Before you ride your your horse always make sure that your tack fits including your saddle and bridle.
Fitting your saddle
To make sure the saddle fits, put it on your horses back and slide your hand under the knee roll like shown, and see if it's gripping your horses back. If it feels tight and or feels like it's pinching your horses back, then your saddle probably does not fit your horse.
Riser pad
In that case, you may have to purchase a riser pad to go under your saddle.
You can buy many different types of riser pads for your pommel, cantle, and even in sheepskin.
Example of a bad fit
This saddle is to high on the horses withers. In this case you can push the saddle up towards the withers a little bit. Your saddle can also be too far back, on your horses back. You can push the saddle up a little farther or you may need a riser. But in some cases if your saddle
What your saddle should fit like
This saddle fits really nice on this horse.
the saddle isn't pushed up too far on the withers or pushed back too far either, it sits very nicely to the horse.
The seat sits very nicely on the horse's back also. the seat should be level on your horse's back, like this one.
Tacking up
Now that all your tack fits, it's time to put it on you horse.
Always put your saddle on first, so that if you put your bridle on first you dont have to hold on to your horse while getting your saddle. If you do happen to put the bridle on first get someone to hold onto your horse for you. Tieing your horse on to a stall or fence with a brible on can be very dangerous because if they pull away and end up pulling very hard on their mouth with the bit in, they could seriously cut their mouth.
Putting on the saddle
#1
Fist put on the saddle pad, if you have one. make sure that it is layed on evenly, and layed on correctly on your horse's back.
#2
Next put on the saddle over the saddle pad, and any other risers you have.
#3
Next connect the non-stretchy side of your girth, to the left side of your saddle.
Reach under your horse to grab the girth on the right side, and attach it to your saddle. but never walk under your horse to reach the girth.
#4
Finally, use the stretchy side of your girth, unless there are two stretchy sides or none, to connect the girth to the left side of your saddle.
Putting on the bridle
#1
Slide reins over your horse's neck.
Then slide the bit into your horse's mouth like shown, and bring the crown piece up over the horse's head and tuck the ears.
#2
When doing up the throat latch, make sure you can put your fist between the throat latch and your horse's throat.
#3
When doing up the nose band, make sure there is two fingers that fit between your horse 's under jaw and the noseband.
Parts of the bridle
1 (purple) : cheek strap - holds bit. 2 (yellow) : nose band 3 (pink) : throat latch 4 (green) : brow band 5 : bit (silver mouth piece)
Parts of the saddle
(there are more parts underneath the saddle flap, plus the girth)