I am overly facinated about learning how to ride side saddle and wanted some information, advise, stories - or anything any one might have to offer up about the subject. TIA!!
I have ridden sidesaddle before on my saintly first horse, and it is firmly on the Top Ten Things to do before I die list to hunt sidesaddle at least once. Good luck!
Did you know someone who loaned you the equipment? That is my biggest stumbling block…you can’t try it without the equipment…and I do not know anyone who does it…at least not down here in South Texas!
Try sending a PM to cowgirljenn.
Thanks! I did just that…
if you post on FOL (http://foxhunters.org/), Rhonda will reply, she hunts with us (ONBH; Concord MA) and is our expert in all things side-saddle. this is her posting signature :eek::eek: :
Sidesaddle Hall of Famer
Five-time US National Sidesaddle Champion
SSA A Instructor, Panel Judge ®
ARIA Level III Instructor (ss, reining, riding to hounds)
When I was young and stupid(er), I would sometimes put my right stirrup over on the left side of my English saddle and ride “side saddle.” One time I urged my extremely patient horse over a low stone wall that way and after we landed I lost my balance and went head over teacup. The horse, who was normally quite a reliable character, decided he had enough of me and ran all the way home. I had to follow on foot, about two miles, up hill and down dale. I still remember yelling his name at his departing, dun-striped rump, and that hopeless feeling.
I wasn’t hurt, did learn a lesson and that was the last of my interest in riding side saddle.
[QUOTE=Ray;3660325]
if you post on FOL (http://foxhunters.org/), Rhonda will reply, she hunts with us (ONBH; Concord MA) and is our expert in all things side-saddle. this is her posting signature :eek::eek: :
Sidesaddle Hall of Famer
Five-time US National Sidesaddle Champion
SSA A Instructor, Panel Judge ®
ARIA Level III Instructor (ss, reining, riding to hounds)[/QUOTE]
Wait, can she do reining sidesaddle? I’d pay to see someone ride out a left turn spin or a sliding stop sidesaddle without falling off :lol:
If you search the hunting forum, there are several posters here who have “Sidesaddle” X as their username.
So Tx sidesaddle
here’s the info re: sidesaddle instructors in Tx:
Texas
Beverly Peters
10925 Tegeler Rd., Brenham, TX 77833
(979) 836-7279
this is off of the International SideSaddle Organization (ISSO) and their website is www.sidesaddle.com. Excellent organization, lots of info. Have attended several sidesaddle clinics at Gladstone/USET headquarters in NJ with Roger Philpot, am saving up for a sidesadde. My current horse is a warmblood and jumps like one, am aiming to get my green t’bird to a point where he is able to do sidesaddle. Was absolutely stunned to discover that I felt more secure riding sidesaddle than astride, have ridden hunter and jumper for 35+ years. Am looking forward to affording my first sidesaddle.
I hear Texas Ladies Aside is fairly active, but have no firsthand experience with them. I’m waiting on ss number 4- trying to find one to fit can be a bit of a pain. 
I was hoping to have everything figured out by the start of the hunt season. Oh well. If you already have a secure seat and hands, riding ss will be a breeze.
You guys ROCK! Thanks!! I ride saddleseat - and was told that I am 1 step ahead since I am already used to sitting straight up and further back on a horse. I hope that is true.
Well…try it in an actual sidesaddle and you may find you enjoy it! :lol:
if you join the sidesaddle yahoo group I think someone just recently posted her reining pattern video. I haven’t had a chance to look, so I’m not 100% certain.
Are you looking to ride saddleseat aside or hunt seat aside? Two different saddles.
[QUOTE=MyGiantPony;3661389]
Are you looking to ride saddleseat aside or hunt seat aside? Two different saddles.[/QUOTE]
I am going to guess and say saddleseat aside. Can you show me the difference in the saddles? I have never seen a side saddle with a cutback. Please remember - I am starting from gound -0- here …so don’t assume that I know anything! ha ha… Thanks!
All of the good “modern” sidesaddles have a cutback. Think Owen, Champion & Wilton, Mayhew, Whippy, Martin & Martin, Knoud, etc. If they don’t have the cutback, they are really OLD, usually pre-1910, and usually also have very narrow trees, so don’t fit many of today’s modern horses.
Hunt seat saddles are built with a steel-reinforced tree for jumping (called the hunting bar), and have more padding in the panels.
Saddleseat saddles do not have a hunt bar, have less padding, and are designed for closer contact. They often have a much smaller offside flap. They are commonly referred to as “Park” sidesaddles.
A lot of the Martin & Martin sidesaddles were park saddles, so if one is looking at them for hunt purposes, they need to be careful to check that the tree is reinforced.
I’ll look around for pictures to show you the difference.
Here is a park sidesaddle:
http://www.americansidesaddleassociation.org/articles/photos/park2.jpg
Here is a hunt sidesaddle:
http://www.americansidesaddleassociation.org/articles/photos/c&w.jpg
Note the difference in the amount of stuffing in the panels. Also, many times the Park sidesaddles have leather bottoms, while it is more common to have linen on a hunt sidesaddle (although you will find leather too!).
Wow - thank you so much. I have been looking over all the information you gave me - as well as the Cherry Blossom web sight. I ride American Saddlebreds - but mine are not the extremely narrow body types - as I prefere the 5 gaited (more muscular build) I know if I did this - I could introduce a side saddle class into our local shows. I really think it would catch on.
I have really enjoyed exploring the hunt scene of side saddle too…forgive me if this sounds completely stupid - but there is such an old world elegance about it! Shhh - don’t tell …but I used to go hacking out in the woods with one of my former pleasure Saddlebreds. That boy would jump anything!
Thank you again for all of your kind advise. If you happen to think of anything else - just add it here as I will check back.
Check out http://www.americansidesaddleassociation.org/ and Texas Sidesaddle Riders (http://www.vanbasti.com/tsr/)
Sidesaddle is a blast! I hope you try it and stick around
I only wish I knew someone locally…although I do plan on calling the woman listed above in Brenham. That is only about an hour away from me.
I was hoping that maybe one or 2 people would answer my request for information. I am truly overwhelmed by your response. Thank you - thank you - thank you!
I have an older show mare that I could start on and I also have a rescued Saddlebred who, with some practice - I believe would be a very showy side saddle mount.
[QUOTE=equusvilla;3659317]
I am overly facinated about learning how to ride side saddle and wanted some information, advise, stories - or anything any one might have to offer up about the subject. TIA!![/QUOTE]
I do, I do!! Love, love, love it . . . you’ve already gotten lots of good advice. I will say that it can be challenging to find the right saddle - for both you and your horse! Well worth it though . . .
