Side saddle making
The making of side saddles to allow riders to sit aside rather than astride a horse (see also saddlery).
| Status | Endangered |
| Craft category | Leather |
| Historic area of significance | London, West Midlands |
| Area currently practised | |
| Origin in the UK | |
| Current no. of professionals (main income) | 1-5 |
| Current no. of professionals (sideline to main income) |
11-20 |
| Current no. of trainees | 6-10 |
| Current total no. serious amateur makers |
11-20 |
| Current total no. of leisure makers |
|
| Minimum no. of craftspeople required |
History
A side saddle is a type of saddle developed for ladies who did not want to ride in a carriage but when riding astride was considered unladylike.
Techniques
Extremely traditional and tended to always be the top saddlers who specialised. Working with serge, linen, doe and pigskin.
Local forms
Sub-crafts
- Side saddle tree making
Issues affecting the viability of the craft
- Interest in side saddles is enjoying a revival – more people are riding side saddle and wounded veterans with limb loss are discovering the opportunities side saddles offer in their rehabilitation.
- Although the craft is experiencing an upsurge there are still relatively few skilled makers.
- Richard Godden’s retirement will mark a great loss to the side saddle making skills base and it will be difficult to replace him.
Support organisations
- The Saddlery Training Centre
- The Society of Master Saddlers
- The Side Saddle Association
- The Worshipful Company of Saddlers
- Capel Manor College
- Institute of Creative Leather Technologies
- Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust
Craftspeople currently known
Individual makers:
- James Turner, Berkshire
- Carolyn Truss, Cambridgeshire
- Amanda Wilson, Derbyshire
- Johan Ulvede, Devon
- Alan Brown, Devon
- Nigel Higgs, Gloucestershire
- Clare Barnett, Hampshire
- Susan Elizabeth Slade, Hampshire
- Penny Dickson, Kent
- Catherine Lonsdale, Lancashire
- Mark Bushell, Lincolnshire
- Sally Greaves, Norfolk
- Alice Blakey, Oxfordshire
- Sarah Stevens, Oxfordshire
- Anne Dawson, Shropshire
- Richard Godden, Somerset
- Ian Silman, Somerset
- Martin Gulliver, Stafforshire
- Coralie Chung, Suffolk
- Helen Dart, Surrey
- Nicola Watson, Sussex
- Jackie Winchester, Sussex
- Laura Dempsey, Warwickshire
- Julia Duffin, Wiltshire
- Christopher Harper, Wiltshire
- Tiffany Parkinson, Wiltshire
- Robert Jenkins, Worcestershire
- Hilary Lambe, Yorkshire
- Julie Shepherd, Yorkshire
- Jocelyn Danby, Ross-shire
- Shirley Justice-Vose, Ayrshire
- Graham Butt, Powys
- Helen Reader, Carmarthen
Businesses employing two or more makers:
- Colne Saddlery, Gloucestershire
- Cirencester Saddlers, Gloucestershire
- J Houghton & Son, Lancashire
Other information
References
- Owen, Rosamund, The Art of Side Saddle
