Saddles- a conventional English saddle has as its core a rigid tree that must be sized correctly according to the width and shape of the horse’s back to avoid painful pressure points beneath the rigid parts of the tree. On the underside of the tree are the panels which are shaped to match the contours of the individual horse’s back. Above the tree is the seat of the saddle that should fit the size and shape of the rider’s pelvis, buttocks and thighs, which differ considerably from the shape of the horse’s back. The flaps extend downwards and lie between the horse’s ribcage and the rider’s leg. A conventional saddle has two flaps: a sweat flap adjacent to the horse’s ribcage upon which the girth straps (billets) are located and a second flap is attached outside of the sweat flap and billets with the stirrup leathers on its outer surface.
