Can someone post a photo of what the area circled looks like on the photo, saddle, and how the cloth is cut etc. I would like to try and sculpt this but don't have any reference. Thanks!

Glenn,

The covering is commonly called barding but more correctly as a caparison.
It is split or separated to allow access to the girth strap and stirrups on the saddle. It would be laid on the horse and the saddle mounted over it. Essentially it is the two parts of the half covering the horses head and forward chest area and either breaks or overlaps the rear half that covers the withers and rump. Sometimes it is one piece and is shorter under the dsaddle for the above reasons. Most of the modern recreated caparisons are done from extant manuscript illustrations, seals etc. as there are no surviving 13th or 14th c. saddles and livery. But its probobly spot on.

The one on your picture is 13th c. They underwent some cosmetic differences later and some had use as armor as well as pimping purposes.

http://www.historicenterprises.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=598&c=150

Thanks

.... would the saddle be wood and wood finish? How did it look?

The saddle itself would be either painted wood or covered with leather. THe saddle skirting is leather. The saddle itself for this time period, based on illustations is a rectangular looking seat with a high cantle(back) and high pommel (front). Picture a mclellan saddle but without the center opening and the front and back being higher. The seating would be padded leather, possibly buttoned or in a diamond pattern. You could pimp it out with some fur I suppose. Nothing says they didn't. Earlier military saddles had a rectangular leather skirting that fit to the horses back. There are sometimes fittings or ornament made from metal. There are even fewer illustations of saddles from that time period. Again most evidence is taken from manuscript illustrations but what is seen is some pretty decorative looking saddles.

Thanks Mike!

..this will do it!