What is the purpose of a saddle ring?

What is the purpose of a saddle ring? Judy Sims Crane, Texas Saddle rings were used on military carbines beginning with the dragoons, the forerunners to the U.S. cavalry. A large snap on the carbine sling hooked into the saddle ring, providing support for the carbine while the trooper was mounted. To keep the weapon from flopping around, the barrel went through a leather ring called a socket, which was mounted on the saddle rigging. “Military carbines had their saddle rings attached to a lo