>From my reading, I've come across the term "pillion", which I always understood to mean behind the "main" rider, but never knew if it meant sideways or astride.
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan Data-Samtak Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 3:28 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: Re: [h-cost] Equestrian costuming & other period "tack" From what I've been able to find out: he short version of Astride vs Aside: WOMEN rode any way they could-if they were able to get a horse to ride. They either walked or maybe were able to catch a ride in a wagon. LADIES, on the other hand, adhered to strict rules of conduct and kept their legs together for propriety. I know there are pictures of females riding astride as well as sideways with their back parallel to the right side of the horse and their feet at right angles to the horse's left side. (Did I make this perfectly unclear?) Like sitting in a chair. Others rode sideways behind a man. Some even had a board to place their feet on. Often the horse was led by a footman, controlling the horse. It was thought that ladies couldn't control a large beast like a horse. Women also rode "palfreys"- gaited horses, also called "ambling" horses. Supposedly, the Paso Fino Breed, (my horse is a PF) has the palfrey in its background. I've also heard that "women's legs aren't strong enough to control a horse" if riding astride. Ironically, I've heard that women have stronger thighs, and have better muscle shape TO control a horse if ridden astride. Go figure! I ride aside, astride and with no saddle at all. Bareback is the most comfortable for the horse and for me. My Mac's back is round and padded with that smooth gait- can't beat it! Saddle or not. Susan "Slow down. The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast and you miss all you are traveling for". - "Ride the Dark Trail" by Louis L'Amour On Mar 6, 2006, at 5:42 PM, julian wilson wrote: > Susan Data-Samtak <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Annette and others- > > Can we make a subgroup that deals with riding outfits and horse items? > I'd hate to not get feedback from all the historical costumers on the > big list, but I don't want to annoy the rest of you with "horse > specific" questions. Much snippage ! But... I would have been in the > peasant class, as I am in real life!) > > Susan > > snip > On Mar 6, 2006, at 11:41 AM, Kahlara wrote: > >> Over the years I have found that most of my creative associations >> seem to have at least two or three similarities in other areas as >> well as the shared interest in which we first became aquainted. >> >> I have noticed several list members make reference to horses and >> riding. I ride and own horses also.Much snippage> Just a little >> generalizing. ;-) COMMENT > Annette, Susan, and others - > according to Master Rhys Terafan Greydragon, - he estimates that of > the entire SCA membership, possibly only 10% can actually ride, - and > fewer still own their own horses. > Presumeably the percentage of "riders" against "pedestrians" is > much the same in most other re-enactment groups, large and small - > Roman, Dark Ages, medieval, English Civil War, Frederick the Great, > Marlborough, 1776, Napoleonic Wars, Crimean War, US Civil War, Zulu & > Ashanti Wars, and Anglo-Boer War, &c, &c. > > This is a huge percentage difference from the medieval period > covered by the SCA when one would suppose that the majority of the > population above Freedman-Status could ride, - and of course true also > for those of the rest of us interested in any other Period > Re-enactment up to and including about 1914 Gregorian. > There must be so much specialised "Equestrian Lore" of costume, of > bardings, of other tacks - of which we are unaware, - it would seem > likely to be a subject of considerable interest to those of us who > don't "ride" horses in these Modern Middle Ages. For example....... > The "riding side-saddle, riding astride"-debate has it's own > fascinations - Chaucer's illustrators clearly show the female Pilgrims > riding astride - but I have read comments confusing the issue, by > moderns, flatly stating that even during the 15th Century, all women > rode fully-side-saddle, or sat behind a Male servant. Did this call > for divided skirts? or did women wear hosen under their skirts so as > to be able to ride astride yet keep their modesty? At what Time point > and in which Kingdoms did it become "immodest" and frowned-upon for > women to ride astride? > I would support such a subgroup, and kibitz in the hope of learning > much new information. > Julian, > in Old Jersey > > > > > > --------------------------------- > To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new > Yahoo! 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