Do you know the proper method for saddling a horse? Doing it correctly is probably the most important part of any ride. Think about it. Tacking a horse the wrong way not only influences your technique but it can also be dangerous for both you and your horse. Here is a breakdown of the safest technique for saddling your horse western tack style.

First tie up your horse and give it a good groom. You’ll want to do this so there won’t going to be any irritation on its back. Get the saddle blanket and set it high on the horse’s whithers. Make sure the blanket should is facing the right direction and that it is even on both sides.

Next, pick the saddle up and set it on top of the saddle blanket. One side of the girth should already be fastened to the other side of the saddle. Now, from the opposite side of the saddle, pull the girth underneath the horse towards you and then run the latigo strap through. The rough side should be facing you. Take the strap and shove it through the metal ring it is attached to. Do this until it is secure enough that the saddle will not fall. It mostly depends on your weight as well as the size of the horse. From the side that the metal ring is on, take the strap and again push it back down into the strap circle and tighten.

Don’t forget to take the length of your horse’s back into consideration. As you would imagine, horses come in many different sizes. Some have shorter backs, while others are longer. A horse with a shorter back typically has difficulty a Western saddle that has a larger skit. It requires a more rounded skirt as to avoid rubbing on the hipbones of the horse and can cause sores on its hindquarters.

It is important that you alter the bridal for the proper fit. You’ll want the bit to sit evenly at the corner of the mouth. Usually chin straps sit in chin groove of the horse, however make sure it is loose enough so that you can fit a finger or two between the strap and the chin. There are two smaller metal rings located on either side of the front of your saddle. Connect these two straps to both of the metal loops. The bottom strap fastens to the loop on the girth.

The Western tack seat should not be too small. If it is, it can restrict your movement with the horse as well as rub and make you sore. When the saddle seat is too big, you can slip and lose control of your movements. Ideally, your movements should be together with the movements of your horse and for that to happen the saddle needs to fit your seat correctly. Following this system of fitting both horse and rider, you should get a custom fit for both you and your horse.