call me an idiot!!! (very silly side saddle question)

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LittleMouse

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please dont eat me...but i have been wondering for a while:
doesnt riding side saddle make the horse one sided as all the weight of the legs is on one side?
it looks as if it could twist the spine or something :P
having never ridden in or even SEEN a sidesaddle...im a little bit clueless!
someone please explain hah!!
 
No, not if the saddle is flocked properly and the rider rides properly (same as normal riding really!!). Side saddles have specially built trees which spread the weight of the rider equally over the back of a horse.

I got into an argument with my YO's farrier the other week over this, even though he has NEVER ridden or seen a side saddle (and I invited to come the 10 steps over to where my horse was tied to look at how a side saddle is built). He was adamant that side saddles were "banned" after the first world war as they were "dangerous" and wrecked horses backs. LOL, this was despite having seen me schooling side saddle with Hattie going in a nice outline.

Any saddle will wreck a horse's back if not flocked properly, the wrong shape or the rider collapsing/leaning to one side but side saddles are built to purpose.
 
sidesaddlegirl said:
No, not if the saddle is flocked properly and the rider rides properly (same as normal riding really!!). Side saddles have specially built trees which spread the weight of the rider equally over the back of a horse.

I got into an argument with my YO's farrier the other week over this, even though he has NEVER ridden or seen a side saddle (and I invited to come the 10 steps over to where my horse was tied to look at how a side saddle is built). He was adamant that side saddles were "banned" after the first world war as they were "dangerous" and wrecked horses backs. LOL, this was despite having seen me schooling side saddle with Hattie going in a nice outline.

Any saddle will wreck a horse's back if not flocked properly, the wrong shape or the rider collapsing/leaning to one side but side saddles are built to purpose.
Click to expand...

hahaha thanks :) x just wondering really :P xx
 
SideSaddleGirl, how difficult is riding side saddle? And how do you even get into it, I would be interested in trying side saddle riding on my boy but I don't have a clue how to go about it haha!
 
It's like marmite, you either love it or hate it! It's not that hard, most horses will take to it but it helps if you have done a little bit of dressage with your horse. I think there are quite a few places in Cheshire that do it and all the best side saddles seem to be there!!

I would contact the Side Saddle Association and they can let you know which instructors are in your area. It doesn't matter if you don't have your own side saddle as sometimes instructors have a bunch that they bring along for lessons. You can also hire a side saddle too but the SSA would be able to give you more info on this :)
 
Side saddle baffles me. Whilst is it most definitely the more elegant way of riding, I've always thought it'd make more sense for men to ride side saddle, and women to ride astride?
 
Ahh thanks so much! I have spent the vast majority of my riding life competing in dressage and I have started to get a little bored of it so that's why I was interested in taking up side saddle!

Thanks so, so much for the help! :D
 
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