How to Tack and Mount Up to Ride a Horse
Are you getting ready for your first horseback riding experience? It’s going to be a lot of fun, but you can’t just jump on a horse’s back and ride off into the sunset. You will need to tack your horse and make sure that you know how to get on top of the horse properly. When you tack up a horse, you will need to start by fastening his halter to the cross ties before you do anything else. After all, you don’t want him to pin you to the back of the stable or corner you in any way. Once he is in properly, you will need to use the body brush and hoof pick to clean each foot and make sure that there are no pebbles in your horse’s hooves. After that is done, you will need to make sure he has no dirt on his body by grooming his sides with a brush. After that, you can put on the saddle blanket and saddle once all of the dirt has been removed. Even a few pieces of dirt can rub on the horse’s back and make it sore for him. Therefore, it is very important that you groom your horse to make sure that he is comfortable throughout your ride. If you are ready to put on the saddle, you will need to make sure your horse is still securely put on the crossties. Walk to your horse’s left-hand side and carefully place the saddle pad on his back so that the front of the pad is touching his withers or the spot directly between his neck and shoulders. You need to make sure the pad is even so it covers all parts of your saddle. You don’t want it to slide, either, because this can make the horse’s hair clump up uncomfortably. When you pick up the saddle, make sure that the stirrups can’t flop around uncontrollably. You will want to put the saddle on the horse’s back where there is a hollow spot in his withers. You will always want to be certain that the girth is on the horse securely. Be sure that the girth is not twisted and that you can pull it carefully to lock it into place. Don’t forget to adjust your stirrups to fit the person’s height that is about to ride the horse! Once the saddle is taken care of, you can put the bridle on your horse. Approach the horse with the bridle in hand and unbuckle the noseband and throatlatch. You will next need to unfasten the halter and put it around the horse’s neck before you bridle him. This will help to keep it in place. Life the reins over the horse’s head. Hold the bit in your left hand and the headstall in your right hand, while you are facing the same direction that the horse is facing. You can then put the headstall behind your horse’s ears. Press the bit into your horse’s mouth without hitting it against his teeth, which will hurt him. Finally, slide the headstall the rest of the way back so that the bit is fully in position. Buckle the noseband and throatlatch and unfasten the halter. Now you can finally mount your horse for a ride. Stand on his left facing his rear. Grab some of the mane and the reins in one hand and hold the stirrup with the right hand. Slide your left foot on the stirrup and move your right hand to his back. Push off with your right leg, swing around and there you are! Ready for your first horseback riding experience. More Articles on Horse Riding Training Tips and Guide: | 