The morning call., 1894-08-05

our party OF young people, some of them
not so very young. dashed by the ladies
without Stacking their rhythmic canter,
swcoped on past me and around bend OF
the road. seienely unconscious that they
had done thing for which they deserved
nothing less than ostracism from good
equestrian society.
10 crown the enormity the party was
accompanied by one who appeared to be
their teacher. His instructions must GER
tainly be valuable. unaccompanied as they
appeared TO be by any hint of equestrian
etiquette.
l plead guilty to not being much of a
sticKler for etiquette. myself. l do not
regard it as an objectionable sin to have
ten buttons on a ha bit coat when others
are wearing but eight. | would not cut a
friend Tor appearing in the park with
colored collar and silk hat, although
would recommend to pupil of my own
either to discard the tile or don white
collar. L would not even consider
shoulder-cape an objectionable breach of
decorum. although when l saw lady
wearing one, the other day, as she can
tered through the park. / was irresis,ibly
reminded of one of Macbeth's witches
but there are certain rules of the road
that good breeding and kindly feeling
uUbu uiCIdtcs hDQ OU0 OI tD6m Is LDat
which requires every well-bred equestrian
to draw rein and pass pedestrians at a
trot, or. in the case of a gentleman passing
lady. at walk
AS in my turn passed the three pedes-
trians l no iced that one of the party, an
elderly lady, had not even yet recovered
from the trepidation into which the hasty
onslaught had thrown her. There's an
other one" she exclaimed apprehenSively,
W6p6 q
bankment skrtlDg the road.
Such an encounter is disconcerting
enough even on a well-kept park road. To
be passed at gallop on a dusty highway
by sUms thOughtless fellow Is exasperating
IN the extreme. have, even in California,
seen rider dash through city street
scattering mud in the faces of foot passen-
gers al every crosswalk.
There are two reasons why the thorough
horsewOman should pull uD her mount
upon meeting pedestrian. One, and The
major one. Is that no lady desires to appear
rude or lnconslderate of abOther's feelings
the other is that TO draw up and pass at
trot often gives OPP ortunity for very
pretty exhibition 0f skill on the part of
both horse and rider. The former soon
learns what is expected of him and after a
few lessons VIII come to a trot very
promptly ana gracefully when occasion
demands.
Another thing equestrians should re-
member IS never to come up behind a
driven horse and pass al a gallop without
first noting whether the animal Is being
frightened by your rapid motion. The
sound OF gaIloDing hoofs is apt to excite
driven horse, especially if he is wearing
binders, and | have seen two dangerous
runaways from this cause. If you note
that the horse in front of you shows signs
of alarm draw rein and pass at a trot.
Some horses are frigh ened at rider any
way. In that case get by as quietly as
possible. but make it point to pass at the
first opportunity, as otherwise you are
causing both horse and rider unnecessary
anxiety.
OF course the horsewoman does not need
to be told that it is her place to keep out
of the way of vehicles. She has the ad-
vantage OF being able to turn and avoid
collisions more readily than driver can
do yet. once saw lady on jolly little
runner oVertake and rush past TWO driven
horses whose owners were having q speed
brush on broad avenue. She passed on
the right, thereby violating rule Of the
road. passed TOO closely, tearing her habit
on wheel of one of the light road wagons,
and then scoIded roundly at the careless
ness of drivers who did not know enough
to get out of the way.
Ii you are riding with a party the pa ce
will, of course, be set to suit that of the
sloWest horse. Unless this is done some
one Will be made 10 feel the modification
of having but an Indifferent mount and,
if the ride is long one, the pleasure OF
the return will be marred by having to ac-
commodate the pace 10 that of one or more
1aded and doDe-up horses. 1t is not con-
sdered good form for lady, accompanied
by gentleman, TO ride at a trog if her es-
cOrt's horse is cantering. 1t may fire.
quently happen In this part of the coun
try, where our saddle horses are still for
the most part trained In the old Spanish
fashion. that he has a horse that knows
nothing of trotting under the saddle. and
If his c0mpanion Ia lrotting while his
mount canters he rests under the imputa-
tion of being less skillful rider, or the
scarcely less mOrtifying inference is that
his horse has been pushed IF his fest";
that is, cannot maintain the pace at trot.
You should teach your horse, as one of
his earliest lessons, 10 start off at given
signal as soon as you are mounted ana
ready. This signal had best be the press
ure of your left heel against his flank.
Do not start him by the chrrup, or even
by the tap OF the whip. If you accnsiom
him to either of these you will some day
be an unmitigated nuisance in some party
of riders Whose horses will all start off
whenever you endeavor to move yours. If
you desire company and to be desirable
companion on your rides avoid urging
your horse by voice and whip. have had
more than one ride spoiled by acompanOn
whose constant dourishing of the whip and
senseless Kissing of the air in encourage
ment of her steed kept me constantly on
the qui vive against the plunges and starts
of my own nervous mount.
Another thing inexperienced riders are
fond of doing, and which is often exceed
ingly disconcerting to their companions, is
suddenly TO challenge TO a race and set
the example, while yet the others are un-
prepared. / remember being once one of a
party riding along level country road.
Our horses were all fresh and had had Just
enough of a warming-up to make them
ready to 20 at word.
Now for race" cried one of our num-
Der, and with swish of his lash in the air
off he started, rising from a walk 10 mad
run. The effect upon the party was cleo
trcal. Every horse started in pursuit. and
there was hurried gathering of reins and
settling of seats, for we had all been rid
ing at ease. One luckless rider was dis
mounted by her horses sudden rush, an
other received severe wrench of one
wrist and l myself was thrown forward on
my borse's neck, my forehead coming
in contact with her suddenly
raised head.
There was one old cavalryman in tile
party and he read that unlueky youth
such a lecture as does my heart good
very similar experiences on occasions
any one else VINO seemed rightly to under
stand the intents and purposes Of rightly
applied profanity.
Annthpr disapraea hla anunnanihn ia aha