Saddle English Parts

• Tree the base on which the rest of the saddle is built. It is eventually covered in leather or synthetic material as the saddle is built. The stirrup bar is built onto the tree.
• Panels the part of an English-saddle which provides cushioning between the horse's back and the saddle, and allows adjustment in fitting the saddle to the horse. Also important in keeping the saddle balanced for the rider. Often flocked with wool, foam, or air pockets. The panels under the cantle are called the "rear panels." Those at the front of the saddle are called the "front panels." However, the rear and front panels are one continuous unit, which can be seen if the saddle is flipped over. The saddle has two panels total, one on each side of the horse's spine.

• Gullet The channel between the panels of the saddle, which provides clearance for the horse's spine so the saddle does not place pressure on it.
• Seat the dip in the saddle where the rider's seatbones rest, it is the lowers part of the saddle's topline. The deeper the seat, the more security is provided for the rider.
• Pommel the front the saddle, which is raised higher than the seat both to provide security for the rider and to give wither clearance.
• Cantle the back of the saddle, which is raised higher than the seat to give security.
• Waist the part of the saddle between the seat and the pommel, on which the rider's pelvic bone rests. The width of the waist has a great effect on rider's comfort, especially for women riders.
• Skirt piece of leather that goes over the stirrup bar, to help prevent the rider's leg from rubbing on the buckle of the stirrup leather (which is adjusted so it is right against the stirrup bar). It also helps to keep the buckle of the stirrup leather from unbuckling and sliding down. The skirt is easily lifted up to adjust the stirrup leather.
• Saddle flap The large piece of leather on an English saddle that goes between the rider's leg and the billets and girth buckles. It helps prevent the horse's side from being pinched by the stirrup leather. The shape and length of the saddle flap is directly related to the intended use of the saddle, as it must mirror the rider's leg position.
• Sweat flap The large piece of leather that goes between the billets and the horse. It helps to protect the rest of the saddle from the sweat of the horse. It is not seen in monoflap saddles.
• Billets (girth straps) Straps which are secured from the saddle tree and hang down, to which the girth is buckled. They have several holes in them to adjust the tightness of the girth. There are generally three billets (one spare), although some saddles have two long billets to buckle the girth lower down (below the saddle flap).
• Buckle guard the billets are threaded through the buckle guard, which protects the saddle flap from getting worn away by the buckles of the girth. These are not always present on saddles with long billets, which are intended to be buckled below the saddle flap.
• Knee/Thigh roll padding on an English saddle that is right under the knee and in front of the thigh, helps give the rider more support. It may be very thick in some saddles, very thin (called pencil-roll), or not present at all.
• Calf block padding that falls behind the rider's lower leg, helps to keep it in place and stabilize the rider. It is commonly not present, except on certain saddle models.
• Stirrup part of the saddle in which the rider's feet go, provides support and leverage to the rider.
  • Bar part of the tree of the saddle which allows stirrups to be attached. It is made of strong metal. The stirrup bar is usually kept in the "open" position, so that (should the rider fall and start to be dragged) the stirrup leather can release off the saddle, freeing the rider. There are only a few instances in which the bar should be kept in the "closed" position.
  • Iron The metal part of a stirrup, in which the foot of the rider rests. It provides support and leverage. It is usually made of stainless steel, not iron.
  • Leather The part of the stirrup which attached the stirrup iron to the stirrup bar of the saddle. It can be adjusted to change the lengths of stirrups.
• Stirrup leather keeper keeper sewn on the saddle flap, through which the extra stirrup leather is passed. Keeps it neatly out of the way so it doesn't get under the rider's leg. Some saddles simply have a slot cut into the saddle flat, through which the leather is passed.
• D-ring a metal "D"-shaped ring on the front of an English saddle, to which certain pieces of equipment (such as breastplates) can be attached. They can occasionally be pulled out of the saddle when under great stress.

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