I would not venture to suggest that there's the standard formula to preparing a pony for riding. Every horse is an individual in its own right, and you've got to work with each horse according to its nature. You must also take into account regular changes in the prevailing circumstances. Sometimes, circumstances can change each day for a young horse.
Here are some steps which will help you ease your horse into its first ride. While these are steps that have worked regularly for me, I should remind you that each pony has his or her own quirks, and so you might need to do some tweaking here and there.
Step 1: Let your horse get familiar with a saddle pad. Be sure to do this in a circular pen once you've your horse on a halter and a lead rope. Introduce the pad casually to your horse. Let him poke and smell it. The idea's to get him acquainted with it. Rub him gently all over his body with the pad, especially on the neck, the back and the hindquarters. Be certain to cover either side of the pony with the same motions. Don't go to the next step till you have the distinct impression your horse is ok with the pad. Lay the pad on his back gently without any sudden motions and retreat. After a bit remove the pad. Lay it on your pony again. Take it off, keep repeating. When you are reasonably sure your horse is comparatively used to the pad, walk him around a bit with the pad on. Take the pad off and rub him down a bit, before putting the pad back on. Be exceedingly patient, and repeat this as many times as necessary till you are feeling your horse has become pretty much unexcited by the pad. Remember, haste at absolutely any stage may destroy everything you have attained until then.
Step 2: You are ready to bring on the saddle now. Get your horse used to it just like you did with the pad: never hurrying, always persist. Use your right hand to hold the saddle, with the lead rope in the left hand. Once you are positive the saddle causes no further apprehension in your horse, it's saddling time. With a swift but gentle motion, get the saddle onto your horse's back. Take it off and retreat. Do this numerous times, with a rub down or two to keep your pony calm. When you believe that it is time, put on the saddle with the intention of cinching it. If your pony is in motion, yield the hindquarters to bring him to stillness. Be sure to knot the cinches tight so they don't drop and spook him.
Step 3: Get round to your horse's right. Let the cinches down easily. Get back to your horse's left, Now with total confidence walk back on the left hand side of your pony and take hold of the cinch with your left hand without looking down. In easy motions, take hold of the latigo and tighten up the cinches. Don't make them too tight, but just about enough so that the saddle will not roll around to the bottom of the horse's torso. That would possibly be tragic. If there's another back cinch, tighten that too, again, not excessively tight, but enough to guarantee the horse won't snag his rear leg. Routinely a back cinch functions to prevent jumping of the saddle. Never forget: keep your cool, and more important, make sure the pony keeps his cool. Back off briefly at the slightest sign your pony is getting upset.
Step 4: Once you have saddled and cinched the pony, stand loosely next to him and let him acclimatize to the saddle. Don't be in a hurry to move him or yourself. When you consider that he's relaxed satisfactorily, walk him a little bit, then come to a halt. If he starts bucking let him, just get out of the way. When he has the kinks worked out, go back to him and give him a rub to ease him.
You have just saddle-broken your pony.
Here are some steps which will help you ease your horse into its first ride. While these are steps that have worked regularly for me, I should remind you that each pony has his or her own quirks, and so you might need to do some tweaking here and there.
Step 1: Let your horse get familiar with a saddle pad. Be sure to do this in a circular pen once you've your horse on a halter and a lead rope. Introduce the pad casually to your horse. Let him poke and smell it. The idea's to get him acquainted with it. Rub him gently all over his body with the pad, especially on the neck, the back and the hindquarters. Be certain to cover either side of the pony with the same motions. Don't go to the next step till you have the distinct impression your horse is ok with the pad. Lay the pad on his back gently without any sudden motions and retreat. After a bit remove the pad. Lay it on your pony again. Take it off, keep repeating. When you are reasonably sure your horse is comparatively used to the pad, walk him around a bit with the pad on. Take the pad off and rub him down a bit, before putting the pad back on. Be exceedingly patient, and repeat this as many times as necessary till you are feeling your horse has become pretty much unexcited by the pad. Remember, haste at absolutely any stage may destroy everything you have attained until then.
Step 2: You are ready to bring on the saddle now. Get your horse used to it just like you did with the pad: never hurrying, always persist. Use your right hand to hold the saddle, with the lead rope in the left hand. Once you are positive the saddle causes no further apprehension in your horse, it's saddling time. With a swift but gentle motion, get the saddle onto your horse's back. Take it off and retreat. Do this numerous times, with a rub down or two to keep your pony calm. When you believe that it is time, put on the saddle with the intention of cinching it. If your pony is in motion, yield the hindquarters to bring him to stillness. Be sure to knot the cinches tight so they don't drop and spook him.
Step 3: Get round to your horse's right. Let the cinches down easily. Get back to your horse's left, Now with total confidence walk back on the left hand side of your pony and take hold of the cinch with your left hand without looking down. In easy motions, take hold of the latigo and tighten up the cinches. Don't make them too tight, but just about enough so that the saddle will not roll around to the bottom of the horse's torso. That would possibly be tragic. If there's another back cinch, tighten that too, again, not excessively tight, but enough to guarantee the horse won't snag his rear leg. Routinely a back cinch functions to prevent jumping of the saddle. Never forget: keep your cool, and more important, make sure the pony keeps his cool. Back off briefly at the slightest sign your pony is getting upset.
Step 4: Once you have saddled and cinched the pony, stand loosely next to him and let him acclimatize to the saddle. Don't be in a hurry to move him or yourself. When you consider that he's relaxed satisfactorily, walk him a little bit, then come to a halt. If he starts bucking let him, just get out of the way. When he has the kinks worked out, go back to him and give him a rub to ease him.
You have just saddle-broken your pony.
About the Author:
Horses are Heather Toms
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers read more
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers read more
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