Simply Side Saddles

31/08/2024

31/08/2024

We have been overwhelmed by the numbers of entries for the competition to name the new rider’s seat aid and have been spoilt for choice with some great suggestions- thank you everyone for entering. Wecan now reveal the winning entry. Put forward by we are going with her name of The ClarkIns Pad (a combination of Clarke and Jenkins!)
We have been delighted with the popularity of the pads which have been flying out as they are making such a difference to how rider’s are balancing themselves, enhancing their ability to sit onto their right seat-bone. They also provide protection for the original seat of the saddle.
To order a ClarkIns Pad, please contact .sidesaddles or .
Bespoke pads can also be made.

26/08/2024

Latest Clinic Dates
25 August Tadcaster, Yorkshire
29 August Southey Farm EC, nr Wellington, Somerset
7 September Rest Harrow EC, nr Carnforth, Lancashire
8 September Longfield EC, Todmorden, Lancashire
27 September Greenlands EC, Carlisle, Cumbria
28 September SSA Area 9 (Scotland)
29 September SSA Area 9 (Scotland)
12 October Beverley Polo Club, Yorkshire

For further information or to book on any of these clinics please PM me. If you’d like to arrange a clinic in your area/ at your yard, I cover the whole UK and provide saddles for lessons.

21/07/2024

15/06/2024

Back by popular request is the latest Saddle of the Week. I had to take a bit of a break from doing them as I seem to have had the busiest few months I can remember having!
This saddle is a complete rarity, so much so that I had to do a bit of research to find out more about it.
It is one of only a handful made of Owen side-saddle racing saddles from the era where ladies took part in point to points riding aside- think Lady Mary in Downton Abbey. The saddle has a half tree, is very light weight and very tiny. I’d love to hear if anyone has any stories or pictures of ladies taking part in these races. My understanding is that most ladies would have just used a conventional side-saddle so I’m sure the few Owen race sidesaddles were much coveted!
To see more about the saddle and other Saddles of the Week, check out the Simply Side Saddles YouTube channel. Let me know what you’d like to see more of on these videos too. The link to this one is https://youtu.be/44fwaWSc_9k?si=WmmbtZseaMZmPBj9

08/04/2024

It’s been a few weeks since I posted a Saddle of the Week as I’ve been really busy with teaching, but here’s the latest one. This time, I’m showing you a more unusual saddle. I’m describing it as “old meets new” as it’s a saddle that .sidesaddles restored a number of years ago before he started making his own saddles. It is an older style of saddle with a third pommel, roller bar stirrup attachment and isn’t cut back at the front of the seat like a more modern saddle.
It has however been completely restored, new leatherwork, seat and been put on a wykeham pad and is really very smart and I understand from its owner that it’s extremely comfortable to ride in. To see the latest Saddle of the Week video follow the link https://youtu.be/GuI1_h7ZNfc?si=pp6BGrUlqwVCmyW4 on the Simply Side Saddles YouTube channel.

06/04/2024

24/02/2024

I've been asked by a few people if I can post any new additions of saddles that will be going on the website, so I thought I'd start doing this weekly as sometimes there's a slight delay before they go live on the website. This week there are 4 new saddles to have a look at. For all other saddles, take a look on www.simplysidesaddles.co.uk

22/02/2024

I’ve chosen this lovely Hermes saddle as the latest Saddle of the Week. Hermes of Paris are known for their high quality leather work and started making side-saddles in 1909 and continued to do so until the mid 1950s. This saddle, which is in its original condition and has been fully checked over by a side-saddle specialist saddler, features a roller bar stirrup fitting and a safety stirrup.
The YouTube video showing more about the saddle can be found on the Simply Side Saddles YouTube channel along with other saddles of the week. The link is https://youtu.be/waoE672syWo?si=e3pYuu809qAZ7sLK

07/02/2024

The Saddle of the Week is a refurbished Champion and Wilton which has been put on a wykeham pad which makes it not only lighter weight but also more adjustable to fit to a wider range of horses. It’s a saddle I use a lot for teaching and everyone loves it because it’s really comfortable too. In this week’s video, first time side saddle rider but experienced dressage rider tells us a little bit about her first experience of riding aside . The latest side-saddle of the week video can be found on the Simply Side Saddles YouTube channel using the link https://youtu.be/aKyzBlfj3jI?si=SmkDEKnwM9BgMUis along with other saddles of the week.

21/01/2024

The latest Saddle of the Week was filmed during my last visit up to between Christmas and New Year and features this stunning Owen saddle belonging to Nicky Richardson . The sort of saddle that’s hard to come by, a 15.5 inch Owen side-saddle in beautiful tiptop show condition. To see the interview with Nicky and see her saddle, check out the latest Saddle of the Week on the YouTube channel using the link https://youtu.be/-Lu3zAtNR1M?si=n-R_Ubd4JS8EyOJs

06/01/2024

Here’s the latest Saddle of the Week, a beautiful rebuild by Coralie Chung, a 15.5 inch, extra wide saddle.
To see the latest video and other Saddles of the Week, the link to the Simply Side Saddles YouTube video is https://youtu.be/d4prWLQN6lY?si=37IayCP3TxnC6SG_

31/12/2023

Wishing all my friends, clients and fellow side-saddle enthusiasts a very Happy and Successful New Year.
My latest blog can be found at https://www.simplysidesaddles.co.uk/blog where I share my reflections on 2023
Thank you to all my clients who have supported me this year whilst I’ve set up Simply Side Saddles and I’m looking forward to more side-saddle adventures next year.

19/12/2023

I’ve selected this lovely Owen showing side saddle for the latest Saddle of the Week. With its short offside panel and saddle flap it was modelled on the Whippy Number 5, a very popular saddle design for showing off the horse’s shoulder, making it perfect for the side-saddle showing classes. To see the latest video and other Saddles of the Week, check out the Simply Side Saddles You Tube channel. The link for this one is https://youtu.be/blI36W877oM?si=SCiBEiX4KLPuNAym

04/12/2023

The latest Saddle of the Week was filmed during a recent clinic in Northern Ireland. It features Shirley Anderson and her lovely Owen saddle- a beautiful example of a show saddle in beautiful condition. For the latest YouTube Saddle of the Week follow the link https://youtu.be/CyjwGs_xVgA?si=Rd9o2Qng5Bp_AgRB and take a look at the Simply Side Saddles YouTube channel for other featured saddles.

21/11/2023

My latest side-saddle blog can be found on my website www.simplysidesaddles.co.Uk
This time it’s all about winter goal setting.

07/11/2023

For the latest Saddle of the Week, we take a look at a pony pilch saddle. The one featured is a beautiful new saddle made by the very talented .sidesaddles. The latest video is filmed whilst running a clinic for showing Zoe and her lovely pony Gingerbread.
The pilch saddle is designed for smaller ponies and smaller children, coming in 3 different sizes. They’re very popular with the younger riders- trying to find older saddles for these smaller ponies is increasingly difficult and the pilches are ideal, being lighter weight. They have a front arch half tree and the rest of the saddle is treeless. The pommel and front flap are removable and fully reversible, giving the opportunity to ride both near side and offside.
To see the latest Saddle of the week video on You Tube, visit the Simply Side Saddles You Tube channel. The link for this week is https://youtu.be/vJz44HXPm_M?si=54lSxK7wFsWELo_G

29/10/2023

Day One of Scottish Side Saddle clinic yesterday and looking forward to Day Two today. Thank you for organising both days for

24/10/2023

For the latest Saddle of the Week, I met up with whilst running a clinic at Southey Farm in Somerset. The saddle is a beautiful 16 inch Champion and Wilton which fits both Pippa and her horse Lexi very well. It is a lovely example of a show saddle. To see more about the saddle, check out the latest Saddle of the Week on the Simply Side Saddles You Tube channel along with previous saddles of the week. If you’d like to be featured in future weeks, drop me a message.

https://youtu.be/hb3d3ZeVu1w?si=h2R17w7R5hh9xhjs

16/10/2023

I’ve chosen a lovely 17 inch Whippy saddle for this week’s Saddle of the Week. Having talked in previous weeks about the most well known manufacturers of side-saddle, no lesser saddle are the beautifully crafted Whippy side-saddles made by London Saddle and Harness maker, Whippy Steggall &co.
This is a lovely example of a saddle that has been well used (in my opinion always a good sign) but is in lovely show ring condition, with an immaculate doeskin seat and neat offside flap to show off the horse to maximum advantage.
To see the saddle in more detail and to find out a bit more about Whippy saddles, check out the latest Saddle of the Week on the Simply Side Saddles You Tube channel, along with previous saddles. The link to this week’s is https://youtu.be/RjyAFAox8IM?si=OrlMvbBCRhlU9paE
If you’d like your saddle to feature in future weeks, do get in touch as I’d love to hear about your saddles too.

03/10/2023

This week’s saddle of the week is a bit different- firstly because there’s 2 saddles featured and secondly because it’s filmed on location after a day’s clinic
I’m joined by 2 of my now fairly long-standing clients Karrie McGill and Jade Paterson and
They both talk about their .sidesaddles and why they’re loving riding and competing on them.
To watch the full video and to see other Saddles of the Week, check out the Simply Side Saddles You Tube channel. The link to this week’s is https://youtu.be/P6O591PC8Rs?si=nUFw2nK06gBQejrY or you can follow the link from the website www.simplysidesaddles.co.Uk

22/09/2023

Next Clinic Dates

Next Clinic Dates

25 September- SSA Area 9, Scotland (fully booked)
26September- Lockerbie, Scotland
30 September- Shaw Farm EC, Todmorden, Lancashire
2 October- Southey Farm, nr Wellington, Somerset
7 October- Blaby Mill Stables, Leicestershire (fully booked)
16 October- Ashford Hill, Berks/ Hants border
22 October- Alderlake EC, East Sussex
26 October- North Devon
11 November- Sandtoft Arena, nr Doncaster, South Yorkshire
18 November - Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire
19/20 November - SSA Area 21 Northern Ireland
25 November- Lockerbie, Scotland
26 November- SSA Area 9, Scotland

Further dates also to be added including mechanical horse clinics.
All clinics are suitable for all levels of side-saddle rider, from those wanting to have a go for the first time through to experienced riders competing nationally.
I have saddles available for teaching purposes to fit most horses and also can, by request, bring saddles for sale through I also have available the latest demo saddle from .sidesaddles for those who may be interested in trying that.
To book a place on any of these clinics or for further enquiries, please pm me.
I’m also available for lessons in the Gloucestershire/ South Oxfordshire/ Wiltshire area, either side-saddle or astride

19/09/2023

My next blog can be found on the Simply Side Saddles website by using the following link
https://www.simplysidesaddles.co.uk/post/summer-shows