Keeping the parts of western saddle in good working order is a responsibility that comes with owning and riding a horse. When we take on the responsibility of an animal, we need to not only take on the custody of the animal, we need to take on everything that comes with having an animal. You must ensure that the pony gets exercise too. You must keep the equipment ready for riding.
The saddle and all of its parts need to be kept in working order. This is for the benefit for both you and your pony. Unfortunately, it is too simple to have something not fit right. There are plenty of parts to western saddles. All of these parts need to be checked and kept in working order. Some are way more critical than others.
The gullet is a part of the saddle that if not correctly measured, it will cause Problems for the pony. If it is too short then it'll rub the pony's withers.
When this area is rubbed, it may cause some unpleasant sores and bruises. You cannot blame him though. Would you not be happy if you had to wear something all day that rubbed you raw? This is the way the horse feels. The gullet isn't the only part of western saddle that may cause issues. The cinches help hold the rigging on the pony. If the cinches are not looked after, not only is it able to rub the pony, but it could cause an accident.
You attempt to correct and regain your balance. Depending on the terrain where you are riding and the personality of your horse, you can just fall off. You'll luck out and only get bruised.
You could be in a position where the horse gets spooked and you lose control of the situation rather swiftly. This is often tragic for you and your horse. At best you may be injured enough that it causes you to be paralyzed; at worst you die. Your horse can become wounded enough that he either dies immediately or will have to be put down because he won't be able to heal. All of this can be avoided by looking after the saddle and its parts.
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You can find more information about Western saddles at http://www.partsofawesternsaddle.com , where you can read about parts of a Western saddle .