Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Before You Begin
• Method 2 of 2: Start a detour
• Tips
• Warnings

Teaching a horse to walk under the saddle can be an easy and painless task. It can even be fun if you know how to get it right.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Before You Begin

1. 1 Make sure your horse has received basic training.
   
   
   • She is confident and trusts you.
   • Can behave properly.
   • Has already been tamed.
   • Will "stand", "walk", "stop" on command.
   • Knows the basics of running on a line and walking on a lead.
   • I am familiar with the sensations of a saddle cloth, bridle, herd.
2. 2 Make sure the horse is physically and mentally mature. Different breeds and individual horses reach maturity at different rates, but the minimum age to start light work is 3 years. A horse can never be too old to saddle.
3. 3 Make sure all your gear is on time. Many people use cheap dressage saddles as horses change shape quickly with age. Some use frameless saddles that fit any horse easily.

Method 2 of 2: Start a detour

1. 1 Pick a day when you have plenty of time and people can help you.
2. 2 Introduce the horse to the saddle in the same way as you introduced it to the saddlecloth, bridle, herd, etc.etc.
3. 3 Find a person who will hold her all the time; do not tie the horse.
4. 4 Carefully place the saddle on the horse's back (without stirrups).
5. 5 Unless the horse is under extreme stress, do not remove the saddle until it has calmed down. Removing the saddle is a reward. You must encourage calm behavior.
6. 6 Tighten the girth (pulling one hole in the buckle each time) just enough to keep the saddle in one position (the horse should get used to the feeling of the tightening girth).
7. 7 Walk with your horse so that it feels free to move. You can also drive her on the lane or walk with her on the bit.
8. 8 Move the horse to the step to get into the saddle. Get close to the horse, hovering over it (most horses are more worried about something hovering over them, rather than the weight load). Make sure the weight on the horse is balanced.
9. 9 Press harder and harder on the saddle until you completely hang onto the horse, transferring all your weight to the saddle.
10. 10 Sit in the saddle from the step carefully transferring your weight onto the saddle. After about 10-15 seconds, peel off. This will show the horse that you are going to leave it, and this will be the reward (in the wild, a predator will never will not leave sacrifice!). This step should be repeated several times before moving on.
11. 11 Sit in the saddle off the step. The horse must be moved with you in the saddle so that it feels the rider. She can be driven with a rider on the lane. The rider should not help her in any way.
12. 12 The horse learns new things by adding new information to the previously learned. For example, if the horse knows the command to “walk,” then pinch the horse with your feet and then say that command. Over time, when you give the command with your feet, the horse will understand that you asked him to walk, and he will begin to do this even before you give the signal with his voice.

Tips

• Trust is the key. You must be confident in yourself and in the horse.
• Each step is considered complete only when the horse fully accepts and understands what you are asking of him. If the horse is in turmoil, take one or two steps back.
• Training is very important: the horse learns to respond to the rider's commands.
• If things aren't going well, go back a few steps to what the horse has already learned and finish the session. Always end on a good note.
• Take many breaks, the session should not last too long. Rest your horse for a few days.
• Have good riding skills. If the horse doesn't trust you, it will create fear.
• Reward the horse for correct behavior. If this is not done, the horse will not know that something has been done correctly.
• Don't be alarmed. Let your horse know that he is safe with you, so he will start to trust you and will feel comfortable with you.
• It may take several days for the horse to understand the exercise. This can be stressful, take note of this, you don't want your horse to have bad memories of riding.
• The whole process cannot happen in one day. You only need to work until you see the result. This usually takes 10-15 minutes. Over time, the duration of the workouts can be increased.

Warnings

• Never lose your temper - horses react to your emotions.
• Do not ride or work with a horse unless there is a knowledgeable person nearby. Horses are large animals and can be dangerous if scared. You can get hurt, and no one will know about it.
• Wear protective clothing (and so does your horse).
• If you feel overwhelmed, give yourself and your horse a little rest. Be calm and confident when you start over.
• Never hit a horse. They will remember this forever, and you will not avoid problems in the future.
• This instruction is too general information. You should not try to do everything yourself without the help of a professional. Horses are also individuals, they are unpredictable animals that will never respond in the same way to one exercise.
• Never rush. You have a lifetime to ride a horse (this may or may not be true, but rushing will never help you calm down). ALSO: Make sure you have enough time to finish the exercise before starting a new one. Don't say “today we’re going to do the exercise” and then suddenly “I need to leave” or “this is too much of a burdensome exercise.” If you postpone or cancel your workout, you will never get results.
• The horse may buckle. It’s not bad, she just didn’t expect anything new. Prepare for both the best and the worst.