Learn English – What can “ride straight” possibly mean in this

meaning

So I've stumbled across the phrase while reading Agatha Christie's Five Little Pigs:

"Our firm, of course, has known many generations of the Crales. […]
Country squires, all of them, thought more about horses than human
beings. They rode straight, liked women, and had no truck with
ideas. […]"

I've looked the word "ride" up but I'm still confused. Does it have something to do with their personality or it's just simply about riding horses (in a straight line)? I'd really appreciate it if you guys could help me figure this out, and yes, English is not my first language.

Best Answer

I believe this is a vestige of hunting lingo, to ride straight to hounds, hunting being a typical sport of the country squire. It means to ride to the hounds (in a fox hunt) without taking a circuitous path in order to avoid obstacles such as ditches and hedges; riding straight to the action is emblematic of a robust forthrightness of character. It is analogous to being a straight shooter in American English.

Compare this excerpt from an 1865 story:

"What a good fellow Galton is", he began; "he has all the qualities and all the qualifications that both men and women like."

"He can ride straight to hounds, and hit a bird if he aims at it", she replied laughing.

"Women—and men too—like a fellow who can ride and tell the truth without swerving", he answered.

"There is an impression abroad that we weak-minded women 'go in', as you call it in your slang, for the athletic," she rejoined.

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