Western Horse Saddle Parts & Description

Hardy, sturdy, and free spirits, cowboys define the image of the western saddle. Richard E. Ahlborn, author of "Horizons of the Western Saddle" featured in a excerpt on History Wired, states that "the western stock saddle of Hispanic-Mexican origin, along with parallel innovations within American Indian societies, can be used as a device to describe and illustrate aspects of 19th-century American culture." These alterations led to a saddle that allowed frontiersmen to carry guns, ropes and other implements.

  1. Types

    • The several styles of western saddles accommodate competitive western riding disciplines such as roping, reining, barrel racing, trail and all-round. The type of saddle changes the horn height, position of the fenders, and the height of the cantle. According to author Janye Pedio, in the Equisearch article "Saddle Facts," "western saddles are built on either wooden trees covered in fiberglass or rawhide, or a material called ralide, which is a polyethylene." This forms the base of all the western saddle types. The appearance of a saddle varies slightly by type. Generally, western saddles appear square with two protrusions in the front and back. On the underside of the saddle, artificial fiber softens the leather on the horse's back.

    Front

    • Most western saddles possess the distinctive 2- to 4-inch horn, which sticks out of the pommel. The pommel, also called the swell, holds the saddle together. It comes in three types---the A fork, swell fork, and undercut swell fork. These form the basic shape of the front of the saddle. The saddle tree, encased in leather under the pommel and seat, distributes the rider's weight over the horse's back, making a comfortable ride for both rider and horse.

    The Back

    • The cantle creates the back of the saddle's seat. The height of the cantle varies by saddle type with saddles destined for used in rigorous disciplines like barrel racing possessing a taller cantle. Behind the cantle, the saddle makers usually tool the saddle's skirt with floral or geometric shapes. In some barrel saddles, the skirt curves around the back of the cantle to make the saddle weigh less and allow unrestricted movement.

    Stirrups and Seat

    • The type of saddle dictates the position of the stirrups with saddles created for reining and barrel racing possessing a more forward stirrup arrangement. The fender attaches to stirrup to the saddle. The seat, the space created between the pommel and cantle, starts at 7 inches, which fits small children. An adult female typically uses a 15-inch saddle though retailers sell up to 18-inch saddles.

    Other Saddle Parts

    • Three straps hang down from the saddle. The front two fasten the girth. Off billet, the shorter strap on the right, holds the girth, which goes under the horse directly behind the front legs. The latigo, also called a cinch strap, loops through the clinch ring on the girth---the rider pulls up on the latigo until tight---then ties a cinch knot. The final strap, called the flank strap, hangs from the back left. Used primarily for decoration, the flank strap secures the back of the saddle to keep it from tipping forward.