Pictures Super Sidesaddle Saturday!

[ahml100]

So, with my youngster being centre of attention i thought it was high time that the King himself got some one on one time and boy did he surpass all expectations!

Sidesaddle has always fascinated me, and being a big reader of period drama novels about ladies flying over hedges, seeing people I know do it, and just something I have always wanted to do. Therefore, when a have-a-go clinic was advertised I immediately booked Alfie and I in.

I am not going to lie, I was very nervous, mainly because if you remember me from my eventing days Alfie can get incredibly stressed during flatwork/dressage. Stick a course of show jumps up or send him xc and he is as cool as a cucumber. However, I was reassured that buzzy/hot horses actually enjoy sidesaddle as everything is so refined with very little pressure.

The initial feeling was so weird! weight in right seat bone, not in stirrup, sitting straight don't fall to the left! we firstly walked the horses round dismounted with the saddles to get them used to it before mounting. As it was the first go it was covering the basics, so walk on circle before walking around the outside then same for the trot before ending with a canter on the circle!

I loved it and hopefully will be doing more!

 

[GinaGeo]

Careful - you’ll get hooked!

You’re sitting very nicely and he’s an elegant sort. I prefer riding a hot one on the wonk. Far easier to sit still and elegant when they’re carrying you along! Far harder on a lazy one!

It’s the Side Saddle National Show next weekend - Come along and have a watch! ? It’s the friendliest, most welcoming discipline to be a part of!

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Careful - you’ll get hooked!

You’re sitting very nicely and he’s an elegant sort. I prefer riding a hot one on the wonk. Far easier to sit still and elegant when they’re carrying you along! Far harder on a lazy one!

It’s the Side Saddle National Show next weekend - Come along and have a watch! ? It’s the friendliest, most welcoming discipline to be a part of!

Welcome to our fun niche corner of the horse world!
Totally agree with this especially a hotter horse but with a steady temperament ..although one of ours is super fun doing xc or SJ but has a lethal spanking trot for hunting ? Dexter is awesome but off games so guess which one I’ve got to take to the nationals.. yup that’ll be me on the drama ? ?

 

[Bradsmum]

I know nothing about riding side saddle but you both look very comfortable with it and your position looks very nice. Always good to try something new. Keep us updated when you give it another go.

 

[tiahatti]

Lovely photos, you look like a pro.

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Great photos! You both look very elegant!

 

[FFAQ]

Welcome to the wonky riders guild ?. You both look amazing, well done ?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Looks fantastic!! Its something I have wanted to do for ages!! Week after next I'm at camp for 2 days. One of the activities is a side saddle lesson on one of the yards horses. If we have time I'm going to ask if we can try it on my boy!!

 

[Ceifer]

Careful - you’ll get hooked!

You’re sitting very nicely and he’s an elegant sort. I prefer riding a hot one on the wonk. Far easier to sit still and elegant when they’re carrying you along! Far harder on a lazy one!

It’s the Side Saddle National Show next weekend - Come along and have a watch! ? It’s the friendliest, most welcoming discipline to be a part of!

I didn’t find it the most friendly of disciplines when I tried to get into it. I tried contacting a few people from the side saddle association’s recommendations. Fairly well known people who either started initial conversations and then didn’t bother getting back to me or didn’t return calls. I did eventually find an instructor who was recommended but she only had one saddle to try which I suspect didn’t fit my horse so it was a short lived session.
Shame really as I’d love to get into it.

OP you look beautifully elegant.

 

[GinaGeo]

I didn’t find it the most friendly of disciplines when I tried to get into it. I tried contacting a few people from the side saddle association’s recommendations. Fairly well known people who either started initial conversations and then didn’t bother getting back to me or didn’t return calls. I did eventually find an instructor who was recommended but she only had one saddle to try which I suspect didn’t fit my horse so it was a short lived session.
Shame really as I’d love to get into it.

OP you look beautifully elegant.

Whereabouts are you? Most areas run Have a go days and that’s often the best way as there will be lots of saddles to try in the same place, on the same day ?

It is really hard to find a saddle that fits, especially if your horse isn’t a easy shape.

There has been less going on because of Covid-19 in general which has made these days much harder to run but they are getting going again now ?

If I know anyone in your area I’m happy to recommend.

I took part in Nationals for the first time and I don’t think I owned anything but the horse ? the rest was borrowed from various helpful people ?

 

[fetlock]

You look fab and both very elegant together.

A long time ago I had a go, with a few lessons provided by a friend who competed side saddle at the time. I got a bit of a shock as I found it incredibly difficult, as far as remaining facing forward and not side ways was concerned. I certainly didn't take to it immediately.

I think why I was so shocked that I didn't, was memories of me about 7 or 8 years earlier when I was about 8 or 9, happily cantering circles side saddle on my first pony, but just with a normal saddle (I was a bit of a reckless lunatic at that age, fortunately kept in tow by the aged ex riding school first pony I had, who was far more sensible), never falling off or having any problems with it at all.

I only had a handful of goes at it when got the chance to do it for real, but always wished I'd continued with it. The cost of side saddles (think they were still a grand / £1500 in the early 80s and also hard to get, then the cost of the habit) being one reason why I didn't and the other being my 16 year old ego taking a knocking that it was far from as easy as I expected.

 

[Gingermonkey]

You both look lovely.

For me it was kind of addictive. I used to do it and regularly a few years ago and had a great instructor. I thought jumping was fantastic.
Now I've got my own place and space again, I'm on the lookout for a horse that will also be comfortable with side saddle. The side saddles on ebay are so tempting

 

[ahml100]

Careful - you’ll get hooked!

You’re sitting very nicely and he’s an elegant sort. I prefer riding a hot one on the wonk. Far easier to sit still and elegant when they’re carrying you along! Far harder on a lazy one!

It’s the Side Saddle National Show next weekend - Come along and have a watch! ? It’s the friendliest, most welcoming discipline to be a part of!

I am totally hooked! Already going through the diary to see when I can book in again. Totally agree, everyone at Harroway was so friendly.

Welcome to our fun niche corner of the horse world!
Totally agree with this especially a hotter horse but with a steady temperament ..although one of ours is super fun doing xc or SJ but has a lethal spanking trot for hunting ? Dexter is awesome but off games so guess which one I’ve got to take to the nationals.. yup that’ll be me on the drama ? ?

The aim is to follow hounds in the future, though I need to canter on the left rein first!

I know nothing about riding side saddle but you both look very comfortable with it and your position looks very nice. Always good to try something new. Keep us updated when you give it another go.

It did feel very strange at first, but actually incredibly comfortable when you got used to it. I think there are going to be quite a few reports to come!

Lovely photos, you look like a pro.

Thank you!

Great photos! You both look very elegant!

Thank you!

Welcome to the wonky riders guild ?. You both look amazing, well done ?

I can't believe it has taken me this long to give it a go!

Looks fantastic!! Its something I have wanted to do for ages!! Week after next I'm at camp for 2 days. One of the activities is a side saddle lesson on one of the yards horses. If we have time I'm going to ask if we can try it on my boy!!

I can not recommend it enough, you have to give it a go!! Do post if you do!

I didn’t find it the most friendly of disciplines when I tried to get into it. I tried contacting a few people from the side saddle association’s recommendations. Fairly well known people who either started initial conversations and then didn’t bother getting back to me or didn’t return calls. I did eventually find an instructor who was recommended but she only had one saddle to try which I suspect didn’t fit my horse so it was a short lived session.
Shame really as I’d love to get into it.

OP you look beautifully elegant.

Gosh what a shame! If you are around the hampshire area, speak to Harroway Stables, they could not have been more friendly!

You look fab and both very elegant together.

A long time ago I had a go, with a few lessons provided by a friend who competed side saddle at the time. I got a bit of a shock as I found it incredibly difficult, as far as remaining facing forward and not side ways was concerned. I certainly didn't take to it immediately.

I think why I was so shocked that I didn't, was memories of me about 7 or 8 years earlier when I was about 8 or 9, happily cantering circles side saddle on my first pony, but just with a normal saddle (I was a bit of a reckless lunatic at that age, fortunately kept in tow by the aged ex riding school first pony I had, who was far more sensible), never falling off or having any problems with it at all.

I only had a handful of goes at it when got the chance to do it for real, but always wished I'd continued with it. The cost of side saddles (think they were still a grand / £1500 in the early 80s and also hard to get, then the cost of the habit) being one reason why I didn't and the other being my 16 year old ego taking a knocking that it was far from as easy as I expected.

Thank you!

You both look lovely.

For me it was kind of addictive. I used to do it and regularly a few years ago and had a great instructor. I thought jumping was fantastic.
Now I've got my own place and space again, I'm on the lookout for a horse that will also be comfortable with side saddle. The side saddles on ebay are so tempting

Gosh I know! and the habits, may need to try and wrangle 6 years worth of christmas and birthday presents early!

 

[AFB]

I'm desperate to give it a go but struggling to find a have a go day at the moment

 

[Pippity]

I had a cob on loan years ago who had a side saddle, and I managed to fall off the only time I tried it! I've been offered the saddle in question, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't fit my tank of a cob. My understanding is that it's far easier to find saddles to fit elegant, light-boned hack-types, rather than chunkers, simply because they were the kind of horse that ladies rode back in the day.

 

[ahml100]

I'm desperate to give it a go but struggling to find a have a go day at the moment

May be worth posting in your local horse group to see if anyone is running one? I stumbled across the one I went to purely by accident!

I had a cob on loan years ago who had a side saddle, and I managed to fall off the only time I tried it! I've been offered the saddle in question, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't fit my tank of a cob. My understanding is that it's far easier to find saddles to fit elegant, light-boned hack-types, rather than chunkers, simply because they were the kind of horse that ladies rode back in the day.

I was told that as well

 

[ycbm]

on the wonk

?

Ahml I wouldn't be brave enough! Lovely pictures.
.

 

[ahml100]

?

Ahml I wouldn't be brave enough! Lovely pictures.
.

Thank you!