The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-24
MEN AND WOMEN RIDEss.
The Ways of the Equestrians in New
York.
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The Ways of the Equestrians in New
York
(Copgri6kt)
NEW YORK, March 21.-Many think that
the end of what is technically known as the
"riding season" in New York comes at a
time of year when riding is most pleasant.
Just as the trees are getting ready to push
out their green leaves, the smart set" is off
for London to enjoy the season there, and
those who remain disperse not long after for
their summer homes. The luxuriant green
of summer will not shelter many riders in
the leafy park lanes.
1t is becoming almost the rule, however,
that riders take their mounts with them to
the seashore or mountains. The city stable
men have an easy time of it during the hot
months, such of them as do not follow the
throng to Newport or Lenox. In the park
the sameness pals upon one, in spite Of the
beauty of the bride path. by constant rep
etition. In the country there is a variety of
new points of view to be taken, so that mo-
notony need not be feared, for a time at
least, and monotony is not the spice of life
Proper form in costume and equipment is
important for the rider, whether in city or
country, for every one who mounts horse
invites criticism and attracts the attention
ten fold as much as the occupant of cars
rage can do. Form in New York is not
slavish imitation of London fashions The
habit of wearing a Prince Albert coat, so
common in Rotten row, has never caught
on on this side of the water, nor do equestri-
ennes sport mannish high silk hats, here as
there. Men riders who wish to be correct
wear in the park cutaway coats-a frock is
admissible-tall silk hats, white ties, dark
gloves and long trousers, not commonly
black. The trousers are made longer than
for walking purposes. and are often fur
nished with black strap extending in a
loop under the shoes to hold them down.
Boots are never worn except in deep mud.
The one mark which hopelessly gives away
the greenhorn is his proud assumption of a
pair of huge top boots reaching to his
knees Old hands in town leave that sort
of display to the riding masters, whose one
distinguishing mark is the boot.
Hot weather and country surroundings
bring some relaxation of the strict rules of
costume. Far from the maddening crowd
one may sport straw hat or SLOUGH, go
gloveless for the sake of the tan, or even
don boots, though many elderly riders pre-"
serve their city form wherever they go.
1t is surprising, by the way, what large
number of men well along in years still
cling TO the saddle. Bishop Potter's erect
and portly form is seen on the bride path
| almost every weekday in the park. r. L.
Cutting is more than portly. If he were a
| poor man he would be called fat, yet he is
| indefatigable III the saddle Mayor Grant
| and ParK Commissioner Hampden Robb are
fine specimens Of sturdy, bearded middle
aged men in the saddle. The mayor keeps
| in his private stable gray aud a chestnut
| saddle horse and rides either as the mood
| takes him.
1t might at first seem that in the severe
simplicity of woman's riding habits there
would be little chance for the tailors art or
| for variety, but any woman knows better.
| The best habits are tailor made, of course,
and most of the great dressmaking houses
keep horses fiery wooden ones which do
| not kick-which ladies mount while their
| robes are being arranged. The cost of
| proper habit is never below 500, and may
run considerably higher. Tie commonest
material is broadcloth, the color black, bot
| tie green or dark blue for winter use in the
PARK. In the summer browns and grayS are
more favored, and a touch of scarlet
which you must never call scarlet but pink,
because that's English-in the vest or in the
tie. Shirt fronts stiff1y sUarched were worn
to some extent last year, and will he used
even more this summer. The hat In the
park is the derby slightly feminizsd, if the
term is admissible, by the addition of soft
ribbon bow of the same color on the left
side. There is said to be a tendency toward
in riding habits. but the wise will still
avoid them. l@.
From time immemorlal physicians have
recommended riding for women, and other
physicians have deplored the one-sided de-
velopment of the BODY that comes OF much
use of the side saddle. Mabel Jenness.
clever teacher of physical culture, created
something of a sensation some time ago by
promising to ride through the park en- cGCd-
her with divided skirts, one division on the
left side Of the horse and the other division
on the right side, but she never did 1T.
Kate Field, who has pluck enough for any
thing, privately expressed an interest IN the
same undertaking, but her interest never
led to action. 1t would be difficult TO try
the experiment. Albert B. Coin, or the
Central Park Riding Academy, where
Bishop Potter and many others keep their
mounts tells me that The wouldn't let
woman % out Of his stable mounted astride,
and most other riding teachers would not be
less particular. It's hard to see why the
proposition is essentially Objectionable
when made in the name of health, but the
masters won't have it. society won't have 1t
and there's no more use in talking about 1t
than in discussing a lunar railway. It's TOO
advanced for the times
Some relief for women who wish TO ride
without getting as one-sided as spellbln-
der is promised, however, by the reversible
side saddle. The recention invent is very
much like any other side saddle, except that
the two pummels. instead OF being fixed.
screw into the saddle ON either side. The
screw holes are closed, when not use, by plugs
covered with leather like the saddle. To
transfer the pommels girth and stirrups
from one side to the other is the work of
about two minutes. Mr.. CoLen says it seems
decidedly awkward to a woman on first
mounting with the left knee forward and
the right foot in the stirrup but it isn't like
learning to ride over again. They soon get
used to it. The custom of the owner of
such saddle is to change sides every day.
Comparatively few women are using these
saddles yet, but their use stands good deal
better chance OF becoming general than
does the Mabel Jenness plan.
The riding clubs of New York are legion.
Some of the best known practicing at the
Central Park Academy are the Acadia,
Freundschaft and Park Riding clubs. The
drills and evolutioDs of some of these clubs
are decidedly in eresting, though one would
suppose that more pure pleasure could be
OF in the open air than on the tan bark