I wouldn’t venture to suggest that there is the standard formula to preparing a pony for riding. Each pony is an individual in its own right, and you have to work with each horse according to its nature. You also need to take into account regular changes in the current circumstances. Often, circumstances can change every day for a young horse.
Here are some steps that will help you ease your pony into its first ride. While these are steps that have worked habitually for me, I should remind you that every pony has his or her own quirks, and so you could need to do some modifying here and there.
Step 1: Let your pony get acquainted with a saddle pad. Be certain to do this in a circular pen after you’ve your pony on a halter and a lead rope. Introduce the pad casually to your horse. Let him nudge and smell it. The idea is to get him acquainted with it. Rub him gently all over his body with the pad, especially on the neck, the back and the hindquarters. Be sure to cover both sides of the horse with the same motions. Don’t go to the very next step till you have the distinct impression your pony is happy with the pad. Lay the pad on his back delicately without any abrupt motions and retreat. After a bit take away the pad. Lay it on your horse again. Take it off, keep repeating. When you are reasonably sure your horse is relatively used to the pad, walk him around a bit with the pad on. Take the pad off and rub him down a bit, before putting the pad back on. Be exceedingly patient, and repeat this as many times as necessary till you feel your horse has become just about uninterested in the pad. Remember, haste at all stages may destroy everything you have realized till then.
Step 2: You are ready to bring on the saddle now. Get your horse used to it just like you did with the pad: never hurrying, always persist. Use your right hand to hold the saddle, with the lead rope in the left hand. Once you are sure the saddle causes no further apprehension in your pony, it’s saddling time. With a swift but gentle motion, get the saddle onto your horse’s back. Take it off and retreat. Do this numerous times, with a rub down or two to keep your pony calm. When you think it is time, put on the saddle with the intention of cinching it. If your pony is in motion, yield the hindquarters to bring him to stillness. Be sure to knot the cinches tight so they don’t drop and spook him.
Step 3: Get round to your horse’s right. Let the cinches down easily. Get back to your horse’s left, Now with total confidence walk back on the left hand side of your horse and take hold of the cinch with your left hand without looking down. In easy motions, take hold of the latigo and tighten up the cinches. Don’t make them too tight, but sufficient so the saddle will not roll around to the base of the horse’s body. That would possibly be disastrous. If there’s another back cinch, tighten that too, again, not very tight, but satisfactory to guarantee the pony won’t snag his rear leg. Normally a back cinch functions to prevent jumping of the saddle. Never forget: keep your cool, and more important, make sure the horse keeps his cool. Back off temporarily at the slightest sign your horse is getting upset.
Step 4: When you’ve saddled and cinched the horse, stand loosely next to him and let him get use to the saddle. Don’t be in a hurry to move him or yourself. When you consider that he’s relaxed satisfactorily, walk him a touch, then come to a halt. If he starts bucking let him, just get out of the way. When he’s got the kinks worked out, return to him and give him a rub to soothe him.
You have just saddle-broken your pony.
Horses are Heather Tomspassion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of articles with other horse lovers read more
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