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 drives. With an eye toward capturing that business the budding entrepreneurs found themselves repairing and building cowboy saddles.
Author: Ken R. Knopp
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.
THE SPRING SEAT SADDLE AND THE KENTUCKY SPRING SEAT SADDLE
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), 1790-1920. See the “Store” to order yours now! American spring seat applications on English tree saddles date back at least to the 18th century. […]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
THE STRANGE HISTORY OF BUFF LEATHER- ITS ORIGINS AND MILITARY APPLICATIONS
By David Jarnagin & Ken R Knopp Published in several periodicals, this article was the Journal of Military Collector’s and Historian winner of the William K Emerson Writing Award for the best article of 2016. “Buff” leather? While most military historians believe that they know what the term means, the reality is that […]
19th Century Leather Definitions
By David Jarnagin Vegetable Tannage: “A generic term to cover the process of making leather by the use of tannins obtained from barks, woods or other parts of plants and trees, as distinguished from “mineral tannages”. Belt –Vegetable tanned leather used in making drive belts for machinery. Bridle – vegetable tanned leather finished on the […]
A Shortage of Haversacks & Canteens Among Western CS Cavalry?
WAS THERE A CHRONIC SHORTAGE OF HAVERSACKS & CANTEENS AMONG WESTERN CS CAVALRY? OR WAS IT A SHORTAGE BY “CHOICE”? By Ken R. Knopp (Second in a series of articles on Confederate Cavalry arms and equipment exclusively for the Camp Chase) Official inspections taken of Confederate cavalry during the war are incredibly […]
American Curry Combs: History & Identification
This was initially published in the 2011 Jan/Feb issue of North South Trader’s Civil War Magazine. The culmination of a fifteen year passion and effort, I was significantly assisted by resarch materials provided by my old Yankee friend Ralph Emerson Jr. – I consider it one of my best works and humbly dedicate it to him. Ken […]
British Saddlery and Horse Equipments Imported by the Confederacy
It is well known that the Southern Confederacy relied on foreign imports for a significant amount of its arms and material needs during the War between the States. Much less renown is the fact that foreign supply was also an important source of saddlery and horse equipments intended for the Confederate Army’s Officer Corps.
Civil War Federal Contractors of Saddlery, Horse Equipment & Hardware
By Ken R Knopp Author’s Note: The following information has been compiled over many years of my research in Confederate saddlery and documents. It sources are that of several readily available books, articles and artifacts. Since my main area of research has not focused on Federal equipment or manufacturing, I must admit it may contain […]
Civilian Bridles of Antebellum America
CIVILIAN BRIDLES OF ANTEBELLUM AMERICA By Ken R Knopp As artifacts, 19th century civilian (non-military) bridles are very difficult to identify. Their common appearance and similarities in pattern and materials throughout the late 18th, the 19th and early 20th centuries often render […]
Commercial and Catalog Saddles of 19th & Early 20th Century America
COMMERCIAL & CATALOG SADDLES OF 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY AMERICA By Ken R Knopp (originally published NORTH SOUTH TRADER’s CIVIL WAR, Dec. 2008) CRITICAL NOTE: The information contained in this article is very dated! I have purposely left out some photos and updates due to the fact my newest book AMERICAN RIDING & […]
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 […]
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. […]