The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-15
VIRGINIA EQUITA'IlON'
THE LATE WAR BROUGHI MN
rNDESIRABLE CHANGES.
cantain HaxaII Notes the Improvement III
Equitation Fox Hunting an"
Riding The Deep Run Hunt

one Of the many results OF the ia,
war between the States was rdui0"i
change in equestrianism In virginia
Al tho beginning Of the war our cav
airvmen were equipped with the ciNilian
saddles which they had brought Win.
tbem from their country homes, anu
which they had been using TO Journey
from one plantation TO another, 10 uit
al tho ring" and 20 follow the houi"a
when chasing the fox. Gradually as nc
ureioht of their sabers and cablnes ne
-. onnrassive. they willingly adopted
the McClelland saddles which they cap
tured. and which, havinso the SUIT -p5
farther TO the rear, pefmll'e" AN"
indeed necessitated, more Neftlcai pD
sition As their officers. following tao
49,. roorired them TO use short surrups'
!, became easier TO keep ones PACK
straight and stiff. and thus 10 resist the
weight Of these arms. Again, too, these
,,ont1enen riders realized slowly that ile
omen tree of the Mcclellan, with siue
baards hard and smooth underneath, dln
not gall or even blister the horses Ddch
a. the padded civilian saddle had done
when heavily weighted or IN warm
weather Thus the cayalrymen became
converted 10 their Hilary saddle, ana
with IL were forced 10 adopt the ertiOai
military seat with heels under shouiu'Is r.
The utility of the military sadie as d
mack saddle, and its imperNioushess 10
weather. had profoundly impressed the
cavalrymen. and when they returned 10
civil life they brought home these sad
dies, and for years duplicated them "heh
new saddles had to be bought.
Taking the Mcclellan as the type OF
the military saddle in country. we all
know that its rider sits in fork between
nommel and cantle, which so securely
fences him i'm that without any eHor'
from his knees his seat Is fairly nrIn uh'
der ordinary circumstances. 50 IL was
7 sunpose. that the cavalry soldiers, be-
inc now relieved OF arms, gradually
droDped back into the habit OF long
stirrup riding and thus the country gen,
tlemen (and their sons VINO loiioNeo
their examples became careless lazy
looking riders. far inferior to their pre-
decessors who had not been deinord'i~eo
by the military saddle. 800.
Many years ago. or say prior 10 1901
most southern gentlemen habitually rode
with stirrups so long that they could
only reach them with their toes. They
had very vague idea that they were
holding on by their knees, although the'
legs from thighs downward were Gang
ling from front 10 rear. In truth tneS
rode the balance seat and 10 Keel
their eouipoise the elbows, as balance
mole. were successfully raised or lowered
as necessity required. If the horse shoui,
make a laundering step, or strike d Hcf
or trot. they would unconsciously eleFa''
their shoulders and somewhat break th'
shock of the change They had little sup
not from the bride because they usual
~ rode with some form Of curb bit. Niti
such q seat, OF course. they could no
ridc IN a trot, which is probably the bes
au-round natural gait OF a horse. me.
rode i'm a walk. canter or saiicp. Nonei
and children sought pacing horses Nov
although the Southern riders practice'
only this balance seat, they ranked vi
TO 1851 as the best gentlemen riders
this country. and ! believe ihey were
To keep ones balance under such CIT
cunstances required confidence ana
certain SIKH. ,,.. .,
rarly in the late war they laughed a
NoTthern eavalrvmen for tumblins of
their horses so readily, but as military
horselnanshin can be taught, because
tactics and discipline can be and weE'
enforced they soon stopped la'sHl's 4
our Northern opponents. -
In their conceit, satisfied tina the,
we're natural-born riders, every ehilste'
man would resist and indeed sputh III
etr,lctjon In horsemanship from ms ON
GERS. They had FREQUENT occasion 10 no
tice that their comrades of German pifti
had no natural turn for horsemansnip
lint they could not observe later on Una
| they became excellent riders ana me sol
diers generally. So much for instructor
and modesty, "
The military school o, horsemanshlp J
| admirable. and the racing seat IS eAcei
| lent in It's place. but in civil riding
whether In the park, on the Ions road
| or across Countrywide conditions are Yer
! different, and the young men or virginia
are realizing IL. The lines which separat
! these three schools should be kept dis
! tinct.
| In the opinion OF the writer, who ma
( had experience IN each OF the seyers
| schools OF Workmanship. equation !
| Improving In Virginia. and the more rap
| idly because they recognize the fact ina
! they can learn something from instrrc
| ton and example.
| In the autumn OF 1883. trop or caVai
| ~ was organized in Richmond ana adopt
| I'D the name Of stuart Horse Guards
This troop became Troop A" and In
the nucles Of the present First Regimen
| OF Virginia Volunteer Cavalry. The othe
| troops are located in neighboring countie
| ana tho homes of members are muc
| scattered. The county troops NATURAL
A~~.~ - avnNRfsf0lfW for 8PGAuAN