The American Saddle

Ken R. Knopp

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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      Saddles from Europe came to America almost about as early as white Europeans.  It is not exactly clear when the term “American” saddle first became a part of cultural vernacular but by the 1790’s it was an established pattern in the former English colonies. Increasingly popular, they began to quickly replace the typically flat English “Common” saddle. At the turn of the 19th century early versions of this pattern were sometimes referred to as “Horseman’s Saddles”.

Typical American Saddle pattern c. 1790- 1830. Includes common features such as the housing, under padding, etc. The covered wood stirrups (c. post 1860) included here are NOT correct for this period. Iron or brass stirrups would be most common. Courtesy of John Thillmann and Steve & Joyce Henry.
Another common American saddle treatment includes the skirt and jockey inlay deer skin treatments. These saddles are 200 or more years old. Surviving specimens in this condition are rare birds indeed. Courtesy John Thillmann and Steve & Joyce Henry.

      The American saddletree was not at first entirely unique in its construction- some English-made saddles were also built in the deep-seat style (See Chapter 1, Part II). Although sporting a basic two or five piece English tree its chief departure from the “Common” English saddle found in the Colonies was its pronounced high cantle, pommel and thus a deep seat- a style highly favored and later pervasive in American saddles. The tree was of wood, reinforced at stress points with iron. The fork varied somewhat but the cantle was universally higher than its common, flat English predecessor- sometimes remarkably steep at almost right angles to the seat.

     Decorative features were a hallmark of the American during its reign. First, under the seat went Spanish Moss, horse hair or wool used as seat stuffing. Sometimes webbing or another spring concept was added. The seat was then covered in fine leather (often quite colorful and from plain leather to the use of exotic skins) or enameled cloth—all neatly tucked and stitched to build a padded, stitched or smooth surface. The seat coverings in decorative cuts usually formed jockey panels to conceal the protrusion of the stirrup leathers. Leather flaps (skirts) extended below the seat and were of varying finish, length and shapes sometimes with knee or thigh rolls. Under padding was generally quilted leather, canvas or patterned cloth. Variable housings finely cut, tooled or painted wool,  and adorned in attractive display were common. Typically, the saddle came with a girth of leather, canvas or webbing and finally, stirrups of iron or brass completed the ensemble.

     The American slowly faded in status in the first half of the 19th century being eventually replaced in popularity by several saddles including the Somerset, Spanish, Half Spanish and other horned patterns. A major turning point for its demise was the Mexican War by virtue of the broad exposure it provided the variable horned saddles. By the end of the Civil War, the American as an identifiable and common pattern was almost forgotten. However, the “deep-seat” style, initiated into acceptance by this formative pattern set the tone for virtually all popular American saddles that would follow.