School Teacher...
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| Made by Valerie Brunhoeber (pictured) This dress is from the 1880s era. The skirt was made to be able to ride sidesaddle. It hangs down below feet while mounted and has a button on the right side below the knee to hook it up to the top back of the skirt to walk without dragging it. |
| There is a sidesaddle under all that!! Really! |
| Working, working, working about a week and a half straight!! |
| Standing... the fullness of the skirt is hung over the right hip and buttoned up on the back side. |
| Teacher's Attire: |
| Here's what it looks like while mounted on the horse... |
| Okay I'm done making dresses for about 5 years!!!!!! Haa haa |
| Videos of our "make believe" 1880s teacher in action: |
| This video it was too muddy to work in the area I was in on the first video. After watching myself I could see what Flax's problem was. He was confused on which lead to take when going to the left. He is getting into the right lead because that is what side my legs are pushing him to. I was asking for the left lead in the reins... It takes so much training to get them to understand. It is so different from what he is used to which is riding astride. |
| A Little About Riding Sidesaddle: |
| Definitions: Aside - To ride with both legs on one side like in a side saddle. Astride - To ride with a leg on either side like in a regular Western or English saddle. Equestrian - Anyone who does things with horses. Lead - A lead is when a horse gets into a canter, it is the side that reaches out further, left or right lead. Most people might think riding in a sidesaddle would be very dangerous. If it is done right and in the correct equipment, it can actually be safer then riding astride because your legs are on one side and the emergency dismount can be a little easier. The trick is getting over all the horns, haa haa haa!! Riding in a sidesaddle takes a LOT of thigh strength. You pretty much hold onto the horns with your legs! It is important to keep your thighs flexed and your right toe pointed to help keep your butt in the seat! You can't rely to much on the left stirrup other wise you might end up leaning that way and taking the saddle with you! Sidesaddle Fit: The saddle has to fit the horse and you perfectly other wise either the saddle will slide or you will not be able to keep your butt in the seat properly! Both of those things are very important to be able to ride in a sidesaddle safely!! As most people know in our area sidesaddles are hard to find unless you find one at an antique shop. Those are NOT going to fit today's horses PERIOD. We found one at an antique shop and found out after contacting the American Sidesaddle Association that it is simply just going to have to stay as a decoration. We have decided to have it be a piece to our museum, so to speak! Then I got in contact with those that knew what they were doing and they told me who to contact to help me find the right sidesaddle to fit me and my horse properly. After some good searching we were able to find one. It happened to be English but we can't be too picky and the price was right. |
| Then somewhere around the early 1800s they added what they call a leap horn because women started to add a little speed as well as compete in jumping contests. The leap horn was just that! It is meant to catch the rider if she were to get off set by a jump or if the horse spooked. The leap horns are still used today. They do not even make them without it because if they don't have it they are considered to be to dangerous today. The big reason is because horses today are not used as hard as they were back in those days when they were used for everyday travel and they were happy for a rest here and there!! Another thing that was added about that same time is what is called the break away stirrup in case a lady were to get thrown that her foot would not get caught and she would be drug by the horse. In the picture to the left, you can see the break away stirrup and the leap horn that curves back: |
When women first started becoming
equestrians they rode just at a walk and a
stable man may or may not have lead them
everywhere. When a lady went to mount up
they usually had 3 men to help her mount.
One held the horse, another was on the off
side holding the saddle steady and the other
was helping give the lady a leg up without
touching her above the ankles!! In the early
days the sidesaddles only had one horn like
the picture to the right:
equestrians they rode just at a walk and a
stable man may or may not have lead them
everywhere. When a lady went to mount up
they usually had 3 men to help her mount.
One held the horse, another was on the off
side holding the saddle steady and the other
was helping give the lady a leg up without
touching her above the ankles!! In the early
days the sidesaddles only had one horn like
the picture to the right:
| A Brief History of Sidesaddles: |
Did you know:
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| They also added what is called the balance strap. This is a strap that buckles onto the back right side of the saddle and went around the girth of the horse to the front left side of the saddle. This strap helps balance the saddle since both legs are on the left side. In the picture below, you can see the balance strap fastened to the back of the saddle going down over the main girth. |
| This video was done after I had did some bareback training with the riding crop. Flax had to learn to get into the correct lead in the canter. When I asked for the left lead I had the crop in my right hand to slap on the shoulder if needed. Then going to the right I had it in my left hand to get into the right lead. Once he learned what I wanted then everything is cool! I had to get him to skip over the rough fast trott! The same slowing down. |
| Learning to walk trott in the sidesaddle. |
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| More Pictures: |