HOW TO TACK UP AND UNTACK
Before tacking up, make sure you are in a safe area and that your horse is securely tied to string or something that will break easily if needed.
HOW TO PUT THE SADDLE ON
Attach the numnah to the saddle
Put the saddle on the horse a little too far forward, then slide backwards so the hair lies flat underneath. Push it back until, when you run your hand straight down from the girth strap closest to the horse’s head, your hand draws a line that lies about a hand’s span behind the elbow.
Straighten and flatten the numnah, lifting it right into the front arch.
Pull the girth down so it hangs down or attach it now, if you haven’t already. Make sure you attach the girth on the strap nearest the front of the saddle, as often this is attached to the tree on a different piece of webbing from the other straps.This makes it safer.
Walk around the front of the horse.
Straighten and flatten the numnah, checking it is still in the front arch.
Bend down and carefully lift up the girth. Attach it gently by doing the strap nearest the front of the saddle first.
The girth should be on girth strap 1 and 2 or 3 so they are attached on different webbing to the tree.
You should be able to easily slide your hand between the girth and the horse’s side, but it should be tight enough so the saddle will not slip. Again, check the numnah is up in the front arch, so not rubbing your horses wither.
HOW TO PUT THE BRIDLE ON
Put the reins over your horse’s neck.
Undo the knot in the rope if your horse is tied up, and put the headcollar around your horse’s neck, this is so that if he pulls back, the headcollar does not tighten around his throat or pull off over his face, scaring him, but you still have control.
Stand on the left hand side of your horse, put your right hand under your horse’s head and rest your hand on his face.
Put your bridle in your right hand and adjust it until the bit hangs down just by your horse’s mouth.
Put your left hand on the bit and slide your finger in the corner of his mouth on the right side.
Wriggle your finger around until your horse opens his mouth. Then simultaneously slide your right hand up and push the bit in his mouth gently with your left hand.
Put the headpiece over your horse’s ears. Check the browband is straight and is 2 fingers below his ears and there is a 2 fingers gap between his browband and brow.
In general, you do up the throat lash first, then do up the straps in order from the throat down towards the chin.
Do up the throatlash so there is 4 fingers gap between his face and the strap
Check the noseband is straight and, if it is a plain cavesson noseband, do it up around the nose under the cheek pieces. It should lie 2 fingers below the projecting cheek bone, and 2 fingers can easily slide between the noseband and your horse’s nose.
Put all the keepers in place. These are the little leather loops that prevent the ends of the straps from sticking out.
Put the headcollar back on over the bride. If you are leaving him tied up, you will also need to twist the reins up into the throatlash so that he does not get his foot caught in them.
HOW TO UNTACK
HOW TO TAKE THE SADDLE OFF
Roll up the stirrups on both sides of the saddle so they do not hang down banging the horse’s side. This means holding the stirrup leather at the bottom and sliding the stirrup up the back of the strap until the stirrup is at the top. Lastly, put the stirrup leather through the stirrup iron.
Stand at the side of the horse. Undo the girth and carefully let it go, do not just drop it so it bashes the horse’s.
Quickly move to the other side of your horse by going around by his head.
Put the girth over the saddle, undoing it if you want.
Lift the saddle carefully off, making sure you do not just pull it over his back as this can hurt the wither.
Gently massage the area under the saddle.
HOW TO TAKE THE BRIDLE OFF
Place the reins over the horse’s head so they are on the horse’s neck.
Put the headcollar on around the neck but do not tie him up.
Undo the straps, starting from the chin up to the throatlash.
Gently lift the bridle over the ears and let the horse drop the bit out, never pull the bridle, as the bit can hit his teeth which can be painful.
Put the bridle over your shoulder or arm and put the headcollar on properly.
Take the reins over the horse’s head then tie your horse up in a safe area.
Final Thoughts
It is important that your horse is happy with all stages of the tacking up and untacking process.
If he shows signs of discomfort there may be pain,so it is worth getting a professional to have a look.
Practice makes perfect though, and I always reward my horse’s with a treat, so they associate tack with reward.