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Post by Claire on May 27, 2012 10:49:22 GMT 1
Reading tintin's story has got me wondering if there were many pony books which featured side saddle riding. The only one that springs to mind, apart from historical ones where they had to ride side saddle, is I'd Rather Not Gallop by Caroline Akrill. Can anyone think of any more?
I'd quite like to learn side saddle, I think it would be a lot less painful for me with my grotty muscles than astride. I doubt there's anywhere round here that teaches it tho. Has anybody tried it?
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2012 12:07:06 GMT 1
I would love to try it, it's next on my list of "to do" with horses. I tried Western last year. As you say there's quite a lot of older pony books mention side-saddle riders in passing especially when out hunting but I can only think of the Caroline Akrill book at the moment.
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Post by darkhorse on May 27, 2012 12:22:34 GMT 1
I am sure there are a few but like Rosie I can't think of any at the moment. Side saddle looks a bit scary to me, I'm sure I'd feel like I was going to drop off one side if I tried it! But I would really like to try Western.
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Post by kunuma on May 27, 2012 14:41:35 GMT 1
One of the Saddle Club books is about side saddle riding (now I just know you are all going to rush off and read it..............).
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Post by kunuma on May 27, 2012 14:47:39 GMT 1
Just remembered the one I was racking my brains over that featured side saddle = The Little White Horse.
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Post by garej on May 27, 2012 15:41:54 GMT 1
Although I have yet to read it The Gift Horse by Alexa Romanes features a side saddle rider on the front so presumably it has something to do with side saddle!
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Post by Claire on May 27, 2012 23:11:06 GMT 1
Oh yes garej, forgot about that one, athough I haven't got round to reading it either. I suppose its mainly showing its used in post historical books but they're arent that that many showing stories either.
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Post by trixiepony on May 29, 2012 4:19:07 GMT 1
And Tan and Tarmac.
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Post by Claire on May 29, 2012 11:53:04 GMT 1
Ah good old Tan and Tarmac - that book has defeated me 3 times already wonder if I will ever get thru it to the end! Anyway here is a link for anyone interested in side saddle. Tintin posted it in the password/members section but I thought I would put it here too as its appropriate to the thread (and i know some folk forget to look in the password section.) users.tinyworld.co.uk/sidesaddlelady/
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2012 12:12:26 GMT 1
What a great link! Thanks Claire and tintin. Would love to wear one of those habits while trying sidesaddle
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Post by tintin on May 29, 2012 13:50:09 GMT 1
Very chuffed I stirred some interest
Side Saddle in Pony Books - the best side saddle rider in pony books in my opinion (and you won't be surprised) is in one of the Pullein-Thompson books (one about Black Beauty's family). It's also a very nice story echoing the original Anna Sewell book in that she finds her dear old friend again in later life when she is a married lady with children.
I am tempted by the Caroline Akrill book, I loved "Eventing Trilogy", but "Flying Changes" (which has some side saddle) is one of the gloomiest books I have ever read so it put me off her a bit.
Thanks for the heads up on the other books. I like the sound of "Tan and Tarmac", but its review does n't do it any favours, but I'm going to have a go.
Side Saddle in real life - (Please bear in mind this is the side saddle scene of 20-25 years ago and the experiences of the ladies I knew were those of an older scene still)
Side saddle is not easy to get in to. Either you are born into it and its sort of there or you have to hang round the events for a while until they notice you, then you have to be keen, but not to keen. If they like the cut of your jib they will subtly encourage you and draw you in (a bit like the Masons I suppose). In later episodes of my story we will see how Miss Walker inveigles herself in (based on real people).
I am well out of touch with the horse scene, but I think since the Side Saddle Association really got into its stride it is a bit different and they have a demonstration unit that goes to exhibitions and the really big equestrian centres and is much more "Hey you - try this!"
It does n't suit everyone. When you start you will not be wearing a habit as the instructor will need to see your legs and what you are doing with them (exactly like astride) You won't want your coat as the instructor will probably give you what the army calls "a wet shirt" ie you will work hard (especially if they know you are an experienced rider. You will want a pair of breeches that fit well (ie don't move about or rub) as more of you, and different parts of you are in contact with the horse or you may be sand papered.
The two ladies I knew swore by Harry Hall Burghley breeches and would not have any others.
It is a little like the Foreign Legion - they think no one understands them, but they know they are the best. Getting to wear your habit is a bit like getting to wear your Kepi Blanc - you have to work for it. Their sense of humour is very like that of the Foreign Legion. Also just as the very worst thing you can say to a Legionnaire is "The Foreign Legion? - like Beau Geste?" the worst thing you can say to a Side Saddle lady is "side saddle - oh just like Flambards"
Like the Legion the humour is done completely straight and is mainly based on outrageous exaggeration of how hard it is which they are hoping to get people shocked by(there is a splendidly evil piece of side saddle humour on a film on the internet - I will try to find it)
Not every lady gets on with side saddle, but there is little to choose between the two styles really. It was the expense of the saddles and amount of care needed with the horses backs that did for side saddle. It is a more secure seat - in the German Army Cavalry School if a horse was an incurable bucker and rearer its last chance before being sold was a session with a very heavy man on a side saddle.
Claire - Side Saddle may be good with your leg problems. After the Great War there was an officer who had lost a leg at Gallipoli who found he could ride on his wifes saddle.
Good Luck ladies
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Post by kunuma on May 29, 2012 13:55:42 GMT 1
Although I have yet to read it The Gift Horse by Alexa Romanes features a side saddle rider on the front so presumably it has something to do with side saddle! Can't remember it all that well but it does have side saddle stuff in it although I seem to recall it was actually about the RDA!
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Post by tintin on May 29, 2012 17:06:16 GMT 1
Here is the film. Which is lovely and is a very good potted history of the discipline, but between 2:50 and 3:00 ish I am 110% sure they are totally fibbing. Wicked ladies!
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2012 17:43:49 GMT 1
They do look so elegant but I'm not sure about those corsets, I think they'd drive me potty! Imagine cleaning that cream habit after it's covered in grease and horse hair! Thanks for posting tintin
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Post by Claire on May 29, 2012 19:09:00 GMT 1
Thanks for all the info tintin, also very interesting little film. The cream habit looks gorgeous, tho I agree with you rosie that it would be a nightmare to keep clean!
Tintin I would definitely try I'd rather Not Gallop. Its nothing like Flying Changes which was actually not her usual style, in fact its very funny and its got a lot in it about learning to ride side saddle, sure you'll enjoy it.
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Post by tintin on May 31, 2012 13:19:49 GMT 1
"Imagine cleaning that cream habit after it's covered in grease and horse hair!"
and it was designed for India... Imagine the hot season on the Indian plains where the least movement of a horse raises a huge cloud of dust. The habits would probably be cleaned, like the soldiers white or very pale stone khaki hot weather uniforms by a Dhobi-Wallah in a local pond or river involving much banging on rocks
Having a grey horse can be a pain too, I think they moult about 6 months out of 12
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Post by Claire on May 31, 2012 13:25:47 GMT 1
Never had a grey the thought of all that work makes me shudder! Mind you skewbalds are pretty bad if they have a lot of white bits, as i know from experience. You tend to spend ages trying to clean the white bits and the brown parts then get a quick lick and a promise! ;D
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Post by foxglove on May 31, 2012 16:53:57 GMT 1
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Post by tintin on May 31, 2012 17:28:53 GMT 1
and I thought I'd invented a one off
These ladies are splendidly bonkers - if they had been soldiers they would have been roughriders
I have some pictures from the thirties of soldiers jumping dinner tables and (totally mad) a show jump made of other soldiers )don't try this at home.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2012 18:48:34 GMT 1
Bonkers indeed! ;D
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Post by susanb on May 31, 2012 19:31:53 GMT 1
I think there is a bit of sidesaddle in Can I Get There by Candlelight by Jean Slaughter Doty, and of course there is Sidesaddle for Dandy by Nancy Faulkner, but think that's strictly historic, where Candlelight is a timeslip.
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Post by Claire on May 31, 2012 21:01:59 GMT 1
Can I Get There By Candlelight is actually one I was trying to remember - I knew I'd read one recently with sidesaddle in it. Thank you susan!
Thanks for the link foxglove - I love eccentrics!
Yep tintin have heard about exploits of cavalry men jumping a fully loaded tea table. Didnt they do a similar thing in The Trick Jumpers by JPT?
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 1, 2012 15:24:38 GMT 1
Not a book but the Author Babette Cole team chases side saddle i've read...she must be bonkers as i don't think brave comes into it! I've heard often it's almost impossible to fall off mind.
She has written some books for younger readers with ponies in them hasn't she but i always think of her for her young childrens books like princess Smartypants
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 1, 2012 15:26:34 GMT 1
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 1, 2012 15:30:44 GMT 1
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Post by Claire on Jun 1, 2012 16:58:22 GMT 1
Thanks for the links haffy. Leg Over Ladies....I like it! ;D Can't be completely impossible to fall off as theres a pic of one of the horses jumping loose sans rider! I noticed that I mentioned she competed side saddle on her page on my website. Just did a search of the website for side saddle and it also comes up with the factoid that author Isolde Pullum rode side saddle on her wedding, with groom also on horseback (altho in his case astride one imagines!)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2012 18:31:47 GMT 1
Brilliant! Great links thanks
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Post by tintin on Aug 2, 2012 16:57:26 GMT 1
Well I have joined the Side Saddle Association as an associate member to further my researchs. They have sent me a load of stuff which is really helpful - equitation tests for different levels including diagrams, competition rules etc. They have examinations, including for Instructors and it is all really helpful. Looking at the exam syllabi on "horse knowledge and care", I was pleasantly surprised at how much I knew, and unpleasantly surprised by how much I did n't...
Interesting to compare it with army training.
I am visiting a stables next week, something I have n't done for about 20 years, and am nervously looking forward to it
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 18:25:47 GMT 1
Ohhh lucky thing I'm green! looking forward to hearing all about it
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Post by tintin on Aug 6, 2012 13:56:46 GMT 1
I owe everyone on here a big thank you
It is a long story, but it started when I wanted to read some Pullein-Thompson books again and found the website
If I'd never have done that I'd never have found the forum, if I had n't found the forum I would n't have perservered trying to write myself and I'd never have been running the stories past my friend Diane to test them for accuracy.
Well to cut a long story short she invited me out to her stables (as you know). I had a wonderful day, but little did I know I would be invited to ride, which was a surprise when I got there.
First I was asked just to sit on Batman (a piebald so called because his predominant black marking looks like a cape). I had brought my hat as I had been told they might want to take a picture of me on a horse.Then to walk him around a bit in the paddock (Diane is a qualified instructress who has done all sorts and I was surprised and delighted to hear "good position" and "good contact") I was asked to change the rein and do some circles etc. Then I was asked would you like to go for a ride? I was a bit nervous and said "yes as long as we don't trot". Well I ended up going on a long ride with quite a bit of trotting and had the time of my life.
20 years ago I left all things horse with my nerves in pieces. It took all my strength to get on a horse and going outside would have scared the hell out of me. OK so I did n't do anything stressful yesterday, but once upon a time it would have all been stressful. I was worried about being worried, but once I got started was n't worried at all. It was a wonderful day.
I will write some more on the stables and the horses (which are like something from a pony book), but I am on a bit of a high at the moment.
Many Thanks for all the encouragement
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