MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. -- Change is ever-present in the happenings of the world today. The Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard, stationed at MCLB Barstow, is no exception. The MCCG has recently made the transformation from Civil War era military saddles to newer, more technologically advanced ones.
The saddles are Wintec Isabell episuade dressage saddles, which were initially used at the base change of command ceremony June 29.
The saddles were chosen for several reasons, said Master Gunnery Sgt. Kim Ortamond, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of the mounted color guard.
After some research, it was discovered that the McClellan saddles the Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard had been using were not the authentic McClellans, said Ortamond.
The old McClellans had a narrow tree, or frame of the saddle, which was pinching the horses badly, said Ortamond.
“They used to use thoroughbreds for the mounted color guard,” said Ortamond. “The horses were thin and not fed as they are today.”
The most important factor considered when replacing the saddles was the comfort of the horse, she said.
Another reason the saddles needed to be replaced was that people who were part of the MCCG previously, cleaned the tack, horse equipment such as saddles and bridles, with honor guard, which like shoe polish contains enamel, she said. The solution ruined the saddles because it closed the pores in the leather, making it brittle, dry and unsafe.
“I looked into replacing the McClellans with new custom-made ones,” said Ortamond. The problem with this was the cost of the custom-made saddles and the fact that each saddle would be custom made to fit each horse. If one horse would happen to pass away, the saddle would be practically useless since all horses are not the same size and might not fit the new horse, she said.
“I trained with police departments that were going to synthetic English saddles,” said Ortamond.
English saddles were chosen because they stuck with the same equipment, such as the breast collars, the color guard was using before, she said.
There are several advantages the synthetic saddles have over the old McClellans.
First, they are easy to care for. If the saddles get dirty, all that is required to clean it is a wet washcloth.
“This way, you don’t have to worry about people knowing proper leather care,” said Ortamond.
Second, the saddle is designed to put riders in the correct equitation seat, the proper posture the rider should be in while riding.
Third, the saddle has an interchangeable gullet, which changes the width of the tree. Each horse can be measured and a tree can be inserted into the saddle to best fit the horse.
“The saddles are useable with any of the horses we have here,” she said.
The saddle is made of an episuade material, which gives a very secure seat.
“With the old McClellans you would slide all over, trying to grip was almost impossible,” said Ortamond.
“The horse moves, you don’t,” said Sgt. Phillip Moses, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard. “With the new saddles, both horse and rider are more comfortable and secure,” said Ortamond.
“I love (the new saddles), they are more comfortable to ride in,” said Moses. “The horse is more sensitive to you in the Wintecs.” The last thing Ortamond wanted to do for the mounted color guard before retiring was to get new saddles, which has now been accomplished.
“I think (the new saddles) will last the color guard a long time,” she said. The McClellans are also used by the Army, so with the new saddles the Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard is set apart from the Army’s color guard.
“We are not a reenactment group, we are an official mounted color guard,” said Ortamond.