The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-11
new POSITION
IN THE SADDLE,
Smart Women. Believing the Side Seat
to Be injurious Are Learning
10 Ride Astride.

n
Mt one of the few women In Ameri-
0VA can society who have had the
COURAGE to ride astride In public.
Miss Rahe. in addition to being a very
pretty girl. Is an accomplished horse
woman. 1t WAS because she was lover
OF the horse that she refused to ride in
the way that convention has laid down
for women, claiming that 1t was not only
dangerous to the rider. but injurious to
the horse.
Many smart Englishwomen rode astridc
to the autumn hunts. In tho West II is
now almost 4 universal custom. But the
women Of the East have been slow to
adopt this style. Miss Rahe attempted
to show them that II was a pretty and
sensible way TO sit a horse. She did not
succeed In convincing them, because
well, this In what she said on the subject
to a reporter OF this newspaper
Men didn't seem TO object to the d.
vided-skirt riding habit. or even to pay
any attention to me. But, OH the wo-
men!
They stared. they laughed, they com
mented audibly. called me a bold thing.
and other uncomplimentary names. In
point of fact. there was nothing con-
spicuous In my mount. My habit was
black, simple and well fitting. To the
casual observer there was nothing I'M
usual in my appearance. Viewed from
the side It was not apparent that / was
not riding in the old-fashioned way. A
some one has put II, looked as though
I we're riding sidesaddle on both sides.
Side Saddles Injurious.
II have always contended that the fact
that you are woman does not give
you any right 10 hump yourself up on
~ = Ia s1f n V,s. ~
n disadvantage and impose on a helpless
animal. Common sense teaches any one
that this position Is absurd Women hold
TO II on account OF their love for trad-
lions.
THE bicycle should have done much
TO disabuse their minds OF the sidesaddic
idea. There Is just as much reason why
a woman should ride sldewise on a wheel
az on horse. 1t is simply a question
Of prejudice.
THE time IL fast coming when all vcnsf-
Bile women Will ride astride. II means
freedom and comfort for horse and rider
On a sidesaddle woman Is at the mercy
of the saddle girth. She Ia out Of balance
She cannot sit on q horse firmly. n the
animal give a sudden jump or stumbles
she II In imminent danger OF being pitched
over his head In case OF an accident
there II the danger Of her skirt catching
on tho horn OF the saddle. In time of
danger she II at a disadvantage. No mat
ter how expert N horsewonan she may
be, her tenure Of the awkward seat is
uncertain.
Wearing a divided skIrt--and when she
r. unmounted this habit IN no way differs
from any ordinary bicycle suii-4she Is as
sured OF freedom. % motion. she can
mount and dismount with ease. There h no
wrinkied-up skirt upon which she must
sit. Shs II properly poised and both rider
and horse are more comfortable In con-
sequence.
Many weli-known physicians have rec
commended that women ride astride, from
a health standpoint. Lovers Of horses
have preached II from humane eoussdera-
tions. The woman who has once tried i,
and found out for herself the security and
comfort II insures viii never willingly
give u up.
1T must be remembered that " hen WON.
en- FIRST began TO wear the ehori walking