Cowboyway Home Page

Cowboyway Home Page

DISCLOSURE: This page might contain affiliate links. / Photo Of The Day


What Is A Swell Fork Saddle?

The fork of a Western saddle falls into two broad categories: Swell forks and slick forks.

On this page we describe what makes a saddle a "swell" fork saddle. You might also like: What Is A Slick Fork Saddle?

Below: A swell fork saddle. The blue arrow is pointing to the widest part of the fork.

A swell fork saddle


First, About A Saddle's Fork

Before we talk about what a swell fork saddle is, it might be helpful to first understand what the fork itself is.

A Western saddle fork sometimes goes by several names. While calling it a "fork" is common, it's also called the "swells" or the "pommel." While any of these terms are commonly used when referring to a Western saddle, the word “pommel” is used almost exclusively for English saddles.


So, A "Swell" Fork Saddle Is...

A swell fork saddle has a fork that is wider somewhere across the fork instead of at the bottom where it attaches to the bars.

Below: The blue arrow is pointing to the bottom of the fork where it attaches to the bar on that side. The green arrow is pointing to the widest point of the fork. Since the widest point of the fork on this saddle is somewhere across the fork, instead of at the bottom where it attaches to the bars, it is a “swell fork” saddle.

Arrows illustrating the widest point of a saddle fork


Not All Saddle Swells Are The Same

Even though a large number of Western saddles are swell fork saddles, they're not all the same. Swells come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes.

Below is another swell fork saddle. As you can see, its swells are larger and differently shaped than in the saddle shown above.

Below: The blue arrow is pointing to the bottom of the saddle fork and the green arrow is pointing to the widest point of the fork. This is another swell fork saddle.

A swell fork saddle with large swells


Forks, Swells, and Confusion

We mentioned above that on a Western saddle the fork is also sometimes called the swells. While this is true, it can occasionally also be confusing.

That's because while many saddle forks have an actual swell to them (that is, they're widest across the fork instead of at the bottom), some don't. These other saddles are called "slick" fork saddles and you can read about them here: What Is A Slick Fork Saddle?

Even though slick fork saddles don't have any swell to the fork, in casual conversation some folks might still call the fork the swells. The two terms, fork and swells, are interchangeable to a lot of people, even when there isn't actually any swell to the fork.

 

What Is / Are...

What Are 5 Of The Biggest Wild West Robberies?

What Are 5 Reasons Horse Trailer Lighting Matters?

What Are 8 Dumb Things To Say To A Horse Lover?

What Are 9 Proven Ways To Keep Flies Off Horses?

What Are Chestnuts and Ergots?

What Are Cowboy Chinks?

What Are Ermine Spots?

What Are Horns?

What Are Horse Blood Marks?

What Are Horse Vaccines and How Do They Work?

What Are Horse Whiskers?

What Are Leads?

What Are The Parts Of A Western Saddle?

What Are Saddle Rigging Positions?

What Are Some Fencing Options?

What Are Some Foods Both Horses And Dogs Can Eat?

What Are Some Horse Fencing Basics?

What Are Some Interesting Horse Facts?

What Are Some Interesting Charts and Graphs With Horse Information?

What Are Some Options For Temporary Horse Fencing?

What Are Slobber Straps?

What Are Synthetic Saddles Made Of?

What Are The Rodeo Catch Pens?

What Are The 10 Best 3-Horse Trailers With Living Quarters In The USA And Canada?

What Are The X's In A Cowboy Hat?

What Are The Three Legal Head Catches?

What Are Wolf Teeth?

What Is The Angle System For Branding?

What Is The Barrel Racing Pattern?

What Is A Bosal?

What Is A Brand?

What Is A Bull Riding Vest Made Of?

What Is A Crow Hop?

What Is Deworming Your Horse?

What Is A Domain Name?
Why would I need one for my farm or ranch even if I don't have or want a website?

What Is A Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch?

What Is Flag and National Anthem Etiquette At A Rodeo?

What Is A Slant Load Horse Trailer?

What Is Floating A Horse's Teeth?

What Is Freeze Branding?

What Do Horse Freeze Brands Look Like?

What Is A Galvayne's Groove?

What Is A Gooseneck Trailer Hitch?

What Is A Hack Rein?

What Is A Headstall?

What Is Some History About The First National Finals Rodeo?

What Is The History Of The Modern, Hornless, Bronc Riding Saddle?

What Is The History Of The Modern Rodeo Bucking Chute?

What Is The History Of The One-Hand Bareback Rigging?

What Is The Nasolacrimal Duct In Horses?

What Is A Pony Express Mochila?

What Is Hermann Oak Leather?

What Is Larvicidal De-Worming?

What Is The Flehmen Response?

What Is The Flying Gallop?

What Is The Mark Out Rule?

What Is A Nord Fork?

What Is The Rodeo Return Gate?

What Is Rotational Grazing?

What Is A Safety Tip For Posting The Colors?

What Is A Slick Fork Saddle?

What Is A Spur Ledge?

What Is A Swell Fork Saddle?

You Might Also Like

How To

Horse Tips

Who Was

 




Molly's Custom Silver

CowboyWay.com uses and recommends Molly's Custom Silver!






FREE Newsletter!
Receive tips, how-to's, and other good stuff. Subscribe now!


CowboyWay.com

Some images and/or other content on this website are copyright © their respective owners.
All other material copyright © 1999 - 2024 by CowboyWay.com - All Rights Reserved

Menu    About / Contact    Newsletter

Disclosures    Privacy Policy