St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-15

Ih2 speaker was that trim-figured
Savant OF equeStrianism, whose name is
famous with amateur riders the world
over, Mrs. h. A. Beach. at present in
structresS at the Riding club, in this
city. and she spoke to a New York
World reporter.
although my avOcation as riding
teacher is a somewhat unusual one for
woman, it is the most cOngenial lot that
could have betallen me. | have ridden
since was five years old. and have
never received one lesson of profess
sional instruction. From my style of
riding and method of teaching | am
aware it is the belief of those who do
not know to the contrary, that
l received my early training
in England. But l am American
born ami bred in a New England sub
urban town-my father being a breed
ing farmer, well to do. had always
taste for riding and love for horses.
This penchant was frowned upon by my
parents, but my grandfather, who was
superior hOrseman and a great lover
of horses, encouraged me, believing that
girls should know how to ride and han
die horses. L will say that my grand
father had good English blood in his
veins. and it must have been good Eng
lIsh riding blood, for, though ! was
gifted with natural aptitude for riding,
his rudimental suggestions were of the
greatest benefit. Moreover, l grew to
learn how to break and train horses, and
this was as much pleasure as riding
them.
Experts have said," continued Mrs.
Beach naiveiy, that my riding is
great natural gift. and marvel at it.
But | ride well, L believe, because |
love to ride. On account of my sympa-
thy with the sport it appears as though
L were part Of the horse. This is as it
should be. Men that have travelled
and observed the amateurs abroad say
that they don't find any EnglishwOmen
with better hands than mine. [ say
this, mind you, not because | am Mrs.
Beach, but because l am Yankee"
My inquiry as TO her views upon
thigh school, riding brought the met
tlesOme lady's head to higher poise, as
though she were eager for an Oppor-
tunity to be heard upon this subject,
upon which she had views of her own.
II do not know" she replied, chow |
could ever have been misunderstood as
an advocate of high school methods,
unless it is that | teach with such en-
thuSiaSm the delights OF the field. 1t is
not unlikely that the taking of wall
or hedge of unusual height has been
cOnfounded as of the high school as
experts understand it."
"fhen you do not favor the high
school SyStem?"
las matter of fact am strenuouslv
opposed to it. In the first place the
game isn't worth the candle. After all
the training of years the results are but
artificial and snowy. The morse must
be first trained to the business as they
say in theatricalS, and the rider after
wards trained to the horse. / am con-
hdent L could train horse high school,
but L should not care to subject a beast to
the abuse that is necessary to achieve
the requisite perfection. OF course, it
Is much more difficult for a woman to
train horse 'high-SchOo' than a man.
for men can use both legs to guide the
animal. A woman's 'high-school horse
must be trained with spur OH one side
and whip on the other. A woman must
train for woman, and after all this
what a sepselesS thing it isi''
us there professional 'high-School'
rider in this cOUntry?''
Yes, but the idea has never found
much favor here. 1t is. you know, more
suggestive of the SawduS than of the
tan-bark ring. There are several men
teachers OF high school and one woman
hOrSe-trainer-a Nine. Marinnetti, |
think the name is. This teacher, who
was formerly circus rider. married a
horse fancier OF. Joliet, Ill.,, and at the
last Boston horse show created a veri-
table sensation on her trained horse"
But was not this Juror an incentive
to the Boston bellies to take up the fad?"
mo. [ think not. They considered it
pretty and applauded, as we all would.
because it was skillful and painstaking;
but. then. If | may use the word, it was
'circusy.'"
Those who have witnessed Mrs. Beach
ride will admit that there is nothing of
the fancful or the trick-rder i'm her
ensemble. The idea she personifies is
that of ali expert gentlewoman in the
saddle. This is what she teaches.
Mrs. Beach believes that it is a great
| er gift to be able to teach horse to be
well-mannered lady's horse than to be
successful in "high-schOOl." The form
er is of some use and has all aim and
purpose. the latter is purely oriental.
To put girl on a green horse and teach
both at the same time is not uncom-
mon feat of which the riding mistress
at the Riding club is justly proud.