A Col. Whitman Saddle tale

[BobH]

Once upon a time ...
(Yes, I know how a real "sea story/war story" starts, but this is a family show ...)
I came across an old saddle by way of an estate sale. Among the other items were some pre-/during/post WW1 things that narrowed the timeline of the original owner, and ultimate research here from the experts and a few other spots revealed I had a Whitman Park saddle, ca. 1916. You can view it at flikr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18565374@N03/6256138920/.

I rode it a couple of times and it's very comfortable. Although it's a "hard seat" similar to a McClellan, it has a much more comfortable seat. Note in the one underside shot it looks for all the world like a McClellan tree. Given it's designed by Col. Whitman, that's no surprise. That centerline gap is a real eye catcher with all the dressage & hunter types at the barn.

Then I rode it once too often. Add one old saddle, a startled horse in retraining, and well ... once again I know how sand tastes.
The rest of the tale has a happy ending. I got smarter once my head stopped spinning. Trooper Riley calmed down, settled in to training, and has since been adopted to a great home. And Tom Smith rallied to my rescue with a fantastic job repairing the quarter straps & skirts. Yep - shameless plug for a fellow member of this group. I've got another SPCA project now, a red dun QH who seems more sane than Riley. In any case, my hubris has been (mostly) replaced with humility. (note to self: shut up, stop, and listen to the horse). And yes, I'm going to try the Whitman again.

BTW - The Whitman design made it all the way to the US Supreme Court: http://supreme.justia.com/us/148/674/case.html

Bob Hillery

[Pat Holscher]

Once upon a time ...
(Yes, I know how a real "sea story/war story" starts, but this is a family show ...)
I came across an old saddle by way of an estate sale. Among the other items were some pre-/during/post WW1 things that narrowed the timeline of the original owner, and ultimate research here from the experts and a few other spots revealed I had a Whitman Park saddle, ca. 1916. You can view it at flikr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18565374@N03/6256138920/.

I rode it a couple of times and it's very comfortable. Although it's a "hard seat" similar to a McClellan, it has a much more comfortable seat. Note in the one underside shot it looks for all the world like a McClellan tree. Given it's designed by Col. Whitman, that's no surprise. That centerline gap is a real eye catcher with all the dressage & hunter types at the barn.

Then I rode it once too often. Add one old saddle, a startled horse in retraining, and well ... once again I know how sand tastes.
The rest of the tale has a happy ending. I got smarter once my head stopped spinning. Trooper Riley calmed down, settled in to training, and has since been adopted to a great home. And Tom Smith rallied to my rescue with a fantastic job repairing the quarter straps & skirts. Yep - shameless plug for a fellow member of this group. I've got another SPCA project now, a red dun QH who seems more sane than Riley. In any case, my hubris has been (mostly) replaced with humility. (note to self: shut up, stop, and listen to the horse). And yes, I'm going to try the Whitman again.

BTW - The Whitman design made it all the way to the US Supreme Court: http://supreme.justia.com/us/148/674/case.html

Bob Hillery

Congrats on the recovery, and the successful training progress for Riley.

[BobH]

Thanks, Pat.
Seems I'm recreating my own little Remount troop.
Last summer while at Ft. Riley's museum I spotted behind glass a book that appeared to be a manual for remount training rather than something about breeding or selection.
Ever hear of or see such a volume? I have, of course, several books by Chamberlain and Smith on training as well as reprints of the 1935 Cavalry school manuals. However, this display led me to believe that there was a separate manual that focused on remount schooling. I'd love to verify that, and get access/copy such a book particular considering what I've been doing with these rescues. I did ask while I was there, but there wasn't anyone handy to answer such a specific question. And as they're understaffed they've been a bit tough to contact.

The re-training of a mount with bad habits or abuse issues is certainly quite different than training a green horse. Yes - done both - and I know that some of the gentling and ground work techniques are the same, but I've gotta tell ya that when your not sure what may have happened to an animal in their past and you sidle alongside 'em with side reins the first time it takes a whole 'nuther level of alertness for accidentally hitting one of their triggers. If the Riley school had something related I'd love to check it out.

Bob

[Pat Holscher]

Bumped up due to related thread.