The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-20
IN LONDON LISA HORSE SHOW,
NO FASHION PARADE AT GYM.
PA AS IN NEW YORK.
women In Short skirts and Stout boot,
More Interested in he Horses Than In
Other Women's Clothes-Ridcrs OF
Many Lands Meet In CompettIon

More Interested in the Horses Than In
Other Women's Clothes-Mdcr, n,
Many Lands Meet In Competition.
LONDON. june s.-The first things that
impress an American visiting the Inter.
national Horse Show held at the Olympia
"a London are the complete absence Of
any social atmosphere and the sports.
manlike attention paid by both men avn
women to the horses and events.
There is no fashion parade III iiyv-s
as there Is at Madison Square Gardsa.
The box and seat holders taxa
their places on their arrival and stay in
them through all the events except wha
they make special excursions to &
horses quarters to examine the potr6,
Of some animal at closer range. TIA
horses have all attention focused upal
them and fashionable women and wL
known men are ignored.
In the stables the equine competitsu
are qusrtered in state apartments. Mr..
va%nderbilt's horses are in snow white,
commodious stalls sheltered from the
public gaze by curtains Of gray velvet,
In front Of the row Of stalls is a strip Of
crimson carpet. Attendants in smart
uniforms look after their welfare. Some
little Shetland ponies Of English owner.
ship stretch their heads out Of trellised
stalls amid floral decorations which would
put many window boxes in the West End
to shame for brilliant oolors.
1t 10 indeed q gathering OF the nations,
this horse show. Italians, Germans,
Portuguese, Frenchmen. South Americans,
Canadians. Belgians, English and Amer.
leans are here. Women are more in
evidence than ever before at a London
horse show. Many are exhibiting. Some
are riding or driving their own horses or
those Of friends.
Tweed coats. short skirts and heavy
boots are tho order Of the day among
these feminine horse lovers. No one
bothers morning. noon or night to dress
as for q fashionable function. Sport is
the whole thing.
Only ono day did the horse show me-
fest some social splendor. That -
when King Edward and Queen Alexandra
with two OF their small grandchildren came
In the afternoon, and the King presenteda
gold cup to the three officers who proved
to be the finest Jumpers.
This was an international contest and
Belgian. French. Italian. Argentine.
Canadian and English army officer,
performed spectacular feats Of horseman.
ship. Great applause was showered upon
the three Frenchmen who won the prizc
and took their cup OF victory from the
| Kings hands.
sVive Ia France!' said the King, while
the Queen beamed upon the French
On this afternoon the Horse Show was
a fashion show. Smart English and
Americans came in thousands. Tit fin,-
siest Of summer gowns, the gayest Of
much beflowered summer hats filed the
seats and boxes and made an array a
gorgeous colors. After this one day Of
fashionable recreation the real sport Of
the Horse Show began again. and tweeds
replaced frock coats, while Directories
were laid aside for short skirted tailor
mades.
Americans have carried of prizes in
competitions with amazing success. Judge
Moore, Mr.. Vanderbilt, Edward Morris,
Stotesbury have won many victories
with light harness horses, riding horses,
f~our-in-hand ponies, coach and draughi
horses. Said an irascible English on.
locker: is there any class OF horse Amer
In riding competitions for women the
| English woman has won easily. She
| rides better than the American woman,
sta her horse as il it were part Of her and
shows a sort OF instinct in the handling
| OF her steed.
|, In driving the American woman scores
over her English sister. She makes a far
better appearance, sitting erect in the
narrow seat and handling two horses
with reins well held down. than does the
English woman. who seems less erect and
far less sure Of herself and her steeds.
A marked difference in methods OF rid.
ing was shown by the officers from the
various countries who competed in the
jumping events. The Italians seem to
ride with short. almost Jockey stirrups,
as we'll as q short rein and with arms
shooting forward as the horse rises.
The Argentine officers lean very Tar
forward. scarcely moving the inclination
| Of the body during the jump. The French
ride with long rein and splendid dash.
The Germans seem to settle down on their
horses in a peculiarly heavy fashion.
The Canadians and English sit lightly
with long stirrups and handle their horses
with long rein.
By all means the most picturesque part
Of the whole show was the e&hlbluon oil
English and American draught horses.
The huge beasts we're decked win gay
colors and their drivers wore the vel,
veteens and very high crowned hate oil
years gone by and handled their heavy
wagons and horses with wonderful skill