Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-14
RIDING WITHOUT sTIRRUPS.
How to Become Expert in Horseman.
ship, Although Mt Some Discomfort.

From the New York Herald
To an uniformed person happening In at
Durland's riding academy last Friday evening
the sight there presented on the tanbark must
have suggested an initial rehearsal for . circus
performance. Riding Master McGibbon,
mounted on lively bay mare, was in the center
OF the ring shouting orders to thirteen gentle
men, also in the saddle, who seemed to be
striving hard to break their individual and col
lective necks. 1t was an unique performance,
one fraught with results the next day that must
have made chairs a drug in the market and
caused great rush for msntelpieces as most
useful articles Of household convenience.
"W-h-e-n does the-e-e am bul-a-ance ar-rive?''
asked one Of the gallant horsemen as the squad
trotted around the arena. each man bouncing
up and down in the saddle as though he would
shake his teeth out And as the laughter
caused by the plaintive inquiry subsidized an I'M
sophisticated miss among the spectators re-
marked to her escort that she had seen ''ridin'
and ridin', but no ridin' like this ridin'." In
truth 1t did look rather grotesque, but the fact
Is that the men were all accomplished horse
men and had just organized themselves into
"a rough riding class" They were riding with
| out stirrups.
TOO SMART FOR PRINcrroSIASs.
To become thoroughly expert horseman
| one should be able to ride gracefully without
stirrups or saddle, and it was to the accom-
plishment of this end that the uncomfortable
riders essayed And most commendsble un
dertaking was it-one too, that will doubtless
enlist emulation. Reckless prairie men from
| the west and bold huntsmen of the south ieer
| at the horsemen of the north, because the
average habitue Of the bride path in Contra
park rides with his knees under his chin, hi
| arms akimbo and his toes describing an obtust
angle with the TANKS Of his nag When Nd
| Gibbon has finished with the rough riding
class" they will be able to give exhibition o.
| Craftsmanship that will compare with any oil
the cowboys in Buffalo Bills show for skillful
| ness and surpass them all in grace.
In addition to riding without stirrups, which
| Is difficult thing to do, but which trains tn,
| rider to secure perfect balance and depend
upon his legs for guiding the horse, there were
many other interesting feats performed. And
by the way, riders have perhaps rarely under
| stood what their teacher meant when he in
structed them to keep their ''heels down" b,
riding without stirrups they discover that tn,
observance OF this rule makes the muscles tens,
and secures better grip with the thighs. knee
| and calves of the legs. An illustration of tn,
efficacy of this practice was furnished at Prince
ton recently, when young undergraduate wal
| about to be tossed by buck jumper" A
| strapping sophomore acted as the horse" bu
the rider" gripped SO hard with his knee
| that the big chap screamed with pain and CAV,
up the game.
MOUNTING AND DIsMoUNTINa.
The other exercises consisted Of reclining
upon the horses backs and rising to a sittin.
posture again, in quick military order; mount
ing and dismounting, by vaulting from the
ground over the horses withers and vice versa
shifting from one side to the other of the saddle
by throwing leg over the horses neck; max
| ing complete turn in the saddle by throwing
| the legs one after the other across the horses
headquarters, and finally resuming the correct
| seat. All of these movements were designed
| to make the riders so much at home in the sad
| die that no matter whether the horse may
buck, jump. shy or stumble his rider shall be
absolutely steady in his seat At the futur,
| meetings riding without a saddle, blanket
only used to protect the riders raiment, Will bs
| undertaken, and as a further test of expert
ness, hurdle jumping will be on the program.