Interested in Roman Riding?

[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.