Does any one know about suspension saddles and tree construction?

[SITTINGUPHIGH1]

I have seen so far two kinds of suspension saddles. One is the tropper saddles. I have read they come from the English army saddles. The canadians army used them also.

Then there is the Amish saddles. I don't know if they use the same type of western saddle trees. I wondered how different the seat construction is. It seems to look at little different on the outside.

Here are some pictures. One is the Amish saddle maker Herny Miller. The other one is by Tarpin Hill. The tropper saddle is by Christie Enterprises.

I ride in a ranch saddle myself. But am always looking for new ideas. I know the endurance and trail riders like these saddles. I do feel the ranch saddles take more abuse. But I have heard these saddles are very comfortable and easy on you and your horse. The weight factor is a big difference. I don't know if the horse can really feel the difference. I think the people can lifting the saddle up on the horse.

Something someone told me when I was young that stuck with me. Master one discipline within your craft and understand the rest.

[HarryB]

One very similar to this is used down south here and is called a plantation saddle. Used a lot in bird dog trials. Also heard it refered to as a Canadian Mountie's saddle.

[ArtS]

I had a trooper saddle and it was super comfortable in the store. After a long ride in it I sold it to a lady in FL. My Wade saddle is far more comfortable to me on long trail rides. i have friends that have a trooper saddle and love them. Just not for me.

My wife owns an Amish made saddle that has the suspended seat. A Eli Miller look alike. They actually get their trees from Eli Miller. Our friend owns a Henry Miller. They both love their saddles. The originals were called Plantation or Buena Visa saddles.

I'd love to take my wife's apart to see how it's made but it's always in use.

Art

[barra]

http://www.nzmr.org/workshop.htm

This is a UP (Universal Pattern) saddle. It is the Military saddle that has served Britain and It's Commonwealth nations for many years. Variants commonly get called Trooper saddles in North America. It was designed to be simple to repair in the field. I hope the Pic illustrated the suspended seat. Originals had leather tabs that went over the steel arches at the pommel and cantle, not the webbing (can't see that lasting too long).

Barra

Edited December 4, 2008 by barra

[Hennessy]

http://www.nzmr.org/workshop.htm

This is a UP (Universal Pattern) saddle. It is the Military saddle that has served Britain and It's Commonwealth nations for many years. Variants commonly get called Trooper saddles in North America. It was designed to be simple to repair in the field. I hope the Pic illustrated the suspended seat. Originals had leather tabs that went over the steel arches at the pommel and cantle, not the webbing (can't see that lasting too long).

Barra

barra i sure enjoy your input,wished i lived down the road ol chap,that nz site is awsome is there an aussie site similar.i was taken thru a glider museum once by a methodist preacher ,5'5 tall who flew gliders into normandy ,niemigan,captured there pow a year, good chap too.did you ever find oot aboot th aussie in martins saddlery,i know him we attend the same church,i can tell you some on him if you want .hoo roo peter john

[Echo4V]

Just found this thread and I know a little about it so I'll comment even though the thread is old.

The suspended seat is an idea copied from the Universal Pattern saddle ( as stated) and it does make a comfy ride for some people. Generally people under about 165 lbs love it. That seat is commonly found on Buena Vista and plantation saddles ( which are the same and not, a buena vista is a type of plantation saddle). The Millers really like to put that suspended seat on their saddles but they also make "hard seat" saddles which to me are more comfortable. By the way ARTS Eli is retired and Henry ( his nephew ) has pretty much taken over the business, so if you have an Eli Miller hold on to it because they are becoming in demand and are getting upwards of 1000 bucks for nicer used ones.

The best picture I have seen of the suspended seat design is in the Army saddles series of books, I believe it's in the book that goes from the Revolutionary war until the Civil war. Very good diagram of how the UP saddle should be built even showing a lacing pattern for tying on the suspension ( canvas sheet with manila cord I think). If you want to see it I'm pretty sure you can view it on Amazon with the look inside option although, sometimes they change the pages you can see so it may not be there now.

David

[StolpSaddles]

I tried a suspension saddle.

Rode one circle of the arean I could not get out of it fast enough. The saddle moved one rythem and the horse another. I could not feel the movement of the horse. It was also the MOST UNCOMFOTABLE saddle I have ever sat in.

Edited March 10, 2009 by StolpSaddles

[kfiretwo]

I tried a suspension saddle.

Rode one circle of the arean I could not get out of it fast enough. The saddle moved one rythem and the horse another. I could not feel the movement of the horse. It was also the MOST UNCOMFOTABLE saddle I have ever sat in.

my ex had a suspension saddle

I rode it for 11 hr trail ride, would ride a barb wire fence before riding in another one

[oldtimer]

I have an old Swedish Army saddle tree ( M 1880?) with a suspension seat. Will take a pic of it tomorrow in daylight.

Edited March 10, 2009 by oldtimer

[oldtimer]

I have an old Swedish Army saddle tree ( M 1880?) with a suspension seat. Will take a pic of it tomorrow in daylight.

Swedish Cavalry saddle M 1881. ~10 oz leather suspension groundseat. The saddle has a padded seat and 1" felt pads attached to the bars and iron stirrups with swivels.

The M 1881 saddle was later replaced with the M1900/1903 saddle, a copy of the German Army saddle. The M1900/03 saddle also has a suspension ground seat made of rawhide..

Edited March 12, 2009 by oldtimer