Western Saddle Glossary

A saddle fork design with no outward flare on the swells -- the front of the saddle has a straight or gently curved profile. Characteristic of Wade and buckaroo-style saddles.

A tree designed for the Arabian breed's shorter back and different wither shape. Shorter bars and adjusted bar angle compared to stock horse trees.

The rear cinch on a double-rigged saddle. Prevents the saddle back from lifting during roping. Also called flank cinch. Must be connected to the front cinch with a hobble strap.

The long lateral component of a saddle tree that rests on the horse's back muscles on either side of the spine. Bar angle, length, and rock determine how the saddle fits the horse's back.

The short leather straps attached to the rigging rings on each side of the saddle. The cinch attaches to the billet straps. Safety-critical -- inspect carefully on any used saddle.

A composite material made from leather scraps bonded with adhesive. Not genuine leather; peels and fails quickly. Avoid any saddle with bonded leather components.

A saddle fit problem where the front and back of the saddle bars contact the horse but the middle section doesn't, creating a "bridge" shape. Concentrates pressure at two points.

The back ridge of the western saddle seat. Cantle height affects rider security and feel.

A rigging placement where the front cinch ring is positioned in the center of the saddle. Common on reining and cutting saddles.

The band that goes under the horse's belly to secure the saddle. Can be made from mohair, cord, leather, or neoprene.

Decorative round or oval metal ornaments on a saddle. Can be silver, silver plate, or base metal. A finishing detail on show and dress saddles.

Leather that has had its surface sanded and an artificial grain pattern applied. Less durable than full-grain.

A D-shaped metal ring attached to the saddle for connecting breast collars, back cinch hobble straps, or carrying gear.

Having both a front and rear cinch. Standard on roping saddles. Requires a hobble strap connecting the two cinches.

Structural deterioration of leather caused by loss of natural oils. Leather with dry rot cracks when flexed and cannot be fully restored.

The wide leather piece that hangs from the stirrup bar, protecting the rider's leg from the horse's sweat. Also called a sudadero.

A tree made from a wood core covered with fiberglass cloth and resin. The most common tree material in production saddles.

See Back cinch.

A tree that incorporates deliberate lateral flexibility in the bars. Designed to follow the horse's back movement.

See Swell.

The highest grade of leather, using the outermost hide layer with natural grain intact. Most durable and long-lasting leather type.

A tree designed for wide, flat-backed horses with low withers. Wider bar angle than a standard Quarter Horse tree.

The channel running front to back under the saddle, allowing clearance over the horse's spine. Must provide adequate clearance -- at least two fingers of space when the saddle is in place.

A short strap connecting the front and rear cinch rings on a double-rigged saddle. Prevents the rear cinch from sliding back.

The upright projection at the front of a western saddle, used for dallying a rope when roping. Also provides a hand-hold for the rider. Roping saddle horns are specifically reinforced for rope loads.

Rigging where the hardware is built directly into the skirt leather, creating a smoother profile. Popular on trail and pleasure saddles.

The long leather or nylon strap used on the left side of a western saddle to tighten the front cinch. Threads through the rigging dee and the cinch ring.

Classification of leather quality from full-grain (best) to corrected-grain to split leather to bonded leather (worst).

The front raised portion of the saddle seat, incorporating the horn and fork.

The most common western saddle tree width, designed for the typical stock horse body. Fits most western horses reasonably well.

Untanned cattle hide used to cover traditional wooden trees. Dries rock-hard, providing exceptional structural strength.

A brand name for thermoplastic tree material used in some production saddles. An injection-molded alternative to wood and fiberglass.

The system of hardware (rings, plates, or dee rings) and straps that connects the saddle to the cinch.

The placement of the front cinch ring relative to the saddle length. Options include full, 7/8, 3/4, and center-fire positions.

The area of the saddle where the rider sits. Measured from front edge of swell to top of cantle.

A tree width narrower than standard Quarter Horse, suited for horses with more prominent withers.

The large flat leather pieces on either side of the saddle that rest against the horse's sides and distribute the saddle's weight.

Leather from the inner layers of a hide. Weaker and less durable than full-grain or top-grain leather.

Long leather ties threaded through the skirts, used to attach gear. Also called saddle strings.

The front structural element of the saddle incorporating the horn. Also called the fork or pommel. Swell shape (A-fork vs. high swell vs. low swell) affects rider fit and feel.

Leather hoods enclosing the front of the stirrups, protecting the rider's feet from brush, cold, and wet. Traditional in buckaroo culture.

Leather with a lightly sanded surface to remove blemishes, sometimes with an artificial grain applied. Good quality but slightly less durable than full-grain.

The internal skeleton of a saddle, determining its shape, fit, and structural integrity. The most important component to evaluate when buying any saddle.

The narrowest part of the seat just behind the pommel. Affects how the rider's hips and thighs sit.

A traditional A-fork (slick-fork) tree design associated with buckaroo and ranch saddlery. Named after Clifford Wade.

A method of estimating tree width by conforming a flexible wire to the horse's withers and comparing the resulting shape to tree specifications.