Side saddle lessons in Oxfordshire/Berkshire area

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Emma_Jane

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Hi,

I've always wanted to give side-saddle ago and, as the side saddle association doesn't give you the names of instructors unless you join as far as I can see, was wondering if anybody could shed any light on this for me please?

I'd love to put my boy under side saddle but not until I've mastered it!

thanks!!
 
I would give them a ring. They are really helpful. I did a little with my mare before I injured myself. I wanted info without commiting myself.
Good Luck with it. Im sure you will love it!
 
Cool I'll do that then!! I'd probably join if I can get my horse to do it nicely because I like trying new things with him but I don't really want to pay incase I don't have time etc.

Thanks!
 
You could go to Roger Philpots place - and try a side saddle lesson with one of their horses - if i can remember his place is down that way - i will look it up for you if you want me to. I also know an excellant side saddle instructor - she can sometimes bring a saddle as well. Let me know if you want anymore information

Dont worry about riding side saddle - after the first two or three steps it all seams very normal.
 
Just had a look at Roger Philpots place online, its really too far from me as I am right on the border of Oxfordshire and Berkshire and he's mid-Warwickshire but thank you for giving me the info!!
 
I just looked again and Roger Philpots isn't actually too far from me. Surely a travelling instructor will need a horse for me to ride? (thats probably a really silly question)
 
Yep - and trust me she will probably tack up yours - have him or her off around the arena in walk, trot and canter - jump off and go Come on then Girl what you waiting for.

It really is no big deal to get a well schooled horse to carry side saddle. What are your horses withers like? - the side saddle fits best to a horse with prominant withers. In the old days the lady would use her saddle for riding many different horses as the saddle is more to fit the lady's leg length and the saddles are quite flexible. The only potential problem is the "bucking strap" which can be a little bit of a surprise to a horse when they first wear it - but again after a few mins they tend to take no notice.

My boy swops between side saddle and astride literally at the drop of a hat - and i often compete him in the walk trot test's side saddle before swoping kit and doing a prelim astride.
 
About a month ago, Rose at Bradfield Riding Centre (not far from Pangbourne, so probably not too far from you) organised a Try Out Side Saddle session one Sunday with an instructor. It was very popular and good fun - didn't do it myself, but heard the feedback. I know Rose is going to do it again at some point later in the year. Their tel is 0118 974 4048, would suggest give Rose a call and see what she has planned/who the instructor is as presumably they're someone local-ish.
 
Ideally I want him to go under both too so it would be great to have someone jump on him like that!!

He's a conniexTB so his withers are just normal i guess - honestly I'm more worried about how he'd react to me having a stick instead of a leg!! But again, I googled her and she's based at a yard really really far away from me, I can't really afford to pay masses of petrol money to get her to me.

Do you own your own side saddle Gingerwitch?
 
Dubsie thats a great idea thanks, I'm literally 10 minutes from Pangbourne! Its silly that I haven't done it before as I was at Talland for a long time and they teach it a lot!
 
Yes i do and i love it, it is an antique Champion and Wilton saddle, has the doe skin seat and surge liner. I even have all the riding gear (called a habit)- i just need to get the bowler, top hat and face net but still a little cautious and like to ride in my normal hat.

For some very very strange reason i am a much better side saddle rider than astride. And my horse goes fantastically well. We did a walk trot test the other day Intro A and it has the 2 half 10 meter circles in - i got a 9 for this - and it felt wonderfully balanced and i certainly could not have ridden it that well astride !.

As for the stick - it takes a while to get used to handling it - but i learnt so much more about using a whip as an aid. I find the horse more responsive to the stick and you just press it against the horses side. It is probably a clearer aid for the horse especially if you sometiems have a grippy nagging leg it looses this feel.

I really would recommend that you give it a go, but you do get a few bruises to start with.

Good luck and keep me posted
 
I did side saddle with my horse for the first time, niether me or him had done it before. i had an instructor called Dale Atkinson come out + she bought her own saddles. She put one on him + said ok then on you get!! lol she didnt even give him a ride first and he was good as gold. a friend of mine also sis it + was quite dubious because her horse has a very sensitive back + bucks her off if he doesnt like the saddle but again he took to it like a duck 2 water.
 
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