ridgeband

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun That part of the harness of a cart-, wagon-, or gig-horse which goes over the saddle on the back.
• noun In weaving, a band for keeping the heddle loops in a loom in their proper positions: an old contrivance that greatly facilitated weaving.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun The part of a harness which passes over the saddle, and supports the shafts of a cart; -- called also ridgerope, and ridger.