During medieval times, it was not considered “ladylike” for a woman to ride in the normal way. There are paintings that prove that high class ladies sat on a pad supporting both feet on the left side of the horses’ saddle. Thus, the ladies had little control over the horse and usually had a guide. Gradually riding side saddle developed and improvements were made to the saddles.

Ladies turned the trunk increasingly forward, gaining control over the horse and increased balance with the help of the saddle. Today the saddle has the same form it had in the 19th century, when it was used by women to take part in fox hunting which included galloping and even jumping over small obstacles.

The sidesaddle is designed to allow the rider to sit securely with both legs on one side and have full control of the horse while facing forward. The saddle has a flat seat, one stirrup (usually the left) and two pommels. The upright pommel, called the fixed head is used to support the right leg and the lower pommel is used for balance and to secure the rider on the saddle.

The rider’s costumes vary in style and materials. Dark colors like black, brown, dark blue or grey are common. A skirt and stylish, well-fitting jacket show the poise and elegance of the rider. Under the skirt, which is more like an open apron for safety reasons, the female riders wear breeches and boots. Most importantly they have to be practical and elegant, whether used for exhibitions, dressage competitions or fox hunting.

We see in this presentation a carousel of eight female riders, all riding horses with the proper attire. One is a monitor of CHCE and the rest are riding school students of the centre. Shown are Portuguese horses, (lusitanos or crossbreeds) chosen for their calm, docile natures and comfortable movements. The horses used for sidesaddle riding are well trained before being adapted to working with the sidesaddle. During the carousel, eight female riders follow a choreography that includes the trot and canter gaits, demonstrating the extreme elegance and femininity typical of this type of riding.