Harness Guide, Hoof Pick, and a Lama?

[Valley Ranger]

I was in a bookstore the other day and picked up a copy of Howard Crouch's "Civil War Artifacts: A Guide for the Historian." I've been wanting a copy, but just choked on the $45 price tag. But within 30 seconds of leafing through the book, I was able to identify two relics that had, up to then, been mysteries to me. The book is worth every dime. The first was the hoof pick pictured here. (Page 141 in Crouch's book.) I actually found that piece late last year near a battlefield here in the Valley and tossed it in my junk box. After I ID'd it, I treated it w/Evaporust and Rust Converter. Anyone else ever found one like this?

The next piece was right across the page on page 140 of Crouch's book. I'm fairly confident its a brass guide ring from a horse harness. (Any disagreement?) It appears to have been painted black at some point and I originally thought it was some kind of hood ornament off an old car. I found it on a farmstead where Confederate soldiers were alleged to have camped. The last item is something I found at Virginia Beach last month. No idea, other than it looks like a cross between Joe Camel and a Lama with a saddle. Its about the size of a quarter. Any ideas Thanks for looking.

 

[g-olden years]

That cute animal looks like a lama to me also. Maybe it was attached to someone's hat or jacket? Andi

 

[AGBlex]

OH MY GOD I WANT THE LLAMA ! dear god that thing is cool! nice find 8) 8) 8) 8)

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

Neat finds, and, neat book.

But, that "hoof pick" might have been used as a hoof pick, but, its hand fashioned from the bottom of a stirrup, it didn't start out its life
as a hoof pick.

In fact - during those days, they used lots of things - any metal that could be utilized became a hoof pick or some other "fix it" device. Looks more like something they used to scrape the horse poop out of their boots. But, its the bottom tread of a stirrup.

I love that llama. Wonder what that was for - I see it has a pack on.

Have you been able to follow that one up?

Beth

 

[CRUSADER]

Most likely an Alpaca which was breed for carrying goods in mountain regions.

 

[civilman1]

Crouch's is a great book for getting ID's at a glance.I agree on both piece's.....Nice dig's

 

[creskol]

I agree that Crouch's book is a good quick ID reference. However, the hoof pick is actually a bow / box staple off of a wagon.
The piece you refer to as a rein guide is a fancy ball terret off of a harness team pad, so yes, in essence it is a rein guide.
I think the llama is part of a link bracelet similar to this one:

 

[g-olden years]

Your llama appears to be an exact match to the two on the bracelet. Creskol, do you know the country of origin for the bracelet and its age? Thanks. It's cool jewelry. Andi

 

[creskol]

Your llama appears to be an exact match to the two on the bracelet. Creskol, do you know the country of origin for the bracelet and its age? Thanks. It's cool jewelry. Andi

Opps .. sorry .. I used his llama relic and super-imposed it on the bracelet for effects just to show what I think it might be.
Sorry for any confusion.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Your llama appears to be an exact match to the two on the bracelet. Creskol, do you know the country of origin for the bracelet and its age? Thanks. It's cool jewelry. Andi

Opps .. sorry .. I used his llama relic and super-imposed it on the bracelet for effects just to show what I think it might be.
Sorry for any confusion.

Wow - that's good work! You fooled me!

 

[Valley Ranger]

Creskol, Mrs. O: On the hoof pick, all I know is that this one is identical to the one in Crouch's book. Crouch does note that its hand forged, but, I thinks its too small to be the bottom of a stirrup. It's only 2.5 inches long. Creskol - do you have any pics of what you think it was made from?

 

[Valley Ranger]

Neat finds, and, neat book.

But, that "hoof pick" might have been used as a hoof pick, but, its hand fashioned from the bottom of a stirrup, it didn't start out its life
as a hoof pick.

In fact - during those days, they used lots of things - any metal that could be utilized became a hoof pick or some other "fix it" device. Looks more like something they used to scrape the horse poop out of their boots. But, its the bottom tread of a stirrup.

I love that llama. Wonder what that was for - I see it has a pack on.

Have you been able to follow that one up?

Beth

No idea, other than what Creskol suggests.

 

[Valley Ranger]

OH MY GOD I WANT THE LLAMA ! dear god that thing is cool! nice find 8) 8) 8) 8)

He's for sale.

 

[creskol]

Creskol, Mrs. O: On the hoof pick, all I know is that this one is identical to the one in Crouch's book.

Another case of mistaken identity.

Creskol - do you have any pics of what you think it was made from?

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

Thanks for the "hand-forged" clarification - and the pix.

I know, they used to re-use things forever and ever - your picture (original) just looked like it was too wide for a wagon bow staple. I have one (from the family), that is a broken stirrup, used as a hoof pick. (looks very, very similar).

Beth


PS - So, the llama is what? A charm, or ?? I like it.


Beth

 

[Valley Ranger]

Creskol, Mrs. O: On the hoof pick, all I know is that this one is identical to the one in Crouch's book.

Another case of mistaken identity.

Creskol - do you have any pics of what you think it was made from?

OK, Rob. It's your turn to right a book. Save me an advance copy.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Thanks for the "hand-forged" clarification - and the pix.

I know, they used to re-use things forever and ever - your picture (original) just looked like it was too wide for a wagon bow staple. I have one (from the family), that is a broken stirrup, used as a hoof pick. (looks very, very similar).

Beth


PS - So, the llama is what? A charm, or ?? I like it.


Beth

I suppose some kind of charm. Since I found it on the beach, I was hoping it was some long lost pirate relic from a land far away . . .