Local group continues tradition of sidesaddle riding

CHILLICOTHE — For years a group of women and men in southern Ohio have gathered to ride horses together and participate in parades and competitions. This along with the fact that they do everything sidesaddle makes Southern Ohio Ladies Aside a unique local group.

Today the group has over 60 members from Ohio, West Virginia Kentucky, and the surrounding area. The equine lovers meet to discuss their horses, trade ideas, and prepare for events like parades and contests.

Maggie Mcallister with the group explained that riding sidesaddle was historically used by women but men would also use the technique. Oftentimes when a man was injured and unable to ride stride, with one leg on each side, they would ride sidesaddle to be able to work.

"Every equine discipline there is can be done sidesaddle," said Mcallister.

The discipline of riding sidesaddle takes some riders a little bit of time to get acquainted with but the horses often adjust quickly. Specialty saddles are used to help riders prop up their legs correctly and safely, though, just like stride saddles each rider has their preference of saddle.

In the group, each rider and horse pair is unique with some riders having tears of experience and some just starting out, some also use their horses for various competitions and activities. Something all the horses must be trained to do is walk in a parade which requires them to be desensitized to noise and people nearby.

Each parade is unique for the group as they try to theme their costumes to the celebration. This could include wearing green for St. Patrick's Day or dressing in historically inspired gear depending on the event. The riders aren't the only ones who get to enjoy dressing up, the horses also often get decked out with these events with glitter and flowers in their manes and tails.

"We are the entertainment," said Mcallister.

While they walk in parades around the state Southern Ohio Ladies Aside is proud to have walked in the inaugural parade for Barack Obama and the Kentucky Derby.

Various members of the group commented on their favorite things, a large one being parades and special events, however, one thing almost all of them have in common is the love for the fact that the club brings equine lovers together. It also brings the horses together who form their own relationships, be they good or bad, with the other horses in the group.

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Local group continues tradition of sidesaddle riding