Destressing, is firmly in the saddle, pull through, piloting

On the much debated reforms aimed at de-stressing secondary and senior secondary examinations there is nearly 42 per cent approval ratings for Sibal's attempts to check cramming and mugging, though concerns persist on the lack of consensus between states and the Centre on the issue, and also on the implementation of the flagship Right to Education Act.
Almost 39 per cent of those polled feel Sibal is firmly in the saddle and he should pull through most of the reforms he is piloting.
On the other hand Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, in-charge of another key social sector ministry, has had a choppy ride from his handling of the swine flu to the unravelling MCI scam.
Thirty-one per cent of those polled have termed the performance of the Health Ministry as poor and almost 38 per cent felt the ministry has failed to check the crumbling health infrastructure.
Thirty per cent of those polled have put the onus of the poor performance on Azad himself, calling him listless and unimaginative.
So the two social sector ministries get two very different verdicts. While HRD is ranked in the top three, health has taken a beating quite literally.
Please explain to me the emboldened parts.
Though I know "piloting" means "introducing" and "in the saddle" means "in charge of something".

Source : http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sibal-doing-fine-azad-seen-as-laggard-poll/115763-37-64.html?from=rhs