Saddle

A saddle was a seat attached to a creature, either for riding or carrying objects.
==Description==
===Types===
Saddles were mainly split into two groups: riding saddles and pack saddles. Riding saddles were used by those who rode creatures, whilst pack saddles were frames used to carry equipment. (Riding saddles were sometimes used along with panniers for carrying small amounts of gear in addition to the rider on the saddle.) Military saddles were also available, and were used by commanders and generals in battle. Exotic saddles were used to mount specific types of creatures, such as aquatic and aerial mounts.
These seats were sold all over Faerûn, Maztica, Kara-Tur, and Zakhara.
Saddles specifically made for camels had different names in Zakhara and were known as kharj, rahla, and terke. The rahla was small, comfortable and lightweight, whilst the terke was cage-like and enabled the rider to control the camel much more easily.
As well as animals, mechanical machines such as the Leaping Lizard of Raven's Bluff, were seated with saddles. Citizens of the city could mount the ride for 2 cp each.
Saddle frames were often made of wood or sheepskin. Saddles were sold by Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue, and each of them were made from black Ordulan leather. 
Saddles manufactured in Calimshan had especially tall cantles.
===Mounts===
Such seats came in a multitude of varieties, each different depending on the rider's needs or the type of mount used. Types of mounts that used saddles were horses, mules, wolves, griffons, hippogriffs, steeders, pegasi, dragons, giant striders, and camels. Even dolphins could have saddles fitted to them, as well as owlbears, axebeaks, hippocampi, gelatinous cubes, purple worms, giant fireflies, giant lizards, veserabs, pteranadons, giant ravens, wyverns, stone flyers, nightmares, and carrion crawlers.
===Usage===
Traveling on saddles (particularly poor ones) for long periods could cause bad sores.
Instead of making saddles from scratch, arcane methods could be used. The mount spell could summon creatures with saddles already attached to them, or even howdahs, should the caster be powerful enough. Even the phantom steed spell summoned a ghostly mount with a saddle and bit and bridle to boot.
==History==
Saddles first became available in Netheril in .
1345 DR was known as the Year of the Saddle. The High Herald of Yartar was known as the Gold Saddle. In addition, the settlement of Lheshayl had an inn known as the Saddle of the Plains, Hill's Edge featured an inn called the Stone Saddle, and a body of water in Longsaddle was known as the Saddle Pond.
==Notable Saddles==
There were many notable saddles of the Realms, including those that could fit exotic beasts of all shapes and sizes. Some notable saddles were:
* The flying saddle of Thamos, a magic saddle from Cormyr.
* A saddle of the cavalier, a wondrous item favored by riders.
* A military saddle from Shadowdale had a huge black opal embedded into it. It was worth 1,000 gp.
==Notable Owners==
* Lord Charles Frederik LaVerne Blacktree IV owned a saddle that was modified with several attachments. His saddle held not only his bow and silver arrows, but also javelins in special scabbards.
* Chuqali Shilai's headquarters, the nom-satakon erughe, housed a number of saddles.
==Notable Producers of Saddles==
* Calishite-crafted saddles were masterfully made. Their design appeared rugged but was highly functional and comfortable for both the horse and the rider.
* Keltar was well known for its production of saddles. Their saddles had such a good reputation that they were desired by every Calishite horseman. One of the great crafters of Keltar claimed he could custom-make saddles for dragons.
* Mosstone was a notable producer and exporter of saddles.
==Trivia==
In the Roll of Years, the year 1345 DR bore the name "Year of the Saddle".
==Appendix==
===See Also===
* Barding
===Appearances===
===Gallery===
Mastiff.jpeg|A mastiff wearing a red and brown saddle.
Horse-5e.jpg|A horse with a saddle attached to it.
Riding Lizard.png|A riding lizard with a saddle strapped above its forearms.
Rhinoceros-WarBeast-3e.jpg|A saddle attached to a rhinoceros.
Axe beak-5e.jpg|An axe beak wearing a pack saddle.
Wearer of Purple.jpg|An aerial mount saddle attached to a wyvern.
TriceratopsMount-NW.png|A triceratops mount decked out in partial barding and a saddle, from the game Neverwinter.
Worg-5e.jpg|A goblin rides atop a worg on a small saddle.
Sahuagin-Rider.png|A orange sahuagin rides atop a giant eel on a red saddle.
===References===
Category:0-24 gold pieces
Category:25-49 gold pieces
Category:50-74 gold pieces
Category:Items
Category:Items from Faerûn
Category:Items from Kara-Tur
Category:Items from the Hordelands
Category:Items from Maztica
Category:Items from Zakhara
Category:Items from Keltar
Category:Items from Cormyr
Category:Items from Calimshan
Category:Items from Toril
Category:Tack
Category:Items from the Eastern Heartlands
Category:Items from the Blade Kingdoms
Category:Items from Sumbria
Category:Items from Coletro
Category:Items from Lomatra
Category:Items from the Vilhon Reach
Category:Items from Chondath
Category:Items from Arrabar