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In an age when many women take their political freedoms for granted, they would do well to recall that for nearly a thousand years their mounted ancestors enjoyed neither political nor equestrian equality.
One piece of equipment, the sidesaddle, represented this social, political and equestrian domination.
And while it is common knowledge that the American suffragettes achieved the right to vote in 1920, what has gone undetected is that these brave women rode into the voting booth as second-class citizens on a sidesaddle, then galloped out astride.
Sidesaddles and suffragettes - the fight to ride and vote | Horsetalk - equestrian feature articles
Seeded on Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:40 PM EST
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With the rise of feudalism, and its off-shoot, patriarchal politics, the need to secure a male heir was an affair of state and protecting the virginity of a potential royal bride became increasingly vital. One way to protect the royal hymen, and off-set the accidental loss of virginity, was to prohibit aristocratic girls from riding astride.
Thus sidesaddle riding was introduced into England in 1382 when Princess Anne of Bohemia travelled across Europe via this new mode of equine transport in order to wed King Richard II.
For those unfamiliar with the history of coaches and carriages, it is important to note that due to the lack of passable roads, driving a coach as a common form of transport would not take place until the dawning of the 19th century.
That is why, lacking a road, the virtuous virgin was transported to England in a chair-like affair that was based upon a packsaddle design. In addition to a padded seat, this new contraption provided a pommel in the front which could be used as a rudimentary handgrip. A wooden plank, wide enough to accommodate both feet, hung along the left side of the placid beast of burden. It was customary for the sideways facing woman to sit on the near side of the horse, enabling her to use the right hand to hang onto the horse's mane.
- 2 votes
#1 - Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:41 PM ESTGreat article. The words " then galloped out astride" gave me chills. I love this knowledge. Thank You Loretta!
- 3 votes
#2 - Wed Jan 25, 2012 8:56 PM ESTI really like this author's writing style. She's very vivid and has a way of bringing the underlying emotions to the story. Those were turbulent times with a lot of passion on both sides. I have a friend whose great aunt needed something from town. She didn't want to bother with a buggy, so she saddled a horse and off she went -- astride. Wow, the hell she caught. All the town's busybodies looking down their noses at her "indecency" and "looseness."
Of course, that would've just inspired me to do it again. LOL.
- 4 votes
Interesting article! I knew side saddles were hazardous for both the rider and the horse, but never about the history of their decline.
- 3 votes
#3 - Wed Jan 25, 2012 9:07 PM ESTI never knew about how they got started. Figures it would be a way of torturing women to suit men's bizarre beliefs.
I always felt it made more sense for men to ride sidesaddle since they have more to protect. But of course, they're not going to impose that on themselves.
- 4 votes
One way to protect the royal hymen, and off-set the accidental loss of virginity, was to prohibit aristocratic girls from riding astride.
When I was dating my first hubby (an Italian national) he was astounded that I had ridden Western all my life. In Italy, as recently as 30-40 years ago, this myth still prevailed. His younger sister was forbidden from riding astride.
- 4 votes
#4 - Wed Jan 25, 2012 9:43 PM ESTI was told this when I was a child too. I was told no man would ever want me. I rode anyway. When I first heard it, I had no comprehension of why it should be important. When I got old enough to understand, I couldn't figure out why I should care about a guy who would be so shallow. I never met a guy who cared one way or the other, so it was a non-starter for me.
- 4 votes
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