One of the most rare exhibits in the museum is a Victorian children's side saddle. This beautifully made saddle is hand stitched throughout with intricate leaf designs on the seat and flaps.
The saddle is not made on a traditional wooden tree but in the form of a flexible type pad to suit a younger rider. Contrary to popular belief, a lady or young girl does not sit to the side on a side saddle but with the shoulders, spine and hips in a straight line facing the front of the horse or pony. The lower part of the body then turns so that both legs are on the near side (left hand side). This can cause an imbalance in a young girls growth if they were to ride like this each day.
There were two ways to compensate for this. One way was to have two side saddles, one with the curved pommel on the near side and another to have a saddle with the pommel on the right hand side and for the young girl to alternate between the two saddles.
Another way, and this is how this particular side saddle is made, was to have a pommel that could be unscrewed from one side and fitted easily to the other. This way the rider would only have to have one side saddle.
The underneath of the side saddle showing the two straps that attach to the girth which holds the saddle to the pony. The large stitches are the quilting that holds the wool padding in place between the leather panel and the surge wool lining.
The museum would like to thank Annabel Cahill for this exhibit.
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