View source for Crupper

{{Short description|Strap under horse tail}}
[[File:Schweifriemen 01.jpg|thumb|Crupper goes under the top of the tail and helps to stabilize harness]]
[[Image:Saddle-crupper.jpg|thumb|right|Crupper attached to the back of a saddle]]
A '''crupper''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|ʌ|p|ər}};<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/crupper "Crupper," ''Dictionary.com''] Web page accessed August 31, 2008</ref> occ. spelled '''crouper'''<ref>Elser, Smoke and Bill Brown (1980) ''Packin' in on horses and mules'', Mountain Press Publishing Company, Missoula, Montana, USA.  158 pages.</ref>) is a piece of [[horse tack|tack]] used on [[horse]]s and other [[Equus (genus)|equids]] to keep a [[saddle]],  [[horse harness|harness]] or other equipment from sliding forward.

==Construction==
[[File:Shirigai (crupper).JPG|thumb|Antique Japanese cruppers designed for saddles]]
The crupper consists of a loop (the crupper itself) and an adjustable strap (crupper strap or back strap) that connects the crupper to back of a riding saddle or the other parts of a harness.  The strap runs from the horse's [[rump (croup)|dock]], over the [[rump (croup)|croup]], to the saddle or to the back band (sometimes called the saddle) of a [[horse harness|harness]].<ref name="cruppers and breechings">[http://www.outfitterssupply.com/russon/cruppers-and-breechings.asp "Cruppers and Saddle Breechings"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820014948/http://www.outfitterssupply.com/russon/cruppers-and-breechings.asp |date=2016-08-20 }} Web page accessed August 31, 2008</ref><ref name="Dragon">[http://www.dragondriving.co.uk/harness6.htm "Parts of the Harness." ''Dragon Driving'' (UK)] Web site accessed September 1, 2008</ref>

Usually made of leather, the crupper loop is stuffed, traditionally with linseed to keep it supple in use, and molded into a tube that is shaped into a loop.  The crupper may be sewn to its strap, or attached to the strap by one or two buckles.  If the crupper has no buckle, then the skirt of the horse's tail is folded up onto the tailbone and the tailbone is slipped through the crupper. If it has buckles, the crupper is unbuckled and passed under the dock.

==Use and safety==

A crupper is used to keep the equipment placed on a horse's back from slipping forward.  Cruppers are seen most often on [[horse harness]]es.  They are also used on the [[surcingle]]s of [[bitting rig]]s, riding saddles, and, occasionally, [[pack saddle]]s.

A crupper needs to be snug enough to keep the saddle or harness in place, but not so tight that the horse is irritated or the skin of the tail is damaged.  Cruppers are adjusted to engage only when needed; pressure is not meant to be constantly applied.  If a crupper is too tight, it can cause severe chafing, discomfort and sores. If it is too loose, the saddle or harness may not stay in the proper position.<ref name="Tunstall"/> If used in an improper manner for too long a period of time, the horse may even  become disabled in the hindquarters.<ref name="Fitting McClellan"/>  The loop of a crupper is kept very clean.<ref>[http://www.horse-sense.org/archives/20070304141125.php   Jahiel, Jessica.  "Worried about horse's reaction to crupper"  ''Horse Sense''.] Accessed September 1, 2008</ref>

===Driving===
[[File:"Centaur" - or The "turn out," a practical treatise on the (humane) management of horses, either in harness, saddle, or stable; with hints respecting the harness-room, coach-house, &c. (1878) (14778457091).jpg|thumb|The crupper goes directly under the tailhead]]
For driving, a crupper is used to prevent the parts of a harness that fit around the barrel of the horse (the girth, bellyband, back band and saddle<ref name="Dragon"/>) from slipping forward.  The crupper is adjusted to allow about an inch of play between the crupper and the dock.<ref name="Tunstall">[https://books.google.com/books?id=8SGjWiO_zaoC&dq=fitting+a+crupper&pg=PA38   Tunstall, Cynthia.  ''Train your own mini''], Equine Graphics Publishing Group, 2001
p. 38 {{ISBN|1-887932-15-1}}, {{ISBN|978-1-887932-15-8}}</ref> Some harnesses with [[breeching (horse)|breeching]] use this as an anchor instead of a crupper.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110714142229/http://www.mydrafthorse.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=470&CFID=375964&CFTOKEN=59b9efc155375813-1C49651D-BCD9-C46C-796C650568764FE7 "Harness Diagram- Draft Work Harness"] (Example of harness with breeching but no crupper) Web page accessed September 1, 2008.</ref>

===Riding===
[[Image:Maremmano2.jpg|thumb|upright|Traditional attire and tack of a [[buttero]], utilizing a crupper.]]
A crupper is used on riding saddles when riding a horse or mule with low withers in steep terrain.  Cruppers are most often used in activities such as [[endurance riding]], [[mounted orienteering]], [[competitive trail riding]], and for recreational [[trail riding]] in mountains.

When riding, cruppers are particularly useful on animals with low [[withers]],<ref name="cruppers and breechings"/> because this [[equine conformation|conformation]] allows the saddle to slip forward as the animal travels downhill.   Though not a substitute for a correctly fitted saddle, they are often used on [[mule]]s, as many saddles, particularly those made for horses, are more likely to slide forward on a flatter-backed mule.<ref>[http://www.western-saddle-guide.com/mule-saddle.html "Mule Saddles"]. Web page accessed August 31, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.mcclintocksaddles.com/mulesaddle.html McClintock, Garry.  "Saddles and Mules" ''Southwest Trails with Garry McClintock''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034116/http://www.mcclintocksaddles.com/mulesaddle.html |date=2016-03-04 }} web site accessed September 1, 2008</ref>

The crupper strap may be single or double (forked).<ref name="Crupper1">[http://www.western-saddle-guide.com/crupper.html "Crupper"]</ref> It usually attaches via a snap or buckle to a crupper ring at the center of the [[saddle|cantle]] of the saddle, or to a pair of rings (dees) on either side of the cantle. Many riding saddles today are manufactured without properly placed rings, though rings can be added.  Or, in lieu of rings, a design used on [[English saddle]]s utilizes a t-shaped brace that is inserted under the saddle between the rear panels and the tree.<ref>[http://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass.aspx?productClassid=4161 "Crupper" from ''SmartPak Equine''] Web page accessed September 1, 2008</ref>

Cruppers are not common on [[western saddle]]s,<ref name="Crupper1"/> but some English saddles are designed with crupper rings, particularly those designed to fit [[mule]]s.<ref>[http://www.muleinfo.com/html/body_saddles5.html Tatum, Vicki.  "English Saddles" ''Muleinfo.com''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203044044/http://www.muleinfo.com/html/body_saddles5.html |date=2010-02-03 }} Web page accessed September 1, 2008.</ref>

Cruppers are seen on the saddles of some horses used to work cattle with a [[lance]] (such as horses of the [[buttero]] in Europe), but not on horses used to work cattle with a [[lasso]].<!-- use Wikipedia article name;  "rope" is colloquial -->

===Packing===
On [[pack horse]]s, saddle breeching alone is quite common.  However, sometimes a crupper is used in addition to breeching.<ref name="cruppers and breechings"/><ref>[http://home.vicnet.net.au/~bnt/paknotes.htm  Allen, Mike. "Notes for Pack Saddle Use." ''Extract from:  Packhorse Trekking Manual''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514144541/http://home.vicnet.net.au/~bnt/paknotes.htm |date=2006-05-14 }} Web page accessed August 31, 2008</ref>

==History==
A crupper has been a standard part of [[mule]] saddles for centuries.  In the 1614 [[Don Quixote|spurious Avellaneda ''Segunda Parte'']] to [[Don Quixote]], a mule crupper is mentioned several times, and it is translated as "crupper" in two 18th-century English translations.<ref>Alonso Fernández de Avellaneda (1614) ''The History of the Life and Adventures of the Famous Knight Don Quixote de la Mancha, And His {{sic|Humou|rous|nolink=y}} Squire Sancho Panca, Continued'', tr. Baker (1745), publisher Paul Vaillant, London.  [https://books.google.com/books?id=iMMNAAAAQAAJ Google Books]</ref><ref>Alonzo Fernandez de Avellaneda, ''A continuation of the history and adventures of the renowned Don Quixote de la Mancha'', tr. William Augustus Yardley (1874), ''The Novelist's Magazine'' volume 16, page 112. [https://books.google.com/books?id=k6QCAAAAYAAJ Google Books]</ref>

Cruppers were once part of the standard design of [[cavalry]] saddles. The [[McClellan saddle]] used by the United States Army utilized an optional crupper into the early 20th century, though difficulties with proper fitting eventually led the army to discontinue its use.<ref name="Fitting McClellan">[http://9thvirginia.com/fitting.html "Fitting a McClellan"] Web page accessed August 31, 2008</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020301112802/http://www.geocities.com/soho/studios/2905/mclellan.html "McClellan Saddles"] Web page accessed August 31, 2008</ref> Cruppers continue to be part of the ceremonial tack for some cavalry regiments and [[tent pegging]] teams.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{wiktionary|crupper}}
{{commons category|Crupper|lcfirst=yes}}

{{Horse equipment|state=expanded|harness}}

[[Category:Horse harness]]
[[Category:Saddles]]