Knowledge on old looking button

[jml818]

I know this button is very worn and hardly decipherable but it sure looks old. I don't know too much about how to place a date range on it.
Looks like possibly a colonial guy on a horse and the shank on back is not typical.
Anyone give me some info?

 

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[ANTIQUARIAN]

I don't think this is a button, it's more likely saddle tack decoration.
The 'bent portion' on the back would've been pushed through the leather then bent over to hold it.

It looks very early, probably early 19thc.
Dave

 

[CRUSADER]

My first thought was that it went in the end of an old horse whip. However, as the fixing has been bent over to attached it to leather, it's probably related to some kind of horse gear, as per Dave's suggestion.