[shell]

Female Riding Styles through History

Sir Edwin Landseer - Queen Victoria on Horseback c. 1840

I set out to write an article about women riders 'how it was', but a lot of the information I collected was intertwined with ladies of royal blood or of good quality and the sidesaddle. What happened further down the scale is unclear, possibly some ladies would have riding pillion behind the man, or travelled in a carriage or cart, or maybe they just walked!

The early sidesaddles were little more than stuffed platforms, the lady sitting at a complete right angle to the horse's spine, with her feet resting on a platform called a planchette. Some women probably rode ponies (under 14 hands), even when sitting sideways, they would have had adequate control, but often a servant led them.

In the Middle Ages, ladies were considered passive, helpless creatures, dominated and protected by a Knight. To enable the Knights to prove their chivalry battles and tournaments were organised and the popularity of hunting grew. Woman wanted to see their menfolk in action, and therefore had to be transported to various locations

It was also said that ladies had difficulty riding astride because they had rounded thighs, but they would ride in the same dress that was worn for everyday wear. So maybe it was due to what we would now consider today to be very the unsuitable dress for riding.

Probably a 17th century sidesaddle from the Hermes Museum in Paris

For many centuries, sidesaddle was considered the only way for a lady to proceed 'properly' on horseback. The 1920's were its heyday in Britain, with the emphasis as much on elegance, style, and 'propriety' as on technique, horsemanship, and courage. Ladies were not alone in practising the art: their grooms rode sidesaddle to train and keep their ladies' horses fit.

14th Century

In 1382, Richard II married Anne of Bohemia, who brought her a sidesaddle. She rode with her body facing forwards and with only the left foot on the planchette. Soon ladies who had previously only ridden pillion behind a man or, in some cases, astride in a split skirt, began to adopt the new fashion.

Details from Tres Riches Heures de Duc de Berry

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 footrest and remained unchanged for 200 years.

Lady Conway - her Spanish riding horse by Wootton
16th Century

Details of Queen Elizabeth's I saddle from the Booke of Venerie by G. Turberville, 1572

In 1564, Queen Elizabeth I ordered a travelling wagon to be drawn by six great horses. In this, she journeyed from London to Warwick, but so it was reported, was unable to sit-down for a week afterwards.

Nevertheless, she persisted, and on her famous processions became accustomed to moving about the country in wagon trains drawn by 400 heavy horses. Only heavy horses with their great strength were capable of hauling over, or rather through, the abominable road surface of the period.

Elizabeth also loved to ride; she would spend many hours riding fast through the Palace grounds. Her love for the riding terrified her Councillors, who feared that she would be seriously injured, or even killed. Nevertheless, Elizabeth was defiant, and continued to ride long distances and at great speed until the end of her life. In her sixties, a courtier advised the ageing Queen to take a carriage, but undaunted she rode a distance of ten miles.

Elizabeth would tire out her ladies by riding hard, and early in her reign, Robert Dudley, her Master of Horse, had to bring over some new horses from Ireland, as the Queen's own horses were not fast or strong enough for her. Elizabeth and Dudley would ride together often. He was probably the most accomplished horseman in England, and could match the ''s speed and vigour. In the summer of 1560, Elizabeth and Dudley rode together almost everyday, while some of her ministers bewailed that the Queen was neglecting matters of state.

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.

It is difficult to date the development of the pommel accurately but it is known that Catherine De Medici invented a second pommel in about 1580. Both were still positioned on top of the saddle, the rider wedging their knee between them to gain a little more security. Catherine may have been the first to have hooked her leg around and over the high pommel and been facing more or less in the same direction as the horse. This was a break through for the rider giving them more control over the horse. Catherine loved hunting and rode until her sixtieth year.

16th century Lady from Horses in Shakespeare's England by Anthony Dent

17th Century


During this, century paintings show elaborate bridles, breastplates, 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 rode a white horse for her official entry into Rome in 1655. The queen 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.


18th Century


By the 18th century, the sidesaddle was in general use, some still having a rail at the side and velvet covered slipper stirrup. About this, time ladies started carrying little whips often made with whalebone and with daintily carved ivory handles more for decoration than for use on the horse.

The Marchioness of Salisbury (1749-1835) claimed to be the first woman Master of Foxhounds, and hunted her own pack, the Hertfordshire Hunt, from 1793 until her 70th year in 1819.

Queen Anne, (1665-1714) established the Royal Buckhounds Kennels at Ascot and hunted enthusiastically, driving herself in a chaise with a fast horse. At her command in 1711, the racecourse on Ascot Heath was laid out.

Lady Lade in 1799 was present throughout 'the run of the season' that lasted two hours and forty minutes with the Royal Buckhounds.

Female Riding Styles through History 2

19th Century



At the end of the 18th century and part of the 19th century it was unusual for ladies to follow hounds, although they would often grace their presence suitably attended by a groom. A manual on riding for ladies published in 1826 shows a level-seated saddle, little changed from those used over 200 years ago, but by 1860 the dipped seat had been introduced.

This may have been an attempt to get the rider a little closer to the horse because at that time the 'cut-back' rise through the front of the saddle had not been invented. If the seat was to be level the whole saddle had to be much higher on the horse's back, and would, therefore be more prone to slipping. A design of the sort was likely to give the horse a sore back, because of the friction arising from the sideways movement of the saddle and there was, additionally, a very real danger of the rider being deposited on the ground. As a counter to the poor fit of the saddle, grooms would often girth up so tightly that the horse had trouble breathing, or would even try to roll to get rid of it's burden.

Then some unknown genius invented the balance strap. This first appears in drawings in the 1820s, when it was connected to the stirrup leather. In its modern form, however, it goes from the nearside front of the saddle to the offside rear, a balance being effected by pressures on opposite corners of the saddle. Some riders prefer a short balance strap sewn to the girth instead of buckling independently to the saddle, but this is a matter of taste since both types are effective.



Leaping Head

Final position from S. Sidney's Book of the Horse. 1874.

It was the invention, of the leaping head, which gave the sidesaddle its reputation for safety and security. Without this, only the most intrepid rider would dare to jump, for if the horse chose to play up the rider had little chance of staying mounted. With it, any of the movements which might pitch the astride rider over the horse's shoulder, serve merely to strengthen the side saddle rider's seat, as their thigh slides firmly into its support. It must have a left-handed thread to its screw, or it will loosen when the rider jams their leg against it when employing the emergency grip to retain their seat. Why it took so long for the double pommels of mediaeval days and the third or leaping head of the early 19th century to be generally adopted is not clear, except that we are by nature a conservative people.

The honour of having introduced the third pommel in 1830 has been claimed by several men, two Frenchmen,

• Jules Charles Perrier, a French riding master emphatically claimed he invented the leaping horn in Paris in 1830.
• Monsieur Baucher

and three Englishman:-

• Mr. Fitzharding Oldacre,
• S. Sidney, (The Book of the Horse.); is said to have evolved the idea in order to enable a man to ride a match for a wager on a sidesaddle.
• Thomas Aldaker, Huntsman to the Earl of Buckeley (1788-1820) who broke his leg jumping in a sidesaddle with only the top central horn and having no grip for his left leg.

(Note: I am unable to find sufficient information to narrow down the candidates for the invention of the leaping head. If anyone has a definitive answer please let me know. Jan.)

Although the original pommel on the offside had now no practical use, it was retained by some saddlers up to the end of the century, getting smaller and smaller until it was only a sort of token.

Not until the accession of Queen Victoria does there appear to be any very satisfactory evidence as to the saddlery in use. Except that Queen Anne before her accession rode hard to hounds there seems to be nothing known about her. If she rode sidesaddle - she may well have ridden astride, as did various princesses at a later date - she would presumably have had a single pommel, as shown in various paintings at the time of her reign and just before. (Especially those of Johannes van Wyck, c. 1652 - 1700.)

Sir Edmund Landseer (1802 - 1873) Queen Victoria at Osbourne in 1866.

In 1825, Nimrod writes "There was to me and indeed it must have been to everyone, a very agreeable sight on this day in the field. This was Mrs. Shakerley (the lady of Mr. Shakerley, jun., of Somerfield Hall, Cheshire), upon her beautiful, I might almost say superb, horse the Golden Ball. Mrs. Shakerley is a French lady of high birth, and certainly, the most graceful horsewoman I ever saw upon a horse: the Lady Eveline herself, on her white palfrey, could not have excelled her. Her hand, as well as her seat, is quite perfect, and I understand she has gone well once or twice in Leicestershire.

Elizabeth, Empress of Austria, (1837 - 1897) was an accomplished horsewoman, she studied equitation seriously and had lessons in the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. She hunted with great enthusiasm in England and Ireland between 1876-1882, when her skill, courage, and elegance created a minor sensation. She is remembered for her remark to her pilot, Captain 'Bay' Middleton, "I don't mind the falls, but, remember, I will not scratch my face".

The Hanoverians reigned while the saddle with two pommels was coming into fashion and when Queen Victoria took to the leaping head seems not to be known.

This survival of the off pommel makes it impossible to say with certainty whether a drawing or painting shows a woman on an old-fashioned saddle with two pommels or a more modern type with three. A Landseer painting, which shows Queen Victoria inspection the 2nd Life Guards with the Duke of Wellington is attendance, painted in 1839, so we can be sure that Her Majesty is using the two pommel old-fashioned type. It is known that The Duke of Wellington objected to the Queen riding when inspecting troops and wished her to be driven. There is little doubt that the fact of the old-fashioned saddle giving only a modicum of grip,

Horse and Saddlery - Oglby

must have weighed on the Duke, who probably was well aware that in the event of any contretemps taking place his Royal Mistress might have a nasty fall.

Before 1875, ladies might ride to the hunt meet to see their menfolk off, and as interested spectators out for a good gossip, it was not considered respectable actually to follow hounds. Then, in 1876, the Empress Elizabeth of Austria, a pioneer who came to England to hunt with the Pytchley. By her daring example, she helped set the pace in saddle design, by demanding the same, or indeed greater, durability and security for the side saddle rider, whether hacking in a London park or keeping up with hounds. Fashionable ladies followed her lead, taking to the hunting field with great enthusiasm. They soon began to give more thought to their saddles, for what was tolerably comfortable during a gentle ride was not necessarily suitable for a hard day in the hunting field.

There is a picture by Van Dyck in the Royal Collection (Lida Fleitmann Bloodgood, The Saddle of Queens) showing Charles I's Queen, Henrietta Maria, holding a horse with this type of saddle.



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 able to have full control. A lot of balance is required as well in keeping straight and square. Today, the woman sidesaddle rider can do everything as astride rider can do with equal security, as the sidesaddle is very secure.

About 1902 Mayhew introduced and patented a saddle with very wide pommels, which became very popular and is still in use today. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II used to ride sidesaddle on parade or trooping the colours.

The Women's Volunteer formations, known colloquially as the 'Fany's' rode sidesaddle in the early days of their existence. In 1909 the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, a Women's Volunteer Unit, was raised as a mounted corps, just before riding astride for women had become general; they therefore rode sidesaddle. The uniform worn was very smart, a scarlet peaked cap, a scarlet tunic braided white Hussar fashion, with collar and shoulder straps edged with white piping and a dark blue habit with three rows of white braid round the bottom. Officers wore a white pouch belt. In 1910 the F.A.N.Y. took to riding astride and wore khaki. Members served in various capacities of all fronts in the 1914-18 war.

Jan Parsons

[idlewild]

Very interesting!! Thank you for sharing that.

One of these days I want to get a side saddle and sew a 19th Century riding habit so that I can do a civil war period impression of a lady sidesaddle.

[shell]

Originally Posted by idlewild

Very interesting!! Thank you for sharing that.

One of these days I want to get a side saddle and sew a 19th Century riding habit so that I can do a civil war period impression of a lady sidesaddle.

That would be GREAT!!!

[MidnightStarr]

thats pretty cool!!

[shell]

I want a sode saddle too. I was going to get one for Velvet, a black Arabian mare I use to own and wish I still did, but I never got one. They are hard to find!

[sirius-dressage]

They are all over the place around here! There were four or five for sale at one tack store I visited in one of the older towns around here. There is actually an insturctor who brings sidesaddles to your barn to give you a lesson so you don't have to go out and buy one before you try...I think she's only about 45 min from me but I'm focusing on some other stuff so can't justify it at the moment. But I've always wanted to ride sidesaddle so maybe one day.

I got to sit in a sidesaddle at the MD Horse Expo and chatted with the Side Saddle Assoc. representative about the discipline. It was very interesting the differences. I like that article, thanks for posting!