Parts of the Saddle - Billets and Girth

English all-purpose, dressage and jumping saddles use a system comprised of billets and a girth to keep the saddle fastened securely to the horse. The girth and billets should keep the saddle from slipping from side-to-side on the horse and from front-to-back. Billets and girths are traditionally made of leather, but may be made of synthetic material as well.

  1. Saddle Billets

    • All English saddles use billets, including jumping saddles and dressage saddles. There are three billets on each side of the saddle, located under the saddle flap. They are a group of short, wide straps hanging down and are usually approximately 3/4-inch wide and 8 to 10 inches long. Each billet has holes in the center at regular intervals, 3/4 to 1 inch apart. The girth buckles are attached to the billets and pulled snug in order to keep the saddle from moving on the horse.

    Billet Selection

    • There are three billets on each side of a typical English saddle, but only two buckles on the girth. The decision on which two of the three billets to use will depend on the horse's conformation and how that particular saddle sits on the horse's back and withers. Use of the forward two billets will keep the girth, and thus the saddle, more forward than if the back two billets are used together.

    Girth

    • A girth buckles to the saddle billets on one side, is run underneath the horse's chest near the elbows, and attached to the billets on the opposite side of the saddle. Use a proper fitting, clean girth to ensure the horse is comfortable and sores do not develop underneath it. Girths vary greatly in length, style and function. For an average, full-grown adult horse, the girth size needed on a typical jumping or all-purpose saddle will vary anywhere between 46 inches and 56 inches in length.

    Types of Girths

    • English-saddle girths vary in style and material, but have the same basic function. Contoured girths are shaped to provide additional comfort for the animal while in motion. Girths may be fleece- or felt-covered where they lay against the horse's skin for protection from chaffing. Most modern girths will have elastic inserts on one end to ensure the girth stays snug but doesn't pinch the horse's skin, while others will have elastic inserts on both ends or throughout the girth.