How well do you know your bits? See how far you can get before you miss one!
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Answers
1. Loose Ring Snaffle 2. Egg Butt Snaffle
3. Baucher 4. Dr. Bristol Half Spoon Cheek
5. French Link Egg Butt Snaffle 6. Rugby Mullen Mouth Pelham
7. Magenis 8. Scourier or Cornish Bit
9. Citation Bit 10. Full cheek Waterford
11. Dexter Ring Bit 12. Chifney
13. Butterfly Bit Attachment
How'd you do?
1. Is it legal to compete in ponyclub competitions side saddle?
2. What are all the parts on this thing?!
3. How do you fit a sidesaddle?
4. How do you get in this thing?!
5. Ok, you're on, now what?
6. What is "appropriate" attire?
1. No clue, but I'm going to find out next summer at Midsouth Mega Rally.
2. I'm just going to post some pictures and let you guys figure that one out on your own...
Well, I hope you know have more information than you ever wanted about sidesaddles! I hope to see you guys around aside!
3. Fit for a side saddle is pretty much like fitting a normal saddle, except it is even more important for a sidesaddle to fit than an astride saddle. There should be clearance above the withers but not create the appearance of clearance by being too narrow and "perching" atop the back. The points of a sidesaddle are longer than on an astride saddle so you should also check that they don't pinch the shoulders (or in my case, Mack's side fat).
Fitting a saddle to the rider is a little more difficult, especially when you consider that the best saddles were custom made for a person (and their horse) 60 to 100 years ago. First measure the distance from your seat to the back of your knee while sitting on a hard surface. Add about an inch to that measurement and it should match the distance from the cantle to in front of the horn. While sitting on the hard surface mark where your left and right hips are, then measure that. Add a little wiggle room and that's the measurement for the width of the seat. These are the two most important measurements, there are others to insure a perfect fit...but more than likely you won't ever find a saddle with those exact dimensions..and fits your horse.
4. I still haven't found a good way. Most people will tell you to get on astride and then swing your leg over. This takes some amount of grace. My flapping and or shrieks of fear, make me look like a prehistoric bird trying to take flight. Mounting blocks and really tall fences also help because many of the saddles (especially the older ones) have ingenious quick release stirrups...that release with ANY amount of pressure (I probably shouldn't make a blanket statement, so MY stirrup releases with ANY amount of pressure.) So I guess I just can't ever fall off if I would like to get back on.
5. RIDE. Ok, so that's harder than it sounds. Your hips and shoulders should be square. From behind, a lady (never thought that word would describe me) should appear to be astride but simply missing a right leg. A whip is VERY helpful until your horse begins to learn one-sided cues (still helpful after they've learned too). The fixed pommel is your best friend, especially when your horse beings to get spunky. By pushing your knee and thigh out, against the pommel, and your calf and foot in, against the horse, you have locked yourself into place. It's uncomfortable and shouldn't be held for long periods of time, but you are VERY secure.
6. Modern attire for dressage, eventing, or hunt classes is typically a skirt, or now a days an apron, with whatever you'd normally wear for the class. Period costumes are a little different and require more research. A good rule of thumb is to match your outfit with the period of your sidesaddle.
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