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Side-saddle Saddle Examples

Once technology progressed beyond pillion pads and packsaddles ridden sideways, other technolgies began to emerge.  The planchette, shelf to rest feet, was one technology that carried over.   The paired stirrups pictured below are a unique adapation of that technology.  In general, women sat mostly facing sideways intially.  At some point, likely in the 16th Century, saddle horns were used to hook a leg over allowing the rider a more stable, forward facing seat. (Mitchell and Creaton, 2019)  

GNM Hs998 HistTroWar Germany 238v 1441
Queen Elizabeth I's saddle from the Booke of Venerie c 1575 

The Booke of Venerie saddle (above) has a planchette and supports a sideways position. The horn design differs from the extant saddles. A rider could use the horn for stability, but it is not designed to help position.

These two extant saddles (below) have horns to hook a knee allowing a forward facing seat. The first is ridden to the near side - rider's legs on the horse's left. The second is set for the off-side - rider's legs on the horse's right.

Leaping Horns, which facilitated a secure jumping position aside, were a much later invention. (Mitchell and Creaton, 2019)  

"SBT 1993-31/950. A side-saddle, mid-sixteenth century. A mid-sixteenth century decorated leather and velvet side-saddle; saddle consisting of padded circular seat with side 'skirts' made from green silk velvet and decorated with applied fringe, braid of silk and metal threads. Seat padding seems to be of cream wool. Reverse is of brown leather, probably with interlining of coarsely woven linen. The whole is constructed over a wooden support covered with linen and mounted on a wooden frame. There are 6 leather straps attached to the underside. Dimensions: Skirt 570mm x 690mm, seat 335mm x 485mm." Shakespeare Trust Website
Images from Daily Mail Article 2201765 11 September 2012