Object
Picard's Saddle Girth
A snug, leather-and-webbing cinch that runs under the holodeck mare's belly, buckling to the saddle's billets on both sides. It appears as a plain, functional girth: padded at the edges, stained slightly by tack use, fitted to an Arabian mare simulation. Picard runs his hands along it, checking tension and security before mounting; the strap becomes a tactile focal point for quiet, careful handling and close physical contact between rider and animal.
4 appearances
Purpose
To secure the saddle to the horse by cinching around the mare's barrel, preventing slippage and enabling safe mounting and riding.
Significance
The girth functions as a pragmatic bridge to intimacy: Picard's attentive handling of it reveals his yearning for reciprocal, elemental companionship and grounds a private, vulnerable moment with Troi before duty interrupts. Its checking signals care, control, and the physical ritual that enables the scene's emotional candor.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used