The McCellan Saddle was that saddle designed by George B. McClellan, a career Army officer in the U.S. Army, and adopted by the Army in 1859. The saddle continued in continuous use from the period of adoption until the U.S. Army's last horse cavalry and horse artillery was dismounted in World War Two. Even at that, the saddle has continued on in use with ceremonial units in the U.S. Army which continue to use horses.
The design was based on the Spanish Tree saddles in wide use in the United States at the time, although McClellan famously claimed that it was based on Hussar saddles he'd observed in use in the Crimean War. While McClellan did go overseas and observe the Crimean War for the United States, the saddle does not closely duplicate any pattern in use by the armies in that conflict, but is very close to the widely used Spanish Tree saddle, which was originally a saddle in common use in Mexico. The design underwent modifications over time, although in many ways it remained remarkably unchanged.
The saddle also saw considerable civilian use, and was made for civilian sales by a variety of manufacturers. It also was widely used in the United States by mounted policemen. It was adopted by Mexico, in a Mexican made version, for their army. At least some were sold to the Dominion forces in the Boer War, and the Northewest Mounted Police in Canada obtained at least a few for test purposes. The saddle was adopted by Rhodesia in the 1970s for use by the Greys Scouts.
The saddle continues to be made in the United States and was a saddle used by endurance riders at one time. Presently, it is made for use as a pleasure saddle for those few who like to use it in that fashion, and as a saddle for reenactors.
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