Saddle Equipment Terminology

Saddle Components

• Billet Keeper: Protects saddle flap from wear by girth buckles, threads billets through it.

• Billets: Leather straps with holes for girth attachment; typically three straps, though some saddles might have two long ones.

• Cantle: Raised rear part of the saddle that enhances rider security and comfort.

• D Ring: "D" shaped ring at the front of the saddle for attaching martingales or breastplates.

• Flap: Wide leather covering that shields rider's legs from billets and girth buckles, preventing pinching from stirrup leather.

• Girth: Straps securing saddle to horse, attached via billets located under the flap.

• Gullet: Tunnel beneath the pommel above the horse's withers to alleviate pressure on the horse's spine.

• Knee Roll: Padding placed under the knee and in front of the thigh for added support.

• Nail Head: Fastener near the saddle's pommel, serves as a measurement point for saddle seat size.

• Panel: Stuffed sections on each side of the spine providing cushioning, ensuring saddle fit and balance for the rider.

• Pommel: Arched front of the saddle that offers clearance for the horse's withers and security for the rider.

• Seat: Lowest area at the top of the saddle where the rider sits; deeper designs provide increased security.

• Skirt or Jockey: Leather flap covering the stirrup bar, preventing leg rubs and stabilizing stirrups.

• Stirrup: Platform for rider's feet, enhancing support, leverage, and control while riding.

• Stirrup Bar: Metal component of the tree for stirrup attachment, designed to release in case of a fall to prevent dragging.

• Stirrup Leather: Leather strap from which the stirrup hangs, equipped with buckles or hooks for length adjustments.

• Stirrup Leather Keeper: Leather slot sewn into saddle flap to secure excess stirrup leather, keeping it clear of the rider's leg.

• Twist: Section between the seat and pommel where the rider's pelvic bone rests; a wider twist enhances comfort.