It is 5½ inches long and consists of three items hanging together by small eye bolts. At the top is a large bunch of red Chili Peppers. Hanging below them is a coiled Cowboy rope with a pair of silver gauntlet style gloves. Hanging from the rope is a very intricately decorated western saddle. Select this link to view our Western Christmas Ornaments.
The Saddle.
A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider which is fastened to an animal's back. The earliest saddles were simple pads attached with a surcingle seen by 800 BC, with the saddle tree coming into use circa 200 BC, and paired stirrups by 322 A.D. Saddles in the styles seen today date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Today’s modern saddle comes in a wide variety of styles, each designed for a specific equestrianism discipline, and require careful fit to both the rider and the horse. Proper saddle care can extend the useful life of a saddle, often for decades.
From the earliest depictions, saddles became status symbols. To show off an individual's wealth and status, embellishments were added to saddles, including elaborate leatherwork, precious metals, jewels, and embroidery. Select this link to view our Dangling Cowboy Outfit.
The development of the solid saddle tree was significant; it raised the rider above the horse's back, and distributed the rider's weight on either side of the animal's spine instead of pinpointing pressure at the rider's seat bones, reducing the pounds per square inch carried on any one part of the horse's back, thus greatly increasing the comfort of the horse and prolonging its useful life. The invention of the solid saddle tree also allowed development of the true stirrup. Without a solid tree, the rider's weight in the stirrups creates abnormal pressure points and makes the horse's back sore. Select this link to view our Cowboy on His Horse.
In Asia, early solid treed saddles were made of felt that covered a wooden frame. One of the earliest solid treed saddles in the west was the "four horn" design, first used by the Romans as early as the first century BC. Select this link to view our Clay Cowboy Santa.
The stirrup was one of the milestones in saddle development. The first stirrup like object, was invented in India in the second century BC, and consisted of a simple leather strap in which the rider's toe was placed. It offered very little support, however. The stirrup appeared to be in widespread use across China by 477 AD. which then spread to Europe. This invention gave great support for the rider, and was essential in warfare. Select this link to view our Santa in a Cowboy Boot.
The McClellan saddle was designed in the 1850s by George B. McClellan for use by the United States Cavalry and the rest of the United States Army, and was used continuously, with some improvements, until the 1940s. Today, the McClellan saddle continues to be used by ceremonial mounted units in the U.S. Army. The basic design saw use by military units in several other nations, including Rhodesia and Mexico, and even to a degree by the British in the Boer War. Select this link to view our Horse in a Well.