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Anyone out there ride Side Saddle?

Hunting
#21

I have to admit that my favorite bit of information was when dogontired said " Was absolutely stunned to discover that I felt more secure riding sidesaddle than astride"…and am hoping that I find this to be true as well!!!

If anyone has the time - could you look at this:

http://www.sidesaddle.com/store/saddles/saddles.html

and tell me what saddle you think might be the best for me? I will be using it on Saddlebreds and riding Park Saddleseat -
Compared to other breeds:
They have medium or long backs
They usually have high withers
They naturally hold their head higher up and back
My horses have meduim sized bodies, not uber thin like some Saddlebreds.

#22

Make sure to check your charity tack sales and estate sales! This summer, I went to one of those “rent a table and sell your used tack” sales. There was more than one table with a sidesaddle or two, people selling ones that had been passed down but they were too scared to try riding sidesaddle. I saw some for sale from $150-300 :eek: I was really tempted to pick one up but just couldn’t justify it without owning a horse.

#23

A local antique store had an old sidesaddle in the window - as a decoration. I always hoped someone bought it and restored it.

One of the highlights of the year is seeing ladies sidesaddle classes. I’m like a little kid - agog. These composed, elegant and refined ladies riding lovely horses… it’s just a real treat and they make it seem effortless!

I’m curious if any of you have ever seen an off-side sidesaddle, I either read or was told that the off-side side saddle was created for veterans (I think from WWI) that had lost a limb. But I’ve never seen one, nor seen a reference to one.

#24

Lillian Chaudhary (http://www.snowcrest.net/sadlmakr/) is an excellent resource and always happy to share her knowledge.

Also, check with Marti at Hundred Oaks (http://hundredoaksinc.com/). She takes used saddles on consignment, and sells newer ones that are decently made.

#25

[QUOTE=JSwan;3663862]

I’m curious if any of you have ever seen an off-side sidesaddle, I either read or was told that the off-side side saddle was created for veterans (I think from WWI) that had lost a limb. But I’ve never seen one, nor seen a reference to one.[/QUOTE]

I’ve seen a picture of a woman jumping in an off-side, and I know of one that has converted a Charra sidesaddle. On the Hoosier Ladies Aside page (http://www.hoosierladiesaside.com/saddles.html) the third picture down shows a really nifty dual horned saddle to be ridden from either side.

http://www.sidesaddle.com/reference_pages/saddletype.htm has an off-side western sidesaddle about 2/3 of the way down the page.

#26

Julie, when I was a kid, there was a gal who showed her saddle type horse aside in saddleseat pleasure classes. It was elegant and beautiful.
She let me borrow it one day for my big hunter, and I had a ball. You just need a horse that will take rein cues or a whip tap for a left canter lead, and you will be all set.
I felt very secure riding aside. Of course, I had been trying to do it bareback and with regular saddles for years :yes: but I never did try to sling the right stirrup over.

You can also ask attafox over on Trot. She believe she shows side saddle.

#27

Thank you! What lovely saddles. I liked the Goodnight one - it’s always nice to know the provenance. I’m pretty ignorant on this subject but have been happy to remain on the sidelines, admiring and clapping. :slight_smile:

[QUOTE=midkniggit;3663899]
I’ve seen a picture of a woman jumping in an off-side, and I know of one that has converted a Charra sidesaddle. On the Hoosier Ladies Aside page (http://www.hoosierladiesaside.com/saddles.html) the third picture down shows a really nifty dual horned saddle to be ridden from either side.

http://www.sidesaddle.com/reference_pages/saddletype.htm has an off-side western sidesaddle about 2/3 of the way down the page.[/QUOTE]

#28

She is amazing.

I watched her canter through a field earlier this season and she looked just like a hunting print!

#29

Yes. I’m on the hunt for one. I know of a lady in NJ who has one, but she’s not letting go of it yet. A lady in Upperville also has one, but she never uses it, it just hangs in her tack room.

Off-sides are VERY rare. Think of them as like .05% of all old-name sidesaddles. There was one on Ebay UK a few months ago that I was bidding on. It probably needed about $850+ worth of work on it. Unfortunately I was outbid, and it sold for $5500 if I remember correctly, far more than I could afford for it.

#30

If the saddle fits you and the horse, riding aside is absolutely more secure than astride. :slight_smile:

Before looking at saddles, you need to know:

  1. What length/width seat are you? http://www.sidesaddleinfo.com/saddles_fitting/measuring.html
  2. Do you prefer wide or narrow pommels? (there are VERY distinct differences in feel between the two. People can usually only stand to ride in one or the other.)
  3. Do you like leather or doeskin seats? Leather can be quite slippery, and usually requires full-seat britches, whereas doeskin gives you more “stick”.

Different type saddles ride very differently. For example, you might hate Martins and Martins, Whippys, and Mayhews, but love Champion & Wiltons and Owens. Or, you like one particular Mayhew, but not any others. Saddle fit for you and horse is essential for a comfortable ride. It should only take you about a max of 5 minutes at a walk-trot to know if you are comfortable in that saddle or not. If you aren’t there isn’t anything that is going to change that, and you’ll need to try a different saddle. Also, many times you can take a smaller saddle if it is an Owen, because the seats are much flatter, whereas the older saddles with the slight dip need to be bigger (the same way you’d need a bigger size astride saddle for a deep seat versus a flat seat).

The only problem I forsee is if you are tall, and you’re riding a horse with a long back. The sidesaddle automatically places you further back than an astride saddle, and is much heavier. If the back of the horse is long, and you are using a long saddle, it is putting a lot of pressure on a very weak area, and will hurt the horse. (so another reason rider/horse saddle fit is so important)

I would recommend checking out Sidesaddle Heaven’s available saddles. http://www.sidesaddleheaven.com/pages/saleslist.htm. The park saddles she has available are # 279, 224, and maybe 283. Sue Tobin owns it, and she is VERY knowledgeable.

#31

Humm - well I am not that tall - just under 5’6"…so I don’t think that will be a problem. Saddleseat saddles sit further back - so the horses I have mentioned are already used to a saddle that is further behind the withers. Now - when I ride astride, I actually hate doe skin because it interfers with the natural motion of posting a trot (at least it feels that way for me) and it grips too much…but I don’t know if that has anything to do with a side saddle or not. I am thinking I would prefer a longer saddle with a ‘rim’ over one that is shorter and flatter…but that is just in theory. I know nothing about the pomels though!

Sidesaddlerider - thank you so much for the new web address for used Saddles. I am going to contact her and request a couple of pictures.

#32

[QUOTE=JSwan;3663862]

I’m curious if any of you have ever seen an off-side sidesaddle, I either read or was told that the off-side side saddle was created for veterans (I think from WWI) that had lost a limb. But I’ve never seen one, nor seen a reference to one.[/QUOTE]

I think that they were always a special order but they were around before WWI. I may be wrong but if you find an off side with a squared off cantle I will bet you a bag of racehorse oats it was made for a gentleman.

If the people ordering had more money than they knew what to do with then they would order for their daighter a matched pair of side saddles so she would not become stronger on one side than the other.

If you can find Nick Creatons currant email he is has been doing research on london saddlemakers and he might be able to give you facts not hearsay as I am right now.

I did hear that George Washington rode sidesaddle in his later years due to arthritis in his hips but have not been able to verify this.

#33

You don’t post in a sidesaddle unless you absolutely have to (it’s not very comfortable), you sit the trot, so I guess you’ll just have to try both to decide what you like. :wink: I personally can’t stand leather seats and narrow pommels, but then I jump a lot. I think the majority of park sidesaddles I’ve seen were pretty much all leather.

You want a saddle that fits you. While you CAN ride in one that is a bit too long, you NEVER want to ride in one too short. Sidesaddles develop a “sweet spot” in the seat after length of use, from your seatbones. Unless your seatbones match the spot, you’ll constantly be fighting the saddle, as it will be trying to put you in the correct spot.

#34

Equusvilla –

Where are you at? I’m outside of Houston (Alvin) and if the mud ever dries up and I can find my SS in the storage unit, you are welcome to come try it out on my patient gelding. He’s a good guy and wouldn’t mind giving you a spin aside.

And answering a few other questions –

“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.”

Yes, Rhonda has done reining aside (although only in non-NRHA shows as they don’t allow SS). My email list, sidesaddle@yahoogroups.com, also has a member who has done some reining aside.

“I hear Texas Ladies Aside is fairly active, but have no firsthand experience with them.”

They are active – although they’re a Peruvian Paso group. They do have a SS clinic every year (this year it was in October) for new SS riders of all types of horses. They’re also pretty generous ladies – when I still lived in College Station and was just trying to learn about SS, they welcomed me to come watch their practices and even put me up on one of the horses since I had never ridden a Peruvian before.

“I have to admit that my favorite bit of information was when dogontired said " Was absolutely stunned to discover that I felt more secure riding sidesaddle than astride”…and am hoping that I find this to be true as well!!!"

It is true… once you find the right saddle! When I first started, my SS didn’t fit my mare and kept rolling to one side. I wasn’t enjoying that at all. BUT when I got Elvis, it fit him and I felt a lot more secure. And I know a ton of people who feel more comfortable and secure riding aside than astride!

“I’m curious if any of you have ever seen an off-side sidesaddle, I either read or was told that the off-side side saddle was created for veterans (I think from WWI) that had lost a limb. But I’ve never seen one, nor seen a reference to one.”

Yep. I knew a woman who had an artificial leg that made it uncomfortable for her to ride astride or in a regular sidesaddle. So Lillian Chaudhary made her an off-side sidesaddle. There are others out there for people with similar issues, too. They’re less common than regular sidesaddles and can be hard to find.

#35

I ride aside. :slight_smile: Here are some pictures of my mare and I going aside:

http://picasaweb.google.com/horsepix/Jewel#5014418338322716882

http://picasaweb.google.com/horsepix/Jewel#5013431943248615266

http://picasaweb.google.com/horsepix/Jewel#5013435495186569106

And here is a video of us from a couple years ago at a horse fair demo (my mare had only been ridden aside 3 times when this was shot and I was fairly new to it as well):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyJfhX-wZ8s

#36

Horsepix - thank you so much for sharing your pictures and video. I would have never guessed that you had not ridden ss for a long time if you had not told me. You looked beautiful! BTW - do you normally sit the trot or post it?..or either…

Cowgirljenn - I actually live in a small town called Plantersville - NW of Houston…but to get the chance to experience ss, I would gladly drive to the moon! Thank you so much for the offer!

Now for some bad news… One of my Corgis was hit by a car last night and although he is still alive - I am just heartbroken. He was not run over - but hit in the head…so it will be a while until we find out what the damage is. He came home with me from the vet and we had a rough night …but thankfully no seizures. I am leaving work today at 2PM to take him back to the vet for more meds and x-rays. The doc seems to think - no skull injuries - but a possible jaw fracture. His body and limbs are fine…but he is not the dog I have always had …he is different. He does not respond to his name. I had to almost remind him that he can walk when I put him outside to pee this morning (which he did not do) and he walked like a drunk and fell down. I pray that it is mostly the meds and that in a few days my KC - will be his same ole happy self.

KC is an indoor dog that I let out to go to the bathroom. He must have seen something that caused him to go out to the road… By the time I get home from work it is pitch black outside and with no other lights beside the ones on the barn, once he gets about 5 feet away from me - I can not see him. I knew something was wrong though when he did not come to greet the female Corgi when I let her out.

I posted a picture of him on my blog address below.

#37

Oh, no! That’s terrible. Jingles for your boy. :sadsmile:

If something happened to my corgi, I would be inconsolable. That’s why, when it is dark out, I only take him out on the leash, as he LOVES to chase deer, and I’m terrified of him getting hit by a car as the deer like to cross the road right in front of the house. I hope to get that invisible fence installed one of these days.

#38

Oh I am so sorry to read about your Corgi! You guys will be in my thoughts…

When things calm down if you want to travel this way sometime, send me a PM and we’ll figure it out. :slight_smile:

#39

“If anyone has the time - could you look at this:
http://www.sidesaddle.com/store/saddles/saddles.html”

I wouldn’t be shocked to find that the Martin & Martin or the Mayhew that’s out for repairs work. In the 30s, M&Ms were popular with the Saddlebred show folks. Linda, who runs the shop, is really helpful to talk to, and she can talk you through taking a back tracing so she can check it against her stock to see what might work. You don’t really need a different saddle for park seat (or dressage, or cross country…), it’s one of the things I love about sidesaddle. If it’s called a “park saddle” it probably just isn’t reinforced for jumping, but frequently doesn’t look different on the outside.

For those tempted to pick up a sidesaddle because it’s cheap, I refer you to here first:
http://members.cox.net/sidesaddle/papers/ssbuytp2.pdf

Good luck - and remember, the hunt is part of the fun!

#40

offside

[QUOTE=midkniggit;3663899]

http://www.sidesaddle.com/reference_pages/saddletype.htm has an off-side western sidesaddle about 2/3 of the way down the page.[/QUOTE]

I’ve actually had the pleasure to ride in that particular offside saddle! As it’s a restored catalog-type saddle (I guess you could call it), it’s a bit smaller than most of the English ones you see on the east coast. Being short has it’s advantages. :yes: I had thought it would feel more like starting over. Instead my legs took to it much like they do to a normal sidesaddle. The real confusions for me were trying to pick up the saddle, mounting, and dismounting - it was all backward! That and I kept instinctively putting the whip in my right hand, and wondering why I felt a bounce across my legs, and why everyone was pointing and laughing. :slight_smile:

I took a lesson, and the instructor kept laughing and saying the offside was playing games with her mind. We had a lot of fun with it.

The saddle itself had a schweet restoration done. The leather is high quality and just the right sort of grippy, the stitching and other workmanship is amazing, and it’s very comfortable. The owner said they decided to go with the nearly white seat because the original was buff, and she and the saddler figured it would age to a less white shade.

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