side saddle

[alwaysinthebackground]

Out of interest has anyone learning/do side saddle? Im interested in what you think of it? I will be getting a saddle made but any saddle recodemations (sp?) Greatly recievced thank you!

Im planning to learn overwinter ready for next years showing season. I finally have a show cob with the right attitude to do this

Sorry that was a terrible spelling above cant think this morning!

No advice but I'd love to hear how you get on.It is very popular in our area and I've already earmarked a teacher for the dds in future.

We had 29 ladies on side saddle at our Opening meet last year,and one little girl of about 14 who just flew over the hedges.It looks so beautiful and elegant.

I'm trying to get a go at side saddle - the children had a sit on at a show (too wet for the display team to ride, so they were chatting instead), and they were just so amazingly secure.
Theres a saddler local to us, Robert Jenkins, who is supposed to be v good for side saddle

It hurts like a bstrd a lot they day after. A lot.

I did a few seasons showing a riding horse side saddle and hope to do it with my cob next season if I can find the right saddle. Finding a saddle for a cob is the hardest thing, though if you can afford to have one made that would solve the problem. Whatever you do, get the advice of someone in the know before purchasing. I have had excellent advice from Cindy Simms and Rodger Philpott, but if you go on the side saddle association website they will have local contacts. The wrong saddle would be an expensive mistake.

Other than the temperament of your horse, the other major consideration is how comfortable and forwards they are. Lazy or bouncy horses make side saddle particularly uncomfortable! Often people will lend you a saddle to see how you get on with it before buying, or there is a lady who hires out saddles for about £500 per year which is another option.

I was going to suggest the side saddle association. I was lurking there, and there was an article about renting side saddles. Im really tempted by this for dd. she would look fabulous side saddle on her traditional Shetland!

I rode side saddle a bit in the past. I had quite a few lessons, as the group I was riding with was doing displays. Quite odd getting used to a cane being your right leg, and using your hands like side reins, and pointing your right foot DOWN....and it hurt my back sitting sideways but facing front to start with. You do feel very secure though. One horse I rode was a renowned pisser offer, and I could actually hold him better side saddle than astride.
All a long time ago now. I think it would destroy my back now.

I rode sS for 12 years, and 15 ff.

Do get lessons, the early introduction is the correct time to learn proper positioning etc. It is a dam site easier to learn correctly in the first place than to have to correct problems later.

Like any riding disapline, it is incredably hard work to begain with and can seem counter intuative, but once you have got to the basics down things come steaming together. It is muscularly hard and you will find aches and pains in places you didn't realise could hurt, for about the first 3months (depending on level you wish to achieve)

I could at one point do pretty much anything ss including eventing etc that I could do FF.

Re sadles I have not had one made for many years (had to give up riding after a car accident) and I have just checked and my old saddler has gone.

Good luck it is great disapline and you will love the challenge I am sure

Yes, I used to and showed (and showjumped) too.

It is worth learning to do properly. The amount of people, some show producers even, cannot sit correctly.

It can be difficult to fit a ss to a cob, as traditionally they were on ladies horses, not working horses. I did know of someone showing a shire ss though, and her saddle was synthetic, she had to get on by step ladder :o

Have fun!

Thank you all for your relpies have been very helpful, will keep you updated on how it goes