Re: RC: looking for info or contacts about Side Saddles

[Susan Young Casey <glenn218@yahoo.com>]

--- guest@endurance.net wrote:
> Margie Beeson Margie@ffww.com
> I just received an old Martin & Martin side saddle
> that I have had
> repaired and would like to make use of.

Excellent saddle.  You do need to make sure the billet
strps are in good order.  There are some good sources
of sidesaddles, books, habits, videos, etc.  In
addition to the International SS Org and the World SS
Org, there is the North American SS Org.  They are
very educational.
 
> I don't know much about side saddles and need to
> learn more,
> especially how to ride one of these things.

This is an on-going endevor...but an honorable one.

> First I
> need to know
> what kind of girth it requires and where I could
> find one. Also if it is possible to get a used one.

There isn't a special girth for side saddles.  My
first girth was a triple fold leather one.  Any
English girth will work as long as it is long enough. 
I use the same girth on my side saddles as on my other
English saddles.  You don't want elastic on the ends
because you want to keep the saddle tight.
 
> It has 3 billet straps on both sides and on the off
> side it has
> a billet(?) strap on the rear panel coming forward
> at an
> angle and on the near side it has a billet strap(?)
> on top of the other 3 billets coming down at an
> angle to the rear.

The 3 billet straps on the side are for the girth. 
The angled strap towards the rear on the off side is
called a "balance strap" and is connected to the strap
on the near side that is angled to the rear.  Also,
there should be a hook under the off side flap.  That
is hooked to a catch and keeps the flap down since you
don't have your right leg on that side.


> Don't think I'll use it for endurance : ) but I
> would really like to
> use it for our re-enactments.

There are a few who ride LD ss.  They use Steels.  Mr.
Steel was in partnership with Len Brown for awhile and
his ss are excellent for long periods in the saddle.
 
> Any info or contacts at all would be greatly
> appreciated. I went to the
> ISS
> and the WSS. They don't seem to have a great site
> like this
> where folks can get info about a subject.

Several friends of mine foxhunt side saddle.  There is
a list of sidesaddle riders.  Contact Rhonda Watts at
rwatts@mymailstation.com for more information.  Also,
the North American Side Saddle Association info is
"Sidesaddle Info" <sidesaddleheaven@aol.com>

I'll have to get back with you on the exact web site
address for NEA.  I enjoy their information and have
bought several books and clinic videos from them.

The most important thing about riding side saddle is
to keep the right shoulder back and keep your weight
evenly distributed across both seat bones.

This topic is near and dear to me.  Sorry if I've
bored you to tears, List.

=====
Susan Young Casey
Glenndale Grace Farm
Ft Gibson, Oklahoma U.S.A.

"Ride on! Rough-shod if need be, smooth-shod if that will do, but ride on! Ride on over all obstacles, 
and win the race!"         - Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

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