The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-21

rarely lin d
more than a
60, full day a
"" ~ week for
sport. It is this group whom
you will discover in great album
dance aStride the nagS Of the
metropolitan riding academies
along the paths of Rock Creek
and the Speedway every Satur.
day afternoon and Sunday.
Many Of them appear to be
going through the tortureS Of
riding a rail; some are turned
out in sneakers and Stacks; and
yet most of them are conserva-
lively habited and post with
reasonable assurance of return
ing to their seat in the general
neighborhood Of the position
they left.
There are in the District no
less than 26 riding academies,
each carrying approximately is
Tentable horses to a stable. The
price ranges from rs cents to
$3.50 an hour, and the horses
range from bad to worse, to very
good indeed. Beware the stable
which has no time limit on the
number Of hours a day horse
may be ridden. Beware the
stable which sends its nags out
50 underfed that each rib juts
out in bold relief against pant
ing sides.
Important Tips
Insist that your riding leather
be in good condition, we'll
creased with saddle soap and not
stiff with mold. Pick your stable
with care and spend a little rid
ing time selecting the horse
you'd like to concentrate on.
You will have the most fun if
you and your horse get &C
quainted. I am not kidding
when I say it can be the begin
ming Of a beautiful friendship.
He may grow to love you for
yourself, as well as for the car
rots and sugar Jumps you bring
him.
Most of the academies esti-
mate that the majority of their
renters are women - ranging
from IS per cent to as high as
80 per cent of the total. AS a
matter Of fact, men either own
their horses, don't ride at all,
or try it just once for a lark.
This latter element is the bane
of the existence of all riding
academy owners. They have no
feeling for the horse, and will
clatter over macadam, fancying
themselves just SO many Earl
Sandes or Sonny Workmans, as
they dash madly up the riding
paths.
Methods for N0UIceS
I asked Capt. John Barton
MacMurray, of the Riverside
Riding School, just what were
his methods with beginners. He
says that Lulu really does more
1nStructing than he does. Lulu
is a 9-year-old bay mare which
has been teaching the Riverside
beginners ever since the school
started five years ago. Sitting
astride Lulu, the novice goes
round and round the back yard
and doesn't get out until the
first two lessons are over.
Captain MacMurray, or his
assistant-dark, petite Joy Cum
mings-is always in attendance
at these lessons, but sometimes
Lulu gets temperamental and
tries to show them that she
doesn't need their assistance.
She'll pin her ears back and
take a not-so-playful nip at the
captain just to keep him in his
place. To her rider, however,
she is always polite. She knows
which side her oats are rolled
on. Few equestrienne neophytes
astride the gentle Lulu ever
know that at one time her ears
pricked to the melodious bay Of
hounds, and that her nostrils
have quivered to the queer, pun
gent scent of a hunted fox. Mrs.
joey Hanson hunted her several
seasons with Northern Virginia
packs.
Jumping ClGss
Captain MacMurray also con.
ducts an advanced equitation
class for those who are inter.
ested in jumping. Every Sun