Inexperienced Riders Harming Horses, Says C.W. Hunt, Aug. 5, 1921

Cruelty to the Horse Thru Lack of Knowledge

Mr. Editor:--

Allow me to state through the columns of your paper that one of the best drawing cards for Brevard is the promotion of horseback riding. This healthful and fascinating sport should be enjoyed by all comers to Brevard and horseback parties from other towns should enjoy our finest scenery, our scenery from the saddle, over the thrilling Transylvania trails, through cool forests, dense gorges, rushing streams to the highest mountain peaks.

But—as a friend to the helpless horse I wish to protest against the cruelty by fast riding shown to this noble animal by many who are riding this season, both dangerous to the rider and injurious to the horse, which can have no other result other than to abolish horseback riding, a pleasure to those who ride and business to those who hire horses.

I saw one horse during the heat of last Sunday afternoon being literally run to death, this side of Wilson’s bridge. It looked to me as if one boy would run him awhile and then another, and he was panting and ripping with sweat.

One of Mr. Snelson’s best saddle horses is in his stable scarcely able to stand up and unable to walk, due to cruel running.

For the protection of the young people at the camps who ride, to prevent a serious injury to the rider of the horse, I would suggest that a director from the camp should ride with each riding party and have them in their care the same as is done while they are in swimming.

If the above cannot be done, I would suggest that the liveryman should send a man with each party to protect with his care the rider and the horse. Nothing much is said if a horse is injured, but if one of the riders should happen to a serious accident, a great cry would be raised and the camps and horseback riding injured.

Till something else can be done to establish the desirable sport of horses back riding on a safe and sane basis, both for rider and horse and pedestrians, I would suggest that our policemen should arrest all who ride recklessly in the town and the sheriff look after those out of town, and that the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals should take the matter in hand.

The young people who do this dangerous and cruel riding are not so much to blame as those who allow them to do it. They have never been taught how to ride for their own pleasure and at the same time treat the horse in a merciful manner.

Another season I hope that Brevard will have a riding school and then the young people can be taught how to ride and how to properly care for their mount.

--C.W. Hunt

From The Brevard News, Aug. 5, 1921. The photo is a contemporary shot taken near Hendersonville.