low sporrans !

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Er, I think David Dubh was referring to the length of the horse hair, not whether or not the man could sit a horse... for which trews (without sporran) would be more appropriate.

[Bugbear]

... As for the shorter gent being able to get on a horse I have no doubt that he could, I'm not the tallest guy in the world but I've had two horses and have never had a problem getting on a horse, and no I do not use a block and tackle. I'n fact I've seen disabled children get on horses so again no doubt that this gent could indeed get on his horse.

When I was a disabled child, I got on and road horses from time to time. I was a lot shorter than I am now, but I never did it in a kilt.

I do think they had to use a block and tackle to get Henry the eighth of England on a horse, though.

[Nervous Jock]

Er, I think David Dubh was referring to the length of the horse hair, not whether or not the man could sit a horse... for which trews (without sporran) would be more appropriate.

I think your right here, i just think the comments a wee bit disrespectful, smileys or not

[xena]

Getting on a horse is relatively irrelevant since they are infantry, not cavalry.

They appear to be three different orders of dress from two different regiments. And, they are wearing their sporrans roughly where I do.

I learned to wear Highland kit in the military, so it may be a bit different than what some folks are used to. The sporran is not just for holding all your stuff, in lieu of pockets. It's also an extremely effective modesty device.

If it is worn like these gents are, whenever you sit down, the sporran has enough weight and length to come down between your legs and keep you from "frightening the women, children and livestock." That's what it's supposed to do, and if your sporran is worn too high, it doesn't work. Basically, it's supposed to hang right in front of your "dangly bits."

I'm always amazed when I hear about guys having to learn to "sit like ladys" when they are wearing a kilt (it's on a couple of youtube videos). They obviously don't understand, or have a different concept of, a sporran.

FWIW, regarding the length of the horsehair sporran, mine also hung below the edge of the kilt. Different regiments have different regulations.

It could also have something to do with the real ones worn by the military being worth a couple thousand dollars apiece. I know you can get cheap ones, but anything with the correct insignia and made to military standards is going to be a bit pricier. When they're that expensive, the Quartermaster wouldn't want young jocks going at them with scissors, now would you?

Just my two cents worth though.

[Nervous Jock]

They appear to be three different orders of dress from two different regiments. And, they are wearing their sporrans roughly where I do.

Same Regiment, all Black Watch, Pipers wear a different tartan.

[Nervous Jock]

It could also have something to do with the real ones worn by the military being worth a couple thousand dollars apiece. I know you can get cheap ones, but anything with the correct insignia and made to military standards is going to be a bit pricier. When they're that expensive, the Quartermaster wouldn't want young jocks going at them with scissors, now would you?

These horse hair sporrans are not the ones given to 'young jocks', pipers excepted, only Commissioned or Warrant Officers would wear them in ceremonial rig only

[McMurdo]

I think your right here, i just think the comments a wee bit disrespectful, smileys or not

Agreed Jock

[xena]

Same Regiment, all Black Watch, Pipers wear a different tartan.

My mistake. Didn't know that about BW pipers, although I should've - I was 2 RCR for a while, and they were rebadged from BW to RCR sometime in the '60's IIRC. They carry on a lot of the same traditions, even though they're not officially RHR anymore. Amazing P&D's there in Gagetown!

[Nervous Jock]

My mistake. Didn't know that about BW pipers, although I should've - I was 2 RCR for a while, and they were rebadged from BW to RCR sometime in the '60's IIRC. They carry on a lot of the same traditions, even though they're not officially RHR anymore. Amazing P&D's there in Gagetown!

No probs, as I've said elsewhere far be it for 2 soldiers to turn up dressed the same!!

[xena]

These horse hair sporrans are not the ones given to 'young jocks', pipers excepted, only Commissioned or Warrant Officers would wear them in ceremonial rig only

Well, that's why I noted that different regiments have different regulations. I wore one as a young jock. Well, I wasn't that young, but as a Master Corporal, I was still part of the Junior Ranks Mess. All ranks wore horsehair when marching with arms in both no. 1's and 2's.

Sorry for the confusion - didn't mean to disparage anyone's Regiment, especially the RHR, whom I hold in the highest esteem. In fact, I think they're almost as good as soldiers as Seaforth.

But yes, I still think they're wearing their sporrans at the proper height, even if a lot of civvies think it's in vogue to wear them to high to serve their purpose.