Getting addicted to side-saddle
On a mission to have fun with her horse, Nero, Cara Sexton took the plunge and tried a brand new discipline
IN MAY LAST year, Cara Sexton found her perfect partner in six-year-old gelding, Nero. Together they’ve spent the past year getting to know each other and trying a bit of everything, from hunter trials to Riding Club events, and when Cara saw a side-saddle coaching session advertised, she thought, why not? “A An add for a clinic a at a local yard popped up on my Facebook news feed one day. It looked like fun and I’ve always liked the idea of riding side saddle,” says Cara. “The clinic was with instructor Clare Simper at East Arabian Stud, in Suffffffolk, and it invited beginners or improvers to come along and ride their own horse or one of Clare’s. Nero is a really calm, confident boy so I thought I’d take him for a private lesson and give it a go. “On the day, I met with Clare and then got Nero warmed up as normal in the lovely indoor arena. Clare talked me through what would happen in the lesson and the different weight aids I’d be using once riding side-saddle. Then I got off and Clare tried a few saddles on Nero to find one that was right for him. He was so chilled about everything and took it all in his stride. “A After Nero had been walked around with the new saddle on his back, it was time to get on. At first it felt really odd but surprisingly comfy. Nero didn’t bat an eyelid at the change in my position. He was really patient with me as I got to grips with the difference in style. “By the end of my lesson we’d walked, trotted and cantered on both reins, something Clare explained not everyone manages to do, so I was really pleased with our progress and I absolutely loved the experience. Clare was lovely and explained
everything so that I understood clearly.
We had such a laugh and I’d encourage anyone to give it a go. It’s great fun, very different and it helped me to focus on my balance and posture, which I took home and applied to my normal riding. “If your horse is a calm type, then try it with him like I did with Nero. If he’s not, you can always ride a schoolmaster first. Be warned though, it’s slightly addictive!”
Nero didn’t bat an eyelid at the change in my position