Instructions
Groom the horse thoroughly. There should be no dirt, dried sweat, dried mud, burrs or bedding debris between the pad or blanket and the horse because those things will become irritants chafing under the saddle.
Select your combination of blankets and/or pads. Many riders like to use a fabric blanket first against the horse, topped by some sort of foam pad that makes the saddle fit the horse better. If your saddle fits your horse really well, you may only need to use a single pad or blanket.
Evaluate the thickness of your blanket, pad or blanket and pad combination. If the arrangement is too thick it will make the saddle unstable, and this is uncomfortable for the horse. On the other hand, a very thin set-up is also uncomfortable unless the saddle is a perfect fit.
Place the first blanket or pad on the horse's back. Position it forward toward the shoulders, and over the withers. Center it on the horse's back.
Position the second pad, if you are using one, over the first. The exact position of this pad will depend on its specific purpose. For example, a pad that lifts the back of the saddle needs to have the rear lift portion under the saddle's cantle, whereas a front-lifting pad should be placed properly under the saddle's pommel. Other pads cover the same area as the underlying blanket.
How to Put a Saddle Pad on Your Horse
Saddle pads and saddle blankets serve several purposes. They protect your expensive leather saddle from sweat and horse hair, they protect your horse from chafing under the saddle and they can compensate for fitting issues with a saddle that does not fit perfectly. The types and styles of pads and blankets vary depending upon the kind of riding you do.