Re: 1st century Auxiliary cavalry

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The covers were definitely from cavalry saddles as they still had their complete leather 'horns'. The main differences they exhibited from Connolly's reconstruction were that the sides simply hung down (large trapeziform flaps were sewn to the straight edges of the covers which would have hung over the horse's sides and provided a layer between the horse and the rider's legs) and that there does not seem to have been any padding (here we are reminded about Fronto's criticism in the second century AD of cavalry in Antioch who had been stuffing their saddles with straw).


Crispvs

I have no trouble with the statement that the covers are from cavalry saddles. Where I begin to disagree with Connolly's reconstruction is the wooden "tree" element in riding saddles as I said above. There may have been a small amount of wood to add rigidity to the saddle construction but I doubt very much it interfered with the horse's back.

We have archaeological and icongraphic evidence of what these saddles look like. I don't think it is until you start the experimental archaeology and actually ride in one that the design of a RIDING saddle begins to be influenced.

Although this is a particular interest of mine and I could bore for England, there is far more evidence for horse bits than the saddle and to a horseman these tell you just as much about the riding as the saddle does. In fact it could be argued that it tells you more; it tells you how much seat is needed!

If there is too much wood in the tree it is impossible to feel the horse through the saddle and the horse therefore can't feel you. If I am going at pace with a sword in one hand and a shieled in the other with minimal contact on the rein, I NEED my seat in the saddle, as well as my legs, to communicate with the horse.

The advantage of less wood, or no wood at all is that this gives a perfect interface with the horse's back.

And as a final point if you look at the iconographic evidence the riders sit "in" their horse not "on" them. They're an effective fighting force and they certainly knew how to control their fighting platform, their horse, without damaging it in the process.

Oops...off the soap box