Woman’s Saddle

Highly prized, this graceful and ornamental women’s saddle has been derived from the Spanish Moor style, and adapted to native materials and modified to suit the taste of the women of the Northern Plains, Columbia River Plateau and some Great Basin tribes. The decorated saddle, beaded stirrups, bridle, girth, martingale, and crupper were used on dress occasions on women’s horses.
Crow women today still dress their horses in finery to ride in the parades during the annual Crow Fair in Crow Agency, Montana.