Kilted Cavalry Looking For New Blood

[Riverkilt]

Back in 2005 Michael Steinrock started a thread about riding kilted. That thread was closed (for old age I think). He has not posted since 2008.

There was some good information on that thread - like some historic examples of men riding kilted, Mel Gibson and Liam Neeson riding kilted in Braveheart and Rob Roy, John Cleese riding kilted in Monty Python, and some commercials with men riding kilted.

Kiltedfirepiper reported riding kilted, but having no pictures (any since?).

Aggie reported riding kilted but no pics and he hasn't posted since last October.

The late Royce52 reported riding kilted and suggested standing in the stirups to arrange the kilt before sitting in the saddle.

Since that thread was closed I've done some kilted riding myself



Wondering, if with all the newer members of the rabble that maybe some others have gone riding kilted - maybe even have photos to share?

Do we need a "Kilted Cavalry" social group?

[Chas]

It was always my understanding that there was some degree of inner thigh aggravation caused by the friction. So much so that professional horse riders wore chaps to mitigate most of this friction and the pain thus caused.

Have I mis-understood all this?

Regards

Chas

[macwilkin]

The Scottish Military Historical Society (sadly now disbanded) has a great collection of illustrations by Douglas Anderson of "The Mounted Scots in Uniform". No kilts there though.

http://www.scottishmilitaryresearch.org.uk/page20.htm

T.

[Riverkilt]

Ya but....some of the rabble have been known to ride kilted...just wondering if any of the newer rabble have done so, or if anyone has pics since the last thread...

[macwilkin]

Ya but....some of the rabble have been known to ride kilted...just wondering if any of the newer rabble have done so, or if anyone has pics since the last thread...

Sorry, Ron...didn't mean to go "teacher" on your thread.

T.

[Tobus]

I have horses and ride them, but haven't done so kilted yet. I might have to do that just for the photo opportunity (and another excuse to wear a kilt, duh!). Mounting and dismounting, though, might be rather... umm... revealing.

It was always my understanding that there was some degree of inner thigh aggravation caused by the friction. So much so that professional horse riders wore chaps to mitigate most of this friction and the pain thus caused.

There can be some thigh friction, but it really depends on the saddle and what kind of riding you're doing. A good 'slick seat' saddle shouldn't present too much of a problem if you're doing mostly trail riding without a lot of trotting or loping. English-style riding, especially with a lot of jumping and such, would definitely cause some irritated thighs.

Chaps aren't really meant to reduce friction between thigh and saddle. They're mostly for protection of the outsides of the legs. Most chaps (western style, anyway) don't even cover the insides of the thighs. Some English-style riders do wear pants with some padding on the inside of the thighs, knees, and calves, though, for the aforementioned reasons.

[xman]

Mounting and dismounting, though, might be rather... umm... revealing.

I imagine a tactical apron punch and tuck at this moment, as with bicycle mounting perhaps, should mitigate this problem.

[BoldHighlander]

No photo Ron, but here's one of the Penicuik sketches from 1745 showing Gordon of Glenbucket who rode "a little grey highland beast" throughout the campaign while wearing a belted plaid:



I've also seen a 1743 depiction of the 43rd on the march in Europe (Germany I believe), and one of the officers is mounted, wearing a kilt (sorry, I don't have it scanned).

[macwilkin]

No photo Ron, but here's one of the Penicuik sketches from 1745 showing Gordon of Glenbucket who rode "a little grey highland beast" throughout the campaign while wearing a belted plaid:



I've also seen a 1943 depiction of the 43rd on the march in Europe (Germany I believe), and one of the officers is mounted, wearing a kilt (sorry, I don't have it scanned).

Terry,

Thanks for posting that; when I think of "Jacobite Cavalry" (almost a contradiction in terms), I think of Ba(g)got's Hussars and Fitzjames' Horse*:

http://www.theborderers.info/BaggotsHussars.html
http://www.annongul.i12.com/page_16.htm

*and Clare's Dragoons, famed of song & story, but they were irish.

T.

[Bugbear]

I have horses and ride them, but haven't done so kilted yet. I might have to do that just for the photo opportunity (and another excuse to wear a kilt, duh!). Mounting and dismounting, though, might be rather... umm... revealing.


There can be some thigh friction, but it really depends on the saddle and what kind of riding you're doing. A good 'slick seat' saddle shouldn't present too much of a problem if you're doing mostly trail riding without a lot of trotting or loping. English-style riding, especially with a lot of jumping and such, would definitely cause some irritated thighs.

Chaps aren't really meant to reduce friction between thigh and saddle. They're mostly for protection of the outsides of the legs. Most chaps (western style, anyway) don't even cover the insides of the thighs. Some English-style riders do wear pants with some padding on the inside of the thighs, knees, and calves, though, for the aforementioned reasons.

I've been looking through my equestrian books at the descriptions of proper attire for riding. I guess some of the Eastern riders are using chaps now. Out here, and back home, we have all the scrub, barbwire, and mesquite, so the chaps would be a good idea.

I have other books that point to the riding of horses by Greek and Romans while wearing tunics, and still others of Native Americans riding in breechcloths... so I guess a kilt wouldn't be that big of a deal.

I very rarely ride, though I have equestrian family members, horses tend to walk under things like low hanging branches...