putting on the saddle, check to make sure you did everything right.
After tightening the cinch, walk the horse forward a pace or two and re-tighten the cinch. Some horses will do something called bloating where they hold their breath when the cinch is starting time tightened to make the saddle loose.
Make sure someone is with you with an unfamiliar horse, or get to know the horse meliorate before riding it.
Adjust the girth as needed while you are riding so you don't fall off.
If y'all are unfamiliar with a horse, have the atomic number 82 in your paw, in case they pull back.
Make sure the horse is properly tied before saddling.

Identify the saddle gently on the horse's back, trying not to drib it downwards too hard.
Exist sure there is a strap connecting the rear sure-fire to the front sure-fire, so that the rear cinch doesn't slide back, causing the horse discomfort. It can turn into a bucking strap real fast!

Things You'll Demand

Western saddle
Horse
Halter
Lead Rope
Saddle pad/blanket
Grooming tools

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Article Summary X

Before you put a Western saddle on a horse, lay a saddle pad on the equus caballus's shoulders. Stand up on the horse'due south left side and elevator the saddle onto its back, then coax the horse to step forward with its front end left leg and then the buckle doesn't crusade sores. Tighten the front cinch until it's snug against the horse, so the back sure-fire, if there is i. If you employ a breast neckband, attach it last. Cheque to make sure the horse doesn't have whatever pare caught in the cinches before you mountain it! Read on to learn how to bank check the saddle before you put it on the horse!

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