CHAPTER VI 

 THE SIDE-SADDLE VERSUS THE CROSS-SADDLE 



" We are firm believers in the maxim that for all right judgment of 

 anything, it is useful, nay, essential, to see the good qualities before 

 pronouncing on the bad." — Carlyle. 



It is quite impossible to discuss how a woman should 

 ride or dress, or for that matter anything regarding 

 horsemanship for women, unless we first determine 

 the moot question as to whether she should ride side- 

 saddle or astride. 



At the risk of appearing biassed, I am prepared to 

 state most emphatically that the cross-saddle is not 

 best suited to a woman's requirements. 



In making such an assertion one is, of course, bound 

 to lay oneself open to the charge of being old-fashioned 

 and ultra-conservative; of holding to the antiquated 

 opinion that because a thing was good enough for our 

 grandmothers it is good enough for us. This is, how- 

 ever, unfair. One can, on the contrary, be so optimis- 

 tically modern as to welcome any change, providing 

 that change is for the better; can even aspire to fly 

 across the Atlantic in an aeroplane and still realize 

 that some of the old things are the best after all. 



A thing is not good simply because it is old and 

 established, but, on the other hand, neither is it good 

 merely because it is new. It is true that nothing on 

 the earth remains stationary — it either progresses or 

 retrogresses — but it is equally true that mere novelty 

 does not always imply progress. 



It is in this class of thing, new but not necessarily 



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