England had far-reaching influence on American saddlery from the very first European settlement in the New World until the Revolutionary War as has been noted in the first chapter. Though there were...
The Somerset originated in England in the early 19th century at the behest of Lord General Charles Somerset, the second son of the 5th Duke of Beaufort. The English Somerset saddle was initially...
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...
Generally, saddles made in America did not have horns as we understand them today until about 1820 when they were adopted from the Spanish/Mexican saddle. While few Americans knew of such a saddle...
The Attakapas saddle originated in the large ranching region of southwest Louisiana known as the Attakapas. The saddle was often called by various derivatives of the Attakapas name including...
From the beginning of the Anglo arrival in 1823 until the Civil War the types of saddles used in Texas varied widely and even regionally. These included variations of native Mexican saddles found...
As has been noted in previous chapters, the California saddles found in the late 1840’s through the mid-1860’s were descendant representations of the aesthetic and utilitarian qualities of the early...
The Somerset originated in England in the early 19th century at the behest of Lord General Charles Somerset, the second son of the 5th Duke of Beaufort. The English Somerset saddle was initially...
The horned and “Muley” pattern Morgan saddles were originated by Josiah B. Gathright of Kentucky. During the Civil War, Gathright was a Lieutenant in the 8th Kentucky Cavalry under the famous...
The original “Wilbourn Saddle” (a.k.a. Buena Vista), was invented by Confederate veteran William R. Wilbourn (1831-1905) and became a very common and popular commercial saddle pattern that was...
The story of these saddles is very intricate. For a more thorough understanding and more color photos, I recommend you purchase the book: AMERICAN RIDING & WORK SADDLES (and Horse Culture)...
The motivation for the western stock or “cowboy” saddle was a commercial industry that demanded more than just a simple riding seat, it required the development of a universal, utility tool. There...
By the late 1860’s the era of the great cattle drives had begun. Along with innumerable cattle, Texas cowboys were arriving on the plains riding a variety saddle patterns now worn out from the long...