8. Pictorial Saddlery and Equipment

SADDLE

British Universal Pattern (UP) saddle used by the mounted forces from Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Avoid using cheap 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.

SADDLE BLANKET

The saddle blanket 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.

WALLETS

Initially only officers were issued with saddle wallets, however they became general issue towards the end of WW1, and their use continued after WW1. (Not used for ceremonial parades)

Military re-enactors tend to debate at length the detail of the neck rope and neck chains. Neck chains (see below)are popular with some groups' for ceremonial parades. Draught horses had neck chains, also some remount troops, with their use recorded during 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 of 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 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

 

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.