The history of the side saddle.
The Beginning
The history and development of the Side Saddle is a fascinating study
that can be traced back as far as the 9th century. However there is
evidence on Greek vases and Celtic sculptured stones that women
sometimes rode sitting sideways even earlier than this time. The first
version of the side saddle was a small padded seat. We are not sure when
this was used but in the 9th century, a step called a planchette had
already been added to the saddle and was used by the Picts and other
Celtic people. On one Celtic sculptured stone the woman rider is seen to
be riding aggressively and in full control of her horse, not just being
carried.
Women probably rode smaller horses under 14 hands, even when sitting
sideways and they would exert enough strength to have control, but often
they would be led by a servant. This type of side saddle was introduced
into England in 1382 by Anne of Bohemia, wife of Richard II. Little by
little it was improved upon but in the process it created difficulties
for riders that took several centuries to overcome.
15th Century
By the 15th century the padded seat had developed a central horn in the
front and signs of a cantle at the back, but still had the foot rest and
remained unchanged for 200 years. Recent writers have suggested that
evidence shows Catherine De Medicc may have been the first to have
hooked her leg around and over the high pommel (horn) and been facing
more or less to the horses head. This was a break through for the rider
being in more control of her horse. Catherine loved hunting and rode
until her sixtieth year.
16th Century
In 1566 Mary Queen of Scots whilst 6 months pregnant fleeing with
Darnley from the Palace of Holyrood, rode pillion behind Lord Erskine
though the night to Dunbar Castle, a journey of 25 miles. Almost all the
information we have of ladies riding side saddle comes from paintings by
great masters, preserved in art galleries and in private collections.
They tend to be ladies of royal blood or of good quality. What happened
further down the scale is obscure and left to the imagination. Some were
seen riding pillion behind the man.
17th Century
During this century paintings show elaborate bridles, breast plates and
saddle clothes on the horses and in the case of Isabella of Bourbon they
are gilded and embroidered as is her gown. Queen Christine of Sweden who
mounted on a white horse for her official entry into Rome in 1655 was
first thought to be riding astride, because although sitting on a side
saddle, she was so straight and erect and stiff that she gave that
impression. Ladies would wear the same outfit riding that was worn for
everyday wear.
18th Century
By the 18th century the side saddle was in general use, some still
having a rail at the side and velvet covered slipper stirrup. About this
time women started carrying little whips often made with whale bone and
with daintily carved ivory handles more for decoration than for use on
the horse. The Marchioness of Salisbury hunted her own hounds, the "Herlfordskin
Hunt" from 1777 to 1812 and Lady Lade in 1799 was present throughout the
run of the season that lasted two hours and forty minutes with the royal
buck hounds. It was said that women had difficulty riding astride
because they had rounded thighs.
19th Century
At the end of the 18th century and part of the 19th century it was
unusual for women to follow hounds, although they would often grace
their presence suitably attended by a groom.
The invention of the leaping head came about when Thomas Aldaker,
Huntsman to the Earl of Buckeley (1788-1820) broke his leg jumping in a
side saddle with only the top central horn and having no grip for his
left leg. Although Jules Charles Pellier, a French riding master
emphatically claimed he invented the leaping horn in Paris in 1830.
Around about 1850 various safety stirrups appeared, replacing the velvet
lined slipper stirrup, in turn replacing the planchette (platform). As
late as 1875 the cut back to the trees was introduced enabling the front
of the side saddle to be less cumbersome and more flat. Prior to this
the saddles were high in front and straight across the horses withers
and the rider sat very much on a slope, with quite a dip in the seat.
20th Century
Around the early 1900's the flat seat came into being with now only two
horns enabling the rider to sit straight to the front of the horse and
also able to have full control. A lot of balance is required as well in
keeping straight and square. Today, the lady side saddle rider can do
everything as astride rider can do with equal security, as the side
saddle is very secure.
Saddles
Until 1957 the old establishment firm of Champion & Wilton still existed
in Oxford Street, London, where ones every wish pertaining to side
saddles could be met and women would go and be measured and fitted for
their saddle so they would have a tailor-made saddle.
Now side saddles are very hard to come by and very few saddlers know
anything about them at all.
At the Royal Mews there are a perfect pair of side saddles being pony
size and of modern design. One saddle is to ride on the near side and
the other rides on the off side to be used alternatively as it was
thought that a child's spine became crooked if she rode on the one side
all of the time. These pony saddles were used by the late princess royal
as a child. The side saddle has gone through a lot of changes over many
years and lots of courageous men and women have tried their skills at
riding in them (and staying in them). Also they have become more of a
sport or pleasure to ride in, rather than just a mode of transport from
one destination to the next changing from a basket type seat that sat
the rider sideways to a flat seat with horns positioned to sit the rider
straight to the front of the horse. This later position gave the rider
full control of the horse as well as a very secure and firm position,
fully able to stay in place if the horse were to buck or rear badly.
The Habit
Today's outfit which is known as a habit was designed in the early 19th
century and was made for safety, as the long and full skirts were very
dangerous if a rider was to fall from her horse. The skirt is actually
an apron with no back and jodhpurs of the same color are worn
underneath. When mounted it would not be known that it was only an apron
because of the way it has been designed to sit on the rider.
The Future
There is so much more history about this subject. Side saddle riding is
being relived again today and hopefully will still grace the show ring
and horse places in the future to show its gracefulness and elegance as
it has in days gone by.
Interest in side saddle riding is growing and there are now side saddle
associations all over the world.
by Wendy Tidbold.
http://www.sidesaddleaustralia.com.au/history_of_the_side_saddle.htm |
