Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Saddle & Bridle Horses

Horseback riding is a recreational sport that thousands of Americans enjoy. Although going for a ride can be relaxing and fun, you must make sure the horse is properly saddled and bridled before riding.

Things You'll Need

  • Saddle
  • Saddle pad or blanket
  • Bit and bridle
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Instructions

  1. Bridling a horse

    • 1

      Place your right arm between the horse's ears. This will coax the horse into lowering its head and puts your hand in a good place to lift and guide the bridle. Hold the crown of the bridle in your right hand.

    • 2

      Place the bit at the horse's lips, using your left hand. Move the curb strap behind its chin to ensure it won't accidentally slip into the horse's mouth.

    • 3

      Encourage the horse to open its mouth by sliding your thumb into its interdental space. The interdental space is an area on both the upper and lower jaw of the horse where there are no teeth, between the front and back teeth.

    • 4

      Raise your right hand back toward the horse's ears to lift the bit inside and past the incisor teeth. Guide the bit with your left hand to make sure the curb strap stays behind the chin. Be careful not to bump the horse's teeth with the bit as it enters its mouth.

    • 5

      Slide the crown of the bridle over the horse's ears by folding the horse's ears straight forward or straight back.

    • 6

      Straighten and neaten the forelock. Buckle the throatlatch after checking your work and making sure the bit and bridle are properly in place.

    Saddling a horse

    • 7

      Clean and dry your horse.

    • 8

      Place the saddle pad or blanket on the horse slightly farther forward than where you want it to be when finished saddling. This allows room for the pad and saddle to slide back naturally during saddling.

    • 9

      Move the front cinch, back cinch, breast collar and stirrup out of the way to ensure they don't end up underneath the saddle when you place it on the horse.

    • 10

      Stand on the left side of the horse and gently place the saddle on its back.

    • 11

      Move to the horse's opposite side and gently lower the cinches, breast collar and stirrups so they hang down neatly.

    • 12

      Return to the left side of the horse and use the front cinch to snug the saddle onto the horse. Lace the latigo through the front cinch ring and then bring the latigo back up and down through the D-ring on the saddle's front rigging. Take the latigo back through the front cinch ring. Pull the tail of the latigo to snug it to the horse.

    • 13

      Buckle the back cinch and the breast collar. The back cinch should be close to the horse's belly so it doesn't get caught on brush or branches.