Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Ever Wonder Why..
..the fit of a restored sidesaddle is so very important. By fit - I mean that it MUST fit the horse and should fit the rider (in that order!) Here is a picture of a typical antique sidesaddle tree.
Please notice the long forks that go down the horses side. If those forks are too narrow for the horse, it will pinch and bruise him. If they are too wide, the saddle will slip making it dangerous for both rider and horse!
When I first started to get interested in riding aside, I was told over and over just how important this is. Many people go out and buy a cheap reproduction, just to see if they like riding aside. The answer is usually no. Not because they or their horse would not have been a good candidate for this discipline, but no because their first experiences were so bad and uncomfortable simply because their cheap equipment gave them exactly what they paid for! Many very experienced ladies told me it is EASIER to ride aside than astride. I am so anxious to see this for myself..but am waiting until all my equipment gets here before I start down that road. I can't wait!!!
Please notice the long forks that go down the horses side. If those forks are too narrow for the horse, it will pinch and bruise him. If they are too wide, the saddle will slip making it dangerous for both rider and horse!When I first started to get interested in riding aside, I was told over and over just how important this is. Many people go out and buy a cheap reproduction, just to see if they like riding aside. The answer is usually no. Not because they or their horse would not have been a good candidate for this discipline, but no because their first experiences were so bad and uncomfortable simply because their cheap equipment gave them exactly what they paid for! Many very experienced ladies told me it is EASIER to ride aside than astride. I am so anxious to see this for myself..but am waiting until all my equipment gets here before I start down that road. I can't wait!!!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sidesaddle Toys?
Okay - Am I border line obsessing with this or what???..
..but how much fun is this?!
If only I had a bit more room in my home..
I believe I would have to start..
..a new...
Collection!
..but how much fun is this?!
If only I had a bit more room in my home..
I believe I would have to start..
..a new...
Collection!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Most Excellent News!!!
Okay - so remember the saddle I took a HUGE chance with and bought off of E-bay? I was worried that it might not be a 'real' Champion and Wilton, but it was!...
...I was worried that it might not fit me, but it DOES!...
..and lastly, I was worried it might not fit my horse, but it DOES!!!
After what seemed to be a million interruptions of my life, I was finally able to get Chastain and the sidesaddle over to my trainers, to get her opinion. In her words, "Julie, this sidesaddle looks like it was made for Chastain!!!" It is overstuffed, which compensates for his dropped back. It sits perfectly flat on him and it does not pinch him!
I have been holding off on buying a girth, a balance strap and the very expensive Impact saddle pad. Now I can go forward with these other purchases and start to take lessons on him! Yippie!!!
***also***
I received this Friendship award today:
..from A Good Horse. It is my very first award for this blog! Thanks!
...I was worried that it might not fit me, but it DOES!...
..and lastly, I was worried it might not fit my horse, but it DOES!!!
After what seemed to be a million interruptions of my life, I was finally able to get Chastain and the sidesaddle over to my trainers, to get her opinion. In her words, "Julie, this sidesaddle looks like it was made for Chastain!!!" It is overstuffed, which compensates for his dropped back. It sits perfectly flat on him and it does not pinch him! I have been holding off on buying a girth, a balance strap and the very expensive Impact saddle pad. Now I can go forward with these other purchases and start to take lessons on him! Yippie!!!
***also***
I received this Friendship award today:
..from A Good Horse. It is my very first award for this blog! Thanks!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
My Favorite Piece of Sidesaddle Art..
..to date anyway.
Maybe because it has both a horse and a lamb!
Maybe because it has both a horse and a lamb!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Interesting Saddle
If you have read this blog for any length of time, you know that there is a lot of worthless junk sold on e-bay for riding sidesaddle. Every once in a while though - you can find something nice, historic, or just plain interesting. I found this to be a bit of all 3!
This is not something that I am in the market for - but what a beautiful historic antique saddle that, I might add is in pretty good shape!
It is not safe and rider ready though and I want to point out that without the leaping horn, it would be down right dangerous to use...
..but still, what a beautiful historic saddle it is!
This is not something that I am in the market for - but what a beautiful historic antique saddle that, I might add is in pretty good shape!
It is not safe and rider ready though and I want to point out that without the leaping horn, it would be down right dangerous to use...
..but still, what a beautiful historic saddle it is!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
How About Virtual World Sidesaddle?
...and I was worried that at some point I might run out of things to post on that had to do with riding aside!!!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
What Breed of Horse is Best for Sidesaddle?
The simple answer to this question is ANY! As long as the saddle fits the horse and the horse is already well schooled in basic equitation for the discipline you wish to ride - Hunt, Saddleseat, Western etc. any breed of horse can be used to ride aside!
Most of us envision an athletic Thoroughbred..
...or maybe an beautiful Arabian.
I dream of riding aside on a Saddlebred with their long elegant upright neck!
..but what about other breeds? Here is a Morgan...
..a Lipizzaner..
..a Clydesdale..
..an Appaloosa
Here is a Pasa Fino..
...a Welsh..
...or how about a Mule???
Most of us envision an athletic Thoroughbred..
...or maybe an beautiful Arabian.
I dream of riding aside on a Saddlebred with their long elegant upright neck!
..but what about other breeds? Here is a Morgan...
..a Lipizzaner..
..a Clydesdale..
..an Appaloosa
Here is a Pasa Fino..
...a Welsh..
...or how about a Mule???
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
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