P D Ball’s Story Newsletter No. 6

Apr 17, 2023 3:24 am

P D Ball’s Newsletter No. 6

Hello! I hope you are doing well. Spring is here, so you likely are!

First Words

Behind the Scenes: AI and writing, saddle making

Other Book Promotions

Progress

No real updates for Book 5 yet. I am writing but am not far enough along to present a preview. Princess Cayce is heading north with a bunch of foxes and ravens guiding her way. That's new for her. She has Etienne's journal and map, and roughly knows where she's going, but hasn't got a clue what to expect or what horrible monsters she's going to run into on the way.

If you want to contact me, your thoughts on the newsletter or writing, I’m at pdballwrites@gmail.com

Behind the Scenes: AI and writing, saddle making

This is a bit of a strange discussion. You’re probably wondering how these all fit. That would be my fault – I wanted to give a brief history of saddle making for this newsletter’s behind the scenes and I’ve been nervously trying to understand more about AI since learning about Bing’s crazy outbursts and the promise of ChatGPT.

A lot of us writers are wondering if, or maybe when, AI is going to put out novels. Not just stories, but compelling, well written novels. So, I did a little dive into them, even putting Bing on my skype and joining ChatGPT (both are free if you want to play with them). Thankfully, what I’ve found is that they’re not great at writing, nor good at accuracy of information.

Still, people are using them for writing short posts, like blogs, short information pieces and emails, and some people are using them to automate their jobs (a whole other interesting story). I therefore thought to ask ChatGPT to write me an essay about the history of saddle making. It did, I’ll include it here, but it’s a false history and it’s written at a middle school level or thereabouts.

The AI incorrectly claims that the Scythians used stirrups. They did not. Stirrups first appear in history around 200 AD in Indian art, but they only supported the rider’s big toe. That seems dangerous and unwieldy for combat and those stirrups were likely just a place to rest one’s foot. The earliest Chinese ones were likewise not strong enough for combat. These were used around 380 AD and made heftier after 400 AD for actual war. Load bearing stirrups reached Europe around 800 AD.

Stirrups allowed riders to have greater stability and allowed them to brace themselves better. With them, mounted archery became more accurate and deadlier as the Mongols proved and, much later, when combined with armor and lances, stirrups enabled the full cavalry charge.

When I taught anthropology at universities, I invariably caught one or two students plagiarizing. AI must be making that much worse. News articles abound about this problem, but also have discussed how even scientific researchers are using the new technology to write parts of their papers. I suppose that’s feasible with heavy editing and removing the falsehoods, but it’s a little worrisome. However, after asking ChatGPT to write this essay, I’m somewhat relieved – the level of grammar, the dull tone, bland presentation of information, it’s not something that can produce a novel.

Anyways, here is the essay:

"Saddles have been used by humans for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilizations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and China. The invention of the saddle revolutionized horse riding, making it easier and more comfortable for both the rider and the horse. Over time, saddles evolved to suit different riding styles and purposes, and the art of saddle making became a highly respected craft.

The earliest saddles were simple pads made of animal hides, blankets, or

grass, which were placed on the horse's back to provide some comfort and

stability for the rider. However, these primitive saddles did not distribute

the rider's weight evenly, causing discomfort and pain for both the horse and

the rider.

The first true saddle with a rigid structure was developed by the

Scythians, a nomadic people who lived in the region that is now modern-day

Iran, Ukraine, and Russia. Their saddles consisted of a wooden frame covered

with leather or felt, and were designed for long-distance riding and warfare. The Scythians also developed stirrups, which allowed riders to maintain balance

and control while riding at high speeds.

As horse riding spread to other parts of the world, different types of

saddles were developed to suit the needs of different cultures and riding styles.

In Europe, the knights of the Middle Ages rode in heavy armor and needed

saddles that provided protection and stability in battle. The medieval saddles

were heavily padded and featured high cantles and pommels to prevent the rider from being thrown from the horse.

In the Americas, the Native American tribes developed a unique style of

saddle that was lightweight and allowed for greater maneuverability in hunting

and warfare. The Native American saddles were typically made of rawhide or

animal skins stretched over a wooden frame, and were decorated with intricate

beadwork and leather tooling.

Saddle making became a highly skilled and respected craft, with each

region developing its own techniques and traditions. In the Middle East,

Persian saddle makers were renowned for their ornate designs and intricate

embroidery, while in Europe, the English saddle makers focused on functionality

and durability.

Today, saddle making is still a thriving industry, with modern materials

and technology allowing for greater comfort and performance. However, many

traditional saddle makers still use the same techniques and materials that have

been passed down for generations, preserving the art and craftsmanship of

saddle making.

In conclusion, the history of saddles and saddle making is a testament to

the ingenuity and creativity of humans in adapting to and improving upon the

natural world. From the simple pads of early civilizations to the highly

specialized saddles of today, the evolution of saddles and saddle making is a fascinating story of innovation and tradition."

So, the essay doesn’t really say much. It gets the generic overview roughly correct but is rather nonspecific about what information it provides and includes misleading information. It’s incorrect about Scythian stirrups and incomplete about their saddles, which used wood, bone and metal for strength.

Also, I have to say it’s a bit difficult for me to believe saddle making is a thriving industry. It’s certainly not a growth industry, though contemporary saddle makers are skilled craftsmen and paid well in developed economies.

Probably the AI follows a pattern when presenting an essay. Brief history in paragraphs, something positive about the topic (thriving industry), and a conclusion. Definitely not going to win any literature prizes, thank goodness! Hopefully, that's a long ways off.

Regardless, modern saddles, like the idea Cayce built hers after, use some combination wood, metal sheets, and leather. The wooden base is basically a shaped seat designed not to pressure the horse’s spine. On this, metal may be placed for stability, and leather is shaped to fit. I’ve included a couple videos of saddle making if you’re interested in seeing how they’re made and a museum paper describing their recreation of a Scythian saddle, with pictures.

This video is nearly 30 minutes long and no music, but it showcases making a saddle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLVPbKs4MCI

This one has music! He doesn’t use metal in his saddles, though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUyiaCpxjOA

A brief history of the Scythians by the British Museum:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/introducing-scythians

A reconstruction of a Scythian saddle. It’s quite an interesting article and includes pictures of recovered ancient saddles (in tatters) and the reconstructed version:

http://www.silkroadfoundation.org/newsletter/vol14/Stepanova_SR14_2016_1_18_Pl1.pdf