Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-08-24

Saddle Animal. His Cats and How to
Control Him.
The frequent mention of numbers of clever
horsemen among the leading society people
has naturally revived the many experiences
of the cavaliers of the past. and it is doubt
fui whether IN peace or war that history can
produce any more or better examples of
norsemnnshIp than the present day affords
10 the olien DAYS the equipments were crude
and imperfect as well as the animals them
selves The knowledge of the horse has ad-
vant'ed. and likewise all the appointments
that appertaIn "a thoroughly adapting hIm
IN moierI gaIts and uses. IL Is only recently
that we have recorded high jump of some
thing over eight feet by a horse, and the
longest Jump Is something like thirty five
feet by actual measurement This of course
applies TO the trained hur,iler or steeplechaser.
HOW THE PAsTIME HAS GROWN
Our bunting clubs are a fine school for
| horSemen. but they are. from the order of
things not accessible to every one 1t is sur
prlsiug to those who have not watched its
| progress-the vast increase in horseback rid
| ing The roller skating rinks have served
one useful and commendable purpose All
that have an eligible location have been
| sought by the teachers OF riding schools, and
| instead OF thousands toiling on rollers we
| now have hundreds availing themselves of
| the rings in the Old rinks in going the rounds
| with the riding master IN the graceful walk,
| trot and lope on the back of the horse, re
| celving the pleasure of exercise accompanied
by music and getting the benefit of the
healthy pastime Among the most attractive
sights these pleasant spring days are the
bride paths specially provided for horseback
riders in the park There are hours in the
day, however, when these bride paths are
| inadequate TO the wants of the multitude of
accomplished horsemen escorting the fair
sex. whose graceful figures as they fit around
the curves add to tine pIcturesqueness Of the
panorama.
| 10 gather the most practical information
possible an interview was sought by the re
porter with an expert equestrian, who said:
| There are two styles of saddle horses in use
One is the horse fashionable in Kentucky,
whose gaIts are the plain walk, running
| walk, sine4e foot, trot and canter The
other is the English style, thoroughly bitted
and in hand to walk, trot and canter only
| NV experience convinces me that Kentucky
produces the best type of saddle horses, and
they command the most money Others like
the Canadian horse The taste for horses in
Boston Philadelphia and Washington is
about the same Few ride the Kentucky
gated horse The popular horse here is the
English style The horse that is properly
bitted and ready for the saddle should be
ridden with bit and bridoon, aud so thor
oughiy broken as to guide by the neck,
on the curb or snatfle, or by both Jointly.
In riding schools they are taught to ride
with reins in each hand, same as they handle
driving relns, whereas all from Kentucky and
the south and west do not consider a horse a
saddle horse until he will guide by the neck,
that Is an Instructive idea The reins should
he IN the left hand, so that the whip hand is
always free for any purpose In riding with
the ladies on the road YOU should go on the
Iadys right hand, which will prevent run
ming against the lady or any accidental col
llsiou The amateur rider does not know
what constitutes a saddle horse. The horse
must have good walk good trot and good
canter, and go at any rate of speed"
HOW TO MOUNT A HORSE
It is interesting to notice the simple act Of
mounting horse. It is important TO com
Utne grace with safety The school or styl-
ish custom is to stand with your back to the
mead OF the horse. with the reius in the left
! nand resting upon the pummel Of the saddle,
vour left foot in the stIrrup, then with a
swing encompassing a half circle you rise
and settle in the saddle The experts method
OF mounting is to stand facing the side of
L.. So Rnf-F TO- 1. -,
rup. relns in the right band and held taut,
resting on the opposite side of the cantel or
tack of the saddle, then with a vault YOU
will land easily in the saddle This is also
the most general custom the only difference
Is to hold the reins and name both with the
, left hand All the while You have the ami
= mai under control, and in this position there
IS much less liability of accident from any
e unexpected movement shying or fright OF
2 your horse by which the animal may be made
4 to kick or get away from the rider.
7 There is another important and Yet very
simple fact little known, after being
mounted, and that is the skin to start q
horse The reins should be held gently, not
pulling, and there should be an almost I'm
perceptible bending forward of the body
which TO a trained saddle horse is far better
understood and more readily responded tC
than talking or ciucking The swinging Of
the body is sufficient and he instantly re-
spends A horse should never be started of
abruptly and on the jump, as very many in
considerate riders make habit of doing. II
startles a horse and is a bad habit, which
! grows upon him. and often the first spring oi
the horse IN starting causes more accident:
f than the other faults In the animal Away!
in starting out you should go off on a very
SLOW walk 1t restores confidence, and if tht
horse is inclined to nervousness that soon dis
appears, and then you pursue your journey
with ease and pleasure.
= Tho horse whose ancestors are real saddle
horses is more pleasant and easier to ride anC
to cultivate and teach than one that Is bret
regardless of such characteristics. The sad
die Instinct has been bred in him for genera
tious and this instinct has teen intensitiel
by education until the true saddle horse IS
distinct type-New York Herald