Chicago Equestrian Association : Organized 1908 online

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JOHNA.SEAVERNS





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CHICAGO

EQUESTRIAN
ASSOCIATION



Organized

1908

Book Issued

1921



1908 Officers and Directors 1920



1908-1910
George P Nichols ........ President

Aslrid Scheel Rosing Vice-President

Charles Spencer Williamson .... Secretary-Treasurer

DIRECTORS
William Wrigley, Jr. J. H. Patrick

Fred W. Upliam James Pease

1910-1914

Edward G. Pratt President

Astrid Scheel Rosing Vice-President

Alfar M. Eberhardt ...... Secretary-Treasurer

W. W. Waite Assistant Secretary

DIRECTORS
John J. Herrick Martin H. Foss

A. E. Freer G. Russell Leonard

John Williamson E. E. Amory

1915

George Packard President

Walter Clyde Jones Vice-President

Eugene E. Amory Treasurer

George Russell Leonard Secretary

DIRECTORS
Julius Regenstein Martin H. Foss

John J. Herrick E. R. Shaw

W. C. Moulton Clayton B. Sliourds

1916

Walter Clyde Jones President

Henry F. Hawkins Vice-President

Eugene E. Amory ........ Treasurer

George Russell Leonard ....... Secretary



DIRECTORS
Julius Regenstein E. R. Shaw

John J. Herrick Arthur B. Crosby

Capt. F. R. Schwengel C. Groverman Ellis

1917

John Williamson President

E. R. Shaw Vice-President

W. Brock Fuller Treasurer

C. Groverman Ellis Secretary

DIRECTORS
George Packard Eugene E. Amory

John S. Hummer Philip W. Raber

Avery Coonley Arthur M. Cox

1918-1919

John R. Thompson President

William J. Sutherland ...... Vice-President

C. Groverman Ellis Secretary-Treasurer

DIRECTORS
Edw. W. Miller G. Russell Leonard

John Williamson Philip W. Raber

John S. Hummer J. B. Latimer

1920

William J. Sutherland President

John Hertz Vice-President

C. Groverman Ellis Secretary-Treasurer

DIRECTORS

J. K. Dering Carleton L. Elmes

Chas. A. Dunbar John S. Hummer

Albert W. Harris Otto Lehmann

Walter Clyde Jones Dr. Geo. H. Musselman

G. Russell Leonard Francis S. Peabody

Benjamin F. Siein Dudley Rutter

Thomas E. Wilson John Williamson



Officers, Directors and Committees

for 1921



WILLIAM J. SUTHERLAND, President



JOHN HERTZ, Vice-President



C. GROVERMAN ELLIS, Secretary-Treasurer



DIRECTORS



J. K. Dering

Chas. A. Dunbar
Albert W. Harris

Walter Clyde Jones
G. Russell Leonard



Benjamin F. Stein
Thomas E. Wilson

H. Walton Heegstra
E. J. Lehmann
Heman Gifford



Carleton L. Elmes
John S, Hummer
Otto Lehmann

Dr. Geo. H. Musselman
Francis S. Peabody



Dudley Rutter

John Williamson
Wni. E. Dee

Dr. W. R. Neff



FINANCE COMMITTEE
E. ]. Lehmann, Chairman
Thos. E. Wilson Wm. E. Dee

John S. Hummer Francis S. Peabody

A. W. Harris Guy G. Woodin



NORTH SIDE RIDES COMMITTEE

Summer and Winter

Heman Gifford, Chairman



" COMMITTEES

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
H. Walton Heegstra, Chairman
Benj. F. Stein Frank Flynn

Dudley Rutter G. Russell Leonard

I. Stiefel Dr. W. R. Neff

O. W. Lehmann E. S. Van Sant

ORGANIZATION AND BUILDING

COMMITTEE

Thos. E. ff ilson. Chairman



ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE
Benj. F. Stein, Chairman
Chas. A. Dunbar G. Russell Leonard

Heman Gifford Dr. Geo. H. Musselman



SOUTH SIDE RIDES COMMITTEE

Summer and Winter

G. Russell Leonard, Chairman



Dr. W. R. Neff
E. S. Van Sant
Dudley Rutter



J. Regenstein

I. Stiefel

A. B. Crosby



J. K. Dering
Francis S. Peabody
Albert W. Harris
John R. Thompson
E. J. Lehmann
Benj. F. Stein
Carleton L. Elmes



Benj. F. Stein
Chas. A. Dunbar



E. E. Amory
Abel Davis



O. W. Lehmann
Thos. E. Wilson
H. Walton Heegstra
Guy G. Woodin



HORSE SHOW COMMITTEE
J. K. Dering, Chairman

E. J. Lehmann
Harry Newman
Carleton L. Elmes
Chas. A. Dunbar
WiUiam E. Dee



E. E. Amory
O. W. Lehmann
Morris Rosenwald
H. Walton Heegstra
J. S. Hummer
Guy G. Woodin



RECEPTION COMMITTEE
Mrs. Chas. A. Dunbar, Chairman

Mrs. Ed. L. Cleveland Mrs. Grace Underwood

Miss Clara R. Condon Mrs. A. B, Crosby

Mrs. Louise M. Robinson Miss Edna Baker

Miss Florence M. Spofford Mrs. H. Walton Heegstra
Mrs. M. F. Goldsmith



The President, Vice-President and Secretary are members, ex-oflicio, of all committees.



The Chicago Equestrian Association

Its History and Aims

FEW organizations can point to so interesting a rec-
ord of work accomplished for the public good as
may the Chicago Equestrian Association. When
the horseback rider of today is enjoying the many miles
of wonderful bridle path in and aroimd Chicago little
does he realize how great a debt he owes to this pioneer
equestrian association for its share in making riding an
unadulterated pleasure of health and recreation.

It was during the fall of 1908 that The Chicago Eques-
trian Association came into existence when a little group
of enthusiastic horsemen met one autumn day at the Red
Star Inn and elected the first officers of the organization.
This little group consisted of some of the city's leading
horse-lovers, as will be apparent from a glance at the
officers elected at that historic meeting. These were:
President, George P. Nichols; Vice-President, Miss Astrid
S. Rosing; Secretary and Treasurer, Dr. Charles Spencer
Williamson; Directors, Fred W. Upham, Frank S. Pea-
body, William Wrigley, Jr., John S. Hummer, James
Pease and John A. Duncan.

The growth of the association has exceeded even the
most sanguine expectations of the organizers, for today
the membership numbers nearly five hundred enthusiastic
horseback riders of both sexes. Membership in the asso-
ciation implies more than a mere interest in "man's best
friend"; nearly all of the members ride and ride fre-
quently. They have kept the sport alive as has no other
similar organization of which the city can boast.




John Hertz,
Vice-President




C Groverman Ellis, Secretary-Treasurer



Those who know the Association know that it is a miU-
tant organization. It has an objective — goes after it —
gets there. Particularly has this been true during the
past two years. For 1919 and 1920 have been active years
full of work acconiphshed by the organization.

In good fellowship the Association has been blessed
with unusual good fortune. The activities of the entire
roster of members have been well attended and productive
of much co-operation and good will. Nmnerous rides and
dinner dances have been given at Dexter Park Pavilion
and at the Saddle and Sirloin Club. At the annual din-
ner and dance held at the Sherman House on February
5th more than 300 members were in attendance.

The speeches on that occasion were unusually interest-
ing to all lovers of the horse. Some of the speakers, and
the subjects they discussed were: General Milton J. Fore-
man, who spoke on "The Horse in War," Mr. Albert W
Harris, whose subject was "The 300 Mile Endurance Test,'
Mr. James W. Scott, President of Northwestern University
who made an exceedingly enjoyable and humorous ad
dress, and Mr. Thomas E. Wilson, one of our most prom
inent members and directors, who spoke both interest
ingly and well. Colonel Chaxuicey B. Baker, represent
ing Major General Leonard A. Wood, talked on "The
Army Horse." One bit of excellent advice he gave is
well worth recalling when we survey the work the Asso-
ciation has accomplished. He said: "Let the Chicago
Equestrian Association find ovit exactly what it wants to
do and then do it."

After this historic meeting and the installation of of-
ficers the members and their guests were entertained by
their most recent new member, Sidney Smith, who drew a
number of pictures of the members on horseback. Miss
Grace Billings, daughter of one of our members, very
delightfully entertained us with a song.



The evening terminated with a thoroughly enjoyable
dance at which everyone had a good time.

Another important event was the musical costume ride
given by the Association at Dexter Park Pavilion on the
evening of November 16th. While this was a distinct in-
novation in the way of entertaining, a wonderfully en-
joyable evening was spent by the more than hundred
riders who participated. So unique was this affair that
the International Fihn Service and Underwood and Un-
derwood, the International Photographers, deemed it of
sufficient importance to have photographs and moving
pictures taken of the event. The latter were shown
throughout the country.

The "ride" on this occasion began early in the evening
with a light lunch served upon tables erected upon stilts
so that the riders could partake of the viands without
dismounting. Photographs of this ride and feature are
made a part of this Year Book. After the ride a splendid
dinner was enjoyed in the ball room of the Stock Yards'
Inn, where more than 200 partook of the repast set before
them.

This was a dinner dance which enabled members to
enjoy themselves thoroughly both during and after the ••■^^
meal. It is referred to in detail here as being typical of
the good times enjoyed by the Association when its mem-
bers get together.

Let us consider now the work accomplished by the
Association and its aims for the future. Largely through jkj
the efforts of its officers bridle paths have been extended ^W
and added to the South and North Park systems. Thus
we find that the total mileage of bridle paths in Lincoln
Park is about 11. Other paths in this park are under
construction, and still more have been recommended by
the Lincoln Park board.



J. K. Dering
Director

Chairman,
Horse Show
Committee





Francis S. Peabody,
Director




On the South Side the same good work has been going
on, due to the efforts of the Association. The total mileage
of bridle paths in Washington Park now numbers 2%,
while Jackson Park has 4 miles. It can be safely said
that no city in this country or Europe has more and
better bridle paths than those of Chicago.

If the Chicago Equestrian Association is given the sup-
port and the encouragement it has enjoyed in the past
Chicago will soon head the list of cities in these respects:
It wiU have the finest and most representative Equestrian
Club in the United States, more miles of bridle paths in
its park system than any other city, and a comprehensive
system of paths connecting the South, North and West Park
Systems with the Forest Preserve, and a bridle path in
the new additions to the South Park System. Also, with
the completion of the Lake Front Park Chicago will have
a wonderful bridle path connecting Grant Park with
Jackson Park and a bridle path linking the North Park
System with Grant Park.

At present the activities of the Association are two-fold.
They are directed toward increasing the membership of
the organization until it numbers every rider and horse
lover in Chicago, and to secure additional bridle paths
throughout Chicago's park system and the surrounding
County Forest Preserve. To accomplish the former ob-
jective this Year Book has a genuine mission, for its aim
is to interest every horseman and horsewoman in the
activities of the association and thus secure additional
members. Every member will receive a copy of this book,
and with the circulation thus assured many new members
will become interested in our work.



A Club House and Arena for the exclusive use of the
association is another project under consideration. It is
planned to make this the most complete and elaborate
in the country, surpassing anything of a similar nature
ever undertaken. Committees have been appointed to
further this project, and it is the hope of the Association
that next year will see this far enough along to make its
completion a reality. Our members feel that vfith other
cities already owning magnificent riding club houses and
arenas there is no real reason why Chicago should lag
behind in this respect.

It has been the good fortune of the Association to secure
recognition at the South Shore Country Club Horse Show,
The Dairy Show and the International Live Stock Exhibi-
tion during the past season. Members of the Association
figured prominently in these events by winning prizes,
special classes being created for members of our organi-
zation.

All things considered, the growth and development of
the Chicago Equestrian Association has been intensely
gratifying. With the co-operation of all of its members
it should forge ahead even faster during the coming years,
until it shall have won for itself the proud name of being
the country's most representative organization devoted
to the interests of His Majesty, The Horse.





Just a


Moment


Please —








Think


of a horseback riding


friend


or


two


who


should be with us.














Three


thousand


members


car


do more


and


get


more than can three hundred.














Otto Lehmann
Director



Thos. E. Wilson,
Director

Chairman,
Organization and
Building Committee




The Joys and Benefits of
Horseback Riding

By Herbert J. Krum
Editor: The Show Horse Chronicle, Lexington, Ky.

HORSEBACK exercise is enjoying an unprecedented
popularity at the present time in all parts of this
countiy. It is not an over-statement to say that
never before have so many people been drawn to this par-
ticular form of outdoor sport as is true just now. All of
our great cities bear testimony to this fact, and in count-
less thousands of relatively small cities and towns there
are numerous addicts to equestrianism in striking com-
parison with what was true only a few years ago. This
statement seems to carry an inherent and necessary con-
tradiction in turn, and to reconcile these seeming incon-
sistencies may afford a very engaging form of mental
specidation.

Perhaps at no previous period in the history of this
country have really good saddle horses been as scarce, as
hard to find and acquire, or as costly to purchase when
found, as is true now. It is well realized by all who are
conversant with the suljject that saddle horse breeding
operations have reached within the past two or three years
the lowest ebb in their history.

In Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and the other South-
ern states, from whence in the past time have come the
greatest numbers of the saddle horses distributed in all
parts of the land, production of fine saddle horses has
reached an almost negligible stage. It formerly was true
that any person desiring to purchase a fine saddle horse
could go, or could send, to any one of hundreds of breeders



10



or dealers in Kentucky and exercise a range of choice
relative to the purchase of a saddle horse that would
include hundreds of animals, exactly counterable to such
person's tastes, preferences, uses or necessities. Those
having them to sell would constitute a most remarkable
competition for such buyer's patronage, and if one cared
to do so, he could within certain limits, almost dictate
the price at which he could secure a saddle horse that
was exactly what he wanted.

But this is no longer true. On the contrary, the for-
tunate possessor of a saddle horse in these days is apt to
regard a would-be purchaser, not only with tolerant indif-
ference, but probably also with distant disdain. And when
such purchaser fortunately locates a horse that is within
striking resemblance of anything that would remotely
approximate his wishes, he is apt to find that the owner
of such animal, when besought with a proper degree of
deference, to designate a price which he will consent to
accept for it, that the owner will nonchalantly now-a-days
talk easily in terms of thousands, as a few years ago he
would have been delighted to have talked in hundreds.

This is, of course, the inexorable result of the immut-
able law of supply and demand. And it probably in part
accounts for the fact that saddle horse riding is now enjoy-
ing the degree of prestige and popularity by which it
unquestionably is surrounded. When things become diffi-
cult to secure, everybody wants them. Since saddle horses
have joined the small coterie of exclusive luxuries, costly
and difficult to attain, everybody rides. The ownership
and use of a saddle horse now carries with it a sort of dis-
tinction, and marks one as being the fortunate possessor of
a something impossible of acquisition by his or her less
fortunate fellow mortals. Hence, saddle horse riding is
the thing. And so just as the law of supply and demand
continues its uninterrupted sway, so the law of compen-



Albert W. Harris,
Director





-nnm



11



//. Walton Heegstra,
Director

Chairman, Year Book
and Membership
Committee




sation finds here another illustration of its continued reign.
The saddle horse gets even with the automobile.

A decade ago, the proud owner of a car regarded the
fellow on a saddle horse with an air of disdainful supe-
riority. Now the tables are turned. And from his lofty
eminence the rider of a saddle horse regards the occupant
of even the most opulent motor with a sublime smile of
impeccable hauteur. But the popularity of the saddle
horse depends upon a much more solid, and a great deal
broader foundation, than the mere whim of fashion, or
the constantly shifting currents of social prestige. The
saddle horse of today must be regarded as both a utility
and a minister to one's pleasure.

While it is undoubtedly true that the nature of the utili-
tarian purposes, to which saddle horses are devoted, have
undergone a radical change during the last decade, the
change has by no means obviated the fact.

It is true that people no longer use saddle horses for
the purposes of making journeys, in the sense in which our
forefathers used them, in the pioneer days, for coming
from Virginia into the western vastnesses of the then miex-
plored Blue Grass region of Kentucky. But it is not less
true that we do use saddle horses for other purposes of
an entirely different but equally important nature. To
illustrate: modern industrial and social life is conducted
at a very high pressure, and with a consequent result of
a constantly increasing depletion of vital and nervous
energy. The modern business man, and the modem soci-
ety woman, both live under an extreme tension, and every-
thing proceeds at an extraordinarily rapid pace. The auto-
mobile itself has been a minister, and an instrument,
contributing to this very result. The machine has brought
the country to the city limits, and one of its most potent
results has been to add measurably to the hours of our
never-ceasing and restless activities.



12



As a consequence, some form of physical exercise has
become an essential concomitant to our physical well-being
and it is at just this point that the saddle horse enters
with many of the requisites for our most respectful con-
sideration.

It is confidently asserted that there is no other form
of physical exercise that possesses so many, and such
varied, advantages as does horseback riding. It is an
homely but an ever-pertinent quotation that the outside
of a horse is the best thing for the inside of a man, and
unlike many antiquated proverbs, this one has the indubit-
able advantage of being literally true.

Horseback riding takes us into the open air. It is a
gentle and yet a rigorous form of physical exertion. It
stimulates and accelerates, but without too great a degree
of violence, the circulation of the blood and arouses and
moves to a rigorous and unwonted activity the sluggish-
ness of a torpid liver. It causes unconsciously and pleas-
antly a stimulation of the heart beat, and the expansion of
the lungs. It produces throughout the entire body a
healthful glow of pleasurable exhilaration and a definite
sense of bodily well-being. It makes one tired, but health-
ily tired. It is exhausting, but neither enervating nor
depressing, and ultimately it super-induces an invigorat-
ing and restorative repose and slumber. It brings on the
ability to enjoy that "sleep that knits up the raveled
sleeve of care." It fits the man for the day's occupation,
and brings to the woman the energy for the successful
meeting of the cares and problems of an arduous social
life. That horseback riding is distinctly beneficial in a
physical sense is the universal experience of all who have
ever enjoyed it, and it has the testimony of the medical
profession, and of all physical culture scientists.

These are phases of utilitarianism quite as definite and
important as were those utility aspects of the horse in his
former role as a means of conveyance.



Dudley Rutter,
Director




13




G. Russell Leonard,

Director
Chairman, South Side
Ridrs Committee




Many other forms of physical exercise have general
recognition as being beneficial, but horseback riding is
much more than merely beneficial. It is, for example,
convenient. There are many forms of physical exercise
available to any one; golf, tennis, the gymnasium, moun-
tain climbing, hunting, swimming, and so on, in an end-
less and various enumeration. But compared with horse-
back riding, any of these present certain disadvantages
and inconveniences.

Golf numbers hundreds of thousands of addicts, but to
play golf means a protracted period of leisure; a journey
to the links; the uncertainties of caddies, and many other
things that makes playing golf require a definite and pre-
arranged program. And so with practically all of the other
forms of outdoor physical recreation.

Hunting means a journey; a lodge in some vast wilder-
ness, and an absence from one's usual avocation. Every-
one knows that the gymnasium quickly becomes monoton-
ous, and though its benefits are unquestionable, it palls in
its deadly routine.

Horseback exercise, in contra-distinction to all of the
other things we have mentioned, need not interfere with
one's regular business or social duties. It requires no spe-
cial pre-arrangement; nor does it involve the assistance of
any accessory. It is an ideal way to begin the day's work,
and a brisk hour in the saddle in the morning is an ideal
preface to even the most arduous daily task. It clears the
cobwebs from the brain, and it puts a joy and vim into
living that nothing else can take the place of, and that
nothing else supplies.

One of the greatest advantages of horseback riding is
the fact that the physical benefits are not ordinarily the
prime purpose and motive for engaging in it. These phys-
ical benefits are really incidental; one might even say
almost unconscious. They are a sort of bi-product. Usu-



14



ally one rides because one likes to do so. It is just pure,
unadulterated, boyish fun. A man or a woman enjoys
a horseback ride in exactly the same spirit as a kid enjoys
a game of marbles. We do it for the fun of the thing,
and subconsciously realize that in having our fun, we are
also gaining distinct bodily benefits. And by one of the
curious quirks of our physiological endowment we always
benefit most from those benefits which are indirect, and
unobtrusive, in their operation. Thus the horseback ride
is first of all the thing we enjoy, and co-incidently the
thing from which we benefit. This is one of its greatest
virtues.

So then we have first of all, in favor of this form of
beneficial enjoyment, its convenience. In the next place,
it possesses the advantages of an endless variety and horse-
back riding is literally like Egypt's famous queen, of
whom it was said, "age cannot wither, nor customs stale
her infinite variety." We can ride in a different direction,
into different scenes, into all sorts of conditions and local-
ities, and enjoy all the infinite aspects of nature in all of
her varying moods. All seasons of the year may be alike.
One may make choice of either day or night, and to the
equestrian, neither snow nor rain need be a necessary
deterrent from the indulgence in one's favorite pastime.
We have seen scores of Chicago equestrians cantering
through the park when the ground was covered with a
foot of snow; just as we have seen them returning when
they came to the end of a perfect day, in the balmy air of
a summer evening's twilight. Thus it is seen that to con-
venience is added to the pleasure of horseback riding,
that of variety.