Dan Wall and Dave Freeman
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
This
leaflet provides information that will help riders of all
ages practice safe horse handling when preparing to ride.
Knowing the safety precautions to follow while saddling, bridling,
and mounting will help ensure an enjoyable experience for
both horse and rider. Preparing to ride is just like all other
horse-related activities--it should be supervised by an experienced
rider.
Western
Tack
Step
1: Prepare the Horse
Every horse, young and old, should be restrained in a safe area before saddling. The area should be free from obstructions and have secure, non-slip footing. Standing tied to a secure object or being held by a handler will limit the horse's movement and make the saddling process safer. Nervous or confined horses may need to be exercised using a lunge line prior to saddling to burn off excess energy. The horse's back and girth areas should be well groomed to be certain they are clean and that the hair lies flat.
Step
2: Check the Saddle and Pad
When preparing
to saddle the horse, always check your equipment to make sure
everything is in good working order. Check the saddle pad and
girth for buildup of dirt or foreign objects because a burr
under the saddle pad can cause a horse to buck.
Step
3: Blanketing and Saddling
Approach
the horse's left shoulder while carrying the pad or blanket,
making sure not to drag it. Allow younger and unfamiliar horses
to smell the blanket until they stand quietly before placing
it into position. Place the edge of the blanket on the horse's
back just in front of the withers.
Hook
the right stirrup over the saddle horn and lay the cinches
back over the seat of the saddle. Never approach your horse
carrying a saddle with the cinches dragging around your feet.
There is the danger of stepping or tripping on the rigging
and falling under the horse.
Raise
the saddle up over the horse's back and place it into position
or swing the saddle into position as gently as possible. Having
the rigging secured over the seat and horn prevents it from
"banging" the horse's knee, shoulder, and ribs as the saddle
is put into position. Dropping the saddle or throwing it onto
a horse's back may scare or hurt the horse. A horse that has
had a bad experience while being saddled will generally flinch
or shy sideways as you approach with the saddle.
Never
slide the saddle and pad forward on a horse's back because
this will likely pull and bind the horse's hair and could
cause a sore back. If the saddle needs to be moved forward,
the saddle and pad must be lifted off the horse's back before
sliding them forward. If you are not tall enough or strong
enough to do this, remove the saddle and pad and start over.
Step
4: Cinching the Saddle and Equipment
Once the
saddle and pad are in place, move to the opposite side of the
horse to let the stirrup and girths down. While on the off side,
check the girth and back cinch for any necessary adjustments.
Before
tightening the cinch, place your left hand under the neck
of the blanket or pad and lift up under the gullet. This helps
keep pressure off of the horse's withers and helps keep the
horse's back dry by allowing a small amount of air under the
pad.
When
using a western, double-rigged saddle (one which has both
a front and back cinch), always tighten the front cinch first
to keep the saddle in place in case the horse moves.
Hook
the left stirrup over the saddle horn until you have finished
and are ready to mount. Reach under with the right hand to
catch the girth. This helps to keep your head away from the
horse's hind legs. Before cinching, pull the girth up against
the horse to see if he is going to object to the pressure.
If the horse objects, check your equipment and ask for help
from an experienced rider.
Tighten
the cinch slowly and smoothly to allow the horse's senses
to accommodate the pressure. The cinch should be firm enough
to hold the saddle in place while you finish saddling the
horse.
Again,
reach under with the right hand to grasp the back cinch. If
the horse is a known kicker or is nervous and moving around,
have a friend hand you the cinch under the horse's belly from
the off side. Under most riding situations, the back cinch
should not contact the horse's body when air is inhaled, but
should be tight enough so there is no chance the horse could
get a hind foot caught in it. Allow just enough room to slide
a hand under the cinch when buckled.
The
back cinch must be connected to the front cinch to prevent
it from sliding back into the horse's flank. The safety strap
should be adjustable to fit different horses. If the back
cinch is not connected, remove it before riding.
After
the cinch is tightened, fasten accessory equipment, such as
a breast collar, martingale, or tie-down.
Check
the front cinch before mounting. The cinch can be tightened
after the horse has relaxed. The cinch should fit tightly
around the horse; however, you should be able to slide your
hand behind the buckle without much difficulty. Secure the
tail of the cinch strap through the keeper or back through
the ring. If the tail is so long that it moves around as you
ride, take another wrap through the cinch and fasten the girth.
Nothing
is more dangerous than having a saddle turn while a rider
is in the saddle. Therefore, always check the cinch adjustment
after riding a short distance and tighten as the need arises.
English
Tack
With only
a few differences, you can follow the western safety precautions
when saddling with English tack.
Before
approaching the horse, lay the girth over the seat and run
both stirrups all the way up the stirrup leathers.
When
using a martingale, thread the girth through the martingale
loop before the girth is fastened. Attach the off-side billets
first. Next, the girth is pulled up and attached to the near
side billets.
Before
tightening the girth, smooth out any skin that may have wrinkled
under the girth. Always check the girth adjustment before
mounting and after riding a short distance.
Adjust
the stirrup leathers to the proper length and run the stirrups
up again until you are ready to mount.
Bridling
a horse should only take a few seconds. But, within this short
time, there are a number of safety precautions that every rider
should follow.
Step
1: Check the Bridle
Before bridling,
make sure the headstall is properly adjusted and correctly attached
to the bit. The curb chain should be behind the bit. When using
a snaffle bit, the reins should always be attached above and
behind the safety strap that connects the rings.
Step
2: Prepare the Horse
Bridling
a horse safely always begins with the same step--untying the
horse before removing the halter. Leaving a horse tied while
removing the halter and fastening the crown piece around the
horse's neck creates a dangerous situation for both horse and
handler. Having a tied horse 'spook' and set back with the crown
piece around his neck could cause injury to the animal or catch
the handler's hand under the halter.
Once
untied, undo the halter and slip the noseband off the horse's
nose. Always refasten the crown piece of the halter around
the horse's neck. It's not uncommon to see experienced riders
drop the halter and allow their horse to stand unattached
while bridling. Even though many horses will stand quietly,
this habit can eventually lead to problems. Experienced riders
never leave a horse loose because even the most gentle, well-behaved
horses can be startled and can run away.
Step
3: Bridling
To safely
bridle a horse, stand close to the horse's left side near the
throatlatch. Maintain contact with the lead rope by draping
it over your right arm or shoulder. Loop the bridle reins over
your left arm to keep them out of the dirt and out from under
the horse's feet. Hold the crown of the headstall with your
right hand and spread it with your fingers. If you are tall
enough, reach over the horse's head with your right hand. If
not, hold the crown piece in front of the horse's face, allowing
the headstall to hang downward with the bit just below the horse's
muzzle. Be careful not to rub the headstall over the horse's
eyes. The left hand should be open and flat while holding the
mouthpiece. Use your little finger to hold the curb strap away
from and behind the bit. A well-trained horse will often open
its mouth and accept the bit. If the horse refuses the bit,
press your left thumb on the bar space behind the horse's incisors
to encourage the horse to open its mouth.
Insert
the bit and lift the bridle upward, making sure the bit is
over the tongue. Move the crown piece over the ears individually
by gently bending them forward. Knocking the front teeth with
the bit, dragging the cheek pieces over the eyes, or handling
the ears and head aggressively will cause a horse to be "head
shy" or to refuse the bit by lifting or tossing his head.
Once the headstall is in place, fasten the throatlatch.
Step
4: Adjust the Bridle
Before riding,
always make sure the bridle is properly adjusted to fit each
individual horse. There are four places to check for proper
bridle adjustment: bit placement, curb strap, throatlatch, and
ear piece or browband. Most horse handlers want the bit high
enough to create a slight wrinkle in the corners of the mouth.
The curb strap should be loose enough that two fingers can easily
slide between the strap and the horse's chin. The throatlatch
piece should be just loose enough to allow room for bending
and flexing. The ear pieces or browband should rest comfortably
around the ears and above the eyes.
Once
the horse is properly bridled, undo the halter from around
the horse's neck. It is a good idea to refasten the crown
piece and put the halter and lead in a place so that they
will be handy when you are ready to unsaddle.
Once
the horse is saddled and bridled, you are probably anxious to
jump into the saddle and ride. However, now is not the time
to throw caution to the wind. When mounted incorrectly, even
the most gentle, well-broke horse can be dangerous.
There
is more than one way to correctly mount a horse. However,
several safety precautions are common to them all--a safe
location, a horse that stands quietly, and a confident and
relaxed rider.
Step
1: Select a Safe Location
Lead your
horse away from buildings, fences, and trees before mounting.
Be cautious of objects, people, or other horses that may cause
your horse to "spook." Never try to mount a horse that is standing
on a slick surface, under low hanging objects, or in areas of
heavy traffic (animal or vehicular).
It is
always a good idea to check your tack and equipment again
before mounting. Make sure that the girth is secure and the
stirrups are properly adjusted.
It is
customary to mount from the near (left) side. However, all
horses should become accustomed to being mounted from either
side.
Step
2: Restrain the Horse
Train your
horse to stand quietly while you mount. You may wish to restrain
the horse's forward movement by tightening the reins until light
contact is made in the horse's mouth. With younger horses or
horses with which you are unfamiliar, you may need a handler
to restrain the horse's movement. If a handler is not present,
shorten the left rein and bend the horse's head and neck back
toward you to limit forward movement.
Step
3: Mounting
When mounting
from the near side, hold the reins in your left hand while gripping
the horse's mane just in front of the saddle. This helps to
calm the horse and provide the rider more control while mounting.
Stand facing the side or rear of the horse and place your left
foot securely in the stirrup. You may need to twist the stirrup
with your right hand for easier access. Reach up with your right
hand and grip the saddle horn while turning your body to face
the horse's shoulder. Take one op on your right foot for momentum
and stand up in the stirrup, keeping your weight in close to
the horse and over the midline. Be careful not to dig your toe
into the horse's ribs. Raise your right foot and swing your
leg over and clear of the horse's rump. Place your right foot
into the stirrup before settling into the saddle. Sit down quietly
and smoothly. Dropping down into a saddle while "fishing" for
the right stirrup can startle a horse into jumping sideways
or bucking.
Before
dismounting, find a suitable location. Your horse needs to stand
quietly until you are completely dismounted. Hold the reins
in your left hand with light contact on the bit. Rest your hand
on the horse's neck just in front of the saddle. Hold the saddle
horn with your right hand. Stand up in the saddle and remove
your right foot from the stirrup. Swing your right leg over
staying clear of the horse's rump. If capable, step down before
you remove your left foot from the stirrup. however, if height
is a problem, remove your left foot and gently slide or jump
down. When this method is used, it is safer to have a handler
present.
There
are several important safety steps to follow immediately after
dismounting. English riders should "run up" both stirrups.
Dangling irons may startle or annoy the horse. Also, a horse
may catch the bit or a hind leg in a stirrup when shooing
a fly. Closed reins and romals should be brought forward over
the horse's head. Split reins should be brought down from
around the horse's neck before leading. Tie-downs, martingales,
and other accessories should be disconnected before leading
o haltering and tying.
To
unbridle a horse, reverse the bridling procedure. This sounds
easy enough, but even experienced riders often take risky short
cuts. Again, stand close to the horse's left side. Loop the
reins over your left arm and fasten the halter around the horse's
neck. Unfasten the throatlatch before removing the headstall.
Using your right hand, gently slip the headstall over the horse's
ears. You may wish to pass the headstall to your left hand before
lowering the bridle. Lower the bridle slowly, allowing the horse
to push the bit out of his mouth. Never jerk or pull the bit
from a horse's mouth. If you hurt the horse's mouth, he will
associate the pain with the bit and will likely be more difficult
to handle the next time you plan to ride.
To
correctly unsaddle a horse, simply reverse the saddling procedure.
Always
unfasten any accessory equipment (such as breast collars,
martingales, and tie-downs) before loosening the cinches.
Hook the left stirrup over the saddle horn. Next, unfasten
the back cinch before loosening the front cinch. If for some
reason your horse is spooked or gets loose, the front cinch
will keep the saddle safely in place.
- Never
take even the most simple safety precautions for granted
when preparing to ride.
- When
learning to saddle, bridle, and mount a horse, always ask
an experienced rider for assistance.
- Know
your abilities and limitations. Don't be afraid to ask for
help.
- Paying
close attention to your horse and surroundings and using
good judgment when preparing to ride will help provide a
safer and more enjoyable experience.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
For
more information about agricultural safety and health, contact:
Project Director, Oklahoma Agricultural Health Promotion System,
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, 226 Agricultural
Hall, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, 405-744-5427;
or The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, 800-35-NIOSH
(800-356-4674).
Extension
Equine Assistant, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service,
Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma
State University; Extension Equine Specialist, Oklahoma Cooperative
Extension Service, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural
Resources, Oklahoma State University.
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