McClellan Saddles: Part 1 - Saddle Fit

[@skeleton_in_a_cowboy_hat]

Very informative, nice video! Although two things that should be noted: 1. When checking for wither clearance, make sure the horses head is about the height it would be while riding. If you are checking while the horse has its head down, it will seem like there is more clearance 2. When finding the last rib, don’t go straight up, but follow the curvature of the ribs which will be more forward 😊

[@berata45]

I was in the 11th ACR's Horse Detachment. We rode all day every day. For practice, we could choose between a McClellan or a western saddle. The more experience (at the horse det) that our riders had, the more likely they were to choose to ride a McClellan. I've ridden McClellans for 4 or so days across the Sierra Nevads for up to 18 hours per day and never had a horse get sored. I absolutely love the McClellan.

[@terrybreen7804]

I've ridden the 1904 McClellan, the Rhodesian Army McClellan, English saddles, western stock saddles, and the British cavalry U.P. saddle, and the McClellan is, hands down, the best of the lot. The 1904 & Rhodesian versions have adjustable quarterstraps that allow you to move the girth forward if you wish. The quarterstraps mean that the saddle is being held down on four points of the saddle, which makes it very stable, and less likely to slide back in steep terrain. The Rhodesian version had heavy English style stirrups, but the 1904 version stirrups are much better: they are wood, very wide and deep, with a tap or hood that make it impossible for your foot to get caught in the stirrup. If your horse bucks and you lose a stirrup, you have a better chance of finding it with your foot, because it's weight keeps it from flying around so much, and it's wide opening helps to get your boot back in the stirrup. I've heard people complain that the saddle is uncomfortable, but if you keep about 1/3 of your weight in the stirrups, 1/3 on your thighs, and 1/3 on your butt, it is very comfortable and secure. It is as light as most English saddles, and much lighter than western saddles and the U.P. saddle. You sit down very close to the horse. You get more horse sweat, but you have more feel for the horse, and a lower center of gravity. (And think about it: is there any sweat with such a nice smell as horse sweat? I don't know of any.) I was living in Zimbabwe right after the Rhodesian bush war, and went into the Farmers' Coop in Salisbury. I was shocked to find a brand new McClellan for sale in their tack section. I hunted down the saddle maker, a man named Johnson. He said the Rhodesian army's mounted infantry unit, the Grey's, tried a number of different saddles and were dissatisfied. One day someone brought him a McClellan saddle, with no stirrups or girth, and asked if he could make this same saddle as an experiment for the Grey's. He made the tree out of fiberglass, made the pommel arch a little higher, and had different (and cheaper) hardware on it. He used chrome leather. He did not know what a latigo was. He made the saddle with 4 separate quarterstraps, each with a buckle. He said the Grey's tried it and liked it, and soon that was their standard saddle. I also met a man who was in the Grey's when this first experimental saddle was brought to his troop for testing. His captain asked for a volunteer to use it on their next patrol, and no one wanted to touch it--it looked pretty weird to Rhody eyes. So a trooper was assigned the saddle against his wishes, and had to use it on a multi-day patrol. When he returned he was very enthused about the saddle, and refused to let anyone else try it out. After that, he told me, everyone wanted one.

[@SLOROB55]

Thanks. Nice to hear.

[@crowznest438]

I enjoyed reading this synopsis. Having ridden a McClellan for many years in trail riding, I never did think it was uncomfortable for me or the horse.

[@HuasoPodrido]

10th Calvary Memorial. Ft. Huachuca AZ. Lots of good memories.

[@relivinghistory710]

A truly interesting & informative film. A damn fine horse too.

[@CodyandSteveDownUnder]

yes, the horses make or break these things for sure

[@robhartley9676]

...such a good horse - Really enjoyed this video !

[@WyomingTraveler]

Good information, much more to saddle fitting than I realize

[@mcgregorpiper]

If you move the saddle one hand width behind the point of the shoulder, you free up the shoulder and you should have more clearance at the withers. (I have a U.S. Army training video on my channel. I ride an M28 McClellan) P.S. I would like the 11th OVC to come to the national cavalry competition

[@11thovc]

mcgregorpiper, thanks! The early training videos from the US cav are great to watch! Also, we would love to come to the Cav Comp in Ok, but it seems like our Septembers are always full! This year there is a private event in the beginning of the month and then Chickamauga later in September! Hopefully one of these years!

[@xyz8512]

Excellent info. Thanks.

[@MrStevesTrains]

Fun Fact: Detroit Police Mounted Div, still use McCellen Saddles today.

[@kimnenninger7226]

Really good video. You really know your subject and you were able to teach me about saddle fit. My horses hate me and this might be the reason why. My horses and I thank you.

[@jesusrodrigo9827]

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[@travisdeclan1701]

@Jesus Rodrigo instablaster =)

[@jesusrodrigo9827]

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[@jesusrodrigo9827]

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[@travisdeclan1701]

@Jesus Rodrigo No problem :)

[@lars1480]

The best saddle is The one that fit The horse and The rider 😊

[@johnsmith-ht3sy]

The Rhodesian Grey Scouts used these saddles . Read the book " The Equus Men " by Alexandre Binda.

[@nastyasavkovskaya]

Hello,can you make the video about how to tack up the cavarly horse? How to use the girth and etc

[@250sabre]

Great info , anything to keep injury from your horse !! Beautiful strong horse by the way !!!

[@GWGoin]

Good video..the horses of the time period were more of a thourobreed ,saddel breed,..and walkers Keep up the good work!!

[@gabeking9444]

Happy 4th, I still wanna join the Calvary. I'm happy I'm in the infantry, but Calvary looks fun

[@ModernMountainLiving]

A horse is easier to find than a hundred year old saddle. You will need both to ride in the Cavalry. I have one that I am letting go of after 48 years if you know someone that is interested. Be Blessed

[@rogerlafrance6355]

In later times the standard horse produced by the Army Remount Service was at least 15-2 or so, weighing 1250 to 1500 pounds and most often Morgan Thorobred crosses dark in color. So saddles were designed around . Also, total weight of rider and load was 275 pounds max making the rider also assumed to be a standard size? Civil War in Wyoming, whatever horse and tack could be found would be used including trading with the Indians.

[@chapiit08]

If I remember well there was a maker of exact replicas of cavalry equipment in Red Bank, NJ I can't remember their name.

[@Stefan-X24]

The SADF still used these saddles into the late '90s.

[@nidagiddens7080]

Enjoy your video learned a lot. I wish someone would do a viewing of MW Tucker, Haggis Tarpin Hill we use those in field trials on walking horses. Any comments would be appreciated.

[@b17bomber18]

With my uniform, do I have to worry about buying hats and tunics and such, that have my specific company on them? Or should I buy a kit with something plain and no specific insignias?

[@11thovc]

B 17 Bomber, it depends on which impression you are doing for each event. As a general rule, hat brass is discouraged. However, you should definitely research whatever unit you are portraying and see if you can find photos of that unit. If you are not portraying a specific unit, it is usually better to keep your headgear "blank". However, as with everything historical, it really depends on unit, location, timeframe of war.

[@b17bomber18]

@@11thovc ok, thank you

[@davidowens1675]

Where can I purchase A Good replica?

[@mohdalisyed]

Australia

[@Hikieblitz]

is the pdf of the Condons Cavalry compendium free to print or not? I like reading more while having it in my hand.

[@davidowens1675]

Sir I really enjoy your videos I have no experience With cavalry saddles nor English all my writing was done extensively with Western but I'm interested in Civil War cavalry saddles and developing some techniques with the saber and pistol on horseback where would you recommend and what would you recommend as a good purchasing place To buy a good Replica of a Mcclellen saddle 1859 ....?

[@davidowens1675]

Where did you get your saddle where did your fellow troop members get their saddles from where do you recommend

[@kevinferguson3196]

In your experience, what tree bar length do you believe is the maximum for a typical qtr horse?

[@mitchself1823]

Ib my military outfit u. S army we had the saddled straddled on the end of the bunks with ours sabers and cav boots . "Abridge that couldnt be crossed , a horse that cant be rode I 1st cav

[@Beaguins]

So, are you saying that the saddle sores are caused by having McClellan saddles on short-backed horses?

[@militaryhorse]

Excellent demonstration - especially shown without blankets or saddlecloth, so that the viewer can really see the contact. Unfortunately, none of your three trees shown were actually CW-dimension trees. The first two are reenactor supplied, and nearly all of these modern reproductions make unnecessary allowances for the typical reenacting horse ( well-fed, not heavily worked, low or no withers) - the bars tend to be flatter and the gullets wider. The last one shown was an original military tree, however it was a WW1 surplus tree (circa 1917/18). Those were significantly different from their predecessors, to the point that they can actually be considered flawed in the pommel/gullet dimensions (that's a very long story). Having handled many original trees, I think you'd be impressed with how well they would have stood in comparison to these, especially the late-war trees that were highly regulated by the Ordnance Dept.

[@MommaRed1862]

You guys kno where I can buy one for less then 800$?... they are so expensive :(

[@11thovc]

Stonewall's Stonewall, you just have to keep an eye out on all the facebook forums. Try, this group on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/461903407224260/

[@ModernMountainLiving]

I have one in great shape with the covered stirups.

[@CodyandSteveDownUnder]

you are right mate, any re-enacting is not a cheap activity, throw in a horse as well .... hello poverty ha ha .. good luck with your efforts mate

[@davidowens1675]

I understand border states In Arkansas is a good saddle Maker However I've called his shop several times and get no answer

[@DonLukeSkywalker]

Who is this guy talking I would like to ask him questions on saddle making and horses in general. Is he a saddle maker? An expert horse man or does he just work for 11TH OVC?

[@gottathinkupanewone]

I've ridden in a McClellan saddle. I know it was better for the horse's back, but my backside could not take it.

[@luigigenoni5944]

I have to dissagree.the best saddle in the world is the scafarda, actally used by italian army and by butteri of northern maremma, invented by colonnello del frate, it just fits better to the hourse back and to the man on the saddle too. ifyou do not belive me take informations. second best is the bardella, third best the german army saddle.

[@davidowens1675]

Riding ....ooops