Honouring the horse

Dress Proudly

Pad saddle Nehiyaw Pre-1850 Hide, porcupine quills CMC V-X-299

Saddles

A variety of saddles were found on the Plains and Plateau. Large frame saddles were generally used when moving camp, as their high pommels and cantles could support several objects such as bags, cradle boards and parfleche containers. Smaller frame saddles served as riding saddles and sometimes as pack saddles. Lightweight and compact pad saddles were used as riding saddles by both men and women, and in particular for the buffalo hunt. The quilled or beaded designs on pad saddles often represented the owner's medicine or protection. Note that pad saddles and horse blankets have the same designs on the front but different ones on the back.

Pad saddle Dakota, 1914 Buffalo hide Portage la Prairie area, Manitoba CMC V-E-148

Western saddle Oglala, Lakota (working saddle) Made by Dwayne Lafferty CMC V-E-434

Saddle ornaments Northern Plains, 1942 CMC V-X-84 a, b

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