The San Francisco call., 1907-03-03
EQUESTRIAN PAsT|MEs
GAIN IN POPULAR FAVOR
Bride Paths in Golden Gate
Park Attract Many
Horsernen

Throughout the length and breadth
of this country there is revival in
equestrian sports which is unusually
pronounced. The threatened extinction
of the horse by the automobile is not
in sight but the two modes OF loco
motion seem gaining in popular favor
in almost the same ratio. Saddle
horses cannot be secured to supply
the demand, especially high
standard is sought by the majority
of the purchasers.
The impetus has been felt In this
city with the coming of clear weather
and the bride paths in the park are
thronged with riders on Saturdays and
Sundays AS showing the interest sn
the exhilarating pastime, Edward s.
Jones, riding master of the San Fran
cisco Riding Club, gave lessons TO
twenty-six pupils in one day recent
ly. The majority of these were young
women, many of whom were probably
preparing against the glorious days
next summer when they will be spend
ing care free days in the country.
Golden Gate Park is particularly at
tractive to horsemen, as the commits
sioners in their great benef1cence
have provided many. secluded bride
paths. In addition to these the for
mer cycle path has been turned over
to the riders. This takes the spirited
horses away from the wheels of the
carriages and the automobiles and In
addition gives a better footing for the
horses The oiled roads are as smooth
as a bitumen pavement and are not
the safest place for a rider on frac-
tious horse.
over in Oakland men interested In
horsemanship organized club eight
years ago. They called 1t the Fresh
Air Club, although 1t has since be-
come more generally known as the
Beefsteak Club. The members go out
every Saturday and Sunday for pic
mic or for quiet ride over the pic
turesque foothills of Alameda County.
A favorite ride is through the Sather
tract and over the numerous bride
paths in Diamond Canyon. Among the
well known members of the club are:
G. W. Coke, T. c. Coogan, s. p. Hall,
Judge Hunt. w. II. Lowden, William
Morris. E. A. Blethen, oliver Ellsworth,
c. G. Yale, Seth Mann, w. s. Goodfel-
low. ]. r. Burnham, Charles E. Shook,
Frank Otis, G. r. Lukeps, j. w. Girls
void, Colonel Evans, w. Michaels, DR..
Carl Krone, Fred B. Taylor. E. P.
Vaughn, DR.. Dudley Smith. DR.. w. j.
Smyth, Milton Bulkley, A Sauraman-
In Virginia, West Virginia and
Maryland the honorable sport of fox
hunting is being revived on large
scale after having been in comparative
eclipse for time.
Down in San Mateo the drag hounds
of the San Mateo County Hunt meet
on Wednesday and Saturday of each
week and some great sport Is enjoyed
The pace is possibly not as fast as
when Walter S. Hobart led the field
on his big gray horse Royalty. but the
fences are stiff enough to test the
courage of the stoutest hearted rider.
over in San Rafael there Is some dis
cussion regarding the resumption OF
the paper chases which afforded much
pleasure to riders and spectators alike
some years ago.
An enthusiast on riding thus en-
larges on the subject:
Some one has said: The best thing for the
inside OF man Is the ourside OF horse; and
this applies TO both sexeN Horseback riding Is
the noblest form Of exeHlse, nearly ideal. No