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Show JFhmily Wcclrfy I December 10, 1951 3- By MARIE D. SMITH n When President and Mrs; Kennedy dined with England's Queen Elizabeth last June at Buckingham Palace, it is a safe bet the two women got around to discussing horses. Both are ardent horse fans, at ease in the saddle or equally happy at the rail, watching an exciting race or show. If the women exchanged horse stories, they may have sounded strangely similar. For botn acquired equestrian skills at an early age and have maintained an active interest in horses that keeps them in the news. x One British wag noted without sarcasm that, as a result of the Queen's interest in horses, smart young girls in Britain have brought fathers to the brink of bankruptcy by keeping horses in garages, in tiny gardens, and even in greenhouses. The situation is not so serious in the United States, but many a father will acknowledge that he has been beset, since the Kennedy Administration took office, by pleas from young daughters who want horses. During the hunting season in Vir. ginia, Mrs. Kennedy spends nearly every weekend at Glen Ora, her estate near Middleburg, and rides to the hounds with the Orange County Hunt. Described as the "snootiest hunt club in , Virginia," harder to break into than Buckingham Palace, it turned down the Duke of Windsor a few years back when all the former King of England wanted to do was ride once with the hunt as a guest! If there's a horse show or race in the area, the First Lady may be found in breeches and riding coat, among the enthusiastic spectators. Sometimes, the President, whose interest is something less than her own, is with her. While Queen Elizabeth has a: stable of horses for personal and official use racing including a string of thoroughbreds Mrs. Kennedy owns only one mount, a handsome bay gelding named Bit of Irish. Little Jacqueline was scarcely a year old when she was first lifted astride a pony. At two, she was already a poised, confident young lady in the saddle,en-tertainin- g 20 little guests at a birthday party with pony rides. When she was five, Jacqueline was a sufficiently assured equestrienne to ride alongside her mother. That summer, mounted on graceful chestnut mares, the two won in "the family class at the Easthampton Horse Show. At the age of six, Jacqueline, lessly jumping low fences, took her first big and most embarrassing tumble. This happened while in a jumping class at the Southampton Horse Show. Her mother had taught her to go at the fences straight because the pony couldn't make the grade if she went nr at an angle. Jacqueline trotted around the ring the first time, kicking her mount to lift him over the jumps. On the second time around, however,, she started in angled, the pony ducked, and off she spilled. Jacqueline scrambled up and tried to climb back into the saddle before show officials could reach her, but she was trying to mount on the . ; wrong side. The crowd applauded, which left the annoyed little girl puzzled. Later she" asked her mother why they clapped when she fell off. Here was the chance for her mother, now Mrs. Hugh D. Auchincloss, to teach the future First Lady a lesson. "Those were terribly silly people," her mother told her: "They didn't know what really happened. You should be ashamed your pony so carelessly: He might have been hurt" It was Mrs. Kennedy's mother, one of the most skillful and daring horsewomen in the country, the winner of fleet-foote- d, of-handl-ing , many ribbons and trophies, who made her daughter a fine horsewoman. Queen Elizabeth's fondness for horsed was encouraged by her grandfather, King George V, who used to take the bouncing little princess along on Sunday strolls around the palace stables. (Continued on page 6) "tts7 ' vr rr Urn and are among the best ' ' and most attractive riders anywhere Family Weekly, December JO, 1961 |
