Evidence exists that the predecessor to the modern saddle was in
use by the Assyrians in 700-800 BCE. It consisted of a simple cloth fastened
onto the horse with a surcingle. These early saddles had neither a solid tree
nor stirrups. By 300 BC, the Samaritans added a breastplate and girth to keep
the saddle on.
The development of the solid saddle tree was significant; it
raised the rider above the horse's back, and distributed the rider's weight on
the animal's spine. This change greatly increased the comfort of the horse and
prolonged its useful life. The invention of the solid saddle tree also allowed
development of the stirrup. Without a solid tree, the rider's weight in the
stirrups creates abnormal pressure points and makes the horse's back sore.
The first stirrup like object was invented in India, and
consisted of a simple leather strap in which the rider's toe was placed. It
offered very little support. The nomadic tribes in northern China are thought
to have been the inventors of the modern stirrup. The stirrup appeared to be in
widespread use across China by 477 AD. The stirrup and it’s use then spread to
Europe.
During the Middle Ages, the nights needed a saddle that could
help hold them in place and support the weight of heavy armor and weapons. This
resulted in a saddle that was built on a wooden tree with both a higher pommel
and cantle, making it much harder to knock a rider off during battle. This
saddle was padded with wool or horsehair and covered in leather or fabric.
The American stock saddle evolved from the early Spanish Conquistador’s
war saddle. The Mexican Vaqueros adapted the saddle, which had a heavy, rigid
tree, high fork, high cantle, deep-dished seat, leather skirt and short
stirrups. In the late 1700's, the Mexican "California" saddle came
about. It had a fixed, round skirt,
along with a more substantial rigging.
The rigging, which consisted of a cinch ring that hung down in line with
the front fork and a horizontal strap that ran from the cinch to the back of
the tree, secured the saddle. The strong high-peaked pommels of this saddle
were ideal for taking a turn around a rope for holding an animal. The Texans
then altered the design even more. They kept the wooden tree, horn, cantle and
stamped leather but they modified the wooden horn so it was short, thick and
covered in leather. The skirt was changed to a plain square skirt and the
stirrups were made out of wide, bent pieces of wood which were much stronger
than the ones previously used. A second cinch was also added to firmly anchor
the saddle. In the 1870's they changed the horn again to a short metal one, as
the wooden ones often broke when dealing with a wild cow.
During this time saddle makers were spread throughout the west
and were quite busy making and repairing saddles. Many new designs and
innovations came about with the input that they received from ranchers, cowboys
and the influx from the East. There were many different styles of saddles seen,
the "Plantation-style", "Morgan", "Hope" and "Cheyenne"
were just a few.
Today, there is no end to the saddles that are designed for a wide
variety of uses and riders.
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