Sassanian - Roman Saddle

[SassanianPersian]

We were going to put the Bronze Plates on, but decided against it. I like the look of the leather better. The bronze plates that so many put underneath I believe are inaccurate as I have seen a few saddles with metal reinforcements in Iran, old saddles and they were all on the outside. If the tree is made properly then the plates add no reinforcement at all. Also, those are not joint reinforcements but rather they shield the outer rims. My believe is that they were much like the armor a soldier would wear on his legs or arms for the saddle. providing further protection to the rider. So if that rider had segmented leg and arm defenses, then these bronze plates offered further protection to the saddle but also their lower parts. The next saddle I made will have the bronze or tinned bronzed plates on it. But it will be a two horned saddle with a round bucket seat in the back like the Sassanian Kings rode. I have a picture of this saddle on one of the Wall Carving Reliefs in Iran. I will post it when I get a chance. That saddle I may to some metal decorative work on it as well.

And by the way, I have seen a really beautiful photo of a saddle with the bronze plates on the outside, but not sure where to find it again. It was online. The saddle was beautiful and very well done and looked very proper.

Thank you for all of the input guys. I just wanted to give something back to everyone on here. You guys do such a great services putting out information that is so hard to come by.

Ardeshir - which by the way is my real name.
long live the Savaran