Saddle Parts

For those of you just starting to ride, western saddle parts can become quite confusing. There are many parts that make up a saddle so we wanted to list some of the major parts to give you a better understanding of what makes up a western saddle. While every part of a saddle plays a role, the three most important are the saddle tree, the seat, and the rigging. If these three are designed and constructed well, then you'll have a solid saddle.

Saddle Tree - Traditionaly made out of wood, hence the use of the word tree, the role of the saddle tree is to evenly distribute the rider's weight over the horse's back which makes it more comfortable for the horse and the rider.

Horn - The horn is probably the most recognizable part of a western saddle. The horn was originally added to western saddles to help in roping cattle. When a steer is roped, the rider can tie his end of the lariat around the horn to absorb the force created by the steer when it reaches the end of the rope. Today, many casual riders hold on to it for support.

Gullet - The saddle gullet is the cutout or tunnel beneath the swell that sits over the horse's withers. It's important that the gullet have the right amount of clearance over the withers. If the height of the gullet is too short, the saddle will rub on the horse's withers. If it's too wide, the saddle will lay too low on the shoulders, and also rub on the withers. A general guideline to use for a proper gullet fit is that there should be about two to four fingers-widths of clearance between the withers and the gullet.

Swell - Also known as the fork, the swell is the front of the saddle tree. It holds the two parallel bars of the tree together and provides the base for mounting the horn. The swell is what gives shape to the front of a western saddle.

Seat - The saddle seat of a western saddle is one of the most important part to a rider. It will most likely determine how comfortable you'll feel when riding for hours. Quality seats will have a slight curve to them in order to match the pelvic arch. Low quality seats are flat and will be quite uncomfortable after spending some time in the saddle. In addition, a well designed seat will be more narrow at the front which will allow the rider’s legs to be close to the horse.

Cantle - The cantle is the upright portion of the saddle at the back of the seat. It's an important part of the saddle as it secures the rider in place so that they don't slide off the back of the saddle while also providing a backrest for more comfort.

Latigo Carrier - Also known as the latigo holder or cinch strap holder, the latigo carrier holds the loose end of the latigo (strap that connects the cinch to the saddle’s rigging) after it’s been laced through the ring of the cinch.

Jockey - The saddle jockey is the piece that covers the exposed parts of the saddle tree bars and are held in place with either screws, saddle strings or conchos. In addition to providing a covering for the bars, the saddle jockeys also provide protection for a rider’s legs from the horse’s sweat and from rubbing on the stirrup leathers and rigging.

Skirt - The saddle skirt is the large piece of heavy leather that attaches to the underside of the saddle tree bars. The purposes of the skirts are to protect the horse from the saddle bars, distribute a rider's weight over a more even surface area and to protect the rider from a sweating horse.

Rigging Ring - The saddle rigging ring is an important part in terms of safety. It's the role of the rings to connect the straps that will hold the saddle in place. Sounds simple but saddle rigging is one of the most important parts of a western saddle and something many people misunderstand.

Strings - The saddle strings are the long leather straps that hang off the side of a western saddle. They're used many times to attach saddlebags and canteens to the saddle, but originally the main purpose of the strings to hold together the pieces of the saddle covering and anchor them to the bars. Still used by saddle makers, this setup greatly improves the lifespan of a saddle.

Stirrups - The stirrups are an important part of a western saddle that aid in mounting and dismounting a horse. Originally, stirrups were made from a single piece of wood. They can be left bare or covered with galvanized sheet metal for added strength, or even covered with both metal and leather. They can also be made completely of metal or out of one of the new synthetic materials. There are many styles and options available today.