Side saddle first show - CC welcome

ArcticFox

ArcticFox

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www.bryland.co.uk
Hi All

I just wanted to let you know I took my horse Jack and my friend's horse Rocky to a side saddle show on Sunday.

After the trauma of getting the lorry stuck in mud (would you believe it), I rode jack in 3 classes and Rocky in 1. Unfortunately I don't have a balance strap for Rocky long enough and I felt the saddle didn't move so we would be fine without one, however it did start to move so we didn't put him in any more than the one class.

It was a low turnout of numbers but I am thrilled that both horses went well and were foot perfect (except for Jack having a melt down when he spooked at an umbrella that was up for shade). It was my first go at putting all the kit on - excuse my red face, it was boiling hot!

I came 1st in all Jacks (flea bitten grey) classes and 2nd with Rocky.

Video of several clips from the day put together
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_L5gGWu_Y0

Photos
r4.jpg


r3.jpg


j3.jpg


j2.jpg


j1.jpg



Thank you for reading, CC welcome :)
 
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Lovely pics - I bet that tail is a bugger to keep clean!

Definitely no cc as I wouldn't have the first clue about riding side saddle! Just wanted to say you look fab!
 
Well done - you look great. The only thing I would say is to NEVER use a sidesaddle without a balance strap, as the back of the saddle can move and twist and make the horse very sore. If you have Rosamund Owen's book she shows pix of hacks shown without a balance strap in the 1920s but comments that they may well have had sore backs!
A good tip if you can't get a balance strap long enough is to cut the end off a stirrup leather and attach this to the strap under the nearside, punching a few holes in the leather to buckle your balance strap onto (if it's the old Mayhew style with a strap at one end rather than a buckle at both ends, simply turn the converted stirrup leather up the other way!)
The other big no-no is a top hat with a snaffle bridle - I know you've got double reins in one pic.
I do hope the judge pointed out these things to you - as an ex-judge I can confirm that they should be (helpfully) the guardians of correct turnout and etiquette :D
One other teeny point (really nit picking now!) - if you've got an outside girthing saddle, you really need some keepers stitched to the girth to tuck the girth straps into.
Oh and LOL at the umbrellla melt down - a young horse I had did that at a parasol at the side saddle champs and ruined an otherwise lovely sJ round :)
 
No CC to add as have never, but would love to, tried side saddle just wanted to say what an unusual bridle in first pics or does it just not have a brow band?
 
Well done you - you look great. Jack looks the business under a side saddle. No cc from me, only ever had 1 go at it & found it really hard to keep straight. Very interesting cc from Ironhorse though, very educational. Looking forward to seeing you eventing side saddle soon:D:D
 
Looks fab! And no CC since I was age 9 the only time I tried side saddle ;)
Rocky looks HUGE! I think the face nets look rather weird though I know they are the done thing!!
 
Wow, impressive stuff! I know very little about it, have never tried it, but find sidesaddle fascinating to watch. Thanks so much for sharing - you look very elegant indeed.
 
Lovely pics, looks very elegant and tremendous fun. I remember trying saddle once about 10 years ago and finding it very scary, didn't dare go out of trot!

Why the change in hat part way... is the done thing for hte classes you did? Must confess I'm pretty cluelss when it comes to showing.
 
Thanks all,

I use gallop shampoo for grey horses which seems to get his tail very white - esp if you leave it in for 10 mins before rinsing!

Rocky is 17.2 we think, when he is standing in the lorry next to jack he looks massive! and jack is 17h - I think Rocky is much wider than Jack too!

Rocky has a specially made bridle as he sadly has a melanoma on his right hand side where his throat lash would sit so the bridle has been made to be comfortable - he goes beautifully in a double bridle but he can't wear it anymore. He is happy in his snaffle though!

I am grateful to ironhorse's comments, thank you - I am learning all the time and although the saddle without the balance strap felt ok, on closer inspection of the video I can see it moving so I'm pleased we only did one class now.

I'm not planning on going to addington, I think its a bit far and we are definitely not ready for it - maybe next year :D

I decided I would wear the top hat so dressed with my white stock, however I chickened out and wore my normal hat - I should have worn a shirt and tie with a normal hat (or with a bowler hat) but as I had planned to wear the top hat, I stuck with my stock so would have been marked down for it. I did pluck up the courage to change to top hat later so the top hat/white stock is appropriate for the colour of habit and the time of day (before noon its a shirt/tie/bowler hat combo)

The veil is a bit weird and I have to wear my hair in a bun which feels weird as I normally wear my hair completely up in my hat! The veil makes my nose itch too!!!

Thanks for your comments though, I'm really chuffed at our first comp - need to plan my next one now :D
 
Just a quick question Iron Horse, do you like the balance strap attached to the girth?

I had the girth made for Jack and thought the attached balance strap looks nicer - would you jump with it or get a separate girth/balance strap for jumping - not that I have any interest in jumping with him yet (if ever :))
 
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