Any idea what the piece is next to the rosette?

[Anonymous]

Found these today along with a bunch of square nails. Been hunting on 3 different farms trying to find this campsite. On the next farm over I finally found the campsite.
Mike

 

[Anonymous]

Mike
It's a reinsholder which goes on the top of a horse collar.
<p><img border="1" src="http://www.pochefamily.org/weather/relic%20images/reinsholder2.jpg"></p>
HH
Dave

 

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

Mike:
If you look at the picture of the horse... on his back you can see what a modern reins holder looks like and where it goes (the Billet). Sorry, I said horse collar before. It could be pre-civil War as well. I would keep it. BTW you don't have a rosette which is part of the bridle but Bit Boss which goes on the horse bit. You can see a rosette up by the horse's ear. Your boss is a wonderful find (I've never found one.) Sometimes the "USA" bit boss was ripped off by southern cavalry men when they got a hold of a federal bit. That might be why your boss has one screw hole missing. If you find other relics that suggest you are in a Confederate camp then that's probably what happened to your boss. Look around for other cavalry relics in the area. Hope this helps. Dave
<p><img border="1" src="http://www.pochefamily.org/weather/relic%20images/billetbuckle2.jpg"></p>

 

[Anonymous]

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