Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-04
Ridfng Mam-Fashion.


By ELIZABETH DUDLEY.
The fashion of ladies' side saddles for horse
back riding was no doubt introduced for a good
and sufficient physical reason, and my expe-
rience in equestrian exercise leads me to believe
that the majority of women will always find the
side saddle most comfortable for them.
1t is claimed that if the girth gives way lady
will have no possible hold on her horse but will
be thrown to the ground. She will however,
land upon her feet, or at least upon one of them !;
while, If the girth gives way when she is using
a mans saddle, she will fall head downward,
with one leg bent under her body and the other
elevated over the back Of her horse. In this po-
stion she is more likely to break some bones
than in the other.
We are told to be sure, that in riding astride
a lady would be able TO keep ga hOrseman's
grip" on her horse, and in case of loose girth,
could hold her saddle in place. | doubt this
Our slender women and our fat women alike
have no muscle | fancy even q wiry tendoned
ballet girl would be unable to control the pow
erful muscles by which vicious horse strives to
burst the girth, or take advantage of its becom-
ing loosened TO escape from its rider. A well
trained animal, in event of an accident, will
slacken his pace at once, or even stop of his own
will.
And the majority of our women are too short
to look well in riding astride; they have not
sufficient length of limb for the cheeseman's
grip" Any one who has seen boy OF ten on
the back of broad, high horse, with his legs
spread in right angles, can imagine the ridicu-
lous appearance (which most of our ladies
will present at riding astride, and if they prac
tice this position much it will affect their gait
They will then, when walking, present the com
ical appearance of an old sailor Just off long
voyage, who rolls along in the most absurd way
with his legs wide apart.
We shall have some hearty fun at the expense
Of these Amazons.
When hear lady complaining of the Gun.
comfortable" and twisted position of side
ways riding, of feeling that cher back is
crooked" or that she is insecure, know she
does not sit properly. In the first place she
must get side saddle which fits her. AS some
women are thin, and some robust, some with
long limbs, and some with short, it follows that
one form of saddle will not be comfortable for
every woman.
Then she should take her seat firmly and
evenly in the centre of the saddle, as if about to
ride aStride, and adjust the right leg in the most
comfortable position possible; it must not be
too much strained over the left, and may indeed
be shifted little more TO the right after riding
a short distance, and getting accustomed to the
motion of the horse.
was once visiting some friends who lived on
an isolated hillside farm, when my host, in using
some machinery met with a serious accident
While his wife remained at his side, applying cold
water to the wound, saddled horse with
mans saddle There was no other at handy, and
dashed off for the doctor.
The road was deserted, so naturally rode
astride; but such ride On hard trotting,
madly galloping pillow horse, | went up and down
the strong hill roads, thinking that | should
neuer come up with the doctor, who had left his
home and started on his rounds. I caught him
at last aud turned him back, fortunately in time.
But hardly know whether the patient or my.
self suffered most for day or two.
was then an accomplished equestrienne on
sde-saddle, and resolved never to use any
other.
When living on the Cumberland mountain, in
Tennessee, rode constantly on horseback al
ways with sde.saddle, and my neighbors did
the same Ono girl whom knew there rode on
her brothers saddle frequently, whenever her
sister or mother was with her and never rode
astride; she placed her right leg in the same no.
sition as when she used her own saddle When
| asked the reason for this she replied only
Pears like gal couldn't ride man-lashion nc.
wayP
Now, this healthy, hardy mountaneer had
beautiful womanly form, and was classicaly
proporu0ned. As she wore neither corsets
paniers, nor hoop.skirts, her figure could not
be disguised, and ii she could not ride astride,
what woman can2 fancy that twenty miles
experience on a mans saddle, over a rough road
VIII conyice almost any of our ladies that she
can do everything just as well as a man."
nave ridden with my baby In my arms up
ana down mountain roads so steep that when
my horse was climbing upI had to lean forward
until my check touched his name; aud when he
was cautiously creeping down was OBLIGED TO
loan back until the pain became almost insup-
portable. In both positions found the horn OF
the saddle great help.