TUFTS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 
 
 3 9090 013 408 725 
 
 Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine 
 Cummifsas SciiGOl ot Veterinary Medicine at 
 Tufts University 
 200 Westboro Road 
 North Grafton, MA 01 536 
 
RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 W. A. KERR, V.C. 
 
RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 BY 
 
 W. A. KERR, V.C, 
 
 FORMERLY SECOND IN COMMAND OF THE 2ND REGIMENT 
 SOUTHERN MAHARATTA HORSE. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY, 
 
 MDCCCXCI. 
 

PREFACE. 
 
 This work should be taken as following on, and in con- 
 junction with, its predecessor on ^'Riding." In that 
 publication will be found various chapters on Action, The 
 Aids, Bits and Bitting, Leaping, Vice, and on other cognate 
 subjects which, without undue repetition, cannot be re- 
 introduced here. These subjects are of importance to and 
 should be studied by all, of either sex, who aim at perfec- 
 tion in the accomplishment of Equitation, and who seek 
 to control and manage the saddle-horse. 
 
 W. A. K. 
 
a 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. Introductory ... ... ... ... ... i 
 
 II. The Lady's Horse ... ... ... ... 6 
 
 III. Practical Hints : How to Mount, 14 — The Seat, 22 
 
 —The Walk, 27— The Trot, 33— The Canter, 39— 
 The Hand-Gallop and Gallop, 44 — Leaping, 46 — 
 Dismounting, 51 
 
 IV. The Side Saddle ... ... ... ... 52 
 
 V. Hints upon Costume ... ... ... ... 6;^ 
 
 VI. A LA CAVALlfeRE ... ... ... ... ... y;^ 
 
 VII. Appendix I. — The Training of Ponies for Children 81 
 
 Appendix II. — Extension and Balance Motions 89 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 -*-c*- 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Preparing to Mount ... ... ... ... ... i? 
 
 Mounting — Second Position ... ... ... 19 
 
 Mounted — Near Side ... ... ... ... ... 22 
 
 Right and Wrong Elbow Action ... ... ... 26 
 
 Right and Wrong Mount ... ... ... ..• 28 
 
 Turning in the Walk — Right and Wrong Way ... 31 
 
 Right and Wrong Rising ... ... ... ... 34 
 
 The Trot ... ... ... ... ... ••• 3^ 
 
 Free but not Easy ... ... •.. ... .•• 43 
 
 The Leap ... ... ... ••• ••• ••• 4^ 
 
 The Side Saddle, Old Style ... ... ... 53 
 
 The Safety Saddle ... ... ... ... 54 
 
 Saddles ... ... ... ..• ••• 55~62 
 
 The "Zenith" Habit — Jacket Body ... ... 65 
 
 Costumes ... ... ... ... ... ••• 78 
 
RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 What I have said on the excellence of horse-exercise for 
 boys and men,, applies equally to girls and women, if, 
 indeed, it does not recommend itself more especially in the 
 case of the latter. For the most part the pursuits of women 
 are so quiet and sedentary that the body is rarely called 
 into that complete activity of all the muscles which is 
 essential to their perfect development, and which produces 
 the strength and freedom of movement so indispensable to 
 perfect grace of carriage. 
 
 The woman who has been early accustomed to horse- 
 exercise gains a courage and nerve which it would be 
 difficult to acquire in a more pleasant and healthful manner. 
 She also gains morally in learning to feel a sympathy with 
 the noble animal to whom she is indebted for so much 
 enjoyment, and whose strength and endurance are too often 
 cruelly abused by man. Numerous instances have occurred 
 in my experience of the singular influence obtained by 
 ladies over their horses by simple kindness, and I am 
 tempted to introduce here an account of what gentle 
 treatment can effect with the Arab. The lady who told the 
 tale did not lay claim to being a first-rate horsewoman. Her 
 veracity was undoubted, for her whole life was that of a 
 
RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 ministering angel. She wrote thus : " I had a horse pro- 
 vided for me of rare beauty and grace, but a perfect Buce- 
 phalus in her way. She was only two generations removed 
 from a splendid Arabian, given by the good old king to the 
 Duke of Kent when H.R.H. went out in command to Nova 
 Scotia. The creature was not three years old, and to all 
 appearance unbroken. Her ^manners were those of a kid 
 rather than of a horse ; she was of a lovely dappled gray, 
 with mane and tail of silver, the latter almost sweeping the 
 ground ; and in her frolicsome gambols she turned it over 
 her back like a Newfoundland dog. Her slow step was a 
 bound, her^ swift motion unlike that of any other animal I 
 ever rode, so fleet, so smooth, so unruffled. I know nothing 
 to which I can compare it. Well, I made this lovely 
 creature so fond of me by constant petting, to which, I 
 suppose, her Arab character made her peculiarly sensitive, 
 that my voice had equal power over her, as over my faithful 
 docile dog. No other person could in the slightest degree 
 control her. Our corps, the 73rd Batt. of the 60th Rifles, 
 was composed wholly of the elite of Napoleon's soldiers, 
 taken in the Peninsula, and preferring the British service 
 to a prison. They were, principally, conscripts, and many 
 were evidently of a higher class in society than those usually 
 found in the ranks. Among them were several Chasseurs 
 and Polish Lancers, very fine equestrians, and as my husband 
 had a field-officer's command on detachment, and allow- 
 ances, our horses were well looked after. His groom was 
 a Chasseur, mine a Pole, but neither could ride "Fairy" 
 unless she happened to be in a very gracious mood. Lord 
 Dalhousie's English coachman afterwards tried his hand at 
 taming her, but all in vain. In an easy quiet manner she 
 either sent her rider over her head or, by a laughable 
 manoeuvre, sitting down like a dog on her haunches, slipped 
 
INTROD UCTOR Y. 
 
 him off the other way. Her drollery made the poor men so 
 
 fond of her that she was rarely chastised, and such a wilful, 
 
 intractable wild Arab it would be hard to find. Upon her 
 
 I was daily mounted. Inexperienced in riding, untaught, 
 
 unassisted, and wholly unable to lay any check upon so 
 
 powerful an animal, with an awkward country saddle, 
 
 which, by some fatality, was never well fixed, bit and bridle 
 
 to match, and the mare's natural fire increased by high 
 
 feed, behold me bound for the wildest paths in the wildest 
 
 regions of that wild country. But you must explore the 
 
 roads about Annapolis, and the romantic spot called the 
 
 " General's Bridge," to imagine either the enjoyment or the 
 
 perils of my happiest hour. Reckless to the last degree of 
 
 desperation, I threw myself entirely on the fond attachment 
 
 of the noble creature ; and when I saw her measuring with 
 
 her eye some rugged fence or wild chasm, such as it was 
 
 her common sport to leap over in her play, the soft word 
 
 of remonstrance that checked her was uttered more from 
 
 regard to her safety than my own. The least whisper, a 
 
 pat on the neck, or a stroke down the beautiful face that 
 
 she used to throw up towards mine, would control her ; and 
 
 never for a moment did she endanger me. This was little 
 
 short of a daily miracle, when we consider the nature of the 
 
 country^ her character, and my unskilfulness. It can only 
 
 be accounted for on the ground of that wondrous power 
 
 which, having willed me to work for a time in the vineyard 
 
 of the Lord, rendered me immortal till the work should be 
 
 done. Rather, I should say, in the words of Cooper, which 
 
 I have ventured to slightly vary — 
 
 *' 'Tis plain the creature whom He chose to invest 
 With qiicen-'^v^ and dominion o'er the rest, 
 Received her nobler nature, and was made 
 Fit for the power in which she stands arrayed." 
 
 Strongly as I advocate early tuition, if a girl has not 
 
RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 mounted a horse up to her thirteenth year^ my advice is 
 to postpone the attempt, unless thoroughly strong, for a 
 couple of years at least. I cannot here enter the reason 
 why, but it is good and sufficient. Weakly girls of all 
 ages, especially those who are growing rapidly, are apt 
 to suffer from pain in the spine. "The Invigorator" 
 corset I have recommended under the head of " Ladies' 
 Costume" will, to some extent, counteract this physical 
 weakness; but the only certain cures are either total 
 cessation from horse exercise, or the adoption of the 
 cross, or Duchess de Berri, seat — in plain words, to ride 
 a la cavaliere astride in a man's saddle. In spite of pre- 
 conceived prejudices, I think that if ladies will kindly peruse 
 my short chapter on this common sense method, they 
 will come to the conclusion that Anne of Luxembourg, 
 who introduced the side-saddle, did not confer an unmixed 
 benefit on the subjects of Richard the Second, and that 
 riding astride is no more indelicate than the modern short 
 habit in the hunting field. We are too apt to prostrate 
 ourselves before the Juggernaut of fashion, and to hug our 
 own conservative ideas. 
 
 Though the present straight-seat side-saddle, as manu- 
 factured by Messrs. Champion and Wilton, modifies, if it 
 does not actually do away with, any fear of curvature of the 
 spine ; still, it is of importance that girls should be taught 
 to ride on the off-side as well as the near, and, if possible, 
 on the cross-saddle also. Undoubtedly, a growing girl, 
 whose figure and pliant limbs may, like a sapling, be trained 
 in almost any direction, does, by always being seated in 
 one direction, contract a tendency to hang over to one 
 side or the other, and acquire a stiff, crooked, or ungainly 
 seat. Perfect ease and squareness are only to be acquired, 
 durinof tuition and after dismissal from school, by riding 
 
INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 5 
 
 one day on the near and the next on the off-side. This 
 change will ease the horse, and, by bringing opposite 
 sets of muscles into play, will impart strength to the rider 
 and keep the shoulders level. Whichever side the rider 
 sits, the reins are held, mainly, in the left hand — the left 
 hand is known as the ^' bridle-hand." Attempts have fre- 
 quently been made to build a saddle with two flaps and 
 movable third pommel, but the result lias been far from 
 satisfactory. A glance at a side-saddle tree will at once 
 demonstrate the difficulty the saddler has to meet, add to 
 this a heavy and ungainly appearance. The only way in 
 which the shift can be ol)tained is by having two saddles. 
 
 NAOMI (a high-caste ARABIAN MARE). 
 
RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE lady's horse. 
 
 There is no more difficult animal to find on the face of 
 the earth than a perfect lady's horse. It is not every one 
 that can indulge in the luxury of a two-hundred-and-fifty 
 to three-hundred-guinea hack, and yet looks, action, and 
 manners will always command that figure, and more. Some 
 people say, what can carry a man can carry a woman. What 
 says Mrs. Power O'Donoghue to this : " A heavy horse is 
 never in any way suitable to a lady. It looks amiss. The 
 trot is invariably laboured, and if the animal should chance 
 to fall, he gives his rider what we know in the hunting-field 
 as ' a mighty crusher.' It is indeed, a rare thing to meet 
 a perfect ' lady's horse.' In all my wide experience I have 
 met but two. Breeding is necessary for stability and speed — 
 two things most essential to a hunter ; but good light action 
 is, for a roadster, positively indispensable, and a horse who 
 does not possess it is a burden to his rider, and is, moreover, 
 exceedingly unsafe, as he is apt to stumble at every rut 
 and stone." 
 
 Barry Cornwall must have had something akin to per- 
 fection in his mind's eye when penning the following lines :— 
 
 " Full of fire, and full of bone, 
 All his line of fathers known ; 
 Fine his nose, his nostrils thin, 
 But blown abroad by the pride within ! 
 His mane a stormy river flowing, 
 And his eyes like embers glowing 
 In the darkness of the night, 
 And his pace as swift as light. 
 
THE LADY'S HORSE. 
 
 Look, around his straining throat 
 
 Grace and shifting beauty float ! 
 
 Sinewy strength is in his reins, 
 
 And the red blood gallops through his veins." 
 
 How often do we hear it remarked of a neat blood* 
 looking nag, '' Yes, very pretty and blood-like, but there's 
 nothing of him; only fit to carry a woman." No greater 
 mistake can be made, for if we consider the matter in all 
 its bearings, we shall see that the lady should be rather 
 over than under mounted. 
 
 The average weight of English ladies is said to be nine 
 stone ; to that must be added another stone for saddle and 
 bridle (I don't know if the habit and other habiliments 
 be included in the nine stone), and we must give them 
 another stone in hand ; or eleven stone in all. A blood, or 
 at furthest, two crosses of blood on a good foundation, horse 
 will carry this weight as well as it can be carried. It is 
 a fault among thoroughbreds that they do not bend the 
 knee sufficiently ; but there are exceptions to this rule. I 
 know of two Stud Book sires, by Lowlander, that can trot 
 against the highest stepping hackney or roadster- in the 
 kingdom, and, if trained, could put the dust in the eyes 
 of nine out of ten of the much-vaunted standard American 
 trotters. Their bold, elegant, and elastic paces come up to 
 the ideal poetry of action, carrying themselves majestically, 
 all their movements like clockwork, for truth and regularity. 
 The award of a first prize as a hunter sire to one of these 
 horses establishes his claim to symmetry, but, being full 
 sixteen hands and built on weight-carrying lines, he is just 
 one or two inches too tall for carrying any eguestriejuie 
 short of a daughter of Anak. 
 
 Though too often faulty in formation of shoulders, 
 thoroughbreds, as their name implies, are generally full of 
 
8 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 quality and, under good treatment, generous horses. I do 
 not chime in with those who maintain that a horse can 
 do no wrong, but do assert that he comes into the world 
 poisoned by a considerably less dose of original sin than 
 we, who hold dominion over him, are cursed with. 
 
 Two-year-olds that have been tried and found lacking that 
 keen edge of speed so necessary in these degenerate days 
 of " sprinting," many of them cast in *' beauty's mould," are 
 turned out of training and are to be picked up at very 
 reasonable prices. Never having known a bit more severe 
 than that of the colt-breaker and the snaffle, the bars of 
 their mouths are not yet callous, and being rescued from 
 the clutches of the riding lads of the training-stable, before 
 they are spoiled as to temper, they may, in many instances, 
 under good tuition, be converted into admirable ladies' 
 horses — hacks or hunters. They would not be saleable till 
 four years old, but seven shillings a week would give them 
 a run at grass and a couple of feeds of oats till such time 
 as they be thoroughly taken in hand, conditioned, and 
 taught their business. The margin for profit on well bought 
 animals of this description, and their selling price as 
 perfect lady's horses, are very considerable. 
 
 In my opinion no horse can be too good or too perfectly 
 trained for a lady. Some Amazons can ride anything, play 
 cricket, polo, golf, lawn-tennis, fence, scale the Alps, etc., 
 and I have known one or two go tiger-shooting. But all 
 are not manly women, despite fashion, trending in that 
 unnatural, unlovable direction. One of their own sex 
 describes them as " gentle, kindly, and cowardly^ That 
 all are not heroines, I admit, but no one who witnessed or 
 even read of their devoted courage during the dark days 
 of the Indian mutiny, can question their ability to face 
 terrible danger with superlative valour. The heroism of 
 
THE LADY'S HORSE. 
 
 Mrs. Grim wood at Manipur is fresh in our memory. What 
 the majority are wanting in is nerve. I have seen a few 
 women go to hounds as well and as straight as the ordinary 
 run of first-flight men. That I do not consider the lady's 
 seat less secure than that of the cross-seated sterner sex, 
 may be inferred from the sketch of the rough-rider in my 
 companion volume for masculine readers, demonstrating 
 " the last resource," and giving practical exemplification of 
 the proverb, "He that can quietly endure overcometh." 
 What women lack, in dealing with an awkward, badly 
 broken, unruly horse, is muscular force, dogged determination, 
 and the ability to struggle and persevere. Good nerve and 
 good temper are essentials. 
 
 Having given Barry Cornwall's poetic ideal of a horse, I 
 now venture on a further rhyming sketch of what may 
 fairly be termed " a good sort": — 
 
 " With intelligent head, lean, and deep at the jowl. 
 Shoulder sloping well back, with a skin like a mole. 
 Round -barrelled, broad-loined, and a tail carried free. 
 Long and muscular arms, short and flat from the knee. 
 Great thighs full of power, hocks both broad and low down. 
 With fetlocks elastic, feet sound and well grown ; 
 A horse like unto this, with blood dam and blood sire, 
 To Park or for field may to honours aspire ; 
 It's the sort I'm in want of — do you know such a thing ? 
 'Tis the mount for a sportswoman, and fit for a queen ! " 
 
 My unhesitating advice to ladies is Never buy for yourself. 
 Having described what you want to some well-known judge 
 who is acquainted with your style of riding, and who knows 
 the kind of animal most likely to suit your temperament, 
 tell him to go to a certain price, and, if he- be a gentleman 
 you will not be disappointed. You won't get perfection, for 
 that never existed outside the garden of Eden, but you will 
 be well carried and get your money's worth. Ladies are 
 not fit to cope with dealers, unless the latter be top-sawyers 
 
lo RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 of the trade, have a character to lose, and can be trusted. 
 There has been a certain moral obliquity attached to dealing 
 in horses ever since, and probably before, they of the House 
 of Togarmah traded in Tyrian fairs with horses, horsemen, 
 and mules. Should your friend after all his trouble purchase 
 something that does not to the full realize your fondest 
 expectation, take the will for the deed, and bear in mind 
 " oft expectation fails, and most oft there where most it 
 promises." 
 
 With nineteen ladies out of every score, the looks of 
 a horse are a matter of paramount importance : he must be 
 " a pretty creature, with beautiful deer-like legs, and a 
 lovely head." Their inclinations lead them to admire what 
 is beautiful in preference to what is true of build, useful, 
 and safe. If a lady flattered me with a commission to buy 
 her a horse, having decided upon the colour, I should 
 look out for something after this pattern : one that would 
 prove an invaluable hack, and mayhap carry her safely and 
 well across country. 
 
 Height fifteen two, or fifteen three at the outside ; age 
 between six and eight, as thoroughbred as Eclipse or 
 nearly so. The courage of the lion yet gentle withal. 
 Ears medium size, well set on, alert ; the erect and quick 
 "pricking" motion indicates activity and spirit. I would 
 not reject a horse, if otherwise coming up to the mark, 
 for a somewhat large ear or for one slightly inclined to be 
 lopped, for in blood this is a pretty certain indication of 
 the Melbourne strain, one to which we are much indebted. 
 The characteristics of the Melbournes are, for the most 
 part, desirable ones : docility, good temper, vigorous con- 
 stitution, plenty of size, with unusually large bone, sound- 
 ness of joints and abundance of muscle. But these racial 
 peculiarities are recommendations for the coverside rather 
 
THE LADY'S HORSE. n 
 
 than for the Park. The eye moderately prominent, soft, 
 expressive, "the eye of a listening deer." The ears and 
 the eyes are the interpreters of disposition. Forehead 
 broad and flat. A " dish face," that is, slightly concave 
 or indented, is a heir-loom from the desert^ and belongs 
 to Nejd. The jaws deep, wide apart, with plenty of space 
 for the wind-pipe when the head is reined in to the chest. 
 Nostrils long, wide, and elastic, exhibiting a healthy pink 
 membrane. We hear a good deal of large, old-fashioned 
 heads, and see a good many of the fiddle and Roman-nosed 
 type, but, in my opinion, these cumbersome heads^ unless 
 very thin and fleshless, are indicative of plebeian blood. 
 
 The setting on of the head is a very important point. 
 The game-cock throttle is the right formation, giving 
 elasticity and the power to bend in obedience to the rider's 
 hand. What the dealers term a fine topped horse, generally 
 one with exuberance of carcase and light of limbs, is by no 
 means " the sealed pattern " for a lady ; on the contrary, 
 the neck should be light, finely arched — that peculiarly 
 gracefiil curve imported from the East, — growing into 
 shoulders not conspicious for too high withers. "Long 
 riding shoulders" is an expression in almost every horse- 
 man's mouth, but very high and large-shouldered animals 
 are apt to ride heavy in hand and to be high actioned. 
 Well-laid-back shoulders, rather low, fine at the points, not 
 set too far apart, and well-muscled will be found to give 
 pace with easy action. 
 
 He should stand low on the legs, which means depth of 
 fore-rib, so essential in securing the lad5''s saddle, as well 
 as ensuring the power and endurance to sustain and carry 
 the rider's weight in its proper place. Fore-legs set well 
 forward, with long, muscular arms, and room to place the flat 
 of the hand between the elbows and the ribs. The chest 
 
12 RIDING FOR LADIES, 
 
 can hardly be too deep, but it can be too wide, or have too 
 great breadth between the fore-legs. The back only long 
 enough to find room for the saddle is the rule, though, in 
 case of a lady's horse, a trifle more length unaccompanied by 
 the faintest sign of weakness, will do no harm. For speed, 
 a horse must have length somewhere, and I prefer to see it 
 below, between the point of the elbow and the stifle joint, 
 Ormonde, " the horse of the century," was nearly a square, 
 i.e. the height from the top of the wither to the ground 
 almost equalled the length of his body from the point of the 
 shoulder to the extremity of the buttock. Horses with 
 short backs and short bodies are generally biuk-kapers, and 
 difficult to sit on when fencing. The couplings or loins 
 cannot be too strong or the ribs too well sprung ; the back 
 ribs well hooped. This formation is a sign of a good 
 constitution. The quarters must needs be full, high set on, 
 with straight crupper, well rounded muscular buttocks, a 
 clean channel, with big stifles and thighs to carry them. 
 Knees and hocks clean, broad, and large, back sinews and 
 ligaments standing well away from the bone, flat and hard 
 as bands of steel ; short well-defined smooth cannons ; 
 pasterns nicely sloped, neither too long nor too short, but 
 full of spring; medium sized feet, hard as the nether 
 millstone. If possible, I should select one endowed with 
 the characteristic spring of the Arab's tail from the crupper. 
 Such a horse would, in the words of Kingsley, possess " the 
 beauty of Theseus, light but massive, and light, not in spite 
 of its masses, but on account of the perfect disposition of 
 them." 
 
 There is no need for the judge to run the rule, or the tape 
 either, over the horse. His practised eye, almost in a glance, 
 will take in the general contour of the animal ; it will tell 
 him whether the various salient and important points 
 
Tim LADY'S noksE. \x 
 
 o 
 
 balance, and will" instantly detect any serious flaw. When 
 selecting for a lady who, he knows, will appreciate sterling 
 worth rather than mere beauty, he may feel disposed to 
 gloss over a certain decidedness of points and dispense with" 
 a trifle of the comely shapeliness of truthfully moulded 
 form. Having satisfied myself that the framework is all 
 right, I would order the horse to be sauntered away from 
 me with a loose rein, and, still with his head at perfect 
 liberty, walked back again. I would then see him smartly 
 trotted backwards and forwards. Satisfied with his natural 
 dismounted action, I should require to see him ridden in all 
 his paces, and might be disposed to get into the saddle 
 myself. Having acquitted himself to my satisfaction, he 
 would then have to exhibit himself in the Park or in a 
 field, ridden in the hands of some proficient lady-rider. A 
 few turns under her pilotage would suffice to decide his 
 claims to be what I am looking for. If he came up to my 
 ideas of action, or nearly so^ I should not hesitate — subject 
 to veterinary certificate of soundness — to purchase. Finally, 
 the gentleman to examine the horse as to his soundness 
 would be one of my own selection. Certain of the London 
 dealers insist upon examinations being made by their own 
 " Vets," and " there's a method in their madness." When 
 such a stipulation is made, I invariably play the return 
 match by insisting upon having the certificate of the Royal 
 College of Veterinary Surgeons, where the investigation is 
 complete and rigorous. The very name of "the College" 
 is gall and wormwood to many of these "' gentlemen con- 
 cerned about horses." 
 
14 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 PRACTICAL HINTS. 
 
 How TO Mount. 
 
 Previous to mounting, the lady should make a practice 
 of critically looking the horse over, in order to satisfy her- 
 self that he is properly saddled and bridled. Particular 
 attention should be paid to the girthing. Though ladies 
 are not supposed to girth their own horses, occasion may 
 arise, in the Colonies especially, when they may be called 
 upon to perform that office. Information on this essential 
 and too oft-neglected point may not be out of place. Odd 
 as it may sound, few grooms know how to girth a horse 
 properly, and to explain myself I must, for a few lines, quit 
 the side-saddle for the cross-saddle. Men often wonder 
 how it is that, on mounting, the near stirrup is almost 
 invariably a hole or more the longer of the two. The 
 reason is this : the groom places the saddle right in the 
 centre of the horse's back and then proceeds to tighten the 
 girths from the near or left side. The tension on the girth- 
 holder, all from one side, cants the saddle over to the left, 
 to which it is still further drawn by the weight of the rider 
 in mounting and the strain put upon it by the act of spring- 
 ing into the saddle. This list to port can easily be obviated 
 by the groom placing the heel of his left hand against the 
 near side of the pommel, guiding the first or under-girth 
 with the right hand till the girth-holder passes through the 
 buckle and is moderately tight, then, with both hands, 
 bracing it so that room remains for one finger to be passed 
 
HO IV TO MOUNT. 15 
 
 between it and the horse. The same must be done in the 
 case of the outer girth. . 
 
 In a modified degree the side-saddle is displaced by 
 the common mode of girthing. The surcingle should lie 
 neatly over the girths, and have an equal bearing with 
 them. When the " Fitzwilliam girth " is used — and its 
 general use is to be advocated, not only on account of its 
 safety and the firmness of the broad web, but for its freedom 
 from rubbins: the skin behind the elbow — the leather sur- 
 cingle of the saddle will take the place of the usual leather 
 outside strap supplied with this girth. 
 
 For inspection the horse should be brought up to the lady, 
 off side on. She should note that the throat-lash falls easily, 
 but not dangling, on the commencement of the curve of the 
 cheek-bone, and that it is not buckled tight round the 
 throttle, like a hangman's " hempen-tow." The bridoon 
 should hang easily in the mouth, clear of the corners or 
 angles, and not wrinkling them ; the curb an inch or so 
 above the tusk, or, in the case of a mare, where that tooth 
 might be supposed to be placed. She will see that the. curb- 
 chain is not too tight, that the lip-strap is carried through 
 the small ring on the chain, also that the chain lies smooth 
 and even. In fixing the curb, if the chain be turned to the 
 right, the links will unfold themselves. It is taken for 
 granted that by frequent personal visits to the stable, or by 
 trusty deputy, she is satisfied that the horse's back and 
 withers are not galled or wrung. A groom withholding 
 information on this point should, after one warning, get his 
 conge. That the bits and stirrup be burnished as bright as 
 a Life Guardsman's cuirasse, the saddle and bridle perfectly 
 clean, and the horse thoroughly well groomed, goes without 
 saying. All the appointments being found in a condition 
 .fit for Queen's escort duty, we now proceed to put the lady 
 
1 6 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 in, not into, her saddle. She should approach the horse 
 from the front, and not from behind. 
 
 After a kind word or two and a httle "gentling," she, 
 with her whip, hmiting crop, or riding cane in her right hand, 
 picks up the bridoon rein with her left, draws it through the 
 right smoothly and evenly, feeling the horse's mouth very 
 lightly, until it reaches the crutch, which she takes hold of. 
 In passing the rein through the hand, care must be taken 
 that it is not allowed to slacken so that touch of the 
 mouth is lost. Attention to this will keep the horse in his 
 position whilst being mounted \ for should he move back- 
 ward or forward or away as the lady is in the act of spring- 
 ing into the saddle, he not only makes the vaulting exceed- 
 ingly awkward, but dangerous. Many horses sidle away as 
 the lady is balanced on one foot and holding on to the 
 pommel with the right hand, in which case she must at once 
 quit her hold or a fall will follow. 
 
 Having adjusted the rein of the bridoon to an equal 
 length, the whip point down with the end of the rein on the 
 off side, she stands looking in the direction the horse is 
 standing — i.e., to her proper front, her right shoulder and arm 
 in contact with the flap of the saddle near side. The mounter 
 advances facing her, and, close to the horse's shoulder, can 
 perform his oftice in three different ways. Stooping down, he 
 places his right hand, knuckles downwards, on his right knee, 
 and of it the lady makes a sort of mounting block, whence, 
 springing from the left foot, she reaches her saddle. When 
 she springs she has the aid of her grip on the crutch, sup- 
 plemented by the raising power of her left hand resting on 
 the man's shoulder. Or the groom aids the spring by the 
 uplifting of both the hand and the knee. The third method 
 is, for the mounter — his left arm, as before, touching the 
 horse's shoulder — to stoop down till his left shoulder comes 
 
HOPl^ TO MOUNT. 
 
 17 
 
 within easy reach of the lady's left hand, which she lays on 
 it. He at the same time advances his left foot till it in- 
 terposes between her and the horse and makes a cradle of 
 his hands, into which she places her left foot. Her grip is 
 
 PREPARING TO MOUNT. 
 
 Still on the crutch, and she still feels the horse's mouth. One, 
 two, three ! she springs like feathered INIercury, and he, 
 straightening himself, accentuates the light bound, and 
 straightway she finds herself in the saddle. 
 
 It is dangerous to face the mounter in such a position 
 that the spring is made with the rider's back to her horse's 
 side, for in the event of his starting suddenly or " taking 
 ground to her right," an awkward full-length back-fall may 
 result. The foot must be placed firmly in the mounter's 
 
 C 
 
•l8 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 hand ; during the lift it must not be advanced, but kept under 
 her, and he must not attempt to raise her till her right foot 
 be clear of the ground. The best plan that can be adopted 
 with a horse in the habit of moving away to one side is to 
 stand him against a low wall or paling, or alongside another 
 horse. A quiet, well-trained horse may stand as firm as one 
 of the British squares at Waterloo, or *' the thin red line" 
 at Balaclava, for times without number, but from some un- 
 foreseen alarm may suddenly start aside. The spring and lift 
 must go together, or the lady may, like Mahomet's coffin, 
 find herself hanging midway. Practice alone can teach the 
 art of mounting lightly and gracefully, and to an active 
 person there is no difficulty. 
 
 There is yet another method of mounting which requires 
 considerably more practice — doing away with the services 
 of a mounter, — and that is for the lady to mount herself. In 
 these days, when so many ladies practise gymnastics and 
 athletic exercises generally, there ought to be no difficulty 
 in acquiring this useful habit. The stirrup is let out till it 
 reaches to about a foot from the ground, the pommel is 
 grasped with the right hand, and with a spring the rider 
 is in her seat. The stirrup is then adjusted to its proper 
 length. Unless the horse be very quiet the groom must 
 stand at his head during this process of mounting. 
 
 Mounting from a chair or a pair of steps is certainly not 
 an accomplishment I should recommend ladies to indulge 
 in ; still, there are occasions when the friendly aid of a low 
 wall, a stile, the bar of a gate, or even a wheelbarrow, comes 
 handy. In such a predicament, take the bridoon across the 
 palm of the left hand, and drawing the bit rein through on 
 each side of the little or third finger till the horse's mouth be 
 felt, place the right foot in the stirrup, grasp the leaping-head 
 with the left and the upright pommel with the right hand, 
 
now TO MOUNT. 
 
 19 
 
 and spring into the saddle, turning round, left about, in sq 
 doing. When in the saddle, disengage the right foot from 
 the stirrup and throw the right leg over the upright head.. 
 
 MOUNTING — SECOND POSITION. 
 
 When the lady is in the saddle, that is, seated on it, not in 
 riding position but before throwing her right leg over the 
 crutch, the groom, without releasing the hold of her foot 
 altogether, adjusts the folds of the habit, care being taken 
 that there is no crease or fold between the right knee and 
 
20 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 the saddle. This, in the case of a Zenith, is a matter 
 speedily arranged, and, the adjustment being to her satisfac- 
 tion, she at once pivots on the centre, and raises her right 
 leg into its place over the crutch. The foot is then placed in 
 the stirrup. When a good seat has been acquired, and the 
 rider does not encumber herself with needless underclothing, 
 this arrangement of habit had best be deferred till the horse 
 is in motion ; she can then raise herself in the saddle by 
 straightening the left knee, and, drawing herself forward by 
 grasping the pommel with the right hand, arrange the 
 folds to her entire satisfaction with the left. 
 
 Attention must be paid to the length of the stirrup, for on 
 it depends greatly the steadiness of the seat. Many ladies 
 are seen riding with a short stirrup ; but this is an error, for it 
 destroys the balance, without which there can be no elegance, 
 invariably causes actual cramp and gives a cramped appear- 
 ance, forces the rider out of the centre of the saddle, so 
 that the weight on the horse's back is unevenly distributed, 
 and displays too much daylight when rising in the trot. On 
 the other hand, too long a stirrup is equally objectionable, as 
 it causes the body to lean unduly over to the near side in 
 order to retain hold of it, depresses and throws back the 
 left shoulder, and destroys the squareness of position. The 
 length of stirrup should be just sufficient that the rider, by 
 leaning her right hand on the pommel, can, without any 
 strain on the instep, raise herself clear of the saddle ; this 
 implies that the knee will be only bent sufficiently to main- 
 tain the upward pressure of the knee against the concave 
 leaping-head. The stirrup is intended as a support to the 
 foot, not as an appiii to ride from ; it is not intended to 
 sustain the full weight of the body, and when so misapplied 
 is certain to establish a sore back. I am strongly of opinion 
 that to be in all respects perfect in the equestrian art, a 
 
now TO MOUNT. 21 
 
 lady should learn, in the first instance, to ride without 
 a stirrup, so as, under any circumstances that may arise, 
 to be able to do without this appendage. Those who 
 aspire to honours in the hunting-field certainly should ac- 
 custom themselves to dispense with the stirrup, as by so 
 doing they will acquire a closer and firmer seat ; moreover, 
 its absence teaches the beginner, better than any other 
 method, to ride from balance, which is the easiest and best 
 form of equitation for both horse and rider. Many horse- 
 women are under the impression that it is impossible to rise 
 without the aid of the stirrup, but that such is not the case 
 a course of stirrupless training will soon prove. I do not 
 suggest that riding thus should be made a habit, but only 
 strenuously advocate its practice. 
 
 A very general fault, and an extremely ugly one among 
 lady riders, is the habit of sticking out the right foot in front 
 of the saddle. It is not only unsightly, but loosens the hold, 
 for if the toe be stuck out under the habit like a flying jib- 
 boom, the leg becomes the bowsprit, and it is impossible 
 for a straightened leg to grip the crutch. Bend the knee 
 well, keep the toe slightly down, and this ugly habit is beyond 
 the pale of possibility. This ungraceful posture may be 
 caused by the pommels being placed so near together that 
 there is not sufficient room for the leg to lie and bend easily, 
 but this excuse will not hold good in the case of the 
 straight-seat-safety-side-saddle, for it has only one pommel 
 or crutch and one leaping-head. 
 
 Having got the lady into her saddle, we next attempt so 
 to instruct her that it may be remarked — - 
 
 "The rider sat erect and fair."' — ScoTT, 
 
RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 The Seat. 
 
 Hitherto, during the process of mounting and settling her- 
 self comfortably, the reins have been in the rider's right hand. 
 Now that women can sit square and look straight out and 
 over their horses' ears, much more latitude is permitted in 
 
 MOUNTED— ^NEAR SIDE. 
 
 the hold of the reins. It is no longer essential to hold them 
 only in the left hand, for as often as not — always in hunting 
 or at a hand-gallop — both hands are on the bridle. But, as 
 a rule, the left should be the bridle hand, for if the reins be 
 held in the right, and the horse, as horses often will, gets his 
 
THE SEAT. 23 
 
 head down or bores, the right shoulder is drawn forward, and 
 the left knee, as a matter of course, being drawn back from 
 under, loses its upward pressure against the leaping-head, 
 and the safety of the seat is jeopardized. Were the rein to 
 give way the rider would probably fall backwards off the 
 horse over his off-quarter. On the other hand, when the 
 reins are all gathered into the left hand, the harder the 
 horse may take the bit in his teeth, and the lower he may 
 carry his head, the firmer must be the grip of the crutch 
 and the greater the pressure against the leaping-head. 
 
 As the reins must not be gathered up all in a bunch, I give 
 the following directions for placing them in the hand. If 
 riding with a snaffle, as always should be the case with 
 beginners, the reins ought to be separated, passing into the 
 hands between the third and fourth fingers, and out over the 
 fore or index-finger, where they are held by the thumb. In 
 the case of bit and bridoon (the bridoon rein has generally 
 a buckle where it joins, whereas that of the bit is stitched), 
 take up the bridoon rein across the inside of the hand, and 
 draw the bit rein through the hand on each side of the little 
 or third finger until the mouth of the horse be gently felt ; 
 turn the remainder of the rein along the inside of the hand, 
 and let it fall over the forefinger on to the off-side ; place 
 the bridoon rein upon those of the bit, and close the thumb 
 upon them all. 
 
 A second plan equally good is, when the horse is to be 
 ridden mainly on the bridoon : the bridoon rein is taken 
 up by the right hand and drawn flatly through on each side 
 of the second finger of the bridle-hand, till the horse's 
 mouth can be felt, when it is turned over the first joint 
 of the forefinger on to the off-side. The bit rein is next 
 taken up and drawn through on each side of the little 
 finger of the bridle-hand, till there is an equal, or nearly 
 
24 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 equal, length and feeling with the bridoon, and then laid 
 smoothly over the bridoon rein, with the thumb firmly placed 
 as a stopper upon both, to keep them from slipping. A 
 slight pressure of the little finger will bring the bit into play. 
 
 Thirdly, when the control is to be entirely from the bit or 
 curb ; the bit rein is taken up by the stitching by the right 
 hand within the bridoon rein, and drawn through on each 
 side of the little finger of the left or bridle-hand, until there 
 is a light and even feel on the horse's mouth ; it is then 
 turned over the first joint of the forefinger on the off-side. 
 The bridoon rein is next taken up by the buckle, under the 
 left hand, and laid smoothly over the left bit rein, leaving it 
 sufficiently loose to hang over each side of the horse's neck. 
 The thumb is then placed firmly on both reins, as above. 
 
 These different manipulations of the reins may be con- 
 veniently practised at home with reins attached to an elastic 
 band, the spring of the band answering to the " feel " on the 
 horse's mouth. But, in addition to these various systems of 
 taking up the reins, much has to be learnt in the direction of 
 separating, shortening, shifting, and so forth. With novices 
 the reins constantly and imperceptibly slip, in which case, 
 the ends of the reins hanging over the forefinger of the 
 bridle-hand are taken altogether into the right, the right 
 hand feels the horse's head, while the loosened fingers of the 
 bridle-hand are run up or down the reins, as required, till 
 they are again adjusted to the proper length, when the fingers 
 once more close on them. 
 
 In shifting reins to the right hand, to relieve cramp of 
 the fingers, and so forth, the right hand must always pass 
 over the left, and in replacing them the left hand must be 
 placed over the right. In order to shorten any one rein, 
 the right hand is used to pull on that part which hangs 
 beyond the thumb and forefinger. When a horse refuses 
 
Tim SEAT. 2 
 
 -D 
 
 obedience to the bridle-hand, it must be reinforced by the 
 right. The three first fingers of the right are placed over 
 the bridoon rein, so that the rein passes between the Httle 
 and third fingers, the end is then turned over the forefinger 
 and, as usual, the thumb is placed upon it. Expertness in 
 these "permutations and combinations " is only to be arrived 
 at by constant practice. They must be performed without 
 stopping the horse, altering his pace, or even glancing at 
 the hands. 
 
 The reins must not be held too loose, but tight enough 
 to keep touch of the horse's mouth; and, on the other 
 hand, there must be no attempt to hold on by the bridle, 
 or what is termed to "ride in the horse's mouth." A 
 short rein is objectionable ; there must be no '^ extension 
 motions," no reaching out for a short hold. The proper 
 position for the bridle-hand is immediately opposite the 
 centre of the waist, and about three or four inches from it, 
 that is, on a level with the elbow, and about three or four 
 inches away from the body. The elbow must neither be 
 squeezed or trussed too tightly to the side, nor thrust out 
 too far, but carried easily, inclining a little from the body. 
 According to strict manege canons, the thumb should be 
 uppermost, and the lower part of the hand nearer the 
 waist than the upper, the wrist a little rounded, and the 
 little finger in a line with the elbow. A wholesome laxity 
 in conforming to these hard-and-fast rules will be found to 
 add to the grace of the rider. Chaqtie pays chaqiie guise, and 
 no two horses are alike in the carriage of the head, the 
 sensitiveness of the mouth, and in action.^ Like ourselves, 
 they all have their own pecufiarities. 
 
o 
 
 1—1 
 
 H 
 O 
 
 < 
 
 o 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 < 
 
 O 
 t— I 
 
THE WALK. 27 
 
 The Walk. 
 
 The rider is now seated on what — in the case of a begin- 
 ner — should be an absolutely quiet, good-tempered, and 
 perfectly trained horse. Before schooling her as to seat, 
 we will ask her to move forward at the walk. At first it 
 is better to have the horse led by a leading rein till the 
 debutante is accustomed to the motion and acquires some 
 stock of confidence. She must banish from her mind all 
 thoughts of tumbling off. We do not instruct after this 
 fashion : — Lady (after having taken several lessons at two 
 guineas a dozen) loq. : "Well, Mr. Pummell, have I made 
 any good progress?" "Well, I can't say, ma'am," replies 
 the instructor, " as 'ow you rides werry well as yet, but you 
 falls off, ma'am, a deal more gracefuller as wot you did 
 at first." We do not say that falls must not be expected, 
 but in mere hack and park riding they certainly ought to 
 be few and far between. At a steady and even fast walk 
 the merest tyro cannot, unless bent on experiencing the 
 sensation of a tumble, possibly come to the ground. Doubt- 
 less the motion is passing strange at first, and the beginner 
 may be tempted to clutch nervously at the pommel of her 
 saddle, a very bad and unsightly habit, and one that, if not 
 checked from the very first, grows apace and remains. 
 
 It is during the walk that the seat is formed, and the 
 rider makes herself practically acquainted with the rules 
 laid down on the handling of the reins. A press of the left 
 leg, a light touch of the whip on the off-side, and a " klk " 
 will promptly put the horse in motion. He may toss his 
 head, and for a pace or two become somewhat unsteady ; 
 this is not vice but mere freshness, and he will almost im- 
 mediately settle down into a quick, sprightly step, measuring 
 
O 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 P4 
 
 S5 
 
 o 
 
 fcr-< 
 H 
 
 K 
 
 O 
 I— I 
 
 y^ - > ^ i/ V-, N\ A • ' 
 
 -/ • .^J \ 
 
THE WALK. 29 
 
 each pace exactly, and marking regular cadence, the knee 
 moderately bent, the leg, in the case of what Paddy terms 
 ''a flippant shtepper," being sharply caught up, appearing 
 suspended in the air for a second, and the foot brought 
 smartly and firmly, without jar, to the ground. This is the 
 perfection of a walking pace. By degrees any nervousness 
 wears off, the rigid trussed appearance gives place to one 
 of pliancy and comparative security, the body loses its 
 constrained stiffness, and begins to conform to and sway 
 with the movements of the horse. The rider, sitting per- 
 fectly straight and erect, approaches the correct position, 
 and lays the foundation of that ease and bearing which are 
 absolutely indispensable. 
 
 After a lesson or two, if not of the too-timid order, the 
 lady will find herself sitting just so far forward in the 
 saddle as is consistent with perfect ease and comfort, and 
 with the full power to grasp the upright crutch firmly with 
 her right knee ; she will be aware of the friendly grip of 
 the leaping-head over her left leg ; the weight of her body 
 will fall exactly on the centre of the saddle; her head, 
 though erect, will be perfectly free from constraint, the 
 shoulders well squared, and the hollow of the back grace- 
 fully bent in, as in waltzing. This graceful pose of the 
 figure may be readily acquired, throughout the prelimi- 
 nary lessons, and indeed on all occasions when under 
 tuition,^by passing the right arm behind the waist, back of 
 the hand to the body, and riding with it in that position. 
 Another good plan, which can only be practised in the 
 riding-school or in some out-of-the-way quiet corner, and 
 then only on a very steady horse, is for the beginner, with- 
 out relaxing her grip on the crutch and the pressure on the 
 leaping-head, as she sits, to lean or recline back so that her 
 two shoulder-blades touch the hip-boneg of the horse, re- 
 
30 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 covering herself and regaining her upright position without 
 the aid of the reins. The oftener this gymnastic exercise 
 is performed the better. 
 
 At intervals during the lessons she should also, having 
 dropped her bridle, assiduously practise the extension mo- 
 tions performed by recruits in our military-riding schools. 
 \See Appendix.'] The excellent effects of this physical 
 training will soon be appreciated. But, irrespective of the 
 accuracy of seat, suppleness and strength of limb, confi- 
 dence and readiness these athletic exercises beget, they 
 may, when least expected, save the rider's life. Some of 
 those for whose instruction I have the honour to write, may 
 find themselves placed in a critical situation, when the 
 ability to lie back or "duck" may save them from a 
 fractured skull. 
 
 Inclining the body forward is, from the notion that it 
 tends towards security, a fault very general with timid 
 riders.. Nothing, however, in the direction of safety, is 
 further from the fact. Should the horse, after a visit to the 
 farrier and the usual senseless free use of the smith's draw- 
 ing and paring-knife, tread upon a rolling stone and "peck," 
 the lady, leaning forward, is suddenly thrown still further 
 forward, her whole weight is cast upon his shoulders, so he 
 "of the tender foot" comes down and sends his rider flying 
 over his head. A stoop in the figure is wanting in smart- 
 ness, and is unattractive. 
 
 It is no uncommon thing to see ladies sitting on their 
 horses in the form of the letter S, and the effect can hardly 
 be described as charming. This inelegant position, assumed 
 by the lady in the distance, is caused by being placed too 
 much over to the right in the saddle, owing to a too short 
 stirrup. In attempting to preserve the balance, the body 
 from the waist upwards has a strong twisted lean-over to 
 

 
 ^3/; ^ 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Q 
 
 < 
 
 a 
 o 
 
 I 
 
 ►J 
 <: 
 > 
 
 l-H 
 
 H 
 
 ?^ 
 
 J?; 
 
32 
 
 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 the left, the neck, to counteract this lateral contortion of 
 the spine, being bent over to the right, the whole pose 
 conveying the impression that the rider must be a cripple 
 braced up in surgeon's irons and other appliances. Not 
 less hideous, and equally prevalent, is the habit of sitting 
 too much to the left, and leaning over in that direction 
 several degrees out of the perpendicular. A novice is apt 
 to contract this leaning-seat from the apprehension, existing 
 in the mind of timid riders, that they must fall off from 
 the off rather than from the near side, so they incline away 
 from the supposed danger. Too long a stirrup is sometimes 
 answerable for this crab-like posture. In both of these 
 awkward postures, the seat becomes insecure, and the due 
 exercise of the " aids " impossible. What is understood by 
 " aids " in the language of the schools are the motions and 
 proper application of the bridle-hand, leg, and heel to 
 control and direct the turnings and paces of the horse. 
 
 The expression "riding by balance" has been frequently 
 used, and as it is the essence of good horsemanship, I 
 describe it in the words of an expert as consisting in " a 
 foreknowledge of what direction any given motion of the 
 horse would throw the body, and a ready adaptation of the 
 whole frame to the proper position, before the horse has 
 completed his change of attitude or action; it is that 
 disposition of the person, in accordance with the movements 
 of the horse, which preserves it from an improper inclina- 
 tion to one side or the other, which even the ordinary paces 
 of the horse in the trot or gallop will occasion." In brief, 
 it is the automatic inclination of the person of the rider 
 to the body of the horse by which the equilibrium is 
 maintained. 
 
 The rider having to some extent perfected herself in 
 walking straight forward, inclining and turning to the right 
 
THE TROT. 33 
 
 and to the right about, and in executing the same move- 
 ments to the left, on all of which I shall have a few words 
 to say later, and when she can halt, rein back, and is generally 
 handy with her horse at the walk, she may attempt a slow 
 Trot, and here her sorrows may be said to begin. 
 
 The Trot. 
 
 In this useful but trying pace the lady must sit well down 
 on her saddle, rising and falling in unison with the action 
 of the horse, springing lightly but not too highly by the 
 action of the horse coupled with the flexibility of the instep 
 and the knee. As the horse breaks from the walk into the 
 faster pace, it is best not to attempt to rise from the saddle 
 till he has fairly settled down to his trot — better for a few 
 paces to sit back, somewhat loosely, and bump the saddle. 
 The rise from the saddle is to be made as perpendicularly 
 as possible, though a slight forward inclination of the body 
 from the loins, but not with roached-back, may be permitted, 
 and only just so high as to prevent the jar that ensues from 
 the movements of the rider with the horse not being in 
 unison. The return of the body to the saddle must be 
 quiet^ light, and unlaboured. Here it is that the practice 
 without a stirrup will stand the novice in good stead. 
 
 This pace is the most difficult of all to ladies, and few there 
 be that attain the art of sitting square and gracefully at this 
 gait, and who rise and fall in the saddle seemingly without 
 an effort and without riding too much in the horse's mouth. 
 Most women raise themselves by holding on to the bridle. 
 Instead of rising to the right, so that they can glance down 
 the horse's shoulder, and descending to left, and thus regain 
 the centre of the saddle, they persist in rising over the 
 horse's left shoulder, and come back on to the saddle in 
 
 D 
 
THE TROT. 35 
 
 the direction of his off-quarter. This twist of the body to 
 the left destroys the purchase of the foot and knee, and 
 unsteadies the position and hands. Though I have sanc- 
 tioned a sHght leaning forward as the horse breaks into his 
 trot, it must not be overdone, for should he suddenly throw 
 up his head his poll may come in violent contact with the 
 rider's face and forehead, causing a blow that may spoil her 
 beauty, if not knock her senseless. 
 
 \ Till the rider can hit off the secret of rising, she will be 
 severely shaken up — ^'churned " as a well-known horsewoman 
 describes the jiggiddy-joggoddy motion, — the teeth feel as if 
 they would be shaken out of their sockets, and stitch-in-the- 
 side puts in its unwelcome appearance. Certes, the pre- 
 liminary lessons are very trying ones, the disarrangement of 
 ''the get-up" too awful, the fatigue dreadful, the alarm no 
 trifle. Nothing seems easier, and yet nothing in the art 
 equestrian is so difficult — not to men with their two stirrups, 
 but to women with one only available. AVhat is more 
 grotesque, ridiculous, and disagreeable than a rider rising 
 and faUing in the saddle at a greater and lesser speed than 
 that of her horse ? And yet, fair reader, if you will have 
 a little patience, a good deal of perseverance, some de- 
 termination, and will attend to the hints I give, you shall, 
 in due course, be mistress over the difficulty, and rise and 
 fall with perfect ease and exquisite grace, free from all 
 emharras or undue fatigue. 
 
 First of all, we must put you on a very smooth, easy, and 
 sedate trotter ; by-and-by we may transfer your saddle to 
 something more sharp and lively, perhaps even indulge you 
 with a mount on a regular "bone-setter." To commence 
 with, the lessons, or rather trotting bouts, shall be short, 
 there shall be frequent halts, and during these halts I shall 
 make you drop your reins and put you through extension 
 
36 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 and balance motions, endeavour to correct your position 
 on the saddle, catechize you closely on the " aids," and 
 introduce as much variety as possible. 
 
 Before urging your steed into his wild six or seven-mile- 
 an-hour career, please bear in mind that you must not rise 
 suddenly, or with a jerk, but quietly and smoothly, letting 
 the impetus come from the motion of the horse. The 
 rise from the saddle must not be initiated by a long pull 
 and strong pull at his mouth, a spasmodic grip of your 
 right leg on the crutch, or a violent attempt to raise 
 yourself in the air from your stirrup. The horse will not 
 accommodate his action to yours, you must " take him on the 
 hop," as the saying is. If horse and rider go disjointly, or 
 you do not harmonize your movements with his, then it is 
 something as unpleasant as dancing a waltz with a partner 
 who won't keep time, or rowing '' spoonful about." 
 
 Falling in with the trot of a horse is at first very difficult. 
 In order to faciHtate matters as much as possible, you shall, 
 for a few days, substitute the old-fashioned slipper for the 
 stirrup, as then the spring will come from the toes and not 
 from the hollow of the foot ; this will lessen the exertion 
 and be easier. If nature has happened to fashion you some- 
 what short from the hip to the knee, and you will attend to 
 instruction and practice frequently, the chances are strong in 
 your favour of conquering the irksome " cross-jolt." Sepa- 
 rate your reins, taking one in each hand, feeling the mouth 
 equally with both reins, sit well down lOn your saddle, keep 
 your left foot pointed straight to the front, don't attempt to 
 move till the horse has steadied into his trot, which, in case 
 of a well trained animal, will be in a stride or two, then en- 
 deavour, obeying the impulse of his movement, to time the 
 rise. 
 
 A really perfectly broken horse, " supplied on both 
 
THE TROT. 37 
 
 hands," as it is termed, leads, in the trot as in the canter, 
 equally well with either leg, but, in both paces, a very 
 large majority have a favourite leading leg. By glanc- 
 ing over the right shoulder the time for the rise may be 
 taken. Do not be disheartened by repeated failures to 
 "catch on;" persevere, and suddenly you will hit it off. 
 When the least fatigued, pull up into a walk, and when 
 rested have another try. At the risk of repetition, I agam 
 impress on you the necessity of keeping the toe jof the left 
 foot pointed to the front, the foot itself back, and with the 
 heel depressed. Your descent into the saddle should be 
 such that any one you may be riding straight at, shall see a 
 part of your right shoulder and hip as they rise and fall, his 
 line of vision being directed along the off-side of the horse's 
 neck. When these two portions of your body are so visible 
 then the weight is in its proper place, and there is no fear of 
 the saddle being dragged over the horse's near shoulder. For 
 a few strides there is no objection to your taking a light hold 
 of the pommel with the right hand, in order to time the rise, 
 but the moment the " cross-jolt" ceases, and you find your- 
 self moving in unison with the horse, the hold must be re- 
 laxed. Some difficulty will be found in remaining long 
 enough out of the saddle at each rise to avoid descending 
 too soon, and thus receive a double cross-jolt ; but this will 
 be overcome after a few attempts. Keep the hands well 
 down and the elbows in. 
 
 Varying the speed in the trot will be found excellent 
 practice for the hands; the faster a horse goes, generally 
 speaking, the easier he goes. He must be kept going " well 
 within himself," that is he must not be urged to trot at a 
 greater speed than he can compass with true and equal 
 action. Some very fast trotters, " daisy cutters," go with so 
 little upward jerk that it is almost impossible to rise on 
 
38 
 
 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 them at all. Any attempt at half-cantering with his hind 
 legs must be at once checked by pulling him together, and, 
 by slowing him down, getting him back into collected form. 
 Should he "break" badly, from being over-paced, into a 
 canter or hard-gallop, then rein him in, pulling up, if need 
 
 THE TROT, 
 
 be, into a walk, chiding him at the same time. When he 
 again brings his head in and begins to step clean, light, and 
 evenly, then let him resume his trot. If not going up to 
 his bit and hanging heavy on the hand, move the bit in his 
 mouth, let him feel the leg, and talk to him. Like our- 
 
7IIE CANTER. 39 
 
 selves, horses are not up to the mark every day, and though 
 they do not go to heated theatres and crowded ball-rooms, 
 or indulge as some of their masters and mistresses are said 
 to do, they too often spend twenty hours or more out of 
 the twenty-four in the vitiated atmosphere of a hot, badly 
 ventilated stable, and their insides are converted into apothe- 
 caries' shops by ignorant doctoring grooms. When a free 
 horse does not face his bit, he is either fatigued or some- 
 thing is amiss. 
 
 The Canter. 
 
 Properly speaking, this being, /«?/- excellence, the lady's pace, 
 the instruction should precede that of the trot. The com- 
 parative ease of the canter, and the readiness with which the 
 average pupil takes to it, induces the beginner to at once 
 indulge in it. It is, on a thoroughly trained horse, so agree- 
 able that the uninitiated at once acquire confidence on 
 horseback. Moreover, it is the pace at which a fine figure 
 and elegant lady-like bearing is most conspicuously dis- 
 played, and for this, if for no other reason, the pupil applies 
 lierself earnestly — shall I say lovingly ? — to perfect herself 
 in this delightful feature of the art. On a light-actioned 
 horse, one moving as it were on springs, going well on his 
 haunches, and well up to his bit, the motion is as easy as 
 that of a rocking-chair. All the rider has to do is to sit 
 back, keep ^the body quite flexible and in the centre of 
 the saddle, preserve the balance, and, with pressure from the 
 left leg and heel, and a touch of the whip, keep him up to 
 his bit. She will imperceptibly leave ihe saddle at every 
 stride, which, in a slow measured canter, will be reduced 
 to a sort of rubbing motion, just sufficient to ease the slight 
 jolt caused by the action of the haunches and hind legs. 
 
 Many park-horses and ladies' hacks are trained to spring 
 
46 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 at once, without breaking into a run or trot, into the canter. 
 All the rider has to do is to raise the hand ever so little, press 
 him with the leg, touch him with the whip, and give him the 
 unspellable signal "klk." The movement or sway of the 
 body should follow that of the horse. As soon as he is in his 
 stride, the rider throws back her body a little, and places her 
 hand in a suitable position. If the horse carries his head well, 
 the hand ought to be about three inches from the pommel, 
 and at an equal distance from the body. For " star-gazers " 
 it should be lower ; and for borers it should be raised higher. 
 Once properly under way the lady will study that almost 
 imperceptible willow-like bend of the back, her shoulders 
 will be thrown back gracefully, the mere suspicion of a 
 swing accommodating itself to the motion of the horse will 
 come from the pliant waist, and she will yield herself just 
 a little to the opposite side from that the horse's leading 
 leg is on. If he leads with the off-foot, he inclines a 
 trifle to the left, and the rider's body and hands must turn 
 but a little to the left also, and vice versa. 
 
 It is the rider's province to direct which foot the horse 
 shall lead with. To canter with the left fore leg leading, the 
 extra bearing will be upon the left rein, the little finger 
 turned up towards the right shoulder, the hint from the 
 whip — a mere touch should suffice — being on the right 
 shoulder or flank. It is essential that the bearing upon the 
 mouth, a light playing touch, should be preserved through- 
 out the whole pace. If the horse should, within a short 
 distance — say a mile or so, — flag, then he must be reminded 
 by gentle application of the whip. He cannot canter 
 truly and bear himself handsomely unless going up to his 
 bit. The rider must feel the cadence of every pace, and 
 be able to extend or shorten the stride at will. It is 
 an excellent plan to change the leading leg frequently. 
 
THE CANTER. 41 
 
 SO that upon any disturbance of pace, going "false," 
 or change of direction, the rider may be equal to the 
 occasion. The lady must be careful that the bridle-arm 
 does not acquire the ugly habit of leaving the body and the 
 elbow of being stuck out of it akimbo. All the movements 
 of the hand should proceed from the wrist, the bearings 
 and play on the horse's mouth being kept up by the little 
 finger. 
 
 Ladies will find that most horses are trained to lead entirely 
 with the off leg, and that when, from any disturbance of 
 pace, they are forced to " change step " and lead with the 
 near leg, their action becomes very awkward and uneven. 
 Hence they are prone to regard cantering with the near leg 
 as disagreeable. But when they come to use their own 
 horses, they will find it good economy to teach them to 
 change the leading leg constantly, both during the canter 
 and at the commencement of the pace. To make a horse 
 change foot in his canter, if he cannot be got readily to do 
 so by hand, leg, and heel, turn him to the right, as if to 
 circle, and he will lead with the off foreleg, and by repeat- 
 ing the same make-believe manoeuvre to the left, the near 
 fore will be in front. The beginner, however, had better 
 pull up into the walk before attempting this change. When 
 pulling up from the canter, it is best and safest to let the 
 horse drop into a trot for a few paces and so resume the 
 walk. 
 
 ■ There is no better course of tuition by which to 
 acquire balance than the various inclinations to the right 
 and left, the turns to the right and left and to the right and 
 left-about at the canter, all of which, with the exception of 
 the full turns, should be performed on the move without 
 halting. In the turn-about, it is necessary to bring the horse 
 to a momentary halt before the turn be commenced, and 
 
42 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 SO soon as he has gone about and the turn is fully completed, 
 a lift of the hand and a touch of the leg and heel should 
 instanter compel him to move forward at the canter in the 
 opposite direction ; he must no sooner be round than off. 
 When no Riding-school is available, one constructed of 
 hurdles closely laced with gorse, on the sheep-lambing 
 principle, will answer all purposes. Should the horse be at 
 all awkward or unsteady, the hurdles, placed one on the top 
 of the other and tied to uprights driven into the ground, 
 closely interlaced with the gorse so that he cannot see 
 through or over the barrier, will form a perfect, retired 
 exercise ground. A plentiful surface dressing of golden- 
 peat-moss-litter will save his legs and feet. In a quiet 
 open impromptu school of this description, away from 
 *' the madding crowd," I have schooled young horses so 
 that they would canter almost on their own ground, circling 
 round a bamboo lance shaft, the point in the ground and 
 the butt in my right hand, without changing legs or altering 
 pace, and they would describe the figure eight with almost 
 mathematical precision, changing leg at every turn without 
 any " aid " from me, a mere inchnation of the body bringing 
 them round the curves. A horse very handy with his legs 
 can readily change them at the corners when making the 
 full right-angle turn, but there is always at first the danger of 
 one not so clever' attempting to execute the turn by crossing 
 the leading leg over the supporting one, when the rider will 
 be lucky to get off with an awkward stumble — a " cropper " 
 will most likely follow. When at this private practice, 
 '' make much of your horse " — that is, caress and speak 
 kindly to him, when he does well ; in fact, the more he is 
 spoken to throughout the lesson, the better for both parties. 
 So good and discriminating is a horse's ear that he soon 
 learns to appreciate the difference between kindly approval 
 
THE CANTER. 
 
 43 
 
 and stern censure. A sympathy between horse and rider is 
 soon estabHshed, and such freemasonry is delightful. - 
 
 Never canter on the high road, and see that your 
 groom does not indulge himself by so doing. On elastic 
 springy turf the pace, which in reality is a series of short 
 bounds, if not continued too long at a time, does no great 
 
 
 ^>y/^ 
 
 ^yy. 
 
 FREE BUT NOT EASY. 
 
 harm, but one mile on a hard, unyielding surface causes more 
 wear-and-tear of joints, shoulders, and frame generally, than 
 a long day's work of alternating walk and trot which, on the 
 Queen's highway, are the proper paces*. There is no ob- 
 jection to a canter when a bit of turf is found on the road- 
 side ; and the little drains cut to lead the water off the turn- 
 pike into the ditch serve to make young horses handy with 
 their legs. 
 
44 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 The Hand-gallop and Gallop. 
 
 The rider should not attempt either of these accelerated 
 paces till quite confident that she has the horse under com- 
 plete control. As the hand-gallop is only another and 
 quickened form of the canter, in which the stride is both 
 lengthened and hastened, or, more correctly speaking, in 
 which the bounds are longer and faster, the same rules are 
 applicable to both. Many horses, especially those through 
 whose veins strong hot blood is pulsing, fairly revel in the 
 gallop, and if allowed to gain upon the hand, will soon ex- 
 tend the hand-gallop to full-gallop, and that rapid pace into 
 a runaway. The rider must, therefore, always keep her 
 horse well in hand, so as to be able to slacken speed should 
 he get up too much steam. Some, impatient of restraint, 
 will shake their heads, snatch at their bits, and yaw about, 
 " fighting for their heads," as it is termed, and will endeavour 
 to bore and get their heads down. 
 
 A well-trained horse, one such as a beginner should ride, 
 will not play these pranks and will not take a dead pull at 
 the rider's hands; on the contrary, he will stride along 
 quite collectedly, keeping his head in its proper place, 
 and taking just sufficient hold to make things pleasant. 
 But horses with perfect mouths and manners are, like 
 angels' visits, few and far between, and are eagerly sought 
 after by those fortunate beings to whom money is no 
 object. To be on the safe side, the rider should always 
 be on the alert and prepared to at once apply the brake. 
 When fairly in his stride and going comfortably, the rider, 
 leaning slightly forward, should, with both hands on the 
 bridle, give and take with each stroke, playing the while 
 with the curb ; she should talk cheerily to him, but the least 
 
THE HAND'GALLOP AND GALLOP, 45 
 
 effort on his part to gain upon the hand must be at once 
 checked. The play of the Httle fingers on the curb keeps 
 his mouth aUve, prevents his hanging or boring, and makes 
 it sensible to the rider's hand. 
 
 *' Keeping a horse in hand" means that there is such a 
 system of communication established between the rider 
 and the quadruped that the former is mistress of the situa- 
 tion, and knows, almost before the horse has made up his 
 mind what to do, what is coming. This keeping in hand 
 is one of the secrets of fine horsemanship, and it especially 
 suits the light-hearted mercurial sort of goer, one that is 
 always more or less off the ground or in the air, one of 
 those that " treads so light he scarcely prints the plain." 
 
 My impression is, despite the numerous bits devised and 
 advertised to stop runaways, that nothing short of a long and 
 steep hill, a steam-cultivated, stiff clay fallow, or the Bog of 
 Allen, will stop the determined bolt of a self-willed, callous- 
 mouthed horse. There is no use pulling at him, for the 
 more you pull the harder he hardens his heart and his mouth. 
 The only plan, if there be plenty of elbow room, is to let 
 him have his wicked way a bit, then, with one mighty con- 
 centrated effort to give a sudden snatch at the bit, followed 
 by instantly and rapidly drawing, "sawing," of the bridoon 
 through his mouth. Above all, keep your presence of mind, 
 and if by any good luck you can so pilot the brute as to make 
 him face an ascent, drive him up it — if it be as steep as the 
 roof of a house, so much the better, — plying whip and spur, 
 till he be completely " pumped out " and dead beat. Faihng 
 a steep hill, perhaps a ploughed field -may present itself, 
 through and round which he should be ridden, in the very 
 fullest sense of the word, till he stands still. Such a horse 
 is utterly unfit to carry a lady, and, should she come safe 
 and sound out of the uncomfortable ride, he had better 
 
45 RIDING FOR LADIES, 
 
 be consigned to Tattersall's or "The Lane," to be sold 
 " absolutely without reserve." 
 
 Worse still than the runaway professional bolter is the 
 panic-stricken flight of a suddenly scared horse, in which 
 abject terror reigns supreme, launching him at the top of his 
 speed in full flight from some imaginary foe. Nature has 
 taught him to seek safety in flight, and the frightened animal, 
 with desperate and exhausting energy, will gallop till he drops. 
 Professor Galvayne's system claims to be effective with run- 
 away and nervous bolters. At Ayr that distinguished horse- 
 tamer cured, in the space of one hour, an inveterate performer 
 in that objectionable line, and a pair he now drives were, 
 at one time, given to like malpractices. 
 
 Do not urge your horse suddenly from a canter into a full 
 gallop ; let him settle down to his pace gradually— steady 
 him. Being jumped off, like a racehorse with a flying start 
 at the fall of the flag, is very apt to make a hot, high- 
 couraged horse run away or attempt to do so. Some horses, 
 however, allow great liberties to be taken with them, and 
 others none. All depends on temperament, and whether 
 the nervous, fibrous, sanguine, or lymphatic element prepon- 
 derates. And here let me remark that the fibrous tempera- 
 ment is the one to struggle and endure, to last the longest, 
 and to give the maximum of ease, comfort, and satisfaction 
 to owner and rider. 
 
 Leaping. 
 
 *' Throw the broad ditch behind you ; o'er the hedge 
 High bound, resistless j nor the deep morass refuse." 
 
 Thompson. 
 
 Though the '' pleasures of the chase " are purposely ex- 
 cluded from this volume, the horsewoman's preliminary 
 
LEAPING. 47 
 
 course of instruction would hardly be complete without a 
 few remarks on jumping. In clearing an obstacle, a horse 
 must to all intents and purposes go through all the motions 
 inherent to the vices of rearing, plunging, and kicking, yet 
 the three, when in rapid combination, are by no means 
 difficult to accommodate one's self to. It is best to com- 
 mence on a clever, steady horse — "a safe conveyance " that 
 will go quietly at his fences, jump them without an effort, 
 landing light as a cork, and one that will never dream of 
 refusing. As beginners, no matter what instructors may say 
 and protest, will invariably, for the first few leaps, till they 
 acquire confidence, grip, and balance, ride to some extent 
 " in the horse's mouth," they should be placed on an animal 
 with not too sensitive a mouth, one that can go pleasantly 
 in a plain snafile. 
 
 Begin with something low, simple, and easy — say a three 
 feet high gorsed hurdle, so thickly laced with the whin that 
 daylight cannot be seen through, with a low white-painted 
 rail some little distance from it on the take-off side. If 
 there be a ditch between the rail and the fence, so much the 
 better, for the more the horse spreads himself the easier it 
 will be to the rider, the jerk or prop on landing the less 
 severe. Some horses sail over the largest obstacle, land, 
 and are away again without their appearing to call upon 
 themselves for any extra exertion ; they clear it in their 
 stride. Hunters that know their business can be trotted up 
 to five-barred gates and stiff timber, which they will clear 
 with consummate ease ; but height and width require distinct 
 efforts, and the rear and kick in this mode of negotiating 
 a fence are so pronounced and so sudden that they would be 
 certain to unseat the novice. 
 
 It is easiest to sit a leap if the horse is ridden at it in 
 a canter or, at most, in a well-collected, slow hand-gallop. 
 
48 
 
 RIDING FOR LADIES, 
 
 The reins being held in both hands with a firm, steady 
 hold, the horse should be ridden straight at the spot you 
 have selected to jump. Sit straight, or, if anything out 
 of the perpendicular, lean a little back. The run at the 
 fence need only be a few yards. As he nears it, the 
 forward prick of his alert ears and a certain measuring 
 of his distance will indicate that he means " to have it," 
 
 THE LEAP. 
 
 and is gathering himself for the effort. The rider should 
 then, if she can persuade herself so to do, give him full 
 liberty of head. Certain instructors, and horsemen in 
 general, will prate glibly of " lifting" a horse over his fence. 
 I have read of steeplechase riders " throwing " their horses 
 over almost unnegotiable obstacles, but it is about as easy 
 to upend an elephant by the tail and throw him over the 
 
LEAPINC. 49 
 
 garden wall as it is for any rider to '' lift" his horse. Although 
 the horse must be made to feel, as he approaches the 
 fence, that it is utterly impossible for him to swerve from it, 
 yet the instant he is about to rise the reins should be slacked 
 off, to be almost immediately brought to bear again as he 
 descends. 
 
 Irish horses are the best jumpers we have, and their 
 excellence may justly be ascribed to the fact that, for the 
 most part, they are ridden in the snaffle bridle. If the 
 horse be held too light by the head he will " buck over " 
 the obstacle, a form of jumping well calculated to jerk the 
 beginner out of her saddle. After topping the hurdle, the 
 horse's forehand, in his descent, will be lower than his hind 
 quarters. Had the rider leant forward as he rose on his hind 
 legs, the violent effort or kick of his haunches would have 
 thrown her still further over his neck, whereas, having left 
 the ground with a slight incUnation towards the croup, 
 the forward spring of the horse will add to that backward 
 tendency and place her in the best possible position in 
 which to counteract the shock received upon his forefeet 
 reaching the ground. If the rider does not slacken the reins 
 as the horse makes his spring, they must either be drawn 
 through her hands or she will land right out on his neck. 
 
 I have referred to the *' buck-over" system of jumping* 
 which is very common with Irish horses. A mare of mine, 
 well-known in days of yore at Fermoy as " Up-she-rises, 
 would have puzzled even Mrs. Power O'Donoghue. She 
 would come full gallop, when hounds were running, at a 
 stone wall, pull up and crouch close under it, then, with 
 one mighty effort, throw herself over, her hind legs landing 
 on the other side little more than the thickness of the wall 
 from where her forefeet had taken off. It was not a 
 " buck," but a straight up-on-end rear, followed by a frantic 
 
 E 
 
 3> 
 
50 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 kick that threatened to hurl saddle and rider half across the 
 field. " Scrutator," in " Horses and Hounds," makes mention 
 of an Irish horse, which would take most extraordinary 
 leaps over gates and walls, and if going ever so fast would 
 always check himself and take his leaps after his own 
 fashion. " Not thinking him," writes this fine sportsman, 
 "up to my weight, he was handed over to the second 
 whipper-in, and treated Jack at first acquaintance to a 
 rattling fall or two. He rode him, as he had done his other 
 horses, pretty fast at a stiff gate, which came in his way the 
 first day. Some of the field, not fancying it, persuaded 
 Jack to try first, calculating upon his knocking it open, 
 or breaking the top bar. The horse, before taking off, 
 stopped quite short, and jerked him out of the saddle over 
 to the other side ; then raising himself on his hind legs, 
 vaulted over upon Jack, who was lying on his back. Not 
 being damaged, Jack picked himself up, and grinning at his 
 friends, who were on the wrong side laughing at his fall, 
 said, ' Never mind, gentlemen, 'tis a rum way of doing 
 things that horse has ; but no matter, we are both on the 
 right side, and that's where you won't be just yet.' " 
 
 The standing jump is much more difficult, till the neces- 
 sary balance be acquired, than the flying leap. The lower 
 and longer the curve described, the easier to sit ; but in 
 this description of leaping, the horse, though he clears 
 height, cannot cover much ground. His motion is like that 
 of the Whip's horse described above, and the rider will find 
 the effort, as he springs from his haunches, much more 
 accentuated than in the case of the flying leap, and there- 
 fore the more difficult to sit. As, however, leaping, 
 properly speaking, belongs to the hunting-field, I propose 
 to deal more fully with the subject in another volume. 
 
DISMOUNTING. 5t 
 
 Dismounting. 
 
 When the novice dismounts there should, at first, be two 
 persons to aid — one to hold the horse's head, the other to 
 lift her from the saddle. After a very few lessons, if the 
 lady be active and her hack a steady one, the services of 
 the former may be dispensed with. Of course the horse is 
 brought to full stop. Transfer the whip to the left hand, 
 throw the right leg over to the near side of the crutch and 
 disengage the foot from the stirrup. Let the reins fall on 
 the neck, see that the habit skirt is quite clear of the leap- 
 ing-head, turn in the saddle, place the left hand upon the 
 right arm of the cavaHer or squire, the right on the leaping- 
 head, and half spring half glide to the ground, lighting on 
 the balls of the feet, dropping a slight curtsey to break the 
 jar on the frame. Retain hold of the leaping-head till safely 
 landed. 
 
 Very few men understand the proper manner in which 
 to exercise the duties of the cavalier servant in mounting 
 and dismounting ladies. Many ladies not unreasonably 
 object to be Ufted off their horses almost into grooms' arms. 
 A correspondent of the Sporting a?id Dramatic N'ezus 
 mentions a contretemps to a somewhat portly lady in the 
 Crimea, whose husband, in hoisting her up on to her saddle 
 with more vigour than skill, sent his better half right over 
 the horse's back sprawling on the ground. It is by no means 
 an uncommon thing to see ladies, owing to want of lift on 
 the part of the lifter and general clu^msiness, failing to 
 reach the saddle and slipping down again. 
 
 Having dismounted, " make much " of your horse, and 
 give him a bit of carrot, sugar, apple, or some tid-bit. 
 Horses are particularly fond of apples. 
 
52 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE SIDE SADDLE. 
 
 It is of first-class importance that a lady's saddle should be 
 made by a respectable and thoroughly competent saddler. 
 Seeing the number of years a well-built and properly kept 
 side-saddle will last, it is but penny wise to grudge the 
 necessary outlay in the first instance. Those constructed 
 on the cheap machine-made system never give satisfaction 
 to the rider, are constantly in need of repair (grooms, if 
 permitted, are everlastingly in and out of the saddler's 
 shop), and are a prolific cause of sore backs. 
 
 With all saddles the chief cause, the source and origin, 
 of evil is badly constructed and badly fitting trees that take 
 an undue bearing on different parts of the back. At a 
 critical moment, when just a little extra exertion would 
 perhaps keep the horse on his legs, a somewhat tender 
 muscle or portion of " scalded " skin comes in painful con- 
 tact with some part of an ill-fitting saddle, the agony 
 causing him to wince, checks the impulse to extend the 
 " spare leg," and he comes down. It does not matter how 
 hard or heavy the rider may be, how tender the skin, a sore 
 back can be prevented by a proper system of measurement 
 and a good pannel. Mrs. Power O'Donoghue, in her 
 very interesting letters upon " Ladies on Horseback," 
 unsparingly condemns the elaborate embroideiy which 
 adorned (?) the near flap of every old-fashioned saddle, point- 
 ing out that as it is always concealed by the rider's right 
 leg, the work is a needless expense. "There might be 
 some sense," that brilliant and bold horsewoman says, 
 
THE SIDE SADDLE. 
 
 53 
 
 '• although very little, in decorating the off-side and impart- 
 ing to it somewhat of an ornamental appearance ; but in my 
 opinion there cannot be too much simplicity about any- 
 
 THE OLD STYLE. 
 
 thing connected with riding appointments. Let your saddle, 
 like your personal attire, be remarkable only for perfect 
 freedom from ornament or display. Have it made to suit 
 
54 
 
 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 yourself — neither too weighty nor yet too small, — and if 
 you want to ride with grace and comfort, desire that it be 
 constructed without one particle of the objectionable dip'^ 
 
 ..V >. ./l 
 
 ^-"^'''-j %i^--^ii^ s^/^!iiu. . 
 
 THE SAFETY SADDLE. 
 
 The foregoing two sketches, " The Old Style" and " The 
 Straight-Seated Safety," contrast the wide difference between 
 the old and fast disappearing form of side-saddle and that 
 
THE SIDE SADDLE, 
 
 55 
 
 designed and manufactured by Messrs. Champion and 
 Wilton. The disadvantages of the old style are so painfully 
 obvious that it is marvellous they should not have been 
 remedied years ago. On, or rather in^ one of these, the 
 lady sat in a dip or kind of basin, and unless her limbs were 
 of unusual length— thereby pushing her right knee towards 
 the off-side — she necessarily faced half-left, z.^., not her 
 horse's ears, but his near shoulder ; or, in order to attain 
 any squareness of front, she was called upon to twist her 
 body from the hips, 
 and to maintain a 
 most fatiguing, 
 forced position dur- 
 ing her whole ride 
 (even through . a 
 long day's hunting), 
 
 or else sit altogether on the near 
 side of her saddle. This twist was 
 the cause of the pains in the spine 
 so frequently complained of. More 
 than this, the height upon which her 
 pommels were raised caused her to 
 sit, as it were, uphill, or at best (in 
 the attempt on the part of the saddler to rectify this, by 
 stuffing up the seat of her saddle) to find herself perched 
 far above her horse's back. The natural expedient of carry- 
 ing the upper or middle pommel nearer. the centre of the 
 horse's withers, so as to bring the knee about in a line with 
 his mane, was impracticable with the old.style of saddle tree, 
 which gave the pommels a lofty, arched base above the apex 
 of his shoulders. The result was, in all cases, (i) great in- 
 convenience and often curvature of the spine to the rider, 
 (2) constant liability to sore back on the part of the horse, 
 
56 
 
 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 through the cross friction produced by the lady's one-sided 
 position. To meet and entirely remove the difficulty, Messrs. 
 Champion and Wilton pruned away all the forepart of the 
 saddle-tree, and, in place of the raised wood and metal base, 
 upon which the lady's right leg formerly rested, substituted 
 merely a stout leather flap or cushion. 
 
 As will be seen from the foregoing illustration, they were 
 by this arrangement able to place the upper pommel in what- 
 ever exact position the form of the rider may require, to 
 enable her to sit straight to her proper front, riding the 
 whole upon a level seat, and distributing her weight fairly 
 upon her horse's back. The importance of being in a 
 position to face her work and to hold her horse at his, 
 needs no comment. The small holster attached to the 
 saddle is an exceedingly ingenious air and water-tight 
 detachable receptacle for a reliable watch with a very 
 
 clearly marked dial. 
 f^ The rider thus 
 always has the time 
 before her eyes, and 
 is saved the great 
 inconvenience — in 
 the hunting - field 
 especially — of un- 
 buttoning the habit 
 to get out a watch. 
 This invention, 
 though not a ne- 
 cessity, is a very 
 handy adjunct. 
 This superlatively 
 good saddle is fitted with a Patent Safety-Stirrup Bar, 
 which, while it renders it impossible for the rider to be 
 
THE SIDE SADDLE. 
 
 57 
 
 hung up or dragged when thrown, cannot possibly become 
 detached so long as she remains in the saddle. The action 
 of this perfect safeguard is explained by the accompanying 
 diagrams. 
 
 The back of the bar is fixed to the tree in the ordinary 
 way. There are only two moving parts, viz. the hinged 
 hook-piece, marked A, Figs, i, 2, and 3, upon which the 
 loop of the stirrup-leather is hung, and the locking bar, B, 
 upon which the skirt and the rider's legs rest. It will be 
 noticed that the front of the hook-piece, marked A, Fig. i, 
 is cut off diagonally 
 front and back, and 
 that there is upon 
 the back-plate a 
 cone, marked C, 
 which projects 
 through the back of 
 the hook-piece. The 
 locking action may 
 be thus described : 
 The skirt, with lever, pm -A 
 B, Fig. 2, is lifted, the 1 ■ ma 
 
 hook. A, pulled for- 
 ward, and the loop 
 of the stirrup-leather 
 hooked upon it; it 
 springs back again 
 
 (spring not shown) fjC 5 
 
 and the locking lever, 
 B, falls down over it, 
 as at Fig 3. While in the saddle, one of the rider's legs rests 
 at all times upon the skirt and lever, which therefore cannot 
 rise; but upon the rider being thrown and dragged, the stirrup- 
 
58 
 
 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 leather is tilted diagonally against the cone, C, in passing 
 which the hook is thrust outwards, lifting the locking lever 
 and skirt, as shown, Fig. 2, and thus reaching the releasing 
 point, is free. There is another case more rare, that in 
 which the rider is thrown over the horse's head, and also 
 over a gate or fence when the horse refuses and backs ; and 
 
 here we have just the reverse action to that of the ordinary 
 dragging, but in this case the bar acts equally well. When 
 the rider is thrown and dragged on the off or reverse side, 
 the stirrup-leather lifts the skirt and locking lever, Fig. 2, 
 and there remains nothing to retain the loop to the bar. 
 The above sketch of the side-saddle will aid in making 
 
THE SIDE SADDLE. 59 
 
 the foregoing clear. Here A is the skirt, and locking lever, 
 B, shown raised, in order to fit the loop of the stirrup- 
 leather to the hook C below the cone D. 
 
 A balance strap is usually supplied with a side-saddle, and 
 is a very desirable adjunct. Ds also, to which the cover-coat 
 is attached, should be fitted on. 
 
 Quilted or plain doeskin seat and pommels are matters 
 of taste. These extras add to the cost of the saddle. A 
 waterproof or leather cover is an essential. Hogskin caps 
 and straps, to prevent the habit catching on the pommels, 
 should be provided when', the new patent safety-bar stirnip 
 is not used. 
 
 AVhen practicable a lady should invariably be measured 
 for her saddle. It is almost impossible to find a lady's horse 
 that at some time or another has not suffered from sore 
 back, and it is imperative that the saddle should fit both 
 and that perfectly. We bipeds cannot walk or run in tight 
 ill-fitting boots, neither can a horse act under a badly fitting 
 saddle. I have read somewhere that the Empress of Austria 
 rode in an 8-lb. saddle, a statement I take leave to doubt. 
 Her Imperial Highness is far too fine and experienced a 
 horsewoman to have been seen outside any such toy. In 
 the present day there is a senseless rage for light side-saddles, 
 much to be deprecated, as the lightness is gained at the 
 expense of the tree, and light flimsy leather is used in their 
 manufacture. Possibly when alum comes into general use we 
 may see lighter and even strong trees. A lady weighing 9 
 stone 7 lbs. requires a saddle about 17 inches long, measured, 
 as in the sketch, from A to B, the seat from C to D, 13! inches 
 wide, the upright pommel 5^ inches high, and the leaping- 
 head 8 inches long. Such a saddle, brand new, will weigh 
 about 14 lbs., and at the end of a season will pull the scale 
 down at 18 to 20 lbs. A saddle made of the proper weight 
 
6o 
 
 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 and strength in the first instance — the extra weight being in 
 the tree, where the strength is required — will be lighter in 
 appearance. 
 
 Light saddles always require a lot of extra stuffing, 
 which soon mounts up the weight and detracts from the 
 looks; moreover it is very inconvenient to be constantly 
 sending one's saddle to be restuffed. Most ladies, from 
 lack of proper supervision and want of thought, are 
 
 neglectful of the make and condition of their saddles, and 
 so some ribald cynic has hazarded the remark that although 
 "a good man is merciful to his beast, a good woman is 
 rarely so." A first class firm keeps an experienced man for 
 the purpose of measuring horses, who is sent out any dis- 
 tance required at a fixed scale of charges. When a lady 
 cannot conveniently attend to be measured, she should 
 endeavour to get the measurements, as indicated in the 
 sketch, from some saddle in which she can ride with comfort, 
 
THE SIDE SADDLE. 
 
 61 
 
 Though careful fitting and adjustment of the saddle will 
 reduce friction to a minimum, and will, in the majority of 
 cases, do away with its baneful effects, still with some very 
 highly bred horses the skin of the back is so easily irritated, 
 that during a long day's work, in hot climates especially, it 
 becomes chafed, and injury is inflicted either at the withers 
 or underneath the seat. Nothing is more difficult to deal with 
 and heal than a sore back. In a prolonged and arduous 
 campaign, I have seen regiments seriously reduced below 
 their fighting 
 strength by obsti- 
 nate sore backs. 
 A very great de- 
 sideratum, in my 
 opinion, is the 
 
 new "Humanity" sponge-lined numnah, 
 another of Messrs. Champion and 
 Wilton's sensible inventions. This ex- 
 cellent preventative and curative Saddle- 
 cloth keeps the most tender-skinned 
 horse in a position to walk in comfort. 
 It is an adaptation of the finer kind of Turkey sponge, the 
 soft nature of which suggested itself to the inventors as an 
 agent for counteracting saddle friction. 
 
 It is made in two varieties : (i) of bridle leather, lined 
 at the withers with this fine, natural sponge, thus inter- 
 posing a soft pad between the saddle and the withers 
 (a point where the chief strain of a lady's seat is brought to 
 bear during the action of the trot) ; (2) of a fine white felt, 
 lined at the back as well as at the withers with the same 
 quality of sponge, and intended for such horses as are apt 
 to become troubled under the seat of the saddle as well 
 as at the withers. The sponge has to be damped, pre- 
 
62 
 
 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 INSIDE. SURFACE 
 
 ferably in warm water, but pressed or wrung out before 
 using, and the leather part kept soft with vaseline, which is 
 an excellent preservative and softener of leather. EacJi 
 time after use, the stueat should be thoroughly washed out of 
 the sponge; to ensure best results, attention to scrupulous clean- 
 liness is absolutely essential The following are representa- 
 tions of this numnah. 
 
 With the safety-bar and the Zenith habit it matters not 
 what form of stirrup a lady uses, for these. hav6 done away 
 
 with the necessity for 
 the so-called safety 
 patterns, of which 
 there are several. The 
 slipper has been ob- 
 jected to, as it, from 
 being so comfortable, 
 encourages ladies to 
 lean their whole 
 weight on it and thus 
 throw themselves out 
 of balance; more- 
 over, it is out of 
 fashion. Mrs. Power 
 O'Donoghue advocates the plain iron racing stirrup, with 
 the foot well home, as by its means the rise or purchase 
 is from the instep, as it ought to be, and not from the toes. 
 The Prussian side-pieces at the bottom take sharp pressure 
 off the sides of the foot. The Victoria and French pad 
 inside the stirrup, except when the safety bar and habit are 
 adopted, are fraught with danger; with these precautions 
 they are a great comfort, and guard the instep at the trot 
 when the foot is thrust well home. The size of the stirrup 
 should be proportionate to the foot. 
 
C 63 ) 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 HINTS UPON COSTUME. 
 
 " She wore what was then somewhat universal — a coat, vest, and hat 
 resembling those of a man ; which fashion has since called a Riding- 
 Habit." — Diana Vernon, Scott. 
 
 Under no circumstances does a lady, possessed of good 
 figure and carriage, appear to such great advantage, or is 
 she so fascinating, as when with mien and bearing haught 
 and high, with perfect, well-balanced seat, and light hands, 
 faultlessly appointed, firmly, gently, and with seeming care- 
 lessness she controls some spirited high-bred horse, some 
 noble steed of stainless purity of breed, whose rounded 
 symmetry of form, characteristic spring of the tail, and pride 
 of port, proclaim his descent from 
 
 "The Silver Arab with his purple veins, 
 The true blood royal of his race." 
 
 At no time are the beauties of the female form divine 
 displayed with such witching grace_, the faultless flowing 
 lines so attractively posed, the /<?/// ensemble so thoroughly 
 patrician. But if there be one blot in the fair picture the 
 whole charm at once vanishes. The incomparable dignity, 
 the well-turned-out steeds — the best that money could buy 
 or critical judgment select — the perfect figure of that superb 
 horsewoman the Empress of Austria, of whom it may justly 
 be said " All the pride of all her race in herself reflected 
 lives," were it possible for Her Imperial Majesty to err in 
 such a matter, would have been of little effect, but for a 
 faultlessly cut and fitting habit. 
 
64 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 " Fine feathers make fine birds," and though in riding 
 costume the plumage, save in the hunting-field, must be 
 of sombre tint, it must be unruffled and lie perfectly 
 flat. There are Habit-makers and Habit-makers; a very 
 few as perfect as need be, more mediocre, most arrant 
 bunglers. Of late years legions of so-called ladies'-tailors 
 have sprung into being, not one in a hundred possessing 
 the faintest idea of what is wanted. A Habit-maker 
 is a genius not often met with, and when come across 
 should be made a note of. A perfect fitting habit, 
 though not quite " a joy for ever," is a very useful, long- 
 wearing, and altogether desirable garment. Particular 
 attention must be given to the cutting of the back of the 
 neck to secure plenty of play, and to prevent that disagree- 
 able tightness so often experienced, which completely mars 
 the easy and graceful movement of the head. While giving 
 absolute freedom to the figure, the well shaped body will fit 
 like a glove. A tight habit gives a stiff, inelegant appearance 
 to the whole figure, and produces a feeling of being 
 "cribbed, cabined, and confined," tantamount to semi- 
 suffocation. A too long waist is certain to ride-up and 
 wrinkle. For winter wear there is nothing like the double- 
 breasted body. The choice to select from is a wide one. 
 
 To my mind and eye no one understands the whole art of 
 habit-making so well as Mr. W. Shingleton, 60, New Bond 
 Street, London, the inventor of the patent "Zenith" skirt, 
 an ingenious arrangement which should be universally 
 patronized for its absolute safety, if for no less weighty 
 reason. Any lady wearing this clever and smart combina- 
 tion of skirt and trousers, seated on one of Messrs. Champion 
 and Wilton's safety side-saddles, may set her mind completely 
 at rest as to the possibility of being "hung up" on the 
 pommel, or dragged by it or the stirrup. Perfect freedom 
 
HINTS UPON COSTUME. 
 
 65 
 
 in the saddle is secured to the rider, that portion of the 
 
 skirt which in the ordinary habit fits over the pommel, 
 
 always a source of danger, being entirely dispensed with. 
 
 The '' Zenith" is made in two breadths or portions, instead 
 
 of three, as heretofore, and on one side this skirt is attached 
 
 to the trousers at the *' side seam " of the right leg, or leg 
 
 which passes over the 
 
 pommel. The skirt is 
 
 then carried across or 
 
 over both legs of the 
 
 trousers in front, and, on 
 
 the other side, is brought 
 
 round and attached to 
 
 the "leg seam" of the 
 
 left leg and to the ''seat 
 
 seam," both the trousers 
 and the skirt being then 
 secured to the waistband. 
 Thus the rider, as stated 
 above, has the pommel 
 leg free to be readily dis- 
 engaged from the pom- 
 mel without the skirt 
 catching thereon, the right the 
 leg at the back being left 
 uncovered by the skirt. An opening formed on the left side 
 of the skirt allows of the garment being readily put on. 
 The front draping of the skirt remains unaltered from the 
 usual skirt, but when seen from behind it presents the 
 appearance of one leg covered, the other uncovered. When 
 walking, the back of the right trousers leg, which is un- 
 covered, can be draped somewhat by the front of the skirt 
 being lifted and brought round by the right hand. There is 
 
 F 
 
 "zenith" habit — ^JACKET 
 BODY. 
 
66 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 nothing whatever in this invention to ofifend the most sensi- 
 tive equestrienne, nothing to hurt the proper feelings of the 
 most modest. If preferred, the skirt may be provided on 
 each side with a sUt, extending down from the knees, so as 
 to enable the wearer to readily use the skirt when wearing 
 breeches or riding boots. That such an enterprising firm as 
 Messrs. Redfern, of Paris, should have secured the patent 
 rights for France, speaks volumes in favour of Mr. Shingle- 
 ton's really admirable invention. 
 
 Except for summer wear in early morning or in the 
 country, and in the case of young girls, when grey is per- 
 missible, the habit should be made of some dark cloth. In 
 the hunting-field, on which subject I am not touching in this 
 volume, some ladies who *' go " don pink, those patronising 
 the Duke of Beaufort's wearing the becoming livery of the 
 Badminton Hunt, than which nothing is more becoming. 
 Diagonal ribbed cloths are much in vogue for skirts. Stout 
 figures tone down the appearance of too great solidity and 
 rotundity by wearing an adaptation of the military tunic. 
 The long jacket-body, depicted in Mr. Shingleton's sketch 
 of the " Zenith," is well suited to full figures. Waistcoats 
 are all the rage, — blue bird's-eye, plush-leather with pearl 
 buttons, kersey, corduroy, nankeen, etc., in endless variety, 
 and are very much in evidence, as are shirt fronts, high 
 collars, silk ties with sporting-pin a la cavaliere. Braiding or 
 ornamentation is bad form ; no frilling, no streamers are 
 admissible; everything, to be in good taste, ought to be of 
 the very best, without one inch of superfluous material, — 
 severely simple. 
 
 In the Park, except for young ladies just entering on their 
 teens, or children, the tall silk hat is de rigueur. The 
 present prevailing *' chimney-pot" or "stove-pipe" model, 
 shaped something like the tompion of a gun, is an unbecom- 
 
HINTS UPON COSTUME. 67 
 
 ing atrocity. Let us hope that fashion will soon revert to 
 the broad curled brim bell-shaped Hardwicke. Nothing 
 is cheap that's bad, and nothing detracts more from the 
 general effect of a "get-up" than a bad hat. So if my 
 lady reader wants to be thoroughly well hatted, let her go to 
 Ye Hatterie, 105, Oxford Street, and be measured for one 
 of Mr. Heath's best. It will last out two or three of other 
 makers, and having done duty one season in Rotten Row, 
 will look well later on in the wear-and-tear of the hunting 
 field, preserving its bright glossy brilliancy, no matter 
 what the weather be. Order a quilted silk lining in pre- 
 ference to a plain leather one, and, when being measured, 
 let the chevelure be compact and suited for riding. A low- 
 crowned hat is the best. For young girls, and out of the 
 season, riding melon-shaped or pot-hats of felt are useful and 
 by no means unbecoming. Mr. Heath makes a speciality of 
 these, and has scores of different, and more or less becom- 
 ing, styles to select from. Hats made to the shape of the 
 head require no elastics to hold them on, and are not the 
 fruitful source of headache which ready-made misfits invari- 
 ably are. There is no objection to a grey felt with grey 
 gauze veil in the summer, but black with a black veil is in 
 better taste. Anything in the way of colour, other than 
 grey, or, perhaps brown, is inadmissible. I am not sufficient 
 of a Monsieur Mantalini to advise very minutely on such 
 important points as the ladies' toilette, as to what veils may 
 or may not be worn, but a visit to the Park any morning 
 or forenoon, when London is in Town, will best decide. 
 For dusty roads gauze is essential. 
 
 Of all abominations and sources of equestrian discomfort 
 a badly built pair of riding-breeches are the worst. No 
 breeches, pants, or trousers can possibly sit well and give 
 absolute comfort in the saddle without flexible hips and belt- 
 
68 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 band riding-drawers. The best material, and preferable to all 
 silk, is a blend of silk and cashmere, which wears well, is 
 warm, elastic, of permanent elasticity, can be worn with 
 great comfort by the most sensitive, and is not too expen- 
 sive. A habit should fit like a glove over the hips, and the 
 flexible-hip make of riding-drawers which I advocate, aids in 
 securing this moulding. The fit of the breeches or pants, 
 especially that of the right leg, at the inside of the knee, 
 should be particularly insisted upon. First-class ladies' 
 tailors generally have a model horse on which their customers 
 can mount when trying on. At Messrs. E. Tautz and Sons' 
 establishment, where the rider can be accoutred to perfec- 
 tion, ladies will find a competent assistant of their own sex, 
 — a trained fitter — who will by careful measurement and 
 subsequent "trying on" secure them against the galling 
 miseries of badly cut and ill-fitting breeches. Materials of 
 every description are available ; but if the fair reader will be 
 advised by me, she will select brown undressed deer-skin, 
 which is soft, pliable, and durable. The waistbands and 
 continuations are of strong twilled silk. Leggings are 
 generally and preferably worn with the breeches, and can 
 be had in all shades of cloth to go with the habit. 
 
 For the colonies and India a new material, known as 
 Dr. Lahmann's cotton-wool underclothing, cannot be too 
 highly commended. In "the gorgeous East," of which 
 abode of the sun I have had some experience, between 
 March and the latter days of October, the thinnest animal- 
 wool is unbearably warm, and, when prickly-heat is about, 
 absolutely unbearable, the irritation produced by the two 
 being, I should imagine, akin to that endured by the four- 
 footed friend of man when suffering acutely from the mange. 
 Moreover, in the clutches of the Indian dhobie (washerman), 
 woollen materials rapidly shrink by degrees and become 
 
MINTS UPON COSTUME. 69 
 
 beautifully less, when not knocked into holes, and are con- 
 verted into a species of felt. 
 
 This fabric is a new departure in the manufacture of 
 cotton. From first to last it is treated as wool, is spun as 
 wool, and woven as wool, and in my opinion is the best 
 possible material for under wear in the tropics. It is cool, 
 wears well, washes well, is warranted not to shrink, does 
 not irritate the most sensitive skin, and, being woven on 
 circular knitting looms, is peculiarly adapted for close-fitting 
 riding-drawers and under-clothing generally. It has the 
 additional merits of having the appearance and colour of 
 silk — a soft cream colour, — is entirely free from dressing, 
 and is moderate in price. As this fabric (porous, knitted, 
 woven, ribbed, or double-ribbed) is sold by the yard as well 
 as made up into seamless pants, jersies, etc., it is admirably 
 suited to the make of flexible-hip and belt-band drawers 
 referred to above. I feel that in directing attention to this 
 " baumwoll " (tree wool) clothing, I am conferring a benefit 
 on all Europeans whose avocations keep them within 
 the tropics, and on those of them especially who are obliged 
 to take constant and prolonged horse exercise. It is to 
 be obtained at the Lahmann Agency, 15, Fore Street, 
 London, E.G. 
 
 The question of corsage is an all-important one, as the 
 fit of a garment depends largely on the shape of the corset. 
 For growing girls, and especially for such as are at all 
 delicate and outgrowing their strength, the Invigoraior 
 corset is the least objectionable I have yet seen. That it 
 has the approval of the faculty is in its favour. It may be 
 described as a corset in combination with a chest-expanding 
 brace, and as such corrects the habit of stooping, and by ex- 
 panding the chest flattens the back and keeps the shoulder- 
 blades in their right place. Speaking as an ex-adjutant, who 
 
70 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 has had a good deal of experience in '* setting-up-drills," it 
 in my opinion possesses for young people merits far superior 
 to anything of the kind yet brought out. It gives support 
 where most wanted without impeding the freedom of the 
 movements of the body ; its elasticity is such that respira- 
 tion and circulation are not interfered with ; the chest is 
 thrown out, the back straightened, preserving an erect 
 figure — the body being kept erect by the cross-straps at the 
 back ; it is comfortable to the wearer, and there is no undue 
 pressure anywhere. A riding-stay to be perfect should be 
 as light as possible, consistent with due support, boned 
 throughout with real whalebone, so as to be capable of 
 being bent and twisted without fear of " broken busks," and 
 should fit the figure — not the figure fit it — with glove-like 
 accuracy. Such supple corsets give perfect ease with free- 
 dom. The best special maker of riding-corsets for ladies 
 is Madame Festa, 13, Carlos Street, Grosvenor Square, 
 London, W. This artiste's productions combine all that 
 is necessary in material and workmanship, with perfect fit, 
 ease, and grace. A combination of silk elastic and coutil 
 is said to be the ideal material from which really comfort- 
 able corsets are made. For winter work they should be lined 
 with a pure natural woollen stuff as soft as a Chuddah 
 shawl. For tropical climates Grass-cloth or Nettle-cloth is 
 strongly recommended. 
 
 In this humid, uncertain climate of ours the rider will 
 generally find some sort of light and short waterproof a 
 great comfort. Jt should be sufficiently long to clear the 
 saddle, and of a material such as will permit of its being 
 rolled up into a small compass for attachment to the Ds of 
 the saddle. Messrs. Lewin and Co., 28, Cockspur Street, 
 S.W. (successors to the old established firm Bax and Co.), 
 makers of the Selby driving-coat, turn out some very neat 
 
HINTS UPON COSTUME. 71 
 
 waterproof tweed or drab garments, which are appropriate 
 and serviceable. Their designs are good, and the material 
 thoroughly to be relied upon. 
 
 Well fitting, or in other words, tight gloves, of course, 
 look very well, but horsewomen must preserve free use of 
 their hands. Lightness of hand is an essential, but a certain 
 amount of physical strength cannot be dispensed with, and 
 a tight glove, even of the best quality of kid, means a 
 cramped contraction of the hand and fingers with conse- 
 quent loss of power. The material, so long as it be stout 
 enough, may be of real buck-skin, stout Suede, dog's-skin, 
 so called, or Cape. The best real buck-skin hunting, driving, 
 and walking-gloves, for either ladies or gentlemen, I have 
 ever come across, are those manufactured by T. P. Lee and 
 Co., 24, Duke Street, Bloomsbury. They are of first-class 
 soft material, well cut, hand-sewn with waxed brown thread, 
 and very durable ; in fact, everlasting, and most comfortable 
 wear. 
 
 A neat, light hunting-crop, riding-cane, or whip without 
 a tassel^ are indispensable. 
 
 The following is a comfortable and serviceable riding-dress 
 for long country rides, picnics, etc., recommended by a lady 
 who can boast of considerable experience in the saddle 
 both at home and in the colonies — one of a riding family. 
 " Habit — a short hunting-skirt, short enough to walk in with 
 comfort, with jacket {Norfolk^) of the same material, made 
 loose enough to admit of jersey being worn under it, if 
 required ; a wide leather belt for the waist, fastening with 
 a buckle. This belt will be found a great comfort and 
 support when on horseback for many hours. Hat of soft 
 felt, or melon-shaped hat. Pantaloons of chamois leather, 
 buttoning close to the ankles. Hussar or Wellington boots 
 made of Peel leather, with moderate-sized heels, tipped with 
 
72 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 brass, and soles strong but not thick. A leather stud 
 should be sewn on the left boot, about two and a half inches 
 above the heel, on which stud the spur should rest, and 
 thus be kept in its place without tight buckling. The spur 
 found to be the most useful after a trial of many is a rowel 
 spur of plated steel (the flat tapered-side, elastic, five-pointed 
 hunting), about two to two and a half inches long, strong 
 and light, hunting shape, and fastened with a strap and 
 buckle, the foot-strap of plated steel chain. This chain 
 foot-strap looks neater than a leather one, and does not 
 become cut or worn out when on foot on rough, rocky- 
 ground. The rowel pin is a screw-pin ; thus the rowel can 
 be changed at pleasure, and a sharp or blunt one fitted as 
 required by the horse one rides." \In lieu of cha??iois 
 leather I would suggest undressed deer-ski?tj as supplied by 
 Messrs. E, Tautz and Sons, 485, Oxford Street, Lo7idon, 
 which is as soft as velvet, and needs no additional lining, so 
 apt to crease. And instead of the boots I recommend water- 
 proofed Russia leather or brown hide, such as men use for 
 polo, as manifactured by Faulkner, 52, South Alolton Street, 
 London, W., with low, flat heels tipped with mild steel.] 
 The lady's idea, except with regard to the interchangeable 
 rowel, the pin of which must work loose, is good. 
 
 This brings me to the much-vexed subject of the Spur, its 
 use and abuse. Ladies should not be mounted on horses 
 requiring severe punishment ; but there are occasions, oft and 
 many, when " a reminder " from a sharp-pointed rowel will 
 prove of service. I do not say that lady riders should always 
 wear a persuader ; on a free-going, generous horse it would 
 be out of place, irritating, and annoying ; but on a lymphatic 
 slug, or in the case of a display of temper, the armed heel 
 is most necessary. We must bear in mind that almost all 
 of the highest priced ladies' horses have been broken in 
 
A LA CAVALIERE. 73" 
 
 to carry a lady by professional lady-riders, one and all of 
 whom wear spurs. Many a horse, in the canter especially, 
 will not go up to his bit without an occasional slight prick. 
 Women are by nature supposed to be gentle and kindly, 
 and yet I know some who are everlastingly " rugging " at 
 their horse's mouths and digging in the spur. They would 
 use the whip also as severely as the Latchfords but for the 
 exhibition it would entail. When punishment must be in- 
 flicted, the spur as a corrective is far more effective than the 
 whip ; it acts instantaneously, without warning, and the horse 
 cannot see it coming and swerve from it. Though more 
 dreaded it inflicts the lesser pain of the two. The deepest 
 dig from the rowel will not leave behind it the smart of the 
 weal from a cutting whip. The best spur for ladies is the one 
 mentioned above, with fine-pointed rowel; it does not tear the 
 habit, and the points are long enough and sharp enough to 
 penetrate through the cloth should it intervene between the 
 heel and the horse's side. No lady should venture to wear 
 a spur till she has acquired firmness of seat, to keep her left 
 leg steady in the stirrup and her heel from constantly 
 niggling the animal's ribs. I do not like the spring-sheath 
 one-point spur, as it is uncertain in its action. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A LA CAVALIERE. 
 
 Much of late has been said and written against and in 
 favour of cross-saddle riding for girls and women. A lady 
 at my elbow has just given her emphatic opinion that it 
 is neither graceful nor modest, and she predicts that the 
 
74 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 system will never come into vogue or meet the approval 
 of the finer sense of women. The riding-masters are 
 against it to a man, and so are the saddlers, who argue that 
 the change would somewhat militate against their business. 
 We are very conservative in our ideas, and perhaps it is 
 asking too much of women, who have ridden and hunted 
 in a habit on a side-saddle for years, to all at once, or at 
 all, accept and patronize the innovation. 
 
 Travellers notice the fact that women never ride sideways, 
 as with us, but astride, like men. It has generally been 
 supposed that the custom now prevailing in Europe and 
 North America dates back only to the Middle Ages. As 
 a fact, the side-saddle was first introduced here by 
 Anne of Luxembourg, Richard II. 's queen, and so far back 
 as 1 34 1, according to Knighton, it had become general 
 among ladies of first rank at tournaments and in public. 
 But the system must have prevailed to some extent in far 
 earlier times, for Rawlinson discovered a picture of two 
 Assyrian women riding sideways on a mule, and on Etruscan 
 vases, older than the founding of Rome, are several repre- 
 sentations of women so seated. 
 
 There were no horses in Mexico prior to the advent of 
 the Spaniards ; indeed, from the progeny of one Andalusian 
 horse and mare, shipped to Paraguay in 1535, were bred 
 those countless mobs which have since spread over the 
 whole southern part of the new Western world, and, passing 
 the Isthmus of Darien or Panama, have wandered into 
 North America. In the great plains of South America, 
 where the inhabitants, all more or less with Spanish blood 
 pulsing through their veins, may be said to live on horse- 
 back, it is strange that, without some good cause, the side- 
 saddle should have been discarded for the " Pisana" fashion 
 — the lady riding in front of her cavalier. In Edward I.'s 
 
A LA CAVA LIE RE. 75 
 
 time our fair dames jogged behind their lords, or behind 
 somebody else's lords, in the conventional pillion : then 
 
 " This riding double was no crime 
 In the first good Edward*s time ; 
 No brave man thought himself disgraced 
 By two fair arms around his waist ; 
 Nor did the lady blush vermillion 
 Dancing on the lady's pillion." 
 
 The attitude of the " Pisana " fashion, though in some cases 
 vastly agreeable, is not highly picturesque, so there must 
 have been some valid reason why the side-saddle, then in 
 general use in Spain, fell out of favour. In long rides, it, 
 as at that time constructed, tired the rider, and caused 
 severe pain in the spine. Nowadays in Mexico and on 
 the Plate River there are magnificent horsewomen who can 
 ride almost anything short of an Australian buckjumper, 
 and who never tire in the saddle, but then they one and all 
 patronize the cross-saddle, riding a la cavaliere or a la 
 Duchesse de Berri. Their riding garb, and a very be- 
 coming one it is, consists of a loose kind of Norfolk jacket 
 or tunic secured at the waist by a belt, loose Turkish 
 pyjamas thrust into riding boots of soft yellow leather, a 
 huge pair of Mexican spurs, and the ladies' "sombrero." 
 Their favourite and, in fact, only pace is a continuous hand- 
 gallop. 
 
 Some thirty years ago I remember seeing the ex-Queen of 
 Naples superbly mounted, riding a la cavaliere. Her Majesty 
 was then even more beautiful than her Imperial sister the 
 Empress of Austria, and quite as finished a horsewoman. 
 She wore a high and pointed-crowned felt hat, a long white 
 cloak, something like the Algerian bournouse, patent-leather 
 jack-boots, and gilt spurs. Her seat was perfect, as was 
 her management of her fiery Arab or Barb, the effect 
 
76 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 charming, and there was nothing to raise the faintest 
 
 suspicion of a blush on the cheeks of the most modest. 
 
 There is no doubt that the Duchess de Berri mode of 
 
 sitting on a horse is much less fatiguing to the rider, gives 
 
 her more power over the half-broken animals that in foreign 
 
 countries do duty for ladies' horses, and, in a very great 
 
 measure, does away with the chance of establishing a raw 
 
 on the back. In support of the claims of this, to us, novel 
 
 manner of placing the rider on her horse's back, I 
 
 quote from Miss Isabella Bird's " Hawaiian Archipelago." 
 
 Describing her visit to the Anuenue Falls, that lady writes : 
 
 " The ride was spoiled by my insecure seat in my saddle, 
 
 and the increased pain in my side which riding produced. 
 
 Once, in crossing a stream, the horses had to make a sort 
 
 of downward jump from a rock, and I slipped round my 
 
 horse's neck ; indeed, on the way back I felt that, on the 
 
 ground of health, I must give up the volcano, as I would 
 
 never consent to be carried to it, like Lady Franklin, in a 
 
 litter. When we returned, Mr. Severance suggested that it 
 
 would be much better for me to follow the Hawaiian fashion, 
 
 and ride astride, and put his saddle on the horse. It was 
 
 only my strong desire to see the volcano which made me 
 
 consent to a mode of riding against which I have a strong 
 
 prejudice ; but the result of the experiment is that I shall 
 
 visit Kilauea thus or not at all. The native women all 
 
 ride astride on ordinary occasions in the full sacks, or 
 
 kolukus, and on gala days in the pan — the gay winged dress 
 
 which I described in writing from Honolulu. A great many 
 
 of the foreign ladies in Hawaii have adopted the Mexican 
 
 saddle also for greater security to themselves and ease to 
 
 their horses on the steep and perilous bridle-tracks, but 
 
 they wear full Turkish trousers and jauntily made dresses 
 
 reaching to the ankles." Writing later from the Colorado 
 
A LA CAVALIERE. 77 
 
 district of the Rockies, Miss Bird adds : '* I rode sidewise 
 till I was well out of the town, long enough to produce a 
 severe pain in my spine, which was not relieved for some 
 time till after I had changed my position." 
 
 Mrs. Power O'Donoghue runs a tilt with all her might 
 against the idea of any of her sex riding like men. But 
 there are so many manly maidens about now who excel in 
 all open-air pastimes requiring pluck, energy, physical 
 activity, and strength, and who attire themselves suitably in a 
 sort of semi-masculine style, that is not asking too much of 
 them to try the virtues of the cross-saddle. Their costumes 
 are not so much neglige as studiedly, so far as is possible 
 without exactly " wearing the breeches " in public, of the 
 man, manly. One of our Princesses has the credit of being an 
 adept with the foils ; our cricket and golf fields are invaded 
 by petticoats of various lengths; we see polo played by 
 ladies on clever blood ponies ; they take kindly to 
 billiards and lawn-tennis ; and it is whispered of a few that 
 they can put on the " mittens " and take and give punish- 
 ment. It is not so much the prudery about sitting like men 
 that excites the wrathful indignation of the opponents of 
 cross-saddle riding as the apparent difficulty of deciding 
 upon the thoroughly neat and workwoman-like costume. 
 
 The three different costumes represented in these sketches 
 do not differ very greatly in propriety. Shorten No. 3, the 
 Eilitto Muddy-Weather costume — who says there's nothing 
 in a name? — just a trifle and encase the wearer's lower 
 limbs in a pair of Messes E. Tautz and Son's gaiters or 
 leggings, and we have the costume sported the winter before 
 last by a well known lady. It certainly looked, on a wearer 
 of advanced years, a trifle eccentric, but any pretty girl, 
 in her premiere Jetmesse, blessed with a good figure and 
 gait, would have been the admired of all admirers. This 
 
78 
 
 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 costume with the funny name is much patronized by lawn- 
 tennis players, golfers, and skaters. Nos. i and 2 are as 
 like as " two Dromios," and in no very material degree 
 differ from the short-skirted walking-dress. They have 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 No. 3, 
 
 been brought out with an eye to riding a la cavalih-e^ and 
 being strong and yet neat are intended for prairie-riding in 
 the far West, for the rough-and-ready work of the Australian 
 or New Zealand bush, and for scouring over the veldt of 
 South Africa, or for the hundred and one out-of-the-way 
 
A LA CAVALIERE. 79 
 
 places of the earth, whither our Enghsh girls venture, from 
 necessity, for adventure, or some more potent attraction. Of 
 the two I prefer No. i, which is the smarter. It is nothing 
 more or less than a short habit made in the shape of a 
 frock-coat, and is buttoned the whole way down to the 
 knees. The long boots, which, by the way, show off a 
 pretty well-turned ankle and foot to perfection, are certainly 
 a trifle more in evidence than is the case when the lady 
 wears the regular habit and is desirous of showing as little 
 "leg" as possible — a desire, when the foot is threes or 
 narrow fours, and the instep well sprung, not too often 
 indulged. No 2 has a divided skirt. 
 
 I do not ask ladies of mature age, or even those whose 
 seat is formed, to don one or other of these costumes, though, 
 after the experience of Miss Bird and others, they might, 
 under similar circumstances, adopt both the costume, and 
 the cross-saddle with advantage. In the backwoods and 
 jungles a wide latitude in dress may be permitted without 
 assailing the strictest modesty. 
 
 The fashion of riding in the cross-saddle, if it is to be 
 introduced, as it ought to be, must emanate from the 
 rising generation. The luxury of having both feet in the 
 stirrups, of being able to vary the length of the leather, 
 of having a leg down either side of the horse, and a 
 distribution of the bearing equally on each foot, is surely 
 worthy of consideration when many hours have to be spent 
 in the saddle and long weary distances travelled. If 
 agreeable to the rider, how much more so to the horse ? 
 We men know what a relief it is on a long journey to vary 
 the monotonous walk or the wearying trot with an occa- 
 sioned hard gallop "up in the stirrups," or how it eases one 
 to draw the feet out of the stirrups and let the legs hang 
 free. I have already hazarded the opinion that a lady's seat 
 
8o RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 on a side-saddle is a very firm one, but when she is called 
 upon to ride half-broken horses and to be on their backs for 
 hours at a time, traversing all sorts of country, she un- 
 doubtedly is heavily handicapped as compared with a man. 
 Mrs. O'Donoghue, much to the damage of her own con- 
 tention, so clearly demonstrates my views that I venture 
 to quote verbatim from one of that lady's published 
 letters. "My companion was in ease while I was in 
 torture. Because he had a leg on either side of his 
 mount, his weight equally distributed, and an equal support 
 upon both sides ; in fact he had, as all male riders have, 
 the advantage of a double support in the rise; con- 
 sequently, at the moment his weight was removed from the 
 saddle, it was thrown upon both sides, and this equal 
 distribution enabled him to accomplish without fatigue 
 that slow rise and fall which is so tiring to a lady whose 
 weight, when she is out of the saddle, is thrown entirely 
 upon one delicate limb, thus inducing her to fall again as 
 soon as possible." As for mere grip — the upright and 
 leaping-heads versus both knees — the security in either case 
 is about the same, but the woman's position in the side- 
 saddle is the more tiring and cramping of the two, and in 
 complete control over the horse, the man's position on the 
 horse has a very decided advantage. 
 
APPENDIX I. 
 
 ^^THE TRAINING OF PONIES FOR CHILDREN. 
 
 We will take it for granted that the colt, say a three or four 
 year old, is well accustomed to the restraint of the common halter, 
 and is obedient to thecavesson on both sides, also that he leads 
 quietly and bears a fair amount of handling. Were I permitted 
 to explain the Galvayne system, I could, in a very few pages, 
 save the breaker and the colt much time, trouble, and many 
 trials of temper and patience. I have not the professor's per- 
 mission to make the tempting disclosures. Without trenching 
 on his domain, I may lay down the following rough-and-ready 
 modus operandi, which, however, I am free to confess would be 
 considerably facilitated by a set of his breaking tackle, especially 
 of a particular rope, not made of any vegetable fibre, which, in 
 some cases, exercises a potential control. We must just " gang 
 our ain gait " as my countrymen say. 
 
 Having fitted the colt with a soft-lined head-collar-bridle, of 
 the Australian bush pattern, with strong hooks or straps by which 
 to attach the bit, I proceed to bit him. The bit should be on the 
 flexible principle, the mouth-piece being either of chain or a series 
 of ball and socket sections, covered over with white and 
 tasteless rubber, or other soft and yielding material. It should 
 be no thicker than a man's little finger. Inside the cheek and 
 leg of this snaffle I have a large flat disc of sole leather, rounded 
 at the edges, stitched as a guard to prevent the possibility of 
 the bit being drawn through the mouth, of- pinching the cheeks 
 against the teeth or in any way injuring the mouth. Every bit, 
 no matter how merciful, will, more or less, make the bars of the 
 mouth tender, but this least of all. If any suffering is evident, 
 or any inflammation set up, then the use of the bit must, till all 
 appearance of undue redness has disappeared, be discontinued* 
 
 G 
 
S2 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 A little tincture of myrrh with eau-de-cologne applied with the 
 fore finger will soon allay the irritation and remove the tender- 
 ness. 
 
 The best way to insert the bit is, having fixed the near 
 ring to the spring hook or strap on the near side of the head- 
 collar, then coming round to the off side of the head, gentling 
 the pony's head all the time and soothing him, to quietly work 
 the two fore fingers of the left hand into his mouth, and on an 
 opportunity offering, to slip the bit quickly into the mouth. 
 This must be done deftly, without alarming the pony, for if the 
 first attempt result in failure he is certain to throw up his head, 
 run back, and otherwise thwart subsequent endeavours. A 
 little treacle smeared on the bit will make it more palatable and 
 inviting. The first time the bit is in the colt's mouth it should 
 not be allowed to remain more than an hour, and his head must 
 be entirely without restraint. On removing it examine the 
 mouth to see that it has not been injured or bruised, and give 
 him a carrot, or apple. It is immaterial whether these bitting 
 lessons be given in a roomy loose-box, barn, covered-yard^ or 
 small paddock. 
 
 After becoming reconciled to the bit, strap on a roller or 
 surcingle, having two side and one top ring stitched on to it, 
 the side rings being placed horizontally about where the rider's 
 knees would come, that on the top fore-and-aft. Through 
 these three rings a strong cord should be run forming a sort of 
 running rein, tie the cord to the off-ring of the snaffle, bring 
 it back through the off-side ring, up and through the top ring 
 on the back, down through that on the near side, and so on for- 
 ward to the near ring of the bit to which it is fastened with a 
 slip knot, taking care that though a slight bearing be upon the 
 bars of the mouth, the colt's head is not tightly reined in and an 
 irksome continuous strain kept on a certain set of muscles of 
 the neck. This running-rein arrangment admits of lateral play 
 of the head, and minimizes the possibility of creating a one- 
 sided mouth. 
 
 After a few short lessons in lounging on both sides with 
 his head thus restrained, he may be made to stand in stall 
 with his hindquarters to the manger, the reins being fastened 
 to the post on either side. If the stall, as probably will be 
 the case, be too wide, narrow it by placing sheep hurdles laced 
 with straw on either side of him, so narrowing his standing 
 room that he must preserve a fair " fore and aft " position. 
 The reins must be, if the pillars are too high, fastened to the 
 three rings on the surcingle as explained above. In addition 
 
APPENDIX I. 83 
 
 to the single reins there must also be driving reins or cords, 
 carefully adjusted as to length, so as to preserve an even pres- 
 sure on either side of the mouth, attached to the rings on the 
 manger, so that any attempt to advance is immediately curbed 
 by the strain on the bit. 
 
 These lessons should not extend over more than an hour at a 
 time, and during them the trainer should occasionally, by taking 
 the bit in both hands on either side facing him, or by laying 
 hold of the long reins, cause him, exercising only gentle 
 pressure, to rein back, saying at the same time in a tone of 
 quiet command, "back." There will be plenty of room for this 
 in a full-sized stall. He may also be taught to bend his head 
 to the right when the off-rein is pulled upon or even twitched, 
 and so on with the left. 
 
 The instructor's aim must be to instil into his mind the firm 
 conviction that it is as impossible to resist the pressure of the 
 bit on either side of the mouth as it is to advance against it. 
 Extreme kindness and gentleness must be exercised in this 
 initial training, each comphance with the teacher's hand and 
 voice being at once met with some encouragement or reward, 
 in shape of a word or two of soothing approval, gentling his 
 head, and a few oats or pieces of carrot or apple — in the tropics 
 sugar-cane or carrot — the bit being removed from the mouth for 
 the purpose. Horses of all sorts are very quick in their likes 
 and dislikes. From the start never let the colt take a dead pull 
 at the reins, let all the pressures be exerted in a light feeling 
 manner with the fingers not the hands. 
 
 On becoming fairly proficient at his indoor lesson, we will now, 
 with his Australian bush pattern head-collar-bridle on, a pair of 
 long reins run from the snaffle through the side rings of the sur- 
 cingle back into the trainer's hands, who Avill walk behind him, 
 and led by a leading rein attached to the near side of the head- 
 collar but wholly unconnected with the bit, take him into a quiet 
 yard or paddock. He has now to be taught to stop, back, and 
 turn to his bit. The control exercised by the assistant holding 
 the leading rein just suffices to prevent the colt rushing about, 
 or under sudden alarm running back ; he will also, though 
 giving him a perfectly free rein, be sufficiently close to his head 
 to aid him in obeying the mandates of the trainer. After walk- 
 ing about as quietly as possible for some time, teaching him 
 how to incline and turn, the feel on the mouth with a moderately 
 tight rein being carefully preserved, he will be on the word 
 " Whoa ! " brought to a stand still, and made to stand still and 
 motionless as a well-trained charger on parade. 
 
S4 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 In the lessons on turning, he may if needful be touched with 
 the whip, 07ily if needful^ and then the lash should fall as lightly 
 as the fly from some expert fisherman's rod, the touch of the silk 
 or whip-cord coming simultaneously with the touch on the bars of 
 the mouth. For instance, he is required to turn to the right and 
 hangs a bit on the rein without answering the helm, then a slight 
 touch on the near shoulder will send him up to his bit, give him 
 an inclination to turn smartly in the direction wished for, and 
 the movement may be hastened by the point of the whip being 
 pressed against the off buttock, or upper thigh on the outside. 
 The pull must not be a jerk but a decided lively pull. Always 
 let him go forward as much as space will permit of before 
 making another turn ; he must not be confused and so provoked 
 to be stubborn or fight. Let all the turns be to one hand for 
 the first few minutes then turn him in the reverse direction. 
 Should he get his head down and endeavour to establish a 
 steady dead pull, do not indulge him, but step in closer to his 
 quarters so that the strain is at once off the reins, and the 
 moment that he once more feels his bit instantly make him come 
 to a full halt with the word '' Whoa." To make a horse stand 
 after being halted, the Arabs throw the bridle over his head and 
 let the rein drag on the ground. When the colt is being broken 
 the bridle is thus left hanging down between his fore legs, and 
 a slave gives it a sharp jerk whenever a step in advance is 
 taken. By this means the horse is duped into the delusion that 
 the pain inflicted on his mouth or nose is caused by his moving 
 while the rein is in this pendant position. What is taught in 
 the desert maybe taught in the paddock. The slightest attempt 
 to move forward without the " click " must at once be stopped. 
 
 The "backing " lesson is, as a rule, a very simple one, though 
 there are some horses which decline to adopt this retrograde 
 motion. To rein back, the trainer, standing immediately behind 
 the colt, either exerts an even and smart pressure on both reins, 
 drawing them, if need be, through the mouth, when the horse 
 will first bend himself getting his head in handsomely and then 
 begin to step back. At first he will be perhaps, a little awk- 
 ward, but will soon learn to use his hocks and to adopt this 
 strange gait. If there be any difficulty about getting his head 
 in — it must not be up and out with the bit in the angles of the 
 mouth — the assistant should place the flat of his hand on the 
 animal's face pressing its heel firmly on the cartilage of the nose. 
 The backward movement must cease on the word "Whoa ! " 
 and the relaxation of the rein. A horse must not be taught to 
 run back, some acquire the bad habit too readily to a dangerous 
 
APPENDIX I. 85 
 
 extent. I may here say that when a horse is given to this vice 
 the best plan is to turn him at once and sharply in the direc- 
 tion he wants to go. In tuition what we want to arrive at is a 
 sort of military " two paces step back, march ! " 
 
 In these introductory lessons the main use of the assistant 
 with his loose yet ready leading rein is to prevent the colt from 
 turning suddenly round and facing the trainer, a contretemps 
 with a Galvayne's tackle next to impossible. Reins should not, 
 however, be tried at all till the lessons in the loose box and in 
 the stall are so well learnt that there is little or no fear of sudden 
 fright, ebullitions of temper, or other causes of disarrangement 
 and entanglement of the long driving reins. When the habit 
 of yielding to the indication of the rein has once been acquired 
 and well established, it becomes a sort of second nature, which 
 under no circumstances, save those of panic or confirmed bolt- 
 ing, is ever forgotten. A few lessons carefully, firmly, patiently, 
 and completely given will cause the colt to answer the almost 
 imperceptible touch of the rein or the distinct word of command. 
 Once perfected in answering the various signals at the walk, he 
 is then put through precisely the same movements at a trot, and 
 to be an effective teacher, the breaker must not only be a good 
 runner, but in good wind, he must be active enough to show 
 such a horse as " Beau Lyons " at the Hackney Show at 
 Ishngton. A pony such as is " Norfolk Model," one a hand 
 higher and of a very different stamp, it is true, from what I 
 commend for children, would make a crack " sprinter " put forth 
 his best pace. 
 
 During the time the pony is acquiring the A B C or rudiments 
 of his education, he must be frequently and carefully handled. 
 Every effort should be made to gain his confidence. Like all 
 beasts of the field the speediest and surest way to his affection 
 is down his throat ; he is imbued with a large share of " cupboard 
 love," so the trainer should always have some tit-bit in his 
 pocket wherewith to reward good behaviour and progress made ; 
 moreover, the pupil should be aware of the existence and where- 
 abouts of this store-room. The handling must be general. 
 Rub the head well over with the hands, always working with, 
 and never against the run of the hair. Pull his ears gently 
 (never pull the long hair out from the inside) rub the roots, the 
 eyes and muzzle, work back from the ears down the neck and 
 fore legs, between the fore legs, at the back of the elbows, and 
 along the back, talking to him all the while. Before going to the 
 flanks and hind quarters make him lift both fore feet. If there be 
 any disinclination to obey, a strap should be wound round the fet- 
 
86 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 lock joint, the trainer then taking a firm hold of the ends in his 
 right hand says in a loud voice " Hold up ! " at the same time with 
 the palm of the left hand, throwing a portion of his weight on to 
 the near shoulder ; this, by throwing the animal's weight over on 
 to the offside, enables the foot to be easily held up. 
 
 This lesson imparted, it is extended to the off fore foot. Should 
 the colt, by laying back his ears, showing the whites of his eyes, 
 hugging his tail, and other demonstrations of wickedness, evince 
 his objections to being handled behind the girth, one of the fore 
 feet must be held up and strapped, the buckle of the strap being 
 on the outside of the arm, the foot brought so close to the point 
 of the elbow that no play is left to the knee joint. Then com- 
 mence to wisp him all over commencing with the head, but, if 
 he is not very restive," do not keep the weight on three legs more 
 than ten minutes at a time, though he, if not overburdened with 
 fat, could easily stand very much longer, or travel a mile or so 
 on three legs. The object, unless vice be displayed, is merely to 
 prevent serious resistance and to convince him that the opera- 
 tion causes no pain. The wisp, the assistant all the time stand- 
 ing at his head speaking in low reassuring tone, patting and 
 caressing him, in the hands of the operator should be at first 
 very gently then briskly applied to the flanks, over the loins, 
 down the quarters and along the channel running between the 
 buttocks, inside the flanks, stifles and haunches, over the sheath, 
 down inside the hocks, in fact anywhere and everywhere known 
 to be tender and "kittle." Having succeeded with the near 
 fore foot up, release it, let him rest awhile and find his way to the 
 store-room dainties. Go through precisely the same lesson 
 with the right foot up, on this occasion giving special attention 
 to those parts which he most strongly objects to being handled. 
 Dwell over his hocks and the inside of his stifles, handle his 
 tail, freely sponging his dock out, running the sponge down 
 through the channel over the sheath, the inside of the thighs 
 and hocks. Release the fore foot, and if he will stand a repe- 
 tition of all these liberties quietly, he has learnt one important 
 part of his education. 
 
 Elsewhere I have endeavoured to describe the unsophisticated 
 antics displayed by the fresh-caught Australian buck-jumper and 
 the inveterate plunger in endeavouring to dislocate their riders. 
 In the one case it is the untaught, unpractised effort of an animal 
 in a paroxysm of fear ; in the other the vice of the artful, tricky, 
 practitioner. In either case the horseman may be, very often is, 
 " slung " handsomely, wondering, as he picks himself up, dazed 
 and bewildered with an incoherent idea as to what had befallen 
 
APPENDIX I. 87 
 
 him, and how he got there. If a wild horse suddenly finds a 
 panther or a tiger on his back, he at once, in terror, endeavours 
 by a succession of flings to get rid of the incubus. So it is with 
 the unbroken colt bred in captivity, and especially so with the 
 pony fresh from his native hills or pastures. What must be his 
 astonishment when, for the first time he feels a saddle tightly 
 girthed to his back, and the weight of some one in it ? His 
 first and only feeling is that of fear, so, being prevented by the 
 bit and bridle from rushing off at the verge of his speed, he by 
 bucks, plunges, and kicks, sets to work to throw the rider. 
 
 In mounting the colt the first attempts at making him quite 
 quiet during the process should be in the direction of ehminating 
 every sense of fear. As saddles, especially if badly stuffed and 
 cold, are the cause of many back troubles, I prefer to have him, 
 in the first instance, ridden in a rug or sheepskin, the wool next 
 his hair, kept in its place by a broad web surcingle. Hold the 
 rug or skin to his nose, and let him smell and feel it, rub it over 
 his head, down his neck, in fact all over him, not neatly folded 
 up but loose ; toss it about, drag it over him, round him, be- 
 tween his fore legs, under his belly, and out between his thighs. 
 When he takes no heed of it, fold it up on his back and girth 
 it on with the surcingle. Then lead him out for half an hour or 
 so occasionally, pulling up to lean a good bit of weight on 
 his back. 
 
 On returning to the loose box, covered yard, or paddock, 
 the first lesson in mounting will be commenced. Having 
 secured the services of some active smart lad who. can ride 
 and vault, the lighter the better, make him stand on a 
 mounting block, an inverted empty wine chest will do, placed 
 near his fore leg. If the pony be nervous at this block, let him 
 examine it, smell it, touch it, and even eat a few carrots off it. 
 Standing on this coign of advantage, the lad must loll over him, 
 patting him, reaching down well on the off side, leaning at first 
 a portion, and then his whole weight on him. If he makes no 
 objection to this treatment, the lad should seat himself on his 
 back, mounting and dismounting repeatedly, slowly but neatly, 
 being careful not to descend on his back with a jerk. So long 
 as the colt shows no fear, this gymnastic practice may be varied 
 with advantage to almost any extent, the contact of the gymnast's 
 body with that of the pony being as close as possible. He 
 should not only vault all over him and straddle him, but should 
 crawl and creep all over him and under him, winding up by 
 vaulting on his back, over his head, and over his quarters. I 
 have frequently taught Arabs to put their heads between my 
 
88 RIDING FOR LADIES, 
 
 legs and by the sudden throw-up of their necks to send me into 
 the saddle face to the tail. On no account hurry this mounting 
 practice, do not let him be flustered or fatigued, and see that 
 the rider's foot deftly clears him without once touching or kick- 
 ing him ; much depends on the clean manner in which the 
 various mountings and dismountings are performed. 
 
 The mounting block will be dispensed with so soon as the rider 
 is permitted to throw his right leg over his back and to straddle 
 him without starting. It is essential that he should stand stock 
 still and that he should not move forward without the usual 
 " klick." When quite patient and steady in being mounted with 
 the rug or fleece, a nice light 5 lb. polo or racing saddle with a 
 " Humane " numnah under it should be substituted, and if the 
 pony's shoulders are low and upright a crupper will be necessary. 
 Care must be taken that the crupper strap is not too tight, also 
 that the crupper itself does not produce a scald under the dock 
 of the tail ; a strip of lamb-skin, the wool next the dock, will en- 
 sure that. After being led about in the saddle for a time, he is 
 brought into the box or yard and there mounted by the lad, the 
 trainer having hold of the leading rein, the rider of the bridle. 
 
 Now a word as to the said lad. All he has to do is to preserve 
 the hghtest possible touch of the mouth, and to sit firm and 
 sit quiet. I would rather prefer that he did not hail from a 
 racing stable, for these imps — the most mischievous of their race 
 — are up to all sorts of tricks and are accustomed to ride trust- 
 ing almost entirely to the support gained from their knotted 
 bridle and the steady pressure against the stirrup somewhat 
 after the principle of the coachman and his foot-board. He 
 must be forced to keep his heels and his ashplant quiet. I am 
 averse to much lounging and am confident it is overdone. On 
 carrying the lad quietly led by hand, the following lessons 
 should be in company with some staid old stager. Markedly 
 gregarious in his habits, the horse never feels so happy or con- 
 tended as when in company ; in the society of a well-behaved 
 tractable member of his family he will do all that is required of 
 him. Soon the leading rein will be superfluous and the pony 
 and his rider will be able to go anywhere at any pace. It is es- 
 pecialy advisable that when his first rides lie away from home 
 he should be ridden in company with some other horse, or he 
 may turn restive. Be very careful not to attempt anything with 
 him that may lead up to a fight in which he may remain master. 
 Any disposition on his part to " reest " or to break out into re- 
 bellion is proof of his not having learnt his first lessons pro- 
 perly. Far better to lead him away from home for a mile or 
 
APPENDIX 11. 
 
 89 
 
 two and then to mount him, than to hazard any difference of 
 opinion. The example of a well-broken, well-ridden, well- 
 mannered horse is very important. One act of successful dis- 
 obedience may undo the careful labour of weeks and necessitate 
 very stringent measures, such as those described in my previous 
 volume, in the case of confirmed vice. Weeks of careful riding 
 always under the trainer's eye, will be required before the lessons 
 are complete, and the pupil sobered down so as to be a safe 
 and comfortable convevance for children beginners. 
 
 APPENDIX II 
 
 EXTENSION AND BALANCE MOTIONS. 
 
 The following are adapted as closely as possible from the 
 carefully thought-out system of Military Equitation practised 
 in the British Army, and may be executed as follows : — 
 
 Prepare for Extensio7i and Balance Motions. — On this caution 
 each rider will turn his horse facing the Instructor, drop the 
 reins on the horse's neck, and let both arms hang down easily 
 from the shoulders, with the palms of the hands to the front. 
 This is the position oi Attentio7i. 
 
 Caution. — First Practice. 
 
 fOn the word "One" bring the hands, at the full 
 extent of the arms, to the front, close to the body, 
 knuckles downwards till the fingers meet at the 
 points ; then raise in a circular direction over 
 the head, the ends of the fingers still touching 
 and pointing downwards so as to touch the fore- 
 head, thumbs pointing to the rear, elbows pressed 
 back, shoulders kept well down. 
 
 On the word "Two," throw the hands up, extending 
 the arms smartly upwards, palms of the hands 
 inwards ; then force them obhquely back, and 
 gradually let them fall to Hie position of Atten- 
 tion, the first position, elevating the neck and 
 chest as much as possible. 
 N.B. — The foregoing motions are to be done slowly, so that 
 the muscles may be fully exerted throughout. No stirrup is to 
 be used. 
 
 "One" < 
 
 "Two" \ 
 
90 RIDING FOR LADIES. 
 
 Caution. — Second Practice. 
 
 'On the word " One " raise the hands in front of the 
 a Q ., I body, at the full extent of the arms, and in a Hne 
 with the mouth, palms meeting, but without noise, 
 thumbs close to the forefingers. 
 
 On the word " Two," separate the hands smartly, 
 " Two " \ throwing them well back, slanting downwards, 
 palms turned slightly upward. 
 
 !0n the word " One," resume the first position above 
 described, and so on, sitting down on the saddle 
 without any attempt, in resuming the first posi- 
 
 tion, to rise. 
 
 u thrff " 1^^ ^^^ word "Three,'' smartly resume the position 
 
 In this practice the second motion may be continued without 
 repeating the words " One," "Two," by giving the order " Con- 
 tinue the Motion : " on the word " Steady," the second position 
 is at once resumed, the rider remaining in that position, head 
 well up, chin in, and chest thrown out, on the word " Three," 
 resuming the position o{ Aifcntion. 
 
 Caution. — Third Practice. 
 
 iOn the word " One," raise the hands, with the fists 
 clenched, in front of the body, at the full extent 
 of the arms, and in line with the mouth, thumbs 
 upwards, fingers touching. 
 jOn the word " Two," separate the hands smartly, 
 " Two " I throwing the arms back in line with the shoulders, 
 I back of the hands downwards. 
 
 "Thrfv'' i^^ ^^ word "Three," swing the arms round as 
 
 \ quickly as possible from front to rear. 
 " Steady "' On the word " Steady," resume the second position. 
 
 "Four" i^^ ^^ word " Four," let the arms fall smartly to 
 1 the position oi Attention. 
 
 Caution. — Fourth Practice. 
 
 j On the word " One," lean back until the back of 
 " One" I the head touches the horse's quarter, but moving 
 
 ( the legs as little as possible. 
 " Two " On the word " Two," resume the original position. 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 
 91 
 
 Caution. — Fifth Practice. 
 
 I On the word " One," lean down to the left side and 
 "One" ] touch the left foot with the left hand without, 
 I however, drawing up the foot to meet the hand. 
 
 " Two" On the word " Two," resume the original position. 
 
 The same practice should also be done to the right reaching 
 down as far as possible, but without drawing the left heel up 
 and back. 
 
 The following practice can only be performed in the cross- 
 saddle, by pupils learning to ride d la cavaticre, and suitably 
 dressed. 
 
 Caution. — Sixth Practice. 
 
 On the word " One," pass the right leg over the 
 horse's neck, and, turning on the seat, sit facing 
 the proper left, keeping the body upright, and the 
 hands resting on the knees. The leg must not 
 
 "One" \ 
 
 \ be bent in passing over the horse's neck. 
 
 On the word "Two," pass' the left leg over the 
 
 horse's quarter, and turning in the seat, sit facing 
 
 Two " { to the rear, assuming, as much as possible, the 
 
 I proper mounted position, the arms hanging 
 
 \ behind the thighs. 
 
 'On the word "Three," pass the right leg over the 
 horse's quarter, and, turning in the seat, sit facing 
 to the proper right, the body upright, and the 
 hands resting on the knees. 
 
 On the word "Four," pass the left leg over the 
 horse's neck, and, turning in the seat, resume the 
 proper mounted position. 
 
 Each of the above motions may be performed by command 
 of the instructor without repeating the words " One," " Two," 
 " Three," etc. 
 
 Three" 
 
 "Four" 
 
Webster Family Library of Veterinary iViedicine 
 Cummings Sciioo! of Veterinary IvIedicine at 
 Tufts Uaiversity 
 200 VVestboro Road 
 Ncrtii Grafton, MA 01 5?6 
 

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