| Tacking up your horse is not just about throwing a | | | | halfway up the side of the horse on each side. If you |
| saddle and bridle on your horse and jumping on. It is | | | | get on your horse and you feel like you are going to |
| imperative to first groom your horse and clean his or | | | | fall forward, then the saddle is up too far. If the front of |
| her feet before tacking up. Putting a saddle pad and | | | | your saddle is sitting behind the end of your horses' |
| saddle on top of a very dirty or muddy horse could be | | | | mane on their withers, then you are too far back. |
| asking for the beginning of annoying saddle sores. Also, | | | | When you are in the right spot, you will feel |
| you should pick out your horses feet in order to check | | | | comfortable when sitting on your horse, especially |
| and make sure that there is nothing stuck and held in | | | | when using English tack. If you are using Western tack |
| by the shoe, and to check and make sure that their | | | | and you have a bucking strap, this should fit loosely but |
| shoes are not loose or any clenches, (where the | | | | not too loose that the horse can get their hind leg |
| blacksmith has cut off the nail and clenched them | | | | entangled. |
| down as they are sharp), are sticking out. Sharp | | | | When putting your bridle on, hold the bit in your left |
| clenches can cut your horses legs while in movement | | | | hand, hold the headstall with your right hand, look at |
| especially if they were to take a bad step or spook or | | | | your horses head and judge whether the length of the |
| shy from something. | | | | headstall looks big enough to fit. If it seems too small, |
| It does not matter whether you ride English or | | | | let the bridle down a couple of holes and this will make |
| Western, a saddle should sit in a specific way on a | | | | it easier to get the bridle over yours horses ears. |
| horse. Even though this seems to be so simple, it is | | | | Stand on the left side of your horse, bridle in left hand, |
| very easy to set the saddle either too far forward, | | | | put the reigns over the horses head and down the |
| which will cause girth sores behind the elbow, or too | | | | neck to the shoulder. Take your right hand putting it |
| far back and this can cause a sore back and you | | | | through the back of the headstall and take your left |
| really do not want to be sitting on your horses kidneys. | | | | hand and hold the bit. Put the bridle in front of your |
| After you place your saddle towel and saddle pad on | | | | horses head, holding your right hand with the bridle in |
| your horse and then the saddle, on the right side of the | | | | front of the horses face at the same time bring the bit |
| saddle is where the girth is attached. The girth is what | | | | to the horses' mouth asking your horse to open their |
| is used to keep the saddle on and when properly | | | | mouth and accept the bit. As the horse takes the bit, |
| tightened it will keep the saddle where it should be. | | | | using your right hand, put the bridle over the left ear |
| Having the correct size girth is very important. I | | | | first and then over the right ear. Fasten the jowl strap |
| remember an exercise rider that told me that she did | | | | leaving about two fingers of space between the horse |
| not want to get on a horse that was brought to her | | | | and strap. If you tighten this strap too much when the |
| claiming that the girth was too small. The groom | | | | horse flexes their head, the strap will cut off some of |
| insisted that it was ok. Time being a factor and trying | | | | their air flow. Next, tighten the bit. Some people like two |
| to keep up with the rest of the other riders, she got | | | | wrinkles in their mouth. It depends on the horse. Some |
| her leg up, (this is when someone helps you to mount | | | | horses, two wrinkles is too much and the bit will be too |
| the horse by holding your left leg and you take a little | | | | tight and uncomfortable possibly causing the horse to |
| hop and up you go), on the horse and off she went. | | | | throw their head while being ridden. Some people like |
| Well, the girth broke from too much pressure and she | | | | the four finger rule that if you take four fingers and put |
| broke her back and was in the hospital for one year. | | | | them between the horse and bridle on the side of their |
| So please take this seriously. If you are on your horse | | | | head, they then believe that is sufficient. For me, that is |
| and they would decide to cut a buck or misbehave, a | | | | sometimes too loose. You definitely do not want the |
| secure saddle is your best friend. | | | | bit hanging down and sitting on the bars of the horses' |
| On the horse, at the very top of the back side of the | | | | mouth, this can make their mouth sore. The bit should |
| front leg where the elbow is, you will notice a slight | | | | be up in their mouth but not too far. You really must |
| narrowing of the body with a slight indentation; this is | | | | use your common sense. Try to put yourself in your |
| the girth of the horse which runs all the way | | | | horses place. If it looks uncomfortable, it probably is. If |
| underneath of the horse in this area. Naturally, that is | | | | your horse seems to be objecting, make changes. If |
| where your girth should be. If the girth is in the right | | | | you have to make changes again and again, well then |
| place, it will be fairly comfortable for your horse | | | | keep changing it until you get it right. Learning to tack |
| providing you do not tighten the girth too much. This | | | | your horse properly takes a little time as well as trial |
| sometimes takes a little time to find the comfort zone. | | | | and error, but once you figure it out, you will not want it |
| After you have tightened the girth it should come up | | | | any other way. Happy trails to you. |
| on either side of the horse evenly, at least about | | | | |