Home Forums Gear Horses and ATV's US Calvarly saddle?

I knew what you meant.

I found a pic of saddlesore in his younger days on his McClellan saddle. This was just before he switched to mules......can't figure out how to get the pic copied, so ya gotta click the link.

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/civilwar020812/s_c01_09170338.jpg

I think it was at hunting camp, judging by the tent<grin>

Ha, thats pretty funny!don't think its saddlesore, stirrups are way to long.

No,do you mean to just use a surcingle alone or use with the saddle? I have been thinking of getting a Bareback pad with the stirrups to reduce the weight on my horse. but I beleive the weight is distrubated better on the horses back with a saddle than riding bareback and all my weight would be under my boney butt.. what do you all think about bareback riding. my horse is fine with me riding anyway I want.she is neck trained and leg trained.

Yep,except for a little pony way back then, my feet never extend down past the bottom of the rib cage.That guy does look familair though.

I am talking about applying a surcingle over the saddle. Not in favor of bareback riding, however will swing up on a horse now and again for expediency.

Were surcingles issued with the later model Mcclellan's

The 1904 (version I) pattern was the last McClellan with a centerfire rigging and was issued with a surcingle. The rigging was altered with a version II that allowed the quarter straps to be adjusted to move the girth forward, closer to the front leg, about 3-4 inches behind the horse's elbow, thus no surcingle required. But some will question that the quartermaster requirements of later patterns shows there was a surcingle issued. Not true. The item they are referring to is a "cooling strap." Regulations required the trooper to leave the saddle blanket on the horse for a short time after un-saddling. The strap was fastened around the blanket and horse to keep the blanket in place

The only downside to the rigging change that I can decipher is it created more bulk under the rider's leg.

The reason I asked if Hubert rides with a surcingle is his repro saddle and rigging is pre-1904 style that places the girth further from the horse's elbow than it should be for safe riding. The girth needs to be positioned on the horse's heart girth or apply a surcingle.

Here is a write up about sursingles and an intersting web site.

http://cavalryrider.blogspot.com/2009/06/surcingles.html

Thanks guys for all the info. I will have to buy a surcingle to try it.