The large majority of saddle fitters like to discuss flocking adjustments as the be-all end-all solution to fitting a saddle. And occasionally some suggest making a tree adjustment. It must be that those two adjustments are the most outwardly obvious and visible changes to make to a saddle.
The fact is, flocking and tree adjustments definitely are important changes to make a saddle fit better, but they are not the only two pieces of the puzzle. There is another valuable fitting option to address, and that is billet design.
In case that phrase is a little ambiguous sounding, all it really means is how and where the billets are attached to a saddle. There are multiple types of billet configuration: point billets, straight billets and V billets. But before I get to the fitting information, here is a definition of each configuration:. Point Billet — The billet at the very front of the saddle tree, that actually connects to the tip of the tree point. Straight Billet — A billet connected by one anchor point to any given location on a tree.
You often see straight billets connected side-by-side in the center of the tree, as almost all jump saddles come this way from the factory.
V Billet — A billet connected at two anchor points on a tree, connected with a self-adjusting hinge. The concept is to give the most even tension distribution over the tree. Now we will get into how to solve these issues with the billet design. English riding saddles typically have billet straps on both sides of the saddle.
Located under the top leg flap, these billets are used to attach the cinch to the saddle. Most English saddles will have at least three billet straps on each side. Any two of these straps are then used to attach the cinch to the saddle.
So why three straps if the cinch only has two holes? For a well-balanced saddle, you can rotate between the billet straps to encourage even wear. This is an excellent video I found that covers how to tack up a horse with an English saddle. The billet strap setup on a dressage saddle is similar to that on an English saddle.
Some dressage saddles will also have a fourth billet strap, called a point billet, to help further stabilize the saddle on the horse. There are two different types of billet styles most common to dressage saddles, the long and short billet. The longer flap of the dressage saddle gives ample room for a saddle maker to use a longer billet. Using a longer billet will help to reduce bulk under your leg and thigh and can result in a closer connection to the horse.
This means that a horse saddled with a long billet dressage saddle will need a smaller size girth for a dressage saddle than for an English saddle. Thank you. Never saw the billet dropping directly out of the thigh block before. My horse has a forward girth spot, so that is nice to know.
Thanks, Val. The extremely forward-hung opoint billet can be a huge help with the really short, forward girth spots. Melissa, I've seen times when the anatomic girth worked wonderfully to keep the saddle back Depends on the situation. My saddle came with the billets crossed so the rear billet is in the front.
Do you have any concerns with this arrangement? Anon, I've known of this billeting configuration to be used to help secure the saddle. I don't think it's really optimal, but it could be a helpful "band aid" until you can have a fitter check things out and recommend a better fix.
Great post as always Kitt. Photo of an older model Courbette Dekunffy Dressage Saddle on a blue saddle rack. This photo shows an English saddle pictured from the front. The way this saddle is being measured is a somewhat effective method of measuring the width of a saddle you plan to list on eBay or sell online. It is always important to provide accurate measurements for saddles sold online, since many horses require a very specific size.
This photo shows the underside of an English saddle. These padded channels are called panels and should feel firmly stuffed but smooth, not lumpy or overstuffed in some areas and not others. The best saddles are stuffed with pure wool, of varying qualities, but cheap saddles are reportedly stuffed with newspapers, sawdust, or worse. Panel restuffing is a relatively easy fix for most saddle repair shops and buying a saddle in need of panel restuffing may be a good way to find a bargain.
The skirt is the piece of leather covering the equipment shown here.
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