1. Make sure your horse is safely tied.
2. Groom the horse completely.
3. Secure the saddle pad in place.
4. If using a Western saddle, lift it carefully onto the horse's back and secure the cinches slowly.
5. If using an English saddle, lift it slowly onto the horse's back and fasten the girth straps.
6. Lift the horse's legs to loosen any pinched or wrinkled skin.
7. Walk the horse to relax it.
8. Tighten the cinch/girth again to make sure it's secure.
9. Adjust stirrups to your height.

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• by Jenny Hudock

• Anyone who does it will tell you that one of the greatest things about horseback riding is the bond you form with your horse. That bond can be easily affected by discomfort brought on by improper saddling techniques. Whether you are riding for competition or show, or you're simply trotting through nature, taking the time and effort to perfect your saddling technique will ensure that you establish a good riding routine and relationship with your horse.

• Grooming is essential before saddling up. If even a small clump of mud or a bur were to get stuck under the saddle it could cause chaffing while riding. Buy a Horse 101: How to Saddle a Horse About.com: How to Saddle Your Horse Step-By-Step A horse who begins to associate saddling with discomfort could become agitated and make the process more difficult.

1. Secure the horse with a halter and lead rope. Slideshare: Saddling A Horse
2. Begin on the left side ("near side") of the horse. University of Arkansas: Saddling the Horse(109KB)
3. First brush the neck, and then move on to the back and cinch areas. University of Arkansas: Saddling the Horse(109KB)
4. Brush the hindquarters and legs. University of Arkansas: Saddling the Horse(109KB)
5. Repeat the same routine on right side. University of Arkansas: Saddling the Horse(109KB)
6. While brushing carefully check for any cuts or abrasions. Slideshare: Saddling A Horse
7. Make sure the horse is dry. Cowboyway.com: How to Saddle a Horse
8. Clean out the horse's hoofs with a hoof pick. Slideshare: Saddling A Horse

• It is important to make sure the entire saddle area is clean. If while cleaning you do discover sores on the horse you may want to reconsider riding until after they have healed.

• Once you're sure the horse is clean and free of any sores you'll want to return to the left side to saddle up. Western Saddle Guide: How to Saddle a Horse

1. Before getting started, inspect your equipment and make sure there are no burs that could get under the saddle and irritate the horse. Western Saddle Guide: How to Saddle a Horse
2. Place the saddle pad further up on the horse than it should be, around four to six inches. Cowboyway.com: How to Saddle a Horse Buy a Horse 101: How to Saddle a Horse There are two reasons for this:
   1. It will give everything a little room to move backward without ending up too far back. Cowboyway.com: How to Saddle a Horse
   2. The natural shift will smooth the horse's hairs rather than rub them the wrong way. Cowboyway.com: How to Saddle a Horse
3. Make sure the pad is even on both sides to keep from exposing and rubbing the horse's skin with the saddle. About.com: Saddle Your Horse Step-by-Step

1. Secure all of the saddle's straps before you begin saddling. Western Saddle Guide: How to Saddle a Horse
2. Hold the right side stirrup, breast collar and cinches in the saddle so they don't swing down and startle the horse. Front Range Frenzy: Saddling Your Horse
3. Use control to gently lift the saddle onto the horse's back. Avoid dropping it down too hard, which could cause secured straps to fall and spook the horse. Cowboyway.com: How to Saddle a Horse
   • This technique may not be as simple as it sounds since the Western saddle tends to be on the heavy side. Try the following technique if you find you have trouble lifting the saddle with ease.
   1. Stand with your feet shoulder's width apart, and prop the saddle up on your right hip. Western Saddle Guide: How to Saddle a Horse
   2. Hold your right hand near the cantle (back) and the left near the fork (front). Western Saddle Guide: How to Saddle a Horse Western Saddle Guide: Cantle Western Saddle Guide: Fork
   3. Rock your body to gather momentum, and on the third rock pivot so your navel faces the horse. Western Saddle Guide: How to Saddle a Horse
   4. Swing the saddle up over the horse's back. Western Saddle Guide: How to Saddle a Horse
4. Slide the saddle and pad into place. Western Saddle Guide: How to Saddle a Horse

• The cinch is connected to the rigging hardware and secures the saddle on the horse's back. Westerm Saddle Guide: Cinch Western Saddle Guide: Saddle Rigging hardware

1. Let the cinches down on the right side first. University of Arkansas: Saddling the Horse(109KB)
2. Start with the front cinch. Front Range Frenzy: Saddling Your Horse
3. Adjust the cinch ring so it is above the foreflank. University of Arkansas: Saddling the Horse(109KB)
4. Thread the latigo (or tie strap) through the cinch ring and dee-ring twice. Western Saddle Guide: Latigo Front Range Frenzy: Saddling Your Horse
5. Pull the latigo to tighten the cinch. University of Arkansas: Saddling the Horse(109KB)
6. Tie a cinch knot by:
   1. Crossing the loose end of the latigo over the end layers of the latigo. Western Saddle Guide: How to Tie a Western Cinch
   2. Pass it through the dee-ring. Western Saddle Guide: How to Tie a Western Cinch
   3. Bring the latigo end back down through the loop you created. Western Saddle Guide: How to Tie a Western Cinch
   • If done properly, this is very similar to tying a necktie. Western Saddle Guide: How to Tie a Western Cinch
7. Tighten the cinch slowly around the horse's belly, but not so tight as to rub or cut off circulation. Front Range Frenzy: Saddling Your Horse
8. Secure the rear cinch. University of Arkansas: Saddling the Horse(109KB)
9. Make sure the front cinch and rear cinch are connected by connector strap. University of Arkansas: Saddling the Horse(109KB)
10. If you are using a breastplate, attach it to both sides of the saddle skirt. eHow: How to Saddle a Horse

• After you have everything in place, you'll want to take a moment to slowly lift and stretch the horse's legs. This process will help to stretch out any wrinkles in the skin that could be caught in the cinch and cause irritation and discomfort. Western Saddle Guide: How to Tie a Western Cinch

• The English saddle is used throughout the world for all styles of English riding. They are specifically designed to be much lighter so they don't interfere with the horse's freedom to move quickly. Wikipedia: English saddle

1. You will want to start on the left ("near") side.
2. Begin by placing a saddle pad or pommel pad three to four inches ahead of where you want the saddle and pad to rest while riding. University of Arkansas: Saddling the Horse(109KB)
3. To avoid trouble later, run the stirrup irons up the stirrup leathers. WikiHow: How to Put on an English Saddle Properly
4. Remove the girth completely, or you can lay it over the seat to make sure it doesn't get in the way. Wikipedia: English saddle Buy a Horse 101: How to Saddle a Horse
5. Gently lower the saddle onto the horse's back so the front rests near the upper-rear edge of the horse's shoulder blades. University of Arkansas: Saddling the Horse(109KB)
6. Make sure the pad is properly lined up around the edges of the saddle. WikiHow: How to Put on an English Saddle Properly
7. Slide the saddle back so it rests behind the horse's shoulder blades WikiHow: How to Put on an English Saddle Properly
8. Walk around to the right ("off") side of the horse, and bring the girth down. University of Arkansas: Saddling the Horse(109KB)
9. Attach the straps and then return to the left side and fasten the straps so they are secure. WikiHow: How to Put on an English Saddle Properly
10. Your hand should fit snugly between the secured girth and the horse's belly. WikiHow: How to Put on an English Saddle Properly
11. Check the gullet to make sure it's not putting pressure on the withers. Wikipedia: English Saddle NASD: Saddling and Bridling a Horse Safely Wikipedia: Withers
12. Lift and stretch the horse's legs to make sure there is no pinched skin. NASD: Saddling and Bridling a Horse Safely

• Horseback riding is a great way to bond with horses, but if you don't go about the saddling process properly you could not only cause the horse pain, but ruin it for riding altogether. The horse's sensitive nature requires extra care and a willingness to make sure the horse feels comfortable at all times. Be sure to exercise caution when working with horses to avoid personal injury.