FREE THROUGH ENGLAND ON A SIDE-SADDLE PDF

Celia Fiennes | 96 pages | 02 Apr 2009 | Penguin Books Ltd | 9780141191072 | English | London, United Kingdom Vision of Britain | The travels of Celia Fiennes | Full text plus mapping

This is absolutely fascinating and so helpful for my research. Thank you, Helen and Kathy. Hi Helen, Thank you so much for gathering together so much information and fun facts! This was extremely useful! I have a couple of questions if you don't mind, regarding riding as a fun pastime. Thanks for getting in touch. In answer to your question - yes! I think the more 'sober' habits came in with the Victorians, and were mainly for the hunting field. Kathy's blue velvet habit shows that lovely colours and materials were used for travel, and her French costume indicts the more 'elegant' habits. I have added a new page above - see 'Costumes' on the menu bar for all Kathy's costumes, although I don't have good photos of all of them In fact, horse dealers parading horses for sale in Rotten Through England on a Side-saddle, London, during the Victorian era wanted'nicely dressed' i. This would attract a gentleman's eye and encourage him to buy the horse. A bit like scantily-clad models draped over car bonnets today! I don't think the apron changed much until circa WWI when dress lengths started getting shorter although I'm not totally certain of that - seems logical though Feel free to email me if you want to chat more: author [AT] helenhollick [DOT] net. Video Ponies Aside! Ladies Ride Aside! History of Side Saddle. Downton Abbey has revived an interest in riding aside — which is the Through England on a Side-saddle term for riding Side Saddle. My daughter rides and competes and jumps aside. Hoefnagel, Mencia de Mendoza, detail of tapestry cartoon Bernart van Orley, Epona, Celtic Goddess of horses. Prioress However, women with determined characters and a mind of their own seem to have chosen either aside or astride. Which begs the question, was one a revered lady with a sense of decorum and Through England on a Side-saddle other somewhat headstrong? The sideways facing "chair" was then turned to face the front - think of a typical western cowboy saddle with a tall front pommel, but with the saddle itself looking like a chair, with a high back. The lady would face front, her back supported by the 'chair' with her right leg hooked round the pommel. This is possibly the Through England on a Side-saddle of saddle Elizabeth Through England on a Side-saddle and Anne Boleyn would have used when riding. It is unknown when the upright horn, the one the rider hooks her right leg around, came into use. The second horn, an appendage that comes from the right side of the saddle, is commonly attributed to Catherine de Medici This horn cradled the right leg between the two horns and therefore faced the rider forward, but Albert Durer's etchings of and show ladies facing the front long before Catherine's second horn came into being. The horn, however, gave women a more secure seat, an independent control of their horses, and enabled a faster gaits. It is interesting to note that we now ride aside with the legs on the near left side of the horse — which is also the traditional side to mount and lead from, but in early images including Greek and Roman the women are often the opposite way round. It seems that ladies did ride astride, particularly when hunting too fast a pace for the literally sitting sideways saddles. However, a big problem would be what to wear underneath. Bloomers were Through England on a Side-saddle in use then, so either women donned men's apparel, or they had very chafed thighs. H ow did they ride astride with those voluminous skirts? Were they split in the middle like modern culottes? Queen Elizabeth I rode side saddle on ceremonial occasions and, as depicted in woodcuts, also while hawking. Whether this was the forward chair or the 'Medici' two horns, we don't know. She rose early to go hunting and would then socialised before attending balls and parties in the evening. In the earliest pack of hounds was recorded in Through England on a Side-saddle, with the Marquis of Salisbury recorded as Master. When ill health forced him to retire from hunting inLady Salisbury took over the responsibility of the hunt, a position which she maintained for thirty-five years. Moving the hounds to the family residence of Hatfield House, Lady Salisbury absorbed herself with running the hunt. Despite her slight build she was renowned as a fearless rider. This was before the modern security of the leaping head had been invented. Lady Salisbury is at the front in her sky blue habit. Even with failing eyesight and becoming frail, she would spend an entire day in the hunting field, insisting that her grooms tie her to her hunter so she could not fall off. Another groom would act as her guide with her horse on a leading rein. Lady Through England on a Side-saddle died on the 22nd November It is believed that she was writing at her desk when the feathers in her hair caught alight on a candle. A horrible end to such an Through England on a Side-saddle life. Celia Fiennes was born in at Newton Toney, near Salisbury. She is remembered for her diary account of a series of journeys which she made between and riding side Through England on a Side-saddle through every County in England, accompanied by Through England on a Side-saddle two servants. At this time travel was still quite novel, England was largely an unmapped wilderness with tracks, not roads, no road signs, no motorway Service Stations or conveniently placed motels. Not surprisingly, she encountered numerous mishaps: twice she was thrown from her mount but these accidents failed to upset or discourage her, indicating that her nerves were just as strong as her body. Her diaries provides and invaluable insight into the social and domestic attitudes of 17th-century England. Her descriptions of Bath, Epsom, Hampstead, Tunbridge and Dulwich to Through England on a Side-saddle their waters, shed a light on the medical beliefs of the period. Her lavish interest in touring the great houses provides detailed descriptions of the gardens, ground and number and arrangement of rooms as well as their portraits and furnishings. She Celia was fascinated by the innovations of her age and highly impressed by the new-fangled water closet that Queen Mary had installed at Hampton Court. Never marrying, Celia wrote out her notes in turning them into a travel memoir, which was never published as she intended them for family reading only. This is attached to the right rear of the saddle, passes under the belly of the horse, and fastens to the left front. It serves to stabilise the saddle and offset the extra weight from both legs being on the left side of the horse. The hunting field was a great place to meet a future husband; unmarried Victorian Through England on a Side-saddle wore a navy habit with a bowler hat, while married ladies wore a black habit with silk hat if they were a subscriber, or a black habit and black bowler for less significant meets or while visiting another pack. It is possible that this could this be the reason behind the traditional black habit seen in the hunt field and showing arena today. Victorian riders were quite often sewn into their habits in order to show off their figure to best advantage. Brown gloves should be worn with a bowler hat, well fitted and clean. Black Through England on a Side-saddle are a major faux pas because traditionally, black gloves signified that you were in mourning and therefore should not be riding! The 'leg o' mutton' sleeve circa And finally a note about the men. There are occasional examples of men riding side saddle other than for humorous, drag, or satirical purposes. What a pity more men cannot pluck up courage to ride aside nowadays! Further information. Email This BlogThis! Unknown 12 November at Helen Hollick 12 November at Honey 8 June at Helen Hollick 8 June at Subscribe to: Posts Atom. Hoefnagel, Mencia de Mendoza, detail of tapestry cartoon Bernart van Orley, A later version of the 2nd horn, earlier ones were smaller. Queen Elizabeth I's saddle from the Booke of Venerie Albert Durer circa Through England on a Side Saddle in the Time of William and Mary,

Goodreads Through England on a Side-saddle you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Through England on a Side Saddle was written aroundand first published in full in Celia Fiennes was the granddaughter of the 1st Viscount Saye and Sele. She was an enthusiastic traveller through England, both for pleasure and 'to regain my health by variety and change of aire and exercise'. The diary which she kept was intended Through England on a Side-saddle her family to re Through England on a Side Saddle was written aroundand first published in full in The diary which she kept was intended for her family to read, and, while it lacks Defoe's more systematic approach some two decades later, sheds valuable insights into English social and economic history at the turn of the century. She was uninterested in antiquities, getting most Through England on a Side-saddle about new developments such as the development of spa towns such as Harrogate, Through England on a Side-saddle and manufacturing industries, and the new stately homes of the period, in some of which she stayed en route. Get A Copy. Paperback87 pages. More Details Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Through England on a Side-Saddleplease sign up. Be the first to ask a question about Through England on a Side-Saddle. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 3. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Start your review of Through England on a Side-Saddle. Feb 28, Through England on a Side-saddle rated it it was ok Shelves: s. Celia Fiennes was an intriguing, unmarried woman who journeyed around the country on horseback between and noting down what she saw. The exerpts from her diary contained in this volume display a country comprising towns teeming with industry, linked by dirty, muddy and treacherous roads. Fiennes does not describe t Celia Fiennes was an intriguing, unmarried woman who journeyed around the country on horseback between and noting down what she saw. Fiennes does not describe the places she Through England on a Side-saddle so much as she provides an itemised list of exactly what is there: the book is a succession of distances, acreages, numbers Through England on a Side-saddle churches and building materials of houses. She is very matter of fact in what she reports and tends to focus on the physical features of the towns and landscapes, rather than talking about the people and their customs. However, the prose, quite simply, is not enjoyable to read. I was also rather disappointed at how absent Miss Celia Fiennes herself was from this book, although admittedly this could be a problem of editing for this particular edition. Even though they were confined to Britain, her journeys seem quite remarkable for a single woman during this period, and I was looking forward to reading about what that was like. I wanted to find out about her own experiences of travelling, any difficulties arising from her unusual circumstances as an unmarried lady on such a journey albeit with an escort of servants who are occasionally aluded to and her interactions with the people that she meets. However, with the exception of a few disparaging comments about her landladies and complaints about rye in the bread upsetting her stomach she barely features at all. The account of travelling through England could have been written by anyone, male or female, and that seems a great shame to me. Nonetheless, I would suggest getting hold of the full volume of her travels rather than this collection of extracts to avoid the disappointment of your local area not being one of those featured in this book, and also not approaching it looking for an entertaining, casual read. Apr 08, Johanne rated it really liked it. Really interesting so much that I've ordered the full illustrated version - this a penguin classic abridged version. Celia Fiennes was a the daughter of a parliamentarian colonel who travelled around England at the end of the 17th century. This is before the industrial revolution has taken hold, although its interesting how much "industry" she comes upon. Some of what she reports is surprising - her delight at finding one of those new things: a sign post to point the way! It would Through England on a Side-saddle better if Really interesting so much that I've ordered the full illustrated version - this a Through England on a Side-saddle classic abridged version. It would be better if there was more opinion and slightly less reporting of the pitch of the roads and despite here being a single woman plus servant! Dec 26, Rich LeDuc rated it it was amazing. I'm a sucker for historical travel logs such as this. It's nothing more than the daily journal entries of a woman traveling in Through England on a Side-saddle in the late 's. May 21, Cameron rated it it was ok. For a journal written inthis actually holds up reasonably well. Celia Fiennes travelled around England on horseback and recorded everything of interest to her in minute detail. The result is a mixture of local anecodote and personal observation. She seemed particularly interested in noting distances. While Fiennes suggests that she travelled merely to improve her health, Through England on a Side-saddle was undoubtedly an enthusiastic traveller, and her journal offers a great deal of insight into the industry and var For a journal written inthis actually holds up reasonably well. While Fiennes suggests that she travelled merely to improve her health, she was undoubtedly an enthusiastic traveller, and her journal offers a great deal of insight into the industry and variety of England in the late seventeenth century. Please note this edition only contains extracts. Jan 09, Jill Bowman rated it really liked it. What a cute very little book! This was written in the late 's so the spelling is - inventive - but I loved her descriptions. I love it that what she describes seeing in the Cathedrals around England I have seen to! I'm not too surprised that people didn't seem to care for the Upper crust English. She describes the Welsh as 'a nasty sorte of people' and the Scots as dirty and slothful and she wouldn't eat at their houses. She didn't venture too far over the borders. She did seem to like D What a cute very little book! She did seem to like Derbyshire and Cornwall. I can't fault her there! Jul 28, Nose in a book Kate rated it liked it. Written in and apparently never edited, this takes a bit of getting used to but there is the occasional flash of wit, or snobbery, that makes it worth trying. Kirsty rated it liked it Dec 17, Claire Battle rated it liked it Feb 28, Stockfish rated it it was amazing Mar 17, Emma rated it liked it May 04, Alexandra rated it liked it Dec 10, Lucy Coleman rated it liked it May 08, Jane rated it liked it Sep 14, Heather Clitheroe rated it it was ok Jan 01, Wemyss Through England on a Side-saddle it it was amazing Jul 18, Through England on a Side-saddle Gloria rated it really liked it Aug 27, Robert Through England on a Side-saddle rated it liked it Jul 16, Patrick Ball rated it really liked it Sep 14, Jamie rated it liked it Dec 10, Kornelija rated it Through England on a Side-saddle not like it Oct 10, Emily rated it liked it May 06, John Leeming rated it liked it Jan 02, Christopher rated it did not like it Jun 16, Bryan rated it liked it Feb 02, Mab rated it liked it Mar 27, Middlethought rated it it was amazing Aug 06, Tracey rated it liked it Mar 21, London-Lass rated it liked it Sep 03, Mar 02, Clare Sullivan added it. A woman of means in 17th century - the journeys she took herself on horseback - remarkable. Through England on a Side-Saddle by Celia Fiennes

Sidesaddle riding is a form of equestrianism that uses a type of saddle which allows Through England on a Side-saddle rider usually female to sit aside rather than astride an equine. Sitting aside dates back to antiquity and developed in European countries in the Middle Ages as a way for women in skirts to ride a horse in a modest fashion while also wearing fine clothing. It has retained a specialty niche even in the modern world. The earliest depictions of women riding with both legs on the same side of the horse can be seen in Greek vasessculptures, and Celtic stones. Medieval depictions show women seated aside with the horse being led by a man, or seated on a small padded seat Through England on a Side-saddle pillion behind a male rider. Ninth century depictions show a small footrest, or planchette added to the pillion. In Europethe sidesaddle developed in part because of cultural norms which considered it unbecoming for a woman to straddle a horse while riding. This was initially conceived as a way to protect the hymen of aristocratic girls, and thus the appearance of their being virgins. However, women did ride horses and needed to be able to control Through England on a Side-saddle own horses, so there was a need for a saddle designed to allow control of the horse and modesty for the rider. The earliest functional "sidesaddle" was credited to Anne of Bohemia — The design made it difficult for a woman to both stay on and use the reins to control the horse, so the animal was usually led by another rider, sitting astride. The insecure design of the early sidesaddle also contributed to the popularity of the Palfreya smaller horse with smooth ambling gaits, as a suitable mount for women. A more practical design, developed in the 16th century, has been attributed to Catherine de' Medici. In her design, the rider sat facing forward, hooking her right leg around the pommel of the saddle with a horn added to the near side of the saddle to secure the rider's right knee. The footrest was replaced with a "slipper stirrup ", a leather-covered stirrup iron into which the rider's left foot was placed. However, not all women adopted the sidesaddle Through England on a Side-saddle all times. Catherine the Great of Russia went so far as to commission a portrait showing her riding astride wearing a male officer's uniform. In the s, Jules Pellier invented a sidesaddle design with a second, lower pommel to the sidesaddle. In this design, still in use today, one pommel is nearly vertical, mounted approximately 10 degrees left of top dead center and curved gently to the right and up. The lower right leg rests along the shoulder of the left near side of the horse and up against the second pommel called the leaping head or leaping horn which lies below the first on the left of the saddle. It is mounted about 20 degrees off the top of the saddle. This pommel is curved Through England on a Side-saddle downward in order to curve over the top of the rider's left thigh, and is attached in a manner so that it can pivot slightly, to adjust to the individual rider. The rider places her left leg beneath this pommel, with the top of the thigh close or lightly touching it, and places her left foot in a single stirrup on that side. The impact of the second pommel was revolutionary; the additional horn gave women both increased security and additional freedom of movement when riding sidesaddle, which allowed them to stay on at a gallop and even to jump fences while fox hunting and show jumping. With this design, nearly all recreational equestrian pursuits were opened to women, yet they could also conform to expectations of modesty. Through England on a Side-saddle riding habit worn by women riding sidesaddle originally was similar to clothing worn in everyday life. It Through England on a Side-saddle not until the second half of the 16th century that a riding habit specifically designed for sidesaddle riding was introduced, though sidesaddle habit design still tended to follow fashion of the day. Inthe first safety skirt was introduced and later evolved into the open-sided apron. Sidesaddle habits, also known as riding habits, developed as women became more active in the hunting field. The development of the leaping head on sidesaddles allowed women to jump fences while hunting. Cumbersome skirts were gradually replaced by the apron still worn today—which is actually a half skirt worn over breeches; designed so the rider does not sit on any apron fabric. The sidesaddle apron can be attached to the right foot by a piece of elastic to hold it in place when riding. When dismounted the apron is wrapped behind the legs and attached to a button on the left Through England on a Side-saddle to give the impression of a skirt. In the early 20th century, as it became socially acceptable for women to ride astride while wearing split skirts, and eventually breechesthe sidesaddle fell out of general use for several decades. The rise of women's suffrage also played a role as women rejected traditional restrictions in their physical activities as well as seeking greater social, political and economic freedoms. Riding correctly is critical to protect the horse from injury as well as for the safety of the rider. Because both legs of the rider are on the same side of the horse, there is considerable concern that too much weight will be placed on only one side of the horse, which can cause physical harm to the animal. In addition, if a rider is not Through England on a Side-saddle, a sidesaddle may need to be cinched up far tighter than would a regular saddle, leading to discomfort in the animal and even possible breathing difficulties. Correct posture is essential for balance and security in a sidesaddle and is specifically judged in sidesaddle classes. The rider sits squarely on the horse with the spine of the rider centered over the spine of the horse. The shoulders and hips are square to the horse, not twisted or turned off- center. The hands must be carried square to the horse, keeping both reins at the same length and tension. Only one stirrup is used and it places the rider's heel higher on the horse's body than when riding astride. The left ankle is flexed and the heel of the left leg is kept down for proper balance, accurate contact with the horse, and correct placement in the stirrup. For modern riders, there are competing schools of thought as to the position of the right leg. Some argue that the right heel is also to be flexed down and the toe up, the same as when riding astride, while others argue that the toe of the right leg should be pointed down. Advocates for each toe position both argue that the position is required to maintain correct balance and make effective use of the leg muscles. In either case, when needed, the rider can squeeze her right top leg downwards and against the upper pommel, and her left bottom leg upwards into the leaping head to create an extremely strong grip. It is tiring for both the rider Through England on a Side-saddle the horse to maintain this emergency hold, however, and most riders rely upon good position, balance, and coordination to maintain their seat. The spur and the whip are employed as supportive riding aidsin addition to weight and seat, used in a humane manner for cueing, not punishment. The English rider's whip is carried on the off right side, and is used in place of the rider's right leg to cue the horse on the off side. The sidesaddle whip is between two and four feet long, depending on style of equipment and competition rules, when applicable. Western riders generally use the romal a type of long quirt attached to the end of a set of closed reins to support cues in place of the right leg. If the rider wears a spur to assist the use of her leg, she will wear only one, on the left boot. Riders hold the reins evenly, not allowing one rein to be longer than the other. Most sidesaddle designs also force the rider to carry her hands a bit higher and farther from the horse's mouth than in a regular saddle. Because high hands on a direct pressure bit such as the snaffle bit may encourage the horse to carry its head too high, use of bits with curb bit pressure, such as a pelham bit or a double bridlewhich help the horse lower its head to a proper position, are often seen in sidesaddle competition. The horse used in sidesaddle Through England on a Side-saddle will have additional training to accustom it to the placement of the rider and the use of the whip to Through England on a Side-saddle off side leg commands. The horse also may need to adapt to a different and Through England on a Side-saddle hand position. However, most well-trained horses adapt to the basics fairly quickly Through England on a Side-saddle generally can be used for riding both sidesaddle and astride. In the past, when the sidesaddle was common, it was recommended to frequently change from one side to another, to prevent irregular development of thigh muscles, especially in girls who start riding in childhood; [8] this would be impossible Through England on a Side-saddle the usual modern design of sidesaddle, unless the rider had available two sidesaddles, one left-sided and one right-sided. While sidesaddles came to be regarded as a quaint anachronismsome modern riders have found new applications in the horse show ring, in historical reenactmentsand in parades or other exhibitions. The modern sidesaddle rider may be seen in many equestrian disciplines, including dressageeventingshow jumpingwestern pleasureand saddle seat -style English pleasure. Specialty sidesaddle classes with either traditional equipment or period costume are popular Through England on a Side-saddle many horse shows. Another common place to see a sidesaddle Through England on a Side-saddle the fox hunting field, where the tradition is preserved by sidesaddle devotees. More recently, a small number of gutsy sidesaddle riders have also taken up steeplechasing [9] and flat racing [10] with the creation of several side saddle steeplechases in Britain [11] and the US. In addition, the sidesaddle has become a part of some therapeutic riding programsbecause the design of the saddle provides extra security to certain types of riders. Many horse shows include judged exhibitions "classes" of sidesaddle riding. Sidesaddle classes Through England on a Side-saddle judged on manners and performance of the horse and rider, suitability of specific style, and appointments. English sidesaddle classes are based on style and norms found in the hunting field before the Second World War. Dress, appointments, riding style, and even the type of horse used are all judged against a formalized standard for an "ideal" appearance. The riding habit in such classes is the formal attire found in the hunting field, starting with a coat and apron. The Through England on a Side-saddle used is based on the open-sided safety apron developed in the late 19th century. The rider wears ordinary breeches or jodhpursover which she will wear the apron, which can partially open in the back. The jacket is usually cut Through England on a Side-saddle bit longer than a standard riding jacket. A vest, shirt, choker or stock tie, gloves, boots, and riding breeches are similar to those used when riding astride. For classes on the flat, a derby or top hat is traditional. When jumping, however, tradition gives way to safety, and most riders use a modern equestrian helmetwhich is often mandatory equipment in competition rules. The saddle seat variation of English sidesaddle, now seen almost exclusively in the United States in certain breed shows, allows riders to emulate the "Park" riders who rode flashy, high-stepping horses on the flat, often in public parks. The sidesaddle is essentially the same, and the rider may wear almost the same attire as the "hunt" version, an apron with breeches underneath, but with a coat having a noticeably longer cut, sometimes in bright colors, sometimes with a contrasting lining, and either a top hat or a derby. The shirt and vest will be of the style used in astride saddle seat classes, in that the vest will match either the coat or the coat lining, the shirt is a standard menswear dress shirt, and a "four-in-hand" tie is worn. When show rules permit, some saddle seat style riders adopt a period costume, often based on an antique riding habit from the Victorian era. The western sidesaddle class is similar to the English class but with a sidesaddle having western design features, and riders wearing western style clothing. Riders generally wear a western-styled apron with belt, worn over some type of breeches or pants, but a modified two-leg chaps design in leather or ultrasuede is sometimes seen, though not legal in some types of competition. Period costumes are also seen in the western show ring. Western riders usually wear a short bolero -style jacket that matches the apron or skirt, often with elaborate decoration, gloves, cowboy Through England on a Side-saddle and a cowboy hat. A variation to western-style sidesaddle riding is to wear Spanish or Mexican style regalia, often based on historic designs. Writer and horsewoman Rita Mae Brown feminist once stated, "If the world were a logical place, men would ride side saddle. Although sidesaddles are still manufactured today, it is a small niche market, and a new model is quite expensive. Thus, many riders who wish to ride sidesaddle are often Through England on a Side-saddle hunting Through England on a Side-saddle older saddles at antique shops, estate sales, attics Through England on a Side-saddle barn lofts. It is difficult to find an antique sidesaddle that not only fits the rider and horse but also is in good condition. Old sidesaddles usually need reconditioning, sometimes even requiring complete removal of the leather and examination of the tree. Antique sidesaddles are frequently a problem to fit, as many are too narrow for modern horses. Modern sidesaddles are usually based on the Jules Pellier two pommel design. The underlying tree, girthing system, flap or fender design, styling features and type of leather used may differ, however, the structure of the fixed pommel and leaping horn is a consistent design feature across all riding styles. Sidesaddles built on a tree designed for sidesaddle use are properly balanced, but many modern sidesaddles are built on a modified astride tree, which may Through England on a Side-saddle in an unbalanced, unridable saddle. Historical reenactment participants, notably those in American Civil War reenactmentsalso tend to use the two pommel sidesaddle, since the single pommel sidesaddle that was used into midth century Through England on a Side-saddle now regarded as Through England on a Side-saddle an insufficiently secure seat for safe riding. Most sidesaddles have a regular girth or cinch, an overgirth that holds the flaps down, and most have either a back cinch or a balancing strap to hold the saddle down in the back and provide additional stability. A breastcollar can be added to stabilize the saddle, and, though seen less often, a crupper.