Q1. Can my horse be trained to carry a Side Saddle?

Most horses that are trained well astride, (or in a cross saddle) adapt to a side saddle quite easily, though you will want a horse that is over 6 years old for muscular and skeletal stability. Almost any horse, of any breed, can make a suitable side saddle horse, however a horse with little to no wither, a very wide build or a very short back, will be harder to fit for a side saddle.

Q2. How do I fit a Side Saddle?

Safety and enjoyment of side saddle riding is all dependant on the fit of the saddle to the horse and to you. An ill fitting saddle can cause serious back problems for the horse, and cause the saddle to roll which will give you a very unstable ride. The same good fitting practices you would use for a cross saddle should be used, but with a much higher degree of care taken. While it is best to get help from fellow side saddle rider, any experienced saddle fitter check the fit. Any padding that is used should be kept as thin as possible. Too thick and it will cause the saddle to roll.

Q3. What kind of saddle should I use?

Side saddles are like snow flakes, no two are alike. They fall in to 4 main categories though. A catalog saddle; made in the thousands and sold mostly between 1890 – 1915, by Sears and Roebuck, and by Montgomery Wards, through their catalogs. We strongly recommend that these saddles are checked by a professional sadder before use, and that preference is given to those with safety features such as a balance strap, leaping head and safety stirrup. They sure can be pretty though. Next comes the Old English Classic. Made extremely well with a leather quality that is almost impossible to find in today’s world. The safety features are usually complete and correct. Harder to find is a correct and true western side saddle. The finally there is the category of cheap and badly made. These are unsafe for both horse and rider.

The balance of a side saddle is very complex and a poorly made saddle will not be balanced properly, nor will basic safety features be manufactured correctly. A bad saddle will give your horse a sore back and you will be unable to ride it correctly or safely. If you are looking to buy a side saddle, or fit one you already have, please contact MoSSY for assistance. Through experience, we can guide you to those made properly, and those to avoid. We can also show you the proper way to put a side saddle on the horse and explain all those different straps on many side saddles.

Q4. How do I Mount?

Please do have an assistant hold your horse the first time you do this as mounting you horse in a side saddle can be a bit trickier that an astride saddle. For one thing, the stirrup is much shorter on a side saddle and the seat is often higher. Getting on from the ground tends to pull the saddle off center of the horse, and so a mounting block of some sort will be become your friend. Most riders will mount as for a cross saddle, then swing their leg over neck of the horse, while keeping their hips square on the seat. Some very talented and limber riders can get on in one motion without the aid of a groom, but it takes lots of practice! Never hold on to the lower leaping head for mounting that would be unsafe and could harm it’s screw threads.

Q5. What is the correct Side Saddle Position?

When sitting in the side saddle your hips will be square to the horse, as they would astride and your right thigh will be in front of you, if you are on an English saddle. (True westerns & Steeles ™ are not built for a truly square seat!) Your lower leg will be resting on your horses left shoulder, toes down. The left leg is carried in the stirrup, similar to an astride saddle. You should be able to slip your hand between the top of your left thigh and the bottom of leaping head when you stirrup is positioned correctly. NOTE: The leaping head, the lower left pommel, should curve over your left thigh. It is not a crutch to rest your leg in. Your left foot should be light in the stirrup. If you put a lot of weight in your stirrup, it can cause your saddle to tip off to the left while ridding. Your hands carry the reins on both sides of your right knee as best suited to your horse’s head carriage. You weight is centered through you right thigh, and your hips, back, and shoulders should be square to your horse, as they would be in a cross saddle. When positioned correctly, the side saddle rider, from the back, should look like they are ridding astride, though with a missing a leg on the right! Side saddle riding can and should be, more secure than astride. Your right calf is along your horse's shoulder, allowing you to push into the horses shoulder, thus pulling your right thigh into the fixed head, holding you tight to the saddle. You don't need much pressure to achieve this. In an emergency, side saddle riders use what is known as an emergency grip. If you press your right calf against the saddle, and the left thigh up into the leaping head, you are locked tight into the saddle, much like a scissors grip. You would be surprised how stable this position can be in an emergency. This is not to be used all the time when riding side saddle as it sill cause muscle fatigue, but it is very useful in those circumstances were you need to secure yourself.

Q6. How do I ride and how do I cue you horse with no leg on the right?

Your right thigh absorbs the motion of the horse, much like your seat when in a normal saddle. Most new side saddle riders unknowingly hunch over and bend to the left. Remember to sit back and keep your right shoulder back. For cueing your aides, most horses will move off into a basic walk or trot from a cue with just the left leg. When you start to feel more comfortable in a side saddle, you can use a cane or stiff whip to act as you right leg though most riders find that a cane is one to many things to deal with when just starting out. When you get more advanced, you can also use a subtle shifting of your weight as a cue. A shift of the right hip bone for example, can be given for a left canter lead cue.

Q7. How do I dismount with these pommels in the way?

Dismounting is very easy from a side saddle. Please do have an assistant hold your horse the first time you do this. First remove your foot from the stirrup and now, lift your right leg over the fixed and leaping heads while turning in the saddle to the left. Now you are sitting sideways on you horse. Be careful not to catch any clothing on the heads as you go! Put your hand gently on the top of the upper, fixed head and hop down. As with mounting, never hold on to the lower leaping head for dismounting.

In closing.

When every thing is fitted correctly, it is feeling that can not be achieved in a cross saddle. Most horses prefer it to being locked between you legs in a vice grip and it does add a freedom to the rider as well. Also, please do not put your leg over on your astride saddle and ride. It is unsafe and your horse's back will suffer for it! It simply will never put you in the same position as a real side saddle. Now, go and talk to your horse about this, then contact MoSSY for more assistance in fulfilling your side saddle dreams.

Hand drawings used with kind permission from the authors of “The Sidesaddle Legacy” Martha Friddle and Linda Bowlby.