Sidesaddle?

[3equines]

OK so I am planning to ride Peach sidesaddle for my wedding, which will give me some fun training goals. I have a potential sidesaddle that I might be able to borrow, but in the meantime would be open to suggestions for training a horse to go sidesaddle. Peach is pretty bombproof and shouldn't have too much trouble adjusting to me doing something weird and different, but I need tips on how to train her to move to the forehand without leg pressure on the off side. I have some general ideas on using a dressage whip or crop and doing some groundwork to train her to move her quarters with light whip cues, then working with the same cues under saddle.

[WashingtonBay]

You won't have near as much trouble as you think. Sidesaddles actually feel very secure (for you) and horses figure out even canter cues on the off side.

We will need pictures. :)

[3equines]

...yes, lots of pictures! The trouble will be 1) finding a sidesaddle and 2) finding one that fits Peach. I may have to go with 1) and then ride whichever of the 6 horses here that the saddle fits ;)

I'm pooling CL for hits on sidesaddle lessons, it would be fun to just take 2 or 3 lessons before trying it on my own.

[WashingtonBay]

I rode in one first time the day before a show and then showed in it. It really feels a lot more secure than you would think. Your left leg is basically wedged into it.

[sarhound]

We've got a group here in Texas that performs nationally on Paso Finos going sidesaddle. They're going to have a clinic later this year that I'm planning on attending, just to see if I can ride that way. It sounds like it would be a blast.

Anyone interested in contacting them can find them here:

http://www.texasladiesaside.org/

[CaddoCinnamon]

I have a sidesaddle. I hope to train Cutter for it one day. My mom and grandmom rode sidesaddle. My grandmom competed sidesaddle. They used a whip to give the cues on the off side they told me.

[natisha]

Hmmm...weddings & animals, not something I would want to try....mainly the wedding part.

[TheRedHayflinger]

I was able to try out a sidesaddle (on a HUGE clyde...no kidding, his back was about 5 inches taller than the top of my head) when I was lining up horses for a local parade here and it was...different! I thought about trying to find a sidesaddle to use on my haffy and asked Maggie about training and she said half of the horses they had that day in the parade, it was only their 3rd time going sidesaddle and there really wasn't much training involved in it.
These woman are part of SOLA (Southern Ohio Ladies Astride). Maggie invited me out to take some lessons sometime from her, which I may do in the future--she just lives 4 miles away from me.
It was harder than I thought it would be, but pretty neat. Good luck!

[gaited07]

I never rode sidesaddle but I would guess that the dressage whip is used the same as your leg aids. Just make sure you have the longer dressage whip:)
Again, I'm just assuming. Horses that are trained to move away from the pressure will adjust to either the leg or whip.

[BlaiseGlaze]

A friend of mine had her wedding on horse back.
I wasn't there, but I saw pix, it was beautiful.

[3equines]

I'm thinking I'll probably end up riding either Thunder or Crystal aside, since they fit more conventional saddle dimensions ;) but have the bridesmaids on Sweet P and Peach riding in front. Crys is not yet broke to ride but she has turned out to be a real sweetheart and very respectful/ responsive on the ground, if she is not real spooky I will get her going sidesaddle after her initial 30 days.

Thunder is a huge goofball, a little forward but predictable and not too spooky. He's white on a good day, and carries himself like a Saddlebred or Andalusian so would look good in pictures. He would also benefit from the extra training.

[3equines]

update: I found this CL ad:
http://corvallis.craigslist.org/grd/2157922569.html

hope to hear from the gal soon!