Parts of a Horse Saddle (Western & English)

What are parts of a Horse Saddle? There are many types of horse saddles you can ride in, including: Western saddle, Australian stock saddle, Jump Saddle, Dressage saddle and Endurance saddle.

Parts of the Western Saddle

What are the names of the parts of a Western Saddle?There are lots of different types of Western saddles. Horse Saddle Parts Diagram below shows the parts of a saddle used for Western riding. Parts of a western horse saddle includes:

• Gullet
• Saddle Seat
• Seat jockeys
• Rear Billet strap
• Front cinch
• Back cinch
• Saddle makers logo
• Latigo keeper
• Saddle tree
• Saddle bars

Parts underneath saddle - Western

Parts of an English Saddle

English saddles are used for english riding disciplines such as jumping, dressage, eventing, hunter jumping and more. Types of english saddles includes: Dressage saddle, Jump Saddle, Eventing Saddle and All Purpose Saddle. Depending on the type of english saddle, they can also have features such as deep seat, close contact, spring tree, higher cantle, shorter girth, breast collar, single flap, leather or synthetic materials and more. Dressage saddles tend to have a deeper seat than Jump Saddles. See diagram below for the individual parts of the saddle.

• Saddle Horn
• Stirrup leathers
• Stirrups
• Knee pads
• Seat
• Saddle flap (whererider’s legs go)
• Pommel
• Twist
• Fender (on the side of the saddle)
• Skirt
• Knee roll (front of the saddle)
• Stirrup Bar
• Keeper
• Grab straps (for beginner riders)
• Girth straps

What is the horn on a saddle called?

The horn on a Western saddle is referred to as the fork, pommel or swell.

What is a gullet on a saddle?

The gullet is located on top of the wither of the horse, and is what determines the saddle size for your horse. The angle of the gullet (common sizes are SQHB and FQHB) determines the width and the size of the gullet. A horse with a flatter wither (for example draft horses) would usually use a wide or x-wide gullet while a high wither (for example thorouhbreds) would use a narrow or medium gullet.