7tncav

The westward expansion during the first half of
the 19th century introduced the American settlers
to a new saddle that would create a revolution in
saddle design. The Spanish saddle used by the
Mexican Caballeros became popular with the
Americans moving west due to its practical
design. Its high pommel and cantle gave the
rider a sturdy seat, and the horn, projecting from
the pommel, was used for roping cattle and
simply retaining one's seat on a green horse.
Many Southerners in Louisiana and Mississippi
as well as men in the Trans-Mississippi adopted
it.

In 1822 a young saddler in St. Louis named
Thornton Grimsley began producing a horned
saddle based on the Spanish model. He sold his
saddles to trappers and fur traders traveling west
from the Gateway City. His saddle's reputation
for durability became widespread, which was
achieved by sewing wet rawhide onto the tree.
When the rawhide dried, it formed a hard shell
that protected and strengthened it. This process
would be used on many successful saddle
designs thereafter. In 1833, Grimsley was
contracted to make his Spanish saddle for the
new 1st Regiment of the U.S. Dragoons under
the recommendation of Lt. Col. Stephen
Kearney. Other saddlers along the Missouri River
began to make their versions of this saddle,
including a hybrid of the Spanish and English
saddles.

After the war with Mexico the term "Spanish" was
dropped from usage and the saddle acquired
regional names such as the Texas, California or
Missouri saddles. By the 1840's several firms in
Texas became notable for making this style of
saddle, which the Texans called the Hope.
Prominent among these saddlers was Rice and
Childress of San Antonio, Texas. In 1855, when
the War Department began trials on equestrian
equipment for the purpose of establishing a
regulation saddle for mounted troops, Rice and
Chidress submitted their design among four
types of saddles to be tested. Several hundred
sets of Hope saddles were issued to the 2nd
U.S. Cavalry with positive results. Although the
McClellan saddle was finally accepted in 1859,
the excellent reputation of the Hope endured.

At the outbreak of hostilities between the North
and South in 1861, many former officers brought
their Hope saddles into Confederate service.
The Hope was popular with new recruits along
the Mississippi valley as well as Texas. John
Johnston, who joined the 7th Tennessee Cavalry
in the winter of 1863, attested to the Hope's
popularity among his fellow troopers in his
memoirs. By 1863, Confederate saddlers were
manufacturing versions of the Hope as well as
the McClellan to replace the unpopular Jenifer as
the regulation saddle for mounted troops.

Cris Malone