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2013 Year End Review- It Was A VERY Good Year! Part One...

December 30, 2013, 6:07 am
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Well, 2013 has been a VERY busy and successful year for Hattie and I but unfortunately, it meant that this blog was put on the back burner as there are so many hours in a day! I have lots planned for us in 2014 (including my side saddle book and us going to the Nationals) so I will try to keep it updated as much as I can.

Hattie did very well in showing this year and my living room is covered with the rosettes she won for me.


I also bought a new off-side riding habit as my green tweed one wasn't fitting as well as I would have liked it to and my blue Mears one, was just plain TOO big! The tweed one went to a lady how has a reversible side saddle so she bought the off-side apron as well but the Mears habit, went to a lady who only rides on the nearside so I got to keep my navy off-side apron as a schooling apron. I am VERY pleased with my new heavyweight green wool habit, which I ordered from Side Saddles and plan on getting a dark claret colored one made when I save up some more cash.

I have a feeling though, that my new habit will be just as lucky as my old ones!

The July 14, 2013 South Kilworth Riding Club show, we came 7th in Ridden Veteran and 4th in the Style and Appearance class. I wasn't really happy with our placings but at least I know Hattie and I performed our best with spot on rolling transitions and excellent turnout. Couldn't have asked Hattie to do better that day. This show was the last time I wore my blue habit as it was rather large on me that day. I was grateful for it's lightweight fabric as it was blazing hot outside in the sun!





Then a few days later, we had our accident in the Ford River. Hattie and I got scraped up and my Mayhew broke. Thankfully, both our injuries were superficial and Hattie healed up in time (quicker than me!!) for the July 28, 2013 Diamond Equestrian Show as well as the saddle being repaired by Johan of Viking Saddlery.

We came 5th in Best Turned Out (Hattie still had some scabby scrapes which still had purple spray on them), 2nd in Style and Appearance, 7th in Prettiest Mare, 4th in "Horse the Judge Would Like To Take Home" and a good 3rd in Riding Club Horse.


In this photo, you an still see the leftover purple spray marks where she scraped her hip when we went underwater. That stuff does not come off no matter how much shampoo you use!!!!




Hard to believe that just a few days before, we both had scabby scraped up knees! Lots of cleanin''n prayin' fixed our wounds.


August was spent keeping ourselves fit for the September shows and building up Hattie to be hunting fit for when we went out with the Quorn in October! Our work paid off and at the September 1, 2013 South Kilworth Riding Club Show, we came 4th in Best Turned Out, 6th in Ridden Veteran, 4th in Style and Appearance in the Showing Ring and 2nd in Riding Club Horse which was held in the Hunter Ring. I think next summer we will try some more classes in the Hunter Ring.

Hattie in the Riding Club Horse class held in the hunter ring, we came a respectable 2nd...


September was a very busy month with a show on 3 out of the 4 weekends. On the 22nd, was the last Diamond Equestrian Show before the championships which were held at the end of October. Hattie did really well coming 2nd in Best Turned Out, 2nd in Style and Appearance and 5th in Riding Club Horse.





I think the show I had been looking most forward to all year, was the Macmillan Charity Show. It's held at Weston Lawns which is a beautiful facility were show jumping and dressage competitions are regularly held but also because it was for a good cause.

The show was absolutely HUGE! The classes had massive amounts of entries in them so I only entered 2 showing classes that day. Despite only entering two classes, I didn't get home until it was about 9pm!
Hattie was her usual brilliant self and we really had to work for our rosettes as we had very stiff competition. I have never been so knackered after showing classes as much as I was that day but I feel that we really earned our rosettes.

We came 4th in the Ridden Showing class out of 35 riders (I was the only side saddle rider and of course, on the off-side!) and the judge decided to split the class to under 14.2hh and over 14.2hh due to the sheer number of riders she was going to have to judge! Ridden Showing was judged on turnout, the rider's equitation and the horse's conformation and way of going, so everything really! This was the last show in which I wore my tweed habit to.

First all the over 14.2's went round and did our individual shows, then the ponies came in and had their turn. Then the judge chose the top 6 in each section and we had to do an individual show again for the judge to whittle it down. Hattie and I held it together and nailed out transitions so they were rolling and smooth. We truly earned that 4th place!

The second ridden class, Riding Club Horse, wasn't held until late afternoon as there was an inhand class between the two ridden showing classes which took hours to get through due to the high number of entries. It was also a huge class, about 27 riders and we came 5th in that so not too shabby at all! It got rather exciting when we all had to canter around the ring at the same time and Hattie got rather strong but at least she didn't jump out of the ring like some of the horses did!

In our individual show, we show canter extension down the long side and we jumped the jump on both reins. I think Hattie was starting to lose it as it had been a long hot day as she was a bit strong and out transitions weren't as smooth or rolling as they had been earlier but still, she held it together long enough to earn our rosette.

Getting ready....


Hattie in the zone...




Hattie getting a "bit" strong with everyone cantering around in the Riding Club Horse class...




The Quorn Hunt chapter comes tomorrow but the last showing show of the season was the Diamond Equestrian Championships which was held on October 27, two days after we had been hunting!! This show was for all those competitors who placed 1-3 at any of the 4 Diamond Equestrian shows held over 2013 s cream of the crop really! It was a windy and rainy day but Hattie was her usual brilliant self and armed with my new riding habit, we came 1st in Style and Appearnace, 1st in In-hand Best Condition, 2nd in Best Turned Out, 2nd in Riding Club Horse, 3rd in In-hand Veteran PLUS two Champion sashes, one for In-hand and one for ridden!





Hattie still wasn't done yet with wining rosettes and we also won two reserve champions and a 3rd place champion at the South Kilworth Riding Club end of season points in November.


Roll on next year's shows!

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FOR SALE: OFF-SIDE REVERSIBLE SIDE SADDLE SIDESADDLE 17" MED/WIDE

December 30, 2013, 7:45 am
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C. 1900 George Parker & Sons Reversible side saddle for sale. Seat is about 21 1/4" from the front of the fixed head to cantle or 17" from the cutback to cantle (it has a VERY deep cutback head). Seat is 13" across. I am a Uk size 16 and 5'9" and this saddle was plentylong enough for me.

It has a roller bar stirrup fitting and a nice comfy sweepy leather seat which is in excellent condition with no tears. he saddle tree is reinforced and tree is SOUND as was checked by my saddler Roger Whitehead, but this saddl e wasn't meant for heavy-duty hunting and show jumping, it was a park saddle. It's perfectly fine and safe for dressage, flatwork, equitation, hacking out, and the odd low jump in Riding Club horse classes or dressage with a jump classes. Very comfy and I've hacked out and schooled in it, pommels currently suit "ample thighs" but could be padded up with queens for smaller legs.

Has had a new flippable safe made and comes with a reversible fleece saddle cover. The leather work is in good condition (leaping head an an old patch to the tip), really only needs the panels relining with new serge as it's moth eaten and being flocked to your horse. I've used the billets as is but you could get them replaced if you wish, the over girth has a special made strap which buckles underneath but I was going to get a new overgirth for off-side riding only but I'll leave it to the new owner to do as they wish. The overgirth straps have old stitching where the holes have stretched through. The saddle could do with a new gullet channel liner as the original is torn (cosmetic, doesn't affect the use of the saddle and and any saddler can put a new one in).

Tree is a medium/wide fit as it's too wide as it is for Hattie as it sits down on her withers, it would need to be heavily flocked for a narrower horse or put on a wykham for a wider horse. It's got quite an open cutback head on it too. The head just under where the panels are screwed on is approx. 5", just under the thickest part of the panels is 10", From the bottom tip of the leather tree point pocket straight across to the other bottom tree point pocket tip is 18".

I tried it on my friend's 3 polo ponies, 2 of which take a wide fit in polo saddles and one of which takes a medium/wide fit. It fir 2 out of the 3 REALLY well, the only one it didn't fit as well was Possa as she has a really wide barrel but I think on a wykham, it would have worked for her as well she has high withers due to being a Thoroughbred type. The other two who it fit really well, are two Argentinian bred ponies who have Quarter horse breeding in them. Both are chunky built with moderate shoulders and a moderate barrel. It fit Pico, the pony who takes a medium/wide REALLY well and fit Daicy who takes a wide quite well although with some of the flocking removed or put on a wykham, would be a really good fit too. I've taken photos of Pico (the chestnut) and Daicy (the roan) to show how well it fit both of them and their build so email me if you would like to see more photos.

On my high withered Thoroughbred Hattie, who takes a narrow/medium to medium fit and has narrow shoulders, the saddle sits ok when it isn't girthed up but as soon as the girth is tightened and you sit on it, it sits on her withers so I used to ride with a really thick sheepskin half pad underneath it with all the shims in it to get it up off of her but was not ideal. The tree points are also too wide to offer any support for her.

I accept IBAN (bank transfers), Paypal, cash on collection. You are welcome to view the saddle, I am in South Leicestershire (3 miles from Junction 21 of the M1) and will ship internationally.

£2000 or offers. Shipping with the UK will be £45, to the US and Canada £165, to Europe £90. Everywhere else, please inquire.


























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2013 Year End Review- It Was A VERY Good Year! Part Two...

December 31, 2013, 9:49 am
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Not only did Hattie do very well in showing this year but we also did something that we have never done before, hunt side saddle.

On October 25, 2013, The Quorn Hunt Opening Meet Side Saddle day organized by Emma Brown, was held. I had NEVER hunted astride or aside before and as far as I know, Hattie never did either (I have since found out that she did used to go out with the Cottesmore sometimes)!

To get ourselves hunting fit, we spent August and September schooling in the field over uneven ground and I had a lesson with Roger Philpot from Pittern Hill Stables, who came out to fit my off-side Champion & Wilton and to given me a lesson. He tweaked my position and got me to put my weight onto the front of my left leg (since I'm riding on the off-side) which made me ride more forward and allowed my hips to have more of a "rolling sliding" feeling. This "forward seat" position allows you to jump easier and absorb the movement of the horse easier when riding over uneven terrain. This is why in the showing photos taken in September and October, you can see that my position when cantering and jumping is a lot more forward- and better, than it had been.


Roger gave me the history of my side saddle, he told me that it had been ridden in by Lady Leigh in the 1940's whose family had owned Stoneleigh Estate and it had been in her family since it was made, about 1908. I found out that Lady Leigh had become disabled in a hunting accident so she had to ride in an off-side side saddle.

So armed with Roger's knowledge, my hunting cap and Lady Leigh's Champion & Wilton, off we went hunting!

Hunting started at 11:00am but we got there early to get ready. There were already lots of people there and there were lots of ladies walking around in habits so I didn't feel like an oddity, like how I usualy feel at shows!



Hattie and I all tacked up and ready to go. This was my new green habit's first outing and my first long ride in my Champion & Wilton. My saddler, Roger Whitehead, adjusted the shims in my saddle and made a nice and neat thick shim as Hattie had lost her summer weight with all the fittening work we had been doing. He also added a point strap on the nearside point to keep the saddle put as we all know where Hattie's saddles like to go!!


Notice how I'm NOT wearing a spur!!!!



Hattie and I saying "good morning" to the hunt masters...

(photo courtesy of Sam Arbon)

Emma Brown had wanted to beat last year's Quorn Opening Meet side saddle turnout of 40 side saddle riders and we did it this year with I believe, 45!

(photo courtesy of Stephanie Davies) 

(photo courtesy of Stephanie Davies) 

I was the only off-side rider but in these videos by Russ Cross, you can see all of us side saddle ladies and one man!




More photos can be seen on the Equestrian Life Magazine website and on the Rose Rodgers wesbite.

(photo courtesy of Russ Cross) 

(photo courtesy of Russ Cross) 

 Hattie thought the whole thing was great too, I'm sure she thought it was the strangest showing show she'd ever been too!! When we set off, she went sideways and backwards as she was so excited to go. I did end up changing into my skull cap as I didn't trust myself not to come off Hattie and ruin my antique top hat and my head!

Hattie going sideways...


Hattie was VERY fast that day and even with the pelham on, I couldn't stop her. We galloped across a downhill field where at the bottom, a huntsman was holding open a gate for everyone to go through to a farmyard. Well, that open gate was getting closer and closer and Hattie was showing no signs of stopping. At the last second so I wouldn't crash into anyone's horses bums, we swerved to the right (made sure to keep my left shoulder BAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK) and Hattie slide to a stop. The huntsman's face was priceless and said that it "was a good stop!".

It was exhilarating, if not slightly terrifying, across the fields and even though we have galloped out on our hacks, Hattie was never as fast as she was out hunting. It was like she had  hidden gear which kicked in! My saddle was very secure and comfortable and I wouldn't have managed to stay out as long as we did on a nearside side saddle.

We we're out for about 3 hours before I decided to call it a day for Hattie and I. She was getting more and more wound up and excited, trying to canter and buck on the road too, so we turned around and tried to find out way back to the field where all the lorries were parked. Unfortunately, I couldn't remember the way back and would have had to go through the farm yard gate where Hattie had done her sliding stop so hacked up to the main road in Melton Mowbray, the A607, and found our way back home. It's a good thing Hattie is good in traffic as that road is very busy and fast. I wonder what all the drivers mad of seeing a lone side saddle rider hacking down a busy A-road?! I did thank every car that passed carefully beside us but had some silly woman shout at us to ride on the grass verge. 1) It's not in the Highway Code and horses are permitted on an A-road, 2) It was not safe to ride on the grass verge as there were big traffic road sign poles along it which we wouldn't have been able to ride under or through, 3) If Hattie spooked while on the grass verge and went sideways onto the road, cars would have been driving at their normal speed so would have hit us. At least if we are on the road, cars are forced to slow down and drive safely.

Sarah and I heading out...

(photo courtesy of Rose Rodgers Photography)

It was a brilliant day and I felt proud to be a part of hunting history and especially on a historic saddle too.


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Long Tall Sally

January 1, 2014, 6:28 am
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Happy New Year everyone! Let's hope 2014 brings as much joy, prosperity and fun as 2013 did.

To kick off the NEW year, I thought I would write about something OLD. May I introduce Long Tall Sally?


She was made in the 1860's (probably late 1860's) by Brown, Saddler & Harness Manufacturer in London.


Great Quebec Street was renamed Upper Montagu Street so the saddlery would have been located at one of the four corners of York street right where the Google Maps marker is.


First, the saddle had to come from Germany as it was owned by my friend Berit. She wanted to sell it as she wanted a more modern saddle which was handy, as I had been looking for an antique off-side side saddle for historic costume classes. Berit is tall like me and the saddle fit her, so I knew it would fit me and the tree width looked like it would suit Hattie perfectly. To raise the funds for it, I decided to take the plunge and sell off my two remaining nearside side saddles, my Mayhew and my 1860's Grand Old Lady and use the money to buy Berit's saddle. My two nearside saddles weren't being used very much due to my hip so there was no point in me keeping saddles that cause me pain so now I am officially an off-side rider only!

Photo of Long Tall Sally taken by Berit just before her long journey to England from Germany...


I was so excited when my "new" saddle came! She is a BIG girl which is why I named her Long Tall Sally. She even has a large near-side purse (which needs a new button attaching to it) which is built into the nearside overgirth skirt. She doesn't have any point straps, only the three normal billets so Hattie's girths which have attached balance girths, are perfect for it. To be honest, I'm not going to bother getting point straps attached to it as the saddle does not move forward on Hattie, it's actually quite a good fit and Hattie needs combi girths any ways.

I was so excited that I bought an old 1860's platform stirrup iron to display her with but for riding, I use my modern Cope's iron.



She has a cutbackless head which clears Hattie's withers well (she seems to suit these REALLY old saddles) and the tree points are equally long on both sides which makes for a very stable saddle. The tree also seems to follow Hattie's lines well but I wouldn't be able to use a pad underneath as it's such a close fit. I'll need to get the panels relined with new serge (not going to bother with linen as Hattie seems to prefer serge on her back and it offers more grip) and I want to get some Oakwood conditioned for the leather to keep it in good condition. The nearside tree tip has broken at some point (probably from being dropped over the past 150 years but once my saddler drops the panels to reline it, I will be able to fix the tip without difficulty using some wood glue. It's not too bad as is but it's one of those little jobs that will make my saddle perfect.

The nearside horn isn't as pronounced as my other 1860's saddle had been and you can see the large pocket with additional D-rings attached underneath it so this may have been a travelling side saddle.


People often say that these old early Victorian side saddles ride uphill and are not suited for modern riding, while I agree to a point, this one is incredibly comfortable. While I wouldn't jump or doing anything strenuous like hunting or long hacks, I would say that sometimes these Old Ladies can still have useful lives as light hacking saddles and definitely in historic costume classes. 

I have a print from 1868 showing Le Vent, a dark bay Arabian, winning the Ladies Hack class at a London show. He was ridden in an off-side side saddle very similar to my one.


When I put Long Tall Sally on Hattie, she did look the typical uphill built antique Victorian saddle but with a small fleece riser underneath, she did not feel or ride uphill at all. In fact, it was like God took a mould of my bum and said "Let there be a saddle!".


We schooled for a bit in it to see how she rode and then when I was happy with how it stayed on Hattie's back, we went out for a hack and we just didn't walk but trotted through the Ford river and cantered over the ridge and furrow grass verges. My bum did not move from that saddle and my left leg stayed firmly against the ornately embroidered safe. I think Long Tall Sally was happy that she was being taken out for a spin again!


Never mind that I forgot to do up the noseband on my bridle for the photo (don't worry, my yard owner did it up for me before we set off!) but Hattie was so light in this saddle. When we were schooling, she was working in an outline with the lightest of rein contact, just like how old Victorian books on riding for ladies say how a Lady's Horse should ride! I have never had her so light in the rein before so Hattie obviously REALLY likes this saddle! 

Long Tall Sally is also a REALLY big saddle, her seat length is 21" from the front of the fixed head but the off-side flap is also quite large as is typical of 1860's saddle. Her seat width is the biggest I have ever seen on a side saddle, 16" wide!!! I like the position of the fixed head on it too, it suits my leg nicely and the leaping head is also very long.


It is interesting to compare these large Victorian saddles on modern horses and Victorian ones. Although Hattie is 15.3hh, my big saddle looks more in proportion to her build than the one shown on the Victorian horse in my antique Victorian photo from the late 1860's!



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Winter is here!

January 12, 2014, 1:35 pm
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I think winter has finally arrived to my part of the world as all the cars outside were thick with frost when I woke up this morning and the stable yard was crunchy with frozen mud and puddles. We have been having a lot of rain here lately so the Ford River near to my stable has been quite high lately.

With all the poor weather, I have not had a chance to ride side saddle as much as I have wanted to (been working on my book about Victorian and early 20th century riding habits instead!) but as the morning warmed up today, I got out my reversible saddle to take it for a spin to see how it rode with the safe I had made for it. I had to put three thick pads underneath it as the tree is too wide for Hattie and then we went out for a short hack.

The Ford River had gone down since yesterday so we went through it and we did some trotting and cantering in the saddle but since the saddle is too wide, it was rolling a bit. I also need the upright head padded out with a Queen since it has made for a larger leg than mine.

I do hope the weather dries up a bit soon as the Dianas of the Chase race will be held soon on January 25 and I can't wait to go and watch it this year!


Do we have to go through it mum?


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Side Saddle Clog Stirrup

January 26, 2014, 12:31 pm
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Went to the tack shop today as I needed a new pair of winter boots for riding, mucking out and walking to work in this cold, wet weather as my old boots were leaking and making my feet VERY cold!

As usual when you go to a tack shop, you always end up coming out with something that you did not plan on buying. It's not so bad when you only ride side saddle as then you are not tempted by all the astride tack (well, yes you are but it's slightly easier to say NO to it!) but today on the top shelf in the shop, was a dusty forlorn clog style slipper stirrup for sale.



These were usually used on donkey and children's saddles in the 19th and early 20th centuries but I have also seen examples where they were used on side saddles as well. Usually the ones found today are very small but the one I found today, is adult sized and fits my UK size 8 (US 10) boots very nicely.

Clog stirrups are identical to slipper stirrups but without the extended foot platform and were used as a safety item on roller bar and children's saddles to prevent the foot from getting trapped through a normal stirrup iron. Since I gave up the idea long ago of finding a slipper stirrup to fit my boot for the historic costume classes, I was VERY thrilled to find this clog stirrup which fits me and is also period correct for my antique saddle.


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Presenting: The First English-Style Offside Side Saddle Made In a VERY Long Time!

February 3, 2014, 10:56 am
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My NEW off-side side saddle from A Bit on the Side Saddle, called The Megan, arrived yesterday!!!!!!!


(Photos courtesy of A Bit on the Side Saddle)

I was very impressed with the nearside Melody that Sarah Parry's company offers after sitting in it at last year's Nationals and seeing the quality of workmanship and materials, the affordable price and the fact that her trees are based on a Mayhew design rather than the Alton & Butler draft size proportioned Owen-style tree which doesn't suit or fit Hattie at all, I decided to take the plunge and order the off-side Megan.

Well, I am SO GLAD that I did as the saddle is beautiful and more importantly, it fits Hattie and she loves it.

This is the first English-style off-side side saddle that has been made in a VERY long time, probably since the Golden Age of side saddles during the first part of the 20th century. There are new off-side Western side saddles available made by Steele in the USA, Tattersalls Side Saddles in Canada and Lillian Chaudhary in the USA, has made a new offside western saddle as well on a antique off-side Western tree, but there are no makers of English style side saddles in the world who have made an off-side side saddle in modern times (child reversible pilches excluded). Sarah was able to do this as she is an experienced designer of equestrian products and has worked for many of the big name companies, rides side saddle so understands why and what needs to be done and has a tree maker who is keen to make them!

I am very privileged to own the first 21th century made English-style off-side side saddle.

I was so scared when I first put it on her back that it wouldn't fit and then saw it did- perfectly. Then I thought that it was too good to be true and so was scared that she would hate it when I got on and would start bucking at the trot like she usually does when she hates something- and then she didn't. Then I REALLY thought it was too good to be true became scared that it should shoot forward the canter- it didn't.

I have never ridden in a saddle before that has allowed her to use her back so much except for one dressage saddle, the Albion SLK. I wanted a wide gullet channel in my saddle and panels with a wide surface bearing area, just like the expensive dressage saddles. Her trot was A LOT more active and bouncier and her canter transitions bang on and quick off the mark. I'm going to have to learn correctly all over again as her action was more active across the back and bouncier!!! Her canter was more uphill and rolling, I could feel her back underneath the saddle and I liked it- so did she! As soon as I twitched my bum cheek and lifted the inside rein, she was off at a canter. The saddle didn't slip forward and cleared her spine and also the bump on her withers created by the Manorgrove saddle I used to own. I am looking VERY forward to showing and jumping, even hunting in my new saddle!

Here I am just letting Hattie go, not trying to work in an outline or anything but just seeing how she is reacting to the saddle. She was going for it down the long side of the school and if there hadn't been a fence and a brick wall, she would have kept on going.

(Photo courtesy of A Bit on the Side Saddle)

Sarah riding more sensibly in my saddle. She had not ridden Hattie since last January and that was just at a walk on my nearside Whippy as she was going to get a knee operation. You can see how well Hattie is schooling- not behind the bit, using her back and a nice active trot.

(Photo courtesy of A Bit on the Side Saddle)

Oh, and have you noticed the little handkerchief pocket? It fits my Blackberry perfectly ;-)

(Photo courtesy of A Bit on the Side Saddle)

The flocking started to bed down as it's proper real wool so I called my saddler today and he is coming out next Monday to adjust the flocking but I just couldn't believe all these years with battling with saddles, how Hattie went in her new Megan. When I told Roger how she went in the saddle, he sounded very pleased as he's been through all the saddle fit problems with us!

The tree fits her conformation perfectly too, no bridging, nice and wide at the head to clear the fatness of her withers and it was made narrow enough at the shoulders for her. The tree size that Sarah sized her for was a Medium BUT also created to template due to Hattie's particular fit issues. 3-D tracings were done of her back so that her tree maker could fit her fat high withers and flare down for her narrow shoulders.

(Photo courtesy of A Bit on the Side Saddle)

My saddler also made some suggestions to Sarah on what Hattie needs on a saddle and I even got point straps on my saddle. The wide triangular doeskin covered pommels were perfect for my legs (I have the leaping head on the bottom socket, I've not had a chance to try the top socket yet) and I had the seat made "sweepy" as I'm not keen on a perfectly flat seat. I find that a sweepy seat gives me more purchase with my thigh and gives somewhere for my "ample" bum to go. I've found with flat-as-a-pancake seats, that it feels like I'm constantly having to "reach" with my thigh to keep my position on the saddle.

The panels are made from English made serge, no linen yet as the flocking needs about a year to bed down properly in any new side saddle but I am not sure that I will ever get linen put on as Hattie has always preferred serge on her back. It's warmer and softer as well as offering more grip on the back. Handy for horses whose saddles slide forward like you-know-who! I also like how slim fit and streamlined the panels are. I wanted them wide and flared for weight distribution but they are not bulky and bloated like my Manorgove was and how a lot of saddles are. With these slim panels, I can really feel Hattie's movement and the wideness of the panels, does not create any pressure points. It's kind of like how a wykham distributes the weight of the rider of a larger surface area which explains why Hattie has always seemed to prefer a wykham type pad.

Because it's an off-side, Sarah had to have special off-side opening Mayhew safety stirrup bars cast and she does sell these separately for people who have old roller bar saddles that they want to convert. You just use a normal Mayhew leather with them which I also ordered from Sarah so that it would match my saddle and the fact that I no longer had my old Mayhew stirrup leather. I also got a brand spanking new off-side cover as well as my other saddles had hogged all the covers.

(Photo courtesy of A Bit on the Side Saddle)

The leather is exquisite- high quality leather is sourced from tanneries in Europe and smells and feels just like those expensive European jumping and dressage saddles! It is NOT made from that horrible stiff "cardboard" leather that kind of smells like wee and it feels smooth like butter. I'll never own one of those saddles but it tickles me pink to have a side saddle made from the same type of lovely smelling leather!! I can't stop sniffing my saddle!!!

(Photo courtesy of A Bit on the Side Saddle)

For fun, I put my 2014 saddle with my antique 1860's saddle, Long Tall Sally. The same, yet different.


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The Area 5 Show at Pittern Hill!

March 18, 2014, 3:29 pm
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Well, showing season begun last month with Hattie and I going to the Area 5 Novice Show held at Pittern Hill Stables in the next county, Warwickshire. I have always wanted to go to Pittern Hill so was VERY excited to be able to show there. My friend Sarah Parry, came along too as I said she could take Hattie in a class too so she did the Walk/Trot class as she had only ridden Hattie twice before briefly and isn't an off-side rider! Luckily we are both the same dress size and height so she was able to borrow my habit and fit into my saddles so off we went for a full day of side saddle showing!

Unfortunately, my new Megan saddle was at the saddlers getting the flocked adjusted for Hattie and with my saddler also being a hunt rider with the season still in full force, he wasn't able to get it back to me in time for the show which was disappointing, so I took my Beck for the equitation classes and my Champion & Wilton for the Style & Jump class.

It was a VERY windy day but thankfully, there is an indoor school at Pittern Hill so the show ended up being held in there as it was quite stormy out. Sarah's class was first and she did have some stiff competition although she was the only off-side rider. The judges were intrigued with my offside 1898 Beck saddle! Some horses were spooking at the wind clattering the sides of the area but Hattie was not fazed and Sarah got a very respectable 5th place out of such a large class. She even remembered to keep her LEFT shoulder back too, well done Sarah!!

Sarah getting ready...
(Photo courtesy of Jennie Daniels)

Sarah and Hattie in the Walk/Trot class...


(Photos courtesy of Jennie Daniels)

  Hattie and I in the Novice Equitation class were we came first but unfortunately, were the only entrant in that class! I think we definitely earned our rosette as Hattie did nice rolling transitions, was forward and was working in a nice elastic contact even with the wind banging the metal walls. I don't think we could have done a better job so was pleased how Hattie performed.



(Photos courtesy of Jennie Daniels)

The judge inspecting our turnout, I told her the history of my saddle as well. She suggested I pad up the fixed head a bit more to bring my left leg more over to the nearside. I already have a queen on the fixed head but think I could just add something on top of it and vetrap it on.

(Photo courtesy of Pitcheresque Imagery)

Lovely Hattie being her brilliant self...

(Photo courtesy of Jennie Daniels)

Next was the Best Side Saddle Horse & Pony class which the horse is judged on it's suitability as a side saddle mount. You can also compete within this class in different categories as well such as Hunter, Cob, Veteran, Hack, Riding Horse, etc. I wasn't sure whether to compete her as a Hack or Riding Horse as some judges have told me she is a Riding Horse and others have said she is a Show Hack but decided in the end to show as a Riding Horse as she doesn't have as showy paces as a hack does and has a bit more bone than one. We came 4th in this class and the judge said she would have shown her as a Hack as Hattie is fine boned but then I thought that maybe she looked finer boned than usual as all the other horses she was competing against, were big hunter types or cobs. I think this is something I am going to have to investigate further but experimenting at different shows as a Hack and as a Riding Horse and seeing what the judges say but personally, I think she is more Riding Horse.

Waiting before our class. The blue armband shows that we were competing as a Riding Horse, KI also put her ribbon browband bridle on which is appropriate for Riding Horses and Hacks (plus, it suits her too!)...

(Photo courtesy of Pitcheresque Imagery)

Hattie performing wonderfully in the Best Side Saddle Horse & Pony class, she did not put a foot wrong...

(Photo courtesy of Jennie Daniels)

Our last class of the day was Style & Jump where your horse's way of going and jumping style are judged. To be honest, I was in two minds about entering this class as I knew Hattie would get revved up over the jumps and I'm not that confident doing it. The good thing about this class at the Novice shows, is that you can ask the judge to alter the heights for you which was good as our warm up was atrocious.

I wish I was braver jumping but panic paralyses me and then Hattie goes nuts and speeds off with me or refuses and runs out. The jumps in the class weren't any higher than what we had been doing at home the previous week- 2ft...


but may as well been 7'6" at the show as blind panic set in. The judge kindly lowered them for me to cross poles and Ginny Oakley gave me some help and advice in the warm-up too. There were 3 jumps in the class and our first two were good but on our approach to the last jump, I cut the corner slightly which caused Hattie to become disengaged and she refused and ran out on the jump. I think we were both to blame, me for cutting the corner and Hattie for being naughty and taking advantage of the situation as she still could have popped over such a tiny jump even with being disengaged. The judge said the same thing too so it wasn't just me, lol! I was shaking when my go was finished and felt like crying as I had panicked so much and was glad that it was over!

We came last (4th out of 4)  but to be honest, I didn't care what placing I got as I had to do that class for my own mental well being and make myself  "man up". At least I did it, ended up in one piece and the fact that we got a rosette was a bonus!!

(Photo courtesy of Jennie Daniels)
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Hattie The Champ!

March 24, 2014, 11:06 am
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Why does everything fun always happen on the same day? Yesterday it was the Side Saddle Association AGM as well as the Dianas of the Chase race. The Dianas race was originally supposed to have been held in January but bad weather forced it to be postponed to March 23, the same day as the SSA AGM.

Well, it was a hard choice but the AGM won out as I had always wanted to go to one and Solihull, where it was being held, isn't that far from where I live. I'm glad I went as I caught up with lots of people I knew and browsed the Side Saddles stand that was there in attendance. There were lots of antique whips that I coveted as well as a small seated side saddle (think it was UK 15") that was so cute. There were also some SSA 40th anniversary fleece saddle covers on sale which I loved but no off-side ones but Phyllie, who owns Side Saddles, said that off-side ones could be made for me so I think I will have to wait till I get paid. I also picked up Hattie's new SSA 40th anniversary cooler too which is BEAUTIFUL! It's wine colored fleece with the gold anniversary SSA logo on it. This will be Hattie's travel and show rug.

It was interesting hearing all the SSA news at the AGM and it was also announced, that a side saddle museum in north Nottinghamshire will be opening soon. I can't wait till THAT opens as it's only the next county to me!

The Side Saddles Performance Points awards were also given out and I was so please to receive our 8th place rosette and our Champion Mare awards, both for placing Nationally! Hattie really a champion horse who tries so hard, I am so proud of her.

Hattie's winnings...


The beautiful Penny Preserve Trophy



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All the Empress' Horses

March 26, 2014, 2:02 pm
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I was googling the Empress Elisabeth and came across the Dorotheum auction house website which featured the Imperial Memorabilia Auction which was held on June 6, 2011, that featured a number of the Empress' personal belongings and memorabilia. Of interest to us side saddle riders, was a pair of unworn riding tights made from fine knitted silk with flat seams which measured 50cm (approximately 20") around the pink silk waistband.

According to Dorotheum, they "were originally made by Joh. P. Winkler, purveyor to the imperial and royal court, and retained by him as a memento. Ordered in 1889, the tights were never delivered following the Empress' assassination."

I think the website may have made a typo with the date as the Empress was assassinated in 1898.

The tights had an estimate of €2,400- €3,400 and sold for €3,500.


(Photocredit: Dorotheum Vienna)
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Lil' Miss

April 6, 2014, 9:40 am
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The other day Lil' Miss came to live with me. She had been advertised on Ebay by her owner as the family were moving into a smaller house for their retirement and couldn't take her with them. Lil' Miss's home wasn't that far from my work so I went to see her while the auction was live but decided against bidding as she was VERY VERY narrow, too narrow for Hattie and the seat size was child size. I couldn't afford the opening bid for something that I wouldn't be able to ride on and the auction ended without any bids.



Then out of the blue, Lil' Miss's owner rang me up and asked if I would like her as they really couldn't take and and had to downsize soon since they were moving and then she showed up on my doorstep!

Well, I had to bring her down the stable to meet Hattie and she actually how narrow she was. It turns out REALLY narrow. Hattie's astride saddle is a 29 Stubben which equals to a "narrow medium/ medium" in most saddle brands is a bit wide on her, 28 (narrow-medium/ narrow) would fit her better. Lil' Miss looks like she would be even narrower than the Stubben size 27 which is "extra narrow". You can see in the photos how narrow it is in the shoulders which makes it ride uphill as it can't sit down properly on Hattie.



Daylight!!!


I put Hattie's wither tracing against the saddle to show how narrow it is in the shoulders...



I also had some reservations of her tree condition too as when I first went to see her and test the tree, there was some creaking although, there isn't any now although I originally thought the tree was broken behind the fixed head, I think maybe now it may be the webbing? I'll take her down to the Nationals to get inspected but to be honest, Lil' Miss is going to be a display/education saddle. When they hold the Victorian days at the school where I work, I'll bring her in the for the kids to have a sit on as for most of them, it will be the closest they ever get to a horse!

Lil' Miss is a kid's saddle from the 1860's which was modernized, mostly likely, during the 1920's. The original roller bar fitting and square shaped stirrup skirt were removed and replaced by Champion & Wilton with a safety fitting and the L-shaped stirrup skirt. The ornate quilted safe was stitched down in the middle to accommodate the arm of the L-shaped stirrup skirt so that it would lay flat. Although there are no original 1860's maker's stamps or marks on the saddle, when Champion & Wilton did the work, they stamped the saddle on the flap and under the L-shaped stirrup skirt. The safety fitting and the stirrup leather is also stamped Champion & Wilton.


I wonder what the saddlers at Champion & Wilton thought about modernizing, what would have been considered by that date, a very old fashioned saddle? It doesn't have a hunting bar for jumping so I think it may have been updated for a child to mess about with for fun, riding on "grandma's old saddle".

There was also other remedial work done at the time too. When I first looked at this saddle, I thought the fixed head had been cut down to fit a child but after cleaning and oiling it and inspecting the head, I think the fixed head is probably the original height but was just recovered. The rest of the saddle is proportioned for a child too, it looks absolutely tiny compared to my other 1860's saddle, Long Tall Sally! The panels are in remarkably good shape so they may have been fixed up in the 1920's as well.




She has the old style over girth which fits over the flap and her off-side pocket is still in good supple condition. You can see how small her seat is, it measures 19" from the front of the fixed had to cantle and 13" across the seat. I "volunteered" my skinny 13 year old son to have a sit on it to see what age of child it would have fit as there is no way my bum or legs fit on it (I tried!) and it actually fit him rather nicely. He has skinny kid's legs which fit the pommels well so it looks like it would have fit a girl aged 11- 13 years old depending on height and weight riding a REALLY fine boned pony. Seats on 1860's and 1870's saddles tend to be made really wide too to accommodate the full riding skirts they used to wear, the seat on my adult sized 1860's saddle is 16" wide!


                                  Lil' Miss all scrubbed up and conditioned with Effax!


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A Less Than Regal Queen

April 11, 2014, 12:48 pm
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At the last side saddle show I went to, the judged suggested that I add a queen to my Beck to get my left leg over a bit more over to the nearside. Although I already have a queen on my Beck as it has such a tiny pommel, I never realized still how far over to the off-side my leg was. Over the past few weeks, I have been experimenting with different "queens", ones made from foam, gloves, anything really and then I tried Hattie's eye wiping towel folded up several times.



I have it placed a bit further back from the front of the fixed head so I can still get my left leg around it comfortably yet it still supports my thigh. I don't exactly have the smallest thighs on the planet so it's surprising that I need a queen on the saddle but there you go!

Unfortunately, my new queen doesn't live up to it's regal title as it's rather stained with purple spray stains, Hattie eye gunk and goodness knows what else off that horse! Still, it will make it's appearance underneath my habit at our next show on Sunday.


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The Side Saddle How To's

April 15, 2014, 7:01 am
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We didn't end up going to our show this past Sunday as Hattie got kicked in the field by another horse Saturday afternoon and was lame from it. Luckily, it just seems to be muscular and she is getting a bit better each day but it was VERY disappointing as we had prepared so much for it and won't be able to go to our next show, which would have been this coming Sunday. Sarah from A Bit on the Side Saddle, had come down form Lancashire to ride Hattie in a couple of classes too so it was disappointing for her as well.

In an attempt to find something else to do to salvage our weekend, Sarah suggested taking photos for the "Side Saddle How To" guides she wants to make for her website. Since Hattie is out of action for the time being my friend Paul, let me use his polo pony named Possa as our model.


Although I've schooled Possa astride, it's only been to keep her supple for polo and she has never had a side saddle on her before but Paul thought it was a good idea, so off we went to make Sarah's first instalment of her How To guides....How To Introduce A Horse To Side Saddle.

Possa is pretty much the same height and build as Hattie, but probably a bit more leaner since she is a fit polo pony who is exercised everyday and who plays nearly every weekend. Hattie's tack and saddles fit her really well so the next time the saddler comes out, I'm going to have him look at fitting my Champion & Wilton exactly to Possa since that one seems to fit her that little bit better than my Beck.

I was really surprised how well she took to side saddle since polo riding is completely the polar opposite to side saddle riding! Here is us going for it down the long side of the school. Go Possa!


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Our Little Hack

April 17, 2014, 10:35 am
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Hattie is starting to get better, her walking is becoming more freer and forward and she actually trotted the fence line today in the dirt paddock without any head bobbing or limping. She is going to stay in the dirt paddock until Monday and then I will see if she is ready to go into the summer paddock with the rest of the mares. I don't want to put her in there too early, get excited when she sees the new grass, starts galloping around like a loon and injures herself. Fingers crossed that she is def on the mend.

Meanwhile Possa has been doing some more side saddle work. We went for a little hack down the lane yesterday as it was gorgeous weather, too nice to school really. I've hacked out with her but never hacked her out on my own but apart from a few moments when she saw her shadow and then later on, a coffee cup on the floor, she was fine. We even had a couple of short canters on the grass verges. Towards the end of the hack when we were heading home, Possa starting accepting contact and quietly chomping the bit rather than going around with her head up like polo ponies do. She was using her back and bringing her head down and staying on the bit for short periods at the walk. As long as I have known her, she has never worked on the bit, it's always been "go fast after the ball". We have been doing suppling exercises to help her with polo so it seems that we are on the right track and that she actually likes the side saddle!

I decided to change girths and not use Hattie's combination girth and Possa does not have any problems with saddles sliding around or moving on her. Instead, I used a separate three buckle three fold girth and balance girth and she was fine with it. Although the saddle fits her quite well despite not being fitted to her, I find with the separate girths, it just keeps it that little bit more stable and perfect until the saddler can come out and fit it exclusively to her. It just needs lifting up ever so slightly under my right thigh, maybe one shim, that's it, other than that, it's perfect! Hattie has 3 saddles already, Possa can have the Champion & Wilton.


I have also discovered that I ride better with a Queen on my Champion & Wilton when it is on Possa than when it is on Hattie. I don't know why, maybe because it needs lifting slightly under my right thigh? It will be interesting to see if I still need the Queen on my C&W after the saddler puts a shim on the wykham.


Unfortunately, we couldn't do any side saddle work today as yesterday afternoon, Possa got bit in the field on the back by another horse causing a large welt to come up on her back. It's quite raw at the minute so we'll have to wait now until that heals up!!
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Hattie and The Megan- A Winning Combination! Part One...

May 20, 2014, 9:51 am
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Anyone who has read this blog for the past four years, knows how many side saddles I have been through, bought, tried, sold in the quest to find the perfect saddle for my temperamental mare. My dodgey right hip has also thrown a spanner in the works as I need an off-side side saddle now as it's too painful to ride on the nearside for any length of time and we all know how un-plentiful off-siders are!!

When I found out that A Bit on the Side Saddle was able to offer new custom made off-side side saddles, well, I put name down to order one! When I posted about Zaldi being able to make off-siders two years ago, I had been disappointed to hear later about the poorly made trees and fit problems people had been having with their Zaldi Lady England's so glad I never ordered one from them.

Hattie quickly recovered from the kick she received in April (thankfully it was on the fleshy part of her bum and not on the hip area) and I saw that she was galloping across the field again and kicking up her heels, it was work time once again for the May shows.

Armed with my new off-side Megan saddle back from the saddler after getting the panels tweaked and flocked up, we started back into heavy duty work with it.

Us messing about in our new saddle...

Cantering around without reins...


Hooning about on a loose rein, all good fun.


We've been doing all sorts in the Megan, dressage, jumping, hacking, going out galloping and even during our schooling mishaps, like the day Hattie was heavily in season and didn't feel like doing anything, let alone jumping, the saddle stayed rock solid. It did not move, roll, shoot forward or anything and I stayed safe and secure. The sweepy seat that I had it made with, REALLY gives me A LOT of support.



You can see how square I am in the saddle despite Hattie being a little s**t and refusing. There was NO REASON for her to refuse that fence. We had a good rolling canter which wasn't on the forehand, wasn't a high jump and a good line but she just gave me the proverbial finger and told me where to go. Jumping isn't really for me any way but as long as we are able to do the small fences in the Riding Club Horse class, I am happy.

The sweepy seat really did come into it's own this past Sunday when we were out galloping and Hattie shied at some Cow Parsley she saw and slammed on the brakes. If it wasn't for the sweepy seat keeping me anchored and allowing my left thigh to slam down into it, I would have come off the nearside over the front of the saddle. With flat seats, I don't find they give me much leverage for my thigh.

I took some photos of my saddle as I know everyone has been dying to see it so here they are..


Reverse Mayhew fitting for an off-side saddle....

Beautiful soft European posh leather covered panels:
                                 


                 The fixed head is the perfect set for me, I don't need a queen with this saddle...

Good generous medium tree, clears Hattie's withers and the bursitis bump on them caused by the ill-fitting Manorgrove saddle. 

You can see the sweep of the seat in this photo really well.

 Comfy pommels...

My saddler agrees that these wide panels are best for Hattie as they distribute the rider's weight better than the old "rolling pin" panels often seen on old antique saddles. They are very similar to what you see on modern dressage saddles. I can feel Hattie using her back more with these panels too.
                               
                        Nice wide gullet so nothing is pressing on her spine. I need to get some new numnahs made up for this saddle as it's too big for any of my current pads and its off-side so can't exactly go out and buy ready made pads. My saddler remarked yesterday how even the saddle's flock is bedding down and how well fitting it still is with no rolling or anything.

Hattie hasn't bucked once in this saddle, nor has it shot forward onto her shoulders once. It just sits there on her back, unmoving like a saddle should do. I just plonk it onto her back and off we go without having to use all those non slip pads, special girths, risers, etc that we've had to use with past saddles. I think Hattie has given this one her stamp of approval!


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Hattie and The Megan- A Winning Combination! Part Two

May 26, 2014, 8:51 am
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You know when you get a saddle that just clicks and everyone is happy, horse AND rider? Well, the two shows we've gone to this month with our new saddle have proved that Hattie really likes it and that it was money well spent.

We went to the Diamond Equestrian show on May 4 and Hattie did brilliantly coming 2nd in Best Turned Out, 2nd in Riding Club Horse and 1st in Style & Appearance.


Note look of terror on my face as we jumped. We really aren't jumpers but if we can get over the small jumps in the Riding Club Horse classes at shows, then I am happy. It would have helped if I had hooked down the flap too!

(All Diamond Equestrian photos courtesy of JKC Photography, Leicester.)

Then on May 11, we went to the first South Kilworth Riding Club show of the season and Hattie was amazing once more!! We came first 2nd in Best Turned Out, 2nd in Ridden Veteran and 1st in Style and Apperance. She did lovely rolling transistions that were dead on, worked well across the back and was working softly on the bit. We also did Prettiest Mare in the fun showing ring as we had a long gap between classes where she came 1st again and did two rounds of clear round jumping at 1'3"- 1'6". The first round we got one pole down but the second round, we went clear so that was good. I wasn't really expecting much at the jumping but just did it to kill some time.

Because we came first and 2nd in our classes, we were automatically entered into the Champion class at the end of the day against all those who had received 1st and 2nds as well and again,. Everyone had to go around together at a walk, trot and canter and then do an individual show and Hattie did not disappoint with her rolling transitions and we won Champion!

Hattie taking a break between classes and eating her banana...




A successful day!

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Get into The Groove

June 1, 2014, 12:21 pm
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No, I'm not going all 80's nostalgic on you singing Madonna lyrics but talking about girths and girth grooves.

Most of the fit issues Hattie has had with saddles (astride and aside), has been her forward girth groove and her VERY round mare barrel. With the help of my saddler, we've managed to get around her conformation faults by adding point straps to her saddles (attached onto the very front of the tree points) and using a narrower girth that is forked at each end to allow for the "swell" of her barrel.

To be honest, I am a fan of forked girths for all horses, aside and astride but my saddler and I have worked out that narrower girths seem to work best for horses with a forward groove and a very wide barrel and wider girths for those narrower barrelled horses that also have a forward girth groove.

As an experiment, I compared Hattie and Possa who both wear my Champion & Wilton saddle. It fits both horses who have similar builds well and both horses need the point straps as both mares have forward girth grooves.

The photos of Hattie taken in the Champion & Wilton side saddle, were taken after an hour and a half long hack which consisted of trotting, cantering and galloping over ridge and furrow fields and up and down hills. Despite all this crazy action, the saddle was still sitting 2 fingers width behind her shoulder blade.


Although the saddle has stayed put, you can see that the girth has gone forward and settled into her groove. When I take up, I am always careful to pull both legs forward to get out any loose skin and to help move the girth back onto her belly but at the end of our rides, this is where it ends up.


With the flap up, you can see how the girth has really arched forward to settle into Hattie's very forward girth groove. Thanks to the forked ends of the girth, the girth can arched forward to where it wants to naturally settle but not take the saddle with it. You can see how my saddle pad has ruffled back from the girth moving forward. My saddle also recommended to NOT use a separate balance girth but to use an attached one, so there is less drag on the saddle caused by her wide barrel.


A good view of Hattie's WIDE barrel. With a narrower girth, there is less leather for her big belly to push forward and with a combi girth, the balance strap just lies quietly on top of the barrel rather than being wrapped around her mass like a separate balance girth is.


Remember how I used to post about my saddles shooting several inches onto her shoulders just after a few strides of trot? Well, look at the scurf mark that lines up with the top knuckle of my index finger, that's only about 1"- 1.5", a MAJOR improvement over our fit issues of old.


A narrower girth with two buckles (this one measures about 3" as opposed to the traditional 4" wide three buckle side saddle girths), allows the girth to curl back from Hattie's shoulders without too much bulk. Keeping Hattie's  girths soft is a must to allow them to curl back so as not to gall her.


Possa on the other hand, can use a traditional 4" wide three buckle girth with the same saddle. This photo was taken after we had rode. Her barrel isn't as wide as Hattie's barrel so she is able to wear a separate balance girth but she does have a forward girth groove. She is a fit polo pony so her forward groove isn't due to being unfit or fat either. You can see that the girth has settled into her girth groove but the saddle has not moved. The first two branches of the girth's fork have kept the saddle in the correct place over her girth groove and behind the shoulder while the last branch of the fork, has kept the saddle stable over her barrel.


Although I have not had to deal with a saddle going backwards or that rolls, I should imagine that in those cases, the 4" wide three buckle girth, would also be useful so that the forks can be spread out over the girth straps to help keep the saddle more stable.
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Hattie Does It Again!

June 10, 2014, 7:17 am
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We had our second South Kilworth Riding Club show of the season on Sunday (two more to go!) and Hattie once again, pulled out all the stops. We came 2nd in Best Turned Out, 6th in Prettiest Mare (we decided to do a Fun Showing class as he had a huge gap in the day between Best Turned Out and then our afternoon classes), 2nd in Ridden Veteran, 1st in Style and Appearance and then we did two rounds of Clear Round Jumping. The at the end of the day, we ended up being Ridden Champion in the showing ring and then Reserve Supreme Champion!!!

The show was VERY busy and it was a long hot day so am thrilled how we performed in the huge classes as we had stiff competition. There are a few things that we need to work on, namely our transitions as they were a bit sloppy and not instant on the day. I think that is a bit of laziness on the part of Hattie and then complacency on my part, some schooling in the paddock should cure that and sharpen us both up. As much as it is lovely having a soft school to ride in, I find it does make you go "soft". Our performances at shows are always better once we've schooled in a field and it helps with the jumping too.

Hattie was good jumping at the show, more forward than usual but still lacking a bit confidence which I think she picks up from me. We were working on jumping in the school but again, Hattie equates the school with work and therefore the laziness comes out so you're always pushing her on. Again, some jumping in the paddock will increase both our confidence and sharpen us up.

I think horses have taught me not to get too comfortable and complacent as even if you come home with champion rosettes, there is always something to work on for next time or something your horse will throw into the works just to "shake things up" a bit!

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RUST!

June 12, 2014, 7:05 am
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No, my saddle isn't going rusty but I have rust on my legs!!

For those in the UK who aren't familiar with the North American obsession with rust breeches, it was a popular colour for hunter/jumper riders to wear until "puke green" breeches took over in the late 1980's. Rust is making a comeback in the USA and Canada but the UK has been resistant to this particular colour, although why is anyone's guess as it is flattering for all figure types and for women AND men as well!

It is a very traditional colour and always thought would suit side saddle riding but hard to find or non-existent in the UK, so was VERY happy when Sarah Parry, from a Bit on the Side Saddle, contacted me to let me know that she had brought out a rust coloured breeches line into her product range!

I used to wear rust in the late 1980's and early 90's as a teenager so when my pair arrived in the mail, I felt like a kid again! The Bit on the Side Saddle ones are made from that woven stretch cotton that is really popular with the more expensive breeches (and which I really like!) and they have full clarino seats which are useful for side saddle riding, especially if you have a leather seated side saddle. They aren't the side saddle specific line of breeches that they do with the clarino on the outside if the right leg but normal full seat breeches. This is fine as I ride off-side any ways and you can use them astride too.

I ordered the UK size 16/18 and fit well in the hips and thighs and are long enough for me too. I REALLY hate when breeches end mid calf on me, not comfortable AT ALL but these are perfect. I've been wearing mine for two days straight to school Hattie (rust doesn't show the dirt so you can get a couple of day's wear out of them!) and have had good grip in the saddle and not been constricted at all!

Just need a rust habit now ;-)


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Up and up

June 21, 2014, 12:10 am
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Hattie and I had another successful showing day last Sunday at the Diamond Equestrian show coming 1st in  Best Turned Out, 1st in Style and Appearance and 3rd in Riding Club horse. Hattie is really going wel;l in her new off-side side saddle and J was VERY glad to have it in the Riding Club Horse class when the judge whacked the jump up to 2ft!

The jumps are usually about 1'6"- 1'9" in Riding Club classes which I feel comfortable doing but 2ft is still a little too high for a weenie like me to do without poo-ing myself. I was panicking as each rider before me did their individual shows and took the jump in their stride (it seems that a lot of people who enter RC classes tend to be show jumpers so they do not seem to care what height the jump is set at, lol) and then it was our turn.

We did a nice walk, trot and canter on both reins with good rolling transitions and then let I Hattie have her head a bit as I didn't want her going to the fence in a full on collected dressage canter but still kept her motoring from behind (it's kind of like a rolling sensation from behind), said a prayer out loud and hoped for the best.

She went to hesitate but then thought better of it and popper the fence in a less-than-elegant fashion. It wouldn't have been so bad but everyone was standing around to see if the side saddle rider would make it. We did, and I didn't die so that is good.

The massive 2ft jump!!


Another thing that got "put up" this week apart from the jump, was the wykham pad in my Champion & Wilton. For the past 1-2 months of riding Possa in it, I have just felt that the saddle was dropping ever so slightly away from under my right thigh. I wasn't sure if it was just Possa as the saddler had originally been fitted to Hattie but I tried it on Hattie and it did the same thing so got the saddler out.

It had shimmed it up with new felt at the end of September/October so thought that it was probably just the new felt bedding down so he added another thicker felt shim to lift it up a bit more for Possa.


I rode her in it on Wednesday again and the saddle is a good fit but she is generally weaker on the right rein (polo ponies don't really do the type of schooling dressage and showing horses do) and she tends to drop away from me on the right rein, especially on bends.

I found after working her on circles and doing lots of transitions so she was using her back more, that "dropping sensation" on the right rein, virtually disappeared at the end of our schooling session so think we need to work more on that. 

In this case, the dropping away" sensation I felt was caused by the saddle AND the horse but at last now that I know the saddle is fitted perfectly to her, I can work on Possa's schooling to build up the muscles more on the off-side.
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