The New York herald., 1921-11-27
MISS FLEITMANN'S
BOOK ABOUT HORSES
An Original and Remarkable
Contribution to American
Sporting Literature.
BY G. CHAPLIN.

BY G. CHAPLIN.
Comments on Hacks and Hunters
by Ida l., Fieitmann." is the title OF a
book just published by Charles Scrib-
ners Sons, which will be read with
mingled interest and surprise by follow
ers Of the hounds and the horse shows
The volume deals with all phases OF rid
ing. from the choice OF horse to the
minutest details Of correct dress for
horse and rider on every occasion. and
its 264 pages reveal a breadth and depth
of horsemanship truly remarkable FOR a
young woman. and an amateur at that.
That the author will do" to breed or
buy saddle horses or hunters, school
them. turn them out for the field or the
ring, show them. judge them and sell
them is likely to be the verdict of every
body who reads The book.
Having in mind many books written
by woinen--and men. too--about riding
and hunting, the present writer would
be inclined 10 doubt whether any other
exhibits SO much first hand knowledge
OF so many things as is here displayed.
And not less unusual than the lknowl-
edge is the. confidence OF the author on
all the nooted and disputed questions Of
breeds and types, seats and saddles
which have agitated the horse world for
more years than Miss Fqeitmann has
seen. Not all her readers will agree
with her. of course. but every one will
have to concede that the author knows
her own mind and can give 4 reason for
her belief that the Thoroughbred race
horse is the beau ideal of q saddle horse
or hunter. and that the side saddle is
better than cross saddle for every
kind OF work.
Author Knows Her Mind.
Unlike too many authors of books
about horses, she has not copied the say
ings of other writer's, but has taken a
line of her own" by giving her views
and experiences and those Of her friend
and mentor. the veteran John r. Town
send. to whom the book is dedicated, in
the refreshing style OF the true enthu-
siast And. after all. her confident style
is Just what anybody might expect from
young woman who had gone through
such painful accident as she did a few
years ago at the Piping Rock Horse
Show to come back and ride TO hounds
with as much courage and spirit as be-
fore.
In her interesting chapter on THE
Thoroughbred Versus the Kentucky
Saddle Horse" Miss Fieitmann frankly
qualities her award of the palm to the
riding hack that for zoo years has been
bred to run. by saying the high mettled
racer is only for those who have "the
ability to understand him and ride him."
Also that to those who ride for exercise
'the Kentucky bred horse, with his high.
snappy trot. appeals vastly more than
the thoroughbred, and from this point Of
view quite rightly So" So far as New
York is concerned. these exceptions In
favor of the saddle bred horse would
probably include 80 or perhaps 95 per
cent. of those who ride, which Is q
pretty big exception to prove rule.
With a strong prediction for pretty
much everything English in riding
horses and equitation the author advo-
Gates for hacking. which she defines as
riding for pleasure as distinguished
from exercise, the cantering type Of
saddle horse which she says Is now the
fashion in London. She tells her read
ers that at one time the trotting saddle
horse was so peculiarly English that the
gait became known In France as 'le
trot Anglaise." but that was in the days
when British horsemen were riding
hacSneys or Norfolk trotters on the
roads. Now that the hackney has be-
come high stepping harness horse. and
there are no saddle horses that can trot
in England. they will have nothing but
a thoroughbred runner, "and would still
prefer him above all other breeds be-
cause of his canter. even II he had
very poor trot instead of moderately
good one"
Runners Efforts to Trot.
To show that the runners knee action
at the trot "is quite sufficient" photo
graphs are presented of the statuesQue
thoroughbred. Ben Dale, with Miss
Fleitmann up, and imported Irish
Heather. ridden by Emile Antony. II
is noticeable that both riders are urging
their horses up on the curb while taking
them back to make them 'act," an old
trick among harness horsemen. The
picture OF Mr.. Antony mounted on
blood horse calls TO mind another
picture of that accomplished rider which
will never grow dim In the memory of
those who saw him show the beautiful
thoroughbred stallion Robador as a sad
die horse at Long Branch years ago.
That magnificent specimen of his breed
could walk quite we'll and canter beau-
tifully. but pig could swim about as
fast as he cold trot- The efforts OF
the handsome horse to do it and of
Antony to make him do 1t were dis
tresslng to behold. Yet the champion
ship prize was awarded to Robador as
a saddle horse at Madison Square Gar
den in the days when II. V. Gooch was
annually brought over from England
to teach American horsenen and horse
women what they ought to ride.
The picture OF Ben Dale with Miss
Fleitmann up Is reminder OF the fate
of that grand looking race horse. Not
long after he won blue ribbon as a
saddle horse at the Garden he became
so dangerous that his sportsmanlike
owner, Herman c. Huffer. sent him down
to Meadow Brook and had him shot and
fed to the hounds. refusing to sell him
for fear he would hurt somebody who
might try to mount him. Yet the author
Of Comments on Hacks and Hunters
had the ability to- understand him and
ride him, as proved by the picture.
A few years ago II looked as IL the
English type Of riding horse advocated
ty Miss F'leitmann might supplant our
American type IN the National Horse
to those who agree with
The late Charles L. Railey and his IA
nous saying. mo trot no saddle horse"
[f there was an open class or novice
lass in the show won by a thorough |
bred race horse it escaped notice. |
while the showing in the class cx- !
,lusively for saddle horses OF that
,reed was the smallest In years. On |
he other hand registered Kentucky |
'addle mare, Bohemian Actress, held |
I'D by Miss FTeitmann as too harnessy"
n conformation and action. won both |
n q H. " sxafaEw