April 10, 2008...3:17 pm
Lincoln Cottage in the Morning Fog
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By Erin Carlson Mast
This is a photo of President Lincoln’s Cottage shrouded in fog around 8:30am this morning. The Sherman Tower (known as Scott Tower in Lincoln’s time) is barely visible in the background.
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2 Comments
April 16, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Did Lincoln really ride with a double reined bridle as in the picture of him commuting to the White House? As far as I know, he wasn’t schooled in English riding but probably learned to ride plow horses as a child growing up in IL. I would have thought that he would ride with a single rein bridle unless they used double ones in the Blackhawk war. This is really an obscure point but I am curious. Thanks,
April 17, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Hello Ms. Moore,
Presumably you’re asking about a drawing displayed here on site? There are several that are used to illustrate Lincoln on his commute.
There are two 19th century drawings shown in the Cottage media that show Lincoln riding on horseback, accompanied by an entourage. Both drawings show Lincoln riding with a double-rein bridle. Though the artists could have exercised artistic license, it is notable that, considering how rare depictions of Lincoln on horseback are, both images show him using a double-rein bridle.
Outside of experiences Lincoln may have had with horses as a youth in Indiana or as a young man in Illinois, Lincoln was a Circuit Rider in Illinois. As president, Lincoln could have ridden any number of government horses while on official business, both on his commute or to other destinations, and might have had to use a variety of tack.
If we learn more we’ll be sure to share. Or perhaps some of our other readers have information to share?
Thank you
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