Mountain Men and Life in the Rocky

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Mountain West

Malachite’s Big Hole

Horse Gear:

Horse gear and tack was required for use both by the supply train packing goods to the mountains, and for the mountain men.  These items included everything from bridles, stirrups, harnesses, saddles to shoes and nails.  Pack saddles were not intended for riding, but were a saddle-like frame that fit on the horse or mules back.  Packs of fur or supplies were then strapped to the pack saddle.   


Costs shown below are St. Louis prices. 


No.

Units

Item Description

Cost

5

dozen

Common Snaffle Bridles

$6.50/?

7 ½

dozen

Snaffle Bridles


8


Leather Stirrup

$5.00/?

32


Leather Sursingle

$7.50/?

50

pairs

Horse Shoes

70¢/pair

50

pairs

Mule Shoes

70¢/pair

20

pairs

Rings for Cart Harness

$1.00/pair

20

pairs

Iron Pins for Cart Harness

75¢/pair

1,600


Horseshoe Nails 13P

35¢/?

25


Pack Saddles

$2.00/each


Saddles

$6.00/each

16


Horse Carts Complete

$34.30/ea ch

5

pounds

Harness Nails

16¢/?

3

sides

Harness Leather 32 p

30¢/?

20

pairs

Harness for Collars


2

cards

Spurs


1

dozen

Martingales


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