Society of Sidesaddle Storytellers

Like many others, I fell in love with sidesaddle riding after watching Lady Mary Crawley gracefully hunt aside in the first season of Downton Abbey. By season five, I was completely captivated by riding sideways and somehow, had collected four side saddles!

 

I live in Tennesse, United States, where opportunities to ride or compete sidesaddle are rare. Frustrated, I decided to take matters into my own hands. As a lifelong history enthusiast, amateur seamstress, devoted horse owner, and someone who does educational outreach for work, I’m always excited to share knowledge and inspire others. Blending these passions together, the Society of Sidesaddle Storytellers was born!  

 

The idea was to start a living history group dedicated entirely to sidesaddle riding and the remarkable achievements of women equestrians throughout history. We include riding demonstrations and educational presentations at historic sites, scout meetings, festivals, and equestrian events. It’s been an incredible journey—one that’s allowed us to dress up and embody iconic women like Anne of Bohemia, Annie Oakley, Queen Elizabeth I, and many more. 

 

I find most non-equestrians are generally fascinated by sidesaddle, viewing it as something 'mythical' from movies and not knowing how it works. So far, people have been very receptive, and we’ve been amazed by the genuine interest and thoughtful questions from our wonderful audiences. 

 
For our first event (March 22nd, 2025), we rode and gave a talk at a stunning Victorian mansion in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, built in the 1850s. We brought four horses—both western and English, gaited and non-gaited! The riders dressed in a colorful array of historic attire. The mansion, once a thoroughbred stud farm, hadn’t seen horses for years, so it was special to bring them back to its grounds! 

 

Recently, (June 28th, 2025) we attended the Jane Austen Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio, with a booth, talks, and riding demos. Many attendees, well-versed in period dramas, eagerly asked about their favorite heroines riding sidesaddle. It was also wonderful to share a passion for historical costuming, as many proudly showed off their handmade Regency outfits. 

 

Its been a fun journey so far! Sharing our passion for sidesaddle with diverse audiences has been a joy. The Society of Sidesaddle Storytellers welcomes both equestrians and non-equestrians alike – it is a fun way to bring the community together. We just want our group members to love horses, history, and dressing up in fun outfits! Men and spouses are welcome to participate as well. There are so many remarkable women who made history from the back of a horse. We aim to tell their stories and keep sidesaddle riding alive for generations to come. 

 

We have several programs coming up soon. Follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram at the Society of Sidesaddle Storytellers—we’d love to connect with sidesaddle sisters from across the globe. 

Thank you for letting us share our story!