Over padding a saddle

[forrestcav]

Re: Over padding a saddle

best place for the shelter half is in the trailer.

[Forrestcavalryman]

Re: Over padding a saddle

best place for the shelter half is in the trailer.

Aggreed. Never owned one, never will.

[IowaYank]

Re: Over padding a saddle

i have used two blankets for 15 years. next to the horse is a federal cavalry blanket on that is asleeping blanket. i am cold natured so i carry another blanket rolled in a gum blanket straped to the cantle. ronnie tucker 7th tn

THREE BLANKETS????? Holy cow, you are one lucky trooper! How much documentation can we find out there for a trooper to be carrying three blankets for himself? And on campaign? I know you said you are cold by nature, but try layering of pards blankets and spooning. Body heat is a wonderful thing!!!

Curious minds wanting to know,
Dan

[Outrider]

Re: Over padding a saddle

Well I think there is excellent and obvious reasons why there so many journal entries and letters home written by soldiers/troopers complaining about being cold, wet and miserable on campaign and they did it day in and day out. I figure I can do it for 2 days.

Gentleman, I truly believe if we intend to call ourselves "authentic reenactors" (for lack of a better term) and are HONESTLY out to do the most accurate portrayals that we can given the time, location, and circumstances being portrayed at any given "event" that we are fortunate enough to be asked to be a part of, then there is only one HONEST way to do it correctly and that is the way THEY did it.

As I have always understood it, this forum holds to that standard and so must all of us here and in the field or as harsh as it sounds we dont belong in either.

If you cant document them using it/ carrying it then dont. Its simple really and easier when you think of it in those terms.

But then I am getting grumpier and cynical in my old age.....

[Ronnie Tucker]

Re: Over padding a saddle

dan i being out on scout duty sometimes i acquire things. i realize two sleeping together is period and is a warm way i will share my blankets if i can help a pard to sleep warmer ronnie tucker7tn

[Jerry Ross]

Re: Over padding a saddle

Dan,
You and Ethan both know you can't wear your spurs when we spoon any more! Right? Y'all killed me in Unison with them the two/three years ago .

[IowaYank]

Re: Over padding a saddle

hahaha, that's Ethan and my way of making sure you don't squirm around too much!! lol

Seriously though, if your portraying CS cavalry, as a generality I would say that a saddle blanket, and MAYBE a sleeping blanket are as many as you should have. Take that saddle blanket out from under your saddle and use if for yourself at night. Yeah, you'll smell like a horse, but chances are if your cavalry you do already. You read of so many accounts of CS cav lacking saddle blankets.

Dan

[Ronnie Tucker]

Re: Over padding a saddle

yes atotal of three blankets and sometimes if need be two pair of pants so hang me or shoot me then divide all my useless traps ronnie tucker 7tn

[forrestcav]

Re: Over padding a saddle

I kinda gotta agree with Ronnie. Three blankets may seem excessive, but those men also died from pnuemonia and I don't think we want to go to the extreme of authenticity that we have sick and or dying men in the ranks although it would be "authentic". I usually only have two blankets myself, but when the temp. drops I may liberate a third blanket myself.

[VaTrooper]

Re: Over padding a saddle

O come on if you gotta do it please don't advertise it.

[Forrestcavalryman]

Re: Over padding a saddle

Plus, we need to remeber that all of us need to come back alive Sunday night! I aggree with Ronnie and Joe, it may seem like a bit to much, and as much as dying from "Lord knows what" may be authentic, it's not very fun. I myself only use two (saddle blanket and quilt), but when the weather gets nasty I do have a small (not even the size of my gum blanket) wool blanket that I add to the bedroll at night.

[IowaYank]

Re: Over padding a saddle

Guys....Come on now. How many events do we do where there is really a threat of dying from the elements if you only have one blanket!?!?!?! Yes, you may get a little chilly and at the moment it may not be real fun, but you will not die!!!! Some of the best events I have done are where at the time I was completely miserable, but looking back on them it was amazing! I've never heard of a case where a reenactor has died from cold because he only had one blanket! If you are doing winter quarters then yes, it is appropriate to potentially have multiple blankets, but on campaign in March-November...and in the south?????

I guess I'm barking up the wrong tree....those who want to do it like they did will do it like they did.....and those who want to be comfortable will just be comfortable.

Dan

[Forrestcavalryman]

Re: Over padding a saddle

Very valid point that I hadn't thought of before. In the South there wouldn't be very many blankets available. I may rethink my small blanket since it doesn't provide much warmth anyway. I may have to go with my Sergents motto of "you're 18, you'll live", and rough it through a cold night. Thank you for your input, I may ditch that third blanket after all.

[IowaYank]

Re: Over padding a saddle

My .....in the south comment was mostly meant to mean often times temperatures are less harsh in the south.

[Forrestcavalryman]

Re: Over padding a saddle

Oh...... I thought you may have been refering to the lack of blankets(which then made me remember Ken's article on Spanish Moss blankets). My bad, but now that I think about it that makes more sense.