Tudor and Stuart gentlemen were expected to become good riders at a young age. Like fencing, riding and hunting were not only considered respectable leisure activities but a vital preparation for war.

These saddle-steels – protective plates attached to the front and rear parts of a saddle – belonged to Henry VIII, who often spent considerable hours each day riding and hunting. The border of each plate is etched with hounds chasing deer, hares and wild boar through a lightly wooded countryside. The main areas are etched all over with battle-scenes involving cavalry and infantry in a wooded landscape.