In what order do you tack up?

animal

animal

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Title really!
I sometimes forget to put boots on etc, i don't really have an order tbh.

Does yours vary with what the horse is like too?
Or is it whatever comes to hand first?

:)
 
I used to put the saddle on first, then the bridle but the horse I've got now has a hunter breast plate so I have to put the bridle on first otherwise I'd have to undo the girth.
As for the boots, I don't have an order and put them on before tack or after.
 
Sounds like I have OCD when i put it in writing!!

Horse boots
Me Boots, bring hat,gloves whip to stable
Then horse bridle, horse saddle
Me hat, gloves hi viz if reqd

always in that order dont know why!
 
If a horse with a martingale - bridle first, then saddle, sort girth out, then my hat hi viz etc.
If no martingale, not really a specific order, just whatever's to hand!
If the horse has boots on, they go on first.
No idea why!
K x
 
Saddle, bridle, all my martingales/ tie downs/ breast girths have clips to the cinch so bridle doesn't have to go on first.
 
Last edited:
Boots, Saddle, Bridle

If martingale then goes on at the same time as the saddle - I use a standing

However if a running I always take the reins out of the rings so still saddle, martingale, bridle.
 
Bridle, fold hanging loop of breastplate over reins so it's not near the floor.
Saddle.
Boots
Then me, I get tacked up last as I'm loathe to wear my lovely riding boots of anything other than riding!
 
Bridle, saddle, then boots if worn. I've just been taught that way, out of habit I do it bridle first in case they are being tacked up loose in the stable, then I can hang on to the reins as I put on the saddle so they don't shift and the saddle falls. Plus it's easier if they're wearing a martingale.. As for the boots, I have no idea. Just a weird habit I've gotten into :D xx
 
I tack up with my horse tied up and never leave her standing in her bridle even for a second.

I do, over reach boots, knee and brushing boots, saddle, my hi viz and hat, then bridle, then bring out of stable sort stirrups, check girth and put my gloves on.

I don't always tack up in the stable, she stands better outside and there is less scope for getting caught on things. I make sure I've got her reins round her neck before I undo her headcollar so I can stop her if she decides to go wandering.
 
Bridle, always takes a minute or two as Bob has to think about it and decide its OK (always does,) I pick up saddle and he then walks over to me to have it put on (I guess he likes the saddle).
 
I used to tack up with my saddle first, until an instructor really shouted at me for putting her saddle 'at risk' while I swapped her headcollar for her bridle. I personally would still tack up saddle first, providing the horse was tied up or in a stable, if I hadn't have got in to the habit of bridle first, lol.

I put boots on after I have tacked up, and then get my own 'tack' on, which I would have previously put in my stable so I wouldn't have had to leave beast alone with his tack.
 
bridle first always ever since when i was wee and the S***land used to escape when i was putting his bridle on would refuse to be caught and roll on his saddle. Very hard to stop a determined pony with only his saddle to hold onto. Does that mean i pass :)
 
Foxhunter49 said:
10/10 for those that put the bridle on first. The rest would fail ant BHS exam (or PC)
You should put the bridle on first because it gives you more control.
Click to expand...

I thought it was saddle first than bridle. Good job I wasn't asked this in my B test! :p
I tend to do bridle first anyway as it's normally what I grab first.
 
I put my hat on first, (I've worked with a lot of youngsters/strange horses),
tie horse up in the stable (or not, depending on the horse. My last pony prefered to be tacked up loose in the stable, she came to me TOTALLY unhandled (off the New Forest) and felt more secure if she wasn't tied up in the stable),
boots next (if worn),
bridle,
saddle,
check boots are secure before leaving the stable,
my gloves, whip are outside the stable door so pick them up last after leading out of the stable.
 
If Jack's tied up in the stable I put his saddle on first, but if he's tied up outside I put his bridle on first!

Once he's tacked up I put his boots on (if required).
 
which ever bit is closest to me!

bum to me- back boots first
sidewards on- saddle first
facing me- bridle first

(this i why i always travel tacked up to competitions etc as he would be forever being rescued!!!)
 
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