Olga and Tatiana Romanov
“Olga and Tatiana were gorgeous girls. Olga had beautiful eyes like her father, and was blonde. Tatiana was dark-haired and more like her mother’s family. The empress, who had always suffered so terribly from shyness, did everything in her power to instill confidence in her daughters, and she succeeded in that. They were completely natural and spoke to everyone with ease. They loved sport and were excellent riders. When they reached the age of majority, their father appointed each of them honorary colonels of the cavalry regiments. Olga was commander of the Hussars, and Tatiana was commander of the Uhlans. During parades, in uniform but with ladies’ saddles, they rode past the emperor at the head of his squad. I remember how the general, the commander of their brigade, told me that he was very proud to be followed by two beautiful lady colonels.”
Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna on the the elder daughters of Emperor Nicholas II of Russia.
"The side-saddle hidden under her skirt (or apron as it's officially called) is carefully designed to
keep her safely on top. In fact, you're less likely to fall off when you're riding side-saddle than you are when you're riding astride."