Saddle. The saddle must be placed on the horse’s back in such a way that it is comfortable for the horse and does not cause harm to him while riding. It should be set straight so that the horse’s spine is in the gap of the saddle. You must check to see if the harness is on the horse’s shoulder. The harness must not be around the horse’s neck; it should be in the center of the back and slightly on the hump. Belly Strap we use to secure the saddle to the horse’s back and prevent it from slipping out to the sides when mounted. With a waist belt, you can sit on a horse. It is important not to forget to fasten the belt before we get on the horse. It is extremely important to ensure that the belt does not put pressure on the horse. Excessive pressure on the harness on the horse’s belly can cause injury and nervousness due to pain. In addition, if the horse has any injuries in the abdomen where a belly strap is to be applied, it is important to reposition the belly strap so that it does not harm the horse.
Stirrup + straps for stirrups. Insert your feet into the stirrup. This gives you extra stability while riding. The length of the straps is adjustable depending on the height of the rider. The size should be adjusted so that the knees are slightly bent, but not too much. The length of the two straps must be the same.
Bridle – to which the reins and the bit are attached. It is important to make sure that the size of the bridle fits the horse’s head and does not put pressure on him. In addition, you must make sure that the bridle does not put pressure on the ears, because horse ears are very susceptible.
Bit. You must be sure that the bit does not press on the horse’s mouth.
Reins – used to control the horse while riding.
Saddle pad – A saddle pad is placed under the saddle. The cover protects the horse’s back and prevents injury and pain from the saddle. The saddle pad must be adapted to each horse according to the type of back.
Bandages (bandages) – protect the horse’s legs. they are often used in competitions. Patches are also used when the horse has an open wound at risk of infection.
Boots – protect the horse’s legs while riding.
Martingale – prevents the horse from lifting its head too high. (This item is optional and is used only when necessary)
Anti-slip pad under the saddle – prevents the saddle from sliding backwards. (Optional item)
Hoof cleaning and care:
It is very important to brush your horse before every ride; combing the horse protects the skin and fur of the horse and promotes blood circulation; in the first step, with a stiff brush, touch the entire body of the horse in a circular motion against the direction of hair growth. The purpose of this combing is to release the hard dirt stuck between the hairs. It also good for blood circulation. Start brushing the neck, move towards the back and be careful not to touch the spine area too hard. Paying special attention to where the saddle sits, it is very important to brush the horse in places that may rub while riding, such as behind the front legs. In the same way, continue combing the horse to the knees. In the second step, comb the horse with a soft brush in straight, long strokes, going over all the places where we brushed the horse with a stiff brush. This brushing aims to remove the dirt, hair and dust that we removed with a stiff brush. In addition, to detect wounds or abrasions, paying attention to all parts of the body when brushing. Using a soft brush, we cleaned sensitive areas that we did not touch with a harder brush, such as the horse’s head, spine, and areas below the knees. In the end, it is very important to thoroughly clean the hooves to avoid discomfort and injury to the horse’s leg. Raise horse’s leg carefully so as not to startle the horse. With a hoof cleaner, clean off any dirt that has accumulated in the hoof. It is very important to make sure that there are no stones, cracks, damage or anything else on the hoard that could interfere with the horse while riding. By washing the hooves, we can determine if a horse is fit to ride. If the horse is injured, or a nail or something sharp is stuck in the hoof, which could aggravate the injury in case of riding, we will not ride the horse, but return it to the stable.
Harnessing a horse
Improper harness can lead to restricted horse movement, rider and horse discomfort, and chronic problems, so harnessing your horse correctly and safely is very important. Before harnessing a horse, you need to remember a few things: tie the horse in the most convenient way to shoe it, you should remember that you should not stand behind the horse, horse can kick! Then placed the saddle pad on the back of the horse, on which the saddle will sit. The saddle is placed on the left side so that its pommel is flush with the withers. After that, the saddle, together with the saddle pad, is moved so that:
- The fork of the saddle lay behind the shoulder blade
- Between the girth and the front leg of the horse there is a distance of one palm
These are signs of the working position of the saddle, in which it is fixed with a girth. Most girths today are anatomically shaped, so it is important to fasten the girth so that the middle of the girth is exactly under the horse’s belly – this way the pressure will be distributed evenly, and the saddle will not obstruct the horse’s breathing.
While the horse is standing in the stable, the girth must be fastened loosely – just enough so that the saddle does not move out when the horse moves at a pace. In the working position, in which two fingers pass between the girth and the stomach, it is tightened directly in the arena or on the parade ground.
