The Washington times., 1912-05-02
CIRCUS GIRL SAYS
SOCIETY IS COMING
TO CROSS SADDLE
False Modesty Overcome,
Declares May Wirth, BY
Advantages to Health.

II Washington horsew will
give heed to Miss May Wirth, noted
Australian equestrienne, they will
discard their side saddles and flow
ing clothes for the cross saddle and
divided skirt. Miss Wirth speaks with
the authority of experience and close,
technical observation. Health, safety
and comfort, she aff1rms, argue
against the old fashioned method Of
riding.
The Road Drivers and Riders AS
ISOLATION" Miss Wirth declares,
could perform no greater service to
athletic femininity than by showing
at their second annual horse show,
that the side saddle should be rele-
gated to the oblivion Of the hoop
skirt of our grandmothers. False
modesty instigated both the hoop
skirt and the side saddle. Comfort
and grace and freedom condemn
them both. We girls with the Barnum
& Bailey circus, here next Monday
and, Tuesday, have proved it.
Says Riding Is Great.
The American girls ought to ride
horseback more. 1t develops every
muscle of the body in a manner such
as no other pastime. 1t teaches them
to be quick of eye, self-reliant and
alert, and is really utility which l
consider to be indispensable. With
out doubt 1t Is one Of the most health
ful of sports and among the most
pleasant.
The college girls of today devote
too much time to study and too lit
tie to healthfui exercise, with the
result that they do not attain either
the physical or mental development
of the college girls of twenty years
ago. Too much study is detriment,'
just as too much exercise and cor
responding lack of study is q detri-
ment. Horseback riding easily fills
the gap required. An hour of brisk
riding in the open air with spirited
mount increases the activity of the
girl; makes her eager and willing to
study and gives her a clear brain with
which she can more readily grasp the
work and retain 1T.
There is an innate prejudice in the
minds OF many women against the
cross-seat, but it is being fast over
come. I notice in the parks and on
the highways that women are aban-
doning the former favorite seat.
Cross Saddle Universal.
Many saddlery houses have entirely
stopped the manufacture of the side
saddle on account of the small demand
They are producing, instead, daintily
padded cross-saddle. In the livery
stables, too, it Is unusual to find a side
saddle. A well-known stableman IN
New York told me that he would not
permit a side-saddle to be placed on
one OF his horses. The uneVenly dis
tributed weight Of the human body, in
side-saddle, he said. frequently wound.
ed the horses back and the strain
caused internal injuries. The tight
-I,,kL l. TO- rAH f~N. hA 0il In
order to keep 1t from slipping, he added
had done permanent harm to several
OF his animals.
The long equestrian skirt. necessary
for wear with the side saddle, is a dan.
serous adjunct. If the horse falls. II
Is impossible for the rider to protect
herself. The flowing cloth becomes Cn'
tangled in hoofs and straps, and the
rider Is at the mercy of her frantic
PROSTATE mount. 1t Is generally an
easy matter for the women with di-
vided skirt to free herself from the
cross saddle OF fallen horse.
Quickly Converted.
II recall an American society woman
whose name Is familiar all over the
country IS an owner of blooded saddle
horses who spent several months II
Australia last winter She brought hel
side-saddle with her. and was quit
scandalized at the sight OF the girl:
there galloping in cross-seats. In =
week she was sounding the manifolc
advantages of the cross-saddle. She
discovered that the only purely naturs
position was in the saddle which al
Australia has adopted. She had nevel
before appreciated. she said, how cramp
ed and twisted her figure had been anc
how its normal functions had been re
tarded. She found, too, that she was
able to dismount and rest and remount
whether alone or attended. and sh
found that when one position becam
tiresome there were a variety of othe
che could assume.
II am sure a little patience and prac
tice will speedily convince the mos
skeptical korse-woman OF the superior
Try from ievery standpoint of the cross
saddle over the side-saddle. Its uni
versal adoption assure the ending o.
punishment for both rider and horse.
INN INN NTVICT