It’s that time again, time to share what interesting historical tidbit or trivia you discovered while researching your historical novel. Gads, the hours we spend looking up the littlest details. It’s so worth it though.
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I’ve had to research side saddles for all three of my novels. Now I’m not a horse person. I’ve never owned one and my riding skills are dismal at best. I cannot imagine riding sidesaddle in a riding habit.
Here’s a few facts I learned:
- Horses had to be trained to a sidesaddle.
- Riding astride was a masculine practice. (Hmm, wonder who decided that?)
- The precursor to the side saddle first appeared in 1382.
- Riding side saddle was uncomfortable, awkward, and dangerous business
- Many women, including Marie Antoinette and Catherine the Great chose to ride astride rather than side saddle.
- Ladies used a riding crop on the right side of their horse in much the same fashion they would have used their leg, had they been astride.
- It was nearly impossible for a woman to get into and out of her saddle without help.
I came across this 1913 newspaper article about the dangers of side saddles.
