03/13/2026
POSTPONED to May
Dates to follow
We'd like to share a short bio about our instructor, Louise Steinfort. We're looking forward to learning from her extensive experience and knowledge of riding aside!
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From Louise:
I began riding at age eight and took up riding aside in my late teens. My mom had a big old Martin & Martin sidesaddle that we would put on our horses for something fun to do. We had no idea how to properly ride aside. I read a few books and would take our mare to a couple of local shows, dragging the sidesaddle along.
In 1976 while living in Middleburg, VA, I decided to show in the sidesaddle class at the Upperville C**t & Horse show. Our horse had been sold just before the show, and the new owner agreed to let me show her. Back then, it was just one flat class, no USEF rating, and no jumping. Entries were plentiful. I’d guess there were at least 20 lady riders in the class. I did not win a ribbon, but I was thrilled to be out there!
I was soon given the opportunity to ride friends’ horses in local hunter shows that offered sidesaddle classes. I joined ISSO in its early years when Charlotte Kneeland started the organization. My first time showing at USEF (then AHSA) recognized shows was in 1976 when I showed at the Upperville, Warrenton and Washington International horse show. At that time, it was usually the appointments class on the flat, and sometimes an over-fences class. With the help of Sallie Sexton, the sidesaddle division was recognized in 1990 as “C” rated with USEF. It consisted of three classes: the appointments class on the flat, a hunter hack with two fences at 2’6” and an over-fences at 3 feet.
In the mid-1980’s I started showing aside regularly with Kathy Borsody, owner of Century Oaks Farm from Warrenton, VA. Becky Blair McKinney was another rider, and we often took four horses to the shows. Our goal was to qualify for the sidesaddle division at the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The shows included Devon, Upperville, Rosemount, Deep Run, Coppergate, Ox Ridge, Middleburg National, and Warrenton, to name a few. My 15 minutes of fame occurred twice! Winning the sidesaddle champion at Devon 1986, and again in 1987 at the National Horse Show.
I continued to show with Century Oaks up through 2019. Since the pandemic in 2020, many of the shows that offered sidesaddle have dropped the division due to lack of entries. My hope is for an upcoming generation of ladies who want to ride aside. It’s the most elegant way possible to sit a horse!
