Parts of a Western Saddle: Pommel

This photo shows the pommel of western saddle. The pommel of a saddle is the swell at the front of the saddle where, on a western saddle, the horn is attached. english saddles have pommels to but they are not nearly as pronouced as western saddle pommels. On an english saddle the word pommel simply refers to the front part of the seat. But the western pommel is a distinct part, many times a different texture, tooling, or color than the seat of the saddle. The pommel is shaped upwards in order to create a deeper, more secure seat for the rider in the event the horse stops suddenly- as would frequently occur using a western saddle for ranch or cattle work. The pommel also helps keep the riders thighs long and draped around the horse’s midsection.