The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-03
WOMEN Who RIDE.
What Is Necessary to Acquire a Firm, Easy
Seat in Saddle.

In these days of physical culture IUr
women that most beneficial form of exer-
cise horseback riding, is being strongly adj
vOeated for women and if the majority of
American women do not become fine riders
it will not be for lack of advice offered them
from every side.
There are very few accidents in riding,
says q writer in Harper's Bazaar, for which.
the objectionable Ignorance Of the rider is
not directly responsible Seventy-five per
cent of the women ride abominably. and
poor form in their case shows much more
plainly than in the man. Their shoulders
are twisted, their hands unsteady, the tees
are seen continually kicking the skirt, and
they rise to the side. Here in New York
we find mucn Improvement in the public
form, due to better instruction and the dread
of scrutiniZing spectators. but the actual
know ledge of the horse is quite as deficient.
There are women, Of courSe, who go in Tor
riding with precisely the same idea as they
dc for bathing at Narfagansett-beeause the
rest do so, aud the opportunity OF exhibiting
fetching costume is not to be lost. These
Will ride about as they swim; groom ana
the saving rope will always be at hand, and
it quite necessary that they should
TO the young women that have passed the
age when they are susceptible to instruction
we have nothing to say. When they become
emphasis at our command, that II they allow
their daughter to grow up with as little prac-
teal knowledge of the horse as they have,
may the future result be upon their heads.
First OF all, it is mistake to allow girl TO
begin riding lessons too young. In the last
year or so children s. 10 and II years of age
have been seen at the riding schools, max
ing a very pretty ensemble In an evening
entertainment; but much too tender to go on
the road. 1t is well enough to allow them
to become a bit familiar with the horse
under instruction, but 10 is quite young
enough for them to begin riding. No child
has sufficient physical strength or judgment
for the management of pony earlier.
When your daughter begins her lessons
see for yourself, or get some one who does
know, that her instructor is competent.
Not one so-ealled riding-master in dozen
knows little else than to sit his animal and
make it prouette for the benefit OF the
spectators that gaze in Mortified wonder at
this offshoot of the circus ring master in hts
tights aud great boots. 1t is just as easy to
learn to ride properly MS not, but difficult TO
correct bad form in the saddle when once
acquired. See that her shoulders are sqGarely
to the front; that her LETT knee is close to
the horn, so she may press hard against it in
case Of necessity, and close to the saddle
flap as we'll (this will stop the unsightly and
incorrect pendulum motion Of the stlrrup
foot and strengthen the seat; that she rises
from the right knee, and not from the stir
rup as Is the case with ninety-nine women
out of hundred; that her hands remain
steady, and that. in rising. her stomach and
back do not fall into the absolutely unpar-
dOnable and ungraceful see-saw movement
The correct seat is very difficult 10 acquire,
especially to the average young woman,
whose sides are incased in tightly laced
eorscts and whose muscles are entirely de-
icient. 1t would be we'll to use light dumb
bells and go through series OF body move
ments to make those muscles elastic.