Forums at Society of the Military Horse

Fifty plus years ago I purchased a complete modification set of items to convert a '04 to a '28 from a friend in GA. The set consisted of two fenders, with holes already punched for resewing, two web girth billets with three straps each, four thin leather pieces that were skived on one side and a se...

Thanks for the info. The drawing gave me exactly what I needed. I have many ordnance manuals and other sources that mention the side strap but none show the specifics. I have a few sets of saddlebags that I am in the process of restoring and all have the side straps missing. I wanted to be accurate ...

This may seem an odd question but, does anyone know the specific dimensions of the side srap that connects the saddlebag to the cinch pad?

How do I go about submitting photographs?

I neglected to mention that this saddle is one of the most comfortable riding saddles that I have ever used. For many years we would pack camping gear on this saddle and use it for our horse back camping trips. It could be easily taken apart for maintenance or cleaning. Never had a problem with this...

Except for the swallow tail, this saddle is identical to a WWII Japanese saddle that I have in my collection.
I acquired it in 1960, from a WWII Vet that brought it back at the end of the war.

It may be a long shot but my first thought after looking at your pommel bags was that they looked very similar the pommel bags for the M1916 experimental saddle. The placement of the ovals for attaching to the foot staples was what got my attention. I checked out the photo I have of the M1916 saddle...

After reading what some of the guys have in their office, I sat down and looked around mine. Stuff hanging in my shop, which is my office. Many books and manuals on firearms, military subjects and history. Picture of a cavalry horse, Emily, under saddle, circa 1930, Ft. Riley, KS. 1885 Saddle boot. ...

Relating to the M28 conversion. Back about 1968 I was corresponding with former cavalry troopers and saddler's in relation to my research on the McClellan. I was put in contact with a man that ran a Army Surplus store in what was then called"Underground Atlanta," in Atlanta, Ga. He had sur...

There was an excellent article on the Berlin Horse Platoon, published in the WESTERN HORSEMAN Magazine, in the mid 60's. There were several photo's showing the unit in formation and individual stills of some troopers. If my memory serves me they utilized readily available German Cavalry facilities a...

Concerning the earlier comment that horses avoid dead animals. Back in the 50's I worked in a coal mine that used mine ponies to move coal cars from the work place to the heading. In a rare occasion a runaway coal car hit and killed a pony. Even though there was very little blood and the carcass was...

I'll check with my Brother, he now has my Dad's scrapbooks.

Dick A.

I had a few photographs, of my father,US Army Air Corp-1926-1932, taken at Langley Field, VA. He was stationed there around 1928. The photographs show him mounted on horse using a McClellan saddle.

Dick A.

My first question would be-How much time do you have to learn this information? Speaking from experience-What you want has taken many of us a lifetime to learn. (For example my first enlistment was in 1956 and my retirement was in 1999) If you have the time to spend try reading some of these books: ...