First Saddling

As far as we know, our new 2 year old Tango had never been saddled before. In fact, we were told she was barely halter broke. And I spent our first session together teaching her to back off as she wanted to stand right on top of me.

So I didn’t know what to expect when I sacked her out. I’d used a rope around her legs before and she was obviously used to that. So this time, I used a rag rubbed then hung all over her, then draped an unfolded saddle blanket across her back. When she packed that around without flinching or spooking, I cinched it up on her with a soft rope. She looked it all over pretty closely but didn’t object to any of it.

So I got my old saddle – one my parents gave me for my 7th birthday – since it’s light enough for me to handle easily. She inspected it, then didn’t object when I put it up on her neck and slid it back, or when I put it directly on her back. She didn’t mind the cinching up either and walked off like she’d been saddled every day of her life.

So far, she’s making points in everything she does!

She doesn’t walk on me any more, but she leads so close she nudges my arm with her nose every few steps. I’m having to adjust to that and other things about her, too. Windsor has been my partner for several years now, but she’s much more standoffish, where this girl wants to be CLOSE.

We keep the fillies in a little pasture behind the house. It’s one of my pleasures every day to step outside and call them. They come on a lope and stand with their heads over the gate while I halter them. I’d like to think they love me that much, but truthfully – and as the Head Honcho says – it’s because I lead them to water!