I would attempt to make my own habit but my sewing skills aren't that great so I would have to have someone else make it (or make a complete botch of it) and the material would cost a fair bit too. Out of interest, what did you do for headwear?
Dating a side saddle
- Thread starter Jamey
- Start date
As I was a teenager at the time I wore my velvet covered riding hat. If I were to do it again now I would wear a bowler. You can pick up a traditional bowler on ebay for £20-30. You can also get toppers for a similar price.
The type of hat you wear depends on your age and the type of horse you are showing.
The type of hat you wear depends on your age and the type of horse you are showing.
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Jamey said:
NSSG Contacts - Linda Cadman 0161 620 2379 & Jean Marsden 01254 54840
both are nice ladies and will welcome you with open arms (Linda sounds a bit intimidating when you first meet her but she isn't really
) I think the subs are about about £16 a year although it may go up at renewal in September as it hasn't since it started (my opinion not anything I've been told). NSSG is involved in all sorts of things to do with ss including grooms certificates as well as riding training and you can earn points for "grooming" at shows and huntingMost stuff can be hired, even historical costumes- see the SSA handbook for sources of saddles and habits and there is usually a "for sale" page in the stuff that comes from both the SSA and the NSSG
As far as horses are concerned you can ride anything. There's a horse competing side saddle in the Royal Lancashire this year which used to pull a landau on Blackpool prom! Conformation does come into some classes but you get all sorts and certainly in the NSSG you won't be sneered at for a "less than perfect" horse (Actually there is no such thing in my view
). If it has nice manners, is willing and reasonably competant and you can fit a ss to it you're in. There are limitations in the turn-out for ss competing but this means you don't have to panic about the latest fashion in colours, tweeds, hats etc. You don't want to listen to a lot of the nonsense about show kit voiced on this board (unless you like looking like a Christmas tree - meeow!) You, or a reasonably experienced home sewer, can make your own habit. I bought patterns for a cut away jacket and apron for a tenner each from Penny Housden at "Side Saddle Lady" (no relation) and some melton cloth from a good local fabric shop and would have made my own apron but was worried about trying to fit it without help. In the end I went to an equestrian tailor in Manchester, which supposedly specialised in habits, with my fabric. It was a disaster and took nearly a year for them to get it half way right. Altogether it cost me £150 but I could have made it myself for the cost of the patterns and the materials (£55) The patterns are American but they have very explicit construction and fitting instructions and are easy to follow if you have a little knowledge and take your time.
I don't compete so I can wear the apron, which is plain olive green, with my green keepers tweed hacking jacket with the front corners pinned under for lessons and hacking in winter although a habit isn't essential for these (keeps your knees warm though!).
For girths, etc, I've found it better to go to a sympathetic saddler and get them made (a 3 fold leather girth for a big horse cost me £50 as opposed to £85 from an ss mail order supplier and a plain balance girth with a buckle each end cost me £35). Obviously you don't want to let a non-specialist loose on the saddle itself but for stuff like girths etc., you should be alright if you explain exactly what you want with pictures if necessary.
My local tack shop owner/saddler goes to sales a lot and looks out for good stuff for me so it's a good idea to strike up a relationship with a good independently owned and run business and make sure they know your specialist interest. That's how I got my £45 Mayhew - she bought it on spec because she knew she could put it back in a sale if I didn't want it - I did and I got a unused C&W balance girth for £15 into the bargain!
The latest headwear rules in the SSA handbook specify a standard safety riding hat for any classes involving jumping. And as Lindz says you can always pick up secondhand bowlers and silk hats through the SSA or the NSSG - second hand not to be sneered at!
Lord knows, I don't have a lot of disposable income but there are always ways and means. Economies can be made elsewhere - I am the charity shop queen for good quality fleeces, jumpers and occasionally waterproof jackets for everyday riding and yard work. And if you look after them properly, the less highly advertised and therefore less expensive ranges of horse rugs are every bit as good as some of the "posh" ones. I've had good service from Shires and Robinsons' own brand among others..
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Thanks sidesaddlelady!
I made the 1880s habit from a pattern from Penny but had a job to make it fit!! I'm straight up and down and very tall so I often have to adapt any patterns I buy which is where I have all the problems!!! The apron on a modern habit has to end six inches above the sole of your boot (ie just above your ankle) - is this correct? I'm a little worried about getting this bit right as I haven't got anyone who could pin the hem to the right length for me while I was onboard as it were. The jacket should be fairly straightforward but the aprons always worry me. My 1880s one doesn't feel like it hangs correctly and I think I'm going to have to refit. I've got some grey worsted at home so I might do a 'practice run' of the modern apron with that and then use it for schooling.
Cossack is generally well behaved (although can get a little silly in new situations) and has a very willing attitude. He's taken to sidesaddle very quickly and actually puts his sensible, 'look after mum' hat on when I'm riding aside. I was riding in my medieval gown two weekends ago (in the grounds of Audley End House - very lucky girl!! ), there is four meters of material in the skirt and I thought he would be a bit funny with it but he didn't blink an eye!! A very good boy!!
I'm saving at the moment so that I can have my s/s re-flocked as Cossack is filling out and I don't think it's going to fit him much longer (it appears to have been reflocked at some point in the past to narrow the gullet so there's plenty of room to expand back out). It isn't pinching at the moment but he's a growing boy so it'll only be a matter of time. Bloomin' youngsters!!
Edit to say - I know what you mean about saving elsewhere!! All my rugs are bought on clearance and are all the cheaper brands!!
I made the 1880s habit from a pattern from Penny but had a job to make it fit!! I'm straight up and down and very tall so I often have to adapt any patterns I buy which is where I have all the problems!!! The apron on a modern habit has to end six inches above the sole of your boot (ie just above your ankle) - is this correct? I'm a little worried about getting this bit right as I haven't got anyone who could pin the hem to the right length for me while I was onboard as it were. The jacket should be fairly straightforward but the aprons always worry me. My 1880s one doesn't feel like it hangs correctly and I think I'm going to have to refit. I've got some grey worsted at home so I might do a 'practice run' of the modern apron with that and then use it for schooling.
Cossack is generally well behaved (although can get a little silly in new situations) and has a very willing attitude. He's taken to sidesaddle very quickly and actually puts his sensible, 'look after mum' hat on when I'm riding aside. I was riding in my medieval gown two weekends ago (in the grounds of Audley End House - very lucky girl!!
), there is four meters of material in the skirt and I thought he would be a bit funny with it but he didn't blink an eye!! A very good boy!!I'm saving at the moment so that I can have my s/s re-flocked as Cossack is filling out and I don't think it's going to fit him much longer (it appears to have been reflocked at some point in the past to narrow the gullet so there's plenty of room to expand back out). It isn't pinching at the moment but he's a growing boy so it'll only be a matter of time. Bloomin' youngsters!!
Edit to say - I know what you mean about saving elsewhere!! All my rugs are bought on clearance and are all the cheaper brands!!
Jamey said:Thanks sidesaddlelady!
I made the 1880s habit from a pattern from Penny but had a job to make it fit!! I'm straight up and down and very tall so I often have to adapt any patterns I buy which is where I have all the problems!!! The apron on a modern habit has to end six inches above the sole of your boot (ie just above your ankle) - is this correct? I'm a little worried about getting this bit right as I haven't got anyone who could pin the hem to the right length for me while I was onboard as it were. The jacket should be fairly straightforward but the aprons always worry me. My 1880s one doesn't feel like it hangs correctly and I think I'm going to have to refit. I've got some grey worsted at home so I might do a 'practice run' of the modern apron with that and then use it for schooling.
Cossack is generally well behaved (although can get a little silly in new situations) and has a very willing attitude. He's taken to sidesaddle very quickly and actually puts his sensible, 'look after mum' hat on when I'm riding aside. I was riding in my medieval gown two weekends ago (in the grounds of Audley End House - very lucky girl!!
I'm saving at the moment so that I can have my s/s re-flocked as Cossack is filling out and I don't think it's going to fit him much longer (it appears to have been reflocked at some point in the past to narrow the gullet so there's plenty of room to expand back out). It isn't pinching at the moment but he's a growing boy so it'll only be a matter of time. Bloomin' youngsters!!
Edit to say - I know what you mean about saving elsewhere!! All my rugs are bought on clearance and are all the cheaper brands!!
Ah, yes. 1880s ladies were somewhat more shapely than modern girls!
Hem of the apron - I think it's supposed to be level with the counter seam on your boot (the horizontal seam at the top of your foot) or am I making this up? - would have to look it up and I'm at work at the moment. Aprons are the very devil to get straight. Perhaps we should try and get Area 11 Committee to put on a habit making and fitting day as an event next winter.
Cossack sounds super. Yes, the WH looks very proud of himself and takes it all very seriously when he's got a side saddle lady "up". It makes me very cross when people say "Oh, my horse wouldn't like side saddle" - never met one yet that didn't take to it like a duck to water. (Well, yes, I have, once, but she had a serious back problem and was retired as a companion horse shortly after the SS fiasco.)
A habit fitting/making session is an excellent idea!! I'd definately come along and it would be helpful to those members who can't afford to have their habits made up for them!!
I think it's a case of the owner not liking the idea of side saddle rather than the horse!! My s/s is quite often eyed with suspicion and dread!!
Just checked the SSA handbook re hemming of the apron. It states it 'should be approximately one hand's width above the left counter seam of the boot'. With regards to habit colour it just states that it should be a restrained hue but I understand it is more traditionally black or navy. Would you be marked down for having a dark shade of say green or brown?
I think it's a case of the owner not liking the idea of side saddle rather than the horse!! My s/s is quite often eyed with suspicion and dread!!
Just checked the SSA handbook re hemming of the apron. It states it 'should be approximately one hand's width above the left counter seam of the boot'. With regards to habit colour it just states that it should be a restrained hue but I understand it is more traditionally black or navy. Would you be marked down for having a dark shade of say green or brown?
Well, Gunner the gundog would make an awful mess with his spaniel ears dangling in the soup and the OH is from Sunderland so I'm not sure if he's done his book-learning on table manners!!!
Cossack would probably be the least embarrassing and he'd probably poop at the table. Only down point for the saddle is I know I'd definately be paying for dinner!!!
Cossack would probably be the least embarrassing and he'd probably poop at the table. Only down point for the saddle is I know I'd definately be paying for dinner!!!
Jamey said:Well, Gunner the gundog would make an awful mess with his spaniel ears dangling in the soup and the OH is from Sunderland so I'm not sure if he's done his book-learning on table manners!!!
Cossack would probably be the least embarrassing and he'd probably poop at the table. Only down point for the saddle is I know I'd definately be paying for dinner!!!
Being originally from Sunderland myself I'm not sure if I should take offence at that bit
Dogs yes that could be embarrassing especially if Phio decided to have bad manners
I'm sure Cossack would have perfect manners. Then again seen our lot when we go for pub lunch. Has people in stitches as we are all fighting over cheesy chips and garlic bread
Certianly no manners from any of us mmmm seems to me you need to find a better saddle to go our with
The damn thing keeps standing me up!!!!
No, seriously though. Not been able to pinpont it so far but will keep trying!
No, seriously though. Not been able to pinpont it so far but will keep trying!
Have a word with John Wooley (Cheadle , Staffs) he's a specialist s/saddler who's been at it all his life and comes from a family which started in the business in 1802 (yes, I did say eighteen oh two). He told me that my Mayhew was originally built for the American market as he found a stamp on the flap showing the US patent and Mayhews made for this country usually didn't. If you can get hold of his brother, the elusive Andy Woolley, he is even more interesting on the subject of s/s history. And if you do find him let me know as he has had my Maynard and Son (Plymouth) 1890 saddle for re-building for several years :¬(Jamey said:The damn thing keeps standing me up!!!!
No, seriously though. Not been able to pinpont it so far but will keep trying!
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Have a word with John Wooley (Cheadle , Staffs) he's a specialist s/saddler who's been at it all his life and comes from a family which started in the business in 1802 (yes, I did say eighteen oh two). He told me that my Mayhew was originally built for the American market as he found a stamp on the flap showing the US patent and Mayhews made for this country didn't.Jamey said:The damn thing keeps standing me up!!!!
No, seriously though. Not been able to pinpont it so far but will keep trying!
Hi Jamey
If you are having some work done on your saddle and it is taken apart you may find a label inside with the date on (i did with 2 of my saddles)
We (Ride2theside) are based in Cheshire, recently paraded in the carnival at Tarporley, followed by a display.
HAve a look at our web site for details of our displays for the rest of the year, come along and say hello
www.ride2theside.co.uk
also
www.ride2theside.co.uk/forum
look forward to hearing from you
Julia
If you are having some work done on your saddle and it is taken apart you may find a label inside with the date on (i did with 2 of my saddles)
We (Ride2theside) are based in Cheshire, recently paraded in the carnival at Tarporley, followed by a display.
HAve a look at our web site for details of our displays for the rest of the year, come along and say hello
www.ride2theside.co.uk
also
www.ride2theside.co.uk/forum
look forward to hearing from you
Julia
Sidesaddlelady - I'll look John Wooley up and see if he can take a look at it! Might be able to afford the reflocking etc soon.
Julia - we saw you at, hmmm, I think it was Tatton Park at the Game Fair last year. We were going to come and talk to you but you looked awfully busy at the time and I had to get back to ride Cossack. I'll definately take a look at your website ...
Julia - we saw you at, hmmm, I think it was Tatton Park at the Game Fair last year. We were going to come and talk to you but you looked awfully busy at the time and I had to get back to ride Cossack. I'll definately take a look at your website ...
newrider.com