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The Mystery Saddle - Steffen's Dragoon
by: Todd Holmes

It was quite a thrill recently to be allowed to view and photograph one of the more controversial pieces of 'military' saddlery in the country recently, and here are some photographs of that actual piece.  Many thanks to the staff at the U.S. Cavalry Museum at Ft. Riley, Kansas for their kind assistance!

flatsaddle_side.jpg (20686 bytes)

This shows the two mail style features of this otherwise non-descript flat saddle, and that is the extremely thin and tall square cantle, and the lobe-like skirt (not the larger flap below it, but the piece that covers the stirrup bar). 

flatsaddle1.jpg (22530 bytes)

Here is the pommel, with minor separation of the bottom half from the top.  Note that there are absolutely no hardware items (other than four pommel head nails) or any evidence (marks, impressions, holes, etc.) to show that there ever was any hardware on front edge/pommel area of saddle.

flatsaddle_gullet.jpg (24354 bytes)

A view of the central underside channel from the gullet - you can just make out the seat straining webbing that the rest of the top half of seat is built on. 

flatsaddle_rear.jpg (31274 bytes)

A rear view of the tall cantle, which is exceptionally thin from front to back, which would be very susceptible to damage.  You can just make out the stitched leather loop or ring that is let into the body seam between the near side cantle edge and the crupper loop.  There is evidence that another loop was on the other side, opposite this one.

flatsaddle_crupper.jpg (24361 bytes)

A slightly closer look at the crupper loop - this is a fairly light gauge iron wire, formed in one piece.  The ends appear to come together inside the seam, and attach with one fastener, which the loop can pivot slightly with.  It's a very lightly rendered piece, that would not take much abuse.

flatsaddle_innerflap.jpg (17300 bytes)

The saddle sports a full underskirt, made with a leather top, and a canvas lining.  Long looped stitches in vertical rows give this the quilted look. 

flatsaddle_nearstirrupbar.jpg (19577 bytes)

The near side stirrup bar is a hand-forged iron wire, flattened at the ends to allow it to be screwed into the tree.   This near side piece has been repaired or reinstalled at some point.

flatsaddle_offstirrupbar.jpg (20030 bytes)

The off side stirrup bar is in very good condition, with the leather tree covering piece intact. 

flatsaddle_point.jpg (26056 bytes)

A look at the top of the off side inner flap, with the tip of the saddletree head leg or tip tucked into it's pocket.   You can just make out the single billet slightly behind it.  It is very difficult to see if there was ever a second billet per side, as only these singles remain.   The is a place that is logical for a second billet just ahead of these, but no readily apparent evidence that one was ever mounted there.