I'm a longterm English rider, who is thinking of venturing into "western territory." I know nothing about Western saddles and tacking a horse up in one; t his video was very helpful, and employed much of the same principles we use in English riding. Thank you!
YES. Tenting the pad makes all the difference. PAY attention. Tent the darn pad, your horse will love you for it. Thanks, Rick!! Nice to see the right way, on you-tube.
We live in Australia and my daddy can not ride a horse. Now you have influenced him to be a cowboy. I am looking for a horse for me the=is weekend. Today is thursday the 30 June 2011. and we are seeing the horse saturday or sunday. THANK YOU. :)
I really enjoy your video's here and Think Like A Horse. It's surprising how many people will buy a horse and tack and "guess" how everything is put where. So, thank you for showing new horse owner's the proper way to saddle a western horse.
I've been riding for only two years. The first time I saw a light-weighted western saddle, was yesterday, which was fitted for an Egyptian-Arabian horse.
One note I would add is be careful when reaching under the horse's belly for the cinch. Be sure to stand at the shoulder as Rick does, or stand with your back toward the hind legs. If the horse is kicking at flies you could catch a hoof in the face. Good video Rick.
great video, agree with most of it, definitely stretching the horses legs out and making the lie of the hair comfortable, if your horse is comfortable so are you. I found throwing up the saddle onto the horses back quite amusing though. I always put my saddle on carefully so as not to thump it down onto the horses back and make them "cold backed", using my arm as a brace, putting the saddle on more forward and then drawing my arm out as I slide it back so it sits gently on the back. I definitely wouldn't shake it around that much, the horse didn't seem to appreciate it, and aside from ruffling up the hair we're so careful to lay flat, it settles into the right position when ridden in. Being careful and gentle is appreciated, and it's never made my girl spooky, she's probably the calmest animal I've owned in 30 years.
this video is one of the best I've seen.. Funny and informative, I'm more at ease now about saddling my horse., It's not rocket science right..Thank you
I do a lot of mountain riding.. the back cinch helps keep the saddle in place when riding up hills or down..it's not just for roping as some comments have made out to be. My front cinch doesn't have a buckle...it's all about the tightening & tie off... would have liked to see a little more of the tie off.I still have a problem getting it just right.Great video.. you can tell you care about your horse.
If you have a good horse and your horse has trust in you it doesn't matter what side you do it on. I know that I could go out right now and get on my horse from the left side if I wanted to because he doesn't care. I believe in always making sure horses are okay with everything on both sides. Usually if they are okay with it on one side, the other is a completely different story. Its like having two different horses.
Just make me remember an accident that happen to my dad. Was saddling his horse and always let loose the front cinch and adjust it till the end when all the others were ready. One time he got distracted and forgot to adjust it and... well, was between funny and scary see him turn over. Lucky for him, he only hurts his honor and explain me why the accident occurred.
@mattybock I am replying to an old comment of yours. the correct reason for using a double rigged saddle is because of roping cattle. they stay put better than single cinches. if a saddle is equipped for 2 cinches, use both of them because the saddle is designed that way and sits improperly if using only 1 cinch.
Haha, I was laughing so hard when he just took of his hat, and "hit" the horse.. xD Such a great horse guy! I wish I could be one of his horses.. :)) ♥
@exabrial yeah.. thanks for the tip, though. I never knew that they kick in an arc or straight... hmm... interesting. my friend got right inbetween to horses that hated eachother, (BAD mistake!) and the hot-headed pony lashed out w/ no warning! sorry, just thought I'd ad that little tidbit. Anyways... So, how was your day? XD
you don't have to have a back cinch. it depends on what kind of riding your doing. if you are doing just simple trail riding thr really is no need for it. hope this helps :)
I’ve always been very particular how I saddle my horses,we spend a lot of time leading a pack string,nobody saddles my horse or uses my saddle in 35+yrs never had a horse sore up from the way I saddle up,I never use those little cordura or whatever there called saddles,I’ve ride a custom made “slick fork”post horn saddle by Lou strieffel ,everybody thought I was crazy ,$3500 for a saddle never regretted it neither have the all the horses that’s been under it
Carefull! Try not to walk right behind the the horses hindquarters! I don't mean to be a bother, just I had a bad experience with a horse kicking my best friend in the stomach cause she got too close to the back legs... and aren't cinches and girths the same? because i do both riding western and english, and sometimes i get confused with all the different terms.
Wow..You got tired just of getting up.. Leave a horse on a green grass and stretch out YOUR legs walking a couple of miles a day..it will help your physical fitness..
