A Wonderful First Sidesaddle Clinic at Wyre Horseways

What a wonderful day for our first-ever sidesaddle clinic at Wyre Horseways, beautifully situated in the heart of the Wyre Forest in Worcestershire.

We were incredibly lucky with the weather. For the most part, we enjoyed beautiful sunshine, with just a couple of short downpours to remind us that we were still in England! Thankfully, they passed quickly and didn't dampen anyone's enthusiasm.

A gazebo was set up for the day, with several saddles of historic interest on display. It was lovely to be able to share a little of the history and fascination surrounding sidesaddle alongside the practical experience of riding one.

The clinic was organised by the yard owner, Wendy Harper, who made everyone feel very welcome. And, of course, no clinic is complete without refreshments – Wendy's delicious home made Bakewell cake was a particular highlight!

New to Sidesaddle

All of the riders taking part were completely new to sidesaddle. For some, riding sidesaddle had been on their bucket list for years, so it was especially exciting to finally see them having their first experience.

The horses and riders all took to it brilliantly. There were plenty of smiles, lots of encouragement and, most importantly, some very happy horses and riders discovering something completely new together.

One of the riders, Claire, brought along her two daughters, Emma and Alice, as well as her friend Sue. It was fantastic to have them all taking part in lessons, followed by a photoshoot where they had the opportunity to dress in a habit. Seeing everyone enjoying the experience and embracing the history and elegance of sidesaddle made for some wonderful memories – and some lovely photographs.

New rider, Beth enjoyed her lesson so much that she kept begging to have another go! It's always a great sign when someone gets off the horse wanting to get straight back on again.

A Little More Sidesaddle

The day didn't quite end there. Afterwards, I called in at a nearby yard to give Faith a lesson on her lovely palomino Welsh pony.

It was the perfect way to round off a busy but thoroughly enjoyable day, introducing even more people, and horse, to the joys of sidesaddle.

A huge thank you to Wendy for organising the clinic and welcoming us to such a beautiful setting, and to everyone who came along with such enthusiasm and an open mind.

It was a fantastic first clinic at Wyre Horseways, and we're already looking forward to future sidesaddle clinics here. If this first one was anything to go by, there are sure to be many more happy riders discovering the wonderful world of sidesaddle in the beautiful Wyre Forest!