did women ride and hunt astride in 1930?

[sockschess]

I am researching a book and my character is to ride with the Devon and Somerset Staghounds around 1930. Would she have to ride side saddle at that time, or she be astride? When did women start to ride astride?
very grateful if anyone can help
thankyou

 

[Happy Hunter]

My Nanna occasionally hunted my Grandpa's horse. She tells me it was astride, but that it was quite an informal pack. She had a "whale of a time"

 

[Divasmum]

My relatives at that time were still sidesaddle.

 

[Doncella]

Yes, women were hunting, show jumping and riding astride before the First World War

 

[PurplePickle]

I think so, I have a pic of my mums aunty somewhere, will try fish it out, had a scan on my PC until recently as well, it might have been slightly later however

 

[Doncella]

Yes, women were hunting, show jumping and riding astride before the First World War

Clicked send before finishing, see Pamela MacGregor Morriss' book Great Showjumpers for Lady Wright MFH who was riding astride prior to 1926.

 

[PurplePickle]

here you go, this must have been 30's due to her age, could be wrong, might be of help anyway

 

[Happy Hunter]

Wow look at that saddle! - How things have changed!

Is she stood on a bank or something?

But what a great photo! one for the album!

 

[dominobrown]

I believe hunting in the side saddle reached its peak in the 20's, so I would say most womwn still hunted side saddle in the 30's. It was still quite common until after WW2.
Fantastic picture.
(BTW the first world war was well before the 1930's)

 

[PurplePickle]

Happy Hunter LOL I dont know it does look a little down hill doesnt it

 

[fireflymac]

Women might have doing either in the 30s depending on their age. If they were older and had been riding for a long time then side saddle is more likely, but ladies riding astride became more common during and after WW1 and by the 30s was just as likely as side saddle.
If you want authenticity for your book, I'd suggest contacting the hunt in the area your book is set in and see if they can put you in touch with anyone who hunted there during the period yu're writing about.
Good luck with your book.

 

[sockschess]

thankyou to all for this wonderful information. And especially the picture - it is fabulous. This is my first venture into any forum and I am touched by your responses. thankyou so much

 

[boneo]

I have a few annicdotes of women hunting side saddle woith the Quorn in the 20's which might add a litt;e flavour, if interested, please PM me.

 

[cindars]

See if you can get hold of a book called Fields Elysian by Simon Blow, wonderful pictures and stories of hunting society from Edwardian England until after the Second world war. Most of the ladies in the Shires seem to be riding side saddle, after WW11 younger women seemed to be astride especially as the remounting depots seemed to be mostly young women working there.