Field Artillery Saddle and Harness

Bavarian Field Artillery Saddle and Harness

Above: Bavarian Army Artillery Saddle Model 1876 with the Bavarian Enlistedman’s Saber. The saber frog is a reproduction. The saddle is depot marked “AWM” for Artillery Works Munich and dated 1914. Unit marks are “T.D.III”, presumably Train Detachment Three.

Below: More views of the Bavarian Artillery Saddle Model 1876. This saddle is missing stirrups and girth.

German, Bavarian Field Artillery units were equipped with a very different saddle than the typical driver’s saddle found in other German units. This Bavarian service saddle is the “Sattel 1876”. It looks somewhat like the Austro-Hungarian Army Saddle of 1899 but the seat is distinctly different. The Bavarian Field Artillery Enlisted man’s Saber is also used with the “Sattel 1876”. The horse collar is also different from the type used by the remainder of German Field Artillery units. In fact, it appears almost identical to the Austro-Hungarian horse collar. The photographs above show the rear or Wheel Team Horses. Below are the Lead (left) and Swing Team (right) Horses.

Below (left) is another photograph of the Lead Horse. (right) A line drawing of the Bavarian Field Artillery Service Saddle of 1876.

Below. The Bavarian Field Artillery service horse collar. It disassembles into three basic parts, held together by three steel cap and bolt sets. The collar is incased by a sheet metal frame. The regular German collar does not disassemble in this way and does not have the sheet metal frame. All of these characteristics are shared with the Austro-Hungarian horse collar.

Not only can the collar be disassembled for cleaning by uncoupling the three locking caps but can also be adjusted in both length and width. Again this differs from the regular German Field Artillery Collar which was made in different sizes and has no adjustment capability.

Below. With the locking caps removed the collar dissassembles into three basic parts.

Below. The Bavarian Field Artillery horse collar upper section. This example is marked in two places with "AWM" for Artillery Works Munich. It is also serial numbered "484" dated "1902" and has a mark I am not yet sure of "St".

Below. A cotton fabric pad that is straped to the collar. This padding is stuffed with horse hair.

Below: The Breeching and Trace Line common to both the Prussian and Bavarian Harness types. The breeching is only used on the two rear Wheel Team Horses.