Talk:Surcingle

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I think that this article needs to differentiate rollers and surcingles and be expanded.

Hmmm. I have never heard of a "roller" except as the UK term for surcingle. Perhaps you can clarify the difference here and we can figure out how to differentiate between the two in the article. (I suspect in the USA we use the same term for both). Montanabw(talk) 04:08, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

In Australia and the UK a roller is usually identified as having padding to relieve pressure on the spine. Various rollers are used for lunging, vaulting, mouthing, showing and occasionally over rugs, as well as to assist in prevent casting. A surcingle is unpadded and placed over the top of stock, exercise and racing saddles for added safety. It is also always used on pack animals to hold the pack bags and swag in place.

There are quite a few variations in Australian Stock Saddle surcingles ie.: plain, which usually made of leather or plastic PVC coated webbing in a belt style; ring, which has a ring stitched into each end of broad piece of leather and is connected with a narrower strap passing through each ring. This type can be more readily tightened that the former. Other stock patterns use patented buckles and/or red-hide straps that are fastened through the rings. The racing surcingles are made partly or almost fully of elastic, except for the buckle attachments.

Hope that this makes some sense.

Ref: Summerhayes' Encyclopaedia for Horsemen - R.S. Summerhayes

and various saddlery catalogues —Preceding unsigned comment added by Cgoodwin (talkcontribs) 05:25, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

Yep, we call a "roller" a surcingle over here! Case in poiint! At least in some places, though I think the term "roller" is used somewhat on the east coast, where the UK influence is stronger. I think we can explain this within this article, no need to create both (in fact, I own a "roller" as part of a bitting rig that I rarely use, one of these days I'd better get out the digital camera and take more pictures of stuff). Except that I don't believe that pack horses in the USA use a surcingle over their loads, the pack saddle is just cinched on and panniers are hung from it, they are tied down, but not in the same manner. Montanabw(talk) 19:48, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Photos

Went out to the barn, took shots of a training surcingle. (should have put a pad under the surcingle when I slapped it on the horse, but was impatient). I think this is what you call a "roller," correct? I'll go dig through the race horse articles, I think I know where to find the kind you call a "surcingle", if you want to shoot more photos of ones on Aussie saddles or your style of pack saddles, that would be cool! Montanabw(talk) 05:47, 28 October 2007 (UTC)


This is much better, thank you! Cgoodwin 00:06, 29 October 2007 (UTC) Storms have passed and I'm back. Yes, that is what we call a roller. I have added a photo of a pack horse at WikiCommons: Pack Horse.jpg. Still having trouble getting the descriptios etc. correct and any help will be appreciated. We are in a lockup here with our horses because of the equine flu and it might be be quite some time before we can use them. I will put up another photo later. Cgoodwin 04:09, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

I have added another photo that you may prefer, as it shows the gear more clearly, although quite blurry. Cgoodwin 00:02, 3 November 2007 (UTC)

Any way to crop it down a bit so the equipment is in close up? Maybe a second version? I like it! By the way, see Packhorse, I put that photo in, but it still needs help! Montanabw(talk) 17:29, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Oh and that flu thing really is a bummer for you guys. Probably the upshot is that you will wind up doing like we Yanks do on this side of the pond and just vaccinate once or twice a year (people in heavy competition go ever 8-12 weeks, sometimes!) Montanabw(talk) 17:36, 29 October 2007 (UTC)