Cavalry Surcingle

[1stOVIGuard]

I have done Infantry and artillery for the past 11 years and want to tap into the cavalry a bit with my horse and have done much extensive research on the traps and equipment of the horse soldier but some questions are harder to find the answer to. I know that the 1859 McClellan requires the use of the girth and surcingle and from everything I have read it says that it is a matter of life that the surcingle be used but why is there the need for the surcingle? U have only used the modern surcingle for ground training and I have yet to buy a period one due to not understanding its use to hold down the saddle, should I buy one? I have looked at several period pictures and due to the men sitting on top of their horse while the picture is taken one cannot make out whether or not the surcingle is in use with the girth strap. I would greatly appreciate an answer with understanding.

[Tom Craig]

Shawn,
You ask a good question and I will try to give you my best answer. Historically you see more photographs of surcingles being used as breast straps than their intended purpose of being on overgirth. Of course safety wasn't a big concern for the boys of '61.

In terms of reenacting it is a good idea as an extra piece of safety equipment. Is it essential? Some people will tell you that you have to have one due to the design of the Mac saddle, the size of modern horses etc. As I said it is certainly a good idea but I wouldn't say you have to have one.

I have seen a few times where a surcingle saved guys from a wreck after a tack failure. The tack failures that you see most often are girth strap tears, and guys not tightening their girths correctly so the saddle rolls due to horse sweat, unbalanced riding etc. Obviously the surcingle gives you a boost keeping the saddle in place.

So, historically it doesn't seem that they were all that common, but for reenacting it is a good idea. Some groups may require it, but I think most progressive groups leave it to individual discretion.

Good luck on joining the cavalry! It is a great experience, but I warn you that you may never want to go back to the infantry!
Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[Longbranch 1]

Shawn,
You ask a good question and I will try to give you my best answer. Historically you see more photographs of surcingles being used as breast straps than their intended purpose of being on overgirth. Of course safety wasn't a big concern for the boys of '61.

In terms of reenacting it is a good idea as an extra piece of safety equipment. Is it essential? Some people will tell you that you have to have one due to the design of the Mac saddle, the size of modern horses etc. As I said it is certainly a good idea but I wouldn't say you have to have one.

I have seen a few times where a surcingle saved guys from a wreck after a tack failure. The tack failures that you see most often are girth strap tears, and guys not tightening their girths correctly so the saddle rolls due to horse sweat, unbalanced riding etc. Obviously the surcingle gives you a boost keeping the saddle in place.

So, historically it doesn't seem that they were all that common, but for reenacting it is a good idea. Some groups may require it, but I think most progressive groups leave it to individual discretion.

Good luck on joining the cavalry! It is a great experience, but I warn you that you may never want to go back to the infantry!
Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

Tom makes excellent points.
Improperly used a surcingle is , well, pointless. And it happens a lot.
I personally rode a Mac (albeit an '04) , roughly 6 hours a day,4 or 5 days a week, at least 7 months of the year, for 3 years. Without a surcingle. Without a problem.
Tack maintenence, and proper seating of the saddle to horse should be of the utmost importance. I have seen too many incidents where riders, after a long layoff, merely grab their tack, wipe the dust off and presume it is safe. Little or no downtime care. Not so.

Also many riders don't notice that their mount has figured out how to "blow" when being saddled.
Which usually involves a riderless horse either back at the barn or placidly grazing just beyond reach

Perhaps I was just fortunate. I do recommend proper use of a surcingle,along with meticulous maintenance of all your tack.
Think of tack maintenance as if it were the family car just before a vacation. ( I always check the tires,brakes, change the oil, etc.. fix what might be a problem!)

And the surcingle.....
No one ever plans to be involved in an accident....
But it sure is nice when that airbag deploys.

Regards,
Kevin Ellis
26th NCT

[1stOVIGuard]

Tom and Kevin,
I really appreciate the seasoned advice guys. I will most definately buy a surcingle then, like you guys said, better safe than sorry. My horse is a mustang from Nevada and he can be a bit squirrelly and he does like to hold his air in when saddling. The modern girths are so much more wide compared to the period repros so maybe thats another factor to why the surcingle should be used along side with the surcingle. Either way, wether he likes it or not he's getting one, lol.

[Andrew German]

Hello Shawn,

As Tom's comrade in the 1st Maine, I'd endorse his remarks. Surcingles were pretty routinely issued but not always kept by the troops. As Tom said, they are (and were) sometimes used as breast straps because those–as popular as they are among some reenactors–were not an issue item. It takes a little ingenuity to rig a surcingle to the front of the saddle that way, but numerous photos show them being used in that manner.

When used for its intended purpose, a surcingle should be placed right behind the girth, even overlapping it by an inch or less. Some pass the surcingle over the quarter straps, some pass it through the quarter straps. It may seem counterintuitive, but the web should be on the horse's belly and the strap should be over the seat, with the buckle on the near side.

And I agree with Tom that it's hard to get back on the ground after going mounted. Mounted troops have a wonderful balance of individual expertise and regimented responsibility, and the horses themselves provide a bond that no musket can. Come ride with us in Virginia sometime.

Andrew German

[RJSamp]

Mounted troops have a wonderful balance of individual expertise and regimented responsibility, and the horses themselves provide a bond that no musket can. Come ride with us in Virginia sometime.

Andrew German

Now that's a keeper! Great prose!