Tacking A Horse

While all the steps involved in tacking up a horse are important. there are two processes that should be given special attention to detail. Checking over the equipment being used and properly securing the girth are vital parts of ensuring a safe ride.

One of the most important steps when tacking up a horse is to check all the tack, or equipment, to make sure nothing is ripped, broken or out of place. This is a commonly skipped process because it can become very tedious. Making sure there are no grass burrs, sticks or rocks in the saddle pad, is as easy as running a hand over the underside of the pad. Upon feeling a sharp or foreign object, be sure to remove it. If this step is overlooked, and a saddle pad containing any debris is placed on the horses back, not only can it damage the tack, but also potentially put both the horse and rider in danger. After checking the saddle pads, the leather tack will need to be look over as well. Depending on the climate, all …show more content…
The girth is equivalent to the belt of a saddle. It hangs off the right side of the saddle and goes under the horse, just behind the front legs. In order to secure the girth to the other side of the saddle, the latigo is strung through a D ring on the other side of the saddle. Pull the girth under the horse at the narrowest part of the ribcage, making sure it is flat against the horse. Pull the latigo through the metal ring on the end of the girth, belly side of the horse out, making sure it is not twisted. Pull the latigo snug and then pull it through the saddle D ring from the outside in. Depending on the horse and the length of the latigo, this step may need to be repeated two or three times. To secure the girth, cross the free end of the latigo over the top of the layered latigo straps and pull it through the saddle D ring, horse side out. Thread the latigo down, through the loop made when crossing over the layers. This is similar to tying a man's