Description

Frances Munds and Molly Ruffner sitting sidesaddle on horses.

Frances Willard Munds (b. 1866 - d. 1948) was born in 1866 in Franklin, California. In 1885, she moved from Sacramento, California to Prescott. Following her time teaching in Payson, Mayer and Jerome, she married John Munds on March 5, 1890. In Prescott, she was a social reformer involved in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU).

The following note was included dated 22/July/1987 from Budge Ruffner: "To whom it may concern: To the best of my knowledge this picture was taken 1903-04. Mrs. Munds on left, Molly Ruffner right. The hats must have been a fashion of the time. I believe the picture was taken looking west, on the west side of what is now Willow Street just before it joins Sheldon. That was a favorite location for pictures. This type of picture was normally done by a professional on an appointment basis. Note the martingale on the Ruffner horse. George always used them.

(definition of martingale harness:  A martingale is a piece of equestrian tack designed to control a horse's head carriage and act as an additional form of control besides, for example, the bit. It prevents a horse from throwing its head so high that the rider gets hit in the face by the horse's poll or upper neck.)