RIDING ASTRIDE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2143, 8 May 1914, Page 2

RIDING ASTRIDE

ITS DISADVANTAGES,

Riding astride ''for women is a fad ' (says- ii. London "Times'" inmthig correspondent), and it will slot last. There are very few really brilliant- women who ride usl-ride, and there is no doubt that a fine horsewoman on n side-s.a.d(]le is practically immovable, ami ean sit a rough horse as well as any man. It is true that on a side-saddle a woman cannot extend'a horse as well, or sQueeae him up to his fences as strongly, as a mail, but.women i'ide, o-r sitould'rido, free-i.c.'illojiit'.g horses with good action that do not refuse. With the safety stirrups raid skirts of to-day ft is impoisible for a woman to get iiung wp in the saddle after a fall.Ifost wo-nißii ridlfig -astride have not ti-to noces-sai'-y grip and closeness of seat to remain firmly tire saddle when a horse plunges, bucks, or peeks on landing over a fence, and, moreover, they are not, as a rnlo, able to maintain their balance without- some support from the reins, and just when a. horse wost te* q«Hres freedom in taking off and kmdiu-a he gets a chuel* From the reins, which either throws him off ills balance or makes him refuse. Tise cross saddle may do for hacking,' but. it is almost useless in the hunting field.'.