Medieval vs Modern: How does a medieval saddle compare to a modern saddle? 

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The guy is an enormously talented individual who made his fortune making computer games and producing movies. He’s worth 10’s of millions of dollars. This is the kind of hobby one can have after succeeding spectacularly and whose income provides the necessary leisure time to pursue true passion. I’m grateful the universe is constructed in such a way to enable passion, talent and resources to come together to make this series happen.

@@schreckpmc wait seriously?! Thats so awesome, I was drawn to this channel randomly because I love to watch historical stuff, but I instantly loved it because of his charisma and down to earth attitude, along with passion and respect (for the episodes with other experts in the field) I just assumed he was someone seriously passionate about this who decided to maybe start a YT channel and it took off, with enough viewership to fund the next, sort of thing. Wow, even more impressed!

@@ysn12288 He's so *kind* I thought he was POOR, lol! (And yes, I am *well* aware that poverty isn't necessarily synonymous with humility, lol!)

@@h0rriphic TRUTH!! My people were involved with horseracing, my cousins did dressage, and I know even owning a tiny pony as a *pet* is a money hole, lol! By "poor" I mean like he seems humble, like the dude who gets paid to muck out the stalls, but he obviously enjoys taking care of his animals. He said it keeps him in shape, and tunes his mental health, as well. Great guy! He kinda makes me want to be a nicer person.

It's the Mcclellan saddle (I just learned) and they were used in Rhodesia and South Africa too as well as on my Granddad's farm in Namibia. I guess the missing bits made them far lighter than normal saddles. I never used one though.

I've never rode with an English saddle, is it different riding wise?

@@chantelbarcomb1766 Yes. With the posture and your position, there is a lot of difference that you'll feel, especially if you're in the saddle for a long time. You use different different muscle groups, just like you use different ones when you ride bareback.

I would agree. As he says in the video, English saddles are great for jumping, for going fast, for not being in direct contact with the horse. Spanish riding, I suspect, often has roots in the sorts of riding done to herd cattle, or for mountainous terrain which would involve a good bit of scrambling on the part of the horse - it seems like it would allow for the rider to keep balance much better without risking the horse should a fall be inevitable. And Western saddles are very much constructed for riding herd on cattle - intractable beasts that Longhorns are, that also means a form of combat at times! Western saddles are built to allow for use of the rope (that's a big part of the function of the pommel) and as with the Spanish saddle, the back part reinforces and deepens the seat, allowing the rider to stay on and stay balanced even when the horse is almost sitting on his haunches, as sometimes happens when attempting to lasso and immobilize a cow or a wild horse. I think the medieval saddle is just as well suited to its purposes as any modern saddle, and I think we learn a LOT about just what fighting was like, by looking at it. Imagine jousting, even in a Western saddle - you'd be likely to fall right off the back of the horse if you took a solid blow to the chest, but the medieval saddle cushions you against that, gives you something to brace your back against, and so only the most powerful blow is going to take you down. Of course this also means you might be risking broken bones! And I think that the construction of the saddle made it somewhat more comfortable for the horse to have an armored pair of legs banging against its sides all day - something that isn't as much of a concern for modern riders, no?

@@chantelbarcomb1766 I've heard of it described as you having to ride the horse between your legs and your hands. They are often in collected form, and you always want contact with their mouth. You sit more on your seat bones, then on your bum as in Western. The proper posture to have is a straight line running through you shoulder, hip, and ankle. Western...not so much. Hope that helps any questions! 😊😊 Have a good day!!

Agreed. Especially an old fashioned one like a vaisalia saddle

Juniper not really I've been on a western saddle and the horse fell over and I slid with it but I jumped off before the horse was totally on his side.

Glad you like them!

Wiccad Witch that’s something I hope to show in another episode soon.

@@jasonkingsley2762 fantastic! Looking forward to that. Thank you for such a great series.

Which saddle do you prefer? And why?

Thanks for your kind words, we try!

@@ModernKnight The quality of these videos is just as amazing as the information they contain. Everyone that works on these videos deserves heaps of praise! From Jason right down to all the editors, directors, planners, and everyone behind the scenes. And certainly all the makers of these beautiful pieces of arms and armor and clothing. And of course, Warlord, Gossamer, Ghost and all of the horses deserve only the highest praises!

Nothing much beats the squeak of a leather saddle. Combine it with a horse's breathing and hoof beats and you have instant relaxation. Sends me right to my happy place XD

yes but it lacks the "elephant ears " of the Aussie saddle

If heard that quite a few times now and I have ridden in different english saddles and a whole lot of western saddles but I don't really agree 😅. I get the point when we are talking about jumping saddles. I learnt to ride in those so I am used to them and have a good seat in them but yes, you fall out of them quicker. but if you compare a western saddle to a dressage saddle ...then I'd clearly say you stay on better in a dressage saddle because dressage saddles most of the time have a lot deeper seat and you can't really slide to the side. but I mean I still think western saddles are uncomfortable 🤷🏼‍♀️ and it probably makes a huge difference to what you are used to and what you think is comfortable...

Glad it was helpful!

There were a lot of influences with the western saddle, but yeah, definitely they had a hand in it.

I believe the Spnish/Mexicans actually created most of "cowboy culture". When Anglo-German settlers came to the area to start cattle herding, they adopted most of the practices that the Mexican cowboys were already using.

@@Yora21 Yeah, "vaqueros" became "buckaroos."

Google pack saddles, and military pack saddles. www.thelongridersguild.com/oriental-wonder.htm Has information to roman times.

Glad you enjoyed it.

You might find this interesting. I built my Western saddle (pretty much modified a kit from Tandy Leather) and realized something: In addition to having all those tie-off points and a proper substantial horn, a real basic Old West saddle would have been all leather, rawhide and wood, with very little metalwork or sewing. I worked it out at one bolt for the horn, one each to assemble the bent-wood stirrups (no threading or nuts required if peened); eight rings at about 2" diameter that could be iron, steel, brass, or bronze for a full double rig, two per cinch/girth and four for the saddle rigging; and maybe a few tacks to form the rawhide cover to the tree. Every assembly point for the leather skirts and coverings would have been laced through conchos, not screwed, and the bights of the laces would have been up to a couple feet long-- not just to tie things, but for emergency repairs. Rings were laced to the rigging and stirrup leathers laced rather than buckled. The cinches were knotted as well, not buckled. The truly skilled labor for this was all involved with carving and covering the tree, since the rawhide cover can shrink and affect the shape of the wood as it dries. Conquistador saddles also had a provision for a common problem for horses on campaign: the bars had padding underneath, and a slit in the leather made it possible for the rider to stuff or remove hay or horsehair or whatever to keep the saddle fitted as the horse lost condition or gained weight. I wish I could remember where I saw that magazine article. It must have been such a problem for mounted men-at-arms throughout the Middle Ages, especially the poorer ones not using the sort of saddle in this video.

@@moonshadowmagic7116 That's interesting, thanks.

Posting was developed to spare a horse and rider from a rough trot, and uses the horse's motion to bounce the rider up out of the seat a bit. It's a little more difficult to learn on a smooth horse! Using the legs tends to make them swing back and forth. It's often better, especially with a smooth trot, to learn to sit the trot first. Watch a polo match if you can find one here or on TV. I was surprised to see some riders posting to a canter, but it makes sense when considering the sort of effort they're putting forth.

I find it very comfortable.

I can only speak about the use of terms in German, but we also call modern saddles that we use English saddles as well as we call the "normal" riding style English style to distinguish it from Western or Spanish style. So at least in German, English style just means the wide-spread riding style in the riding sport. I'm not quite firm in terms of history, but I think that's because the style developed in England before it was adopted elsewhere :)

The McClellan saddle is attributed to General George McClellan, active during the American Civil War and the decade or so before. It's pretty much an unadorned tree covered in leather (originally in rawhide, but that is too sensitive to moisture) and, with its big slit down the middle, was designed to accommodate a horse on campaign whose condition would change over the course of a few weeks of rough forage and hard travel. The padding was all in the saddle blankets, and so very adjustable. It was not beloved by the cavalrymen, as there's no concession to human comfort, but I've ridden them and enjoyed it.

Sandra Archer actually I think it move thing backwards, not forwards. The big weight bearing surfaces on the cantle help.

Sandra Archer also I find modern Fresians very long backed usually.

A, so I got that wrong. I never sat in such a saddle (only know them from RU-vid videos). When I look at these (you and other gentlemen using this saddle), I can see it. Still, maybe this could solve some of our modern day problems. Though the rider would really have to be willing to break with several aspects of modern riding. Interestingly enough, an old-style American Oldtimer saddle also has no seat padding at all. And they are quite comfortable to use. Also quite short type pf saddle, as these were made for the short-backed Spanish horses which were brought along by the Spanish conquerers to America.

These are quite good . www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JM-SADDLE-PORTUGUESE/123399030880?hash=item1cbb27c860:m:megeiFYJ-7twtHIJENeWM4g:rk:3:pf:0 also if you want a shorter saddle - go for a smaller size. I have for many years used 15." and 15,5" saddles because they fit a lot better. i just sold my black academic spanish saddle bacause it was to big for my new horse.. it looked like the one on the picture ( the link) but was black/back and brass..and was called marjomar saddle. You can get them from spain and germany. really good to ride in :) i guess i will try to get another, smaller for the new horse. sadly my beautiful gray ( now white to old age) Danish Varmblood passed away from cancer 21 years old.

Probably just like a normal one today...I mean being that ladies didn't go into battle.

They were very different because you couldn’t really sit with both legs on either side of the horse if you had a dress on. So what they did was sit with both legs on one side. I think it’s called a sidesaddle but I’m not 100% sure.

They rode astride usually, or sideways behind the rider with both feet on a kind of platform. Women in the middle ages rode all the time if they were able to afford it.

my medieval saddles are all individually fitted.

Same here. Love the Aussie saddles.

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@@maureendoerner9002 How do they compare to western saddles?

I have a McBride harness saddle that my great-great-grandfather bought new in 1853, and called a harness saddle because it was originally created for a single rider going post on the big 10 to 16 horse teams drawing lumber wagons which had no seat on the wagon for the driver. The rider sat one horse on either the first or middle team and directed with both vocal and reined commands. The saddle is very light, has no padding, and has large brass rings through which the traces passed. It has a A-fork pommel and low cantle, and the skirting is rounded in the front and squared in the back. I use a breast collar and sometimes a butt strap when in very hilly terrain. All in all it is a very comfortable saddle for myself and the horse or mule.

Can you find mediecal specialists who might be able to make suggestions? Mental welfare is an important thing. I know many people enjoy in-hand horse training and liberty work on the ground.

@@ModernKnight I guess i could consult with a sports medicine specialist. My regular physician says "No!" And my back doctor has never been on a horse and somehow doesn't understand i used to ride mules bareback as a child.

@@ModernKnight It has been depressing not being able to ride.

Gaited horses might be an avenue of inquiry. If you can find a doctor to work with... Perhaps contact with an equine therapy facility (people therapy with horses, I mean) could help you find professionals in the field

yes, different saddles seem to feel different for both rider, and presumably horse.

I am glad it wasn't just me that thought that. After commenting just that I see many people think so too. The most comfortable saddle I've ever used.

Great tip on the Mongolian saddle, I've not looked into those.

I think medieval saddles are more dangerous in some ways, less so in others. that reconstruction with Dom Smee, a friend of mine, was done at my place. I helped out and played Henry Tudor!

@@ModernKnight Then, well done! The reconstruction stuck in my mind. I do like to test out things (that I'm curious about) for myself so, it really struck a chord.

No side saddles, though we have one or two images of ladies sitting on bench seats sideways on a horse being led by another. I believe side saddles, as we understand them today, were largely a Victorian invention. The Canterbury tales clearly shows women riding astride like men.

@@ModernKnight I understand that sidesaddles were in use, but the 'leaping horn' was added in the nineteenth century, making it possible for a woman to ride to the hounds while properly attired. Thank goodness that's over with....

D. Gerlach yes, that’s a clip from the episode where I discuss movie fighting and what it’s trying to do. Not a good technique to use in a real fight.

that's because medieval girthing is very variable some saddles had two, some only one.

Yes, good point, but I don’t have on at my yard to show, sadly.

An aussie stock saddle is more like an English saddle with bucking rolls slapped on, also what is traditionally used here in New Zealand. I'm not sure if that spanish style saddle has a proper tree like the vaqueros style saddle.

I ride English. I tried Western a few times but my God it was murder on my knees. The stirrups on a western saddle aren't as forgiving as the ones in an English saddle.

@@epicwalrus7183 Agree, the stirrup leathers need to be formed and broken in properly. Not sure this is taught as it should be these days

I'm pretty comfident it's made by Historic Saddles (Netherlands)

Yes, historic equitation . It’s a few years and many tournaments old now, but has worn well.

Historic équitation is Dom's group! They don't make saddles do they?

I was wrong the saddle is made by Joram of historic saddles, it’s an early one of his.

Cheers, thanks Jason!

I actually saw one of Roy Rodgers' saddles in a museum exhibit. He was an early advocate of plastic saddles, which is why he could have a shiny clean white one, but I don't think the plastics available at the time turned out to be as practical as leather. They're finally getting a bit better....

It's probably dangerous to jump in one!

there's very little remaining of medieval bridles apart from the bits that I've found, and some of those bits are just too aggressive to consider using to my mind. The best sources are illustrations from the time.

The big problem for me with a Western saddle is that the fenders can reduce your feel a bit. But for being able to sit back and settle in for your ride, they're the tool for that job. I like hunt and dressage saddles myself.

aussie saddles were WILD to ride after spending a lot of time in a western. I like them a lot.

@@bunniesbunniesbunnie I think I like the tack as much as I like the horses. the horses.