Random Rainy Day Riding Related Thoughts

Julie's story about her recent show aside got me all nostalgic for showing. One of the reasons I would like to ride aside is to show aside. Because, of course, it's fun to get all dressed up. And there are few disciplines which lend themselves to getting all dressed up more than side saddle. Julie said she had been away from serious showing long enough that she had to start all over with packing, but even though it has been over 4 years since we headed out, give me my list and an hour to weed out non essentials and I would be ready to go right now. My trunks are still packed.


Back in the 1980s when Dad was hauling us, sometimes to two shows a weekend with two sets of horses, we were not allowed to take anything out of the rig during the week lest it come up missing on show day. We could outfit ourselves in flawless hunt seat, saddle seat or western garb at a moments notice. In fact, I once amused myself by showing my grey, appaloosa, heavy hunter in saddle seat attire next to a Saddlebred in a Pairs Pleasure class and won. And there was the time, to fill a qualifying class for a friend, when I showed my sister's Saddlebred mare western in a pair of chaps so outgrown that I had to be airlifted onto the horse and stuck on like a clothes pin because I was unable to bend my knees. It went brilliantly, but I almost upset the apple cart coming in a close second to the intended qualifyee. The critical point being the flying lead change on the second canter while the mare tried to figure out what neck reining was.





I remember packing for my first show when I was 7 years old. I remember having to clean my double bridle. No 7 year old wants to clean a double bridle. Much less reassemble it. My mother had tailored my second cousin's cast off green corduroy suit to fit, and borrowed a derby several sizes too big, which got rained on and scooped off my head from the rail mid class. That was the first of a hundred rainy horse shows in my life. My saddle was a vintage Barnsby saddle from before cutback lane fox saddles became the norm. We still have that saddle. It has a wonderful patina, much like my side saddle. It's a family heirloom of sorts.




What I wanted to do was ride three gaited saddle horses. I grew up going to the World's Championship in Louisville every August which is on par with the fanciest horse shows the world has to offer. My first, muddy, backyard show was a far cry from that and to say I was disillusioned is an understatement. It was another ten years, and several horses later when I finally got my three gaited horse and the fancy saddle suit I had been dreaming of. Mom made the formal jacket out of winter white Pendleton wool. I always loved the formal jods with the ribbon down the side, and the bow tie and cummerbund. I finally parted with the top hat a year or two ago, selling it to Julie for one of her side saddle habits.






When I became an adult, we stopped expecting Dad to haul us, and my sister and I, in our brave and highly motivated 20s, hauled horses all over 4 states in this rig. This was my first solo run. Mom, my sister, and grandmother had gone ahead with a load of hay and shavings, and after work I loaded my sister's horse, and my Hackney road pony (and the sulky on the roof) by myself and drove two and a half hours to join them. Packing was always part of the fun. We were well equipped and set up with a carpeted tack room, sharing stall curtains with a friend. Each show was an adventure. It was years before I realised vacation time could be taken for anything but horse shows!



We continued to show several seats. I love good fabric, and traditional attire. The fun of showing saddle seat is coordinating your shirt, tie and vest. And the fabrics for jackets. Mmmm. Somewhere I still have a bolt of cornflower blue plaid from back in the day when plaid day coats were the "thing" to wear. We just never got around to putting it together. And hunt seat, with the boots.... I love a good pair of tall boots. I've even worn my field boots, with a dress, to the office. **Shrug** You have to break them in somehow.

The Horse Show Mom

After a decade of being away from horses, I got back into showing briefly, to take Grey to the county fair under hunt tack. The first time I rode at home in tall boots and breeches, I fell off within the first 50 feet. I kid you not. I got on, started to walk, and was thinking "it doesn't feel like my heels are down in these boots" when Grey pulled his signature spook and spin left. Slick leather does not grip the same as suede half chap, and before I knew what happened, he had jumped out from under me. I literally bounced off his rump and landed (whooompfh) on my fanny in the sand, my feet stuck out in front of me.

But now I am fully accustomed in riding in field boots and breeches. I even had the pleasure of outfitting myself to go fox hunting this spring. I bought a second hand black melton coat, and got myself fully outfitted in brown gloves, stock tie and the works. What fun! I love that hunt coat.

My husband managed to snap one photo of me on "Remus" (far right)

This past summer I've noticed a funny thing about dinner parties and introducing myself to strangers. When I say I "ride side saddle", and "go fox hunting" (yes, only once but I shall again, despite the fact that fox hunting requires awaking before the sluggish autumn sun rise, which I highly disapprove of) it some how transforms me in the person's mind from silly house wife with large, impractical, pooping pet horse to some sort of mythical, feminist Annie Oakley character who drinks her whiskey straight, then throws the glass in the air and shoots it to smithereens. Don't ask me why, but it does and I find it highly entertaining.

The Old Dominion Hunt from the back of my horse.

First flight catches up to the hilltoppers.

And then my husband will chime in with his account of the fox hunt. Yes, I toted my husband along on my fantasy vacation, and he went along with the car followers and got the quintessential fox hunting experience complete with two views of the fox, eccentric landed gentry, guests from England, and a score of horse crazy women who had caused domestic disturbances forsaking their husbands to join "the gals" for a weekend of drinking and hunting. It went something like this:

It was a windy day, and we had hounds EVERYWHERE. I heard that the huntsman lost the pack at least once. The fox was only mildy inconvenienced, and the whole thing played out like a farce. It actually lent a shade of the ridiculous to what I had always seen as a noble and elegant pursuit. That cartoon kept running through my head "which way did they go? which way did they go?". A good time was had by all, but mostly by the fox who was home laughing in his den at least an hour before the whips found all their hounds.

Perhaps some day I can say that I fox hunt aside. Now wouldn't that be something? Plenty of women do, especially on the High Holy Days of Opening Hunt, Thanksgiving and Christmas. That's what I love about fox hunters. They're not afraid to dress up in top hats and tails to go galloping through mud and briars just for the fun of it. You have to love that.

The Hoarder's Dilemma

This weekend I couldn't really decide if I wanted to try the side saddle or not. I had the time, but when I got to the barn at 10am, it was already 85 degrees and 94% humidity. Because of that, I had worn my slippery summer schooling tights. Well, what the heck. Let's see how much help those full seats actually give.

A LOT.

Of course it didn't help that because I hadn't bothered to either ride or longe yet, my horse had a hump in his back the size of the Rocky Mountains. I opted not to tighten the balance strap those last few holes, and headed up the slope to the arena, slipping and sliding, left, right, back... and hadn't even swung my leg over yet!

Once in the arena, we stopped to stand and breathe until Grey's back relaxed. Then we tried a couple of laps at the walk. With my balance wavering, I was pushing my horse all over the place, and because of the slippery britches, I couldn't stay centered to save my life. So we called it a day. While last time the saddle felt comfy, this time it felt horrible. There is a lot to be said for not ignoring your own preparations and flying in the face of good planning. I guess I will be ordering some full seated summer tights for those miserable hot days.

So, back to the barn, and change saddles for a ride in the cool woods. As I rode, I mulled over the saddle fit.

#1. I need some flocking out of the front. If anything, the saddle is still a bit too tight, and it definetly rides uphill. I wouldn't mind setting it back another half inch, but it won't budge.

#2. This saddle doesn't fit like a glove. There is a lot of difference in saddles even of the same size. This I learned when shopping for my Stubben. I made full use of Dover's saddle test ride program, and spent one whole summer changing out trial saddles. What a bore.

#3. A quick inventory of the saddles available on the Internet tells me I am going to need at least $3000 to play with to get something just a tad longer and just a tad wider. A 23" x 14" would be just ducky. Side Saddle Heaven has three saddles that look promising, ranging from $1995 to $3500. No sense even calling to be "wait listed" for new consignments without cash in hand, and no sense buying one with the same sizing.

#4. The best way to get a good chunk of that cash is to sell my current saddle. I actually know someone shopping for a saddle and this one fits their criteria to a tee.

#5. The saddle hoarder in my blanches at the thought of letting go of this saddle. Even in the interest of "trading up".

But, if I sold my saddle to my friend for what I paid for it, and threw in next month's "mad money", I could be the proud new owner of something like this lovely Mayhew.

Well Crap

Just when I had decided that I had no desire to show this year, and gone ahead and emptied my checking AND my cash stash on repairing the pasture fence so I can rent it to the neighbor to cover my taxes.... As in I have the money in my pocket ($8 plus change) to get me to my paycheck next week and then.......

The local county fair newsletter came in the mail and my very favorite show has added a Ladies Side Saddle class. So, I added up the cost of black breeches, brown gloves, an apron and a leather girth instead of my string one and figured what I can get away with like riding in my heavy black melton hunting coat and ASTM helmet and a snaffle bit, and it's still more than I can afford. Especially after I pay for the entries. **sigh** Forget the extras like a veil for my derby, a riding cane and a more appropriate flat leather weymouth bridle with bits and long reins. I'm pretty sure I would not be satisfied if I were not appropriately turned out.

I was sort of getting tired of looking at the one single item I've spent the most of my own money on ever (my saddle) sitting on it's rack gathering dust and had planned on starting up again this weekend, but now it seems like a good excuse to say "I've never cantered yet" and forget about wanting to show. Well, I supposed they will have it again next year.

My mother has finished edging my saddle pad (my machine gave out) so I'm looking forward to seeing what my new shim system does for the fit. My Stepdad spent many hours this week getting our outdoor arena in shape and if the weather holds I will be aside on Saturday. Stay Tuned.

How it Began

When I was a teenager, I showed in a tri-state show circuit. There was a gal who showed sidesaddle whenever she was bored, or if the competition was steep and she felt she needed an advantage. She had both a hunt type Appaloosa, and a saddle type horse. She was always formally turned out with a top hat and a veil. She had the sandwich case and the string gloves under her billets. She was a treat to watch and certainly lent class to our show circuit. Because I was interested in it, she let me try her saddle one day. The saddle fit my horse and me quite well, but I can't say I took to it easily. It was a humbling experience for a talented teenage rider. But, it was memorable enough to continue to entice me for almost 25 years.



My interest in side saddle lurked in the back of my subconscious until two years ago when an internet friend took the plunge and bought a side saddle. When I heard she had done so, and started a blog about it, my interest popped to the surface with a passion. I followed her journey, and began researching the seat. Then I bought a stirrup! It's a very cool stirrup, and it has been sitting on a nicknack shelf with other vintage horse items taunting me ever since.



About a year ago I told my husband that I was saving to buy a sidesaddle, and since then all our spare household cash has gone to the saddle fund. You would be suprised how can refunds, mail in rebates and spare change will add up. I now have enough money for the saddle (if not the shipping) and today I mailed a wither tracing of my horse to a seller to see if this saddle will fit my horse.






My 40th birthday is Saturday. It's now or never. Hang on and stay tuned. This ought to be interesting.