Saddle and Stirrups

[moore]

I am working on a VP mounted cavalry kit.

I am curious about this Mclellan Saddle. I looked on the internet
and I beleive that is what this saddle is. The seat is split.
I was just wondering why .

Also, it came with hooded stirrups. The internet said they are
metal, but the picture I found looks like leather. Can it be either one ?

Also, I have a picture of the Mclellan Saddle and it looks like the
stirrups is just hooked to the saddle with straps. So it just falls
straight down. So probably plastic or electircal tape or lead
I could use ?

Thanks
Dee

 

[megroot]

Dee,
I painted the McLellan Saddle and the more I whas searching the more confused I got.
I read that the stirrups where made from wood and the hoods are made from leather.
So on Carl Reid's bust I painted them in a light wooden color.

Marc

 

[martin tabony]

The hole is to allow air circulation for the horses back. All stirups are held by leather straps to a saddle. I don't know what period your saddle is but they were made in black leather until about 1890, then brown leather. It has evolved over time which can lead to confusion over various patterns. A very comfortable seat by the way.

Martin

 

[moore]

Marc, I was the same way. I am just trying to learn how to paint a horse, this is my very first one. Thought I would just go for it.
I found it confusing. I am going to try to go with the box art, but it's not real clear. I did find a picture where the part inside the
strriup where the strap goes around looks like wood but the rest looks like leather. OK. I am going with leather outside.
Did you post that bust of Carl Reid's ? I would like to see it.

Martin.. thanks for the diagram. I am going to use that as reference to the one I have. Ahhh so that is why the saddle seat
is split. Got it.

Thank you both for replying. Now to keep going on this. This horse is huge so hopefully I can do a decent job painting it
and practicing.

Thanks
Dee

 

[Steve]

Dee, the stirrup hoods are leather with copper studs. The date of the saddle does influence the covering; during the ACW there were rawhide covered trees as well as those of black leather, and as pointed out that changed to russet brown eventually. Stirrup leathers are pretty much what you supposed and any thing like tape or lead foil would work.