| A pony saddle is made up of various parts, the | | | | horizontal bars under the skirt and are used to hold |
| names of which can be confusing. If you are serious | | | | the stirrups.. These bars are made in two pieces,a |
| about pony riding you should be familiar with how a | | | | bar and a movable catch to secure the stirrup leather |
| saddle is made. The following will help you to tell your | | | | and to release it should the rider fall from the pony. |
| cantle from your pommel and your tree from your | | | | The Stirrup Irons (also called stirrups) are attached to |
| flap. | | | | the stirrup leathers and provide support for a rider's |
| The Saddle Tree is the foundation of the saddle and | | | | feet. |
| can be either of two kinds - rigid or spring. A spring | | | | The Flap is a leather flap that sits on top of the girth |
| tree is generally used in English saddles, and a rigid | | | | straps and buckles to keep the rider's legs from |
| tree in Western saddles. For spring trees the shape is | | | | rubbing on them. |
| created from a base constructed from thin plywood, | | | | The Girth Straps hold the buckles which fasten the |
| layered over with fibreglass for strength. Steel strips | | | | girth to the saddle and are usually made from either |
| placed beneath the saddle from front to back give | | | | webbing or leather. |
| the spring. | | | | The Knee Roll provides padding and grip for the |
| For a rigid tree a wooden base covered in leather is | | | | rider's knee. |
| used, or alternatively a fibreglass base with wooden | | | | The Outer Panels are made of leather and are filled |
| shavings Steel plates are attached underneath the | | | | with padding of felt, wool or plastic foam. They are |
| tree for further reinforcement. Some saddles, called | | | | attached to the saddle under the skirt. The padding is |
| treeless are made without a rigid base, having a | | | | to protect the pony's back and to distribute the |
| fibreglass pommel and cantle instead. | | | | rider's weight evenly. |
| The Pommel is found at the front of the saddle and | | | | The Keeper holds the end of the stirrup leather to |
| is the part that fits over the pony's withers. | | | | stop it flapping about. |
| The Cantle is the part that rises at the back of the | | | | The Gullet is a groove running from front to back |
| seat. | | | | underneath the saddle. |
| The Seat is where the rider sits and is the depressed | | | | The Skirt is the flap of leather over the stirrup bar. |
| area in the middle of the saddle. | | | | D-Rings are attached to the saddles to provide |
| The Stirrup Leathers are the adjustable leather (or | | | | places to attach equipment e.g. a martingale. |
| sometimes webbing) straps that are attached to | | | | |