tacking up at a lesson?

I started riding about two months ago, and I love it! I have had about 7 lessons (some have been canceled because of the snow) I was just wandering if I will ever get to tack up the horse that I ride/ groom him, as he is always ready when I get there. I know I havent been riding for long compared to other people, but would love to know just the basics ( like putting up the stirrups, loosing the girth?)

Ask nicely if you could bring him in to get him groomed,tacked,and how to put the stirrups up and away and tighten the girth..I'm guessing it's english? You should be able to learn those things as well.

Vergo, everyone who rides needs to know how to tack up a horse, so I'm glad you want to learn.

Just mention it to your instructor that you'd like to learn to tack up your own lesson horse. I'll bet she'd be thrilled to know you're interested.

I took lessons but I don't have a instructer since she got fired:(....but just ask nicely if you could learn how one day. Its very easy though...dressage/jumping saddles are the easiest to me just because they are light and all you have to to is the gurth really. And then with western saddles well those are heavy... so just ask to learn. But what kind of riding do you do? -taylor

I thought that was one of the main things they should have you do. Grooming and tacking are all part of it. Could it be already tacked from a previous lesson?

That's what I thought too - may be the horse had a lesson just before yours. It's pretty common in big lesson barns. But if not, just ask nice, tell them you really want to learn all aspects of the "care" (not just riding ).

It happens a lot for us -- horses are already tacked up, so the student just hops on. Not my favorite method, but hey, I'm not the head instructor, so I don't make the decision as far as that goes.

I'd talk to you instructor about it. Maybe they could adjust your ride time so you ride first, or you could come early to help out. I'm sure there's a way! That's something that is super important to learn!!!!!

Yep I do english riding. I will ask her at the beginning of next lesson if I can help prepare the horse. Maybe he is tacked up from another lesson, but he is often in his stable with a blanket over him. One of the problems is that my riding instructor often has a lesson before and after my lesson. Does anyone know anything about pony days and how useful they can be?

What do you mean by "pony day"? In different barns it can mean different thing.

I'm not sure if you have time, can drive, and how old you are, but you can ask the instructor or barn manager if they need any help in barn. This way you'll learn quite a lot of horse care.

Im 13, so can't drive . A pony day is where you spend a day at the stables with a group of people and tack up your horse, go for a hack, untack your horse, have lunch and tack up your horse again and have a lesson. I wasnt sure if it was for younger people though, as it is called pony day. I could ask if she wants help around the stables, but she might not want me to help out, as im not very experienced.