December 2005

101 Uses For A Grap Strap

Well, fewer than that, but a grab strap is for more than just unruly moments.

Note the grab strap in front of the pommel.

The grab strap is the English tack equivalent of the Western saddle horn. Its original purpose was as a panic strap, especially when schooling young horses. But it’s coming to have a lot of other uses and is now often left on a saddle at all times, even in the show ring.

A long flash noseband or several wraps of baling twine can work in a pinch. But if you’re going to install a grab strap on your saddle fulltime, we suggest a rounded strap that will be kinder to your hands and easier to snap onto than a flat strap. The length should allow it to round up above the…