Panel Type

The “panel” of the saddle refers to the section between the counter lining (so part touching the horse) and the tree. All saddles will have a different type of panel that make up the inner padding of the saddle. The panel type is designed to support the horses back to allow a comfortable space between the horses back and inside makings of the saddle. The panel is an integral part of the saddle as it needs to be just the right thickness to support the horses back comfortably when the riders weigh in distributed in the seat of the saddle. Anything such as the points of the gullet, tree or any hardware needs the panel of the saddle to protect this from interfering with the horses back.

Many brands of horse saddles have a preference of panel type that they use in their brands and strongly believe that their choice supports the saddle superiorly from others. In reality, no matter which panel type you have in your saddle, they all have a list of pros and cons and it will come down to a riders choice and horse’s needs in their saddle.