How Do You Saddle For Western Riding?
• Standing on the horse’s left side, place the saddle pad on the horse’s back, on the withers (the bump of the horse’s shoulders), just forward of where it should be. Slide the pad back into the proper position so that the horse’s hair lays flat. • Make sure the stirrup and cinch are flipped up over the seat of the saddle before trying to place it on the horse. • Still standing on the left side, lift the saddle up and place it squarely on the horse’s back, making sure it’s centered. • Going around to the other side, pull down the cinch and stirrup. • From the left side again, hook the left stirrup over the horn, then reach under the horse’s belly and pull the cinch toward you. • Thread the latigo from the left side through the ring on the end of the cinch and D ring twice. • Pull tightly, then thread the latigo around the back of the D ring to the left, around front then back through. The end should then come through the middle of the D ring, and thread down behind the loop made (like
