This wood/rawhide tree by Rod and Denise Nikkel at Nikkel Trees is almost too beautiful to cover with leather. |
The old-time spider rig is a 4'-diameter bronze ring that hangs halfway between centerfire and full, and is screwed to the topside of the tree bars, both front and rear, like the flat-plate rig (just as sturdy but with less leather under your leg and less weight). |
The seat has a gentle dome or crown that doesn't leave you sitting on a flat, hard plate, and gives you a very comfortable close contact with your horse. The tooling is Julia's signature decorative cuts. |
The cantle is 3-1/2" high, with space in the center of the tooling for a little silver.
The rear jockeys and skirts are laced with roo.
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The butterfly skirts, which cut up under the fenders, have two purposes/benefits: lighter weight, and less leather between your leg and your horse. |
This is how a 3/4 rig sits on a horse.
This one has a mane-hair cinch, but any natural animal-hair cinch will stay in place comfortably without being more than snug. |