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Re: Masters for dismounted French Dragoons in skirmish: Idea to create simple stirrups

The reins would normally have been brought over the horses head, if to be held in hand for a prolonged period or indeed if handling more than one horse. Better definately if in charge of handling more than one horse and certainly safer.

However...
If its one horse he is holding only for a short while, he may simply be holding the reins a little below the horses chin, while the reins continue up towards the horses withers.
Even today when leading a horse out of the stable ready to be ridden, or back in after being ridden, often we just take the reins a little below the bit/chin and lead them.
You could hold 2 horses like this, one in each hand, however you would have be sure the horses were well behaived. Half a ton of horse isnt the easiest animal to control when they are anxious, panicked etc.

Getting the reins back over a horses head would perhaps take more time than the rider had maybe in a combat situation....also helps if the horse is cooperating and not throwing its head around if panicked etc.

The pose however is clearly just holding reins in his right hand, so yes, normally I would of thought the reins would be brought over the horses head on this occaision.
UNLESS.... he is holding them via leadropes, each horse with a rope clipped to the bit?

I suspect these horses are generic and are also for other sets, like the Nap Prussians.
I would carve the reins off and make something to symbolise the reins coming from the horses bit, to the guys hand. After all, if hes holding multiple horses then some difference in distance would happen in regards to length of ewch set of reins between him and each horse.

If the set really isnt selling itself, simply vote with your wallet and dont buy it. This I have done with many sets that have been released by various manufacturers. I doubt any changes will happen now with this set. All customers can hope for is that the criticism is taken on board and mistakes are learned from. Strelets has shown its development just by comparing its sculpting these days with say 5-6 years ago. They are vastly improved from those early sets. Probably the best sculpts in plastic currently I'd say (makes me even more hungry for more late war Nap sets!!!). And yet, yes there is still room for improvment.

I myself have bought some of the Prussian Uhlans and a box of the Hussars, but I have no intention of using the horses supplied. Poor creatures look like they have bodies belonging to a hippo!!! The troopers themselves were worth getting to represent the 6th Lutzows, static horses however i shall source from elsewhere. In fact if the furniture etc wasnt so different, id pinch the horses in this set!!