A Compelling Argument

Bethenia Owens-Adair was a woman who knew her mind. She was the first female doctor in the West, and was also a determined lobbyist for the Women's Christian Temperance Union. On one subject, she was adamant, and she made complete sense. Should a woman ride side saddle or astride? Men were arguing—and had argued for a long time—that it was “unladylike” for a woman to throw her legs across the back of a horse. Dr. Montague Tallack went so far as to argue that it was OK for men, because th