equestrian

Photographer's initials (?) and date in upper left corner (reversed): SS 7/31/13

Thanks to technogeo for the date. From the NYT of August 1, 1913: "LONG BRANCH, July 31. It was Governor's Day at the continuation of the Monmouth County Horse Show on the Hollywood Grounds this afternoon and the entry of the Chief Executive of the State, James F. Fielder, could not have been more timely ..." (ref. query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C00E4DD1730E233A... )

Nice research work, lifeasdaddy! This image is unusual because it shows a group of people from behind. Valuable reference material for anyone into clothing and fashion of this era.

technogeo, you make a good point about the perspective. Like some of the others of the Long Branch Horse show there are taken from well behind the action and what to other photographers would be the main subject. Here for example, the main thing is the central reviewing or judgeing stand and the scoreboard - but they are mere background to the general crowd scene. Some others: www.flickr.com/search/?w=8623220@N02&q=long+branch&am...

technogeo and lifeasdaddy: Thanks for the additional information. We'll add it to the description next time we update the record.

Adam Beck (1857-1925) was a Canadian politician and head of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario; his wikipedia entry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Beck His grave: www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7882413 His wife was the former Lilian Ottaway (1878-1921) of Hamilton, posthumous only child of an English football legend, Cuthbert Ottaway: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuthbert_Ottaway She was an expert equestrian, and played tennis and lawn bowling as well; one site says she was the first woman to judge the National Horse Show in New York; she was inducted into the London (ONT) Sports Hall of Fame just this year: blogs.canoe.ca/brandnewblog/general/lilian-ottaway-beck-l... Her grave: www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=39449581 They had a daughter, Marion Auria Beck (1904-1944).

Her appointment to judge the 1915 show was attacked in an anonymous letter. This account discusses that as well as her qualifications: query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9500EFDA1239E333A... He was, in 1915, advising the Canadian government on its military needs for horses, and visited the Western Front, leaving New York via the White Star Liner, Adriatic, in late April. His interesting account of his trip and what he saw of trench warfare at the time, is reported in the New York Times of May 25, 1915. As Lady Beck is holding a White Star Lines document in this photo, perhaps her ticket, this was likely taken aboard the Adriatic as they left New York. query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A03E3DB1338E633A...

Thanks pennylrichardsca and artolog for the research on this couple. We will add some of it to the record when we update.

Princess Victoria Louise was the youngest child & only daughter of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Viktoria_Luise_of_Prussia She is also seen here with her sister-in-law, the Crown Princess Cecille, wearing a really awesome hat! www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2449480148/

I love seeing horses and riders that lived so long ago.

Also here: www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/3294665823/in/s...

riding side saddle (L)