Camp saddle stand?

[GAR]

I was at an event recently (Lamoni) where I noticed a tent had two saddles on display in front of it. Nice to display them but the stands looked to be comprise of folding aluminum legs. It got me to wondering what most of you do with your saddles when they aren't on your mounts. I hate to leave my Mac just laying on the ground in the dirt and ants, etc.. I briefly considered a wooden quilt rack I ran cross in an antique mall, or a hump back trunk I own, but that didn't make the scene until the 1880's or so. A wooden TV tray might work but I don't want to add another thing to cart around to events if I can avoid it. What, if anything do you guys do with your saddles and tack before and after the battles?
Thanks,
G

[RCR001]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

I had my Mac on the ground at Lamoni. I used it and the saddle blanket to make my sleeping pad. I saw some other guys that setup two posts and a rail and kept several saddles up off that ground that way. But for me, take it off, throw it down, lay down on it and sleep.

[ethan harrington]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

On Campaign,
Pull bits loosen girths and leave them on the horse or sleep on it, makes a good easy chair if done right. don't overthink this they didn't ..........

Ethan Harrington.

[AZReenactor]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

Good advice. Personally when campaigning, I've never found any kind of period saddle stand that I can pack on a horse more than a mile or two. That being the case it all simply depends on what, if anything, is available to to toss my saddle over where we are stopping for the night. Learning to make due with less, is almost always a good recipe for improving ones impression.

When I'm at the museum doing a historical interpretive talk, need to get my saddle up where the public can see it and don't have a horse available, I usually drag out a couple of artillery ammunition shipping crates, a hard cracker box turned sideways, or (more rarely) a wood saddle stand that, were it not a museum display, would have no business in the field.

Were this any kind of quality reenacting event, I would have suggested they drape them over the sides or tongue of the wagon that hauled their tent and poles (these can be just as cumbersome to strap to a saddle as a saddle stand and would nearly as often be out of place)? This event though sounds like just an old timey, do what you want, type reenacting weekend where authenticity wasn't a genuine focus, in which case this forum would be the wrong place to ask about the methodologies of that other hobby.

[Jerry Ross]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

Where would you put the saddle stand on you or the horse? We campaign around here.Less is more I think .

[Mark Choate]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

Leave it on the ground............use it as a pillow. It's not a relic, it's a reproduction.

We're talking about soldiers who in some cases did not have canteens and barely a long-gun. Less is more in this hobby so only carry the bare bones.

thx,
Mark

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

I want to echo the others. First off, there is no manner or method of carrying any sort of saddle stand on the horse. Secondly a saddle makes an excellent place to put your head when you lay down at night. Lay a ground cloth with the saddle at the uphill side, then lay the saddle blanket. Lay down cover yourself with your sleeping blanket and lay your head in the seat. Trust me its quite comfy.

Dave Myrick

[IowaYank]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

Like Jerry, Ethan, Mark and others have said,,,,,,,the ground works just fine!!

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

Regarding authentic events and not Living History or Museum scenarios.....

After you have been in the field for a few months (or years)-and....You just made a three day and night march, fought five skirmishes, haven't slept for two nights and cannot remember when (or what) you last ate.....or having to lean your saddle up against a tree to sit on for a bed just to get a few minutes of sleep during an all night rain storm.....or, after you take off your saddle and throw the blanket on the ground and it literally sinks under water because of a continuous three day deluge of rain or....when everthing you have is wet and the rawhide is pulling apart and melting off your saddle tree or, ......you have to cut the stirrup hoods or holes out of your skirts to provide leather soles for your worn shoes or,....your horse is so hungry from not being fed for three days he is literally eating the leather off the saddle of the horse next to him....Then,....
THE LAST THING YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT IS A SADDLE RACK TO KEEP FROM PUTTING YOUR SADDLE ON THE GROUND.....or.... better yet,.....why even worry? Who needs a sadle rack....You've been on picket or skirmishing and your saddle has not been off the horses for a week anyway.

* All of these scenarios (and more or can remember right now) were real events. So, do it the way they did it and like everyone else said.... less is best!

Since this is the Authentic Campaigner....Is it just me or I am the only one incredulous that we are even having this discussion?

Ken R Knopp

[Outrider]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

No Ken its not just you.

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

No Ken, not you or Paddy Mac either.
Dave Myrick

[IowaYank]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

That was my first thought Ken!

[Old-South]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

Fellas,
He is on the new side. Cut him some slack.

[RCR001]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

I had my Mac on the ground at Lamoni. I used it and the saddle blanket to make my sleeping pad. I saw some other guys that setup two posts and a rail and kept several saddles up off that ground that way. But for me, take it off, throw it down, lay down on it and sleep.

Of course I was up on him again early Sunday morning, itching for a fight too. Why didn't you Colorado boys come out for a ride around the lake with us? You surely got the invitation, didn't you?

[rbruno]

Re: Camp saddle stand?

Ken,
That is why I sent you the PM