In this video you will learn how to “tack up” a horse. We go over the steps for tacking up with a bareback pad, dressage saddle, and hunt seat saddle.
Depending on the tack you are using you will either be saddling up the horse with a saddle or a bareback pad.
We will go over the bareback pad first.
Make sure there is a saddle pad underneath the bareback pad. Place both on the horse’s back, with the girth going behind the horse’s front legs. Reaching under the horse pet the area where the girth will be going to be sure there is no dirt or dried sweat left there. This also prepares the horse for the girth going on. Grab the girth and bring it over to the left side. Do not make it as tight as you can make it, just tight enough that you don’t see daylight between the horse and the girth. The instructor will do a girth check prior to the rider getting on.
The steps for saddling are similar. Place the saddle pad on the horse, further up on their neck and then sliding it back. You will know it is in the right place because the straps at the bottom of the pad will be where the girth goes, right behind the horse’s front legs. Once the saddle pad is in place, gently lift the saddle up and put it on the horse. For a dressage saddle will put the billets through the saddle pad and then attach the girth and attach it fairly low on the billet. Walk to the other side of the horse by either walking in front of the horse, or going behind them placing your hand on their hind end. Once on the other side, make sure the billets are through the saddle pad and then reach under and pet the area where the girth will go. Make the girth just tight enough you do not see daylight between the horse and the girth. The instructor will tighten it before the rider gets on.
To put on a hunt seat saddle, you will follow the same steps of putting the saddle pad on the horse. With this saddle you will put the girth through the saddle pad and attach it to the lowest hole on the billet. Walk to the other side of the horse by either walking in front of the horse, or going behind them placing your hand on their hind end. Once on the other side, reach under and pet the area where the girth will go. Grab the girth and bring it through the saddle pad. Make the girth just tight enough you do not see daylight between the horse and the girth. The instructor will tighten it before the rider gets on.
To untack the horse you will remove the girth on one side and then the other. Lift both the saddle and the pad off the horse at the same time. We do not want to leave the saddle or the saddle pad unattended on the horse, as they could shake and have it fall off. This could damage the equipment and scare the horse.