10/27/2026
🏇 BACKSIDE BASICS | Saddling a Racehorse
There’s a lot more to saddling a racehorse than simply throwing a saddle on its back!
On race day, saddling is a coordinated effort between the valet, trainer or assistant, and groom. Each person has a job to do, and every piece of equipment has a specific purpose.
So how does it all come together in the paddock?
1️⃣ Preparation
The horse arrives in the paddock already wearing its bridle. The trainer or assistant has the shammy (chamois) and channel ready, while the valet is responsible for preparing and checking the jockey’s tack, including the saddle, girths, saddle towel, and any additional weight or equipment.
2️⃣ Placing the Saddle
The trainer or assistant first places the shammy across the horse’s back, leaving enough material toward the front to fold backward later.
Next, the valet places the foam pad directly against the shammy, followed by the numbered saddle towel and any additional weight needed.
The excess shammy and saddle towel are folded backward together before the valet places the jockey’s saddle on the horse from the offside (right side).
3️⃣ Securing the Undergirth
The valet places the undergirth inside the channel and passes it underneath the horse to the person saddling.
Rather than immediately pulling upward, the person saddling first pulls the undergirth down toward the ground and outward to stretch it and remove the slack. It is then brought up, tightened, and buckled to the single billet on the saddle.
Once their side is secured, the person saddling holds the fender up on the valet’s side so the valet can tighten that side as well.
4️⃣ Securing the Overgirth
Some trainers prefer to have their horses walk a lap around the paddock before the overgirth is placed.
When ready, the valet lays the overgirth over the saddle with the buckle on the offside and the strap toward the person saddling.
The person saddling pulls the strap underneath the horse and hands it to the valet, who threads it through the buckle. The strap is then passed back to the person saddling to tighten and secure.
Finally, the excess strap is handed back underneath the horse to the valet, who tucks it neatly into the keeper loops on the offside.
5️⃣ Final Equipment Checks
Before the horse leaves the paddock, the valet helps ensure that all required equipment is present, correctly fitted, and secure. This may include assisting with blinkers or other equipment.
The trainer or assistant also checks the saddle, girths, and overall fit before the horse continues through its race-day preparations.
Why does all of this matter?
A loose girth, misplaced towel, or improperly secured piece of equipment can create problems once a jockey is aboard. These are small details that carry enormous responsibility.
And while every barn may have its own preferences and routines, the goal remains the same: a properly equipped horse, a secure jockey, and a safe trip to the starting gate.
That’s the kind of behind-the-scenes knowledge we love sharing through Backside Basics. Understanding the why behind everyday racetrack procedures is just as important as learning how to perform them.
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