In what order do you tack up?

Saddle with loose girth, bridle but leave noseband undone, horse boots, my hat etc, then noseband and tighten girth. Just my little routine. Also do boots in order. Front right, front hind, left hind then left front. But if using bandages then do right to left front legs then right to left back legs - don't ask why!!!
 
I put on saddle, boots (if he is wearing them), then I put on my boots, half chaps and hat.......go for a wee and then bridle.
 
have to agree with thatsmygirl...
been drilled into me since i can remember: bride first!
it's amazing how many people put on the saddle first! I do think it's quite dangerous :confused:
it's not so bad if you tack up in the stable and put saddle on first..

My mare wears a martingale but even if she didn't would still do bridle first and THEN the saddle. If she's wearing boots I usually shove them on last too.
 
Never never put headcollar round the neck, asking for trouble. Reins go round the neck, then headcollar comes off and the bit goes in.

I have more control with the horse tied up in a headcollar than I would trying to keep hold of the reins in her bridle and I wouldn't tie her up in her bridle. She managed to break her reins in the time it took me to fasten my hat the other day so now that goes on before the bridle!
 
huntley said:
Please! Please! To all of you that say you put the headcollar round their neck - STOP! I have seen a horse break its neck because of this. Tried to pull back, panicked and nothing broke except the poor horse's neck. It is an absolute no-no. As is tying up with the rope attached to the bit. Always bridle first - I have seen too many saddles damaged when horses have made a run for it when having the bridle put on.
Click to expand...

I tie my horses to quick release loops, trust me they break before the horse's neck!! And I would never leave them unattened with headcollars around their neck, it really is only as I put the bit in and do the throat lash and noseband!! Was taught by very experienced horse lady to do it when I loaned from her and have never had a problem!
 
Hacking:
Saddle, do girth up lightly. Hat on for me. Bridle on. Girth tighten. Lead to mounting block, gloves on, girth check & mount.

Competing/training:

Dad normally puts the studs in so i put on front boots, then put saddle/back boots on depending on how long taken to put studs in! :p then put bridle on. I get hat & gloves on whilst dad does girth check/tighten. Leg up of we go!
Its definitely a team effort & horse is tacked up double quick :D

Untacking:

Slip stirrups, & loosen girth & bridle straps.
Bridle off, headcollar on, saddle off, boots off, studs out.
 
KristmasKatt said:
Never never put headcollar round the neck, asking for trouble. Reins go round the neck, then headcollar comes off and the bit goes in.

I have more control with the horse tied up in a headcollar than I would trying to keep hold of the reins in her bridle and I wouldn't tie her up in her bridle. She managed to break her reins in the time it took me to fasten my hat the other day so now that goes on before the bridle!
Click to expand...

Surely its as dangerous putting reins round the neck?? Horse could pull away & you've got a bridle dangling round their legs?

My horse is tied up with a quick release knot & headcollar on loosest hole (I can actually slip the nose back over & tighten the strap if horse starts to be agitated). If I don't feel the horse panicking & able to do the above or release the knot/headcollar I'd be worried about what I was up to!!

Will add: i've had my horse for 6yrs now & she will stand next to a stable or trailer (done accidentally) without any restraint!
 
Of course if your horse is trained to stand still in the stable while it is being tacked up, then you can put saddle on before the bridle. This then allows the horse to 'acclimatise' to the saddle and to be girthed up slowly. Which is what I do, I cannot understand why people feel the need to keep tying up - just expect good manners!

I do saddle, hi-viz boots if hacking, bridle, then own hat which is waiting on shelf by door. Gloves go on after adjusting girth from on top.
 
Bridle, saddle, boots. Then my hat and gloves.

Mostly just because I can hold him if he has a bridle on because he tends to be a bit fidgety to tack up. And my stuff on last because I can't do buckles with gloves on! :rolleyes:
 
I always put on saddle first, breatplate is attached to saddle and i unattach from reins rather than saddle, as he needs time for his back to warm up. then get my boots on, then bridle then boots.
 
Saddle, because it's a Fhoenix and it alllows the memory foam to warm up. Also I tighten the girth in several stages to be polite.
Put bridle on, put reins over head, untie rope and attach it to the saddle, girth up, ride away,
 
Saddle first, then bridle and boots last. Always this order now as for some reason only known to knobber horses, Monty has an attack of the 'speshuls' if it's done in any other order.

Also means I can gradually tighten the girth. And is done in the stable, but still with his headcollar/leadrope on (but not tied up - I just hold the leadrope) as he's still learning about standing still:)
 
Current cold backed hoss: Saddle (without girth done up) bridle & martingale, do girth up loosely, boot up horse, do girth up a bit more, stick my hat/boots etc on, do girth up a bit more, walk hoss round for a while, get on..

Any other horses: bridle, saddle... and on I get :rolleyes:
 
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...

When I did my AI you ALWAYS had to put the saddle on first to let it warm up, but you obviously kept the horse tied up, and put the reins over the neck before untying the headcollar to put the bridle on. So I'd give 10/10 to the others! That said, I haven't really been involved in BHS exams for ages, so times may have changed. We are still doing saddles first at PC.
 
Boots on first
then saddle as it doesn't matter if the girth is done up as I don't use martingale or anything.
then bridle
 
If I'm using a martingale I put that on first, not attatched to the bridle, of course. I then put on the numnah, then saddle and girth up. I then sort myself out, put hat on, etc, pull girth up a hole, then attatch reins to martingale if i'm usung one (undo buckle on reins, put rings through and do reins up around neck before I undo the headcollar) and put the bridle on. I do it this way because I think they need to warm their backs up under the saddle and I don't like to leave horses tied up with bridles on, it only takes a second for them to rub their heads and trash it!

ETA I rarely use boots these days.
 
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...


Text book or not I can't put the bridle on my mare first... She is like jack flash at getting them caught on something or other! I do tend to tack up in the stable though but if I do tack up outside I always loop the headcollar round her neck so she can't go anywhere.
 
We do many things to our horses when they are tied up, why should saddling be different? I put the saddle on, plus any boots and high viz stuff, get myself ready, lock up, and then last thing I put the bridle on and mount up and I'm off. So my horse has plenty of time for the saddle to warm up, and for me to girth up gradually, before it has to move off.
Stuff the BHS requirements. :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top