| It can be difficult to know when, or how to introduce | | | | horse get used to the bridle, grooming him and taking |
| tack for the first time when training a young horse. | | | | him for a walk. You can put a halter over the bridle so |
| Indeed, the very idea of adding tack can be so | | | | that you don't need to put any pressure on the bit. |
| overwhelming that people put it off for far too long. | | | | To add the saddle, start out with a saddle pad. Get |
| Fortunately, most horses accept tack with very few | | | | your horse used to having it placed over his back and |
| difficulties. The trick is to introduce it slowly so that the | | | | moved around. When he is comfortable with the |
| horse has time to get used to it. | | | | saddle pad, place you saddle on his back. Make sure |
| The first thing to introduce is the bit. If your horse is | | | | the stirrups and any other pieces that might flap |
| used to wearing a halter, but is a little head-shy, you | | | | around are removed. Place it gently on his back, |
| might find it easiest to try a bit without a bridle at all. | | | | holding it so that it will not fall. Take it on and off a few |
| While some people like to sweeten the bit with a bit of | | | | times. |
| molasses, this is really a matter of personal | | | | When you add the girth, start out with it on a loose |
| preference. | | | | hole. Very slowly tighten the girth so that it is snug. Do |
| Start out with a soft bit, such as a snaffle. Use some | | | | not move your horse with the saddle on if it is not tight. |
| binder twine to tie the bit to the far side of the halter, | | | | It is far scarier to have the saddle slip than to have a |
| so that it is at the level of the horse's mouth. (You | | | | tight girth. |
| might need to tie the twine to the upper ring on the | | | | It is a good idea to put the saddle on in the arena the |
| halter to make it fit properly.) Tie a second piece of | | | | first time or two. This way, if the horse breaks away |
| twine to the near ring of the bit, so that you can tie it | | | | from you, he cannot go too far. Once you have the |
| when you are ready. | | | | saddle on tight, you can let him go so that he can have |
| Now, holding the horse on a lead-line, slide the bit into | | | | a run around the ring. Most horses will buck a few |
| the horse's mouth from the far corner. Most horses will | | | | times, or try escaping the saddle. Keep him from rolling, |
| readily open their mouths for the bit. If he does not, | | | | but otherwise let him get used to the feel of the |
| stick your finger into the near corner of his mouth and | | | | saddle. After a while, he will settle, realizing that it is not |
| he should open up. Hold the bit in place for a moment, | | | | going to fall off, no matter what he does. |
| and then slip it out again. Repeat a couple of times, until | | | | Finally, you can start asking your horse to work on the |
| he accepts the bit without fuss. Then tie the near side | | | | longe line with his saddle and bridle on. Again, put the |
| of the bit onto the halter so that it rests comfortably in | | | | halter on over the bridle, and attach the longe line to it |
| the horse's mouth. | | | | so that there is no pressure on the bit yet. Take your |
| While the horse has the bit on, spend some time | | | | time and allow him to get used to everything before |
| grooming him. Try taking him for a walk. Do not apply | | | | adding stirrups or other straps. If he is given the |
| pressure to the bit, just let him chew on it and get used | | | | chance to get used to the saddle and bridle in an easy, |
| to the feeling. | | | | non-confrontational way, he should accept them in |
| Next time, add the bridle. Make sure that it is properly | | | | readily in the long run. |
| adjusted before putting it on. Once again, just let your | | | | |