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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
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