Parts of Western Saddles

When you think about western horseback riding saddles, you probably think about cowboys in the old American West, riding through the dusty plain and the mountains on a thick leather saddle with a horn. Modern western saddles are made from leather, synthetic leather or canvas and are the saddle of choice for riders in a variety of different riding disciplines, including barrel racing, western horsemanship, western pleasure, reining, roping and trail riding.

  1. Horn

    • In the old west, the purpose of the saddle horn was to provide a place to hang a cowboy's rope. It also provided extra leverage when roping livestock, as the rope could be tied off to the saddle horn. The saddle horn can also quickly serve as an extra hand-hold for riders losing their balance in the saddle. The saddle horn is the part that makes the western saddle unique from English and Australian saddles.

    Rigging

    • The rigging on a western saddle is different from that on an English saddle. The rigging is used to secure the saddle to the horse, and most standard western saddles come with full rigging to accommodate both a front girth/cinch and a back girth. Back girths are not commonly used except for serious working horses, such as those used on a cattle ranch.

      The cinch strap is used to hold the girth to the saddle. It is a long strap of nylon or leather that is tied through a ring at the top of the girth, using a specially formed knot.

    Seat

    • The seat on a western saddle is made from either leather or suede. It is fairly broad and often includes some type of padding to provide a more comfortable ride. Directly in front of the seat is the pommel, where the horn is located. The back of the seat is the cantle, which turns upward to support the rider's back and reduce the likelihood of slipping off the back of the saddle.

    Stirrups

    • The stirrup on a western saddle is a wood-framed triangular structure. It provides a place for the rider's foot to rest and aids the rider's balance while riding in rugged conditions. The stirrup attaches to the fender of a western saddle. The fender is a thick leather flap that goes under the rider's leg and keeps his leg away from the girth of the saddle and the rigging.