Throughout history, images of women riding aside have been portrayed in art. On Greek vases and Celtic stones women are shown seated sideways on horses. Paintings show women seated aside being led by a man, or seated on a pillion (a small padded seat) behind a man on a horse. The women did not face forward toward the horse's head, but rather sat at a right angle...basically sitting sideways. By the 9th century a small footrest, or "planchette" was added to the pillion.

Это мой творческий максимум исторички :) ещё могу вспомнить про Боуддикку и про найденную могилу как раз времён англо-саксов, в которой знатный женский скелет лежал внезапно с коровой.