| Preparing your horse for riding, well there aren't | | | | present the saddle to your horse let him smell it |
| really in set guidelines to starting a young colt or | | | | see it etc... make sure the lead rope is in the cuff |
| filly. Every horse has an individual personality so | | | | of your left arm saddle in the right. Now place the |
| you need to prepare yourself to work in that | | | | saddle gently on your horse in one swift move. |
| mind set. As a horseman you need to fit that | | | | Then retreat (take it off). Place the saddle on |
| particular horse to the situation and the | | | | again then retreat. Stop for a minute and rub |
| circumstances. Remember those circumstances | | | | your horse to let him know every thing is okay. |
| can change on a daily basis with a young horse. I'll | | | | If your horse is moving then move or yield his |
| try to explain to you briefly how to prepare your | | | | hindquarters until he stands still. Once he's relaxed |
| horse for its first ride. These are some things | | | | then place the saddle on again. |
| that I do that work for me. Everyone has their | | | | 3. Walk around to the right side of you horse and |
| own method. | | | | let the cinches down gently. Now walk back on |
| 1. Introduce your saddle pad to your horse. Make | | | | the left side of your horse gently without being |
| sure you do these things in a round pen with a | | | | timid swiftly reach with your left hand and grab |
| halter and lead rope on. Offer the pad to your | | | | the cinch, don't bend down looking for it unless |
| horse let him smell it. And look at it, get familiar | | | | you wanna bad migraine. Now gently take your |
| with it. Then gently rub him all over with it. Rub it | | | | latigo and smoothly cinch your horse up in one |
| on his neck and back and on his over his | | | | swift gentle motion not too tight, but enough |
| hindquarters. Make sure you do this on both sides. | | | | where the saddle wont fall off and roll under your |
| What you do on one side of your horse you | | | | horses belly (a disaster waiting to happen). If you |
| must do it on the other. Next after you feel your | | | | have a back cinch, gently cinch that up as well not |
| horse is comfortable begin to fling the pad on his | | | | too tight, but enough that he won't get a hind leg |
| back in a calm gentle steady rhythm, approach | | | | caught in it the main function of the back cinch is |
| and retreat. When he is relaxed with this then lay | | | | to keep the saddle from moving up and down in |
| the pad on his back and let him feel it I even walk | | | | the back. Remember to take your time and read |
| him around with it a couple of steps then take it | | | | your horse while doing this for any signs of |
| off rub him then put is back on. I do this a few | | | | hesitation. |
| times. This make take some time so don't rush | | | | 4. Stand next to your horse after he's saddle and |
| anything, be patient with your horse you don't | | | | let him soak in what happening, don't be in a rush |
| want to wreck what you have already | | | | to move just yet let him get used to the weight |
| accomplished on the ground. | | | | of the saddle. Once you feel he's relaxed lead him |
| 2. Now it's time to introduce the saddle. Make | | | | a few steps then stop. If he starts to buck |
| sure your saddle is set up cinches tied up | | | | quickly step out of the way and let him buck. Let |
| correctly so they don't fall and spook your horse. | | | | him figure things out, when he's stopped bucking |
| You want to make this an easy pleasurable | | | | gently walk over to him and rub him to let him |
| experience for your horse. Again like with the pad | | | | know everything's okay. |