Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Side saddle as 'English saddle'?

From: John

Hi Jessica:

I have subscribed to your list for about a month, and have enjoyed the good reading. I am an officer in the Az. State Walking Horse Club and have come across an etiquette question I hope you may be able to give a reply to.

I'll ask you this question as generic show ring etiquette and not pertaining to breed. Walking Horses are governed by the National Horse Show Commission in a sanctioned show. In a non-sanctioned show these rules can vary and fall to interpretation of the show committee.

Under our rules our horse tack is to be "appropriate for the classes in which they compete". In an English Class the statement is "English Saddle". Now the question; in General equestrian etiquette, would a ladies side-saddle be considered appropriate as an English Saddle.

Thanks for any help you may be able to offer. John

Hi John! What a very interesting question! I'm not sure I know the answer, but I'll offer a few ideas, and then direct you to someone who WILL be able to answer.

In general terms, most people would probably think of a side-saddle as an English saddle. However, there are also Western side-saddles --, and so I will qualify MY answer by saying that an English side-saddle should certainly be considered appropriate in an English class, but a Western side-saddle would probably NOT be considered appropriate. This seems fair...

If you show hunters, you can show in a Corninthian class (restricted to members of hunts, and horses that have been hunted) with a suitable side- saddle, as long as all of the appointments meet the standards for the class (and for the hunt!).

I suggest that you get in touch with Charlotte Kneeland, care of

The International Side-Saddle Organization PO Box 282 Alton Bay, NH 03810 USA

Charlotte is very well-informed about all matters pertaining to side-saddles and side-saddle riding, and she will certainly be able to give you much more information than I could!

Good luck -- and will you drop me a line and tell me what you learn?

- Jessica

Materials from Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE, The Newsletter of Holistic Horsemanship® may be distributed and copied for personal, non-commercial use provided that all authorship and copyright information, including this notice, is retained. Materials may not be republished in any form without express permission of the author.

Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE is a free, subscriber-supported electronic Q&A email newsletter which deals with all aspects of horses, their management, riding, and training. For more information, please visit www.horse-sense.org

Please visit Jessica Jahiel: Holistic Horsemanship® [www.jessicajahiel.com] for more information on Jessica Jahiel's clinics, video lessons, phone consultations, books, articles, columns, and expert witness and litigation consultant services.