The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-06
Quite n Number of indianapolis
Women Have Taken 60 the Latest
Fad of Riding Astride.
OTHERS CLING TO SIDE SADDLES
SADDLE HORSES NOT USUALLY IN
THE THOROUGHBRED CLASS.
High-Bred Animals Do Not Lend
Themselves So ReRdily 10 saddle
Habits-Other Features. -

Horseback riding is again coming into
vogue after being conspicuous by its alb
sence for a number OF years. This can be
principally said of the sport as far as
women are concerned. for there are many
more of them riding now than for some
time past. 1t is true OF women as OF men
that some of them are great lovers OF
horses. and no matter whether society peo-
pie are riding or not they keep il up year
after year, and 10 them there is no amuse-
ment equal 10 il. To the person who likes
and understands a horse there is nothing
that will take its place. and the automobile
that can rush over the country roads at
from twenty TO fifty miles an hour is not
considered by horsemen and horsewomen
as sport at all. The horsewoman OF to-
day is quite as fond of the pleasure as the
man and much more imperious. Her horse
is a noble creature worthy of the utmost
consideration. and nothing short Of calam-
fly will keep her from spending much time
in his company. Guiding his feet over the
noiseless roadbeds. her head up and eye
alert, her whole body conforming to the
rhythmical movement of the animal be-
meath her. there is no moment at which a
woman appears at so great an advantage.
If she is a true horsewoman she is apt TO
have a good mount. and this combination
of horse and woman was ever mutually be-
coming.
Women, in fact. have become such low
ers Of horseback riding that they have az
last seen the advantage the men have over
them in the sport, and so they have adopted
the masculine style Of sitting on a horse
astride. This fad started in New York a
year or so ago and has gradually worked
its way westward until it has struck IN
dianapolis, and from present indica-
tons it has come TO stay. The women OF
this city took To riding astride much more
quickly than is generally the case in
fashions which are so conspicuous, and il is
now quite a common sight TO see any num-
Der of them on Meridian street most any
evening after 4 o'clock. Mrs. William L.
English was one Of the first TO make her
appearance on the streets in the divided
skirt. and when in the city she can be seen
every evening sitting astride Of her large
gray horse, and she certainly looks grace
full. This is another feature of the new
fad which must also be noted. Instead OF
making a woman look the least awkward,
as many might imagine, she appears "a
graceful as when riding sidewise, il not
more so.
WOMEN ADOPT THE FAD.
Among the other women Of the city who
have taken up this method Of riding are
Mrs. Clinton Hare, Mrs. William Heueisen.
the Misses Hollweg. Miss Talbot. Miss
Hayward, Mrs. Charles Shower and daugh-
ter. the daughter Of w. c. Starr, ormerly
of Richmond. and a large number Of others.
There is no doubt that by fall nearly every
woman who rides a horse will make her APP
pearance riding astride. In fact. the pro-
prietors of the harness establishment where
these saddles are sold say that they are
selling them every day and that there are
any number of women 10 their knowledge
who will just as soon as there are enough
riding to prevent their being noticeable
adopt the method. II is easily imagined
that the old Puritan fathers would have
held I'D their hands in horror should they
have seen a woman riding as a man. but
that was years ago, and women say that
they are just now learning the proper way
Of doing such things.
Tn most important thing after a woman
knows how TO ride astride is TO know how
TO dress her horse and how to dress her.
self as well. The supposition likely is that
as she has fallen into the ways OF the man
she has adopted his saddle. but this is not
the case. 1t requires a saddle made es-
p~ecially for a woman which is similar TO a
mans in only one particular, and that is
IT has a stirrup on each side. In construc-
ton it is much lighter than the saddle used
by men and is much broader and hatter.
These women's saddles range i'm price from
SIS 10 $5 and are made of the finest and
softest leather that can be procured. AS
10 dressing herself, Of course, every woman
has her own ideas about that. She will
hunt through all Of the fashion books. and
by going East will find out what the cor
rect thing is. Many OF them, however, will
get an idea here and there. and by putting
them together will have a costume quite
original.
The women who ride astride have their
clothes made out Of the same material as
when they rode ~sidewise. and II is what is
called habit cloth. There are quite a num-
Der, though. who use black cheviot in their
habits. but this goods is not considered
very desirable because IL catches the dust.
The length and style of the divided skirt,
Of course, depend largely on the person
who makes IL. One OF the most fashion,
able makers in the city claims that in
length the skirt should reach the ankles.
and when not riding should appear to be
an ordinary walking skirt. II Is also said
that instead Of being worn over trousers.
as the old-style riding habit. these should
be worn over silk or heavy jersey tights
The jackets, or coats, as they are called.
are about four inches longer in the skirt
than formerly In fact. these coats should
be just long enough 10 clear the back OF
the horse. With the costume also goes the
patent leather riding boots that reach half
way TO the knee. The hats that are worn
are either small black derby or a silk
Knox. which have a white veil draped
artistically around them with the ends
hanging over the back The prices OF these
costumes are largely regulated b. the
tastes and purses OF the purchasers. al
though the cheapest are held az So. n
from this they range 10 twice that sum. IL
may be said here that while the majority
Of IN the city are riding
astride. and the indications are that a large
number more Will adopt the method. there
is still quite a number who follow what
might be called the old school OF riding
and stnl use the sidesaddle. Those prom