Forums at The Military Horse

Pat and all:

Except for the few engagements already mentioned, it has been my impression that those American elements that remained mounted were serving as messengers and forage hunters and other non-combat roles. ANZAC units are quite another matter. I do not know all of their history, but do have ...

I take that back. I went back and read the manual rather than study the photo, and it seems clear enough. the lariat strap is attached tot he off cantle ring and runs through the near ring to hold even 10-inch coils of lariat then battened down by the near saddle bag straps with picket pin stuck in ...

I suspect it is a terminological error in the manual that the "lariat" goes around the horse's neck. I have owned two or three halters of the period, and all have stout lead lines. In photos, those seem to be what runs from halter and around neck. The lariat is quite another matter -- much longer ...

One thing that is not entirely clear in the texts is just what they did with the lariat. I have one, and also a lariat loop. The lariat has its own perfectly effective clip. Seems from the texts you provided, Couvi, that the policy up until after the Great War was to hank the lariat and using two ...

Yes, indeed an excellent find. Thanks, Couvi.

For some reason I do not recall getting any notices on this thread, and so was surprised when I took a look, to see this helpful information.

Friends:

I am close to having everything necessary --except the uniform items -- to rig my war-time '04 for post-war border service in the field. I have the modified saddle bags, for instance, and most of the contents. I have a lariat and lariat loop, etc etc. However, I cannot seem to find a ...

Interesting overall. In as much as he was well aware of the potential risk, one wonders why Bates did not grasp the opportunity himself by sending a team to command those heights?

If anybody else listened to the wax recording of TR's bugler, did you notice the differences in cadence and timing of the familiar calls? Part may be that he was a hot-shot bugler and could triple-tongue , but there were other distinct differences although the melodies seem to be the same.

I saw that one, too, and figured you had personal knowledge of that gun. Is it the same one that figured in the loony-toons story about the retiring officer's desire to fire real rounds at hay bales?

No, but I'd say this is an authoritative playing of the important ones from 1897:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrC5rIBkQldtjUANXn7w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTBncGdyMzQ0BHNlYwNzZWFyY2gEdnRpZAM-;_ylc ...

Interesting that this discussion was in 1912, at the same time that the M 1912 experiment was being hatched. Also interesting that the discussion is of the saddle alone, and NOT of a full set of horse equipment. The testimony is that a "few" were made and let out for use, which accounts for the ...

I think that's the thing, Pat. At this point, I am not sure how many, of even WHETHER any Whitman bridles were actually issued as opposed to being purchased. It was, after all, an officers' item of gear and at the time, all officer's gear was privately purchased. However, we do know that RIA made ...

Friends:

I'll follow with pictures later this week, but I wonder if anyone has found photos, specifications, or drawings of the Whitman bridles actually used in cavalry service? To me it has been one of the big mysteries. Many sources discuss the development of the Whitman equipment and show both ...

Fascinating if gruesome.

Ralph:

Looks interesting but the link doesn't work.

Couvi:

per your comment that tightwads in the Congress led to guns being painted one color -- I though it was the rule to paint them green if they didn't move...

J

I need to dig up the couple of items I have and send pix. I had long thought they might be dragoon, but then I saw more dragoon stuff with what looked more like horseshoe shaped wire buckles -- without the flats and bevels.

You know, I have a couple of old pieces of tack with buckles like that. I've never been sure they were military, but maybe they are.

I was trying to prompt you to recount it.

Roy: IN this video, one of the artillerymen reaches under the gun carriage and winds a crank after they stop in front of the cathedral. Is that the brake you were talking about?