Wendys History of Side Saddle
Period Costume
Wendy (wearing outfit copied from 1880’s) & Leo (Andalusian gelding), a “Day at the Races” Ladies Oaks Day, Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane 2010.
Period Costume
Wendy (wearing a wool outfit dating back to 1880’s with Mutton sleeves) at Festival of Dressage, Caboolture. QLD. 2017
Formal Habit
Wendy (wearing formal Habit) & Sirocco Mac (Australian Stock Horse), competing at Brisbane Royal Show, 2008.
Group of Side Saddle Riders
Marlies Ravn, Joan Pedersen & Wendy Tidbold, Side Saddle demonstration, Queensland Festival of Dressage, Pine Lodge Equestrian Centre, Thornlands, QLD.2010.
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 that allowed the female to sit pillion (passenger) behind their male counterpart. In the 9th century, a wooden foot rest called a planchette had been added to the saddle. 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 may have ridden smaller horses under 14 hands and even when sitting sideways and they would exert enough strength to have control, but often they would be led. This type of side saddle (or rather sideways saddle) is often referred to as a Selle à La Lermière (The Farmers Wife's Saddle) and was introduced into England in 1382 by Anne of Bohemia as she rode across Europe to marry King 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 saddle had developed a central horn or pommel in the front and signs of a cantle at the back but still had the planchette foot rest and remained unchanged for 200 years. Catherine De Medici is credited as having been the first to have hooked her leg around and over the high pommel (horn) and been facing more or less forward to the horses head. This was a break through for the rider being in control of her horse and not needing to be led. 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 through 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 private collections. They tend to be ladies of royal blood or of good quality. What happened further down the ranks 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 embroided, as is her gown. Queen Christina 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, erect and stiff that 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 stirrups. About this time women started carrying little whips often made with whale bone and with daintily carved ivory handles more for decoration than use on the horse. The Marchioness of Salisbury hunted her own hounds, the “Hertford Skin 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 is contended. Some say it came about when Thomas Oldaker, Huntsman for the Berkeley Hunt (1788 – 1820) broke his leg jumping in a side saddle with only the top central pommel and having no grip for his left leg. However, it is suggested that Jules Pellier, a French riding master, invented the leaping head in Paris in 1830. Around about 1850, various safety stirrups appeared, replacing the velvet lined slipper stirrups, 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 pommels 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 side saddle rider can do everything an astride rider can do with equal security, as the side saddle is very secure.
Saddles
Until 1957 the old establishment firm of Champion & Wilton Saddlers 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 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. It was thought that a child’s spine became crooked if she rode on the one side all of the time. These pony side 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). They have also 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 cushion type seat that sat the rider sideways to a flat seat with pommels 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. The long and full skirts were very dangerous if a rider was to fall from her horse. The safety skirt is actually an apron with no back and jodhpurs of the same colour 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 tie or stock is tied in a special way so as to sit neatly around the neck. It is about one metre in length and has a two fold purpose. If the rider was to have a fall while out hunting it can be used as a bandage. The cane is carried in the right hand to replace the right leg and is used as an aid to queue the horse. The hair is worn in a bun for neatness. The top hat is traditionally worn after midday and at larger shows of reasonable standard. The veil over the face is to protect the lady’s face when out hunting from scratches on bushes and weather as well as help secure the top hat to the head. Any horse of any breed can carry a side saddle and does not need to be specially trained, as he/she will go just as well as they does astride, so long as the saddle is comfortable and fits correctly.
The Future
There is so much more history about this subject. Side saddle riding is being revived again today and will hopefully still grace the show ring and other horse events and 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 several side saddle associations all over the world.