Booth's visit to the Surratt Boarding House after the assassination

[Rick Smith]

Laurie,

As a response to your request for information regarding saddle furniture {I know, it sounds weird, but that is what it is called} specifically for English style saddles. My family raised thoroughbred horses in Howard County and we were members of the Goshen Hunt out of Laytonsville. The modern English saddle is not equipped to carry the classic style western saddle bags, but is equipped with small steel or brass "D" rings at various points so that leather cases, bags, valises, flask holders and holsters {the master of Hounds always carried a pistol to dispatch a fox before the dogs could get a hold of it} may be attached. Not sure if the saddles Booth & Herold were using were strictly speaking English style, but probably were much like them. A valise attaches at the rear of the saddle and is long, tube shaped and could easily hold all sorts of items, including hand guns.

Rick