The American Sidesaddle Association's Phoenix

The American Sidesaddle Association's

PHOENIX

Winter 2014 - 2015

Reintroducing the Phoenix! I'd like to start by saying THANK YOU to the American Sidesaddle Association members for your contributions, and also for your patience as this issue has been longer to "rise from its ashes" than was expected.

WELCOME to new members! We have new members and new charter clubs: Western Ohio Aside (WOA) formed in the spring, and Kentucky Sidesaddle (KYSS) renewed its charter in July after a long hiatus. I am looking forward to sharing news and stories from all of the ASA member clubs.

In this issue, we'll catch up with the ASA and SOLA, review the Hilason English Sidesaddle, discuss bran mashes, re-visit the 2013 Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, meet KYSS, and find out how one new member got started. We also honor the memories of two great ladies whose contributions to the promotion of sidesaddle riding in the U.S. are beyond measure: Linda Bowlby and Lillian Chaudhary. ~ Kimberly

ASA Members participating in the 201 4 McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo by Dan Kocunik

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The American Sidesaddle Association 7033 Potts Hill Rd. Bainbridge, OH 45612 Phone: 740-626-7447 or 336-516-3835 info@americansidesaddleassociation.org PRESIDENT

Maggie Herlensky 7033 Potts Hill Rd Bainbridge, OH 45612 740-222-0515 maggieszoo@horizonview.com VICE PRESIDENT Judy Hastings 237 Kuhl Ridge Rd Pomeroy, WA 99347 509-843-1933 fancy_muley@yahoo.com SECRETARY Andee Chapman PO Box 602 Corvalis, MT 59828 740-708-4259 andeechapman@yahoo.com TREASURER Monica Chapman 19777 SR 772 Waverly, OH 45690 740-941-1358, 740-222-6337 mchapman974@gmail.com

THE ASA PHOENIX The ASA Phoenix is the official newsletter of the American Sidesaddle Association, 7033 Potts Hill Rd., Bainbridge, OH 45612.

Subscription is part of the membership to ASA. Published four times annually. Printed and mailed copies are an additional $10.

Readers are encouraged to submit articles, comments and properly identified photos. We reserve the right to edit all material to be published. Submissions may be made to the Editor: Kimberly Cornelius 2372 Walcot Way Lexinton, KY 40511 email: cornelius.kimberlya@gmail.com Phone: (859) 455-6099 Electronic submission is preferred. If photographs or attachments are too large for email, ask me about DropBox. Copies may not be reproduced (except for one's own personal use) without written permission from the ASA Phoenix and the author. Copyright 2014 The ASA Phoenix and The American Sidesaddle Association.

Back issues ofThe Phoenix may be found online: asamembersnetwork@yahoogroups.com.

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Vicki Pritchard 55 Sunset Dr Chillicothe, OH 45601 740-947-5868 Cvp1193@hughes.net The Editor's editor: Sebastian, who was instrumental in the production of this newsletter. Shown here endorsing "The Marvelous Miss Mayhew". ( No sidesaddles were harmed in the capture of this photo.)

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armed me into the age of technology. Now that I think of it, if it hadn’t been for the job I had, and

by Marti Friddle, Owner Hundred Oaks, Inc. for Linda, I’d probably have given computers a pass altogether. Each time a new computer In the early1 980s I came out, Linda was on it. Soon, she switched started corresponding to Macs, which made sharing files, um, with Linda about, of all interesting. It got better as Macs adapted to MS things, sidesaddles for Breyer horses. By 1 982 files, but it was dicey for a while. Still, she always was the first to have something new, Linda and I had struck forcing me to buy something to keep up with her up a friendship, and latest toy, so we could swap information about when she mentioned that she was starting up WSFI back and forth. Then there was the year both of us had computer crashes within a few a sidesaddle group in Ohio called the Mid West Side Saddle Association months of each other. Fortunately we backed up (MWSSA), I asked if I could join. In the fall of ’82 each other’s files, so I was able to restore her computer, and vice versa.

Linda came to North Carolina to visit a friend in Without a computer, I’d never have started “The Charlotte, and I met her in person at the local airport. She was a small, pretty woman with lively Sidesaddle Legacy” and Linda wouldn’t have brown eyes and glossy dark brown hair that fell to added her chapters. It was Linda who decided her waist. I’d never seen anyone with hair so long. we were doing a book, and she arranged for publication. That was the pattern of our My family had just moved to a property outside Greensboro, NC and we were building our house. relationship – I‘d get a bright idea and she would put it into motion.

While the walls were up, the interior was As the technology improved, so did the quality of completely unfinished. We held a sidesaddle our newsletters. MWSSA outgrew its name and meeting in what would become my living room, became the World Sidesaddle Federation, Inc and South East Aside was formed. Wow. Those (WSFI). Membership soared, and we held a were the days! Nobody told us we couldn’t clinic every year in Bucyrus. accomplish anything we wanted to, so we did.

Linda was sure we could do it, and we succeeded. The clinic was so popular, that the local Holiday What a strange beginning that was for a friendship Inn would reserve a block of rooms for us at the far end of a wing, where we wouldn’t disturb that would last 31 years, until Linda passed in other guests with our all night parties and October of 201 3.

We started with a newsletter. Now remember that constant visiting from room to room! It generally took a week to recover from one of those clinics back in those days we couldn’t just dash out a – and we were young and healthy at the time. newsletter on a computer, scan in a few color photos, and be good to go. Newsletters had to be We worked hard and we played harder. Sleep was something we’d do when we got home. typed. Photos, if they were used, had to go through a special process in order to print well on By 1 984 we had an Instructor Certification program set up, and that was the year I qualified the Neanderthal copiers we had access to. Cell for my Instructor Certificate. Applicants had to phones were unheard of, and people still wrote first take a killer written exam, (which rival letters to each other, or (gasp!) actually called each other. Sounds like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it? groups complained about bitterly), then tack up 2 sidesaddles, one English and one western.

People born since that time can’t imagine it, but We had to then choose one of them to ride heck, Linda and I were there! The very first MWSSA newsletters were on light blue paper, and (usually English, because we were required to post). Our riding was critiqued by 3 qualified they contained almost no photos, but maybe a instructors. Finally, we had to give a talk to a drawing or two. We burned up the phone lines, group, and it had to be a pretty good one. The and probably put several children of AT&T goal was to produce riders who could handle the employees through college. discipline, Linda had always loved gadgets, and she strong- teaching of any group, riding in any Continued on next page Linda Bowlby and the Sidesaddle

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on any breed of equine (we even had a mule or two along the way). It was a tough goal, but a worthy one. The instructors produced by WSFI were some of the best in the world.

Maggie Pritchard (now Maggie Herlensky) was one of our early applicants. Here was this shy, quiet teenager, who spoke so softly that her group couldn’t hear her. How time changes us!

You know we love you, Maggie!

Because Linda was a teacher, the goal of the organization, whatever its name, was always to educate, to give people the information they needed to be better riders. The emphasis within the organization was, and remains on inclusiveness. Other sidesaddle organizations made a habit (no pun intended) of dictating to riders what they should wear and what breed they needed to be riding. We didn’t see it that way.

Many middle class riders with horses and jobs wanted to ride aside too, and it was our mission to be sure they had the resources they needed. It didn’t stop there either, Linda set up and produced flyers and pamphlets to educate judges too.

As the years passed, we tried to learn from the mistakes of groups that didn’t last, and I think we did a good job. It was a lot of work, but we had a system: By that time I was an officer in the group, and I would funnel prospective members who contacted my sidesaddle business to Linda, who would get them hooked at one of the frequent clinics WSFI put on; and then I’d sell them a saddle. Hey – it worked. It was a win for everybody, because they got the information they needed and the saddle they wanted, and WSFI got new members.

Our promotional efforts eventually lead to participation in Equine Affaire. It’s hard to recall when the first Equine Affaire was held in Columbus, but Linda made sure we were there. It was utter and complete chaos, complete with handlers struggling to hold nervous horses, who were walking right through the packed crowd, down the aisles. Truly it was an accident waiting to happen. The whole event was held in one small building on the fairgrounds. Within a few years, Equine Affaire expanded to several buildings and a longer schedule, and Linda made sure we were there every year. That tradition continues, since ASA is due to participate in the ASA Phoenix

201 5 Equine Affaire, in April.

We fought our share of dragons along the way too.

We took on AQHA when they’d passed a rule that banned sidesaddles in AQHA classes. The rule passed on the complaints of astride riders who were being soundly beaten by a sidesaddle rider at that time. Among our advocacy efforts: Linda, a Quarter Horse owner, talked to the American Horse Show Association. She also led a group that talked with judges in Williamsburg, VA. We spoke to AQHA judges in Columbus, San Antonio, and a couple of other places. They always listened politely, then declined to act on the matter. We gave it our best shot, however AQHA still does not permit sidesaddle.

Linda and a few others took on the Arabian Horse Association when they passed a ridiculous rule that required aside riders to wear pantaloons!

They successfully fought an uphill battle and got that rule reversed.

As a result of these experiences, the organization took on the challenge of helping breeds establish rules for sidesaddle classes. It’s been a long time, but I remember that we helped the Morgan, Saddlebred, Rocky Mountain Horse, Appaloosa, and several other breeds with their rules. At one time we had a complete copy of the sidesaddle rules for every American breed in our files.

The two of us taught clinics together too – notably at Kentucky Horse Park, several in Ohio, and one at Grand Cypress Resort in Florida. We were invited to Texas one year to do the Texas Ladies Aside clinic. It was always a challenge, but always worthwhile, even when we were either sweating or freezing. Between us, we probably did clinics in something like 25 states.

Linda at one point purchased a large collection of sidesaddle books, prints, and related items, which she turned into the WSFI Library. She set up an agreement with county libraries where people could borrow books from WSFI on inter-library loan. The library was added to, over the years through donations from members and new purchases.

Time was passing though, and we were both starting to feel the effects of hauling too many saddles to too many clinics. The whole process was horribly expensive, and we weren’t drawing any reimbursement from the organization. It was difficult, all of a sudden, to operate on just a couple Winter 2014 - 2015

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of hours of sleep. We started encouraging younger members to step in and take over some of the instructor duties, and they slid into place seamlessly.

WSFI grew to the be largest sidesaddle group in the country, at one point. ISSO was running a close second. In 2002 the two groups jointly sponsored Ride Aside at Kentucky Horse Park. It was so successful that the event was repeated in 2004, but it was a costly undertaking.

There had always been a philosophical difference between WSFI and the International Side Saddle Organization. Each organization was working toward the same goal of promoting sidesaddle, but each approached the task from an entirely different point of view. We tried to bridge the gap, and that effort led to the merging of the two organizations in January of 2005. Linda and Jim, who had also recently retired, pulled up roots and moved to New Jersey, where she became the Director of ISSO. Despite her best efforts, old philosophical differences proved to be too great and Linda left ISSO in 2007 and returned to Ohio.

Linda always looked for the good in people. Her bright outlook on the world and her confidence that she could achieve what she set out to do, drew people to her. She had some very rough patches, but she also had some bright shining moments. I prefer to remember the bright, shining, confident friend who was kind to everyone. She left a huge mark on the sidesaddle world, and we will all remember her with love.

NOTEWORTHY

CONGRATULATIONS to: Hannah Perkins, SOLA Affiliate Samantha Peterson, KYSS Affiliate, President Kim Rumpsa, SOLA Affiliate On achieving their Judge / Instructor / Clinician (JIC) Certification!

Rhonda Watts-Hettinger and Maggie Herlensky announced on Sunday, November 16th that these ASA members have successfully passed all requirements.

Maggie and Vicki Pritchard have the JIC certificates at the print shop; and these will be mailed to all the previous and new JICs within the month. Congratulations to all of our current JIC-certified members, and we hope our members who are in process of obtaining JIC will keep working toward the goal.

Newly certified JIC and KYSS President Samantha Peterson assisting a student during the clinic on October 4th.

Photo by Kimberly Cornelius

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In Memorium

Lillian Elise (Snodgrass) Chaudhary, 67, ofWillows, CA, died peacefully of natural causes in her home on July 2, 2014. Born March 20, 1947 in Portland, Oregon to Roy and Ruth Snodgrass, she attended Portland State University as an art major. Lillian was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on May 11, 1974. She was active in the ministry and touched the many people she met, sharing her knowledge of the Bible and hope in God's promises for the future.

Lillian had four children: Usha (Mike) Pinkham ofYuba City, CA, daughter Anita Riesinger of Redwood City, CA, daughter Sonia Chaudhary of Chico, CA and son David (Aubree) Chaudhary of Loyalton, CA. Grandchildren: Sara McBride, Jordan Pinkham, Joran Chaudhary, Evan Chaudhary and Ella Chaudhary. Lillian is survived by three of her six siblings: William, Steve, and Ben Snodgrass. Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Delores Ann (Snodgrass) Benson and two brothers: Jim and Ted Snodgrass and former husband, Satish Roy Chaudhary.

Lillian was a treasured member of the international sidesaddle community. She was a World Side-saddle Federation Judge/Instructor, who graciously shared her knowledge of saddles and saddle making, gleaned over thirty years, with students world-wide.

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Southern Ohio Ladies Aside (SOLA) Club News

1) SOLA has successfully helped launch another ASA regional club. Now we have had two break-away clubs this year: Western Ohio Aside (WOA), Kim Nader, President; and Kentucky Sidesaddle (KYSS), Samantha Peterson, President. We in SOLA still have 46 members, and are continuing to grow. Who knows how many clubs we can give birth to?

2) The SOLA Christmas Party will be held at Vicki Pritchard’s house in Chillicothe, Ohio, as a Saturday brunch at 12:00PM on December 13th. Each SOLA member will receive a written invitation. WOA and KYSS members are invited too, via electronic news.

There will door prizes, games, and room for overnight guests. Save the date and RSVP to Vicki Pritchard at cvp1193@hughes.net .

3) The Chicago Aside (CHICA) club, President, Diana Kocunik, has announced the date for the 2015 ASA Awards Banquet. The banquet and sightseeing events will take place June 26-28, 2015, in Chicago. Save those dates. More details to follow. Some SOLA members plan to take the Amtrak to Chicago for the event, and details of train itinerary and costs will be shared via our facebook page.

Hopefully, SOLA, WOA, and KYSS members will make a good showing at the banquet.

These events are always enjoyable, with sightseeing, education, the banquet, and the yearly awards and election of officers. Watch the Southern Ohio Ladies Aside e-mail (solagirls@yahoo.com) and facebook for the final agenda and travel suggestions.

4) Riding activities have slowed down a bit this fall, but Becky Pitcock rode at the Friesian World Show in Virginia. She rode aside Photo by Gerald Schmidt. Reprinted with permission.

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twice and won Hunt Seat Pleasure and took third in Western Pleasure. We are very proud of Becky.

Holly Ray received good news. At the year-end standings for Inter-State show club, her horse, Frisco, was the end-of-year champion in Open Hunter, Jack Benny, and Ladies Sidesaddle. He was Reserve in Arab Hunter and third in Bridle Path. In all these classes, Holly used the sidesaddle, mostly against astride riders. Frisco had never before been a sidesaddle horse, having started in April and May of this year. (He was also Champion in Native Costume, but astride) This is a big achievement for Holly, Frisco, and SOLA. On Nov eighth, Maggie Herlensky and Laurie Post rode in the Veterans Day parade in Chillicothe, Ohio. The ladies wore warm red coats and plaid aprons. The horses wore glittered hooves, red browbands, and red breastcollars. Maggie rode Fern and Laurie rode Tag. David Herlensky was the safety walker. The weather was cool and the crowd turnout was low; however, the nursing home and long term care patients were out in force, wrapped in blankets, and greatly enjoying the parade.

5) Judge/Instructor/Clinician (JIC) instructors currently include those listed above in the board minutes. If we have missed someone, or if someone else can transfer a JIC from an old club over to ASA, let us know. If you are interested in becoming JIC certified, let us know. Contact Maggie Herlensky on e-mail or facebook.

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6) The sidesaddle clinic at the Mount Everett Farm, in Hubbard, Ohio, was held on November first. Maggie Herlensky, JIC, was the instructor, and Hannah Perkins, soon-tobe JIC, assisted. Attendees included SOLA members, Jennifer Chupka and Holly Ray. Holly and Maggie brought horses. Welcome new members who attended the clinic, Heather McConnell and Ashton Yarosh, junior member, and her mother, Kilee.

SOLA events for the remainder of 2014:

Nov 22 Jingle Bell Parade, Waverly, Ohio (SOLA) Nov 22 Holiday Horse Parade, Greenville, Ohio (WOA) Nov 22 Lancaster, Ohio parade (SOLA) Nov 27 Thanksgiving Day Parade, Chicago (CHICA) Nov 28 Dayton Children’s Parade, Dayton, Ohio (WOA) Nov 29 Christmas Parade, Circleville, Ohio (SOLA) Dec 13 SOLA Christmas Party

201 4 McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo by Dan Kocunik

Sue Henkel and her daughter Becky riding in the 201 4 Circleville Christmas Parade.

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Saddle Review

The Hilason English This article contains the opinions of the author and is not the opinion of American Sidesaddle Association.

Up until now I haven't had a lot of opportunity to really look over the Hilason English Sidesaddle. I have seen a couple in use with mixed results and now have one inhand on consignment. Take note, however, that the saddle currently featured on the Hilason website looks nothing like those I have seen in person. As with any modern made sidesaddle, there are good and bad points.

Pros: At first glance, it appears to be a wellconstructed saddle, with decent enough leather and other materials. It does not seem to be as sloppily put together as its western cousin.

The billets on the three examples I have seen are all in the correct places. It does feature an offside point billet. This billet is in the same place as the balance strap billet would be on the nearside. It is not an error to find a saddle with this feature. It allows for a wider range of choices for girth placement. It does not, however, have a balance billet on the nearside. Hilason wants you to purchase their girth with the sefton girth sewn on, eliminating the need for a near balance billet.

On the examples I have seen, the billets are of a nice quality leather. I do notice that the billets on the saddle featured on the website are quite far back and even show behind the safe.

The fixed head (upright horn) is at an acceptable angle for most riders, unlike the western version, which is canted to the right so as to preclude a rider with any amount of thigh from being comfortable. The leaping horn is set a bit far back for my taste, but is not so far back as to be difficult to ride. The leaping horn on the saddle pictured on the Hilason website appears to be similarly placed, but I can't tell from the photo what the placement is like for the fixed head.

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without safety release mechanism. A rider would be advised to use a breakaway stirrup on this type of fitting. The placement of the stirrup bar appears to be about where it should be, personal preference considered. Again, this is an improvement over the western version, upon which the stirrup is very far back for comfort.

Cons: To my knowledge, this saddle comes in one seat size and one tree width. The seat is 21" long and on a very wide tree. For comparison, the Hilason english fits the same size horse as the XW Elan. It fits very wide quarter horses and many draft breeds.

This saddle is built on a common (astride) tree. It narrows at the waist of the saddle, much like a saddleseat saddle, providing very little support for the right thigh. It also comes stuffed evenly on both panels, allowing the left side to drop when the rider is mounted.

This is remedied by reflocking the saddle or wedging towels or socks between panel and tree.

Construction of the tree seems to vary depending on when the particular saddle was built. I do not know if the company made improvements at some point or the other way around, with quality level dropping later, but some of these seem to be fairly sturdy and others not sturdy at all. I was told by one rider that she was brought one that the leaping horn

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just fell out of the tree. It was not screwed into a metal socket, but was just stuck into the wooden tree.

As far as general appearance goes, it is an odd looking beast to my eye. The flap covering the stirrup bar is elongated, like that on the classic Champion & Wilton, but is cut even with the front of the safe instead of having the graceful tapered end of the C&W. The saddles pictured currently on the Hilason site have stirrup bar flaps more like the style of the earlier Victorian sidesaddle, just a slot for the stirrup leather to pass through.

The seat on the examples I have seen and the one on their website are smooth leather. While not exactly a negative feature, the majority of riders I have spoken to prefer suede seats.

All in all, this certainly isn't the worst saddle for your money, but it most certainly isn't the best, either. If it fits you, your horse, and your budget, then by all means have a good time.

But buyer beware. This brand doesn't have a great track record, especially when you take into account that the saddles pictured on their website have the leaping horn on upside down and the stirrup leather not threaded through the eye of the stirrup. Also, I noticed that the english sidesaddle featured on the "sidesaddles" page is not the same one shown when you open the "english sidesaddle" page.

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sometimes works best (and it won’t freeze) Peppermint: Either the candies or the essential oil (from a health food store) Dig Out Your Chef's Hat Coffee (in small amounts): A coffee pots have

by Two Horse Tack long been the sources for hot liquid to make bran mashes During this delightful cold snap we’re Ginger snaps: These have a long shelf life experiencing, we can’t help but feel a little and bring some extra flavoring to the mash sorry for our horses standing around in the single-digit temperatures and snow. Although Licorice: Either the candy or the essential oil Orange-flavored Metamucil: It provides extra we know they don’t get cold as easily as we do, it does seem a little unfair that we’re curled fiber and the flavor is appealing to some up with chicken soup while they’re chomping horses Recent studies have suggested that horses on some frozen hay. also enjoy less traditional flavors. Among We can’t give horses chicken soup of course, them–banana, cherry, and fenugreek (a spice but one thing we’ve found they love is a good you can find at the supermarket). bran mash. Most tack shops sell a dry bran mash which needs to be mixed per the package Re-published with permission from Two Horse instructions with hot water, and occasionally a Tack Blog. dose of salt/electrolyte. Mashes should cling Original publication date January 30, 201 4. www.twohorsetack.wordpress.com together after the water is added but not be soupy.

Barn Notes

Although veterinarians warn that bran mashes shouldn’t be fed in place of a well-balanced diet or in too great a quantity to horses who aren’t used to it, they are great occasional treats for a horse who enjoys them.

The most fun part of mixing up a good, hot mash is flavoring it. Many people add apples and carrots, but we’ve come up with a few more creative flavoring sources, as well: Applesauce: keeps better and mixes in well texture-wise with a mash as compared to a chopped apple.

Carrot or apple juice: for flavor that packs a punch Apple cider: liquid or dried forms both work well in our experience Beer: beer by itself is a favorite of many horses, most famously Zenyatta, but it works well in a mash too. Guinness or other dark beers with a strong flavor seem to appeal to most. Apple-flavored beers like Reds provides the best of both worlds. Straight beer is the old wives’ remedy for anhydrosis. We can’t say for sure if it works, but the horses sure enjoy it.

Molasses: Can be quite sticky, so a dried form ASA Phoenix

The editor's horses, Polo and Sweepit "sharing" their Thanksgiving mash.

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washing the horse trailer, checking tires and wheel bearings, buying extra hay for travel, water bottles from home, packing more

by Janet Bending clothes than I really need, blankets, shipping boots....the list seemed endless, but we did it!

Greetings from Guthrie, Oklahoma!

It has been an honor to become a member of And....after 15 hours, WE MADE IT! the American Side Saddle Association and to Buttercup settled in at Belle-View Acres in be invited to ride with such a wonderful group Homer Glen. A very nice place to stable, and we made some new friends. of women in the 85th annual McDonald’s Up very early on Thanksgiving morning, as Thanksgiving Day parade in downtown, everyone else cooked the turkey day meals, Chicago!

I have watched the parades on TV for as long we dressed in warm layers and loaded up to meet the girls of the American Side Saddle as I can remember and always loved the Association. My brother-in-law, Todd equestrian groups. As a little girl, I always Bending drove my truck & trailer since his dreamed of riding a beautiful horse in the knowledge of the downtown area is his parades. Hearing the clip clop ofhooves on second language. And how lucky we were to the pavement is literally music to my ears. fall right in Seeing the faces of little girls in the crowd behind our group! makes me think that they too have the same With the temperature documented at 12 dream. How blessed we are to be able to degrees and even colder with the wind chill, accomplish such an honor.

My horse, Heaven’s Star, a.k.a., Buttercup is a we saddled and dressed in intervals to keep warm. Last call, saddled up and ready to registered American Paint Horse, and is the tri-colored tovero with one blue eye. She’s my mount, one of my reins broke and panic began to set in. Oh the joys of a last minute potential heart and soul. We’ve been just about disaster before curtain call...And here comes everywhere and have tried just about everything, together. Buttercup was trained as Dave to save the day! Thanks to his quick ingenuity, Buttercup & I were able a mounted patrol horse in Mobile, Alabama, our hometown. If there was ever such a thing to step off and quickly catch up with the girls.

Continued on page 13 as a “bombproof” horse, she would be just that. We have ridden in Mardi Gras parades for years. After moving to Oklahoma, I was fortunate enough to find a network of women who also enjoyed riding in parades. This is how I met Jo Rench and was introduced to the sidesaddle in 2009.

At first, I was intimidated by the thought of riding aside. As a barrel racer, I liked that my legs straddled my horse. But, after trying it out, I discovered that riding aside is just as comfortable and just as secure as my western saddle. Now, I prefer to ride various shows and parades aside. I haven’t worked up the courage to compete in a barrel race aside, but... maybe, one day.

Janet and Heaven's Star on the right. Photo by Dan Kocunik As you all know, preparing for Parade day takes weeks. We make sure our tack is clean, our manes & tails are polished and groomed, our costumes are pressed and our best ‘Miss America hand wave’ is perfected. In my case, Thanksgiving Parade Memories: 2013

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"How I Got My Start"

by Madeline Clerico I have always been fascinated with riding sidesaddle, but it seemed like something that was out of reach. I knew women still rode sidesaddle, but all the pictures I saw were rich ladies in top level dressage shows; a far cry from trail riding bareback like the redneck I am.

Then, when I was in my mid-thirties I realized that there were things I wanted to try. So I found the American Side Saddle Association’s website and wrangled an invite to the charity trail ride at Shaker Village in Kentucky.

Maggie Pritchard Herlensky was kind enough to loan me a horse and saddle and I rode sidesaddle for the first time in my life.

I was amazed by how secure it felt. Before I even knew how to sit properly or use the queen and leaping head to lock into the saddle, I felt fine. I didn’t even get saddle sore because I wasn’t forcing my legs wide apart for hours at a time. And the ladies from the ASA were like family. It didn’t matter than I hadn’t met any of them before, everyone gave me a hug.

It didn’t matter what breed of horse you have or what sport or discipline you ride. You can fox hunt on expensive imported warmbloods or trail ride on unregistered *coughFjordIthinkcough* ponies. You’re welcome in ASA. Six months later I was sitting aside the same horse dressed like Princess Anna from the movie "Frozen", riding through the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade. I had received a mini lesson from another ASA member going for her instructor test and improved my seat what felt like fifty percent. I had learned the secret of locking into the saddle! Nothing could get me off now!

The day started early and we all bundled up in as many layers as possible; even the horses.

Once downtown, we applied ribbons, bows, and glitter to our patient mounts, then mounted up. My saddle tight and newfound knowledge of the queen and I was the picture of confidence. My mount, a very kind ASA Phoenix

Clydesdale/Shire gelding named Tag, had done parades many times before. As it turned out, I would need my newfound knowledge.

As we sat in line, waiting for the parade to start, a herd of preteen girls in tap shoes ran across the street directly behind Tag, the sound not unlike a horse panicking on pavement. He turned his head to see what was going on. Right behind us was a parade balloon that neither one of us had noticed before.

It wasn’t a meltdown, but there were at least some alarms going off in the reactor. I was a bit concerned about Tag acting up during the parade, but I was never afraid I’d fall off.

Honestly, locking my leg between the queen and Tag’s neck, it felt like he would have to do a somersault to throw me off. We finished the parade with little drama and no meltdowns. What a great introduction to riding aside!

I’ve noticed that whenever someone sees you riding sidesaddle, whether you’re dressed in a poofy gown or a Yoda T-shirt and jeans, you always get a smile. Parades are no exception.

Madeline as Princess Anna from Disney's "Frozen", riding Tag .

Photo by Dan Kocunik

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sponsored trail rides, including the Pinto As the weeks of preparation are about to pay Organization of Kentucky benefit ride at off, and the excitement ofthe ride escalates, Shaker Village, and the annual Horses and we began our procession down the crowded Hope Trail Ride at the Kentucky Horse Park. street. The cold wasn’t an issue for very long. Our big reintroduction was in hosting a clinic, The warmth I felt came from the joy of which was held on Saturday, October 4th, at seeing the little girl’s faces, the cheers from Masterson Station Park. thousands ofpeople and being able to ride The clinic was well attended and the feedback with beautiful horses and the sweetest we received was positive. We hosted riders women. I could not wipe the smile from my who were trying sidesaddle for the first time face, even if I tried. To top it off, I was able and riders who were giving it another go. The to blow a kiss to my princess, Ella Claire on clinic also served as the test for the national TV. This was definitely a Judge/Instructor/Clinician (JIC) certification.

Thanksgiving memory I will cherish.

All of the horses and riders performed I look forward to riding with the ladies of the beautifully, and once the lessons were American Side Saddle Association again and complete, we tucked in to a delicious pot luck again. Who knows, maybe one day, we will lunch. all make it to the Rose Bowl Parade!

Following the clinic, a small group of us hit the road north to Georgetown Kentucky and Giddy Up & Ride Aside participated in the Georgetown Festival of the Horse Parade, for which we won the costume contest with habits representing different historical periods. And if that weren't enough, Hugs and KYSSes KYSS and SOLA members then were back in habits the next day to compete in the

by Kimberly Cornelius Georgetown Festival of the Horse Show!

Kentucky Sidesaddle members are planning Kentucky Sidesaddle (KYSS) reinvented itself over the summer with enthusiastic new informal meetings and social events over the winter. The next riding related event on our members and big dose of encouragement calendar is the 2014 Lexington Christmas from American Sidesaddle Association Parade, coming right up on December 2nd.

President, Maggie Herlensky. The officers We welcome all to follow our web page were elected and the charter renewed over www.kentuckysidesaddle.com. We also dinner at the Georgetown, KY Cracker Barrel, following a day spent at BreyerFest have a page on Facebook: facebook.com/KYSidesaddle, to which we at the Kentucky Horse Park. post event information. The best place to Excited to step off on the right foot, KYSS interact with us, and be part of the fun and officers began advertising the club on discussions (when not in person) is on our Facebook and by organizing a clinic. We Facebook group page, which is: also advertised by participating in a few facebook.com/groups/KYSidesaddle.

Our officers: Samantha Peterson, President; Morgan Reeves, Vice President; Kimberly Cornelius, Treasurer; Natasha Raina, Membership Coordinator; and Cindy Sither, Secretary Continued from page 11

Participants and instructors posing after the Kentucky Sidesaddle Clinic on October 4th. Photo by Kimberly Cornelius ASA Phoenix Winter 2014 - 2015

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Marketplace

"The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Sidesaddle"

by Rhonda Watts-Hettinger

A book that offers a compilation of traditional sidesaddle knowledge, and show and eventing aspects of aside riding.

For sale by the author cost= $25 plus shipping contact Rhonda at: sidesaddle5@yahoo.com "The Fair Lady Aside, 2nd Ed"

by Mary L. Thomas A book on correct habits and saddles of distinct time periods. cost+ $15, which includes shipping contact Vicki at cvp1193@hughes.net

Starter level sidesaddle.

Black. 22 1/2" long x 13" wide seat.

Medium-wide fit tree. $550 Contact Maggie Herlensky maggieszoo@hotmail.com

The Sidesaddle Legacy: How to ride Aside the American Way written by Martha Coe Friddle and Linda Bowlby $25, which includes shipping contact Vicki at cvp1193@hughes.net

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The ASA Board Conference Call was held on Oct 21, 2014, 9 PM EST. Members present for the call: Maggie Herlensky, President; Andee Chapman, Secretary; Monica Chapman, Treasurer; Vicki Pritchard, Membership Coordinator; Samantha Peterson, KYSS President; Karol Kafka, CA_Aside President; Elaine Gracia, NAGS for Judy Hastings; Jo Rench, SOLA from Oklahoma; Pat Merkle, SOLA from Colorado; Diana Kocunik, CHICA President 1. The Treasurer’s Report was given by Monica Chapman. ASA currently has $391.81 and a deposit is pending for $348, for a total amount in the treasury of $739.81.

Monica reminds us that insurance for the club costs $557.20, which is due in monthly payments. The cost of the booth at Equine Affair is $297.50. Paying these two items will put us in the negative by $114.89.

2. The group agreed that it is imperative that we fund-raise. Selling books at upcoming clinics is one good way to make money. Maggie will do this.

Additionally, the group decided to look into making a sidesaddle calendar for 2016, maybe one regular and one with tasteful implied nudity (over 18yo). Maggie and Andee will look into this and will ask members to submit photos. The group also wants to make a cookbook for outdoor and tailgating events. Maggie will get recipes solicited from the members. The Origami Owl jewelry sale will be tried again too.

Maggie will look into this. Samantha will look into the possibility that KYSS/ASA can do a profitsharing with Lexington restaurants. Jo Rench is doing a Route 66 sidesaddle ride across Oklahoma and she may be able to acquire some funding or donations. Perhaps other clubs will want to try the other parts of Route 66. Jo also is planning a desensitization clinic for horses in December 2014.

KYSS is also planning to do this type of clinic.

Perhaps some of the fees collected could be sent to ASA, especially ifASA insurance is used. Red Robin fund-raiser info is being sent to Maggie by someone on the call.

3. The issue of establishing the ASA website was tabled because neither Stephanie Hutcherson nor Natasha Raina were on the call.

4. Next year’s banquet will be hosted by CHICA, our Chicago club, in June of 2015. The planning is underway. A tour of the city via boat has been discussed. SOLA members are planning to travel via Amtrak. All members are encouraged to send donation money and prizes to Diana Kocunik for the awards banquet. We need more nominations for nonpoint 2014 awards: Helping Hands, Husband of the ASA Phoenix

Year, Wet Blanket, Velcro, Bottoms Up, Rookie, and Tom Tom. 5. Diana says the ASA Library is still not up and lending, but a lot of planning and preliminary work has been done. Maggie and David will be in Chicago for the Thanksgiving Day parade and will stay over 2 extra days to help with the cataloguing.

6. ASA has paid half of the fees for the 2015 Equine Affair for April 9-12. Volunteers are needed for the booth. Maggie will get a hotel suite for overnights. Contributions for the hotel will be appreciated.

7. The following persons are Judge/Instructor/Clinician (JIC): Marti Friddle (N.Carolina), Maggie Herlensky (Ohio), Pat Merkle (Colorado), Rhonda Watts-Hetttinger (New Hampshire), Andee Chapman (Montana), and Judy Hastings (Washington). Sue Duncan (Tennessee) was WSFI certified and will transfer over to ASA certified, in process. Kim Rumpsa (Missouri), Hannah Perkins (Ohio), and Samantha Peterson (Kentucky) are all three nearing completion of the JIC requirements. Jo Rench (Oklahoma), Stephanie Hutcherson (GALA) of Georgia, Sue Henkel (Ohio), and Kim Nader (Ohio) have paid their fees and begun the process. The rules state that there is a $10 per year re-certification fee, but we have never enforced that for WSFI or ASA’s JIC status. Lilian Chaudery’s daughter, Anita Reisinger, has transfered her JIC from WSFI to ASA. This is good news for California coverage for sidesaddle instruction.

Maggie will put all these names on facebook in the files section so that interested people can find a JIC near them. Andee Chapman will tag other horse groups too.

8. The issue of needing actual paper certificates for JIC was discussed. We have not heard from Rhonda about progress on this issue; and since Linda Bowlby already had an original artwork by Sandy Petrie, the group decided that that will do nicely.

Maggie and Vicki will work on this. Linda Bowlby had a disc containing informational materials for JIC recourses. Maggie will try to find this or recreate it. The JIC packet should also contain a reference for all breed and show judges to use for participating sidesaddle riders.

Vicki has created a first draft for a new booklet on dress and tack guidelines for sidesaddle. Maggie Pritchard, Pat Merkle, Judy Hastings, Sue Duncan, Jo Rench, and Rhonda Watts-Hettinger are editing it before publication. Show judges, as well as our own members, can make good use of this booklet.

9. The issue of breed club members riding aside improperly was discussed. ASA lacks the clout to

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influence them directly, but KYSS may have some luck with style clubs, like jumpers. Samantha will look into this.

10. Kim Cornelius of KYSS is now in charge of the Phoenix Newsletter. It is worth noting that members cited the Phoenix as one reason for joining and that it is an expectation. We need to retain members, and Phoenix is one sure way to do this. If Kim needs any help of any kind, she should let Maggie and Vicki know and they will try to help her in any way possible. Vicki has been keeping the SOLA/ASA club news in the Ohio Horsemens’ Corral newsletter, but it is not as effective as the ASA-specific Phoenix.

ensure that we have signed liability waivers for all clinics and group pre-planned activities. The issue of yearly waivers, at the time of club dues, is a possibility too. This will be discussed again in the future. Vicki gave a report of the membership satisfaction survey. Members want more clinics, resources, continuing information, and newsletter showcasing. Members agree with the need for fund-raising and they favor calendar, jewelry sales, and outdoor event cookbooks.

Minutes prepared by Vicki Pritchard, Andee Chapman, and Maggie Herlensky

11. Marti Friddle has not contacted Maggie regarding the 501-3C status needed by the club.

Monica and Andee will check Linda Bowlby’s notes for some clue as to what to do.

12. The use of helmets was discussed. Monica warns that our ASA insurance may be high because we do not enforce the use of helmets. She will check with our insurance vendor and see if that is the case.

In any event, all our youth participants must wear helmets as well as all clinic participants. Maggie will look at Equi-Sure insurance rates. It may also be that our insurance covers only non-members and property. This will be clarified. We need to also

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biothane, but must coordinate with silks and Kentucky Derby Festival and Pegasus Parade 2015 not appear western (no silver or tassles) from

a short distance.

Roses-- a rose covered decorative breast American Sidesaddle Association activities begin with arrival on Monday, April 27th. The collar. If you would like to purchase one and not have to make it yourself, contact Mary Pegasus Parade is Thursday, April 30th and steps off at 5:00PM. ASA wraps up the week Godwin. You may opt to simply cover your with a farewell breakfast on Friday, May 1st. regular breast collar with red roses.

Blinker hood (optional)- must coordinate with The 2015 theme is "The Best of Louisville" and members have voted to become jockeys to silks. cups should be removed for horses not honor the great race that inspired the festival. used to them. Can be decorated to suit.

Glittered Hooves.

For those wishing to participate, and get a Mane and tail may be braided in any manner, jump on costume preparation, here are the but no decorations, other than colored mane guidelines: bands. Keep manes simple, i.e. running braid, Jockey silks- can be simple windbreaker, hunt braids. fastened at the neck (no square collars), decorated or not. You may copy the silks of a I know several ladies in the group will sew for famous stable or derby winner, make up your others, so feel free to post if you are one of them. If you have any questions, please ask! own design, or leave it plain. There are websites where you can buy ready-made silks (ebay) or design your own (www.championsilks.com). There are many Save the Date! sites to use for inspiration. An ebay seller has a series of lapel pins featuring the silks of 2015 American Sidesaddle derby winners going all the way back to the Association 1800s.

Apron- plain white. in a fabric that would Awards Banquet mimic jockey's breeches, like a gabardine or flag bunting, both of those fabrics wash well.

Length should be about at the ankle.

June 26-28, 2015 Helmet cover- to coordinate with silks. May have a small bow at the front. There are Chicago several companies that will custom make one for you if you can't find one you like.

Goggles- (optional) can be worn or put up onto the brim of the helmet Boots- black or brown Bridle- black or brown leather or nylon or biothane that coordinate with silks and not appear western from a short distance (no silver or tassles). Cheap nylon bridles are fine.

Saddle cloth- solid color with large white or black number. These can be purchased used from racetracks or make your own. (I'll get measurements) Keep in mind that if you buy one, it will not be long enough under a sidesaddle. The standard size is 30" x 42". So Gracie photobombs barn-mate Mari, ridden by Sarah Coble, Saint if using a saddle pad under the cloth, keep in Pauli Girl, before the costume class at the Georgetown Festival of the mind that part of it will show.

Horse Show. Gracie and Mari are Akhal Tekes, owned by Cindy Sither.

Breastcollar (optional)- leather, nylon, or Photo by Kimberly Cornelius ASA Phoenix

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