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Alright fellas, "Exclusive" to the AC....As promised, the following is a portion of information on the Attakpas Saddle. Comments, questions and challenges are encouraged.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a "work in progress" and subject to major or minor corrections, additions or changes as required. Source materials omitted on purpose.
Note for future "Search Engine" references: Some other good information about Attakpas Saddles can be found in the thread "Early Hope & Texas Saddles"
**No part of this material can be used in print without prior expressed permission and credit to the author.
Ken R KNopp
Long before the Texas cowboy there was the Acadian “herdsman” and long before the great cattle towns of Abeline and Dodge City there were great cattle markets at Pensacola, Mobile, Natchez, Opelousas and New Orleans. Moreover, even before Texas was admitted to the union in 1845, the largest cattle ranches in America were found not in the west but in the grassy prairies of south Louisiana called Acadiana.
The Spanish first introduced cattle to New World Spain in the 14th century. The cattle industry in America actually started in South Carolina in the 1600's and over the next two hundred years quickly out ran civilization by migrating west through the American South largely along the coastal pine barren prairies of southern Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and finally, by the mid 19th century to Texas. During the same period Spanish cattle operations were steadily moving west to California and north into New Mexico, Texas and then finally turned east. The confluence of these two great cattle migrations took place in the mid to late 18th century in the coastal region of southwest Louisiana at the border of New Spain and French Louisiana from the Red River to New Orleans with the Attakapas area at its center. Here were found open prairies of tall grass, good soil, regular rain and mild year round climate. The grass was so good that while grazing later in Texas was one cow to ten acres, in this part of Louisiana it was ten cows to the acre.
Large Vacheries” (ranches) were established as early as the 1730's with registered brands and central markets. The period 1750-1775 saw a huge scale cattle boom increasing in size to where by the early 19th century cattle outnumbered people here by fifteen to one. The cattle were Longhorns brought from Spanish ranches in south Texas mixed with short horn European breeds from South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. The beeves were driven or shipped by boat in large numbers from all over the southwest to the New Orleans markets which remained a central port until the Civil War for cattle bound to points northeast and overseas.
The Gulf Coastal cowboys from Florida to Louisiana were known as “herders” and were a curious, melting pot of Anglo, Spanish, Acadian French, free and slave blacks and even some Creek, Choctaw and Seminole Indians. In no place was the cattle culture more unique than the Attakapas where the French Creole, Spanish and black herdsman were known for their hard riding horsemanship and colorful but reclusive ways. Here the Hispanicization of herding in south Louisiana was greatly manifested in their horses, saddlery and clothing. They wore broad brimmed palmetto straw hats, gaiters, spurs with immense rowels, used long ropes and bridle reins of twisted horse hair. The horses they rode were small, wiry horses of mustang stock called “Tackies” and herded their cattle mounted upon large Spanish influenced “Attakapas” saddles.
Although some Creole herdsman used the “lasso” their herding traditions were apparently more dominated by the eastern techniques employing cow pens and the use of herd dogs and the whip as gathering methods. This impacted the style of saddle they rode too. The high pommel, slender, “riding” horn of the Spanish jineta style “Attakapas” saddle (sometimes shortened to “Tuckapaw”) suited them well and was obviously preferred over the short neck, horn cap style “roping” horn of the Spanish or Mexican Vaquero saddle.
The influences of the Attakapas pattern are clearly descended from the Spanish “Jineta” riding pattern that evolved from the ancient Moorish and Turkish “jenita” saddles. The high, slender horns, narrow forked pommel and bars without front extensions are features too similar to be mere coincidence. Although dating back to the 18th century Spanish jineta, the Attakapas pattern is unique in that it took on an identity of its own in Creole culture. By the 1830's it was a well known and popular riding saddle in the region being sold along side Spanish and other saddles from New Orleans and as far north as Galena Illinois.
The Attakapas saddle tree first came to the attention of the U.S. army in 1833 when mounted Dragoons (cavalry) were being re-introduced into the military. Lt. Col. Stephen W. Kearny and Maj. Richard Mason recommended that the War Department adopt a saddle pattern on that made “in the Attakapas Louisiana” The army was then in negotiation with Thornton Grimsley for his Spanish saddles and would have easily identified the difference of the Attakapas from the low, short neck horn of the St. Louis Spanish saddle. Soon thereafter the army acted fairly quickly in contracting with Thornton Grimsley for his Spanish saddle but not the Attakapas tree. From 1833 to 1844 the army used the St. Louis style Spanish tree for their Dragoons when it again switched patterns for the cavalry to the eastern European influenced Ringold saddle. However, the virtues of the Attakapas pattern were not entirely overlooked by the army.
Up to 1845 the wagon saddle used in the army was built on the English tree. Although dropping the Spanish saddle from Dragoon use, they now adopted what they termed the “Spanish Tree” for their wagon saddles ostensibly for increased durability. Then in 1858, for unknown reasons, the army ceased referring to the wagon saddle as Spanish. Despite no apparent physical change to the saddle from then until after the Civil War harness specifications referred to it as the “Attakapas Tree”. The significance of the change in terminology is not known but the general appearance and pattern of the wagon saddle remained the same throughout and is consistent in an 1846 sketch of the Quartermaster saddle as well as Civil War photography and surviving specimens. Regardless, by the end of the Civil War the Attakapas saddle was fading in recognition for both military and civilian applications being replaced by the more universally known term “Texas” saddle. Thereafter, except in its home region of Acadiana the name and its unique pattern was quickly forgotten in the lexicon of American saddlery.
PHOTOS:
1. Map of the Attakapas region.
2. The Attakapas Herdsman, c. 1885. While post war, the tools of his trade were much the same as fifty years before.
3. "The Five Acre Dash" c. 1885. This drawing shows some of the clothing and other features common to the unique culture of the region.
4. 16th Century Turkish “Jineta” saddle. This exquisitely bejeweled saddle was a gift to Russia’s Czars by the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th Century. Courtesy the Smithsonian Institution. Note its similarities to the Spanish jenitas as well as the Attakapas saddles.
More photos following.....
Ken R Knopp
PLEASE NOTE: This is a "work in progress" and subject to major or minor corrections, additions or changes as required. Source materials omitted on purpose.
Note for future "Search Engine" references: Some other good information about Attakpas Saddles can be found in the thread "Early Hope & Texas Saddles"
**No part of this material can be used in print without prior expressed permission and credit to the author.
Ken R KNopp
Long before the Texas cowboy there was the Acadian “herdsman” and long before the great cattle towns of Abeline and Dodge City there were great cattle markets at Pensacola, Mobile, Natchez, Opelousas and New Orleans. Moreover, even before Texas was admitted to the union in 1845, the largest cattle ranches in America were found not in the west but in the grassy prairies of south Louisiana called Acadiana.
The Spanish first introduced cattle to New World Spain in the 14th century. The cattle industry in America actually started in South Carolina in the 1600's and over the next two hundred years quickly out ran civilization by migrating west through the American South largely along the coastal pine barren prairies of southern Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and finally, by the mid 19th century to Texas. During the same period Spanish cattle operations were steadily moving west to California and north into New Mexico, Texas and then finally turned east. The confluence of these two great cattle migrations took place in the mid to late 18th century in the coastal region of southwest Louisiana at the border of New Spain and French Louisiana from the Red River to New Orleans with the Attakapas area at its center. Here were found open prairies of tall grass, good soil, regular rain and mild year round climate. The grass was so good that while grazing later in Texas was one cow to ten acres, in this part of Louisiana it was ten cows to the acre.
Large Vacheries” (ranches) were established as early as the 1730's with registered brands and central markets. The period 1750-1775 saw a huge scale cattle boom increasing in size to where by the early 19th century cattle outnumbered people here by fifteen to one. The cattle were Longhorns brought from Spanish ranches in south Texas mixed with short horn European breeds from South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. The beeves were driven or shipped by boat in large numbers from all over the southwest to the New Orleans markets which remained a central port until the Civil War for cattle bound to points northeast and overseas.
The Gulf Coastal cowboys from Florida to Louisiana were known as “herders” and were a curious, melting pot of Anglo, Spanish, Acadian French, free and slave blacks and even some Creek, Choctaw and Seminole Indians. In no place was the cattle culture more unique than the Attakapas where the French Creole, Spanish and black herdsman were known for their hard riding horsemanship and colorful but reclusive ways. Here the Hispanicization of herding in south Louisiana was greatly manifested in their horses, saddlery and clothing. They wore broad brimmed palmetto straw hats, gaiters, spurs with immense rowels, used long ropes and bridle reins of twisted horse hair. The horses they rode were small, wiry horses of mustang stock called “Tackies” and herded their cattle mounted upon large Spanish influenced “Attakapas” saddles.
Although some Creole herdsman used the “lasso” their herding traditions were apparently more dominated by the eastern techniques employing cow pens and the use of herd dogs and the whip as gathering methods. This impacted the style of saddle they rode too. The high pommel, slender, “riding” horn of the Spanish jineta style “Attakapas” saddle (sometimes shortened to “Tuckapaw”) suited them well and was obviously preferred over the short neck, horn cap style “roping” horn of the Spanish or Mexican Vaquero saddle.
The influences of the Attakapas pattern are clearly descended from the Spanish “Jineta” riding pattern that evolved from the ancient Moorish and Turkish “jenita” saddles. The high, slender horns, narrow forked pommel and bars without front extensions are features too similar to be mere coincidence. Although dating back to the 18th century Spanish jineta, the Attakapas pattern is unique in that it took on an identity of its own in Creole culture. By the 1830's it was a well known and popular riding saddle in the region being sold along side Spanish and other saddles from New Orleans and as far north as Galena Illinois.
The Attakapas saddle tree first came to the attention of the U.S. army in 1833 when mounted Dragoons (cavalry) were being re-introduced into the military. Lt. Col. Stephen W. Kearny and Maj. Richard Mason recommended that the War Department adopt a saddle pattern on that made “in the Attakapas Louisiana” The army was then in negotiation with Thornton Grimsley for his Spanish saddles and would have easily identified the difference of the Attakapas from the low, short neck horn of the St. Louis Spanish saddle. Soon thereafter the army acted fairly quickly in contracting with Thornton Grimsley for his Spanish saddle but not the Attakapas tree. From 1833 to 1844 the army used the St. Louis style Spanish tree for their Dragoons when it again switched patterns for the cavalry to the eastern European influenced Ringold saddle. However, the virtues of the Attakapas pattern were not entirely overlooked by the army.
Up to 1845 the wagon saddle used in the army was built on the English tree. Although dropping the Spanish saddle from Dragoon use, they now adopted what they termed the “Spanish Tree” for their wagon saddles ostensibly for increased durability. Then in 1858, for unknown reasons, the army ceased referring to the wagon saddle as Spanish. Despite no apparent physical change to the saddle from then until after the Civil War harness specifications referred to it as the “Attakapas Tree”. The significance of the change in terminology is not known but the general appearance and pattern of the wagon saddle remained the same throughout and is consistent in an 1846 sketch of the Quartermaster saddle as well as Civil War photography and surviving specimens. Regardless, by the end of the Civil War the Attakapas saddle was fading in recognition for both military and civilian applications being replaced by the more universally known term “Texas” saddle. Thereafter, except in its home region of Acadiana the name and its unique pattern was quickly forgotten in the lexicon of American saddlery.
PHOTOS:
1. Map of the Attakapas region.
2. The Attakapas Herdsman, c. 1885. While post war, the tools of his trade were much the same as fifty years before.
3. "The Five Acre Dash" c. 1885. This drawing shows some of the clothing and other features common to the unique culture of the region.
4. 16th Century Turkish “Jineta” saddle. This exquisitely bejeweled saddle was a gift to Russia’s Czars by the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th Century. Courtesy the Smithsonian Institution. Note its similarities to the Spanish jenitas as well as the Attakapas saddles.
More photos following.....
Ken R Knopp
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