Harness saddle

[3] In the United States during the late 19th century, at the height of use of horse-drawn vehicles,[citation needed] a pre-fabricated tree and fittings could be ordered by a saddle maker and assembled to suit the user.

The saddle is held in position by a girth strapped firmly around the heartgirth area of the horse.

One line was developed as a refinement of that harness and involved a wide variety of martingale and breastplate type straps in front of the shoulder and between the forelegs, all attached to a saddle and girth.

The other line, far more successful, evolved in China from ancient withers-straps that originally were used with a breastplate-and-breeching harness without a girth.

A minority of 2nd century Han art shows this new breastplate-and-breeching harness with a girth added to it, and in that context ancient Chinese texts sometimes refer to the withers-strap as a saddle.

This 2nd century harness saddle supported one of two arches attached to shafts, and had terrets through which the reins were carried.