THE SIDE-SADDLE TO BE ABANDONED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1662, 14 September 1887, Page 3

THE SIDE-SADDLE TO BE ABANDONED.

— « The use of side-Baddleß ia said to have been commenced m England eboat the year 1888, m the reign of Richard 11. Before and up to that *ime ladles were •ocnstomed to ride on horaebaok In the same position aa men. A rider on the aide-saddle is obliged to advance the left •hoalder m order to " sit square," and this tarniDg round of the head and ■houldera to the right while the legs remain on the left aide of the saddle brings tha body into a spiral or twisted form; Spinal complaints, arising probably from varioua causes, are very common •mong women, and to remain for a long time m the position alluded "to may tend to increase the number of caßus that occur. Severe to juries sometimes ensue from a rider being thrown above the orutoh or pommel, and then coming down on the upper part of it, and occasionally from the pptmnel being foroed iuto the chest of the rider, if the horse fall on hie near or left side. An accident of the latter sort happened m Paris m April, 1882, to a professional fclrcus-rlder, Mdlle. Emilie jLcisset. A new horse which ehe had been trying m the oircus having refusad to leap an artificial fence or barrier, turned around to regain the it »ble, but finding the door closed, reared and fell, causing the pommel of the saddle to enter the chest of the rider. It is stated that "doctors were soon m attendanoa, but only to pronounce Mdlle. Lolsnet's case hopeless. The unfortunate young lady expired after some thirty boars' terrible safferlng." The eklits of the habits are often caught oa the crutch or pommel, if riders are thrown, and the latter are then liable to be dragged along the ground. There are always many riders, also, who are Inexperienced or nnskilfnl, and who lean the greater part of their weight on the stirrup, thos pressing dowa the saddles on one side and Closing sore backs to the horses. There are a large number of horsewomen who are convinced that some advantages wouli result from the me ot side-saddles being discontinued, although they Hesitate to carry it into praotlce, m consequenoo of the dislike that it may be supposed many of them have to the idea of appearing on korsebiok m a style which would be fegarded ai a novsl one In the present day. For riding on a cross-aaddle the riding oostume would, of course, have to be altered. A dress rather resembling that worn by ladies at gymnasiums miaht be the most suitable. Some practice at a riding-school should also be pone through before venturing on the road. — ' London O.aeen.'