A side saddle allows a rider to sit sideways on a horse. This dates back centuries and developed as a way for women in long skirts to ride a horse modestly. It was considered improper for a woman to straddle a horse while riding. It was a like a small chair; the woman sat facing sideways with her feet on a small footrest. This made it difficult for her to both stay on and use the reins to control the horse, so it was usually led by another rider, sitting astride. In the 1830s, Jules Pellier invented a side saddle design with a second, lower pommel on it. In his design, still used today, one pommel is nearly vertical. The rider’s right leg goes around that pommel. The lower right leg rests up against the second pommel (called the leaping horn). The rider places her left leg beneath this one, with the top of the thigh touching it, and places her left foot in a single stirrup on that side. This gave women increased security when riding side saddle, allowing them to stay on at a gallop and even to jump fences. In the early 20th century, as women began to ride astride while wearing split skirts, and eventually jodhpurs, the side saddle fell out of use. However, enthusiasts kept the tradition alive until it enjoyed a revival beginning in the 1970s.