Found: Old Horse Dress Parade Blanket

Spring housecleaning, and going through stuff that was moved from hither to yon over the years. Completely forgot about this horse blanket, bought at PA auction of a military collector many years ago. Since I haven't found a horse yet to pose it on, here is the head piece -- a mohair type material (but much softer than a Chase buggy blanket for example) with leather straps, and here, buttons to fasten it on the chest. The appliques look like felt, and reoccur on both pieces. Anything here look familiar? Fraternal? Military? Parade or reenactment?

I tried google the symbol by image but wasn't successful, and haven't found anything that look like this by doing images either. Spirit of shiloh -- you're a horse person, can you help?

 

Yes, where is Shiloh? I bet she'd know!

Looks like it is in good condition.

 

Hi,thanks for the vote of confidance but I am stumped? It looks like it goes under an English or Aussi saddle? No horns on the above mentioned saddles. I see what looks like a hole/s on the top? Also slits for saddle billets,aka straps.

Can you open the top of the pad and show all the holes? As for the emblem,I have no idea. So sorry.

PS
I just re-read your desc. Can I see the straps and buttons? You say it wraps atound thee body? I am now very curious as well.

 

It's so hard to get an idea of the shape and how it might fit. It almost looks like something that might be used when jousting.

 

I was hoping that just a part of it would trigger an "aha" and I believe SIS is correct -- for jousting. Apparently an older sport in the US than I realized, this looks like the hood based on patterns I found.

Thanks, I have a date with a friend's neighbor's horse this week end and I'll be able to show you better -- it's really too big to pose without one and if the model cooperates, you'll see what the body part looks like too. Appreciate both of you taking the time to respond!

 

I think SIS may be correct,I thought of jousting too but it looked too short to cover the head and the barrel of the horse with the billet holes around the body.So those slits could be to go around the neck and fasten to the front of the chest.I looked all over for anything that looked similar to the felt patch but came up empty last night.
The holes I saw on the blanket now make sense if its a head cover

I have head covers similar that go to my horse blanktes. Also race horses have covers similar. Here is one of mine.