DESCRIPTION OF A SADDLE. 115 



pommel (called a "head" by saddlers) or front part, and a 

 cantle or rear part. The bars are connected in front by the 

 pommel, and in rear by the cantle. The broad rear por- 

 tions of the bars over which the pelvis of the rider rests, are 

 termed the bellies of the tree. The gullet is the channel 

 which runs down the centre of the under surface of a 



Fig. 123. View of under surface of Saddle Tree, Fig. 122. 



saddle, from pommel to cantle. The gullet plate is the 

 metal (preferably, steel) arch under the pommel, and the 

 points of the tree are the wooden continuations of the gullet 

 plate. 



In order to strengthen the tree, steel plates, called " bar 

 plates" in the trade, are often rivetted to its under surface 

 (Fig. 124). The cantle plate, which is the nearly semi-circular 

 plate at the cantle, is a necessity in all saddles. The cantle 

 plate, shown in Fig. 126, gives solid attachment to a ring 

 for a crupper. 



8* 



