Are billet straps on western saddles essential?
If you’re talking about flank billets, the answer is no, they’re useless unless you also have a flank cinch. If you’re talking about the off billet in front, again no, there are a few options for attaching the cinch on the right hand side and you don’t need to use a billet. There’s also the old-fashioned latigo and the half-breed wrap. If you’re talking about the entire flank cinch, then no, it’s not necessary for most western saddles with most horses, unless you’re roping something or riding an iffy horse. If a western saddle is center-fire rigged (the rigging dees are almost in the middle of the saddle), it doesn’t need a flank cinch. You’re not likely to find a roping saddle with center-fire rigging. It already distributes the pull of the main cinch across the length of the saddle tree, so there’s no need for a second cinch. If it is full-double rigged, the front cinch is much farther forward, which could encourage the saddle to tip forward depending on the shape of the horse’s back
