Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-15
EVERYBODY RIDES NOW.
II 10 the Greatest Riding Craze Ever
Known In Washington.

Known In Washington.
AND II PROMISES TO BE STILL GREATER
FAvoR1rr HOURS AND ROADS OF The HORSE
MAN AND HoRsEwoMES-wHAT IT COSTS
SOME OF THE BEST KNOWN RIDERS.
Nothing like the present rage for riding has
ever been known in Washington before. As a
bright woman who was discussing the ques-
ton the other evening put it, everybody who
is anybody and great many who aren't ride
nowadays. And a riding man who ought to
know says the craze has only Just begun. and
that within the next few years everybody will
ride as regularly and as much as a matter of
course as they dine or make calls now New
recruits TO the ranks of riders are reported
daily and, unlike the regular army recruits
once they are in they never desert. Women
and girls have taken to the saddle as enthus-
iastically "a their husbands. sweethearts and
brothers. Instead of the lone horseman. look
ing as II he had just ridden out of the first
page of one of James Payn's novels who was
occasionally met with the suburban
roads couple of years ago, gay cavalcades
now dash along the picturesque highways out
side the city or fly recklessly across the COM
mons. Men, women. and children make them
mp. Indeed. the women and children to be
met on horseback any afternoon seem to out
number the men, and they add a new and in
spiritng feature to the outdoor life of the city.
There are many who ride in the morning. but
the great ajority seem to find the afternoon
more pleasant as well as more convenient.
People fortunate enough 20 be able to choose
their own hours take gallOp about IL O'Clock
after q late breakfast. Others go after lunch.
but most prefer the hours Just before dinner
and dusk. when the business of the day is over
and confinement at a desk has made the physi-
cal exercise salutary as well as de-
hghtful or close mental application
enforces the necessity of diversion for the
heavily taxed brain. Then along all the streets
and avenues leading to the DIRT roads ana open
commons the horse men and horsewOmen may
be seen riding sinGly and IN parties Of two.
three and even more. When the hard and
slippery concrete is left behind and the safe
dirt roads reached the easy walk or mild trot is
exchanged for rafting gallOp, and away
steeds and riders go at pace the police frown
upon but seldom interfere with, for the reason
that they usually aren't around.
THE FAvoRITE ROADS.
The good roads to the north and northwest
of the city are many, and enc need hardly take
the same Route twice if he rides every day for
a month. A pleasant road and good one in
all weathers is that leading out to Brightwood.
by Airy Castle and across Piney branch This
roads hard bed keeps il comparatively free
from deep mud in the wettest weather. and il
goes up hill and down dale by easy gradients
that make II picturesque. while not at all hard
on the horses. The Soldiers Home roads are
fine, but they are more popular with lazy peO-
pie who drive. than for the more adyentur-
Gus spirits who love the exhilarating and
harder exercise OF the saddle The open
commons between 18th street and 9th street
known as Columbia Heights, gives pleasant
httie taste of mild cross-cOuntry riding TO
those who fond of IL. and the shall
low bitches and small ridges afford easy
initiation for unpraciiced horses. i nice
stretch for g6iiOp Is along Columbia road
from the head of Connecticut avenue 10 18th
street. Another mere retired is Spring Lane
road. although the latter remains muddy for
some days after a rain new route that
promises to become favorite with riders is
out Massachusetts avenue extended. WOodIev
Lane road Is picturesque. and has hard bed
but there are 50 many ups and downs on it
that Lively dashes out of the question ey-
eept for those VINO have very powerful horses
and are confident riders. The same is true OF
Pierces Mill road, though both of these routes
are delightful Tor couples who want 10 take
quiet ride where they viii not meet too many
people and can exchange observations on the
scenery and other soulful topics as their horses
gently ambie along. Before the electric rail-
road wss constructed on New York avenue be-
yond 18th street. pleasant route for people
living IN the central section of the city was out
that street 10 Ivy City or up North CapitoI
street. by GlenvOod cemetery and thence to
the back gate of the soldiers home grounds
that invite the ever-increasing troop of horse
men and women who enliven the suburbs every
afternoon.
The White House grounds and the mall
should not be forgotten. The roads here are
kept comparatively free from deep mud even
after heavy rains by the fact that heavy carts
and wagons are not allowed on them. Those
who desire shorttrot or easy gallop in threat
ening weather. or in fine weather. for that
mater find the winding roads through the
mall great convenience and many horsemen
are to be seen on them daily.
WANTED, A DIRT ROAD
subject that has already been discussed a
little in an informal Way by riders is the need
of having few streets or avenues macadamized
instead Of concerted. to within a few blocks of
the center of the city. No one who has ever
ridden a horse over the concreted streets of
Washington but has been unpleasantly i'm
pressed with the ease with which even
trustworthy animals lose their footing ON the
smooth. hard pavement. In wet weather the
danger Is greatly increased. No careful rider.
unless much pressed for time. cares to let
his horse get out OF a walk when the concrete
Is wet The nearest point at which a rnacad-
amlzed roadway can now be struck is on Yer
mont avenue at 18th street. This roadway is
nearly as smooth as concrete. and does not
become muddy in wet weather A horse can
obtain safe footing on it at al times. and it
Is not injurious to horses feet While not as
nice looking as concrete it makes an excellent
road, and If the macadam pavement were
extended down to Thomas circle every rider i'm
the cry, and every one who drives as well
would be gratlted. The avenue would not be
injured for residence purposes
STAR reporter on a recent fine afternoon
counted no less than thirty-tyo people on
horseback on the suburban roads in the course
Of an hour. Mr.. Brown. of the riding academy
says there are probably go people in Washing
ton now who ride with more or less regularity
Nearly all the livery stables are going into the
saddle horse business and the horse dealers are
bringing into the city from Virginia ana Ken
lucky gated horses. for which there is a good
demand e0N
WHAT AN OUTFIT COSTS
Much more can be said for this craze Of an
caety people and Others than can USUALLY be
said for crazes. Indeed if it can be afforded
no one need make excuses for horseback rid
ing. as the doctors all recommend il on the
score OF health. A better condensed eTercise
10 not to be had. 1t is far more beneficial than
an equal amount of gymnasium exercise for
the reason that il is usually taken in the omen
air. Even the patrons Of the riding school
take TO the road on pleasant DAYS. and when
the weather is such that they have 10 remain
on the tsnbark, the big building is so well ven
tilated that the AIR Is equal to outdoors. As to
the cost OF horseback riding, it is not so great
that many persons who suffer from poor health
the result OF combining office work could NOT
anord II II they wished to economic in other
ways. A person who wants to ride reoularlv