What evidence is there about it affecting muscle development in a horse given the unusual position of the rider? I come from a dressage background of up tight European trainers who don't even mount from the ground unless absolutely necessary. The reason is not because the dang warmbloods are so big but because of the excess pull across the horse's back that is created by the extra distance of not using a mounting block. (I use a mounting block because I'm too short to hop on a 17+ hh critter, but that doesn't count for most of the trainers I know.)

I think it's an elegant discipline but so not my bag...I feel perched on the horse instead of being able to sit down into them. I don't like Karl Neidersuss dressage saddles for the same reason, lol.

Anyone have any input on the muscle development?

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I don't know that there is any evidence of riding aside affecting muscle development, a side saddle fitted properly to both the horse and rider will distribute the weight evenly across the horses back and give you a very balanced seat. It's hard to explain how you maintain the same balanced seat from aside to astride but you do. Yes your right leg is infront and crossed over but your actual seat should not change. My seat was actually better/deeper riding aside than it is in my dressage saddle. Case in point is Sheila who came to our clinic, she compete Prix St. George and with no previous side saddle experience she was, after 3 lessons, doing tempi-changes(in both directions) across the diagonal. Something her horse would have been unable to do if she was struggling with uneven weight or confused by a change in Sheila's seat and effective use of aides. (she also did a little piaffe and passage)

At no time should your weight feel to be hanging off the horses' one side, this would indicate an ill fitting saddle. This would obviously cause muscle development problems (weakening some and strengthen others unevenly) in both a horse and rider as the horse worked with an "uneven" load and the rider struggles to counterbalance their awkward seat.

As for what might happen eventually if a horse is regularly and solely ridden aside I don't think that would be an issue either, again if the tack is fitted correctly. A balanced seat is a balanced seat and by using your seat and a cane or crop instead of your right leg you should be able to work all muscles evenly.

During the clinic they really stressed the importance of good saddle fit and I think they are right that it makes all the differecne in the world. The saddle I was given to use (the clinicians brought 15 saddles up for us) fit myself and Zoo to a T, at no time did I feel like I was perched ontop of her, quite the opposite in fact, or unbalanced. As for Zoo, she's got a history of telling me when a saddle doesn't fit or when she's uncomfortable by bucking and she was a happy little marshmallow the entire time. (And for the record I'm not one of these riders that can swing up onto any horse wearing any kind of tack and ride like a dream).

As I said I'm no expert but there are people competing successfully aside in many different astride disciplines to a very high level and I don't think this would be possible if their horses where affected by ongoing muscle problems or unequal development of muscle groups.

When I was talking with Sue and Gail, it was stressed often, as Barb pointed out, that the saddle must be fitted to horse and rider.

On Saddles & Fitting:
http://www.sidesaddleinfo.com/saddles.html

You mount and sit astride to get your center (I bring my right shoulder back so as not to disturb my seat) and then bring your right leg over. Your seat bones should be as they are when you ride astride. A crop is helpful, but not always necessary, it was for me, cuz I'm a beginner.

I can't remember if it was Gail or Sue that said "if you have a properly fitted side saddle, it should do most of the balance work for you".

I never felt "perched". I was quite happy and felt really secure. I'll let you know how I feel when we put one on Phantom.

I know a saddle that is not fitted can cause soreness and can over develop the muscles on one side of the horse.

I think historically, a horse might have this problem with old style side saddles (no evidence, just speculation), based on images that show women riding on the on and off side.

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As for the perched part, that's probably just me. The horse I rode was a national five-gaited side saddle champion with a properly fitted saddle. I don't like western saddles either, I feel like I'm too far from the horse. Over the years I've also had a number of (mostly American) dressage trainers tell me that they hate my saddle because there isn't enough padding in the seat. I call them wusses, that Keiffer Lech DL Profi is fabulous

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That's not the "side saddle of Queens" is it?

The only thing I saw that needed correction was that we are "volunteer" historical interpretors.

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If I can manage it, there will be photos, but this weekend session is largely about fitting my horse and test driving some different saddle types to see which one works best for Phantom.

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Normandie on the other hand, was ideal. Typical.

The draft side of her pedigree and the standardbred shoulders made it difficult to fit. And her deep hip drop when resting made it next to impossible to keep the saddle from rolling. A crupper or breast collar would not have made a difference.

I am so bummed.

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Lilian Chaudhary in California and Robert Jenkins in the UK come to mind as a starting point

Best of luck!

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Never say Die.

Phantom is my girl and I'm not going to give her up because she's a difficult fit.

No doubt she'll need a custom tree and of course that will bring with it significant cash out put, and while I enjoy our pasture time, she's too nice a horse to become at paddock ornament in all her dappled bay glory.

I've heard of Lillian.

I'm planning to make a casting of her back and ship it off to the chosen saddler.

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