Daring "Horsemen" in History

Bad weather was only one of the dangers stagecoach drivers encountered

Charley Parkhurst (1812-1879) was one of the most colorful stagecoach drivers of the American west, best known for his exploits while driving for the California Stage Company. He often did the 30 mile run from San Jose to Santa Cruz, sometimes earning double pay by going both ways, driving through the night. He was not an elegant character. He cussed and chewed liberally, and wore a patch over an empty eye socket where he’d been kicked by a frightened horse. Despite the missing eye, he was widely known as one of the best of the stagecoach drivers, reputedly able to run a front and back wheel of his coach over a coin laid in the road, even when traveling at speed. At a time when many drivers prided themselves on their recklessness, Charley took pride in driving safely, once offering to turn down a job if reckless driving was expected. It wasn’t; he was hired on the spot. He was considerate of his horses, courteous to women, good with children, and generous toward his friends. His occupational hazards included spooked horses, flooded rivers, and bandits, all of which he dealt with competently. A bandit who got away with robbing him once was shot dead the second time he tried. Only after his death was it discovered that Charley was a woman. Voter rolls in California show that Charley voted in the 1868 presidential election, 52 years before the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. Lady Anne Blunt (1831-1917) flouted convention as boldly as Charley Parkhurst did, but her wealth and social status allowed her to do so openly. A great admirer of Arabian horses, she feared that they would become extinct in the Middle East, so she was determined to establish the breed in England. Traveling around the Middle East dressed as a Bedouin and speaking Arabic, she personally selected horses she considered the finest of the breed. Though she did not pretend to be a man, apparently her behavior was so disconcertingly unconventional that the men she encountered simply pretended not to notice that she wasn’t. She not only knew a good horse when she saw one, she was a bold, capable rider. Among her mounted adventures was hunting wild boar, considered one of the most dangerous large game animals in the world. Despite the hindrance of a scoundrel husband, Lady Anne developed an excellent breeding program which was continued by her daughter Lady Wentworth (1873-1957). Together they were so instrumental in establishing the Arabian breed in England that to this day Arabs of English descent are referred to as Crabbet Arabians, for the name of their breeding farm. (There is a picture of my part-Crabbet Arabian at the end of this article.) Sybil Ludington (1761-1839) led a mostly conventional life, except for the night in April of 1777 when her father, colonel of the Dutchess County (New York) Militia, received word that the British were burning Danbury, Connecticut. With Colonel Ludington needed at home to organize the troops, Sybil was dispatched at 9:00 on that rainy night to notify the troops that they were to muster at dawn. Sybil and her horse Star (whom she had trained herself) covered a 40 mile circuit, traveling entirely alone, avoiding Tory houses and marauding robbers. Sybil and Star returned home at dawn, together. Sybil was 16 years old at the time. By comparison, the famed Paul Revere traveled less than 17 miles, part of it in the company of two other men, and was captured by the British who confiscated the horse he had borrowed. One of his companions, William Dawes, eluded the British patrol, but was bucked off his horse and had to walk home. I first read of Sybil Luddington’s ride in a history text that dismissed it as “legend”, not for lack of historical documentation but because “obviously” no woman was capable of such a grueling ride! Lady Godiva (born c. 1040) is also famous for one daring ride. Historical sources describe her as a kind Anglo-Saxon lady who gave generously to good causes. However, her husband, the Earl of Mercia, gave ostentatiously to the church while taxing his poor tenants oppressively. According to the legend, Lady Godiva pestered him relentlessly to lower his tenants’ taxes. He finally said in exasperation that he would lower taxes the day she rode naked through town. Lady Godiva rode naked through town. Her husband lowered the taxes. Though these four women came from different countries, eras, and social classes, they shared more than their connection with horses. They shared the courage to follow their convictions despite hardships, danger, or social disapproval. They remind us that greatness does not come from following the crowd. It comes from following your heart and your conscience.

Note:
There is debate as to whether Sybil Ludington would have ridden sidesaddle or astride. I guessed sidesaddle until I learned that sidesaddles were not equipped with the second horn (the leaping horn) until the 1830’s. Previously, it seems, sidesaddles did not provide enough security to travel at speed. If anyone has more definitive information about how ladies rode in those times or what they wore to ride, I would love to hear about it!

CharleyParkhurstSybilLuddingtonladyAnnBluntGodivahorseshistorywomenstage coach ArabianCrabbetPaul Revere

Bronzz is part Crabbet, part Polish Arabian.