Talking Aside
Side Saddle Association Area 16
Spring 2017 Newsletter
Editor’s Report, by Caroline Hobson
Another year starts, heralded by the primroses and daffodils. Time to dust off the
saddles, clean tack and check the fit of your clothes as well as those of your horse.
Following the first meeting of your newly elected committee in January, we are looking
at how we can both preserve and promote riding aside in the area this season. A list of
the shows is included and I hope some of you will be taking part in our displays at both
Devon and Cornwall County Shows this year. Do contact Alison Melhuish asap if you are
interested. This newsletter has two penpictures for you – our AGM host and Vice
President, Liz Turner and Pippa Morrell Davis , Treasurer. We have had rather late
notice of showing clinic on 20 March which I have included at the end of this newsletter.
We are happy to include a list of buy, sell or loan articles in the newsletter. I am also
keen to have articles and items of news from members. Please send details to Caroline
Hobson by email if possible – [email protected]. Have a wonderful Spring
and Summer.
Pen Pictures of your committee
Pippa Morrell-Davies - Treasurer
I first started riding side-saddle in 1999
when I was gifted a lesson for my
birthday. Liz T had me immediately
hooked and a saddle hired with the aim
to be hunting within a few months which
I did. Since then I have enjoyed many
horses and many days hunting with
regular attendance at Shows throughout
the summer in an attempt to fine tune
my riding! Displays are always fun and I
thoroughly enjoy promoting the art of
side-saddle when any opportunity
arises. My daughter, Henrietta also rides
sideways and she and my family are the
perfect 'back up' team for which I would
not function without.
I live in East Cornwall and have been a
Committee member since 2005 holding
the position of Treasurer since 2007,
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I have seen many changes and faces, forged lovely friendships, learned, and still
learning and have had a lot of fun on the way.
Liz Turner - nothing by halves; nothing is forever
by Caroline Hobson
I always think I know someone, when really all I have done is met them several times.
Their life, past and present and their plans, are often hidden, perhaps even from
themselves. So when I was given the opportunity to talk to Liz about her life, I jumped
at the chance.
Ever since I have been riding side saddle, Liz has been there. It was from her I hired my
first saddle, she who put me in contact with the right people and has judged me many
times in the show ring! But did I really know her? No, it now turns out, far from it.
Maybe a few details – Liz is not young. I think that’s fair, though she has energy that
belies her true age – which I will not divulge. A lady never does. She lives in Trematon
Hall, a Georgian looking pile on much older foundations. I thought, wrongly, this was a
family home, passed down through generations until it reached Liz. But no. I’ll let Liz
tell the story.
‘I used to ride horses out for a local man, Mr Marquand, as a child and young teenager.
I’d ride past this long, high, stone wall. I knelt on the saddle and could see over. There
was an old lady sitting on a bench. I loved the house. I told my parents, that was where
I was going to live one day.’
The Turners’ were in East Cornwall by then. Liz’s father was a manager in the bank and
moved around the South and West quite a bit. Liz told me how in the late fifties,
Trematon Hall came up for auction. Her father put a top limit on what he would bid. It
went for a fraction more – to someone else. Never one to give up, Harry Turner bided
his time. After another year, he met the new owner and asked to be told if ever they
wanted to sell. By November 1960, the Hall was his. Liz has considered it home since,
though she hasn’t lived there for large parts of her life. So that was the first myth blown
apart - no inherited money and ancestral manor.
She had an older sister and brother and a foster sister called ‘Big Liz’. Our Liz, of course,
is known as ‘little Liz’. She rode anything she could get her hands on, and didn’t own a
horse till she was in her late teens. Her best though was a lovely mare called Bella, who
was purchased for her with the help of the milkman. That mare, unbeknownst to Liz or
her family, was in foal when she came to Trematon. She went on to produce a little colt,
on her own, at night. Though the foal, known as Harry’s Boy after Liz’s father, went on
to stardom, Bella died after only a week, panicked apparently at the foal getting on the
wrong side of the fence. Liz’s sister hand reared him. He grew into a 16.2 grey, known
then as Chicago and was evented by several famous people – Bertie Hill and Mark
Phillips included. He represented Great Britain at Punchestown, and completed
Badminton, before being sold to Germany. And there readers, in 1972 in Munich, he
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won a bronze medal in the team eventing. Liz has many paper cuttings and photos of
this accident horse. But what of Liz? Could she not have evented herself?
Liz has several explanations. First she is not competitive – she says. Maybe she thought
the horse was better than she?
But perhaps, more pertinent, Liz wasn’t in the country. This was the early 1960’s. Liz
was a young woman, the youngest in the family and very much her own person.
‘Unconventional’ is the word she used to describe herself. She went, with her parent’s
blessing, travelling. Her aim was to see the world and that is what she spent the next 30
years doing! On her own and to far flung places. She returned many times to Trematon
and kept her family involved in her adventures. She stayed several years in Stowe,
Vermont and set up a skiing and horse trekking business there linked to hotels. A rather
famous family were part of this venture – the Von Trapp’s from Austria! For years Liz
moved between North America and East Cornwall, until the death of people near and
dear, meant she came back here for good. Our gain.
Side saddle
On her permanent move back to the UK, Liz took up the Side Saddle mantle seriously.
She had been riding side saddle since her late teens. Her parents, ever the auction
enthusiasts, had bid 10 shillings for 2 side saddles in a house auction back in late 1940’s.
Liz started from there. On one of her trips back from Vermont, Liz was contacted by
Pauline, a farmer’s wife near Liskeard – she had a daughter keen to try side saddle. That
child grew into Alison Melhuish, one of Area 16 founder members. Alison still rides
aside, as does her own daughter. So began a new career in promoting riding aside.
The lack of saddles led her to set up her rental business. She had learnt from Harry, her
father, woodwork, and leatherwork so repaired and renovated saddles herself. She
built up a national and very successful, business. Her skill at fitting saddles and helping
beginners get started has ensured that the South West in particular has a growing base
of new converts.
She was instrumental in getting the local group begun, along with Tracy Weight, and
Alison. That first meeting in a power cut in Webbs Hotel in Liskeard, led to area 16 of
the Side Saddle Association being set up. Liz is now Vice President of the SSA having
been National Chairman for 5 years.
Liz is proud of her achievements. As indeed she should be. Ladies like her co-ordinated
groups around the country, promoted horsemanship and the art of side saddle riding.
And though she might be expected to retire, that is not a state that equates to inactivity.
She has loads left to do including a visit to Northern Ireland this year. A few phrases to
sum up an extraordinary lady:



she isn’t married
she has no regrets about anything
she has friends and family all over the country and indeed world
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

she is forgetful – but/and knows she is!
She can sleep anywhere – and as anyone who has shared her caravan will vouch,
can snore a bit!
‘I have absolutely no regrets,’ said Liz on our last meeting. I believe her. She is modest,
grand, kind, sharp as can be, a pioneer and a true traditionalist. Liz Turner is now a
person I feel proud to know.
Chairman’s report.
Apart from our members that have been out hunting, I expect most of you have been
quite the last few months, but we have lots of shows with affiliated classes in Area 16
this year, with Chagford and South Devon Horse Show’s holding Side saddle classes for
the first time. We also have a lovely new venue for Area 16 Summer Show at Longwood
Farm, Two Mile Oak, Abbotskerswell, South Devon, TQ12 6DQ. Let’s hope these are well
supported.
If anyone is interested in Side saddle lessons on their own horse, let me
know [email protected] and we will organise some at a venue to suit.
SSA Hunting Button.
Congratulations to Michelle Werrett, who lives and hunts near Exmoor, who has been
awarded the SSA Hunting Button. Michelle has hunted all her life and since 1993 due to
an injury to her right ankle, has ridden exclusively side saddle for hunting, exercising
everything. I think she is the first Area 16 member to be awarded the button, well done
Michelle.
If anyone else is interested in this award please let me know.
2017 Events calendar
Listed fixtures to date:
20 March
Showing clinic with Laura Hamilton at Mare and Foal Sanctuary, Coombe
Park, Totnes. Details and entry at end of newsletter
1 April
Clinic cancelled.
30 April
South Devon Show at Newton Abbott Racecourse. Classes will include RC
horse/ pony, Classical and Costume. All classes will be affiliated and hard
hats must be worn.
18,19,20 May Devon County Show displays
8,9,10 June
Royal Cornwall Show displays
18 June
Bicton. Clinic and Show
8 July
Liskeard Show
16 July
Summer Show – Affiliated. Abbotskerswell, South Devon.
Schwarz organiser.
26 July
Yealmpton Show – small Side Saddle display. No classes aside.
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Margaret
27 July
Launceston Show
30 July
Totnes Show
10 August
Okehampton Show
2 September Kingsbridge Show. Affiliated
Displays
Devon County Show on the 18, 19 & 20 May. Countryside Ring all three days. The
main main ring display on the Thursday is confirmed. Alison Melhuish and Rowan Van
Houben are organising. Please contact Alison if you are interested asap.
Royal Cornwall Show on the 8, 9 & 10 June - display in the Countryside ring all three
days.
Yealmpton Show 26 July
Royal Cornwall Show Display from 1990’s - something to inspire volunteers for this
year?
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Side Saddle And Showing Clinic with Laura Hamilton
Monday 20th March 2017
We welcome all types of horses and ponies.
The clinic will be held at the Mare and Foal Sanctuary, Coombe Park, Totnes, TQ9 6LW
Book EARLY to avoid disappointment.
Cost per HORSE/PONY per session £35
All Enquires Jess McCoy 07891820421
Gem Wills 07473138120
Monday 20th March 2017
Laura Hamilton Showing Clinic Booking Form
Rider Name:
Telephone Number:
Email Address:
Rider Age:
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Horse Name:
Horse Age:
Contact in case of emergency:
Astride Side Saddle (Please Circle)
Level of current competition (Horse and
Rider):_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________
Ambitions for the 2017 Season as a
combination:________________________________________________________________
_____________________________
Cost per HORSE/PONY per session £35
To secure your booking please ensure payment is made prior to event along with your
booking form to either:
[email protected] or [email protected]
BACS payment preferred. (Any problems please contact us)
Miss SZKN Wills
Account Number - 69199345
Sort Code - 557001
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