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May I Introduce...

November 30, 2012, 7:27 am
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...Major Reuben Llewelyn Farley!

I had the fortune of Major Farley's great nephew, Tom Farley (Francis Dashwood Farley's grandson), contacting me with additional information on his great uncle and kindly sent me a photo of the dashing Major in his uniform.

It is so wonderful to put a face to the name written on an old saddle label and give the history of this side saddle, the human aspect. Tom informed me that his great uncle sadly died in 1954 and never married so had no direct descendants. I am very happy then, that Champy has ended up in my care instead of being in that antique shop's rubbish pile with a forgotten history.

Thank you Tom for all your help!


December 7, 2012 update! I was informed by a WWI re-enactor that judging from Major Farley's uniform in the photo, that this picture was taken right before the war in c. 1912- 1913, that he was a volunteer due to his side cap  and that the rank badges on his sleeve cuffs denote that he was a Lieutenant when the photo was taken. In 1917 the rank badges were moved off of the sleeve cuff to the shoulders as they were too conspicuous to snipers!
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Off-side Jumping- Take Two

December 7, 2012, 2:04 pm
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So to break up the tedium on winter, I've decided to start jumping again. Nothing high or amazing, we have no pretensions of being the next Ellen Whitaker but just to bide our time until the showing shows start in the spring again.

Hattie will never make a dressage horse as she HATES schooling but I know she likes jumping so have decided again, to incorporate trotting poles and little jumps sneakily into our schooling this winter in preparation for the spring and summer shows that we both love.

Maybe we will even do a few low height clear round jumping shows this winter, even after the fiasco at the one last winter where I was forced to jump 2'!

I have also decided to sell my Whippy side saddle as well. After jumping this past week in that and in my off-side side saddle, I have come to the conclusion that I prefer a sweepy seat over a flat one. My Whippy, as much as I love it, just doesn't fit me as well as a sweepy seat does (like is what on my Beck, Champy and my Mayhew) and is hard on my hip due to it's flatness. I know flat seated saddles are held up as the "ideal" side saddle but from my own experience, some people's conformations can't take them.

I found jumping in my off-sider more comfortable and I could get a really good purchase with my left leg on the safe. This was the first time I have jumped in my Beck Morrow and the first time jumping on the off-side since August 2010 when I fell off my old off-sider and broke my rib. I don't want to do THAT again so have to make sure I concentrate.

Hattie and I first attempt, she just kind of trotted over it...


A later attempt, good left shoulder back too...


We'll just have to keep practising and see how we go!
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New Year's Resolutions

January 1, 2013, 9:40 am
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Happy New Year Everyone! I hope everyone had a good holiday season and that they got the presents they asked for :) Santa brought me a new side saddle stirrup in the newly made size 4 3/4" which will suit my bulky winter riding boots perfectly.

It's been a bit quiet here over the past month as to be honest, I've ridden probably a total of 3 times due to the VERY poor weather and flooding we have been having here in the UK and those have just been quick hacks down the lane when the sun has decided to make an appearance.

All the shows and plans we had over Christmas were cancelled due to the weather as I had planned to take Hattie into the dressage show this past Sunday and do the Prelim 1 test on my off-sider but the outdoor ring was flooded and the clear round jumping show on December 23 (we were also going to jump on the off-side), was also cancelled due to flooding. Our annual Christmas Eve hack to the pub was also a wash out. I've had my red off-side habit for 3 years now and still have not had the chance to wear it! Hopefully for 2013, the weather will be better.

My horsey New Years resolutions for 2013 is to get Hattie to the SSA Nationals in August and go out competing on the off-side. I have also decided to bite the bullet and get my saddler out on Thursday to see which nearsider fits Hattie the best (I only need one as I rarely ride on the nearside) and get them all in ridable condition and once that is done, sell the ones he says aren't perfect for her so there should be some nice side saddles for sale soon.

I'm also getting my reversible restored too (which will NOT be for sale!) and her restoration has already started with a new safe!!

Before with her original chopped up safe...


And after with her brand spanking NEW safe made by my lovely friend, Julia!!


We took a pattern of the original one and then modelled the unknown chopped off bit on a reversible pony sized Champion & Wilton that had been for sale on Ebay last year.


So now mine looks like a normal side saddle too!


Apart from my saddler, Roger, relining the panels, reflocking and replacing all the straps on it, the next item I need to get crafted is a plug for the unused leaping head socket. The original one is long gone so will need to get the screw off the leaping head cast and a new plug made to fit in the hole to cover it up and make it look neat. What is good about how the safe was made, apart from supporting your leg, it is also wide enough to cover up the unused upright head socket eliminating the need for a plug. The original safe did this so Julia made the new one the same way.



It's new reversible "pyjamas" fit it a treat too!



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Dianas of the Chase

February 10, 2013, 11:16 am
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On February 2, 2013, the Dianas of the Chase race sponsored by Bernard Weatherill (which was the first ladies steeplechase race held since World War Two), was held in Quorn hunting territory at Ingarsby Old Hall.



Unfortunately, I missed the actual race due to traffic mishaps but got there at the end to see the muddy aftermath and the wide smiles on all the side saddle riders.

Luckily, there are some thrilling videos of it on You Tube for everyone who could not attend such as this one:


and this one...


The legendary Susan Oakes (saddle cloth number 10), ended up winning the race and I managed to take some photos of the riders after the race. If any of you ladies recognize yourselves in the photos, please let me know so that I can identify you in them.

I think you will be able to tell by the muddy habits and the happy smiles, that a good time was had by all!













I was also amazed by the size of some beautiful horse lorries too! I could happily travel Hattie in one of them :) There were quite a few spectators who turned up to watch the race too so this sleepy little village had a bit of a traffic problem at one point.



Side saddle race riders coming back to untack and relax after a hard day's racing!



The outside of Ingarsby Old Hall...


and the courtyard at the back of it where the awards presentation was held...



The winners of the Bernard Weatherill Side Sadde Steeplechase race as well as The Household Cavalry Race...


A beautiful Whippy side saddle for sale which was on display in the courtyard (it looked like it would fit Hattie!)...


along with the saddle cloths used during the side saddle race.


The beautiful views of Ingarsby...




and the history of the village...


Although I don't think Hattie and I will be doing the Dianas of the Chase race any time soon, we did "pretend" the next day by galloping and jumping over the ditches filled with rainwater which line the edge of the lane that we hack down!
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**SOLD** FOR SALE: UK 15 1/2" (US 20") CHAMPION & WILTON SIDE SADDLE

February 11, 2013, 10:35 am
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**April 2013 update, this saddle has now SOLD**

Up for sale is my 15 1/2" (US 20") Champion & Wilton side saddle dated February 20, 1897. Leather seat and pommels with linen and serge panels.



A nice little saddle for those starting out to learn on, hacking out, growing kids or for lower level showing and dressage shows. The tree is sound, there is no movement in the fixed head, the tree points are also sound and when I peeled back the gullet channel liner, there is a reinforcement bar so could be used for jumping although for hunting, a saddler would be best to look at the saddle to see if it is up to hours of constant hard riding over 5' hedges!

The faults:
-Some old non-active moth holes on the seat (about 7) and on the top of the padded safe (see photo) where your right calf hides it.
-Leaping head cover was roughly sewn back together when extra padding was added to it.
-The L shaped C&W stirrup skirt has lost a few of it's front stitches near the edge but is still strongly sewn onto the saddle.
-Extreme tip edge of cantle has some movement where it has been knocked over the past 116 years and the leather at the back of the cantle has cracked because of it. A common fault with old saddles due to the sharp unprotected edge of the seat. Still ridable as is and there is no bagging in the seat from sagging seat webbing (there is a comfy "sweet spot" for your right seat bone from previous owners though!).







Has a handy off-side pocket with rough hand stitching edging it. Off-side overgirth has had an extension sewn onto the original strap to make it longer. The girth straps (billets) were replaced in the 1980's- early 1990's but could do with a conditioning or can be replaced.





The good points!
-Nice comfy sweepy seat for those who don't like the pancake flat seats of 1930's saddles (I hate them!).
-Non lumpy flocking.
-Panels are in excellent condition (linen has marks from riding and some shoe whitener left on it but can be scrubbed up for showing).
-Nice wide gullet channel between the panels and the panels are flocked for a level fit.
-Comes with original Champion & Wilton stirrup leather which is stamped C&W as well as Owen!! Also comes with a modern stirrup iron.




The gullet measures 5" between the tree at the head which according to the NEA Side Saddle Association, is a medium fit or #1 tree. The tree spread between the points taken from the tip of the leather off-side tree point pocket to the bottom tip of the nearside tree point pocket is 17" which makes it a medium, possibly a medium/wide fit if a wykham pad it put on it. The saddle is currently heavily flocked up for a narrow/medium fit to a high withered medium fit.

A beautiful saddle in a hard-to-find size that is in good riding condition for it's age.

£1000 + postage. I will ship anywhere in the world and accept Paypal, cash on collection or bank transfer. The saddle can also be viewed in South Leicestershire and we are about 3 miles from Junction 21 of the M1. You can send me a message through my blog or to crinolinegirl @ corsetsandcrinolines.com (please be sure to remove the space before and after the @ sign. I just put them there to stop spammers from harvesting my email address).

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YAY! A Great Start To the 2013 Show Season!

June 9, 2013, 1:29 pm
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I know I haven't been around all winter and most of spring but am here now! :)

I didn't have either of my side saddles all winter as they were at the saddler's getting tweaked. Hattie came down with that bump on her withers in January and I think it was caused by the panels on my off-side side saddle shifting due to weight change/settling down/whatever. The vet did say when she had it the first time two years ago, that she would be forever prone to them coming back in that area if anything in the tiniest rubbed her the wrong way there.

Anyway, the saddle shaved back some of the felt and pulled back the linen on my off-sider tightly so problem solved.

I sold my Whippy as I was no longer happy with it and neither was Hattie. In March, we went out for a hack and the saddle shot forward when we galloped along a grass verge and I came off on the concrete lane that runs alongside the galloping bit and landed on my knees!! The saddle was literally on her neck and when I tacked her up that morning, she was just not happy with it. It just did not fit her any more. To be honest, although it was a beautiful saddle, my hip did not feel comfortable in it so was not sad to see it go.

Luckily, I had my Mayhew back newly rebalanced and with all new straps, in time for the first show of the season so with that, we went to the Diamond Jubilee Burbage Riding Club show where we got three 1sts, a 4th and a 5th in our five classes. The 5th was in the Adult Equitation class as Hattie refused the jump the 1st time (it was 2'!!) but we got over it the 2nd time.

Frankly, I was surprised we even jumped it as the outdoor school at my yard had been closed all winter due to repairs and resurfacing and did not reopen until a week before our first show so we hadn't actually been able to school all winter!

Some Burbage Riding Club Jubilee Show photos...


Doing our individual show in the Style and Appearance class, we came 1st...


My friend Heather trying out a side saddle for the first time...



The next week after we went to the Diamond Equestrian Show where I decided to compete on my off-side side saddle as it had come back that week from the saddlers and my hip was not very happy having to compete all day the week before.

Hattie did really well that day and we came home with a 1st, three 2nds and a 3rd in our five classes as well as qualifying in all our classes for the Championships held in the winter. She went really well in my off-sider and my hip was happy too. I was also glad that I wore my lightweight habit as for once, it was actually warm in England!!

Hattie waiting for all the action to begin...


Waiting in the collection ring for our class to start...


Doing our individual show in the Style and Appearance class...


In the line up waiting to be placed, we came 1st in Style and Appearance!


There are more good photographs taken at the show at Peter James Photography as well. When I get paid, there are a couple I'd like to order!

The next weekend we were at the South Kilworth Riding Club show. I have to defend our trophies that we won last year in the Style and Appearance and Ridden Veteran classes. Hattie did not disappoint and we came home with a 2nd in Style and Appearance, a 1st in Best Turned Out and 3rd in Ridden Veteran as well as winning a little trophy and getting Reserve Champion in the Ridden Showing section at the end of the day!

The weather forecast grey skies and light rain so decided to wear my wool tweed habit but for once, the weather report was wrong in a GOOD way and I ended up baking in my habit.

Walking around at the start of Style and Appearance...


Our 1st place rosette in front of the the lovely Stamford Hall...


At the start of our show in the Ridden Veteran class...


Our individual show...



In the line up...


Hattie with her Reserve Champion rosette and her boyfriend Smokey, at the end of the day and waiting to go home...


More photos of the day can be seen on NJB Photography.

A week later we were off again to another Burbage Riding Club show but this time we only did two classes as I was getting a bit low on funds (right before pay day!!) and it was a HOT day.

I'm glad we only did two classes as Hattie was a right mare that day as the flies were bothering her due to the heat and she must have been a bit grumpy that day from being heavily in season and being apart from her boyfriend.

Despite the fact Hattie kept trying to get strong and run away (and buck!), she managed to hold it together for the two classes and we got a 2nd in Best Turned Out and a 1st in Style and Appearance before we called it quits and went home. I was kind of glad to go too as I was roasting in my tweed.

Hattie having an "episode" and getting strong in the warm-up ring. Definitely LEFT shoulder back here!


Pulling it together for our class- note my serious face...




She was starting to get a bit strong and "willful" here. It didn't help that there was a gelding calling to her in the trailer park!


Our well earned 1st place rosette and time to go home!


A week later, Hattie was back to her old sensible self and we went to the 2nd Diamond Equestrian show of the season where Hattie was brilliant and came home with an amazing FOUR 1st place rosettes and a 2nd place in the five classes we entered! I also chose the right habit to wear for once as it was a bit breezy and chilly that day but I was nice and warm.

Walking around in Best Turned Out...


1st place in the line up for Best Turned Out...


2nd place in In Hand Best Condition (it's hard doing the run up in an apron!)...


Style and Appearance...




A well deserved break after our long day of showing!


Hattie amazed at all the stuff we have to haul to shows...


 This weekend was the first weekend that we didn't have any shows to go to (well, there was some on but we just needed a rest for once!) but next Sunday we'll be back at it again!



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Change of Tack

June 10, 2013, 3:18 am
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We all know that Hattie's conformation does not do her any favors when it comes to saddle fit, both astride and aside, with her big mare barrel and her very forward girth groove (I reckon and so does the vet, that she has had a foal in the past).

When the saddler came out the other month to tweak the panels on my Mayhew and on my off-side Beck, we did a little experiment where we only attached the balance girth loosely and only used the first two buckles on my three buckle girth. My saddler said that both trees on each saddle were a good fit for her, but wanted to see if it was the full balance girth used on Hattie's BIG barrel that was bumping my saddles forward and if the third buckle on my three buckle girth, was causing extra drag on the saddle as well since the third billet is set far back on both side saddles.

Well, lo and behold, the saddles stayed put with a loose balance girth and the only the first two billets used on both saddles. I didn't even need to use my gel grip pads.

Unfortunately, I can't show with a balance girth flapping around and all I had wide 3 buckle girths so my saddler suggested that I get a narrower 3" wide girth (my ones are 4" wide) made from soft leather so it curls back away from her shoulder due to her forward girth groove and get it made with a short attached balance girth. So I had a tack room clear out and sold a few of my regular side saddle girths and invested in two side saddle combi-girths, a near side and a off-side model from Northumbria Equine.


Because a regular balance girth attaches to the front of the saddle and then goes around the horse's widest point of the barrel, Hattie's big barrel was bumping the balance girth, which in turn, was buckled onto the tree point of the saddle, causing it to move forward. With the short attached balance girth, it only rests on the rests on the side of her barrel and there are things buckled onto the tree points of the saddle which means, less things to drag the saddle forward. 

I really like these combi girths and any side saddler can make them or adapt an existing normal side saddle girth, even a three buckle one if your horse does not get on with separate girths. I don't find my saddle any less stable using them at all but I probably would not recommend them for a beginner just starting out as I did find that my saddle did shift a bit when I had my friend's daughter who had never ridden side saddle before, try my saddle as beginners tend to move about too much. I even jumped that 2' jump in it at the Burbage Diamond Jubliee show last month and it was fine.


I've always started using a Lemieux sheepskin half pad with my off-side side saddle to prevent another bursitis bump on her withers since she is prone to them. I don't need one with my Mayhew, only a thin quilted pad but it's better to be safe than sorry and Hattie likes the sheepskin as well. It also has shims so I can adjust the fit of the saddle with the change of seasons as well. The white one I also use with my astride saddle but also have a brown one for showing in.


So far so good with the change of tack!



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A Bit on the OFFSIDE Side Saddle

June 11, 2013, 5:31 am
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With more and more people taking up side saddle (women AND men), many are finding that they cannot ride on the nearside due to various physical reasons. I know even a gentle hour walking hack on my nearside saddle is often too much for my hip but unfortunately, vintage off-side and reversible side saddles are few and far between and the Zaldi Lady England side saddle seems fraught with tree design problems judging from the emails I've received and the reviews I've read.

I was VERY lucky in the fact I found an off-side side saddle and a reversible that happen to fit Hattie AND my own tall height but think most of the luck was down to Hattie being a Thoroughbred, the breed most vintage side saddles were made for. If I had a cob type, I would have been out of luck, however, these vintage side saddles are coming to the end of their long lives so something has to be done to meet the need of Equestriennes and Equestrians who need to ride on the off-side (and who don't fancy taking up driving to get their horsey fix, especially when they still have one good hip that works!!).

To meet this demand, Sarah Parry who owns A Bit on the Side Saddle, has taken to designing a new modern off-side side saddle called the Megan, which will be very similar to her nearside Melody model which is coming out this year. With many years of working in the Equestrian Industry for many of the top UK saddlery and riding apparel companies and as well as being a side saddle rider herself, Sarah is more than experienced to take up this challenge.

The saddle will be manufactured in Europe from European materials, the tree, also European made, is based on a Mayhew and will be reinforced for jumping and will available in a whole range of tree sizes including the very wide tree widths. The seat will be adult sizes in even increments up to a UK 18" but if the demand warrants, smaller seat sizes will be made as well.

This is the protoype of the Megan but is still going through design changes and testing so the final product may look slightly different but at least it is in the works! Sarah hopes to get the finished product (as well as other side saddles and side saddle goodies!) in time for the SSA Nationals this summer at Addington.


Any inquiries about the off-side Megan or about any of her other products and saddles, can be made to her through the contact page on her website, A Bit on the Side Saddle or she can be reached through the Bit on the Side Saddle Facebook page.

Needless to say, I am VERY excited for the Megan!!!!

Off-side saddles are not the only "off-side" thing that Sarah makes either! Check out my lovely new REAL silk cover purchased from A Bit on the Side Saddle! I use it under my fleece cover to keep the leather nice and smooth and it's just lovely! The covers are available in near and off-side models as well as different fabrics.





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Ignorance Is Bliss

June 27, 2013, 2:47 am
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Had a good showing day at the South Kilworth Riding Club show on June 16- Hattie did not disappoint and we came home with a 1st in Ridden Veteran, 2nd in Style & Appearance and a 3rd in Best Turned Out as well as the Reserve Champ again in the Ridden Section. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos from the show but there are a few on the show photographer's website so you can see the sort of thing that went on that day.

We are supposed to be going to the Blaston Show this Sunday but am unsure as to whether to go or not now as I've been sick since last Saturday so am going to decide tomorrow depending on how I feel, as to whether we go or not. I've been looking forward to the Blaston Show as I've always wanted to go and one of the classes I had wanted to enter, Riding Horse, is an Equifest Qualifier. Maybe I will go and just do one of two classes and leave the qualifier, not sure though.

I got fed up with resting yesterday though so decided to ride in the afternoon. The yard owner and my friend, had set up jumps in the top field so decided to school a little and then jump as Hattie is always better schooling in the field than in the school itself.


Hattie was quick and had to take off my spur and jumped all the jumps except one, which had been set super high. I figured all the rest were about 1'6"ish.

It wasn't until I got off at the end and looked at them on foot and saw that some were above my knee (then ran and got the tape measure), that I realized that one was 1'9", two were 2ft (well, one was 2ft and a bit)!



Hattie sailed over them and I was on my off-side side saddle. I know she definitely prefers jumping in that saddle and I didn't bother with a schooling whip, only had my cane.

The spread we did, measures 1'6" with a 2' spread, that was very fun to jump...


While jumping, I was having so much fun that I forgot how rubbish I was feeling although afterwards, I felt worse, lol. I don't know, however, what I'm going to do with my riding boots as the finish is wearing off on the outside of my left boot from riding on the off-side all the time. These boots are supposed to be my show boots for the odd time I ride astride or on the nearside. D'oh!!!!


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All This Jumping Malarky...

July 5, 2013, 2:48 am
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I didn't end up going to the Blaston show which was disappointing as there was another side saddle rider competing and according to a friend who went, there was a lady with a side saddle booth set up there!   

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!

I just couldn't face getting up early as I was still poorly and this lurgey still hasn't shifted off my chest but at least I don't feeling like the walking dead which is good, as I have the 3rd South Kilworth Riding Club show next Sunday to go to!

Well, since I have been feeling better this week, I have been alternating between fast galloping hacks out, flatwork and jumping on both my nearside and my off-side side saddles. I think Hattie and I have both become ambidextrous with side saddle riding now as now neither of us feel any different when swapping saddles, both sides feel the same. I find too, if I swap regularly, my right hip doesn't feel so bad . It still hurts but just a bit less. 

I think though, that until I find a hunting weight off-side saddle, that most of my jumping will have to be done in my nearside Mayhew Lissadell which IS a hunting saddle. My off-side Beck, although it does have a hunting bar, was mainly a park saddle originally and with the age of it (115 years old!), I don't want to wreck it.

I also managed to jump after 16 years, 2'6" again (well, nearly 2'6"!). 1997 was the last time I jumped 2'6"- 3' and that was astride. I've been a chicken ever since, well not anymore this week AND they were jumped in my OFF-SIDE side saddle!

First we did the ducks which was set at 2'4"...


I nearly came off over the ducks during one of my attempts as Hattie cat leaped it but grabbed my leaping horse and yanks myself back. Thank goodness for leaping heads!


Then I got cocky and did the spread which was set at 2'5 1/2" with a 1'9" spread!



 
We demolished that jump a couple of times but got over it a few times unscathed too. I think though that I need more practice before attempting those "dizzying heights" again BUT I have noticed this week that I am no longer afraid of jumping 2' and our 2' jumps are becoming easier and more fluid on both reins and in both sided saddles. I just needed to attempt those higher jumps for my own sanity and to snap me out of being scared, to show myself that I CAN do it. 

I'm not going to rush myself but just build up slowly as we get more confident!
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Look Ma, I'm Flying!

July 9, 2013, 2:41 am
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We schooled yesterday evening in the field as it was too hot during the day to do anything and the thought of going around in circles in the school, did not appeal to Hattie or me!

Did some trotting and cantering around on a loose rein to loosen ourselves up (and to wake us up too we both were too dopey fro the heat!) and then popped a couple of little jumps. My friend, Millie, was there and snapped a few photos as I rarely have anyone around when I school so wanted to see how our jumping was going.

Goodness gracious me, I was shocked and appalled by my arms!!!

How does one's arm position go from this...


To this, a flapping chicken????


I even purposely rode around and jumped on a long rein so make sure I wasn't relying on Hattie's mouth to balance myself over the jumps but still kept the chicken arms. Big or small jumps, I'm still trying to take off with my arms!


On a good note, I'm glad to see that my left shoulder is back, my left toe down and I'm sitting square on the saddle. Hattie certainly looks happy and you can see in the photos how she is flying over the jumps. She was loving it yesterday. I certainly don't feel unbalance when I'm jumping and thought that I was giving a good release. Evidently not!

So now I've got something else to work on now- my arms.

With horses, you truly never stop learning!
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Lazy Days of Summer

July 20, 2013, 8:00 am
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The UK is right in the middle of a wonderful heatwave! It makes a change from the cold, wind and rain we usually get every summer and the cancelled shows!

We went to the South Kilworth Riding Club show last Sunday but almost didn't get to go as the horse transporter I had booked, bailed on me and I wouldn't have found out had I not rang to confirm the day before! Luckily, my friend Paul, wasn't playing polo that day and saved the day by generously offering to take me in his lorry to the show.

Well, it was baking that day, I had to wear my lightweight habit and Hattie was her usual brilliant self at the show but it was a very disappointing showing experience with us placing 7th in the Ridden Veteran class and placing 4th out of four in Style and Appearance, both classes we usually win or place very high. We were turned out to our usual high standard, nailed our transitions and Hattie was working in a nice outline but that is showing for you, it really depends on what judge you have that day and their preference!

Despite our disappointing placings, I still had a good time and laughs with my friends so that made up for it.

Paul snapped this nice photo of us at the show in front of Stanford Hall, I like how it looks like a still out of an old colorized 1930's or 1940's film.


We have also been working on our jumping and I think I've managed to "clip my wings" and get my elbows under control. It's REALLY hard and I have to think about keeping my elbows stuck to my waist on the approach to the jump and then follow with a release over the jump. Hopefully I'll get someone to snap some photos so I can see if I've managed to do it.

I also decided to sell my trailer and then with the money, take my driving theory test, then a week of intensive driving lessons, then towing lessons/test and save up to buy a single trailer so I can haul myself to shows. I am very grateful to my friends for offering to bring me to shows but I feel bad putting people out so decided now is the time. Once I get my license too, my dream is to become a side saddle instructor too so it's all coming into place.

It was too muggy to do any schooling today so we went for a gallop. Hattie was very fast today and we galloped around the big hay field three times. to cool down, we walked around the meadow beside the hay field and there were lots of butterflies. I tried to take a photo but Hattie would not stay still and of course, no butterflies ended up in our photo!


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Something To Think About

July 21, 2013, 11:42 am
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Someone on the Sidesaddle Riders! Facebook group posted a link the other day of an article entitled "Evaluation of the force acting on the back of the horse with an English saddle and a side saddle at walk, trot and canter." which was of research done by the Clinic of Orthopaedics in Ungulates, University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria in 2006.

Although the full article isn't available unless you are a vet, the conclusion seemed to be that a combination of aside and astride riding is beneficial to the horse to prevent back injury and as a training variation (from what I gathered through the technical mumbo jumbo, doing this keeps your horse evened up).

Now, what struck me when I read the article and their conclusion, was the fact that many well to do ladies in the Golden Age of side saddle riding, had near and off-side side saddles, or maybe ladies of slightly lesser means, had the reversible saddles. The thought back then, was that it was healthier for women and growing girls to alternate riding sides to prevent crookedness of the spine but I wonder if  unknowingly, it was the horse causing the rider to be crooked or feel crooked by only being side saddle on one side? By alternating saddles, it would have allowed the horse to muscle up evenly on both sides, which in turn, would make the rider not feel crooked!

Betty Skelton herself says in her book "Side Saddle Riding", "In my younger days my mother rode on alternate sides every other day and woe betide the groom who forgot which side it was to be on on any particular day!"

It's probably not such an issue today as most aside riders ride astride sometimes (even I do) and with more modern training techniques available and more understanding of the Equine body available to the average rider, we know more about working horses correctly as compared to equestriennes 100+ years ago whose horses were only often only taught to canter from a walk- no trotting.

I do notice though that since I have been alternating between my nearside Mayhew and my off-side Beck, that my riding has improved, my hip pain in both hips has improved and Hattie is MUCH more even on both also recommended me alternating saddles to keep us both evened up.

Since using both sided saddles regularly, I also find that I'm not collapsing like I did last year like I wrote about in this October 2012 blog post. I do have a slight curvature of the spine but I am much straighter now riding so maybe there was some method to the Victorian madness about alternating saddles to help the rider as well.

The near and the offside, side by side!


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The Open Headed Side Saddle

July 22, 2013, 11:22 pm
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Often when I get side saddle riders look at my Beck saddle, they comment on the lack of safe at the cutback head and ask why don't I have anything there or why did I "have it chopped off".


It is a peculiar thing and did feel weird when I first rode on it but after a while, you appreciate the close contact feel of the lack of extended safe.

This style of flap with the lack of extended safe over the cutback head, is called an "open head". According to Nick Creaton, the open head was patented in 1893 and it's purpose was "to leave the withers of the horse quite free, thus allowing the air to pass more freely." He said that "It came about due to some safe's at the time being held responsible for damage to the withers" and that "Leatherby's of London pioneered its use, though Owen, C & W, Mayhew and Whippy also used it". He mentioned that he has also seen it used by other London and provincial saddle makers and actually has an early 1930's Mayhew belonging to one of his pupils, shown on the Museum Gallery page of his website (shown in the last photo on the fourth row from the top which is image 20 of 51, entitled F.W. Mayhew & Co.).

My Beck is from 1898 so fits in with the time frame of when it was first patented. The French saddlers such as Beck, Hermes and Haste used the open head in their turn of the century saddles as well.  Beck was London based as well as in France and all three companies seemed to have worked with each other as you often seen saddles with mixed names such as Beck-Hermes, Hermes-Haste with all three companies having saddles that look very similar to each other.

Although I do use a sheepskin half pad under my Beck (the sheepskin does give a little bit of support to my left leg), the saddle is still relatively close contact and I find Hattie is a little bit more responsive to lesser shifts in position or leg movements than my Mayhew which has a full safe.


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Too Much Excitement For One Week

August 1, 2013, 12:42 am
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What a week it has been, literally ups and downs!

Went out for a FAST hack last Wednesday evening with my friend Paul and his daughter Harriet, with them on their polo ponies and me as usual, side saddle on Hattie. I had planned on schooling that evening but was undecided about which side saddle to use, near or off, but in the end, decided on my nearside Mayhew and I'm glad I did.

The hack was a BLAST! LOTS of fast cantering and then we galloped around the big cow field, going over the ridge and furrows in the field. The polo ponies were so fast and Hattie was trying her best to keep up with them and I can see why now that the Mayhew Lissadell was and still is, a favourite for hunting in!! I was laughing all around the field as we went!

All was good until we got to the Ford River, Hattie decided to race Paul's horse and cantered through the river. We were just coming out of it when she tripped on something, went down and I was thrown into the water on the off-side as she fell and rolled onto her right side. Because Hattie fell into Paul's path, his horse ended up jumping Hattie and his daughter was able to stop her horse as she was further behind. As I fell off, I remember thinking to roll away from Hattie and not get pinned under her under the water. It was hard as I had the resistance of the water against me, but managed to do it and felt my boot just getting out from beneath Hattie as she rolled over.

This is why I was glad I was on my nearside Mayhew that day or else I would have been pinned under the pommels of my off-side side saddle because of the direction in which Hattie fell. Enough said.

I was soaked, the saddle was soaked and gouged to heck and Hattie scraped her front knees.

I guess it was a blessing in disguise that we did fall in the water as the water broke my fall (I only suffered a scraped elbow) and the water prevented any grit from getting into Hattie's knees so she had rather clean wounds.

Thank goodness Hattie was not lame but my poor saddle suffered the brunt of the fall.

We had a show on Sunday so it was going to be touch and go as to whether we went or not. Although Hattie was not lame and her wounds were clean, her knees were swollen so did not want to add any weight onto her while they were like that. I spent everyday, twice a day, cold hosing and putting DMSO and Difflam cream on the swollen bits in an attempt to bring the swelling down and it worked.

VERY well. I took a photo every day to show the improvement. I would decide on the Sunday morning as to whether we went or not depending on how she lunged and how the swelling went.

Thursday morning:


Friday morning (swelling already going down loads and scrapes scabbing over cleanly, look how fast the nearside knee has healed!):


Saturday morning (a little bit of swelling left, left knee has nearly closed up, right knee has clean even scabs):


Sunday morning, normal with the exception of clean, even scabby knees!! No lameness and she was striding out while being lunged in the morning.


So we packed up and Paul took me to the show where we got a 5th in Best Turned Out (lol, it came down to Hattie's scabby knees), 2nd in Style and Appearance, 3rd in Riding Club Horse (thankfully, it was only a tiny little pole we had to go over), 2nd in Inhand Veteran and then we did some Fun Showing classes where we just walked around. Hattie got 7th in Prettiest Mare (those darn scabs again, lol!) and 4th in Horse The Judge Would Most Like To Take Home. 

Hattie was really keen to go at the show and I have been schooling her all week in preparation for our dressage show on the 18th. Her legs are perfectly fine and she is working well so I really do have a Super Horse. Lesson learned though, NEVER hack out without knee boots on!!!

My poor saddle on the other hand, has not faired so well.

After letting it dry naturally for a week, I attempted to clean it on Tuesday night. I tested the fixed head to see if that was sound and there is movement and squeaking. I got out my screw driver and dropped the nearside panel and had a look to see if I could see anything. Well, the first thing I saw, apart from all the mould, was a rivet that had popped up in the metal reinforcement at the gullet. I couldn't see anything else but there is definitely a rivet that has come up. I'm going to take it with me to the Nationals and have the saddlers there have a look to see what they think. I didn't pay a lot for my saddle but I don't want it to be an expensive ornament as it's one of the few saddles I've tried that actually FIT Hattie and don't wreck my hip.

The off-side flap is gouged to heck as is the balance strap on my girth and the off-side nail came out. I can deal with the leather being wrecked but don't want the tree to be!!


This will be my last post until next week as I'm going to the Nationals today with Sarah Parry of A Bit on the Sidesaddle! I'll be bringing a selection of astride equipment to sell along with a few side saddle bits and bobs and will be bringing my off-side side saddle and pad with shims in case any one would like to try off-side riding. 

I hope you will all come check out Sarah's side saddle goodies for horse and rider she will be bringing too! I can't wait to see her selection including this new modern SOFT SHELL technical fabric riding habit!!!! 


Come by the Bit on the Sidesaddle stand to say "hi"! and for those who can't come, I will be doing my annual Nationals blog post next week. 

See you there!
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2013 Nationals Pictorial Review!

August 12, 2013, 2:04 pm
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Well, the Nationals was a blast this year! Although I wasn't showing, I still had an amazing time meeting and chatting with everyone and helping my friend Sarah on her stand, A Bit on the Side Saddle. There was too much to take in and I didn't get many photos of the classes as I was busy helping, talking and shopping but I think the photos I did get, show the good atmosphere of the show. Hopefully, Hattie will be there next year!

Early Friday morning shot of the dressage rings on the way to the toilet!


Trade stands full of every side saddle thing and related items you could EVER want. Boy did I shop...


Saskia von Ehrenkrook's stand, a yearly favourite of mine to visit as she always has beautiful saddles and accessories for sale. She has a small seated off-side Mayhew for sale as well.


Another favourite stand to visit with lots of lovely saddles for sale- Laura Dempsey's stand! This year she had Jocelyn Danby, Nicola Watson and Tiffany Parkinson on hand at her stand. I was very lucky as I had the whole team there poke and prod at my poor Mayhew. Fortunately, Laura said that my Mayhew wasn't damaged beyond repair and she whacked the loose rivet back in. She said that the tree was in good condition for it's age and although it was ridable as it was with the rivet whacked back in, she said that if I continued riding in it, the rivet would just work loose again as it was shorn off on the other side (from when Hattie fell). She showed me the points where to get the metal on the tree welded to each other.


Laura and Tiffany fitting a saddle at her stand...


Johan Ulvede from Viking Saddlery was there repairing and refurbing old trees and saddles. I was amazed with how he repaired some REALLY BROKEN old trees so that they were as good as new. Laura suggested I take my Mayhew to him to get the points she showed me welded and now I have a Mayhew that is as strong as it was when it was new!


The Wilkins Family stand displaying a variety of saddles including the synthetic Millenium saddle which they hope to produce again soon. They also had a beautiful Edwardian riding habit on display and lots of side saddle photos. I could have stood there hours looking at everything.





Another one of my FAVOURITE shopping stands, Side Saddles! They sell pretty much anything you could imagine side saddle.  A word of warning, NEVER come to the Nationals without plenty of money to shop.



ANOTHER favourite stand of mine, Showtime Supplies owned by Trish Daly. She made by lovely green keeper's tweed habit and can make any habit you desire at a reasonable price as well as altering an existing habit. I brought my navy Mears cutaway jacket and two of my aprons to the Nationals get altered by her.


And last but not least is Sarah's stand, A Bit on the Side Saddle where we hung out and talked horse and side saddle for all the days of the Nationals. Sarah introduced her new Melody side saddle (the off-side Megan version was not ready in time for the show but I brought my off-sider for people to try at the show to see how it feels to sit on the off-side) and it is SO COMFORTABLE to sit on. The leather is lovely on it and it's all European. I'm so looking forward to the Megan.


Sarah's special side saddle boots where you get a shorter right boot with suede on the outside of the right boot for extra grip on the saddle. She informed me that I could get these made for off-side riding....


AND the lovely NEW and MODERN riding habit made from soft shell material! I've already ordered and paid for mine and am getting two aprons, a near and a off-side one. The jackets come in standard sizing but the aprons are custom to your measurements, which is good, as I needed a longer one than the display one. so if you are tall, it's not a problem! The jackets will fit you whether you are tall or short! I couldn't believe it when I tried on the jacket and the sleeves FIT my long arms as well as fitting shorter ladies who tried it. I can wait to get mine.


Sarah and I did get to see a couple of classes during quiet times and I snapped these photos of the historic costume class.





On the Saturday night, we went to see the Rider of the Year class where the final four riders battled it out to be the Rider of the Year. Basically, all 4 riders had to ride 4 unknown horses and keep rotating until all 4 had ridden each horse, the judges judging their equitation each time. Samantha Boxhall was the winner this year and I would not have liked to have been a judge as I couldn't choose between any of the riders as they all rode so well. It was very interesting and something to aspire to!


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A Very Grand Old Lady

August 14, 2013, 12:54 pm
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One of the first side saddles I ever saw in person, was when I was a teenager (I was 15 going on 16) when I visited a tack shop in Cape Cod, Massachusetts while on vacation with my auntie who has a house there. The tack shop had an old Victorian side saddle perched on the banister and I was intrigued by it as it had all fancy stitching on it and a slipper stirrup. I had only ever seen plain 1930's style side saddles shown in my horse books so it caught my eye and also the fact, that I loved side saddle so much but hadn't access to any side saddles or side saddle lessons. It was so TINY too, even as a teenager, I would have been too tall to ride on it.

Well, my auntie didn't buy me the tiny ornate side saddle but a pair of Cottage Craft rubber riding boots and a Breyer model horse, both of which I was VERY HAPPY to receive but that little fancy saddle always stuck in my mind.

Now as a "grown up" and a side saddle rider, that little saddle that I saw all those years ago, keeps playing on my mind and I have kind of been looking for one for dsiplay as well as wondering how those Grand Old Ladies ride. Most of them I have come across, have been VERY narrow- even narrower than the yellow narrow gullets in the Wintec and Thorowgood saddles (Hattie takes the green narrow/medium in Thorowgood saddles and a black medium in Wintecs) and MUCH too short in the seat for me to even try at my height of 5'9" so never really made an active effort to persue finding one to buy.

Sometimes it's when you make the least effort that you come across something though...

Laying in a heap, in the grass, I spied a disgusting old side saddle. It was FILTHY and covered in dirt, dust, spiders, old spider webs and goodness knows what else. The leather on the safe was all curled over on itself- it looked a right old mess.

There wasn't a price tag so asked the vendor "how much" and she said she'd accept offers on this wreck. People passing by, giggled at my as I picked up this Poor Old Lady and made my offer. Then she came home with me and turned her into this Grand Dame...



She dates to about 1860 and was made by a saddler called H. Selden who was a "Carriage & Cart Barnet(?) Maker" in Tenterden (Kent). They also made ropes, twines and cordage! The original paper labels still are present on each side of the saddle.



The saddle is REALLY well made and was crafted for a tall, well fed lady on a well fed horse, lol. I honestly did not think this saddle would fit either Hattie or me and bought it for it's display value. That is, until I put Hattie's wither tracing against it when I got home and thought, "Blimey" and then sat on it on the stand and thought "Blimey!" again!

With that, I took it for a spin on Hattie to finally see how these old Victorian saddles with their off-side crutch, lack of cutback and their dipped seats rode and I was certainly surprised.

As soon I put it on Hattie, I could see that it fit like a glove at the tree (it has a long nearside and off-side point). Even the cutback less head cleared her withers with enough space but not too high to feel like you would be riding uphill.



I don't think the saddle was ridden in much as there was a serious lack of flocking at the back but the addition of a fleece riser, solved that problem. I did not encounter any bridging with the saddle at all and actually sat quite nice and level on Hattie's back although she does not look impressed. It has a roller bar fitting so used the same leather and iron as I use on my off-side Beck.




I also used a soft leather three buckle girth from a Bit on the Side Saddle for extra security in case one of the old billets broke. Note the lack of balance girth and the long tree points on each side. This was another reason to use the three buckle girth so that the pressure was spread evenly over all the billets to help balance it better. I put a thin gel pad underneath as well for extra comfort but despite being 150 years old, the panels are in remarkably good condition. Looks like all the spiders that once inhabited this saddle, earned their keep by keeping the moths out!



Then it was time to get on and I was so excited! My butt found the sweet spot in the saddle immediately and the crutch at the front of the saddle fit my ample thigh like it was custom made for me and not some stranger 150 years ago. 


The leaping head was a perfect fit too, usually on old saddles, the curve is too tight for my leg but the lady who had this saddle was a Good Doer like me!



The original owner of this saddle was probably a tiny bit shorter than me (maybe 5'7"-ish) so there is a little bit of "butt spillage" at the back as the saddle is just shy of 21" (it's about 20 3/4", I take at least 21") but my seat bones are comfortably on the saddle which measures about 14" wide! all in all though, it's not too bad a fit for me and I've ridden in saddles which have been larger in seat size but so uncomfortable! I did not feel uphill in this saddle at all either.


On a separate, humorous observation, I think I know the reason why I prefer NON flat seated saddles and why I don't feel like I'm riding uphill on sweepy and dippy seated saddles- it's because of my AMPLE BOTTOM!!! You can see in the photo, how the "extra padding" thigh and bum "fill in the gap" of the dipped seat which then in turn, lifts up my bones inside my body to actually sit level on the saddle. Flat seats don't give my padding anywhere to go but non flat seats, give it some where to go somewhere. I'm no expert and don't have any medical degree but you can't argue with the photo below!!!! 


Now the fun part, the riding!!! We started slowly at the walk, just getting used to everything and to make sure the saddle didn't start snapping to bits (and me getting used to riding on the nearside again) but once I felt confident in the saddle, off we went at all three gaits and even did some extended canters down the long side. I even tried holding onto the off-side horn as it was often used as a hand hold but couldn't see the point really, much easier to keep your right shoulder back than to hold onto that thing and lose contact with your rein. Unfortunately, the overgirth did break as i got a bit over zealous in tightening it!







Not once did the saddle feel unstable or move due to the lack of balance girth and there is something to be said about the dual long tree points that the Victorians used to use in their saddles, they do make a side saddle more stable (although harder to fit) if the curve of them fits your horse well. 

I took the following photos while I was seated on the saddle and there was no pinching at the off-side tree point and good clearance at the withers without being too high up over them (there was 2 fingers clearance). I would probably say that the tree on the saddle is a good, sound medium width for a Thoroughbred. you can see how well the curve of the tree follows Hattie's conformation.




All in all, I was delighted with how this saddle rode and Hattie did not seem to mind it either, so we may be onto a winner here!

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Meet Champy II

August 16, 2013, 6:41 am
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I had a brilliant day yesterday as Roger Philpot came out to fit a Champion & Wilton off-side side saddle that he had brought to the Nationals for me to try on Hattie. I had been riding in it a few times this past week and it rode well and seemed to fit Hattie too so fingers were crossed for when Roger came for him to give his OK that it fit too!


This saddle is unlike anything I've had before, it's VERY close contact due to the lack of safe (it never had one- ever) and it has a blocked head with an extended flap that goes over the cutback head for leg support due to it not having a safe. So it's an "open head" side saddle but the little flap makes it not so open headed. I rather like the angle of the fixed head too, I like them well over towards the middle of the saddle. The blocked head is a dream to ride too. The 22" and a bit seat (UK 17") is plenty long enough for me too.


You can see that the flap over the cutback, is actually part of the blocked head cover, there is no seam connecting it to the blocked head but one continuous piece of doeskin.


There is a small flat piece of iron inserted into the flap to keep it rigid across and over the cutback.


It also has a Champion & Wilton safety fitting which makes a nice change, as all my off-side side saddles have only ever had roller bars. The safety fitting is reversed for an off-side side saddle and mine has a little "O" stamped on the arm for "off-side".

A regular nearside Champion & Wilton safety fitting...



An off-side Champion & Wilton safety fitting...


I was so happy and relieved when Roger came and had a look at it on Hattie yesterday afternoon. He said that it was actually a really good fit and that not much needed doing to the saddle to fit it to Hattie. He put a felt him between the wykham pad and the tree for support under my right thigh, adjusted the flocking in the leaping head for me and tightened the thread on the leaping head with PVA tape. He said that I can shave a bit of the felt off of the nearside at the cutback to keep it away from Hattie's withers but that it wasn't pinching.


Once those little tweaks were all done to the saddle, it was time for my lesson and for me to get tweaked! Roger was helping me to get my position more centered which in turn, leads to much easier ride!!

For example, when I am on the right rein to help me stop cork screwing to the off-side, I am to try and keep my hip pointed in the direction of Hattie's nearside shoulder and on the bend to the right, I am only to move my HEAD in that direction. This helps to keep my body still but Hattie can still feel the weight of my head going in the direction she needs to go in.

On the left rein, the hip thing and head thing still applies obviously, but I am to bring my left hand back a bit to "take the rein" and not bring my whip/cane so far back as that will act as my inside leg to bend around.

I am also to keep my head up too! I have an awful habit of dropping my head and looking down but Roger told me to keep my nose, up, Up, UP!

All these tweaks will help me to be a quieter, more effective rider and I must admit, makes riding a whole lot easier!

Next, building on from the tweaks, was cantering and Roger was getting me to get my weight in the saddle more forward so that my right seat bone was very light in the saddle and my weight was concentrated on my left thigh towards my left knee.  He also got me to think about following a "rolling slide" rhythm at the canter with my hips and thigh when keeping my weight centered forward rather than an upright dressage position. Doing this makes you very secure in the saddle when out cross country and jumping and helps you sail over uneven ground.

I can safely say this was tested out by me yesterday as we sailed around the field in our new forward weight, "rolling slide" position. Hattie was flying over the ridge and furrows and uneven ground and I did not feel any of it, it was so smooth, I was laughing and smiling all the way around! I lost my stirrup a couple of times, but it didn't matter as my new position felt so secure in the saddle that roger said I didn't need it. I totally get now why they always say that your side saddle stirrup should only be used as a foot rest.

I've got to practice all these as he is coming next month to work on jumping which I am VERY looking forward to.

The saddle was a dream to ride, the seat is between a sweepy and flat seat. Roger said that the saddle was from about 1908 so there were both styles of seats kicking about then so I guess this was a happy medium between the two.

Despite not having a grip pad or an extra point strap, the saddle did not move on Hattie at all. It was nice to finally get a riding saddle that I did not have to have panels rebuilt to fit her or extra point straps added.



I did put the girth on the point and 1st strap on the off-side and then the first two on the nearside for maximum set. I still don't use a separate balance girth but instead, the combi girth with the little balance girth attached. This arrangement seems to work for Hattie as it causes less drag and this saddle feels stable with it any ways!

I'm very glad to be able to give Champy II a new home!

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Lovely Day

August 18, 2013, 9:40 am
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The weather keeps fluctuating between cold and rainy and sunny and warm (much to the annoyance of my arthritic hand which have been swelling and de-swelling with the weather!!) so decided to get out while the going was nice this weekend for some fast hacks (and to practice what Roger Philpot taught me!).

We did two circuits of the cow field at a fast canter and gallop which goes uphill and which has furrow and ridge and putting my weight forward onto my left thigh towards the knee, really does make for a smoother and more secure cross country ride. It also helps when braking as I can put the leverage on stronger as I start to sit upright for the transition downward.

My "new" off-side Champion & Wilton did not move all through our fast hacks this weekend and is a VERY secure and comfortable saddle. I'm so pleased with it.

After our gallops, there is a meadow in the adjacent field which you can walk all around. You can do any fast work as many people use it to walk their dogs but it's so peaceful just to walk around it. The other week, there were hundreds of butterflies flying around it and this weekend, I had choirs of crickets singing to me. It's like a piece of heaven.


I also have started conditioning my C&W with Effax and scraped down the mottled seat with sandpaper so is much more grippier and cleaner now. I also gave the wykham pad a good vacuum as well. Here it is, an off-side wykham pad complete with ventilation holes at the gullet channel. The bottom is lined in linen.


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EBAY OFFSIDE SIDE SADDLE SCAM ALERT!

October 2, 2013, 12:34 pm
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Trawling through Ebay as you do, looking for side saddle bargains, I came across this familiar saddle currently listed on there, an Offside side saddle by Owen of London ....


You see, every now and then, this off-side Owen pops up for sale on the various free ad sites like Gumtree, Craigslist, etc and it's ALWAYS a scam. Sometimes it's for sale for a bargain £1000 by someone in Haringey, London, other times it's listed on Ebay with sellers in various places in Scotland. Once it was the Shetland Islands, one time it was listed in the Outer Hebrides, this time it's in Glasgow.

The Ebay user ID's of the scammer are always ones with seemingly random letters and numbers and almost always zero feedback, except for one time on another ID, when they had a few feedback as a buyer from buying rubbish 1 penny auctions for e-books.



This saddle was originally sold by a LEGITIMATE Ebay seller (and one where you can buy real side saddles from and not pretend ones), saddlemalc99, a few years back and no doubt they cut and paste part of his original description. I believe it sold for a very high amount when he originally sold it, which is why the scammers have targeted it (the same reason why they targeted my black Swain which also sold for a very high amount).

This is the description the scammers use...

"Beautiful lovely condition offside side saddle made by Owen of LONDON number 13871 seat size cantle to cut back 15.5" (39cm) cantle to front of pommel 20"(51cm) seat width 12.5"(32cm) little bit of moth holes in the serge lining  and it has holes in the serge gullet lining.Fitting med wide.Tree /girth straps all good.It is fitted with a Mayhew safety bar.Bacs accepted only,no cash notes!"

Note disclaimer, "no cash notes" and only a bank transfer yet in the auction description they state that you can collect it. Why would you not accept cash if someone was going to collect a saddle? It is very strange and a obvious warning bell. Yes, I accept bank transfer for sales on my website and on Ebay but I have excellent feedback as a seller and as a buyer and also accept Paypal and cash on collection. There is nothing wrong with bank transfers but you should only do one with sellers who have excellent feedback and tend to sell the same sort of thing regularly. Most normal people will accept cash if you want to collect an item, I know I like it!


Another warning bell, Linda Flemmer who runs the Side Saddlery, and where you can also buy side saddles that actually exist, asked a test question to the scammer asking what type of horse it was used on for fit..

Reply: A gelding

Linda: I asked what kind of gelding?

Reply: A brown one

Enough said...



If you wish to purchase a REAL off-side side saddle, then visit the following websites as they have REAL off-sides or reversibles for sale...

A Bit on the Side Saddle (mine is coming in November!!!)

The Side Saddlery

Saskia von Ehrenkrook

So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT BID ON THIS AUCTION! EVER!

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