English saddles
Horseback riding is a popular sports and leisure activity. English saddles are used in English riding which is an equestrian discipline with many styles. They have padded panels but do not nave horns. These are also typically lighter in weight compared to Western saddles. They also have elastic cinch designed to allow the saddle to stay without causing some discomforts on the horse.
English saddles are known to provide the horse the freedom of movement. They consist of the following parts:
~Pommel – highest point of most English saddles to provide security for the rider and to give a wither clearance
~Seat – The part of the saddle where the rider sits. It is the lowest part of the saddle’s topline
~Cantle – back of the saddle that is raised higher than the seat
~Saddle Flaps – large piece of leather between the rider’s leg, the billets and the girth buckles
~Knee Rolls – padding right under the knee and in front of the thigh
~Skirt or jockey – goes over the stirrup bar that prevents the rider’s leg from rubbing on the buckle of the stirrup leather
~Stirrup Leathers and Stirrups – The leather straps that hang down either side of the saddle with stirrups hanging from them. They are attached to the saddle by the T-bars under the skirt. The rider’s foot sits in the stirrups, resting on them on the balls of the rider’s feet for safety.
~Billets or girth straps – straps where the girth is buckled; has several holes for tightness adjustment
~Girth – Not part of the saddle, but attached to opposing sides of the saddle using the billets, holding the saddle on the horses back.