How to Saddle a Horse

Did you know that your saddling technique could have a big effect on your relationship with your horse?  How well you saddle and unsaddle your horse will determine his attitude about being ridden.  After all, if he views saddling as an uncomfortable process, he probably won't be happy about it.  To make sure your horse is as happy about rides as you are, approach gently and carefully, and be sure you have good technique.  Here's how.

Which Side Should You Saddle From?

By tradition, horses are handled from the left side, called the near side.  That's why you'll still see most people saddling, leading, and mounting on that side.  This is a tradition that dates back to the wearing of swords when riding.  Since right handed users usually wear their swords on the left, handling from the horse's left was the best way to keep weapons from getting in the way.

It's centuries later, but this tradition has hung on, resulting in most horses being used to left sided handling.  Many will be frightened or confused, if you handle them from the right, or off side.

Saddling

First, groom your horse.  It's a good idea to groom fully, but you should at least groom the area where the saddle sits.  Make sure this area has no sores, debris, or mud.  Check out the pad, saddle and cinches, too.  Straw, burrs, dirt, and other foreign objects will cause saddle sores or irritation that will make your horse unhappy.

Once you're sure the saddle pad is clean, place it gently on your horse's back, forward of his withers.  The saddle and pad are placed too far forward to start with, then slid backwards into place, so the hairs on your horse's back stay in the right direction.  Once the pad is in place, prepare the saddle.  Remember to secure all straps so they don't get in the way.  Making this a routine will keep everything tidy and make saddling easier.

Now, place the saddle.  Tall and strong people can usually just lift it, but shorter or weaker people may find lifting a heavy leather saddle to be fairly difficult.  Fortunately, there are some tricks that can help even the weakest and shortest.

To place the saddle, stand near your horse's shoulder, holding the saddle on your right hip.  Your right hand should be on the cantle's off side.  Your left hand should be on the near side of the saddle, at the base of the saddle fork.  Make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart, and your left foot is near the front hoof of your horse.  Your right foot should be slightly behind left.

Now, rock your body backwards and to the right three times to get some momentum.  As you come back from the last rock, turn toward the horse and swing the saddle up onto him, with your right arm on his back, like you're giving him a hug.  Adjust the pad and saddle by sliding them back.

If your saddle is correctly placed, there will be no more than three finger widths between the elbow and the front cinch.  Make sure to hold the horn and lift the pad up into the gullet of the saddle to prevent the pad from bunching.  The saddle should be centered on the pad.  Make sure no straps or strings are caught under the saddle, then connect the cinches, starting with the front cinch.