Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-06-26

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the city have set out to make fad
ont Of a castaway pastime, and those
in position to know say all that is
needed to line the boulevards and
mark drives with men and women on
horseback is a few days of genuine
gpring weather Even now riding
academies are thronged with patrons
who are either learning how to ride
correctly for the first time or are
brushing up their past knowledge to
keep abreast with the progress Of
fashion. 1t has been so long since
horseback riding was universally pop
uIar I'm Chicago that it is in reality a
new thing and many women who used
to be expert cquestriennes have al
most forgotten how to sit in a saddle
and handle the rcins with that ease
and grace sought after by all who
ride in public.
Eight or nine years ago practically
every one in the city who could al
ford to regard a saddle horse In no
sense a luxury was riding horseback
and the parks and boulcyards were
|
saddle. Chicago boosted Of scores Of
expert riders in those days but just
when the snort was at the hight Of
yuprcmacy the bicycle came along,
with the result that there was posi-
five slump in the saddle horse market
and pcdaling sprung into vogue with
time saddle horse as a general propu-
sltion have not received any partiCu-
lar favor from either men or women
Tboy have been regarded Largely as the
media Of exercise by dyspeptiCs and
nervous oycrworkcd persons and were
taken" like tonic on the rcCommon-
dation Of the family physician. Two
years ago, however when the bicycle
became SO common that it's popularity
waned perccptbIy, the horse was
once more courtcd by persons who
cschcw everything common, while this
season will sec its return to the Old
, time elevated plane.
The demand for good saddle horses
in Chicago during the last few weeks
. has been greater than has been
noticed for years. and as a result
, next to impossible to secure a desir-
able mount for less than $3.50 The
, price even ranges as high as 500.
Strange as it may seem, many-gaited
animals are in less demand than those
with one or two well defined manners
: of stride and in Chicago, at least,
I the smart gaits thIS season will be the
, ltrot and cantcr. In practically all
riding academies in the city men and
I women are being taught to sit horses
with these gaits. Snglefootcrs, slow
PAGERS, and running walkers are no
longer regarded by experienced oqucs-
TRANS as the most desirable saddle
horses. The reason for this is that
D., few riders are able to control the diff
+ rcrcnt gaits Of their mounts, and a
r horse is soon so badly spoiled that
a. none of its gaits Is distinct and it be
/, comes unsatisfactory for riding pur-
, poses.
Despite the fact that women riders
will lead in numbers in Chicago this
, season. comparatively few, in fact, it
=, may be said none will don divided
, skirts and ride astridc. This some
=, what startling innovation is being
discouraged by teachers, who contend
that woman is much safer on a
4 sidcsaddlo than when riding in mascu,
:, limo fashion. "A woman is not at
, home in a cross saddle" says G. G.
XelImrisl of the North-side riding
= academy. and for that reason dis,
courage this style of riding as much
- horse as well, nor can rae sit in the
Il saddle as comfortably, A woman is
!. much safer in sidesaddle than when
g riding astride, And her appearance
- is more Attractive Tho newest form
VI, of sidCsaddle Is built so that the knees