Our Find of the Month: the Sidesaddle
Hidden within the walls of our house are many treasures, just waiting to be discovered. Time and again, we stumble upon magnificent finds that present many a mystery. The sidesaddle, our find of the month, also gives rise to some speculation. Since the nobility allowed such saddles to “fall out of use” after the end of World War I, we suspect it is a gift from the Austrian Imperial Court. But what exactly is a sidesaddle?
A saddle specifically for noblewomen
The development of this truly special model likely dates back to the 14th century, when noblewomen adopted the side-saddle position – which had already emerged in antiquity. However, suitable saddles were lacking and had to be developed first. The Sambue, one of the first examples, was padded with straw. The riding cushion with a backrest and footrest only allowed for an insecure transverse seat on the horse.
The sidesaddle became increasingly comfortable and secure. Thus, already in the early modern period, it was easily possible to swing the right leg over the pommel and rest the foot in a stirrup instead of a footrest – an absolute gain, especially with longer skirts. Around 1580, the pommel finally gave way to a fork with two horns. This innovation at the French royal court, the so-called forked saddle, further improved the seat and enabled hunting as well as jumping over smaller obstacles.
So Many Holiday Treasures
It’s always exciting to wander through the Bräurup, as there’s still much from the old days to discover. Many finds are closely linked to the
