Who are we?

Glynis grew up with a love of horses inherited from her mother and grandfather who bred and trained hackneys. After leaving school she went to Stocklands Forest Mere and spent a year training for her BHSAI. Together with her mother she established the Perrygrove Stud, producing Welsh Cobs and Ponies of Cob Type. Winning both in the UK and overseas including the Junior European Champion Perrygrove Sunrise. When she settled in Scarborough in the 1990s circumstance meant that horses were no longer part of her life, and there it would have stayed if her son had not met Harriet. Her enthusiasm was rekindled, but also Harriet introduced her to the world of side saddle and also to Gill Greenwood. Having had experience of being chairman of a BHS Riding club area albeit some time ago, she volunteered as chairman at the AGM in 2022.

Kate started side saddle in 1984 while on holiday in Wiltshire but, as she was living in Belgium until 2005, most of her riding was done there. Competing in dressage and doing little jumping demos at riding clubs and in village squares, on a variety of borrowed horses, she attracted attention and was a founder member of a small side saddle group. Once back in England she was asked to join the Area 19 committee. In 2010 she took over when the Area secretary was diagnosed with a terminal illness. She enjoys commentating for Area 19 displays and loves her contact with side saddle riders locally, nationally and across the world

This is Julia’s second year on the committee. She was requested to come on to represent non horse owning SSA members. Julia started riding side saddle in earnest in 2017 at Back Lane Stables Riding School and hasn’t stopped since. Julia has ridden all her life riding and owning horses up to the 1980s.

Jackie started riding side saddle in 2019 when she decided to hang up her eventing boots. It had been a lifelong ambition of Jackie’s, having hunted as a child with a wonderful lady who always rode side saddle. Jackie has been very fortunate in that Dunlop took to it so well. They both enjoy dressage, a bit of showing and taking part in the Area 19 displays.

Alex started her side saddle journey in 2015 with her show hunter and gentle giant Shirley who’s 17 years old. Together they love getting out and competing at Showing, Dressage and Costume Concours classes. Over the years the pair have competed all over the country side saddle. Qualifying for HOYS, RIHS and most recently the London international show. They have been hunter champions at the national side saddle show, won at Chatsworth Horse Trials twice and even finished 2nd at the prestigious Great Yorkshire show.

Gemma has been riding for 37 years and started side saddle about 17 years ago with Murphy after a lady in a hunter class mentioned he would look good under a side saddle; and the rest they say his history. She competed at local and county level with Murphy, hunted and did pleasure rides sideways. Since then she taught Zizz, Boris and Dolly side saddle as well as introducing her daughter Elsie to it. Gemma has been a member of the display team and placed 5th at the one and only time she went to the Nationals in the novice equitation.

Harriet had her first riding lesson as a 6th birthday. She first tried side saddle at Acrecliffe Equestrian Centre under Anne Everall’s tutelage in 2019. She only purchased her first horse – Maisie rising 17 year old ex-hunt mare from Ireland – in 2020 and from there the two have been on a side saddle journey together. The have competed in unaffiliated dressage side-ways and take part in showing classes including their first Nationals in 2022.

Eden started side saddle in January 2019 by having lessons with Anne Everall. She has been a member of the Side Saddle Association since 2019 riding her supercob Guinness. They both love a days trail hunting, cross country and taking part in the displays. Eden aslo enjoys the Concours d’elegance classes at the area shows.

Anne has been a member of Area 19 and the committee for many years. She, along with her daughter, run Acrecliffe Equestrian Centre in Otley from where she teaches side saddle on her school masters. Anne has competed at a national level, taking Champion in the Gracious Lady’s class at the Nationals. Most recently claiming the Penny Preserve Challenge Trophy for the highest placed mare in the National Performance Points League. Anne also regularly takes part in the Area 19 Display Team with her mare Sapphire.

Sandra has been riding horses over 50 years in a variety of disciplines and she still rides and competes regularly at dressage.
She first became interested in side saddle over 15 years ago. Sandra joined the SSA when her daughter and friend became interested and she started riding her sports horse, Kay, at Manor Grange. 
When Sandra’s daughter went to university she took over the side saddle and began riding her maxi cob side saddle. Sandra has helped at the area displays for the last couple of years. She also helps a friend when she competes in side saddle competitions.