How to Learn the Parts of the Saddle

No matter what style of riding you do or breed of horse you work with, it is important to have the right tack. A sturdy, safe, well-built saddle is important for your safety and your equine companion's. New riders need to learn about the different parts of the saddles they are using because each part of the saddle is there for a specific reason, and learning to identify those parts is important to your riding safety. Once you understand what the various parts of the saddle do, you will be better able to spot problems like worn leather or torn straps.

Things You'll Need

  • Saddle appropriate to your riding discipline
  • Saddle guide
  • Saddle rack
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Find a good saddle guide at your local library or on the Internet. There are a number of excellent riding manuals, some dating back decades and some just published. If you are a member of Pony Club or 4H, these organizations publish excellent horsemanship guides that include diagrams of both Western and English saddles. Otherwise, there are some excellent online resources new riders can use to identify the parts of a saddle.

    • 2

      Print out a diagram of both a Western and an English saddle, even if you only do one style of riding. It is helpful to compare the parts of the two saddles to see what is different and what is the same.

    • 3

      Visit a local tack shop and examine a Western saddle and an English saddle side by side. Use your printed diagrams to identify the various parts of each saddle.

    • 4

      Review the parts that are the same on each saddle, like the stirrups and the stirrup leathers. Even though the style and appearance are different, both English and Western saddles some similar elements. Contrast similar parts with those that are unique to each saddle, such as the Western saddle's saddle horn and back cinch.

    • 5

      Compare the girth and cinch straps on the two saddles. The English saddle uses a girth strap with buckles that connect to straps called billets located on the side of the saddle; the Western saddle uses a leather cinch strap to connect the girth and hold the saddle in place.