First Time Saddling

Question to VE: Okay...so what's everyone's thoughts on first saddling? The process and acceptable response from the horse?

Parelli allows a horse to buck it out. Cox doesn't allow bucking. What about Clinton?

My goal/hope is that I won't get bucking at all. I want to do all that I can to prevent it from happening. At the moment I've been putting ropes around his belly and pulling them tight-ish and asking him to walk which he's ok with but not yet confident. What else can I do?


Person A: I'm a Parelli girl and I've never had bucks with first saddling with the horses and ponies I have started since learning the concept Parelli introduced me too of approach and retreat, and breaking it down into small parts.

I introduce the saddle blanket, on and off until solid. Then I introduce the girth, either surcingle or rope- it's the concept of 'tight' in that area that needs to be built up, the tool itself is not such a big deal. I don't move on to the next step until the horse is 100% confident- accepting not just tolerating. Then together blanket and girth - this is where a bareback pad is handy but once again it's not the tool that matters but the concept of a 'pad' tied to the horses back. Then saddle without girth, then saddle with girth, then I add stirrups. The most interesting response I have had was from my very claustrophobic filly, who thought the pressure of the girth was another puzzle to find a solution to ( she was thinking porcupine game instead of friendly game) Her solution was to lift her foreleg up and hold it. It was cute, better idea than a buck and good feedback ( if i had ignored it i don't doubt that she would have tried other things possibly including the buck). I knew she was bothered but was she trying to think of a way to make it go away instead of panicking, and gave me a clear signal. I listened and loosened on request, gradually making the comfort zone bigger until she got over it. With my own horses this process is started as early as possible. For example one of my horses was wearing a saddle at less than 18 months old although I never intended to ride her until she was 4. It was part of her budding work ethic to be saddled up and to come out on rides like a grown up horse but being led from an experienced horse, or just me leading. When she was ready to ride she started offering- and did it sooner than i expected too.
I have found that if I ask for permission at every stage and always allow them to say 'no' without overriding, then eventually they believe I am trustworthy and accept my decisions as safe. This has also worked with older horses- my Kai mare was 10 years old, with a 30m bubble, never touched except for being mustered and having her foals stolen, and hated and feared humans. this general approach applied to every step of her education worked really well. If you get the trust first they will believe in you and all your weird human ideas and tools

Person B: I started off with a towel (small) and then moved on to a saddle blanket then a bareback pad with 'D's" to clip on stirrups (never did tho) then from there i drove him with it on then i introduced my saddle. I think i did this over a period of 2-3weeks, and never moved on until he was happy and relaxed, he'd often be brought in for an hour or more and just hang out tied up or loose in a yard, i did the same with my endurance bridle so he got used to me putting that on with out a bit then I'd put the bit in and clip it on. hope that helps my pony was not very trusting when i got him!

ME: Clinton is also of with the bucking- but only on the first saddling, after that he works the poop outta them until they don't wanna do it any more. In saying that though he prepares them well, so generally there is not alot of buck.

I have never had a horse buck during the introduction of a saddle phase, as like person a, I am properly prepared. I think the key for me is the simulation of the girth going up and down (tight to loose), is key in getting them ok with it.

So after they are ok with the gear, I slide a girth strap through the girth (on a bareback pad, lunge roller or saddle) and tighten slightly, wait for the horse to relax, then undo it, rub all over the area and take the saddle off, then repeat over and over for days in a row. Eventually moving up to higher deals of pressure.

Then I do the same thing, but have them walking out around me (so make sure your leading by is spot on before beginning). I am always in a position to pull the saddle off also, never to let it fall at their feet.

Then there is 'stirrup driving', it is a thing I have seen Clinton Anderson do, Jordan always does it, I have a little bit (can be done with horses already under saddle too). I will try to find a clip of it- I know there is one on the VE page of Jordan doing it.

In regards to the 'worried about bucking', I remember those days too. You will come to a place where you will JUST KNOW, yes today is the right day. You will know this because when you think of doing it you do not tighten in your stomach, get light headed or think of the what ifs, because you will genuinely know that your horse is well prepared. When I girth mine for the very first time there is less than a 1% chance that they may buck.

On top of this however, before you are too concerned with girthing up, check your ground work- have you worked your horse at a walk, trot and canter with changes of direction, do they back up with life immediately, can you shut your horse down in very startling situations, does your horse stay out of your space unless instructed 100% of the time. The reason I say this is that he may startle and run off, have you practiced this first- before the fear?

Like everything the success of your girthing, will related back to how good you have things on the ground.

Just remember don't rush, it is like float loading, if you instil fear in the first session, it will be more challenging to have success, I am not saying you wont have success, but the horse will have developed a mental brace.