Sidesaddle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The sidesaddle is a type of saddle on which the rider sits aside rather than astride the mount.
The sidesaddle was designed for use by women, as it was considered unbecoming for a lady to straddle a horse whilst riding. This results from cultural norms in Western Europe in the Middle Ages where a lady or gentlewoman was much more restricted in her movements. Physically this translated into a social restriction that prevented her from riding astride. Such folk beliefs as riding astride would destroy a girl's virginity, or would provide a woman with an unnatural sexual stimulation persisted in some areas until the 1930s. It was also practical, since long dresses were the required fashion. However, these rules for riding aside applied only to women of wealth or social pretension, farm women undoubtedly rode astride.
The modern sidesaddle consists of two pommels mounted on a flat stuffed saddle. One pommel is nearly vertical (mounted approximately 10 degrees left of top dead center and curved gently to the right and up so to cup the right thigh of the rider with the right thigh lying at the top center of the saddle). The rider places her right leg (if she is sitting on the left side of the horse) against this top pommel. The outside of her lower right leg will rest against the left (near) side of the horse. There is a second pommel below on the left of the saddle. This is called the leaping head. It is mounted about 20 degrees off top dead center of the saddle. This pommel is curved gently downwards as to curve over the top of the left leg. The rider places her left leg beneath this pommel, and rests her left foot in the stirrup. In an emergency the rider can squeeze her right (top) leg downwards, and her left (bottom) leg upwards to create an extremely strong grip. It is tiring for both the rider and the horse to maintain this emergency position, and most riders rely upon good position, balance, and coordination to maintain their seat.
Only one stirrup is used. A whip is often carried on the off (right) side, to act in place of lady's outside leg for cues. If the rider wears a spur, she will wear it only on the left boot. The sidesaddle whip is about three feet long and used to cue the horse on the off side, and thus takes the place of the right leg. Neither the spur or the whip should be regarded as a cruel device. They are used for cuing, not punishment.
The horse used in sidesaddle riding must have special training to acclimate it to the placement of the rider and the use of the whip for cueing. The saddle must be fitted to the horse. This requires a specialist experienced in sidesaddle construction.
Modern sidesaddle may be seen in dressage, eventing, show-jumping, western pleasure, and saddleseat. But the most common place to see a sidesaddle is the hunt field, where the tradition is carried out by various sidesaddle devotees.
The two main types of sidesaddle in use are the Western and English sidesaddles.
The sidesaddle fell out of general use for several decades, but the sport enjoyed a revival in the 1970s. Sidesaddles were long regarded as a quaint anachronism by many in the horse world, but modern riders are finding new applications in the show ring, in historical rides and re-enactments, and in parades. In addition, the sidesaddle is a staple in many therapeutic riding programs, because the design of the saddle provides extra security to the ride. Sidesaddles are also used by people who have lost part of a leg below the knee.
The riding habit used in English sidesaddle riding appears to be a dress, but is actually a special construction. The rider wears ordinary jodhpurs, over this she will wear an apron like skirt that is open in the back. When the rider is on horseback, the appearance is of a woman wearing a dress (the jodhpurs are covered). This apron is necessary as wearing a long skirt would actually be dangerous as the skirt beneath the rider could become entangled in the pommels and the extra cloth would cause discomfort as it bunches under the rider.
Warning: If you find an old sidesaddle in an attic or barn, do not attempt to ride it unless you have it reconditioned. Sidesaddle riding places great stress on the underpinnings of the saddle. If the wood tree has become rotten the horn can break off from the saddle and result in a fall. This weakness will not be visible from the outside. Sidesaddle reconditioning requires complete removal of the leather and examination of the tree. A visual inspection is not enough to determine its safety. If you are a Civil War re-enactor and are interested in riding in a 'real' single pommel or "U" pommel sidesaddle typical of the mid-1860's in the US, be advised that this saddle is regarded by most modern sidesaddle riders as too dangerous to ride. The single horn saddles make attractive decorations, but should not be used on horseback.
