Mention side saddle riding, and you will probably think of Lady Mary from Downton Abbey rather than a lady from Wrexham. However, Morgan Nicholson is one of growing numbers of women who are part of this elegant art’s recent resurgence.
Back Seat Driver
Morgan has had her horse, Duke, since 2015. He was 8 years old when she bought him, apart from a bit of hacking, he had done very little. His show name is Back Seat Driver, because he was orphaned as a one-day-old foal and collected by a family who drove him from Manchester to a farm in Flintshire on the back seat of the family’s Land Rover. He is a unique character, rather quirky, and has a heart of gold. Together, they have forged a fantastic partnership.
Morgan describes Duke as a true showman. He knows his job and always puts on a great display when he goes out. He’s an highly intelligent horse with a busy mind that needs to be occupied, so Morgan ensures he gets variety in his workload. The pair hack, jump and attend demonstrations and fun and beach rides. They also compete in local and national showing, dressage and show jumping events.
Vintage, Silk Top Hat
5 years ago, Morgan and Duke went to a “have a go at side saddle” clinic and were completely hooked. After a lengthy search for a vintage side saddle, a vintage silk top hat, and having a custom habit made. They decided showing was the way to go and joined The Side Saddle Association (SSA) in 2021.
In their first year as members of the Side Saddle Association, the pair and Morgan’s mum, Lyndsay, their groom and biggest supporter, tackled the 5-hour drive to The Side Saddle National Show. Morgan and Duke had an incredibly successful first year, taking the Novice Equitation Championship and winning the Novice Rider of the Year title for 2021.
Royal Welsh Show
Since then, the pair have grown and enjoyed endless success. Duke has allowed Morgan to fulfil her childhood dream of competing at the Royal Welsh Show and galloping in front of the main grandstand. In addition, they have attended many other incredible venues and competitions that they could never have imagined possible.
This year, the pair stepped it up another level. At the SSA AGM in March, they were awarded trophies for being Points Champions in three categories: Showing, Versatility and Adult Rider, plus Overall National Side Saddle Points Champion 2023. More recently, at their fourth Side Saddle National Championship Show in July, they took overall Intermediate Equitation Champion and Intermediate Equitation Rider of the Year 2024. The pair have had yet another very successful competition season and are looking forward to their next season together.
Follow Back Seat Driver on Facebook and TikTok, or to keep up to date with the community, click here.
