Tina Report post Posted March 21, 2009 I found these pictures at a Swedish auction site tonight, I thought I share them with you. I just wonder how comfortable this would have been for a horse? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Report post Posted March 21, 2009 Tina, did they give any description of where it came from? I too am curious if anyone knows where and when it might have originated. Here are some pictures of a Mongolian tree a friend of ours picked up when in China. I don't think either of these were designed with horse comfort in mind. Might work better on a donkey or mule? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tina Report post Posted March 21, 2009 (edited) Tina, did they give any description of where it came from? I too am curious if anyone knows where and when it might have originated.Here are some pictures of a Mongolian tree a friend of ours picked up when in China. I don't think either of these were designed with horse comfort in mind. Might work better on a donkey or mule? Hi, They claim the saddle is from North-East Uppland, actually the neighborhoods of TomSwede:-) They also claim it is from 18- or 19- century. It has a name over there, Klövjesadel, maybe some of the other Swedes can answer what that would be in English, I feel clueless:-) Even if these two saddles is half a world appart they look very similar...And, I have never seen a mule in Sweden, donkeys is something coming from far away, not native to northen Europe. Edited March 21, 2009 by Tina Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyc1 Report post Posted March 21, 2009 Tina, did they give any description of where it came from? I too am curious if anyone knows where and when it might have originated.Here are some pictures of a Mongolian tree a friend of ours picked up when in China. I don't think either of these were designed with horse comfort in mind. Might work better on a donkey or mule? But, would they worry about comfort for the animal? Tony. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomSwede Report post Posted March 21, 2009 Hi,They claim the saddle is from North-East Uppland, actually the neighborhoods of TomSwede:-) They also claim it is from 18- or 19- century. It has a name over there, Klövjesadel, maybe some of the other Swedes can answer what that would be in English, I feel clueless:-) Even if these two saddles is half a world appart they look very similar...And, I have never seen a mule in Sweden, donkeys is something coming from far away, not native to northen Europe. I'm here;-) but is absolutely clueless on saddles and their history. Runestones from Uppland adn Swedish heavy metal bands is more my field;-) Maybe Oldtimer would know more about theese?? Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldtimer Report post Posted March 21, 2009 (edited) This is an old swedish, home made, pack saddle tree. I have a couple of similar packsaddles in my collection. On the old pack saddles I´ve seen there are thick ( 4" ) pads ( often made of grain sacks) and stuffed with hair ( moose- horse- or pigs hair) under the bars. The slots in the bars are for the single cinch billet and the ring on the back of the cantle is for the crupper. The reins were looped around the horn so the horse couldn´t stop to graze, if no leadrope was used. This type of packsaddle was frequently used in Sweden during the 1700:s and 1800:s and were often made of birch wood. Two big baskets, often made of weaved Juniper branches, were used to pack the gear. The poor man´s solution of packing, but apparently it worked ! / Knut PS Tina, There is really one mule in Sweden !!! A friend of mine in Västergötland found one in Skåne and he got it for free as there were "behaviour problems"! The story goes that a breeder of Swedish warmbloods got a small donkey stallion and they put him in the same pasture as a 2 year old, show jumping bred filly without considering what love could do to a young virgin. The filly "grew fat" and one morning they found a long eared creature in the pasture. The big question is still: Did he use a ladder? The donkey saw the possibillities more than the limits! The mule is named Tequila Daisy and she is being trained as a pack mule, the beast of burden to one of the members of the Scandinavian Mountain Men. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVR4nDtyhzU Edited March 21, 2009 by oldtimer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldtimer Report post Posted March 21, 2009 (edited) Tina, did they give any description of where it came from? I too am curious if anyone knows where and when it might have originated.Here are some pictures of a Mongolian tree a friend of ours picked up when in China. I don't think either of these were designed with horse comfort in mind. Might work better on a donkey or mule? The mongolian horses are small, 13 - 14 hands, so they are donkey/mule size. Also, they use stuffed pads under the saddle tree. / Knut Edited March 21, 2009 by oldtimer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Report post Posted March 21, 2009 Thanks for the information Knut! When I was at a conference in Red Deer Alberta in January, I heard Dr. Hilary Clayton speak about her tests with the pressure pad testing saddle fit, etc. She said that sheepskin (wool) had tested the best as far as padding went but "there were studies done in Europe that showed reindeer hair worked just as well". So - modern testing shows old methods worked! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldtimer Report post Posted March 21, 2009 (edited) Thanks for the information Knut! When I was at a conference in Red Deer Alberta in January, I heard Dr. Hilary Clayton speak about her tests with the pressure pad testing saddle fit, etc. She said that sheepskin (wool) had tested the best as far as padding went but "there were studies done in Europe that showed reindeer hair worked just as well". So - modern testing shows old methods worked! Denise. Moose hair and reindeer hair are hollow so they make a good insulation and a very soft padding. Many riders in this country use a dried reindeer hide ( hair on rawhide) under the saddle. I would rather choose a reideerhide than a sheepskin for padding. During the fur trade era in North America they used an "Ephishemore", a doubled piece of buffalo robe,and a wool blanket for a saddle pad. The saddles in those days had no skirts - and no seats either so they had buffalo both under and on their saddles (ref: "Man made mobile", Smithsonian Institution, download) Interesting reading ! /Knut Edited March 21, 2009 by oldtimer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tina Report post Posted March 21, 2009 PS Tina, There is really one mule in Sweden !!! A friend of mine in Västergötland found one in Skåne and he got it for free as there were "behaviour problems"! The story goes that a breeder of Swedish warmbloods got a small donkey stallion and they put him in the same pasture as a 2 year old, show jumping bred filly without considering what love could do to a young virgin. The filly "grew fat" and one morning they found a long eared creature in the pasture. The big question is still: Did he use a ladder? The donkey saw the possibillities more than the limits! The mule is named Tequila Daisy and she is being trained as a pack mule, the beast of burden to one of the members of the Scandinavian Mountain Men. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVR4nDtyhzU This story made me crack up big time, thanks for sharing Knut Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveBrambley Report post Posted March 22, 2009 I found these pictures at a Swedish auction site tonight, I thought I share them with you. I just wonder how comfortable this would have been for a horse? It looks like a pack saddle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
