An English saddle with a semi deep seat and forward cut leg flaps that can be used for flat work or jumping.

Built for comfort and used mostly for long trail rides or endurance riding. Deep seat and longer leg flap. There are blocks below the pommel to help the rider stay secure while riding through tough terrain, and some may or may not have a horn like a western saddle. Also known as an Aussie saddle, or Poley.

Keeps the saddle tree from tipping forward, and the cantle from rising up. Also known as the back billet, back cinch, or flank cinch.

Wide stirrups used mostly in “Buckaroo Country” to make it more comfortable when trotting out for long distances.

Straps found underneath the saddle flap that the girth attaches to. In most English saddles there are 3, an extra in case one breaks, except for dressage saddles and some eventing saddles there are only 2.

Padded attachments at the front of a western saddle on the side of the swells to help keep the rider in place. Mostly used on A-Fork saddles.

A small flap of leather found underneath the saddle flap and over the billet straps. This flap keeps the girth buckles from rubbing the underside of the saddle flap and interfering with the rider’s leg.

Leather blunt nose stirrup covers used to protect the feet.

The raised rear part of a saddle.

The cinch on a western saddle that is place half way between the pommel and the cantle.

flat strap of leather used to secure the cinch to the western saddle billet strap.

An English saddle with a flatter seat and little to no knee rolls allowing the rider to be “closer” to the horse. Normally used for jumping and equitation classes.

Metal disk, usually made of silver, secures saddle strings or used for decoration.

cross country

Any saddle where the pommel is cut back a bit to accommodate large withers. Saddle Seat riders use cut back saddles because it provides their horses more freedom of movement in the shoulders for the dramatic high stepping.

Refers to a western saddle when it has both front and back cinches utilized to keep the saddle from moving around.

An English saddle with a very deep seat and long straight leg flaps to accommodate the longer stirrup lengths of dressage riders.

Rings on the sides of saddles used for attaching training equipment, cinches, or any other necessary rigging.

Long piece of leather that covers and hangs below the stirrup. A cowboy can wiggle their feet and slap the leather together to make a noise that helps move cattle.

Saddle used mainly for 3 Day Eventing. Comes with longer leg flaps and a deeper seat to be used in all 3 stages of competition.

Large flap of leather that holds the stirrup on a western saddle. Also known as “sweat leather”.

The second pommel of a side saddle located at the top for the rider to place their outside leg over.

The flex tree saddle is a relatively new invention that’s become a very popular seller among manufactured saddles. A flex saddle tree has a rigid fork and cantle made out of wood or ralide (a very tough plastic material), but has bars made of a flexible material. Some manufacturers make the bars entirely out of a plastic or rubber product while others combine leather with the synthetic materials.

Front of the western saddle at the pommel that gives it its shape. The swells are on either side of the horn and come in 3 different variations: The Slick Fork (also known as an A-Fork), the Swell Fork, and the Wade Fork.

The placement of the cinch on a western saddle under the center of the fork or swells. Not used today because it allows the back of the saddle to rise up of the horses back.

The center of the underside of the saddle between the two panels.

The distance between the bars at the base of the swells on a western saddle.

NULLThe piece on top of the pommel of a western saddle used for dallying a rope when roping cattle.

Piece of leather attached to the saddle through which loose pieces can be hooked.

NULLThe padding located on the front of an English saddle leg flap where the knee generally rests.

Leather straps to which the cinch is secured.

The second pommel of a side saddle that the opposite leg pushes up into.

Style of military issued light weight saddle used by the U.S. Cavalry.

Blunt nosed stirrup covers made of fabric.

Refers to only having one flap on an English saddle where the billet straps are on the same flap as the stirrup bar. Used for jumping and some dressage to allow the rider to be closer to the horse.

Narrow stirrups often made of metal and preferred by bronc riders.

padded flaps

The underside of a saddle that actually touches the horses back on either side of the spine.

Used for the game of polo. Has a low seat and cantle with a flat seat, and wide saddle flaps with no knee or thigh roll to allow the rider more freedom of movement.

NULLThe very front center part of a saddle.

Flat, lightweight saddle with very forward, very short flaps to accommodate the extreme short stirrup position of jockeys.

The large outermost flap of the saddle which the rider’s leg rests against also can be called the leg flap.

Narrow strips of leather that lace through the saddletree or coverings and are held on by rosettes. They are usually decorative but can also be used to tie on ropes and other equipment.

framework of saddle, often made of wood, consisting of 2 side boards connected by 2 forks for the pommel and cantle.

Between the pommel and cantle where the rider sits.

Ladies riding saddle. Went out of style in the turn of the 20th century but was used when women need to do ranch work.

The leather flap that covers the stirrup bar and stirrup buckles and prevents them from rubbing the rider’s leg.

Western saddle with small swells that are more sloped. Usually about 8-10 inches wide.

Found in regions of Texas. A saddle horn that’s not wrapped in rubber or anything that lets the rope “grab” the horn. Allows the rope to slide when dallied and thought to be gentler on the animal that’s being roped.

Flat racing saddle with a little more padding than a regular racing saddle to help with jumping obstacles.

Located under the skirt of the saddle that holds the stirrup leather.

refers to where the rider rests their feet, which hang off the stirrup leather.

Loops through the stirrup bar and holds the stirrup.

The underside of the saddle flap that comes in contact with the horse’s side.

Fork with larger swells on either side of the saddle horn on a western saddle. Most popular fork and normally between 11-14 inches wide.

Stirrup covering to protect riders foot from brush and weather.

Specific saddle used in therapeutic riding to accommodate persons with disabilities to do exercises and other safe movements on horseback.

Block found on the rear of the saddle flap to help stabilize the riders’ lower leg.

Fixed frame of the saddle that gives it its shape.

The point of the saddle between the pommel and the seat that controls how far apart the rider’s legs are.

The skirt of the western saddle that is located in the rear and normally houses the flank cinch Dee rings.

Vielseitigkeitssattel Dressur (Versatility Saddle-Dressage) more forward cut than a working hunter/show saddle but less than a General Purpose saddle.

Found on most ranch saddles, swells aren’t as big as a swell fork but not as narrow as a slick for. A Wade tree saddle is a slick fork buckaroo style that is specifically built to be a working saddle. It's designed for handling livestock and for maximum comfort during long, strenuous hours in the saddle. k.

Part of saddle that transfers weight to the horses back. Sits along either side of the spine. Comes in 4 different sizes: Semi-Quarter Horse (6 ½” medium), Quarter Horse Bars (6 ¾” medium wide), Full Quarter Horse Bars (7” wide), and Extra Wide or Draft (8” Extra Wide).