The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-09
SHALL GIRLS RIDE ASTRIDEp
A Controversy Raging In England Over
the Ise OF IN Cross Saddle.

The advantage of The cross saddle for
women is being much discussed in England
but, 40 far, opinion does not seem to be IN
favor Of the innovation.
English women and Irish women are the
best horsewomen of the world, and the
number seen in the hunting field increases
every year. Even fifty years ago few
Enplish women rode to hounds. and at the
beginning OF the century the woman who
did follow the hunt was regarded askance
by conventional society. To-day at many
a meet, the women equal the men in number
and II il almost as much a matter Of course
that a woman should ride TO hounds as
that she should dance.
More and more, too, English girls are
being trained to cross country riding at an
early age. Girls Of IL and is are no uh.
common sight on the hunting HELD ana
many Of them ride as straight and as pluck
iy as any Of their older sisters.
Miss Betty Renton, though only H. mas
followed the Tiverton hounds and the
Devon hounds regularly for three years.
and will take many a fence or ditch maj WIZ
give a hard riding man pause. She mas
several fine hunters Of her own and unuer-
stands horseiesh almost as well as ner
father. She is only one Of a host OF young
girls from England's best families who are
making records on the hunting field.
The theory Ia that II. as was formerly
tho custom. a girl does not ride to hounds.
until after she comes out, she is hampered
during her first few seasons by her poor
riding, and misses innumerable good tIhes'
In addition TO lacking one Of the accomplish
ments most admired by English men,
On the other hand, some ooctois otIp q IL
hard riding by children and insist that ~
is injurious to the growing school snS
IL is in connection with these youth
full riders that the arguments Tor and aeallst
the cross saddle are aging Inc olueI
English women do not take TO the cross
saddle, as have done so many American
women. Occasionally witt the, Devon
and Somerset stag hounds several women
may be seen riding astride, put that ID
almost the only instance oil the CUSTOM
in all England.
conventional prejudice or fear OF onenolng
prophecies, but from a prevalent coh'lc-
ton that a cross saddle will be a draw
back rather than an aid to woman's success
In the hunting field.
centage of women thrown is far less than
that Of the men-that a stumble on land
ing which would throw nine out OF Yen
men from the saddle, Will seldom unsehl
a woman: that even when a horse falls:
unless he rolls over, a woman who Is cooi
and does not lose her nerve can often keep
her seat while the horse scrambles TO ms
feet.
All these things are accounted Tor by
the splendid grip upon the saddle gwen a
woman by her side pommel. II Is admitted
that. in case of a really bad fall, a woman
stands less chance Of coming OF unlnJureo
thar a man, because she is hampered oy
skirts and the pommel; but such accidents
are, fortunately very rare.
In the case Of the young and owi
pirl, matters are rather different. Many
doctors contend that much riding on a
side saddle induces a tendency to spine
curvature and binders symmetrical de-
velopment Of the body.
other authorities declare the cross sad
die is more inimical 10 the young girls
health than the side saddle, A third class
not so much concerned about the girls
health as about her future social success
insist that the girl trained to a cross sad
die is a. awkward and helpless when In her
first season, she changes to n side saddle
as she would % il she had never ridden
at all.
The controversy RI ges fiercely, Mean
while some souls, bent on compromise,
suggest that all difficulties may be solved
bv la wing the young girl ride alternately
on left and right side. This is feasible
and would, AZ least. dispose Of the unsym-
metrical development objection. Reversl-
BILE adde's are easily procured, and a safety
riding skirt for girls has been patented
which allows It's wearer TO ride on either
aida 81 tho saAdla