Sidesaddle!

I was waiting for all my spare saddles to sell until I seriously started sidesaddle shopping. Then I got an email from a friend of a friend that she was selling her sidesaddle: a saddle made in the 1890's for a school teacher in Raton, NM to ride her mule to school. She quite honestly had me at Raton, as hubby's dad grew up there and aunt and grandma still live there. When I saw the saddle I knew this story was entirely probable and bought it off her, no idea if it would fit Naners and I.

Upon posting it to the sidesaddle group on facebook the consensus was that it is indeed a 1890's Goodnight type saddle. There is no maker's mark so it was likely apprentice work. Raton is not terribly far from Pueblo, CO where they were making the actual Goodnights. There was some envy such a thing had fallen into my lap. I was warned to make sure the rigging is okay (had already thought of that) and our saddle fitter who does sidesaddles was already scheduled for a trip to our area (which has now been delayed, but oh well.)

Initial photographic saddle fitting is that it isn't too long for her. Tree size I'm going to wait till my fitter gets here and not get my hopes too far up, but I think it might be okay. I, quite obviously, need a longer cinch. The horse who wore this previously was an Icelandic. The iron on the saddle can't be original, as they were built with a standard western stirrup with a tapadero that was cut long on the inside to protect the ladies' shoe. If the saddle does fit us I will get a proper stirrup made as well as bridle to match the tooling on the seat. There's a breastplate around somewhere in the sellers garage that matches the saddle but wasn't made to go with it.

I really didn't imagine my foray into sidesaddle being from the western perspective, all my research has been on english. But, Naners does go western and this saddle is so cool I don't mind. So, if this works we will be rocking Western dressage sidesaddle at the local shows. I have the full intention of making a historically accurate outfit, to the point that Raton aunt will be going to the historical society to see if there might actually be some pictures of said school teacher. I figure crazier things have happened.