Did women have the right to ride on their own to participate in the male-dominated horse riding culture of horses? This ancient custom did not only apply to women. Women and men of different cultures had different views about riding. For example, the Greeks were afraid of women who rode side-by-side. While the rules forbidding women to ride astride lasted until the early twentieth century, riding schools had to adapt to the changing times. At first, little girls began lessons on astride and graduated to sidesaddle riding at about age eleven or twelve.
One woman who fought for women’s suffrage fought against the practice by riding on her horse in 1913. She also fought for equal participation to equestrianism, in addition to her fight to get the right to vote. «Why did women ride side saddle?» is the question. has been a topic of much debate. The answer may not be as complicated as you think. Two-Gun Nan Aspinwall rode from San Francisco to New York on a horse in 1913. She wore both a split skirt as well as a long, wide, white cape.
The saddle with a side is one of the oldest types of saddle that riders use. It was first used by the royal court, where it was advertised as a way to preserve a woman’s modesty. Side saddles were developed to protect women from horses and riders who were uncomfortable riding on their backs. Long skirts on women were too close to the horses’ legs and put them at risk. They could not get out of the saddle if their horse fell so the side saddle was an option.
While the practice of side-saddle riding was largely banned during the nineteenth century, it did come back in the last few decades. Lady Mary, an American horse, and the Flying Foxes, a group of women who ride side saddle, revived the interest in the discipline. In 2011, Michaela Bowling, a side-saddle rider, broke the British side-saddle high jump record in the sport.
Although women rode astride less often than men, this style of riding was more popular with royal women. Catherine the Great was one of the first to ride astride, and she demanded that all the women in her court rode astride. This practice soon became unwritten law in Europe, and only women with strong personalities were allowed to ride astride. These facts will help you to understand the history of side saddle riding if you have a strong personality.
The first side-saddle was chair-like in design. The woman rode with her knees together while her feet were on a footrest. In the 16th century, Catherine de a more functional design, placing her right leg over the saddle’s pommel. Using this side saddle, a woman could control her horse more easily and safely trot. The side saddle was also safer.
