WHY DID WOMEN RIDE SIDE SADDLE?

“The woman does not live who can throw her leg over the back of a horse without profaning the grace of femininity; or grasp with her separated knees the shoulders of her mount without violating the laws of good taste; or appear in the cross-saddle with any semblance of dignity, elegance or poise.” So read a 1905 edition of the LA Times.

The male columnist was hardly voicing a new position, as evidence of women riding side saddle goes back hundreds of years. To have one leg on either side was considered unfeminine, improper and impractical (women’s thighs were supposedly the wrong shape).

In 1382, Princess Anne of Bohemia rode across Europe to be married to Richard II of England, sitting on a chairlike side saddle the whole way to protect her virginity. To ride with both legs on one side was more dangerous than with a regular saddle as it gave the rider less control of the horse. It was also harder to escape if the horse fell.

Not every woman was happy to ride side saddle, though. Catherine the Great took the reins, as it were, and caused outrage in the imperial court of Russia by riding like a man.

In "History Revealed", UK, September 2018,excerpt p. 76. Digitized, adapted and illustrated to be posted by Leopoldo Costa.