"A 12-inch seat is a child's saddle"? Does that mean I can turn the clock back about 60 years and be nearly nine again? My riding 1903 Mac is a 12".
Just for the information of those who don't know about the sizes of Mac saddles, they were 11, 11-1/2 and 12", which corresponds to, what??? in civilian sizes about 15-16"? The terminology was different for the MacClellan saddles, and probably the Jennifer and Grimsley ones too? As to the rawhide seats, IIRC they were standard from the 1859 through the 1879. (You true experts out there, please correct me, as I can't get at my reference books just now.) Don't know about during the War, but during the Indian Wars campaigns, some officers would have their saddler sergeants cover their saddles in tanned leather, even covering the opening in the center of the saddle. I don't claim to be an expert...far from it...but these so-called "experts" on these shows really need to bone up.