Interested in Roman Riding?

[jvrjenivs]

Thanks for your update on saddles, John. This is very helpful, as I'm to in the search for a saddle to buy sometime soon.

[John Conyard]

I suspect most of us could make a saddle cover, especially from the plan I've posted. But the frame is harder, since it is going to take a battering. Some people use old military saddles as a basis, such as American McClellans or old British Universal Patterns (UP's). Add four horns, make a cover and off you go. Sort of. You can buy them from ebay in various states of repair. And they were designed to fit most horses.

The public do expect to see four-horned saddle. Too often you see Romans riding strange looking horses in modern saddles covered in a sheepskin. Some even used stirrups. Not good.

[Cheyenne]

Contrary to Claire's comment, they do fit the horse, but they are generally too floppy to use.

Thats not what I said John, Good contact with the horse does not neccesarily mean the saddle doesn't fit - it means that the 'feel' of the horses movement is not as close...

I have ridden in plenty of saddles that fit the horse but when there is too much padding between you and your mount - one finds it more difficult to move, or anticipate at least, the movement of the horse. Its like the difference between riding with a cloth between you and your horse, and riding sat on a thick duvet.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I'll agree there! Most of the riding I did was bare back, and you definately feel every movement the horse makes!
Trotting is for the birds.....

[M. Demetrius]

Trotting is for the birds

But not that great for the boys, eh?

[Sagittarii]

Hi John, what are the new knee covering greaves you are wearing, and where did you get them?

I'm looking for a pair for re-enactment and SCA and spotted you in yours on some of your newer pics.

[John Conyard]

These are cavalry sports greaves on loan from Leg II Aug.

My own personal date line is the early 4th century, so mid 3rd century greaves are just about OK. But I would prefer some good splint greaves for 2010. These are just too delicate for what they have to put up with.

[Caius Fabius]

I have a question. I have always ridden with stirruops, 'western style', or bareback. I hae problems getting ito the Roman saddle from the ground without help. Any hints? Maybe I need a shorter horse? :lol:

[M. Demetrius]

Maybe I need a shorter horse

...or a bouncier trampoline? :roll: :lol:

[Cheyenne]

John is usually catapulted into the saddle by an onager.... on his off days, he uses a large staircase...

[Sagittarii]

These are cavalry sports greaves on loan from Leg II Aug.

My own personal date line is the early 4th century, so mid 3rd century greaves are just about OK. But I would prefer some good splint greaves for 2010. These are just too delicate for what they have to put up with.

Thanks for that.

So splint greaves are ok to use??? Are we talking leather backing with the metal splints rivetted on front like those shown in the Osprey Late Roman Cavalry?

Damn, I really need to get some more books and do some more research. Nothing like diving into a new period head first

[Vitruvius]

Come on Claire,
Be Kind to John, He dooes the best he can. Also, John, Thanks for the pattern of the saddle. Its a big help.
Salve,
Larry Mager a.k.a. Vitruvius

[Cheyenne]

He knows I'm only joking...

His research is second to none where the cavalry is concerned

C

[John Conyard]

Claire’s just kidding. But I think Charles is right, you need a small horse. Or:

? A kneeling infantryman.

? A fence. A table.

? A loop of rope making a simple step over the front horns – but not attested.

? Claire hasn’t ridden with us for a few years but she may be referring to our group step ladder. It’s a great bit of light kit that makes life much easier. I can dismount in lots of armour, with bow case, sword, arrow quiver etc. and not run the risk of breaking any horns. It looks bizarre, but it makes life easier.

? Or perhaps a strong loop on your spear. I haven’t tried this and get the feeling I would impale myself trying. But it could certainly work. But I don't know the provenance of the picture.

[attachment=0:3gmugxix]<!-- ia0 HorseSpear.jpg<!-- ia0 [/attachment:3gmugxix]

? Some suggest a special metal fitting attached at 90 degrees to you spear to make a “step”, but I fear such a fitting is just likely to stick in the horse as you ride.

[John Conyard]

Greaves in the 4th century are a bit tricky.

Segmented limb defences can be seen in period iconography, both military and gladiatorial, and 3rd and 4th century finds support their use. They are surprisingly flexible and comfortable to wear, still allowing the arm to be bent when drawing a bow. The plates overlap from the hand to the shoulder ensuring blades slide off the armour on an upwards strike, rather than between the laminated plates. The manica is tied to the padded subarmalis at the shoulder, and can be lined with felt to increase comfort and reduce staining to clothing. I have never worn laminated leg armour, and do wonder how it would limit my contact with the horse. However I have seen two re-enactors using them.

[attachment=0:3d2jpgwt]<!-- ia0 Armidale_clibanarius2[1].jpg<!-- ia0 [/attachment:3d2jpgwt]

Presumably the armour would have to overlap from the ankle to the thigh. Such armour would live in close proximity to the horse, and copper alloy would be an easier choice than iron, which would soon get very rusty from sweat and urine, some of it from the horse!

The Strategikon mentions iron and even wooden greaves. Although none have been found from the fourth century, Vegetius advocates greaves and our riders often wear simple examples based on a 3rd century example from Kunzing in Germany. Wooden greaves were probably of splint construction, made up over several vertical bars held together by a leather backing. Iron or copper alloy bars could be used instead. I have got as far as measuring up some iron bars, much cheaper than bronze at the moment.

No leather armour has been found from the period, although two mid 3rd century cavalry leather thigh-guards were found in the dry conditions at Dura. These partially protect the knee and I like them a lot. Possibly from a non-Roman tradition, they were worn like riding chaps although some believe them to be crinets for a horse. They consist of overlapping scales attached to each other by leather lacing, each thigh-guard using its own distinct lacing method. They defend against horizontal blows and strikes from above, presumably from enemy cavalrymen and arrows. The armour is in fact a form of lamellar, but the method of construction is similar to scale. The lacing method and materials used result in a flexible armour, fitting over the knee and protecting from the waist to the shin. Each scale would have been treated using heated wax or oil, toughening it and shrinking it at the same time. Such armour is light to wear and easy to repair.

As Rod says research is always good, as is coming to your own conclusions. As re-enactors there is always the temptation to just copy what we see others doing. I already see other late Romans adopting mid 3rd century sports greaves. But they need to sit comfortably with the helmet, armour and belt fittings already worn. Too often they don’t. The archaeological evidence for splint greaves is lacking, and wearing some would be supposition. But so our saddles, and so much else we use. For me they would take the hammering resulting in physical contact with the enemy, infantry, and especially other horseman.

[attachment=1:3d2jpgwt]<!-- ia1 close contact.JPG<!-- ia1 [/attachment:3d2jpgwt]