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Post by donnalex on Jan 8, 2012 21:05:36 GMT 1
Your pictures do look better than a lot I have seen I have to admit but only the second one shows much bascule Great that he never gets sore though as loads do even with astride saddles. If you are walking home from the supermarket though do you try to load the bags evenly or put all the bulkier or heavier ones to one side?
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Post by legoverlady on Jan 8, 2012 21:15:55 GMT 1
think 3 and 4 are to small to even hope for a bascule and the 4' hedge I suspect was just taken at a bad moment. People thinking all your weight is on one side is a common misconception and is completely untrue. You sit totally centrally and the only extra weight on the left hand side is the weight of tour right leg below the knee which you account for by putting a fractional amount more weight in your right seat bone. I did a challenge last year with one of the computer monitored saddle pressure pads. THey discovered that my sidesaddle caused no pressure points at all and the weight distribution was completely equal on both sides. My side saddle (built in 1929!) out performed all the other 9 astride riders there.
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Post by legoverlady on Jan 8, 2012 21:26:24 GMT 1
another member of the FF team with a happy relaxed horse. In fact he's positivley smiling!!! It's all about having really good tuition, same as with riding astride. And having a saddle that fits you and the horse perfectly Attachments:
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Post by legoverlady on Jan 8, 2012 21:32:48 GMT 1
and another one! If anyone wants more information or would like to know where we'll be performing this year so you can come and see for yourself or have your questions answered - search Facebook for The Flying Foxes Sidesaddle Display Team or have a look on our website flyingfoxes.org.uk We'd love to see you!!! We also offer sidesaddle have a go days, lessons, clinics and talks on the history of sidesaddle xx Attachments:
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Post by laurac on Jan 8, 2012 21:47:37 GMT 1
and another one! If anyone wants more information or would like to know where we'll be performing this year so you can come and see for yourself or have your questions answered - search Facebook for The Flying Foxes Sidesaddle Display Team or have a look on our website flyingfoxes.org.uk We'd love to see you!!! We also offer sidesaddle have a go days, lessons, clinics and talks on the history of sidesaddle xx Ooh the side saddle have a go days sound very interesting! love to have a go A girl at livery i was at yrs ago used to ride side saddle XC and her and her pony actually preferred it, i thought she was very brave Your team looks amazing and an inspiration
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Post by legoverlady on Jan 8, 2012 21:53:23 GMT 1
LauraC thank you and you're in luck! I see you're in Essex - I'm based at Audley End House in Saffron Walden where I work for English Heritage as a Historical Equestrian Consultant/Equestrian Performer/Horse Trainer and Lecturer (dream job!). If you have a look on the English Heritage website the details should all be on there, failing that come and see as at a show - we love to chat!!!! My horse jumps and rides far better side saddle and I prefer it too!!! It's not about being brave, it's having the right horse and a good teacher. Most of the ladies I teach, if they are already riders, are jumping within an hour and are all surprised at how comfortable and safe they feel.
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Post by laurac on Jan 8, 2012 22:25:26 GMT 1
Thanks legoverlady, I shall certainly check dates/details on the website and see if anyone of my friends are interested too ;D Your horse if goregeous by the way
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Post by donnalex on Jan 8, 2012 23:11:37 GMT 1
and another one! If anyone wants more information or would like to know where we'll be performing this year so you can come and see for yourself or have your questions answered - search Facebook for The Flying Foxes Sidesaddle Display Team or have a look on our website flyingfoxes.org.uk We'd love to see you!!! We also offer sidesaddle have a go days, lessons, clinics and talks on the history of sidesaddle xx This is a good one I have to agree yours are better than a lot I have seen.
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Post by mjcssjw2 on Jan 8, 2012 23:41:04 GMT 1
Its interesting what you say about the pressure pads legoverlady as i was considering trying that next. I do think that a lot of saddles are not correctly balanced though thats probably the same as astride riding. Wish I could get to feel completely comfortable sidesaddle though, much prefer astride. the only thing that does puzzle me is that you lighten the left seat bone, as this would lead you to think you are not sitting equally on the horses back, kind off gettinf poked with the right seat bone. Also watched at the side saddle nationals and was very suprised at how many horses were not travelling straight, very interesting watching left rein canter across the diagonal to counter canter, there was only a couple of horses did a nice job of it. This is in no way aimed at you, just observations I have made during my playing!!
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Post by mjcssjw2 on Jan 8, 2012 23:50:29 GMT 1
more my style! I am afraid I am not as bold as you!! Attachments:
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Post by donnalex on Jan 9, 2012 8:53:11 GMT 1
At the moment Im having a dabble with pilates and the thinking behind it I have to say it makes so much sense keeping your body symmetrical with good posture and working all of our muscles perfectly evenly much as we would do when schooling the horse. Riding side saddle would surely have to work against the rider in this quest? Maybe not now as ladies only ride to the side occasionally, imagine if you rode to the side every day with your waist twisted to one side. That would surely have to work against having a symmetrical body? And the horse surely he has to compensate and he too over time would develop unevenly particularly taking into account canter on the left rein? Does anybody know if riding them side saddle has any effect on their symmetry?
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Post by legoverlady on Jan 9, 2012 12:15:47 GMT 1
mjc - I agree, lots of horses aren't straight, but that's true of astride horses too. I bet if you watched the same test done astride most of the horses wouldn't manage it eithr. As for lightening your left seat bones, a lot of the old school instructors, such as Roger Philpott don't teach this. I'm not too worried about riding sidesaddle affecting my symmetry, all sports affect it, tennis players have overdeveloped right arms and shoulders.... we favour one side of our bodies from the day we're born. What affects my symmetry far more than riding is mucking out, sweeping, poo picking, driving a car etc etc etc which I unfortunatley spend far more time doing than actually riding! Try mucking out holding the fork the other way round! I've competed my grey up to PSG level astride in dressage and never had a comment that he's not straight. As I've said, I sit very centrally on my horse and the extra weight on the left is minimal, unlike some astride riders I've seen! On a sidesaddle you can't flop or slide around, it keeps you very central... none of the back people I've ever had look at him have ever noticed any issues or overdevelopment with his back muscles, and I certainly haven't noticed any with mine! Roger talking about having weight in both seat bones (towards the end) www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY-bvOrUUdQ
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Post by donnalex on Jan 9, 2012 14:41:28 GMT 1
Yes I agree that other sports such as tennis will develop more on one side than the other but then they dont want to balance on a horse. And I agree, lots of astride riders cant sit in the middle of a horse, one of my pet hates is watching riders who hang terribly to one side or the other. Now this DOES make horses sore, I know that for a fact so Im struggling with getting my head round side saddle but im happy to accept that yur horse is never sore And therefore it must be possible to ride to the side as well as we can astride. This thread is very interesting, thank ou for taking the time to reply, all the more convincing from one of the riders in question
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Amanda Seater
Grand Prix Poster
Listen to your horse you may be surprised what he may tell you about yourself
Posts: 3,866
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Post by Amanda Seater on Jan 9, 2012 15:24:28 GMT 1
thinking about the one sidedness ( or not) I have not done much side saddle but to me one is no more one sided or twisted than when sitting on chair with one leg crossed over the knee of the other.
The right hip joint does the moving to put the right leg more to the left. No twist of hips or back involved or to my mind there shouldn't be. Add some good posture and this position puts you on your seat bones very nicely. I have always felt more secure sidesaddle as you are sort of wedged in place. I am not brave enough to do all the jumping in any saddle these days . Those pics are fab.
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Post by loopylou on Jan 9, 2012 18:49:30 GMT 1
I've had to jump on here and post as I feel legover lady isn't being totally honest with you all... I know Becca and have seen her ride a lot and what she's not telling you is that she's one of the most talented, balanced, sympathetic riders around. She has the softest hands and can make the most unwilling badly behaved horse go like a grand prix dressage horse in about 5 minutes. It's not just the saddle that affects the way the horse goes, it's got quite a lot to do with what's on top too and Becca is one of the best!
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