OSA Lunch 'N' Learn - November 17, 2018

Would you like to learn how to fit a sidesaddle to your horse?  Come to the first OSA Lunch 'N' Learn workshop of this fall on Saturday, November 17, 2018 starting at 10am.  Click here to see the event details on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/544660782621420/

Lunch will be supplied.  Come dressed for the weather as we will be working in the arena. $20 for OSA members, $30 for non-members.  Spots are limited so register early. Contact Diana Macdonald at dimac99@hotmail.com.

2018 Sidesaddle Open House

Blythe Shore is the Recipient of the 2015 Recognition Award from the Ontario Sidesaddle Association

Congratulations to Blythe Shore for receiving the Reserve Champion Novice Pleasure Award for 2015  at the Rockwood Trail Riders club banquet.  In recognition of Blythe's 2015 show season riding sidesaddle, OSA has awarded her the 2015 OSA Recogntion Award.

Board of Directors Meeting and 2016 Christmas Social

Everyone is invited!

Our next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 2:30pm and will be held at Rustic Meadows, 5712 Trafalgar Road, Hillsburgh.  Come and join us as we begin planning for 2017 activities.

Following the meeting at around 5pm we will head over to David's Restaurant in Erin to celebrate the upcoming holiday season.

David's is located at 20 Shamrock Road in Erin.

All members are welcome to attend.  If you would like to join us, please let us know so we can advise the restaurant our numbers.

3rd Annual Open House and Events Update

This post is to share with you events that are coming up in the month of October.

First, the Headwaters Horse Country Stable Tour takes place the weekend of October 1st and 2nd.  The Ontario Sidesaddle Association has participated in this event in prior years, and this year is no exception.  We will  have sidesaddle riding demonstrations and information available on how to get involved, or even just book a lesson to try it.  We would love to see you at Rustic Meadows, 5712 Trafalgar Road in Hillsburgh. Headwaters Horse Country Stable Tour - Rustic Meadows.

On Thanksgiving weekend, we will be at the Erin Fair in the Horse Tent.  This year, in addition to having display saddles that you can sit on to see how comfortable sidesaddle can be, we will be having a horse and rider demo.  You will have the opportunity to ask questions about sidesaddle for which you've always wanted answers.  The Erin Fair is one of the largest fall fairs in Ontario and we are proud to have been invited to return again in 2016.

Our 3rd Annual Ontario Sidesaddle Association Open House take place on Sunday, October 16th from 10am to 4pm.  Last year, our goal was 60 saddles and 60 attendees and we surpassed both.  This year we are aiming even higher, so come on out and see the largest collection of sidesaddles all in one place that we know of.  We will have English, Western and antique saddles; old name saddles and catalogue saddles; all shapes and sizes.  We will also have riding demonstrations for English, Western and costume riders.  Visitors will have the opportunity to dress up in a sidesaddle habit, sit on a saddle and have their picture taken. 

The event takes place at Willowview Springs, 5288 Woolwich-Guelph Townline, Breslau, Ontario.  From 401, take Hwy 6 North. Turn west on Paisley and follow to the"T" junction. Turn north to #5288.

Come and see us at OEF Horse Day - June 4, 2016

Come and see us at OEF's Horse Day, this Saturday, June 4th, 2016 at Dreamwinds Equine Assisted Learning Centre, 2800 Line 10, RR #2, Bradford, Ontario L3Z 2Z5.  We'll be there from 11am to 5pm with a demo in the ring at 2pm.

Visit www.dreamwinds.ca for information and a map.

"Have a sit" on a sidesaddle and feel how comfortable and secure riding aside can be.

Show Your Arab Sidesaddle--We'll Get You There

The Initiative: If you are already at the show, have a desire to be different, and want to have fun showing in new classes with a vintage flair, try sidesaddle. We will guide you and your horse in typically three lessons, to a safe comfortable ride that will put you into the ribbons. Don’t have the sidesaddle or riding outfit? No worries, this is how we get you there – rentals on horse show date. The Ontario Sidesaddle Association (OSA) has partnered with the Arabian Horse of Eastern Canada Association (AHAEC), to augment the open sidesaddle class with more opportunities to show aside by including, walk trot pleasure, walk trot equitation and a surprise class (more about that to come.)

Holly Ray of Brookfield, Ohio on EF Frisco Bay, 
photo by  Tracey Kelsey Photography, used with permission.

Logistics: First, let the show secretary know you plan to enter the new classes. Allow at least four weeks before the show to team up with an OSA qualified volunteer coach in your area. Meet to be fitted with a borrowed sidesaddle to suit both you and your horse, decide on discipline of English (hunt or saddle seat), western or costume and practice riding at least three times or until you agree aside is safe and fun. The OSA coach will bring your rented aside equipment to the horse show of your choice and coach you through the sidesaddle classes. This initiative is a fund raiser benefitting OSA and amenably priced to get you excited about trying and experiencing the thrill and noble pleasure of aside. As many others have, you too will get hooked and welcome a forum to ride aside at a show. This is how AHAEC will help, by offering non-sanctioned additional sidesaddle classes at choice 2016 Ontario Arabian shows. Book early, as there is limited rental inventory for saddles, habits and costumes.

Holly Ray on EF Frisco Bay,
photo by Tracey Kelsey Photography, used with permission.

Rulebook: According to the AHA 2014 rulebook entry, any Purebred, Half or Anglo may enter and ‘be judged 85% on manners, performance, suitability, quality and conformation, 15% on appropriate sidesaddle attire.’ You may show open in a sidesaddle class, riding either English, western or costume. Classes may be split into disciplines if numbers merit. Section AR 193 further describes ‘the sidesaddle horse should give the distinct impression that it is a comfortable mount to ride. A good ground-covering walk, a comfortable trot or jog-trot, and easy flowing canter or lope is desirable. Transitions from one gait to another should be smooth and effortless. Riders may sit or post to the trot.’

Holly Ray on EF Frisco Bay,
photo by K. Engelhaupt Photography, used with permission.

Tip: Learn from your OSA coach how to minimize any unwanted body movement and ensure a comfortable looking ride - this will capture a judge’s eye. One tip is to take advantage of having the choice to post or not post, regardless of the riding discipline. Sitting trot in aside classes, including hunt seat, is also permissible in general performance rulebooks outside of Arabians. Sitting the trot is much more attractive than rising, when riding aside.

Holly Ray on EF Frisco Bay,
photo by K. Engelhaupt Photography, used with permission.

Posting by definition leaves the rider vulnerable, as the seat leaves the secure surface area of the saddle, albeit for a few seconds. There is a type of posting used riding aside for the utility to help ease muscle fatigue over long distances; however your seat doesn’t leave the saddle surface. Think of sidesaddle posting as deliberately transferring your weight back and forth in trot rhythm, from your right hip up to the bend in your right leg that wraps around the upper pommel and back again. Your seat does not leave the saddle; it’s more akin to a rocking motion. This is not as smooth and comfortable as sitting, which is the preference of many sidesaddle riders.

Next Steps: For more info, we invite you to send us a message through this blog or the OSA Facebook page. Leave your contact info and your local OSA representative will call and discuss bringing you over to our side!