The American Western Stock Saddle (Part 1)

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 were several necessities: First, it had to be stout, but light enough not to burden the horse; comfortable for the rider to sit hours in the saddle and yet be durable to last for years outdoors in all kinds of weather. For many, it needed a tall, sturdy horn for roping and a rear cinch to brace the saddle to the horse. For some, it required swells at the front to bracket the rider in the seat when trying to stay aboard an unruly bronc. Finally, it had to be comprehensive to allow multiple adaptable cultural or artistic embellishments crafted to its owner’s tasteful desires, or lack thereof. To the 19th century cowhand, his saddle was a utensil used for riding, roping, carrying, pulling, bucking out broncs, and at night as a pillow. It was his “home”. A cowboy’s “kak” or “rig” was also a silent personal statement that visually told observers “who” he was, his level of ability or experience and often, where he came from. Such were the variable requirements of the working cowboy or “stock” saddle. 

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Wilbourn/Buena Vista Saddles

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 manufactured from at least 1883 until the early 1960’s. Its design has several elements of earlier European and English saddle construction. Although curiously similar to some Civil War era Virginia area saddles, it was never a Confederate pattern. In fact, it was not patented until 1883.

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THE MORGAN, MORGAN MULEY & MOSBY SADDLES

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 Confederate Raider Gen. John Hunt Morgan. In early 1864 Gathright found himself a quartermaster captain in charge of a detail of mechanics assigned to make saddles at Decatur Alabama. Here, he learned the saddle trade. After the war, Gathright returned to his native Louisville, Kentucky where he opened a saddle manufacturing firm (later “Harbison & Gathright”), that grew to be the South’s largest by the turn of the century.

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The Somerset Saddle

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 fashioned for elderly and inexperienced riders and differed from the standard English saddle of the era by the addition of a buff leather seat, knee and leg rolls on the front and rear of the saddle skirt for added security.

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California Saddles

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 Spanish/Mexican “Californio” saddles of the far west. Yet there were other styles and variations of California riding saddles with Mexican “Estradiota” origins being embraced by the immigrating Anglos as well.

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THE HOPE & TEXAS SADDLES (1830’s -1870’s) AND EARLY STOCK SADDLES

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 prevalent along the South Texas border while in other parts of Texas regional patterns emerged in popularity. Perhaps the most common everywhere were the many eastern-made riding patterns brought “from the states” by the new immigrants.

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THE ATTAKAPAS 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 “Tuckapaw” or “Tacky” saddle. The influences of the pattern descended primarily from the Spanish then Mexican “Jineta” riding saddle that had evolved from ancient Moorish and Turkish jineta saddles. The American Attakapas pattern is quite unique even in America in that it developed an identity all its own in the Creole cattle working culture. As a utilitarian pattern, it may have begun evolving in that cattle-producing region as early as the mid-18th century. By the 1830’s it had become a very well known saddletree pattern alongside the Spanish saddle and quite popular well beyond Louisiana. Due to its early origins and then the purchase of Louisiana from the French in 1803 the Attakapas can justifiably be claimed as America’s first cattle working saddle.

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SPANISH, HALF SPANISH AND EAGLE HEAD SADDLES

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 before that time in less than twenty years nearly every contemporary American would have been able to identify a Spanish saddle. Until about 1850, Americans generally referred to horned saddles as “Spanish” saddles suggesting their acute awareness of its place of origin. Their emergence into broad acceptance was greatly facilitated by the success of St. Louis saddle makers including Thornton Grimsley, who may have originated the St. Louis pattern Spanish saddle sometime about 1820.

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The American Saddle

      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”.

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WAGON SADDLES (a.k.a. “Conestoga Saddle”)

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 fashioned for elderly and inexperienced riders and differed from the standard English saddle of the era by the addition of a buff leather seat, knee and leg rolls on the front and rear of the saddle skirt for added security.

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The English Saddle In America

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 some French and even a bit of Dutch influences as well, most of the common saddle patterns and saddlery fashion in colonial America were largely of English origins. The majority of saddles used on both sides during the Revolutionary War included British military saddles, “Common” English hunt saddles and, their “Americanized” variations. All of these had variable high or low (and sometimes spoon) cantles and wide adaptations of skirts, leather seats and decorative embellishments. The war gave America its governing independence but also its freedom to make their own indelible mark upon the world, which would come to include saddlery.

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Confederate Cavalry Halters

This article originally published in the North South Trader’s Civil War, Sep.-Oct., 1996. For the collector, reenactor, and researcher, the “Confederate-made” halter has been one of the more obscure and elusive, items of cavalry horse equipments. Many tens of thousands were manufactured by the Southern government during the war, yet few, if any, documented Confederate […]

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Confederate Drill Manuals

  CAVALRY/ARTILLERY MANUALS USED BY MOUNTED FORCES OF THE CONFEDERACY                                                                 Compiled by Ken R Knopp The eleven manuals listed below are some of the known tactical manuals employed by the cavalry, artillery and mounted infantry of the Confederate Army during the War Between the States. Each is listed by its author’s name. […]

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