Saddle to identify - mclellan looking

[pella]

Hi there,

just get this nice looking saddle for my collection, the guy told me"it's a cavalry saddle" well i dont think so, no marking. But some tooling kind of basketweave and some stars on the corner. There is some star rivets (tubular rivets) and there was tapaderos on the 3" wide stirrups (still rivets that show that) All fittings iron.

narrow tree, dont fit my horse of course, rawhide covered, laced with rawhide. Tree is cover with wool fabric underneat.

Leather is quite nice and good quality, it is similar to my old trooper saddles in color and texture.

There is still the latigo ties on the near-side

Do you think it is a south american paso fino saddle?

thank you for your information, wish i could ride it!

Edited May 8, 2009 by pella

[HorsehairBraider]

Well, I've got an old McClelland, and it is not one of those... at least, it is nothing like mine.

If it *is* an old Paso Fino saddle that would be really cool. But it seems to me it would not have a narrow tree for that breed... although they are small, the ones I have are very round and need a little wider tree.

Can't wait to see what others say! It's a really neat old saddle.

[pella]

i know it is not a mclellan, i think the old guy was thinking it was a cavalry saddle because of the overall look.

I also think paso are quite barrel like. But well, a lot of older saddle were narrower. It is maybe not that at all.

It is the first time i see such a saddle.

Edited May 8, 2009 by pella

[rustyriggin]

I'm at a loss as to what kind it is, if it is a calvary saddle, the stirrup fenders look like it would be an officers saddle. The tooling is what makes me wonder about it being calvary.

[Echo4V]

Pella- I definately think this is a south american saddle. I don't know if it's specifically a Paso Fino saddle or not although it does look similar to the terique saddles they use on Pasos. It really looks a lot like the south american saddles that curbstrap posted a picture of on the other saddle ID thread you have going.

david

[mendedbowl]

years ago i had a piece of one of those hanging out at the barn (don't know how i acquired it)

your's looks in better condition though. hope you find out what it is.

ken

[pella]

I ask other people around and yes, it all go to south america. I think it is made to rig center fire. with a V

Would love to see one complete as i would like to reproduce the tapaderos, they are missing

[Denise]

Pella,

Is it possible it may be a English style cavalry saddle? I googled British Cavalry saddle images and came up with a couple of interesting sites. This one talks of cavalry saddles made in Montreal. See what you think.

http://kaisersbunker.com/cef/equipment/cefe25.htm

[pella]

Hello Denise

i ask an expert in english and canadian cavalry and he told me it is not. He told me there is similarities with american cavalry saddle so for now thats all i have for information....

I have a book on cavalry saddle and yes some are similar but none is exactly alike. The book show the exact same stirrup i have on the saddle, some have a similar pommel (jennifer), but not the cantle.

And the rigging seem to be more south american.

These old cavalry saddle were very narrow, like mine. But i think south american too were narrow...so...For now i can say it is south american as i have no marking of cavalry on the saddle.

[Echo4V]

Denise- those saddles on your link are what is called a UP (universal pattern) saddle. Today they are generally called a trooper saddle. It's hard to tell in the photos ( because they have all the accoutrements on them) but they are actually very different than the one Pella posted. Those saddles are made with two bars connected to iron bows for the cantle and pommel. The Iron bows have cordage stretched between them and the seat is attached to that cordage (this saddle is the oldest example of a suspended seat I have seen) also the bows have hinges on each end which are attached to the bars so the bars will adjust to any angle of back (it's my theory that's why it's called a universal pattern) For more information on them you can google UP Saddles.

David