The Horsewoman: A Practical Guide to Side-Saddle Riding, 2nd. Ed.

In an era when a lady's dignity depended on never straddling a horse, mastering the side-saddle was an essential skill for any woman of means. Alice M. Hayes, drawing on decades of riding experience across multiple countries, offers a meticulously practical guide to this now-lost art. She begins with what she considers paramount: proper instruction, for the side-saddle presents unique challenges that cannot be learned from books alone. The rider must understand the saddle's peculiar construction, develop a secure grip through knee and calf, and learn to balance upon a perch far different from a conventional seat. Hayes also addresses which horses suit women riders, why the method demands both strength and delicacy, and how to ensure the horse's comfort alongside the rider's safety. What emerges is more than a technical manual: it is a window into a world where a woman's horsemanship was measured in grace, poise, and absolute control. For modern readers curious about equestrian history, feminist history, or simply the strange elegance of Victorian and Edwardian life, this guide offers an absorbing glimpse into an art that has nearly vanished from the world.