More Antique Sidesaddle Stirrups & My Progress..

Although this stirrup was being crooned on the Internet as being an antique sidesaddle stirrup, I have my doubts. I thought I would post it to see if anyone else had any comments about it.

This unique beauty is made of aluminum! I believe it is still available on E-bay too.

Here is a unique hand forged stirrup. Said to be made for a sidesaddle, I believe if it were paired with another, it could easily be used on an astride saddle - although it is a bit feminineMy Progress:
To date I have only been able to have 1 sidesaddle lesson. The week after that lesson, my instructor was detained out of town with a horse show that was running much later than anticipated. Last week, I went to her farm with 2 horses. both Chastain, my sidesaddle horse and Oliver, my new boy. I was suppose to ride Oliver astride while she was giving a lesson to another one of her students and then my sidesaddle lesson was after that. I love that she always has other horses in the arena when she is giving lessons. Well, about half way into the other girls lesson the bottom dropped out of the sky and although the trainer does have a cover arena, it was lightening too, so we all decided to call it quits - just to be safe.

My next lesson is this Sunday morning and the weather is suppose to be perfect! Yeah!!!

Sidesaddle Collectables

Antique Post Card..

A pill box..

A trinket box..

or an antique stirrup!What do you collect?

How To Tie a Sidesaddle Apron

My Sidesaddle Riding Cane

I love e-bay! First I purchased this riding cane. Since it is the same width from end to end and there is no topper on it...

...I also purchased this:This is an antique Parasol handle and I am praying that I can attach it onto the cane.

Patterns..Patterns..and More Patterns!

These first several designs are from Ageless patterns.com

A Very Special Gift!

This is Heaven and Earth...or at least that is his registered name. His barn name is Oliver...or Ollie if he is acting silly! Oliver is a show horse, last shown in December (in this picture) in a Park class. His owner purchased him to be her harness horse, but Oliver did not care much for harness and his owner could not ride because of a medical condition....so she GAVE him to me!Do you know the scripture that says "Give and it will be given back to you..." well that scripture came to mind with this gift because it was only about 2 years ago, I gave a couple of horses away. Thank you God and thank you Anke for such an amazing gift! I can tell by his personality he is going to be my next sidesaddle horse!

More Photos From..

The Sidesaddle Club in Poland...or at least I think that is where they are from since I found these photos under their club Internet sight. Sadly since it was written in a language I do not understand I could not read it.

Sometimes You Gotta Do...

..whatever you gotta do, to just make it work!This is what we are going to do this weekend (my next lesson) to raise the back of the saddle.

I am going to buy a wedge Cashel pad that is higher in the back than the front. Here is a picture of the Cashel pad.

Now That You Have the Correct Size Saddle...

..this is how you strap it on!

I seriously thought about making copies of these diagrams and hanging them up in my barn!

Visual Sidesaddle Fitting Aid

A good fit.

This saddle is too long..or the horses back is too short!
Good Fit.

Too narrow.

Too wide.

Meet Holly Henson:

..and her horse Symbol's Supreme Eclipse, an American Saddlebred. Holly is from N. Carolina and has been riding Sidesaddle for over 20 years. She currently shows her Saddlebred in ASB Hunt classes, but this photo was taken at Charlotte Jumper Classic in Charlotte, North Carolina. American Saddlebreds were exhibited at that show in 5-gaited, 3-gaited, Park, Western, Hunt and in Period Costume Sidesaddle!Holly was kind enough to share this photo and her story with me, and offer me some much needed advice and encouragement! Thanks Holly!

My First Lesson!!!

After delay after delay...and I mean MONTHS of them..I finally got to take my very first sidesaddle lesson last Saturday! I am so excited!! It took almost an hour to adjust and re-adjust the saddle, especially since my girth is still on back order, but we got it all done. Thank you Pam! That girth extender you sent me really worked! I had to have a leg up since Chastain is already a tall horse (16+ hh). I actually could not get my foot into the stirrup even with a (small) mounting block! I could not believe how high I was! My saddle never slipped or rolled. My instructor, Kelli checked and rechecked the girth..just to be safe.

Remember - this is the first time Chastain has been ridden aside as well. We rode in the small training pen and Kelli kept me on a lunge line to start. Chastain never pinned his ears, but I would have liked them to be forward...instead of where they were. We walked both directions and I have to admit that one direction (going left) felt more comfortable than the other. It was obvious that we need to use a reverse wedge pad. (oh goodie..something to raise me up even higher!) since his soft back put a slight tilt on the saddle, but I never felt like I was going to come off the back.

I know that I only rode for about 30 minutes, and much of that was walking, but my legs and back were talking to me! After I felt pretty comfortable, I clucked him up into a very slow trot. It was good, so we took off the lunge line and continued the lesson. After a few laps, I asked him to increase his speed a bit, but still very far from a show trot! We changed directions and trotted in reverse. I think Chastain knew I was really concentrating on me and my position because he started to pull his head a bit...a little 'no-no' this horse has done for years, but nothing that caused any problems.

I dismounted ..not sure if my legs were going to hold me...yeah - I am out of shape! ..but I was grinning from ear to ear. I can't wait until next week and our next lesson. Maybe we can get into the big arena.

Putting Together My First Sidesaddle Suit!

Here is the basic pattern we are using. It is a historical reproduction..but will need to be modified. For one, the jacket must be longer and have a split down the back like a saddleseat suit.

Here is a swatch of the fabric we are using and 2 pair of gloves I purchased at an antique store! The fabric is actually an upholstery fabric with a linen look to it. I LOVE the way this fabric looks, feels and mostly - it moves! As for the gloves..the cream colored ones are fabric, not leather so they will be easier to clean and the crocheted ones are just stunning! I did not know until after I purchased them (Thank you Pam for telling me this) that crocheted gloves were worn by ladies if it was raining so the reins would not slip through their hands!

I purchased a plain sidesaddle bamboo cane. It is 31" long, but very plain..so I am seriously thinking about buying a decorative topper for it. I also like the idea of having a topper so that I do not accidentally drop the cane.

...and I know what you all will say....these boots are not riding boots - they are dangerous...but ohhhh soooo Victorian!

Fox Riding Cane

Since I don't hunt, I would not use a cane like this, but that does not stop me from appreciating it's intricate beauty and design!





I love foxes ...but I think it has more to do with my passion for this kind of dog!
I love my 5 (yes I typed that right ...FIVE) Corgi's!