I sure am! Thanks so much!
[QUOTE=equusvilla;4505604]
You should try it …if for nothing else - just to be able to say that you did!
I did not think it was that big of a deal to dismount by myself when I was wearing either my riding pants or even with a shorter practice ‘skirt’ until once when I felt every single bone in my feet vibrate! OUCH!! That shorter (jockey) stirrup plus the higher saddle really makes the landing a bit rough on the leg bones. …but when I am in full costume…I always tell my instructor to find a really good looking man to help me get off. hee hee… I am not sure which one of us has more fun with that! …and I have never found a man who was not thrilled to be picked.[/QUOTE]
Often I ride alone, out on the trail for a few hours at a time. On a cold day, my 17h TB seems like he is 20h on the dismount 
It’s a long way down when your feet are cold and the ground is frozen. and you have bad knees. Yikes! More reasons that well to do women rode. Grooms!
M&M’s Saddleseat or Hunt seat sidesaddles?
[QUOTE=5;4503276]
Martin and martins were ‘usualy’ park saddles not reinforced for jumping. (she is wearing a helmet so this one might be one of the few)
If the buyer intends to jump it would be a good idea to ask first about the tree.
Sadlemakr would probably know better than I.[/QUOTE]
IF the sidesaddle has a narrower off side flap and it is a close contact sidesaddle, it is most likely a Park/Saddleseat . Huntseat sidesaddles are heavy. They are re-enforced in the gullet with heavy iron. A Hunting Bar is made of iron and about 3/4th inch thick and about 2 inches wide. It takes the shock of landing after a jump and keeps the gullet from spreading.
It is best to have a qualified saddler take the gullet liner loose and check the tree.
If you are looking at any high end saddle or Sidesaddle, it is best to have it checked by a qualified saddler. Yes it will cost to have the panels taken loose and the gullet liner taken back to check the tree. But it is well worth it just to be sure the saddle is safe to use.
I have a Passier astride saddle that I bought off Ebay sight unseen. Well yes there was a photo of it. But when I got it and took the panels and gullet liner off there was damage to the tree. It can be fixed but I took a chance and got taken.
Champion & Wilton made some very lightweight show type sidesaddles that weighed only 18 pounds. Those should be checked for the gullet iron being sound. If such a sidesaddle is used for jumping it will break in the gullet.
They didn’t have heavy Hunting bars in them.
Just part of the experience of dealing with sidesaddles.
Close contact and light weight, Likely a Park/Saddleseat sidesaddle.
Heavy and well padded in the panels, likely a Huntseat sidesaddle.
Most of the Old Name Sidesaddle Companies made the Park/Saddleseat type as well as the Hunting and jumping type sidesaddles. One has to learn to recognise the difference.
KR’s sadlmakr
