Category: Sidesaddle: How-To

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Sidesaddle Terminology

Sidesaddle, like most things, comes with its own terminology and “stuff”. Check out the BRIEF descriptions of commonly used terms below.

Saddles, Tack

  • Balance Strap: This leather strap buckles like a girth near the stirrup iron, runs on top of the regular girth (under the horse’s belly) and attaches toward the back of the saddle on the other side of the saddle. When riding aside it is an important piece of tack that enhances safety for the rider and a more comfortable experience for the horse.
  • Chape: The piece of material (leather, nylon, etc.) that goes around a buckle and is stitched to the main body of the tack. Think – how the buckles are attached to your girth.
  • Fixed Head: The protruding piece on the top of any sidesaddle (compared to the one below it). This piece is fixed to the sidesaddle and should never wiggle or move.
  • Leaping Head: The protruding piece under the Fixed Head of a sidesaddle. This piece can often be unscrewed/removed easily in order to be replaced or reshaped to fit the rider’s thigh.
  • Near-side Sidesaddle: The more commonly seen style of sidesaddle, this saddle has the leaping and fixed head on the left side of the horse’s body, meaning the rider’s legs fall to the left side of the horse.
  • Off-side Sidesaddle: A less common style of sidesaddle, this saddle has the leaping and fixed head on the RIGHT side of the horse’s body, meaning the rider’s legs fall to the RIGHT side of the horse. It never hurts to note that off-side saddles require a special apron for the rider.
  • Tri-Fold Girth: A girth that attaches to the saddle with two buckles on both ends, just as many modern girths do. The difference is that a Tri-Fold is a thinner piece of leather folded three times, then stitched together. This is the construction method historically used to make a grith and is most appropriate in historical presentation-type situations.
  • Plaited: A style of leather work where the leather is braided as opposed to in one piece.
  • Queen: Used to help position the right thigh (in a near-sided saddle, left in an off-side saddle) into the proper place to allow for a comfortable and correct position. Typically fits over the fixed head of the sidesadde and buckles under the leaping head iron. 
  • Sidesaddle Iron: the stirrup! With a sidesaddle there is only one “iron” as opposed to two “stirrups”.

Rider, Attire, Events, Etc.

  • Appointments Class: A common class offered when showing sidesaddle, the Appointments Class is a flat class (walk, trot, canter) that requires you to emulate the historical turnout of a lady in the hunt field. Carrying a hunt whip, rain gloves, and a sandwich case are just a few of the requirements. It is imperative to read the USEF rulebook for the full requirements and description of the class if you are interested in competing.
  • Aside vs Astride: when you are riding in a sidesaddle it is called “riding aside” – you have both legs on one side of the horse. The opposite would be “riding astride” – with one leg on each side of the horse.
  • Apron: The “skirt” worn when riding aside; it covers the legs and waist. Historically it was to preserve the ladies’ modist appearance and keep her warm while out hunting.
  • Habit: The outfit worn by a sidesaddle rider – typically refers to the apron (skirt) and jacket.

Please note – this list is a work in progress. If you think of a term worth defining – drop me a note!

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How do I know what size girth & balance strap I need for my horse?

By far the most frequently asked question I get is: How do I know what size girth and balance strap I need for my horse?

You can not just go by your astride girth as side-saddle billets tend to be shorter, have less wiggle room than astride saddles, and don’t typically use elastic. The easiest way is to test with a girth that is too short and add girth extenders. But I know that isn’t always possible. Here is an easy thing you can do using materials typically found in most barns. Let me be clear- this is for MEASURING only. NOT FOR RIDING. This is not a safe setup for riding and I do not encourage people to use stirrup leathers as a temporary balance strap.

Supplies needed:

  • (2) old stirrup leathers
  • Duct tape
  • zip ties or bailing twine
  • Tape measure
  • (2) 1” buckle (could be from old girth, old stirrup leathers, or anything old that has 1” buckles on it).

Take the 1” buckles and secure them tail-end to tail-end. Make sure they are secure as if not they will pop apart when you go to tighten your “girth”. You can use multiple pieces of duct tape, bailing twine or zip ties are great for this!

Use this buckle piece to attach 2 stirrup leathers together so there is a buckle on either end.

Attach one end to one billet and the other end to the other side. In the case of balance girth measuring- one to the front balance billet and then to the rear balance billet on the opposite side. (I am not using near or off side someone might be using this for an offside saddle). You may need to punch holes in the stirrup leathers unless using really short ones.

Make sure your horse is done puffing and tighten again before taking a final measurement. This is a common mistake. People frequently ask for girths that are too long. I encourage people to measure from 2nd hole on from the bottom to 2nd hole on the bottom for a girth. And from 2nd hole on the short balance billet to 1/3 to midway up on the long (offside on a near side saddle) balance billet. This helps ensure there is enough room to tighten especially if you use these girths hunting! Sometimes people have to use a girth extender on one buckle to get the girth started. This is okay as long as you prepare for that and have one handy.

Take the stirrup leathers off and measure tongue to tongue on the buckles. The tongue is the metal tab that inserts into the billet as seen in the photo above.

This is the most accurate measurement and the one I like to work from best. The girth in the pictures would be 58” tongue to tongue. That’s a really big girth by the way!

Some additional hints: Your girth and your balance strap are not always the same length. I have seen them be up to 4” different. It all depends on the shape of your horse and billet placement on the saddle. If you have outer girthing on your side-saddle you will want to be more accurate in where your girth and balance strap buckles line up. Ideally, they should be within the same plane when viewing the horse from the side. It’s most pleasing to see.