The Washington times., 1930-07-21
Riding Grows.
AS Juvenile
Sport
Editor of "Horse Show Blue
Book" Declares Youngsters
Taking Possession

~N'NsfsS
The increasing interests
in things equestrian among
the younger members of so.
ciety come sin for a bit OF
comment by j. w. Waring,
editor of the Horse Show
Blue Book" in the recent
edition of the publication.
Mr.. Waring declares that
the enthusiasm for riding
shown by the youngsters
during the past three or
four years is unprecedented.
He states that the number
of children going in for the
sport is growing at an
amazing rate. The fact, he
points out, has been obvious
at all the shows where
classes have been arranged
for children in their teens.
Interest Here
No where else is this more
true than in washington. In
recent years the youngsters
have practically taken posses
sion Of several of the big
shows and, not content with
this, have several shows OF
their own. held for children
only, each year.
The Junior Horse Show at
the Preece Riding Academy, for
example, is one of the best
and most popular events on
the show calendar in the Capt.
tai. And the monthly riding
exhibitions at the Riding and
Hunt Club are becoming more
and more chiefly children's
events.
At the National Capital
Horse Show this spring there
was an unprecedented number
of juvenile entries, not only in
the classes scheduled for the
youngsters, but in those sched-
uled for their elders.
They Know Horses
And they know horses, these
child riders. Listening to
their conversation as they
cluster about the show ring,
one cannot help but marvel
at their intimate knowledge of
the subject. Their parents
were children at the begin
ming of the motor era and be-
came interested in horses only
when they attained middle age,
and as a means of relaxation.
Many of the children of today
have been in the saddle since
infancy. The novelty OF the
motor has worn off largely and
the motor car is no longer
regarded as a luxury, but
rather as a necessity.
And so these young eques-
trians excel their parents not
only as riders but in their
knowledge of the horse. To
day the names of many child
riders appear on the list of
notable ilorSemen and many
of the finest horses : the
country are shown with young
riders up.
Generally True
And this development is not
confined only to certain sec
tions of the country; the move
ment Is national in its scope.
Los Angeles, Santa Barbara
and Oklahoma City are all
prominent for their young
riders, as well as are the older
and more established riding
centerS in the East and South.
Although these youthful riders
may be seen at all the shows,
it is at the Devon and the
Philadelphia Riding and Driv-
ing Association shows that they
have bloomed in their futl
glory. They ride, they hunt,
they show. they play polo and
only the age-old prejudice
against youth having positions
of responsibility prevents them
from being chosen as judges
for many of them are eminently
qualified to pass on horses.
Lack of space forbids the
listing Of the children of Wash
ington who have gone in for
the sport. Only this winter
little Paulina Long wort h.
daughter of the Speaker of the.
House and Mrs. Nicholas Long
worth, at the age Of five be.
gan her riding lessons. Mrs.
Jimmy" Curtis four young
sters are all enthusiastic horse.
men, receiving their early in
Struction at Aiken, S. &C.: the
Medill Mccormick children
ride as we'll as they walk; the
George Hewitt Myers boys aflo
girls are well known in every
show ring in the country and
so ad infinitum.
The next generation of young
America is the answer to the
question whether or no the day
of King Horse has passed.