I feel like dragging people down a rabbithole. Side saddle. Some notes. Medieval ladies would ride side saddle if they needed to travel on horseback, but they would be ponied or ride behind a man. Likely, low ranking women rode astride. - ThreadSky

ninjafingers.bsky.social • 108 days ago

I feel like dragging people down a rabbithole.

Side saddle. Some notes.

Medieval ladies would ride side saddle if they needed to travel on horseback, but they would be ponied or ride behind a man. Likely, low ranking women rode astride.

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themissinglink97.bsky.social•107 days ago

This is very helpful, thanks

noneofyourbusyness.bsky.social•107 days ago

In the Canterbury Tale the Woman of Bath rode astride and it was also noted many others of her class did too.

ninjafingers.bsky.social•107 days ago

Quite a few ranking women did ride astride too.

Part of it was that they believed riding astride would compromise the hymen and make it harder to prove virginity. Once you *weren't* a virgin, it was more acceptable to ride astride.

rebeccavonuder.bsky.social•107 days ago

Wasn’t there a specific sort of early saddle (I want to say Pommel Saddle) that had a literal pole like on it like a carousel 🎠 so the fancy lady did not need to put her hands on whoever was riding around with her??? I feel like that was a thing

ninjafingers.bsky.social•107 days ago

I have never heard of that.

ninjafingers.bsky.social•107 days ago

Adding something I forgot last night. I have ridden side saddle, but only briefly at the walk.

It was very comfortable. I can see why some people still prefer it.

ninjafingers.bsky.social•108 days ago

In the 16th century, the modern side saddle was invented (of course, in your fantasy world, you can do what you want). A second horn was added to the saddle that the rider's right knee would hook around. This allowed her to face forward and control her horse while still wearing skirts.

ninjafingers.bsky.social•108 days ago

However, in the 1830s, a BIG invention occured, the leaping head. The leaping head curved over the left thigh and kept side saddle riders secure. In fact, it was harder to fall off a side saddle than when riding astride. Women could now do anything side saddle they could astride.

So, some notes:

ninjafingers.bsky.social•108 days ago

1. Sidesaddles changed again in the 1970s, when there was something of a resurgence.
2. While it's harder to fall off riding in a modern sidesaddle, it's *much* more dangerous if the horse falls. You can't get clear.

ninjafingers.bsky.social•108 days ago

3. In ye olde days women riding side saddle would wear skirts, but they would get caught on the saddle easily. The sidesaddle habit was designed, after the invention of the leaping horn, to simultaneously look elegant and be safe. It's worn over breeches, with a half skirt or "apron". The apron...

ninjafingers.bsky.social•108 days ago

...is designed to be secured with a button so it looks like a skirt on the ground, and preserves a woman's modesty in the saddle. The top half of the body was covered with a blouse and a blazer or hunting jacket.

ninjafingers.bsky.social•108 days ago

4. The rider controls the horse with the reins, the left leg, and a whip held in the right hand, which is used to lightly apply pressure to the right side of the horse, replacing right leg aids. Western riders use a long quirt instead.
5. Horses have to be specially trained to be ridden sidesaddle.

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