At first, both men and women rode on both sides. Ladies’ saddles did not appear immediately. According to some information, in the IX century and, according to others, in the XII century AD, women rode on a soft saddle – actually on a cushion, to which at about the same time a plank was adapted, on which the lady could put her feet. As a rule, the cavalier led the horse, on which the lady thus rode. Sometimes the lady rode sitting sideways behind the cavalier.
British Ladies Riding Association
The British Side-Saddle Association was formed in 1975 and consists of 17 regional chapters, each with their own regional dressage classes, qualifying exams and competitions. The qualifying examinations come in six levels: the first four, three of which may be with a “+” sign, which means qualification in show jumping in the case of levels II and III and in triathlon in the case of level IV, and instructor levels A and B. It must be added that only people who have passed the appropriate theory and practice qualification exams are allowed to teach ladies’ riding, as well as any riding in Britain.
Besides, there are regional competitions in evaluating the most harmonious horse – rider pair (Concours d’Elegance), depending on the horse’s dressage, different competitions for hack horses, cob horses, hunter horses, performances in historical costumes, Pas Seul and Pas De Deux performances, etc. Winners of regional competitions take part in national competitions.
Besides Great Britain, there are ladies’ riding associations in Holland, France, Sweden, Germany, USA and many other countries.
Saddle and costume
So what is ladies’ riding, which has undergone a renaissance over the past quarter century? Let’s start with the English ladies’ saddle, which is often used in other countries as well, especially in former colonies such as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
The English ladies’ saddle consists of a leather-trimmed ribbon, irregular leather wings, a fender on one side, a buttress on each side of the saddle, one or two removable stirrups, a left puttlisch and a left stirrup. The putlisle is hidden under the fender, which has, as a rule, a special latch – a type of “doggie”, which at the moment of falling of the rider triggers, releasing the putlisle.
The average weight of the old English ladies’ saddles with the puttlich and stirrup is 10-12 kg. Modern West-European (mainly Austrian) saddles use lighter materials – hard plastic for the ribbon, synthetic filling – so such saddles weigh only 5-7 kg.
One of the main differences between the ladies’ saddle and an ordinary saddle is the presence of two front bows, usually on the left side. The left upper bow is made to girdle the right leg in case of need, and the lower bow is made to rest the left leg in the same case. In normal riding, the feet do not touch the bows: the right foot lies two toes in front of the upper bow, and the left foot a palm width behind the lower bow.
The seat of the ladies saddle should be almost perfectly straight and wide enough. The length of the seat should match the length of the rider’s thigh. The width of the saddle should allow the rider to sit in the saddle without hanging down on either side.
The saddle pad lifts the saddle much higher, by about 10 to 12 cm, from the back of the horse compared to a normal saddle. And the rider sits further away from the center of gravity of the horse compared to a normal rider, which makes her riding safer in case of disobedience of the horse.
The stirrup of a ladies saddle is shorter and has its own peculiarities when fitting. If the saddle does not have a mechanism for the quick release of the stirrup from the lock, the so-called “safe” stirrup is used which opens and releases the leg of the rider in case of fall.
The ladies’ saddle uses one main cinch, which is wider and stronger than the ordinary one, and as a rule also a balancing cinch which goes from the pristriga on the left side to the half-ring on the right back side of the saddle. In order to avoid possible discomfort to the horse, the balancing cinch is passed through a loop at the bottom of the main cinch. Sometimes the balancing cinch is a part of the cinch sewn to the main cinch and fastened with the free end to a ring on the back right side of the saddle.
The reins in ladies riding are longer than in regular riding, as the rider sits further back and ideally keeps her hands with the reins behind her knees. The reins can be smooth, rubberized or braided. The headband can be plain or mouthpiece.
In her right hand the rider holds a leather whip, which is thicker and shorter than an ordinary dressage whip. The rider replaces the action of her right leg with it by pressing it against the horse’s side.