Interested in Roman Riding?

[M. Demetrius]

Good luck and check the cinch straps! Especially for the new riders. Nothing like having a horse inhale while you tighten up the strap, then exhale once you turn your back. I've seen that, honest. Horses are like that, now and then.

[John Conyard]

Good advice.

Last Sunday was a really good day. Thirteen of us rode, from absolute beginners to experienced horse archers learning coping with the lack of stirrups and strange four-horned saddles. The capacity for something to go wrong was huge, and I was running around checking everything. The fact that nothing actually went wrong was a tribute to everybody there.

We split up into two groups based on experience. I rode a new uncut stallion called Hal, currently scared of anything and everything, but definitely interested in something. It would be good to train him over the winter. He had scratched out large portions of his mane and tail. He kept me on my toes. After he got tired I rode my favourite gelding. I used my four-horn, and a steppe saddle, which I enjoyed immensely.

[attachment=0:2wu80v3o]<!-- ia0 training.JPG<!-- ia0 [/attachment:2wu80v3o]

The next session is the 15th November. We're looking forward to it already.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

The Caesarian cavelry looks ineresting. The helmet looks Gallic A but I can't make out the neck guard. Is it small?

[Folkert van Wijk]

The Caesarian cavelry looks ineresting. The helmet looks Gallic A but I can't make out the neck guard. Is it small?

Yes it's small it's actualy the agen port helmet... [url:15pjb6ds]http://www.romanarmy.com/cms/component/option,com_helmets/task,view/cid,96/Itemid,96/[/url]

[John Conyard]

Helmets can be good!

[attachment=0:1hl16k6f]<!-- ia0 CIMG6444.JPG<!-- ia0 [/attachment:1hl16k6f]

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Yep! I wasn't too impressed with the vikings at Corbridge this year going at it hammer and tongs with no helmets :roll: .....one slip... hock:

[jvrjenivs]

And again very nice pictures. Only, every time I see pictures of yours, I hope the time I will have my cavalry impression is ready will be soon. Anyways, I'm working hard on it, so maybe I can show some more pics of mine soon!

[Vitruvius]

Ave John,
As with most of us, lots of things have been happening to take us away from our chosen form of fun. I am pleased that Comitatus is doing so well. Keep up the Great Work.I'll P.M. when I can.
Ave,
Larry, a.k.a Vitruvius

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Hello!

I'm interested too in roman cavalry. I have made two harnesses for the horses of our group, one flavian and the other one julio-claudian.

I have trouble with the deepeka saddle, becouse i think there are too room between the frontal horns and the rear ones.

So, i have to ask where i can buy or custom any form of a usable roman saddle. I try several times to contact with saddler's Den (UK) without answer.

Or anyone can give some tips in order to make me the saddle...

Thanks in advance.

PD: John, congratulations for your hard work in roman cavalry.

[jvrjenivs]

As I'm working on a cavalry impression too, here are some addresses I found.

The saddles Junkelmann uses are made by Sattlery Benz from Munich (Germany).
[url:ei4o60q7]http://www.reitsport-benz.de/home.php[/url]

Markus Neidhard has used a ' Kissensattel' and modified that himself, see [url:ei4o60q7]http://www.replik.de/roemer5-sattel.html[/url]. A guy from the archeon has also done that himself.

I also came accross this one, during my search, but don't have any references from it:
[url:ei4o60q7]http://www.ledermanufaktur.com/online/historisch/leder/sonderaf.htm[/url]

At the moment I think the best sattles are made by Gauthier Clerens and Luc de Vos (he showed the metal plates for the horns, some time ago). You could contact Luc via this board, as he is a member on here.

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Thanks, Jurjenius. Have you seen my PM?

[jvrjenivs]

Thanks, Jurjenius. Have you seen my PM?

Got it and replied.

[Cheyenne]

I have a saddle made by saddlers den which is currently being repaired by him. I am thinking that I might sell this one when he does and buy one of his more recent saddles instead..

If I do decide to sell this one, then I would be looking for about £250 for it ..

I'll let you know if I do.

In all honestly, the german Dressage saddler charges an absolute fortune for his versions of the roman saddle which are too big and don't really offer a good contact with the horse. I tried one out last year ... not sure if they have improved this year

Cheers

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Thanks for the offer!!

If you sell it, then i will buy it.

How can i contact Saddler Den, please? How many charges for a new saddle? (If you want you can answer by PM)

Thanks...

[John Conyard]

Roman saddles are like hens teeth. Buy them when you can, even I they don't fit any horse they can be modified to fit.

The options are limited. http://www.comitatus.net/cavalryrecreate.html describes what type of saddle we are trying to recreate. I appreciate there are contrary views to mine, but basically a leather cover stretched over a wooden frame with limited padding. Let us call this a Carlisle saddle. My saddle has been made to look like this.
One of the leather covers found at Carlisle looks like:-

[attachment=1:3x84qm8a]<!-- ia1 saddle 2nd century Carlisle.JPG<!-- ia1 [/attachment:3x84qm8a]

With something that could possibly be the front of a saddle tree.
[attachment=0:3x84qm8a]<!-- ia0 Wooden saddle tree.doc<!-- ia0 [/attachment:3x84qm8a]

There are various Peter Connolly reconstructions, and Connolly-like reconstructions in use. They have wooden frames with the leather covers sewn up underneath the saddle which holds in lots of padding. New ones average £450 if you can get them built.

Finally there are German made "pad" saddles without a wooden frame, normally stiffened by steel bars in the cantles but with no lateral stability. These are the bain of my life. Steve Rodgers has ordered lots of these at 800 euros each. One has been OK to ride in. One was sold cheap to a museum as a handling piece, and one is currently being sent back for re-building. Contrary to Claire's comment, they do fit the horse, but they are generally too floppy to use. If you work hard you can stay in one, but they are twice as large and twice as heavy. Nice stitching though.

We use all three designs and explain the different ideas and methods behind each reconstruction. Versions of each can be seen on http://www.comitatus.net/galleryarbeia9.html I do recommend saddles you can unstich and repair yourself.

Generally saddles can be made to fit different horses with the addition of various skins and fleeces. Riders can be made to fit saddles by the the addition of the same.

Good to hear from you Larry.