7 year old gelding saddle problem

Question
I have been working with a 7 year old part arabian gelding for 3 weeks.  Before i purchased him he was basically a pasture pet and never ridden much.  I know the people that i bought him from and he was never abused.  My problem is trying to saddle this horse is a career.  The first week or so I started with him he would do okay.  He was a little skiddesh but moved on.  We would saddle him tighten the girth and walk him on lead and he would do fine.  The second week it went less than okay.  Now when I come at him the saddle he starts snorting breathing heavy and stomping a foot.  With lots of sniffing and rubbing he will let me saddle him but when i take the straps or the stirrups down to cinch the saddle its like the creaking of the leather makes him insane.  He will side step and jerk and try to bolt which dumps the saddle off and scares him more.  This is the only time he is ever skiddish.  We are currently building stalls in the barn and the power saws and air compressor does not affect him at all.  But squirting fly spray on him sends him running.  He is a very good horse and is very sweet otherwise he does not kick or bite and is otherwise not skiddish or scared in any other way.  Do you have any suggestions?  Thanks

Answer
Hi Sally,
Saddle him in a small confined area when he is tied on a short lead.  Your going to need to saddle and unsaddle him repeatedly and do so from both sides.  Saddle him and pet him, saddle him and pet  him.  Talking to him, making him feel good for his accomplishments.  Leaving him tied and saddled for a good while.  Tie him around both directions for flexing in the bridle will also be good exercises.  tons of praise, doing the same thing with the fly spray.  Always stay calm and safe. A confined area, (like in a stall when you get one) always tieing them to the wall when you saddle him so he can't move away and dump your tack to the ground.  Sacking him out while talking to him about what a great horse he is will help.  Make sure his tack is comfortable - don't over tighten him.  Doing this with tons of petting and praise will certainly help.

Good luck-
Jeff