sidesaddle help?!

[angel_16]

i recently took up sidesaddle, and one of the horses i use is quite stubborn. when i ride him normally, i rely quite heavily on leg and seat aids. but i don't have those as much when riding sidesaddle. is there any way i can gain more control even though i don't have those aids? Janna :)

[Sidesaddle]

Hi Janna,
I have ridden side saddle for about 4 years now and was taught by Mrs Skelton, President of The Side Saddle Association.
I will try to give you some advice.
If you had a choice of horse to ride side saddle it should be a horse that is forward-going and responsive to the aids. Unfortunately it sounds as though you do not have the choice.
As with cross saddle riding you should concentrate on getting your horse more forward going with plenty of transitions. Are you able to have a go at walk to canter ? This will help to get the horse to use his hind legs more and once you have been able to get him to do this a couple of times you will be amazed at how responsive a horse can be.
The voice is also used a lot more in side saddle and your horse should be lunged, either with or without a rider, using voice commands all the time. This way it will make it easier when you come to ride and you can use the same commands whilst backing them up with your leg/cane aids.
You should be using a cane or dressage type whip as your right leg, do not be afraid to use this behind the girth to get some response or to wake him up. If you do not get any response with a squeeze of leg and cane then the next time you squeeze harder with the leg and a tap with the cane, much the same as you would riding cross saddle. Be aware that you may also move more to the right as your right leg will be stronger than the use of the cane on right side.
Are you having lessons and is your instructor qualified to teach side saddle ?
If you need details of a qualified instructor I can let you know of those in your area.

[Wally]

I've always fancied riding my little chap sidesaddle. Is there any reason why I shouldn't? I know he's only a little chap, but he's forward going and has the added advantage of no trot, only tölt. I have ridden sidesaddle in the past, but this was on an Andalusian.
Back in the dim and distant, it was traditional for Icelandic ladies to only ride sidesaddle.

[Emarmite]

Hi,

Hope I do not seem really stupid asking this question, but I went to a show last week in Warrington which I really enjoyed and there was exhibition side saddle riding. I am quite a novice rider and was wondering whether you can train a horse easily on side saddle, especially if they have never done it before. I know this is probably a very naive question, but obviously (to me) that if a horse is used to riding with a normal saddle how does it accomadate you on the side saddle, because you cannot use the same aids as such, sorry for being a bore but if anyone can make sense of what I am asking I would be grateful. I actually found it quite good and would like to have a go, but seeing as I have not yet mastered the art of 'basic riding' I might find I am asking to much of myself.

Thank you

Beverley

[Wally]

I don't know much about sidesaddle but when I did it I found it easier than riding astride. More folk should try it. It is so elegant, (when done well!!)

Come on Sidesaddle, give us some tips and advice.
I don't have the luxury of an instructor in the area. The nearest mainland area would be Aberdeen, is there anybody in that area? Can't think they'd want to come to Shetland though!

[angel_16]

thanks for all your help, unfourtunately, i don't have the opportunity to lunge the horse i ride, and he's getting up there in years, so i'm not supposed to canter him much. as for training a horse how to be ridden side saddle, i'm not really sure, because both of the horses i ride were already trained when i started riding. the horse also responds badly to the whip, because other people that have ridden him have used it the wrong way, and used it to satisfy their anger, so to speak. every time it touches him, he freaks, and it is not safe, because i am always riding where there are alot of people. any suggestions how to help him get over that as well? thanks again!