, 1885-01-22
THE ART OF RIDING.
GRACEFUL POSITION AND PERFECT.
EASE IN THE SADDLE.
Two Methods Of Horseback Riding. the
German and tho Engfish-The Plan
of instruction Adopted by n
Weu-Known Professor"


IANIN III NNA LAA L.
aThe American women are the best horse
back riders In the world, " said a woll know
professor who for many years, both I'm Eu-
rope and this country, has taught the art OF
riding. 1 say It because ! know. i have
taught the art OF riding in Germany, where
the unconditional German las Is psrsevering
enough, but lacks the fearless dash and
energy OF the American girl l have
Travelled and observed the English women as
they appear when on horseback, seen the
Andalusian maidens cantering over the cam
pagna on their hushy tailed steeds, and
watched the French matrons as they pa
raded past on high stepping chargers in the
Bots dc Bologne, but for graceful position
and perfect case In the saddle l viii place
the American girl, yes, tho New York
woman, against them ALL"
AYou have a riding school and teach ladies
how to rider
YES, and when l see one OF my pupils
among 100 other riders in Central park 1 IN
stantly recognize her easy and natural posi-
ton, and note tho great difference that
proper schooling has accomplished l teach
two methods Of horseback riding, the Ger
man and English Tho former method Is a
closo scat and the latter a rising seat. Cen
orally ! begin them with the German seat.
then II they are apt scholars In three or four
uAIHI a III hnLAA vi "a LIKE
Thess two methods ave their advantages
and disadvantages, which. after being care
fully weighed, lean more fa~vorably 20
the English. Tho center Of gravity In
the saddle can be obtained In the close
scat, but in long distance riding
the rising seat Is infinitely preferable,
both to the horse and the comfort Of the
rider. Hence for graceful, easy riding the
English method Il best. You rise with the
motion OF the horse and ride from the stir
rup, whereas the German Is balances by the
weight Of the knees, and you might say rides
from the knees The frat thing ! imprea on
a lady pupil Is to acquire an easy, natural
seat, to nave no part Of the body, not a
single muscle nyWhere rigid and 10 have
confidence. That Is IL, by Jovel tho Amer
lean woman has too much confidence, but it
only makes the equestrian art easier to learn
Il must now toll my method OF teaching.
When a lady begins | first place her on a
gentle horse that knows more than the rider.
The saddle has NJ stirrup, in order TO lot this
rider acquire a natural position. A stirrup
Mt first seems TO throw them out OF natural
nes4 Then l next lot them use q stirrup, all
the time carefully instructlng as TO position,
both in regard 10 contact with saddle and
carriage Of head and shoulders When this
Is thoroughly acquired, tho next move Is to
place them on a high spirited animal and
SOC If they can still keep She same graceful
position when In fast motion. Now, there
are jockey seats, hunting seats and school
seat, which, practically do not come under
the head Of teaching women how to ride.
Women who learn how TO ride well can
adopt any style thoy choose, 30 It has grace
and ease. One natural position In tho sadilo
4 worth fifty artificial, strained positions,
which leave the rider uncomfortable"
Have you any rules for women sitting on
the horsef7
Eyes; those which DR.. Bussegny gives in
his Handbook He says that u woman
should sit on a horse thus: The head straight.
easy turning upon tho shoulders in any d.
rcction without Involving a movement Of the
body. The eyes fixed straight to tho front,
looking between the horses ears, and always
the direction IN which he is going. Tho upper
part u the body easy, flexible and straight.
Tue lower part OF the body firm, without
stiffness The shoulders we'll back and ON
tho same line. Tn arms falling naturally.
.Tha forearm bent. Tho wrists on n level with
tho elbows. The rsins held In oach had.
Tho fingers firmly closed, facing zach other,
with the thumbs extended on the ends OF the
lines The right foot falling naturally on
the pommel OF the saddle, the loft foot in the
stirfup without leaning upon II. The part OF
the right leg between the knee and the hip
joint should be turned ON It's outer or right
side, and should press throughout It's length
on the saddle. Tn knees should, in their re-
spectivo positions, DO continually in contact,
without an exception, The lower or NOV
able part Of the log plays upon the immov'
able nt the knee joint, the sole exception be-
ing when the rider rises to the trot, at which
time the upper part Of the log leaves the sad
dlo.r