Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-13

ing their fried chicken dinners with
them, and quite a few drive their own
motor cars. AS rule everybody
knows everybody else, and If they
don't they proceed to get acquainted
in the most direct method possible,
which is by introducing themselves
and their family connections. There
is great deal of haudshakinE and
hearty imbibing among the spectators,
especially the state and loca; ..nlitjct-
ans, distinguished by their flowing
cravats and frock coats, who take ad-
vantage of the occasion to do little
canvassing.
The horses are usually ridden by
their owners, but sometimes a we'll
trained negro servant acts as Jockey.
An interesting feature in this connec-
ton is the great number of young
girls, still in their teens, who ride
their horses, for riding is an important
factor In the education of the Virginia
girl Prizes are offered for certain
classes and the winning horse must
possess the best points Of all the
horses entered in that type or class.
For example. hunting horse is judy
ed by the standard of hunter only
and not by that Of harness horse.
The horse shows have had great
deal to do with developing and CLASH
flying various types OF horses, which
has been especially valuable to the
United States army. The war depart
ment has representatives at every
horse show and race meet in tho
country for the purpose of observing
the army types presented, and, II de-
sirable. to buy horses for the cavalry.
Besides the army men, there is al.
ways a large contingent of alert, keen
visaged men who make their living
by buying and selling horses. So at
the horse show are represented four
individuals: the horse breeder, who
displays his horses for business pur-
poses; the dealer, who buys his horses
for business purposes; the local mer.
chant, who has couple Of good horses
which he likes to exhibit, and the
wealthy landowner, who rides and ex-
hibits his horses for pleasure.
Besides the horse show. Virginia is
the home of another unique type of
sport known as the riding tournament.
This is contest at spearing rings on
horseback. A thin steel bar, with
rings the size of a finger ring on the
end Of it is suspended from steel rod.
The idea is to charge this rod on
horseback and remove three rings
each time on the end Of long spear
which tapers to a needle point. To
make the game more interesting. each
participant is decorated with vivid
streamers and a sash and designated
by the name of a knight, usually Dor
rowedf from Tennyson or Sir Walter
Scott. The knight who secures the
greatest number of rings in his three
charges ON the rod wins the FIRST
prize-in most cases saddle or bride
and the privilege Of browning his
best girl queen Of love and beauty. The
knights who win the next three prizes
crown the maids-of-hCnor to the queen.
This is always done amid vociferous
applause from the assembled audience.
Then, led by the victorious knight and
queen, the other miscellaneous knights
and maidens march In long process
sion about the tournament grounds
and .inally to the royal palace-which
is the town hall-where royal dance
Is held. The riding tournament has
always been big and important event
among the rural people Of both Mary
land and Virginia. ~
The fame of the riding tournament
has spread into new counties during
the past year. AS the horse is crowd
ed out of industry by the new efiici-
ency of the automobile and motor
truck, he Is securing greater hold
than ever on sport lovers. The Vir-
ginia horse show IL no longer more
typical Of Virginia than it is of Kan
sas City or Springfield. Ohio, and In
the north some of the finest horses In
the world are galloping over the anna
teur race tracks. Il is believed by
horse authorities that with the anna
teur horse sport in its present high
state of development d race of Ameri-
can thoroughbreds may be produced
that will equal the hunters and racers
of Europe. In the meantime. it is now
the ambition of all horse lovers to
have an American steeplechase.