The flaps are made as a separate item and attached to the tree. Modern saddles have the flaps made in two distinct halves. There is a 'solid' leather rear section over which the stirrup leathers hang, and a padded area to the front that is flexible enough to mould round the supportive knee roll underneath.

The most important aspects of the flap are the shape, which should be appropriate to the intended riding position adopted by the rider, and the resistance to wear and tear. More than any other part of the saddle, the flaps are subjected to constant abrasion from the rider's leg, boots and stirrup leathers. Correct design of the flap should ensure that the softer leather of the pad, and the associated stitching, is placed out of the way of the areas of maximum abrasion.

The attachment of girth straps, stitched to one of the cross webs of the seat, completes the top half of the saddle.

It goes without saying that it is of vital importance that the surface of the saddle resting on the horse's back should be as smooth and even as possible. In this respect sheet foam probably represents the ideal filling material because of its uniformity. The main drawback is that the panels once made are difficult to adjust should the balance or height of a saddle need altering. Most English saddles use wool flocking as the filling. Stuffing saddles is a skilled and time consuming job if the best result is to be obtained. Within limits, the panels so filled can be adjusted to accommodate changes in the shape of a horse's back. For this reason the English market has traditionally favoured wool stuffed panels.

Stitched to the stuffed part of the panels is a piece of solid leather called the seat flap. This forms a protective layer to shield the horse's ribs from the girth buckles.

Completing the panels are profiled wedges strategically placed to give support to the rider's legs; the knee roll on the forward edge of the stuffed part of the panels and a thigh roll on the rear edge of the seat flap.

Continues........