ROTTEN ROW

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 12652, 12 January 1927, Page 9

ROTTEN ROW

BAD RIDERS PLENTIFUL BUT THE HORSES ARE AT HOME KNOW ALL THE CONVENTIONS Sir Henry Cr.aik, who celebrated his 80th birthday recently, is the oldest man in the House of Commons. In a Press interview on his birthday Sir Henry declared that his sound health was due to the fact that he goes out for ah early morning ride nearly every day of the year, and he deplored the fact that young men of the present generation have abandoned such a healthy exercise as riding in order to go speeding about iu motor-cars. He said that 25 years ago there used to be nearly 500 persons riding every morning in Rotten Row, but now the number is only between 30 and 40. Rotten Row is the only place iu London where a horseman is ever seen. The sight of a man on horseback in a London street would be such a novelty to pedestrians that he would be looked upon as part of the advance guard of a circus. The riders in Rotten Row in tile early morning used to be known as the Liver Brigade, because it was miainjy under medical advice that they indulged in this form of exercise, but now they are too few to be regarded as a brigade. Golf instead of riding is recommended by the fashionable physician to patients who are ini need of exercise.

In the afternoon Rotten Row becomes a training school for a few people who want to learn to ride, mamlv with a view to being able to follow the hounds when they are guests at country houses in hunting districts. Aiost of the small groups of riders to be seen in Rotten Row in the afternoon are mounted on hacks supplied by the riding schools in the vicinity, and are accompanied by grooms from these schools whose business it is to teach clients to ride. . A generation ago Rotten Row was a playground for expert riders of both 1 sexes; in these present days it provides a daily exhibition of remarkably 1 bad horsemanship. In fact it is confidently stated that the worst riders ill the world can now be seen there. But tlie horses are thoroughly at home on this famous sand track, if their riders are not at home in the saddle. These horses, which are supplied by the riding schools, have been ridden in Rotten Row so often that they know every foot of Abe track. They have; had such a long and varied experience, with inexperienced riders that they have become almost expert in preventing their riders falling out of the saddle. If such a thing does happen the horse hangs his head in shame, as if conscious that the fault is his. Instead of bolting away ho stands still until the rider regains the saddle. The experienced hack when he sees his rider lift his hat tp a lady knows, that it is his duty to curvet as if he were a high spirited animal. When his rider has sufficient confidence in himself to‘urge his mount into a gallop the hack responds gleefully, because he regards it as evidence that his rider is improving. He slackens his pace to a canter when approaching the policeman at the end of the Row. He is Well acquainted with the man in blue, and though he thinks the job of preyenting reckless riding in the Row is h sinecure, he pretends that but for the presence of the policeman he would bolt off the track.