This is a lady's saddle, made by Owen the saddler in London in the 1830s, and is numbered 11726. Owen & Co, of 62 Duke St London, were pioneers of the flat saddle, which became popular in the 20s and 30s. The Owen side saddle has been called the Rolls Royce of side saddles, but is know for being rather heavy. Riding side saddle dates back to antiquity and developed in Europe in the Middle Ages as a more modest way for women to ride. This saddle was bought for a girl who'd broken her leg from a farmer, in 1976, for £14.
Comments
This saddle was made in the 20th century. 1930 would be my guess. The leaping head didn't come into common use until the mid 19th century and wide pommels after the Great War.