7tncav

The most important part of a trooper's equipment was
his saddle. Well made, it provided the durability and
comfort for both horse and rider to endure the rigors
of campaign. A poorly made saddle left him with
saddle sores or a lame horse.

Like the rest of his equipment, the recruit brought his
own saddle into Confederate service upon enlistment.
Some of the designs had existed since the 18th
century while others were born out of the westward
expansion of the early 1800s.

An effort was eventually made by the Confederate
Ordnance Department to provide a standard saddle
for the cavalry, but due to the variety in craftsmanship
with the various saddle makers and the limitations in
the availability of leather, hardware and saddle-trees,
the result was often inadequate.

With the possible exception of the Hope or Texas
saddle, the preferred saddle by Confederate
cavalrymen became the U.S. issued McClellan,
procured either by capture or Confederate-made
imitations.

Cris Malone