What are all the parts of a horse saddle?
Saddles can be broken up into three areas: the pommel, the seat, and the cantle. Think of these simply as the front, middle, and back of the saddle.
What is the back strap on a Western saddle called?
Western Saddle Cinches and Western Girths A Western saddle cinch keeps a Western saddle on a horse’s back. Western saddle cinches are sometimes called Western girths. Types include flank, Australian, or back cinches. In mohair, neoprene, leather, nylon or string cotton.
Why do Western saddles have a back cinch?
It’s a safety piece that stabilizes the saddle by attaching with aid of rear billets and a leather hobble strap to the front cinch. The back cinch holds your saddle snug and level to your horse’s barrel, alleviating pressure to his withers because the saddle doesn’t shift forward during maneuvers.
Why do Western saddles have two girths?
So why do some western saddles have two of them? You often see a western saddle with both a primary cinch and a rear or back cinch. To keep the rear cinch from slipping back, a “cinch hobble” is used to secure the rear cinch to the main cinch. So, that’s what the second girth is for.
How do you identify a saddle?
Look for the manufacturer’s name and logo to be stamped in plain sight on the saddle. Check on the back, the skirts or on a plate underneath the jockey. Contact the saddle’s manufacturer for information about the saddle’s age. Most manufacturers will be able to tell you the age of the saddle using the serial number.
What is a saddlebow?
: the arch in or the pieces forming the front of a saddle.
What is a gullet on a saddle?
The gullet is the tunnel underneath the fork and rides over the horse’s withers. The design of the fork and the angle of the bars of the saddle tree determine the width and height of the gullet.
Do you have to have a back cinch on a Western saddle?
Because it’s unlikely your saddle will shift in certain show events, such as Western pleasure or horsemanship, a back cinch isn’t commonplace in these classes. But for hilly trail riding, cattle and speed events, reining, and other activities, a back cinch is a must.
Can you ride without a back cinch?
A back cinch is not a necessary piece of equipment for all disciplines of riding, however it can be very crucial in others. English, eventing, and dressage disciplines are several examples where a back cinch is not needed (and for these specifically, not even an option).
