New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-10-06
ON RIDING ASTRIDE.
RANKS OF THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN UP
THE FAD ARE INCREASING-VIEW
OE SEVERAL WOMEN.

The saddle horse is always in fashion. and, de-
spite the countless fads which have developed In
the field of of door sports. he has not only
held his own, but, according to the statements OF
some authorities, represents the mode OF exercise
most popular just now with women who can aHora
such pastme. At present there are at least a
score Of riding academies in this city. the propre-
tors of which unanimously declare that last spring
was the most prosperous season they have had IN
ten wears and the outlook for the autumn Is even
better I'VE owe this" one proprietor continue
mainly TO the women. They have OF late gone Ia
for riding with a zest hitherto wholly unknown
in New-Y York. The youngsters. too. are coming III
Increasing numbers" 4 somewhat paradoxlcai
manifestation in connection with the increasing
popularity Of horseback riding is the de1adence
of the private riding clubs. which at one time We're
comparatively numerous in New-for
Early in the sixties, after the hrst rlolnS
academy was started down Thr' 10 IT.. and
when riding lessons were considered /" % OF d
Iuxurv than they are now some Of the most OK
elusive social leaders of the day organized snaii
riding clubs the membership representing then
own particular friends, who met of an evening
once fortnight or oftener at the academy To
1,io, exclusive nossession of the ring and social
hour together on horseback. But little py HUE
riding clubs of this description lost tneii o"a'
In the case Of a woman lacking private a'
In town it is the fashion to keep faVorl'e hoi"e
NJ an academy and to exercise in the rifs III o,'
weather and there are others VINO use reg u'ai' y
both in the ring and the road some one par
ticular horse belonging to an academy stuu.
IN some quarters It believed that asltaliS the
question of won en- riding astride VIII result III
,,orr,orzipr more than ever horseback rldins anu
that the adoption of mans saddle by woman VIII
result in an Improvement In FEMININE ruling
Strange to say however the managers OF leauihs
academies do not take this view. ana In one Vi 'ie
hest known uptown places the proprietor uoes MOI
intend TO permit the of a man saouie III
teaching women TO ride during this year al least
In his opinion women will always ride more grace
| fuIIv on a side saddle than they Will astrlde
Riding astride is already an accepted custom ana
,. II will be practised within the city limits as
III a. in suburban districts is proved by VISIT
| ~ central Park any fine mornlns q, 49,
40 many women ride astrlde IN the pdfh' was
asked a park policeman the other DAY 49,. GO q
/ wen = was his reply Il can't say that see "a
| GREAT many of them, but whereas a year ago /
| only met with perhaps one IN a MONTH now sec
| a smile INSTEAD OF coming, as they USED TO 90,
very early in the morning, when ohly rev psope
! were in the park, now they are lust as likely as
to appear during the most cTo"ueu tune Vi 'He
! afternoon. 4.
| the best riders who the most eager 10 aEaii
themselves of the privilege of using mans saddle
| Mrs. +. Robbins Walker, VINO Is a member OF the
| lowed the hounds both here and abroad, declares
! that nothing could be more comfortable for a
| woman's use than q well fitting side saddle i
| have often ridden astride just for the sake OF
comfortable to make me a convert to the use
| of a mans saddle. and hardly think the custom
will ever become general Mrs. Walkers favorite
| horse for hard riding is Egyptian. a coal black
trophy in crosscountrV riding. Il sit just COM
fortably in my saddle | do in chair" was