WHY THE SIDE-SADDLE SHOULD BE ABANDONED.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2343, 16 July 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

WHY THE SIDE-SADDLE SHOULD BE ABANDONED.

Tin: n-o of .-Me--addle- is - nil tohavc com uienei d iu K'liri nid about the year KISS, in tie- r of Richard 11. B-fore and op to that time* iaiHc< were accustomed to ride (Ui h-nv-haek ill the sime po-iiiou as in* n. A ri<fer on the side-saddle is ohliired to advance th" hit shoulder in order to sit square," and this turning round of the Ic ad and shoulders to the right, while the h-es remain oil the lei; side of the saddle, briti-'s the body into a spiral or twisted form. Spinal complaints, ari-ing probably from various causes, are very (■minion am mg w mien, and to remain for a long time in the position alluded to may tend to increase the number of cases which occur. Severe injuries sometimes issue from a rider being thrown above the crutch or pommel, and tVn coining down on the upper part of it, and occasionally from the pommel being f need into the chest of the tiler, if the horse fall on his mar or left side. An accident of the latter sort happened in lti-is in April. 1 ssg, to a professional circus rider. Mine. Kmilc l/.i--ct. A newhnr.se which she had been trying iu the circus haring refused to leap an artificial fence, or barrier, fumed around to regain the st tide, hut finding the door closed, reared and fell, cau-ing the p unmei of the-add'e to ent-r the chest of tee rider, 1* is state 1 that doctors were surn in attendance, hut only to pronounce MU". L .icsci's ea-c hopeless. The unfortunate young Inly expired after some thirty horns' telrible.-ulb-ring. The skirts of the habits are often caught on the crutch or pommel, if riders are thrown, and th-latter are liable to hediagged along the ground. There are al w ays many riders also, who arc experience-dor unskilful, and who 1- an the greater p irt of their weight on th? stirrup, thus p:i --ii!Cd iwn the sad lies -01 one side, and rail ing sore hack's to tic- hor-es. There is a large number o: horsewomen who are convinced that some advantage would result from the use of side 'addles bring di-rontiuucd, ahhogh they hesitate ( > carry it into practice, in con-equenee of th" di-like that it maybe sttppos-d many of them have to the idea of appearing on horseback in a style which would be regarded us u novel one iu the present day, A dn-s rather resembling that worn by ladies and gymnasiums might be the most suitable. Some jirac’i at a riding-school should also be giitic through before venturing on the road. London Q p eti.