…can someone tell me verbally how to do this? I know you are not suppose to push off of the stirrup…but I want to look like the first rider who is entering the ring in this Youtube video:
ss posting
You are right you don’t put weight in the stirrup. It is done with your muscles in your top (right leg if you have your left in the stirrup). I would say that you don’t really lift out of the saddle but a slight rocking motion. I have not mastered the posting trot, but I have been instructed on how it is done. Good Luck.
First off, unless you are doing dressage, why would you want to? Posting is not something that a sidesaddle rider should normally be doing, as the saddle is simply not designed for it, and a rider should be knocked DOWN in points for doing it in a show, as you should be sitting the trot.
But as to how, you roll forward on your right thigh, primarily the area behind your right knee, tilt your upper body slightly, and take the weight off of your seat bones.
[QUOTE=SidesaddleRider;4002762]
First off, unless you are doing dressage, why would you want to? Posting is not something that a sidesaddle rider should normally be doing, as the saddle is simply not designed for it, and a rider should be knocked DOWN in points for doing it in a show, as you should be sitting the trot.
But as to how, you roll forward on your right thigh, primarily the area behind your right knee, tilt your upper body slightly, and take the weight off of your seat bones.[/QUOTE]
Since I will be competeing against others in saddleseat classes who will be posting - I think it would make a nicer looking ‘picture’. I realize it might be harder on my legs - but likely easier on my pitiful back. Damage control for the ‘girls’ is another reason…ha ha…
I thought that it looked messy actually. Sit still! 
(But what do I know? I’ve never ridden side saddle :lol: )
What she said!
Sidesaddle rider is right on all points. I do my best to avoid posting. 
Sidesaddle Rider -
Before I posted, I emailed a good friend who is a side saddle judge. If you’re riding saddle seat side saddle, you actually should be posting, and you may or may not post other English seats depending on the gait of your horse.
I’ve been posting side saddle since I was 10 years old and have never once been counted down for it.
And yes, it is a roll onto your thigh.
Interesting to know. I’ll make a note of it re riding aside in saddle-seat.
In posting in a sidesaddle, one does not rise off the saddle. One does not push off the left foot. One rolls forward on the right leg with the diagonal on the right front leg. Then one rolls back on the left stride.
I have seen aside riders rise clear off the saddle and plop down hard on the saddle as the trot progresses.
Add to that the weight in the stirrup jerking the saddle to the left side and it tweaks the saddle from side to side. The horse will take exception to this as it hits the withers on the right each time the rider stands on the left stirrup. The rider has to present a gentle rise with the push off of the left rear leg and the lift of the front right leg. Present a smooth lady like rise with the motion of the horse. Move with the horse.
I have seen classes with Sidesaddle horses where it was easy to see who had been taught how to rise gently with the horse. Then there were the ones who definitely had not been taught even how to ride a sidesaddle.
JMHO. S
I used to show side saddle a lot - there were strickly “side-saddle” shows that we would go to and then the usual Upperville, Devon, Harrisburg, Washington, and New York. Rarely, if ever, did any of us post except I think Devon (it’s been a while) and maybe New York offered an equitation class - in that class we posted. Susan Sisco (of Sunfield in PA) is probaby one of the loveliest side-saddle riders out there - I’m thinking I never saw her posting
Don’t forget that if you start to post in a class you MUST continue to post for the entire class at every trot unless a sitting trot is called for. It looks messy if you post one way of the ring and not the other also looks really messy if you post a couple of laps and then quit posting.
If you choose to ride in a “normal” equitation class sidesaddle you MUST post unless otherwise ask to do a sitting trot.
Like riding without stirrups and posting competently you need to practice and practice repeatly to have your aside posting look normal and natural.
Haven’t ridden aside in about 12 years, and boy do I miss it.
I so want to learn to ride sidesaddle! Where have yall bought your saddles?
[QUOTE=Hampton Bay;4036169]
I so want to learn to ride sidesaddle! Where have yall bought your saddles?[/QUOTE]
I took a wild chance and purchased mine off of E-bay…but it was an old Champion and Wilton saddle and had been used by a lady who rode her 1/2 Arab (the other 1/2 was Saddlebred which is what I ride) When I say “wild chance” I really mean it. You see - I knew enough to know that any new sidesaddle that was selling on e-bay, other than a very few exceptions, was complete junk…I did not know how difficult it is to fit an old saddle to our modern horses. 100 years ago most horses were not build as ours are today - nor were they taken care of as well …meaning that they were not as fat. I really lucked out and if I ever buy another, I will spend more $$ and use a reputable sidesaddle broker such as:
http://www.sidesaddle.com/store/saddles/saddles.html
or
http://www.sidesaddleheaven.com/pages/saleslist.htm
There are a few others - but those 2 web sights I had on hand.
I also buy and sell sidesaddles. You can find my website link in my signature line.
There are several places on the Web that sell sidesaddles. It is important that the billets and the panels be checked out by a qualified saddler.
Reflocking seems to be a problem for some who claim to be saddlers. In the UK sidesaddles are usually relocked after the end of the Hunting season. Or at least it used to be done that way. I have seen some sidesaddles that had never been reflocked and it took 2 to 3 pounds of flock to set them up right on the horse.
Count your blessings if you find a sidesaddle that fits you and your horse the first time out.
It has been a custom amongst aside riders to always be on the lookout for the " Perfect" sidesaddle that fits just right for both horse and rider. That is why some of us have 3 to 6 or more sidesaddles in our collections. ( and still looking at more).
Just make sure the saddle is safe to ride and the billlets are sound.
JMHO
Regards, S
Lucked out…
[QUOTE=Hampton Bay;4036169]
I so want to learn to ride sidesaddle! Where have yall bought your saddles?[/QUOTE]
I joined the sidesaddle yahoo group, and mentioned I was looking for a saddle. A woman emailed me saying she had one that fit my measurements, and did I want to buy it.
I did, knowing that I have narrow to wide horses, and this Elan would fit someone! Wonder of wonders, it fit my main riding mare! Lillian checked it out, gave me my first lesson, and I still ride in it.
When a friend on the list had trouble with her existing saddle and bought another, she offered to let me try her old Elan on my drafty boy. Again - a lovely fit! Once again, I got Lillian to check it out, and away we went! He doesn’t use his Elan much though - Lillian has her own personal Western Sidesaddle and rides him when we get together.
Someday I’ll get an ONES for my narrow thoroughbred…but for now I’m doing good with the “cheapys”. I think it is easiest to find a saddle that fits your own measurements and hope and pray it fits your horse. I’ve heard it said though - the EASIEST way is to find a saddle you love and buy the horse to fit it!
[QUOTE=Mrs. Cowboy;4041761]
I joined the sidesaddle yahoo group, and mentioned I was looking for a saddle. A woman emailed me saying she had one that fit my measurements, and did I want to buy it.
I did, knowing that I have narrow to wide horses, and this Elan would fit someone! Wonder of wonders, it fit my main riding mare! Lillian checked it out, gave me my first lesson, and I still ride in it.
When a friend on the list had trouble with her existing saddle and bought another, she offered to let me try her old Elan on my drafty boy. Again - a lovely fit! Once again, I got Lillian to check it out, and away we went! He doesn’t use his Elan much though - Lillian has her own personal Western Sidesaddle and rides him when we get together.
Someday I’ll get an ONES for my narrow thoroughbred…but for now I’m doing good with the “cheapys”. I think it is easiest to find a saddle that fits your own measurements and hope and pray it fits your horse. I’ve heard it said though - the EASIEST way is to find a saddle you love and buy the horse to fit it![/QUOTE]
Good story!..but I think that if a saddle does not fit the horse - you can’t force it to fit…at least this is what I learned about the early 1900’s saddles. Too narrow and it will pinch your horse…and too wide and it will slip. Maybe this is not so true with newer models.
Want to know how lucky I was??? My horse is low backed and because of this he is a bit round in the barrell. The saddle is overstuffed…really overstuffed - but ironically according to my trainer - the overstuffing is what makes it work for this particular horse!
