How to put a saddle on a horse! 3-7-2013

   Today i decided to research something you should know before riding!
                                 How to put on a English saddle!

Step #1:
Clean your horse. There is a possibility dirt and or loose hair can chafe your horse!

Step #2:
Run up the stirrup irons on the stirrup leathers so they do not get in the way.

Step #3: 
Detach the girth and set it aside, or fold it over to the top of your saddle, leaving it done up on the right-hand (off) side.

Step #4:
Make sure the pad is lined up with the edges of your saddle.

Step #5:
Stand by the left-hand (near) side of the horse and place the saddle and pad on the horses back with the pommel of the saddle just in front of the horse's withers.

Step #6:
Slide the saddle back (the direction of the hair) until it settles into place. The arch of the pommel should be directly over the highest point of the horse's withers. The Saddle will be in place when its behind the shoulder blades.

Step #7:
Attach the girth to the girth straps on the off side (the right side) then bring it up to the near side (the left side). As a nice tip The girth should come under the horse just behind its front legs. If you can see a gap between the elbow and girth the saddle is too far back.

Step #8:
Fasten the girth securely as a good piece of advice you should be able to fit your hand between the girth and horse but needs to be fit.

Step #9:
Drop the stirrups before you mount the horse.

Step #10:
Before you get on top of the horse (recheck your girth to see if it needs to get up another hole).

Here are some pictures to help with some of the vocab.

I hope you also learned how to put on a saddle like i just did!