All About Riding Side-Saddle (Allen Photographic Guides) [Paperback]

Patricia Spooner (Author), Victoria Spooner (Author)

Book Description

Series: Allen Photographic Guides | Publication Date: September 1, 1999

Brief, concise, and filled with helpful photos, this introductory guide provides essential information on riding side-saddle.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Patricia Spooner, now semi-retired, has over the years covered many equestrian events and activities for local newspapers - everything from point-to-points to heavy horse shows. She has had articles published in Riding, Hunting and The Lady magazines, among others, on the side-saddle and the habit, often illustrating them with old prints and photographs which she collects. Patricia also plays an active part in her daughter's side saddle business. Victoria Spooner has used her own Highland pony, Roam of Trewyn, in this book to demonstrate how well a pony can take to the elegant art of side-saddle and proving it is not just for thoroughbreds and hunters. Vicky has a saddlery supplying items exclusively for the side-saddle rider. She travels extensively in the south of England to shows and clinics, as well as spending three days at the Side Saddle Association Annual Show at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, in August.

Product Details

• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: J. A. Allen (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 085131743X
• ISBN-13: 978-0851317434
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,581,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!, March 23, 2005

By 

J. Holmstrom "Horse Crazy" (U.P.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All About Riding Side-Saddle (Allen Photographic Guides) (Paperback)

This was a very good book, the photos are clear and the writing concise. I just wish it were longer!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars But is it really all?, July 19, 2010

By 

Kristin Carlsen (N-3231 Sandefjord, NO) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: All About Riding Side-Saddle (Allen Photographic Guides) (Paperback)

I just read "All About Riding Side-Saddle". It is not exactly a book, more like a booklet. All the more impressive, then, how much information it manages to convey. This is partly due to the photographs, which are very good, very instructive. It is high time that the general public - well, the riding part of it, anyway - are made to understand that riding side-saddle is not only stylish and elegant, it is also quite easy. Provided, of course, that you have access to a good saddle and a horse who accepts a "one-legged" rider. (The non-riding public should be kept in the dark, the easier to be impressed by elegant side-saddle riders,lol)

If, like me, you are a novice to side-saddle riding, this little booklet is a goldmine of useful information. I only wish there were some way to have the horses read it! There is, however, a couple of things that I miss, being as I am a very demanding person. The reader is obviously supposed to be as new to side-saddle riding as I am (twice, in a fairly horrible saddle, fitting neither the horse nor myself!). And to the inexperienced rider, the question arises: How do I post to the trot, or canter, with those confining saddle horns over my thighs? How does jumping function?

Another thing is etiquette. We are being acquainted with the English way of dressing and behaving, admiringly well acquainted in such a small space. But perhaps the book might benefit from including other customs? Lots of people prefer riding with a wide skirt, without breeches. Also, other headgear than bowler or top hat is used. No mention is made of show riding either, be that single or quadrille. I realize that this is a very small part of side-saddle culture, but it's there, and ought to be mentioned.

Having gotten that off my chest, let me say that this is a most valuable book that I highly recommend. It is easy to read, easy to understand, and prepares you well for the side-saddle and for other publications on the subject, which may perhaps be more comprehensive, but could not possibly be more clear.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Pony-sized book for a Draft-sized Subject, August 1, 2011

By 

lilgoatlady "lilgoatlady" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All About Riding Side-Saddle (Allen Photographic Guides) (Paperback)

I was really disappointed with the length of this book; honestly it is more like a chapter in a book rather than a book in itself.

This is a good booklet as far as it goes. It has wonderful pictures and is very clear, but there are many things it does not cover. For instance, I think I need to use a queen (a pad attached to the fixed horn) for my position to be correct, but this book does not even cover that...and not all of us can afford to have a custom-made sidesaddle. Nor does this book cover anything about historic costumes/habits, or historic techniques of aside riding that might be appropriate for certain show classes.

Being English, this book of course does not talk about any type or Western aside riding. I did not expect it to, but I do want to point that out to any potential American riders.

It's an okay booklet. I give it 4 stars for the photos and text, but 3 stars for the length.