“I am afraid you are very tired, Fanny,” said Edmund, observing her; “why would not you speak sooner? This will be a bad day’s amusement for you if you are to be knocked up. Every sort of exercise fatigues her so soon, Miss Crawford, except riding.”
“How abominable in you, then, to let me engross her horse as I did all last week! I am ashamed of you and of myself, but it shall never happen again.”
“Your attentiveness and consideration makes me more sensible of my own neglect. Fanny’s interest seems in safer hands with you than with me.”
Conversation between Edmund and Miss Crawford, Mansfield Park
Riding side-saddle was the leisure activity of the ladies of the upper classes, since horses were expensive to purchase and maintain. Horses and ponies that carried ladies were chosen for their sweet tempers and docile natures: they also needed special instruction in how to carry their riders in a side saddle.
The female rider was decked out in a formal riding habit. These fashionable costumes changed noticeably through the years. “Around 1785, the riding coat (later redingote) appeared with its close-fitting bodice, double or triple cape-collar in the style of a coachman’s coat, and a buttoned skirt. At the end of the century styles changed again and by the early nineteenth century a less voluminous habit became fashionable, with a high waistline and often a pleated jacket back, using materials such as fine wools or nankeen in the summer (there is also some evidence for velvet). The style lasted through the Regency period but began changing dramatically after the 1820s, when skirts became fuller again, and sleeves puffed.” (The Side Saddle Lady Museum)
- The History of Side Saddles
- The Side Saddle Lady Museum
- The History of Riding Fashion: The Jane Austen Centre
- Side Saddle Fashions
- Timeline of Redingote and Riding Coat Fashions
Image from The Republic of Pemberley
Jane Austen's World 
Perhaps some of your readers would like additional information on sidesaddle riding. The Side Saddle Source is just the place. Check it out at http://www.sidesaddlesource.com.
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For the best photo summary of the history of sidesaddle attire, see NEA Sidesaddle Association’s website and Historic Attire pages, http://www.sidesadleinfo.com/attire/historical.html
Authentic as well as costume, including a child-size Regency habit. Enjoy!
Correction: the NEA Sidesaddle Association Historic Attire pages should have been written as http://www.sidesaddleinfo.com/attire/historical.html
Thank you, Sue. What a gorgeous site.
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