Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1874 — Horseback Riding. [ARTICLE]

Horseback Riding.

We regard it peculiarly unfortunate that there is so little horseback riding in the Northern —especially the Northeastern—SttUes and so few good riding horses. It is unfortunate, in our judgment, for the following reasons: 1. It is a most healthful and invigorating exercise for man or woman. 2. It is a graceful accomplishment to be able to ride well. 3. It is an easier and more economical mode of movement—easier for the horse, involving less costly equipments than where a harness and carriage must be provided, less loss of time in harnessing and unharnessing and caring for both harness and carriage, and is less dangerous to the rider, when the risk of breaking harness and buggy is taken into account. 4. It is more convenient for the’ rider, because he can go with his horse where Lie cannot drive with liis carriage- He can open gates, let down bars, or scalefences and corn-fields, and thus save time and distance, which it is impossible to save with a carriage attached. Every farmer ought to have one good rifling-horse —that is. every farmer vrlio . keeps three horses or more. Even if lie keeps but two, it is more economical to keep a saddle and use it whenever it can be used as a substitute than to wear and tear a’ harness and carriage over the miserable roads which are too generally found. A good ridingdiorse can generally be purchased for the price of a good harness and carriage. The cost of keepiiig is scarcely greater if the utility and improvement in value of a well-cared-for horse is taken into account. We should like to see horseback-riding, for both men and women, become fashionable. We would rather see a young farmer well mounted on a good, strong saddlehorse than see him riding in a sulky behind liis fancy trotter, simulating the air and appearance of a jockey. There is -great opportunity for improvement of manners and general appearance’ to re- ; suit from the physical exercise horsebaekridiag will give our young men and women. It would destroy much of the •effeminacy which exists, beget a nobler .and more graceful physique and carriage and save, a vast amount of time and! money if horseback riding were more j generally substituted for carriage-riding ! among our people.— Rural Sew Yorker.