English Saddle Pad and Saddle
- Some horses require special equipment. This is noted above their bridle. If you need help l
ocating this equipment, please ask for assistance.
- Check your horse's bridle rack name card to see if your horse requires any extra pads or girth cover. Check the saddle pad for dirt before putting it on your horse; remove any dirt or shavings with a brush. Place the saddle pad on your horse's back, over the withers.
- Slide the saddle pad back into position so the hairs of your horse's coat are all lying in the proper direction.
- Lift the saddle, with the stirrups drawn up, over your horse's back and set it down gently; it should be back far enough to allow his shoulders to move freely.
- Lift the center of the saddle pad up into the gullet of the saddle at the pommel and cantle to allow for air movement.
- Attach one end of the girth to the right side of the saddle (if girth has one end with elastic, the elastic side attaches to the left side of the saddle). Move to the other side of your horse; reach under your horse, grasp the girth and lift it up on the left side and attach the buckles to the billet straps. Attach it loosely at first, and then gradually tighten to avoid making your horse uncomfortable. The girth should not be completely tight until you are in the ring and ready to mount.
The English Bridle
- Unbuckle the halter, drop it off your horse's nose and buckle it loosely around his neck. Untie the lead rope, and put the rope over your horse's neck. Do not let it hang on the ground.
- Put the bridle reins over your horse's head.
- Hold the cheek pieces and noseband in your right hand, with your right arm under your horse's jaw and around his nose.
- Hold the bit in your left hand at your horse's mouth. If he doesn't open his mouth to take the bit, you can slide your thumb into his mouth at the corner and press down on the bars. Slide the bit in when he opens his mouth.
- Place the crown piece over your horse's ears, right ear first and then left ear, by bringing the ears forward.
- Adjust the brow band so it isn't pinching your horse's ears and is not too low on his face.
- Slide the noseband ends underneath the cheekpieces, behind the bit rings, and buckle above his chin. It should be snug, but not tight--one finger should fit in the noseband.
- Fasten the throatlatch loosely where his jaw bones meet his neck--you should be able to put four fingers width between his throat and the throatlatch.
English Martingales
Not all horses use a martingale. Do not unbuckle either of the two buckles. One strap is narrow and forms a circular loop. A wide strap passes through this circle at the bottom. The wide strap also has one loop at either end.
Slide the large, circular loop over your horse's head with the buckle end of the wide strap toward the rear of your horse with the buckle facing down.
Make sure that the martingale has a rubber stopper and that the neck strap is resting at the base of the neck.
Pass the wide loop with the buckle between your horse's front legs and slip the girth through the loop. Reattach the girth to the billet straps.
The nose band of the bridle slips through the smaller loop.
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