Please note: This complete article with additional color photos can be found in my book, AMERICAN RIDING & WORK SADDLES (and Horse Culture), 1790-1920.
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As the forerunner to the “Prairie Schooner” of the 19th century, the famous Conestoga Wagon was first built in the 1730’s by German Mennonites of the Conestoga Valley region in eastern Pennsylvania. Designed as heavy freight wagons they were pulled by oxen, horses and mules. Somewhere in their early history a particular pattern of saddle that was used in this employ became synonymous with these and other wagons and then came to be simply known as “the wagon saddle”. Although in practical use the wagon saddle could be replaced by other saddle patterns, the wagon saddle’s long skirts were important in protecting horse and rider when riding “postillion” in the manner of “jerk line” driving common to freight wagons, military quartermaster wagons and for immigrant wagon’s moving west. Often multiple teams of horses or mules were driven in this manner by a “Waggoner” who rode from the saddle on the near, (left), wheel horse. This method of hauling freight or heavy loads was at its peak in the mid-19th century but remained practical in some areas of the country well into the early 20th century.
Interestingly, the basic wagon saddle remained fairly consistent in appearance throughout its existence. It was generally very plainly built on English, American style or occasionally other trees with under padding on the bars for use without a saddle blanket. They were otherwise durably constructed for hard service including heavy leather seats and thick leather skirts with squared corners, fourteen by twenty-eight inches in length (or longer) but usually few other fancy embellishments. Late eighteenth and many 19th century variations employed the American saddletree with its characteristic high cantle. Beginning in the 1830’s and for the remainder of the century, these and occasionally some of the later four piece trees would be used as wagon saddles including the Attakapas, Spanish, Kilgore and even horned Whitman wagon saddles. Iron stirrups were used in the early days but after the Civil War wide, heavy bent wood stirrups were common. Beginning in the 1880’s “cut back” (Whitman style) pommels were a popular feature on some riding saddles including wagon saddles.