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 8:47 PM, Land of Oz wrote:
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.
-------------------------
I've never seen anything depicting this style of riding. Links ? I
can see where a footman would have to lead a person seated like this,
as it would be a little like driving a car from the backseat. This
position would put the woman more in the class of cargo, rather than
"riding". It would be a form of transportation similar to sitting in a
wagon, I'm sure.
Exactly. A Lady wasn't "able" to do anything without a man to help.
As far as a link- anyone with medieval knowledge have a sketch showing
this?
Which is not the same at all as riding side-saddle. I can't speak to
specific time periods but I know I have read descriptions of women
wearing breeches or jodhpurs under a "false" skirt that looked and
functioned like a skirt when walking, but had a buttoned panel
associated with function under saddle.
The Safety Apron was invented over a century ago. I have seen a
garment that is a "transition" from full skirt to the modern (Safety)
apron. The modern apron is only long enough to cover your backside
while seated in the sidesaddle. The "skirt" part is shaped with a dart
or curved seam to accommodate the upraised knee around the upper
pommel. The rest of the skirt is long, to just reveal the ankle, when
on horseback. When dismounted, the rider buttons the long skirt up,
sweeping it around her butt, then buttoning it on the right side. this
effectively pulls the excess fabric from where it is not necessary to
where it is definitely necessary, on foot. All bases are covered.
Also, with the volume of skirts and the layers under the skirts, I
can't see where modesty would be a problem when riding sidesaddle.
The position is similar sitting on a barstool with the right leg
hooked on a high rung, and the left foot very close to the floor.
Mounting the horse in public would probably take a *lot* of private
practice and a very steady horse, but I'm sure it could be
accomplished w/o displaying much more than some inner hem. When horses
were primary modes of transportation, mounting blocks were available
just about everywhere and that would help a lot!
The "propriety point" is that a LADY did not spread her legs apart.
LADIES had grooms and footmen who did "everything" for them, except
ride! A LADY merely appeared and mounted. Rode, then dismounted. As
I understand it, "street clothing" were used for riding until around
the 18th century. I know that riding trowsers could be a part of a
Victorian habit. At this time, the skirt volume was becoming
streamlined. The riding habit is very plain and severe in style. It
is often referred to as "mannish". Later, the safety apron evolved.
Here is a web site that shows some of the changes over time.
http://www.hoosierladiesaside.com/habits.html
also http://www.victorianladiesaside.com/gallery/ Mostly US Civil
War, North, South and Civilian impressions.
As I mentioned, we make the clothing to reflect the times but we are
eminently aware that this Is the 21st Century. Safety first when
riding sidesaddle. We usually don't have a groom to do all the work
associated with "horsekeeping". We must change from LADY to WOMAN,
from upper class to common person- in a flash- then back, again.
I would join an equestrian clothing group!
Denise
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