Photo -- See Caption Below

Crupper
c 1870s
This crupper was a functional element of horse regalia. It was attached to the rear of a saddle with the wide end passing under the horse’s tail. The crupper held the saddle in place as the horse went down hill. A split rectangle of painted rawhide is reinforced at the saddle end with buckskin sewn (laced) on with string. The tail end is made from a strip of canvas, rolled, sewn with string (laced) and stuffed.
Rawhide, paint. L 78.0 cm
Nez Perce National Historical Park, NEPE 2239