The Fantasia Saddle

The saddles used for Fantasias are real masterpieces of traditional North-African craftsmanship. All parts are covered with rich decoration, in most cases embroidery. Often these embroideries are made of metal threads. You can even find rare antique saddles with embroidery made of real gold or silver threads !

The ornaments show a great variety. In most cases, they are abstract (floral or geometrical patterns), but I have also seen some representations of horses, birds, or flowers.

On my German pages, there is a system of the decoration variations (in German language).

Saddles are similar in all Maghreb countries, but there are some regional differences. The shape does not differ very much, but there is a large scale of variations in material and decoration.

The following components are obligatory:

• a pad (with a decorated cover, in most cases),
• a tree (with a decorated cover, in most cases),
• a simple breast girth (sometimes together with a second decorative breast collar),
• a pair of big iron stirrups,
• a strong saddle girth (around the ribs),
• a bridle with integrated blinds, often together with a forehead decoration ,
• and a neckstrap