Side Saddle Lesson Take 1 :)

Shavings

Shavings

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ok so as some of you may know i have wanted to try side saddle for some time now
WELL!!! TODAY I HAD MY FIRST LESSON!!!! :D
first let me say OMG! its hard work and i really have a respect for all you side saddle riders out there!!
i loved every second!
my noble steed for the day was Sport ,he is a 16hh chestnut Irish draft (not papered)- i never ridden him or even meet him before just so you all know

so to start with I was aloud to has a walk trot canter on him astride (normal English riding) he was a nice ride, covers the ground in a good rhythm with out any "motorbike corners" (which is a pet hate of mine)

after about 20 minutes astride i came to the middle of the school and we popped a side saddle on and talked about what each part of the saddle was and how to fit it correctly (very interesting and i am still learning so if i am wrong when i name any thing i am so sorry and please feel free to correct me!)

ok so i got on board side saddle, this is the same as getting on astride and then you swing your leg over (maybe not the ride way but this is how i did it today) poor sport was very patient with me as i have a damaged knee (old injury) so i had to do a lot of fidgeting around to get to were i was ment to be and comfortable.

to start with i felt very strange trying to keep my right shoulder back in line with the balancing strap on the saddle, but i had a walk a trot and i got a little brave and got a little canter!! although in the canter it kinda fell apart (not sports fault) just was a little wobbly.

all in all brilliant day!! my knee doesn't hurt!! (normally does when i ride astride)
i need a 18 inch side saddle! oh and i am going again on march 3rd!!

soo will get photos of the lovely sport for you all then!! :D :D
 
Well done!!

Don't worry about getting on the saddle, I get on mine as if riding normal and then swing my leg over too. Much easier in this day and age with mounting blocks and lack of grooms to give a "lady a leg up" :D

The canter will get easier too and will become your FAV gait! It's probably because your right shoulder came forward a bit causing you to lose your position but it will come.

Finding an 18" side saddle is easier than finding a smaller one so that is good. I'm 5'9" and ride in 17" or 17 1/2" side saddles.
 
ye i am trying to find one to hire so i am aloud to ride sport for side saddle every time until i get a horse of my own (which will not be for next 12/18 month because of the costs and my knee operation) but trying to find one here (isle of man) is proving very hard and i don't think any English person will happily send there's to a place they have never been, i no i would be very sceptical!

PS bump for those who are on in the day who asked how i got on :)
 
D'oh!!!

Barring that, it may be worth buying one to fit your instructor's horse since you will be riding him all the time and then selling it on (which won't be a problem) when you get your own horse if it doesn't fit him.

It's hard to get a proper position in a too small saddle- believe me, I've tried! I used to have a 16" off-side side saddle and try as I might, anything faster than a walk in it, and my seat bone was off the too small saddle. That may be why your canter went all funny. Being 5'9" in a saddle meant for someone 5" shorter than you, ain't fun.
 
well i know the horse i shall be riding "sport" is a medium fit, but i cant seem to find any thing

maybe some thing will turn up :rolleyes:*crosses fingers to the side saddle fairy*

didnt help my stirrup was to short to and that was on the bottom whole he he

i am only 5'8 maybe 5'9 but i am all leg so its the problem!

ps i love your display photo :D
 
My thigh is a bit short for someone of my height which is why I can fit into a 17 1/2" which is good as 18" is too long for my mare :p It's a pain in the bum being tall sometimes!
You may be able to fit into a 17 1/2" saddle and that would open up more saddle possibilities for you. If you sit on a flat, hard surface like a kitchen chair and measure from the inside crease at the back of your knee (in the bend) to the back of your bum, that will give you your thigh measurement and give you a better idea on saddle seat fit. I measure 21 1/2".

This is the US way of measuring which makes more sense than the UK, as our way of measuring from cutback to cantle, sometimes gives a false measurement as it depends on how deep a cutback it has!

Laura Dempsey has a couple of 18"s on her site and Side Saddles may have some in as they have a note up on their site that they have more saddles coming in. If you take some wither tracings on your instructor's horse (lol, talk to her first about this!) and send them off to the various side saddler's, they may be able to help.

If you go to my blog (the link is on my profile page), I have have a list of various side saddle websites in the UK.
 
Yay that sounds brilliant

I've had 4 lessons now, not sure if i'm going to have any more unfortunately, can't afford to get a saddle for my pone, he's really little so don't think there will be many saddles about.
 
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