Arizona republican., 1903-07-25
RIDING ASTRIDE
Nannette haSruder Pratt Discusses
 Pertinent Question.

The following article from the Den
 yer Republican on a subject much dis
 cussed of late will be read with inter-
 est by many Phoenix people who count
 the author among their personal
 friends:
 Prejudice is a vigorous thing, and
 long-lived. Like hope. it springs elter-
 nal in the human breast. Strange as it
 may appear, there are still many peo-
 pie who do not like to see a woman ride
 horseback astride.
 Why should she rot? It certainly is
 the best way to ride. for it gives the
 rider a better purchase on q horse. If
 the animal shies or starts off at a bound, bucks or stumbles. the woman
 astride can keej a firm seat, and she
 can sit So much straighter, and more gracefully, too.
 ] cannot feel that side saddle riding is good for women from physiologi- cal standpoint. For a short ride, no i'll effects would follow, but it is trying if one goes any distance at a rapid pace. And at the least skittishness of 1 a horse it is harder to keep ones seat
 in the awkward side position. The divided skirt is not in itself un- graceful. Of course, to a great many people anything masculine in a woman is abhorrent, and divided skirt is called masculine. l believe a woman ly woman can be thoroughly feminine in a gymnasium suit, bathing suit, or In divided skirt, on a bicycle, or on horseback.
 | Time and custom will change the prudish ideas which are held by many; the athletic woman will be looked up 1 to as q specimen of true womanhood. and what she wears to facilitate her outdoor exercising will be considered | tko proper thirg.
 In mountain trail riding a woman is very independent riding astride; in fact l think it is dangerous to ride any other way. Why should we not be as i comfortable and as secure as a man? ! Many mountain guides refuse to take
 women over the trails unless they ride astride. The cross-saddle mount makes
 a woman independent; she can mount and dismount without assistance, and she is absolutely independent on noun | tain trails, where a speedy dismount may be necessary to save her life. The | sidesaddle is ruinous to the horse and
 to the woman. Much riding makes a D. and will. in time. ruin her figure. Grace ThompSon-S Seton wife of the
 well-known naturalist, summed it up
 well not long ago when she said that a woman in a party of men is always
 the weakest. and it is her duty to be | as well mounted. as any other member. But this cannot be if she insists upon
 a sidesaddle.
 ! rN-C hn is
 ing in popularity In some of the cities the side sadllcs still finger, and the riding teachers, who know the differ
 ence between learning to ride astride | in six lessons and learning to ride side 1 saddle in 26. are among the most wig
 orous opponents of the new creed. I take pleasure in quoting an article
 written by Grace Anna McKeizie in the | June Health Culture
 | As the pleasant days make their ap- pearance, showing that summer Is well upon it's way, the bridle paths and
 roads are crowded with pretty women 1 on horseback with their riding mas tcrs
 or grooms. When summer comes eV- cry woman who can ride at all is pos
 sessed with the fever to get upon a | horse and take a trot through the parks, and even those who do not know
 how to ride wish that they had spent
 some time during the winter at the l riding school. A writer once said: l Nowhere does a woman look better
 than upon a horses back; no costume
 is more becoming to the trim and well 1 carried figure, while no exercise is
 more generally beneficial and none
 more exactly graded to powers and | ability of the participant"
 Any woman who rides will endorse these sentiments. Together with the
 erect carriage are gained the rosy cheeks and the bright eyes which add
 to the charms of the ride Horseback | riding suggests strength to woman, | for in almost all events of war in which | women took active part the horse was
 associated with her. Joan of Arc was l on horseback when leading her great army of men. The wonderful Amazons
 made war on horseback Horseback riding has been more popular among our Southern and Western girls than
 our Northern and Eastern women, but | now that cannot be said, for our riding | schools are crowded with pupils who are anxious to become good riders. Never before has horseback riding been more appreciated than at the present time. Those women who are not strong enough to ride in the open air during the winter months do not miss their daily exercise in the ring. It is pret- ty sight to look in upon a fashionable | C Al,s saV