Horses used on the Escape Route

[BettyO]

Quote:Looks like an English saddle with "western" stirrups? (Betty, pelhams are maybe not so common here, what is the difference as for the effect/purpose compared to a curb? Or better - what is the advantage?)

Powell was a cavalryman in the latter period of his service with the Confederate army, so he had a familiarity with horses (also due to the fact that his dad was also a blacksmith.) Some cavalrymen used double reins; Powell may have as well. Keep in mind as well that Private James Toffey said in statement that when he found Powell's horse, that he was "excitable and hard to control." This may have necessitated the use of the double bit, or it could have been that being blind in one eye, the old horse was easily spooked and needed extra control.

The double reins gives the rider more control over the animal and the bit is jointed in the middle like a snaffle. Curb bits are not jointed in the middle (I've never seen a jointed one!) and rely on a high port (middle of the bit's shank with a "U" shape.) The higher the port, the more control, as the port pushes up into the roof of the horse's mouth as opposed to the jointed snaffle or pelham where it will pinch the horse's tongue for control. This sounds cruel, but it's not, as a good rider doesn't exert much pressure on the horse's mouth.

Powell's saddle is a standard 19th Century English saddle. The seat is padded, as were most during the Victorian era. The stirrups are wooden like those of a cavalry saddle. Powell, used to cavalry equipment, probably preferred this. It was recorded by Fletcher that Herold chose steel stirrups on the saddle he used with his roan rent-a-horse!