This one's not lookin' too bad, but I wouldn't want to spend day in and day out, week in and week out for four YEARS straddlin' that puppy! I think I like the idea of a lady's sidesaddle better!
On the other hand, the idea of sittin' on THIS one makes me shudder. I suppose it might have been cooler in the summertime - but really!! No wonder women preferred sidesaddle or carriages!
Women have been riding sidesaddle since Celtic times - like 400 B.C. The earliest "functional" sidesaddle came in the 1300's thanks to Anne of Bohemia. But it wasn't until the 1500's when a practical one was designed by Catherine de'Medici, Queen of France.
Today's sidesaddle came about in the 1830's. All of the others allowed women to ride a horse, but not necessarily guide the horse. They usually required a servant or man to lead the women. Today's sidesaddle is so good equestrian women have actually jumped fences over six feet high sittin' pretty! That saddle is a work of art!! It's an antique, and would be really expensive to buy. However, to buy a new one would be really, really expensive because they have to be built to custom fit the horse and the rider.
Men with certain back problems have started riding sidesaddle, so I'm wondering if it would be a good idea for me to try someday!
No comments:
Post a Comment