The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-15

drills. Fortunately the colonel com
manding the regiment, a citizen OF Ger
man birth. served rom private % cap
tain Of cavalry in the Confederate army
aud gives wholesome instruction IN MIL
tary hOrsemanship
we can easily recall when Dickels
was the only riding academy IN New
York and we Know hat many other
riding academies and several ridins clubs
are splendidly supported here now. we
know. too. of the riding schools In hal-
timore and Washington. and have adj
mired the horsemanship being constant
~ displayed in the parks Of these there
cities ,,,
The hunt clubs about New York Phil
adelphia. Baltimore and Washington are
following up the work by their riulilR
schools and clubs. ard their active mem
hers include some Of the most ACCOM-
plished riders of this country.
rbev are doing something toward cul-
tivatine this beautiful and healthtul arr
i'm Vlrginia: but we must be frank 10
confess that while horsemanshlp as an
ar, has advanced i'm the North, IL mas
because of the military saddle ana sea-
refrigerated in the South in general since
1S55 .,, -
.Tutings at the ring" arc stu prac-
ticed in Virginia, and would pe cohlihei,'
able were 10 not that the people MAN
the ridiculous mistakes or not Only az
nominating such exercises tournament
aud those engaged as khlSn'9' '"-
many Of the socalled knights wear ran
,aetic annarel which severely reflects on
the memory OF Don Quixote. Then 100,
as a preliminary, an orator chatseS
tho hold Sir Knights TO bear themselNe7
bravelv and 10 risk their lives each io'
his snecial ''ladye fayre," who IS suiieIins
for a crown as queen OF love ana peau'y'
RIuch of this ridiculous pertormance
was gone through with at the last
einia Exposition. and marred the ehe.1
Of better "tiiting at the ring ina" ~
usually displayed. Fortunately 80
rate prize was offered TO the pest nue.
and deservedly given TO one VINO "iu "o1
,ake the most rings but who was
s,r,t,. seated and graceful horseman
and was comfortably although not very
stvIisblv dressed. As phalanxes OF rlu-
ers 40 not really assault each other IL
may be hoped that after aWnhe s. ~,
term ~ tournament and knight
u,ul he dropped and the riders ADOPT d
sensible riding costume. The pracuce %
fitting at the ring is an exercise "Ii0.l
reouires a steady horse ana deVeiopes .
riders skill OF hand and eye Du, sI'
ouestion of frmness OF seat Il NO. ~
volved. ,..--,..,, number
In several sections of Virginia nuihoe'
Of horsemen learned years ago 10 az
nreciate the English hunting sauule WI"
a. long. shallow seat and skirts wei
s,,.,,'ard and the practice of riding inc
trotting gait. BY the adoption OF ,n.s
osft ana the simple habit Of accompany
Inc il nv a sight rise in rather snort sur
- which hold the knees IN positlol
without effort, an excellent uaVelii"7
-, ie secured with the least fatigue
20 rider and horse, and thus distances
nave been apparently shortened ana spou
of great interest have been oroush1 Near
CT. ,t.,..,,,
Parties are often made up at klcnmoh,
OF half a dozen riders 10 trot II an al
ternoon to Shirley or NestoEer' some
times taking in Wilton and Narina, ol
TO Presouo Isle. all on the lower James
tn the old auguenot Springs or Tucka
hoe on the upper James. TO "Old Church
ON the Pamunkey or TO the battleileld
Of Gaines Mill Tor Cold haroorl, ira
Tiers Farm an Malvern HIS on the me
of the Chickanomlry ana Nhl1e Oaf
Swamp. .,, -h-e.,
In word. riding on a stout wel-ored
active horse. over picturesque Toaus, l'
objective points of historic or ot.e'
interest, making thirty or FORTY re
m a riot on a long afternoon, Is Xtr me
" pleasant. A man who has pot isdt he'
10 ride the long trotof the hlgh-ore'
horse. and Is practiced only in the capte
and gallon or some broken gait. Ike IN
pace, rack, or single foot" cannot ksel
I up. or. IL he does, lands at home DOH
rider and horse pumped out.
They 20 provided with Il pair OF sad
| die pockets on the saddles, one contain
4 ing a sandwich-box and the other
' flask and cigar case, so that they ar
1 independent OF the hospitality OF rosdsid
| friends and can the more fully enjoy res
! alongside OF an inviting spring or on tn
/ grassy bank OF a iimped brook.
lust here We will venture TO sugges
| that for long road riding on a leisur
| dav or afternoon, and assuming that w
wish rather than be sluggish, TO max
l ten 10 twelve miles an hour IN our trots
: the average horse cannot ee better bit
ted than with the chain snafiie; bu
everybody knows that for trotting an
/ kind OF a snafiie IS better than any torn
/ of q curb-bit
AZ In the hunting field. they trot alon
the soft roads with rem III eacn nan
| and with hands down
| We think IL a great point In road rid
| ing that on the start the party shoul
| choose a guide" who has steady-goin
horse and who will be not so much
! pllot as a regulator OF the pace. Ridin
parties should be limited TO couples.
In the line o, civil riding. tox-hGnin
Is kept up in Virginia. but foxes are no
a. numerous as one would wish IL som
parts oi the State. IN tho "le1non
f, counties OF Loudoun and Fauquier msc
hunting IS done and hounds followe'
IN yrite OF the picturesque stone fences
which so obstructed the advances an
retreats of the cavalrymen OF both 81
! les between Aldo and Paris in June
1853