The Rope Strap
July 30, 2009 by Saddle Sense
Filed under Saddle Parts
I recently received an email from a reader asking about a strap attached to the fork on an old saddle he recently bought. He wasn’t sure what it was and what it was used for.
This strap is a saddle rope strap. It’s a narrow strip of leather about 3/4 of an inch wide that is attached to the off (right) side of the saddle on the fork. Its purpose is to hold a lariat. A left-handed rider may have his strap on the near (left) side of the saddle.
Most straps are designed to be looped over the horn and will break if the rider gets entangled. Rope straps are found mainly on roping and ranch saddles. While this is obviously a piece of gear designed for roping, it’s a handy tie strap to have on your saddle, whatever your activity.
Below is an illustration (courtesy of: “The Cowboy at Work” by Fay E. Ward) that demonstrates how a rope strap is attached:
