Can someone narrate me more in the region of girth buckle guards. What are they for and how do you put them on?
There are two types of buckle guard. The ones that you thread onto the billet straps below the saddle flap.
http://i7.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/e6/e5/422...
When you fasten the girth you snug them down over the buckles.
Some saddles have them built within like this one
http://www.horsedata.co.uk/images/Tack/P...
What they actually do is provide a protective layer between the metal buckles and the actual saddle flap ( I own seen saddles where the buckles wore holes straight through the saddle flap)
girth buckle guards are exactly what they say, they protect the saddle flap from the buckles on the girth where on earth they attach to the girth leathers, on an english saddle anyway. If you lift up your saddle flap you should see three or four long pieces of leather hanging, the guards stir on these first before you attach the girth and pulled down to cover the buckles once it is. Hope that makes sense lol
here's a link for some more info whether you need it
http://www.englishsaddleguide.com/englis...
Answers: You put them on the billets of an English saddle. They keep the girth buckles from digging into the under side of the flap and marring it. Many English saddles come beside the buckle guards built in by the manufacturer. To add after bazaar buckle guards, just run the billets though the slots.
You put each billet through each of the holes. It protects the buckles against rubbing the saddle flap. If you don't use them, eventually, the saddle flap will become immensely worn. The buckle guards also keep you more comfortable. It protects the girth buckles from digging into your leg when riding. They are not necessary, but they are a small price to pay whether you want your saddle to last long.
Here is a link you may find helpful:
http://www.raraequus.com/edu1/pages/sadd...
I've never seen them for English saddles. For western saddle they come in velcro design that are just wrapped over the buckle, or the older style ones slid over the buckle since the latigo was attached to the cinch, and they had a fleece lining facing the horse. Why would you inevitability buckle guards on an English saddle girth?
ADD...well, now I know. I guess I thought they all come with that flap.
They hang on to the metal buckle hardware from causing unnecessary gouging or marring to the underside of your flap, and to me they reduce the verbal abuse my knees get if the buckles are directly below my knees..I have one close contact I can't gain adjusted right--I use 2 sets of guards for my knee padding!
