Hi, my name is Taryn Yammerino. Horses have always been involved in my life. At a very young age I started saddling and working with them on my own. I am going to show you how to be more independent in the barn when no one is around to help you. Today I will be showing you how to saddle up a horse by yourself.

Step 1: Starting Off

Start off with a saddle, a back cinch, and breast collar attached to it on a horse. The double cinch is optional but it is used to keep the saddle from sliding forward on the horses back. The breast collar, like the double cinch is optional. The purpose of the breast collar is to keep the saddle from sliding backwards. This goes across the chest of the horse, in a triangle shape. All steps will be taking place on the left side of the horse. The first step to saddling a horse is the front cinch. This makes sure that the saddle is secure on the horse and won’t be thrown off in any type of situation. Make sure nothing is twisted through this whole process. If it is it will make the horse uncomfortable and could be dangerous.

Step 2: Texas T

Standing on the left side of the horse, reach under the front legs across the belly to grab the cinch and pull it towards you. From there take the latigo and loop it through the D ring which is located at the end of the cinch. Next take the latigo and loop it through the top D ring where it is attached to the saddle. Then loop it through to the bottom of the cinch one more time. After that pull the latigo to the top D ring and loop it through. Make sure that it is tight enough on the horse. Tip: When finished two fingers should be able to fit between the horses belly and the cinch, making sure it is tight enough yet comfortable. Pull the latigo to the right of the cinch and loop it on the right side up through the D ring and pull it out at the top. Doing this will create a pocket. Lastly take the end of the latigo and pull it down and through the pocket created and tighten it up.

Step 3: Double Cinch

Attaching the double cinch or the back cinch will be the next step. Starting off the double cinch will be attached on the right side of the saddle. The double cinch is located behind the first one. Like the first cinch, start off by reaching under and across the horse to grab the double cinch. Attach it to the billet strap hanging off of the saddle and hook it on the appropriate notch that is fitting to the horse. Make sure it is not tight on the horse's belly, but not too loose where the horse's leg could get caught up in it while walking. A way to measure this is when hooked onto the horse make sure you can fit a fist sideways in between the double cinch and the horse’s belly.

Step 4: Breast Collar

Next is the breast collar. One strap goes over the right shoulder, the next over the left shoulder and the last one hooks in between the legs under the belly. The right side of the breast collar will be hooked on to start with. Reach over and grab the leather with holes in it. The holes are where you will hook it into the after looping it through the D ring. Take that part and bring it up towards the saddle horn where there will be a D ring to loop it through and hook it in an appropriate notch for the hose. Note: Too tight is when the horse can barley move their shoulder. Too loose is when the breast collar hangs too low and gets caught on the shoulder, find a happy medium. At the end of the last piece of leather it will have a clip to attach it to the D ring, take it and hook it onto the D ring under the horses belly between their two front legs onto the cinch.