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| MANUAL
FOR DRESS, EQUIPMENT AND CONDUCT |
| 8.
Pictorial Saddlery and Equipment |
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| Index |
Click any image to see a larger view
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| Saddle,
saddlecloth and shoulder wallet |
SADDLE
British Universal Pattern saddle used by the mounted forces
from Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Avoid using Indian replica saddles, however they can be stripped
completely and the iron put through a forge, re shaped to a
template of the correct angle and then re built. Estimated time
taken 5 hours.
SADDLECLOTH
The saddlecloth is about 5'9" (1752mm) long by 4'10"(1473mm)
wide. The method folding usually adopted is to make 2 folds
giving 4 thicknesses of blanket. The length of the blanket is
folded first then the width giving 2 folded edges and 2 raw
edges. The blanket folded measures about 2'10" (864mm)
by 2'5" (737mm). The thick folded edge is placed in front
of the folded edges on the off side and the raw edges on the
near side and rear of the saddle. The longest side of the blanket
goes across the horse.
An extra blanket was issued on operations and both blankets
were used as a saddlecloth. Initially officers only were issued
with shoulder wallets however they became general issue towards
the end of WW1, and their use continued after WW1. |
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| Bridle |
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| Shoe
case |
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Contains
2 shoes one front and one rear and a quantity of nails. Connected
to the near side of the saddle.
The sway strap is connected to the surcingle.
The attaching strap is fed under the rear arch and over then
back to the buckle.
The sword and scabbard fit through the frog on the outside of
the shoe case and is secured by the retaining strap. |
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| Head/Neck
Rope |
 Military
re enactors tend to debate at length the detail of the head/neck
rope and neck chains. Chrome neck chains are popular with some
groups' for ceremonial parades. Draught horses had neck chains,
some re mount troops, and use is recorded in WW1 as the horses
were eating the hemp rope. The standard Household Cavalry neck
chain is finer and longer than the standard military neck chain.
However there is very little evidence to support the authorized
use chromed neck chains, although some Commanding Officers may
have included variations in Unit Standing Orders.
Some references are:
Handbook for Military Artificers 1877, Section 4
Head Collar ropes - *1.5" (38.10mm) white cotton rope
10' (3m) long (no ring mentioned) instead of chain.
1/1/1910 Military Board (Australia)
Light Horse for the Drill Training and exercise of the Light
Horse  Regiments
Sect 102. Head Rope - Should be fastened on to the lower ring
of the jowl piece, or when bridles are without a jowl the ring
provided. Passed around the near side of the neck, and fastened
on to the standing part of the rope with a coil of turns of
which the top end should be 6" (152mm) - 8" (203mm)
from the horses' jowl. This should be worn fairly tight and
not hanging loosely about the shoulder.
Handbook for Military Artificers 1915 Section IV
Rope head, cotton with buckle and billet (officers only) not
to be used for picketing Rope head, hemp - 10' (3m) long *1.25"
(32mm) with ring.
Manual of Horsemastership, Equitation and Animal Transport.
1937
The head rope should be fitted by passing the end through
the bottom ring of the jowl piece from the off side,
then through the ring of the head rope and over the horse's
neck from the near side The head rope is then secured by four
complete coils and two half coils, and adjusted so that the
front of the coil is a span of the hand from the bottom ring
of the jowl piece.
Head / Neck rope recommended for the ALHA
Hemp rope 10' (3m) long, .5" (12.7mm) diameter with
1.5" (38.10mm) ring on end. The knot is four complete turns
and two half turns and the tail should point towards the ground.
The knot is spaced one hand span approximately 230mm from the
bottom ring of the jowl piece.
Ceremonial the same as above however white cotton rope 11mm
diameter.
* Circumference
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| Rifle,
rifle bucket and bayonet |
RIFLE
SMLE MK III with khaki or leather sling.  Ensure
you are aware of the gun laws pertaining to your State.
RIFLE BUCKET
The rifle bucket is attached to the offside of the saddle
rear arch passing the attaching strap from front to rear. The
strap is then passed through the link on the pan of the saddle
before buckling to the bucket Place the square flap of the bucket
under the flap of the saddle and the surcingle through the loop.
(Army Service Corps Training part 1 1909)
BAYONET
1907 Pattern worn on the left side with the attachment ring
to the rear.
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| Sword |
1908 pattern Cavalry sword.
The scabbard should be brown.
The sword fits onto the shoe case fittings. |
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| Water
bucket and nose bag |
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