Plainsman Saddle-Chairs

Plainsmen saddle-chairs are light constructions woven from wicker and finished with fern twine. The basic seat is shaped like a boat and is attached over and across its ‘bows’ by a belt passing under the belly of the aquar. The chair is further secured at its ‘stern’ with a belt that wraps around the root of the aquar’s tail

A bundle of scouring-rush (horsetail) rods is attached transversally ‘amidships’ and is adjusted to the rider so that it catches him under his knees, thus lifting his legs safely above the motion of the aquar’s legs—without the need for the stirrups used by other styles of saddle-chair.

Another transverse assembly of rods is attached to the ‘stern’ of the chair. Both of these transverse ‘beams’ extend out some distance on either side and are used to attach baggage and weapon racks, as well as the poles of a drag-cradle

The ‘prow’ of the chair is a post to which can be secured any number of small, personal effects

Plainsmen use neither bits nor reins—they consider this cruel— and instead, they control their aquar by applying pressure to the creature’s back with their feet