Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1891 — WITH A “LONG LEG." [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WITH A “LONG LEG."

An Expert Circus Kider Explains the Advantages of the Military Stirrup. For one I always feel a good deal more at home in the saddle when my feet find a solid resting-place in the stirrups, says a writer in the New York Herald. The majority of folks who ever get astride a horse’s back will, I think, agree with me. And so I was a good deal surprised the other night at the Barnum circus to see Mr. John O’Brien ride with a “long leg." People who hare been to the circus (and who has not?) know who Mr.

O’Brien is, but for the benefit of those who have not I will state that he is simply one of the many wonders of the wonderful show. You see very little of him at the best, and then only passing glimpses as he flies by. He rides one horse and drives five in a long string before him. Not only drives them, but jumps them over hurdles and keeps them in a line as straight as the curvature of the track will allow. All this is hard enough in itself—much harder than it looks—but, more than that, I noticed that he rode with a “long leg,” and that puts the feat among the wonders. Of course his legs were really no longer than usual, and quite in prodortion with his five feet six. The stirrup straps were, however, much longer than usual, so long that his legs hung down straight without a bend of the knee. Mr. O’Brien is a small, wiry fellow, with a light mustache and curly hair.

Previous to his engagement with Barnum’s show last year he had been for five years equestrian director of the Paris Hipprodome. As his ’name implies, he is not a Parisian by birth. He is now an American from choice,

as he earnestly confided to me that after onoe seeing an American circus there were no attractions for him under a European canvas. “I always ride with a long leg," said he, “because I believe it’s the proper

•way to ride, and then it’s safer. Frequently I do my turn with the five horses without any stirrups at all. In any case I pay very little attention to them and put very little weight on them. “This Anglomaniac fashion of riding tvith short stirrups and rising six inches out of your saddle with every step of the horse is, I know, the fashionable way and the easy way, but I don’t like the looks of it. The longleg or military stirfup is a very much harder seat to acquire. You stick close to the saddle and don’t rise the fraction of an inch from your seat. Your legs reach around the curve of the horse’s belly and give you the most secure possible seat in case the horse jumps or twists suddenly, while with the short 6tirrup your knees are above the swell and you have no grip to hold on by. Then, again, with the long leg your spurs prick under the horse’s belly, where they should be used, and do not gouge into the animal’s side.” “Which appreciate good riding best, European or American spectators ?” “They are more demonstrative on the other side, but applause counts for more here. There is no comparison between circus life here and across the water. There they are satisfied with a little, but it must be the very best. Here the audiences are not satisfied with anything. They never seem to get enough. Five rings now, but in a short time they will want ten. If von want to learn to ride, take my advice and begin without stirrups.”

JOHN O’BRIEN.

THE LONG STIRRUP.