¶ … Saddle a Horse using a Western Saddle Western-style horseback riding is popular hobby in the United States, where it can be a means of pleasure, athletic competition, or work. In fact, today's cowboys run the gamut from people working on actual working cattle ranches and horse farms to relative novices enjoying the pleasure of a trail ride. What these people have in common is that they are using a Western saddle, which generally has a more padded seat and a saddle horn, for their horseback riding. What they should also have in common, though many equestrians lack this skill, is the ability to saddle their horse. Preparing a horse to be ridden in Western style is a three-part process. The first part of the process is to groom the horse and prepare it for saddling. The second part of the process is to saddle the horse. The third part of the process is to ensure that the saddle is properly fitted before mounting the horse.

Preparing a horse for saddling is the most crucial part of preparing a horse to be ridden. That is because many of the things that an equestrian should do to prepare a horse to be ridden are things that should be done to ensure the health and safety of the horse. The first thing to do is to secure...

How one accomplishes this depends on the horse. Some horses have been trained to ground-tie, so that dropping a lead rope or reins to the ground signals to the horse that it should be still during the grooming and saddling process. However, most horses should be secured with a halter and lead rope to some type of stable structure, such as a hitching post, prior to beginning the grooming process. The horse should be brushed, with special concentration placed on those areas that will be covered by the saddle, blanket, and girth. Any loose particles under these high-pressure areas can create irritation, potentially injuring the horse and endangering the rider. Next, the interior of the horse's hooves should be cleaned to ensure that they are free from debris, stones, or mud. Once satisfied that the horse is clean and in good condition for riding, the equestrian may move on to saddling the horse.
When saddling a horse, a person should approach the horse from the left side, which is often referred to as the near side by those familiar with horses. Because horses are traditionally approached from this side, a horse who is approached from the right may respond in a skittish manner. The first step is to place the blanket or…