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diff --git a/26318-8.txt b/26318-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b853673 --- /dev/null +++ b/26318-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10818 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Horsewoman, by Alice M. Hayes + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Horsewoman + A Practical Guide to Side-Saddle Riding, 2nd. Ed. + +Author: Alice M. Hayes + +Editor: M. Horace Hayes + +Release Date: August 15, 2008 [EBook #26318] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HORSEWOMAN *** + + + + +Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. A list of corrections +is found at the end of the text along with a list of inconsistently +spelled words. Oe ligatures have been expanded. + + + + + THE + HORSEWOMAN + + + + +[Illustration: Alice M. Hayes] + + + + + THE HORSEWOMAN + + A Practical Guide to Side-Saddle Riding + + BY + + ALICE M. HAYES + AUTHOR OF "MY LEPER FRIENDS." + + EDITED BY + + M. HORACE HAYES, F.R.C.V.S. + (_Late Captain "The Buffs"_) + + AUTHOR OF + "POINTS OF THE HORSE," "VETERINARY NOTES FOR HORSE-OWNERS," + "RIDING AND HUNTING," ETC. + + + + _Second Edition, revised, enlarged and 133 photographic + illustrations added._ + + + LONDON + HURST AND BLACKETT, LIMITED + 13 GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET + 1903 + + _All rights reserved_ + + + + + PRINTED BY KELLY'S DIRECTORIES LTD., + LONDON AND KINGSTON. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The first edition of this book was the result of seven years' experience +of riding hundreds of horses in India, Ceylon, Egypt, China and South +Africa; the most trying animals being those of which I was the +rough-rider at my husband's horse-breaking classes. Since that edition +came out, I have hunted a good deal, chiefly, in Leicestershire and +Cheshire, and have taught many pupils, both of which experiences were of +special advantage to me in preparing this new edition; because English +ladies regard riding, principally, from a hunting point of view, and the +best way to supplement one's education, is to try to teach. + +The directions about side-saddles and seat are the outcome of practical +work and fortunate opportunities; and I hope they will be as useful to +my readers as they have been to my pupils. Although I have ridden, when +abroad, some of the worst buckjumpers that could be found in any +country, I have never "cut a voluntary," thanks to the adoption of a +seat and saddle which gave the necessary grip. Of course I have had +"purls," when horses have "come down" with me out hunting; and on one +occasion in China, when a horse which I mounted for the first time, +reared and came over. + +I have taken Figs. 32 to 51, 71 to 78 and Fig. 90 from _Riding and +Hunting_, and Figs. 147 and 148 from _Points of the Horse_. My husband +has written Chapter XXII. + +I have omitted the chapter on my _Riding Experiences_, as I thought it +out of place in a purely teaching book. + +Knowing the immense value of photographs in explaining technical +subjects, I have gladly availed myself of the expert help of my husband +and son in that form of illustration. + +I am greatly obliged to Miss Harding, Miss Burnaby, Miss Neil, the Rev. +G. Broke, the Rev. R. J. Gornall, Mr. Clarence Hailey of Newmarket, the +Editor of _Country Life_ and the Editor of _The Queen_, for the +admirable photographs and blocks they most kindly lent me. I regret that +I inadvertently omitted to place the names of Mr. Clarence Hailey and +the Gresham Studio, Adelaide, South Australia, under the excellent +photographs which are respectively reproduced in Figs. 2 and 3. + +This edition is practically a new book. + + _Yew Tree House, + Crick, Rugby, + 25th March, 1903._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + BEGINNING TO RIDE 1 to 7 + + CHAPTER II. + HORSES FOR LADIES 8 to 24 + + CHAPTER III. + SIDE-SADDLES 25 to 69 + + CHAPTER IV. + BRIDLES 70 to 88 + + CHAPTER V. + RIDING DRESS 89 to 124 + + CHAPTER VI. + MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING 125 to 135 + + CHAPTER VII. + HOW TO HOLD THE REINS 136 to 144 + + CHAPTER VIII. + THE SEAT 145 to 159 + + CHAPTER IX. + HANDS, VOICE, WHIP AND SPUR 160 to 184 + + CHAPTER X. + FIRST LESSONS IN RIDING 185 to 218 + + CHAPTER XI. + RIDING ACROSS COUNTRY 219 to 226 + + CHAPTER XII. + HACKING 227 to 232 + + CHAPTER XIII. + RIDING WITHOUT REINS 233 to 243 + + CHAPTER XIV. + NERVE 244 to 247 + + CHAPTER XV. + FENCES, COUNTRY AND GATES 248 to 303 + + CHAPTER XVI. + HUNTING 304 to 380 + + CHAPTER XVII. + RIDING AND HUNTING ABROAD 381 to 393 + + CHAPTER XVIII. + WALKING FOXHOUND PUPPIES 394 to 413 + + CHAPTER XIX. + KINDNESS TO HORSES 414 to 425 + + CHAPTER XX. + CROSS-SADDLE RIDING FOR LADIES 426 to 430 + + CHAPTER XXI. + RIDING DIFFICULT HORSES 431 to 464 + + CHAPTER XXII. + NAMES OF EXTERNAL PARTS OF THE HORSE 465 to 473 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + Frontispiece--Alice M. Hayes. + + FIG. PAGE + 1. Man riding a horse over a fence in a side-saddle 3 + 2. Miss Burnaby's Butterfly 9 + 3. Miss Neil's Jackeroo 11 + 4. Mr. Vansittart's Romance 13 + 5. Irish mare, Salary 15 + 6. Polo pony, Pat 17 + 7. Arab pony, Freddie 19 + 8. Side view of saddle tree 26 + 9. Underneath view of saddle tree 27 + 10. Front view of saddle tree 29 + 11. Underneath view of saddle tree and its webs 31 + 12. Grip with improved leaping head 35 + 13. " ordinary " 37 + 14. Hook for stirrup leather 39 + 15. Leaping head too low down 40 + 16. Side view of a properly made saddle 41 + 17. Champion and Wilton's extra stirrup case 43 + 18. Capped stirrup-iron 44 + 19. Slipper stirrup 44 + 20. The Christie stirrup 44 + 21. Foot caught 45 + 22. Latchford stirrup 46 + 23. Scott's stirrup 46 + 24. " " open 47 + 25. Cope's stirrup 48 + 26. Foot released by Cope's stirrup 49 + 27. Scott's stirrup 50 + 28. Foot caught on off side 51 + 29. Child mounted 61 + 30. Child jumping without reins 63 + 31. Foot caught, on account of its having been put into the + stirrup from the wrong side 67 + 32. "Head" of a single bridle: _a_, crown-piece; _b_, _b_, + cheek-pieces; _c_, throat-latch; _d_, front or brow-band 71 + 33. Unjointed snaffle 72 + 34. Chain snaffle 72 + 35. Ordinary snaffle with cheeks 72 + 36. Nutcracker action of jointed snaffle on horse's mouth 73 + 37. Action of unjointed snaffle on horse's mouth 73 + 38. Action of a curb as a lever 73 + 39. Properly constructed curb for ordinary hunter. Side view 74 + 40. Ward Union curb bridle with half-moon snaffle 75 + 41. Curb chain covered with india-rubber tube 76 + 42. Chin-strap unbuckled 76 + 43. Chin-strap buckled 76 + 44. Curb reversed by horse throwing up his head, in the absence + of a chin-strap 77 + 45. Cavasson nose-band 79 + 46. Standing martingale attached to rings of the snaffle 80 + 47. Lord Lonsdale's registered running martingale 81 + 48. Maximum length of standing martingale 83 + 49. Side view of horse's lower jaw 85 + 50. Angle made by the cheeks of a curb, when the reins are + taken up 86 + 51. View of under-surface of lower jaw 87 + 52. The Hayes' Safety Skirt open for mounting 91 + 53. Off side of the Hayes' Safety Skirt 93 + 54. The Hayes' Safety Skirt closed for walking 95 + 55. Apron skirt open for mounting 97 + 56. The apron skirt closed for walking 99 + 57. Riding dress for child 101 + 58. Loose riding coat, too long 103 + 59. Front view of good riding coat 105 + 60. Back view of good riding coat 107 + 61. Terai hat and Norfolk jacket 109 + 62. Pith hat and drill jacket 109 + 63. Good driving coat 111 + 64. Top of boot catching on safety bar flap 119 + 65. Front view of riding under-bodice 121 + 66. Back view of riding under-bodice 123 + 67. Foot raised for mounting 127 + 68. Ready to mount 129 + 69. Dismounting without help 133 + 70. " with help 135 + 71. A rein in each hand 137 + 72. Single reins crossed in one hand 138 + 73. " " " " " 138 + 74. Double reins held separately in two hands 139 + 75. Holding double reins crossed in one hand 140 + 76. Double reins in left hand: one crossed, the other hooked up + on middle finger 141 + 77. Reins held in one hand in military fashion 142 + 78. Off rein taken up by right hand from position shown + in Fig. 77 143 + 79. Position of rider's legs at the walk 147 + 80. Hooked back leg, the direction of the pressure of which + is shown by the fore finger of the left hand 151 + 81. Seat at the walk 153 + 82. Length of stirrup 155 + 83. Correct position of legs 157 + 84. Leaning back 158 + 85. Hunting whip 171 + 86. Thong properly put on 173 + 87. " " " 173 + 88. " incorrectly put on 175 + 89. " not quite right 175 + 90. A practical bullfinch 177 + 91. Spur-carrying whip used for high school riding 181 + 92. Thorough-bred mare at a walk 187 + 93. Preparing to rise at the trot, with stirrup at correct length 191 + 94. Rising at the trot, with stirrup at correct length 193 + 95. Preparing to rise at the trot, with stirrup too long 195 + 96. Rising at the trot, with stirrup too long 197 + 97. Canter, with right leg hooked back, and stirrup too long 199 + 98. Good seat at canter or gallop 201 + 99. " " " " 203 + 100. " " " " 205 + 101. Bad seat; right leg hooked back, stirrup too long, and + foot "home" 207 + 102. Miss Emmie Harding jumping wire 211 + 103. Maximum amount of pressure on leaping head 213 + 104. Position of legs in jumping 215 + 105. Driving horse over jumps 235 + 106. A cut-and-laid fence 251 + 107. " " " during construction 253 + 108. A stake and bound fence 255 + 109. Post and rails to close gap in hedge 257 + 110. Posts and rails 259 + 111. " " " with ditch 261 + 112. Midland stile 263 + 113. An oxer 265 + 114. Wire in front of bullfinch 267 + 115. Galway bank 271 + 116. Side view of bank shown in Fig. 115 273 + 117. Galway bank 275 + 118. "Cope and dash" wall 277 + 119. Loose stone wall 279 + 120. Low bank with ditch on both sides 281 + 121. View of country between Yelvertoft and Crick 283 + 122. Grass on each side of the road 285 + 123. Ordinary five-barred gate 289 + 124. Bridle gate 291 + 125. Gate with wooden latch 293 + 126. " " spring " which has to be drawn back 295 + 127. " " " " " " " pushed forward 297 + 128. Double gate 299 + 129. A puzzle in gate-opening 301 + 130. Ridge and furrow 317 + 131. " " " in the distance 321 + 132. Haystack and gate 329 + 133. Brook 337 + 134. Pollard willows in the next field 339 + 135. The Cottesmore drawing a covert 355 + 136. Wire board 359 + 137. Red flag 363 + 138. "'Ware wire" 365 + 139. Iron hurdle 367 + 140. Wire on top of gate 369 + 141. Pytchley puppy, Mottley 401 + 142. Front view of kennel coat 403 + 143. Back view of kennel coat 405 + 144. Puppies with bicycle 407 + 145. Pytchley puppy, Monarch 409 + 146. Riding mountain zebra 457 + 147. External parts of horse 467 + 148. Measurements of horse 471 + + + + +THE HORSEWOMAN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +BEGINNING TO RIDE. + + +Instruction based on experience assists us in the attainment of all +arts, and hastens the process of learning. Although a specially gifted +individual who has not been taught, may be able to sing in a pleasing +style, no one has ever become an accomplished pianist without competent +instruction; the former being somewhat in the position of a man, the +latter in that of a lady, as regards riding. In all countries we find +good untaught horsemen who have got "shaken into their seats" by +constant practice, with or without a saddle, which in most cases is +chiefly a protection to the animal's back. A side-saddle, on the +contrary, is as artificial a production as a musical instrument, and a +full knowledge of its peculiarities often cannot be acquired during a +lifetime. Here the great difference between men and women is that the +former ride the horse; the latter, the saddle. The tyranny of the +side-saddle would not be so marked as it is, if this article of gear +were of a uniform pattern of the best possible kind. Unfortunately it is +generally built according to the fantastic ideas of fashionable makers +who have no practical experience of side-saddle riding. Unaided learners +have such difficulty in acquiring security and grace of seat and good +hands, that many ladies who have ridden all their lives, and have lots +of pluck, are poor performers, particularly in the hunting-field. A +beginner who is put on a properly made saddle and suitable horse, and is +taught the right principles of riding, will make more progress in a +month than she would otherwise do in, say, five years. The artificiality +of side-saddle riding extends even to the horse, which must be free from +certain faults, such as unsteadiness in mounting, that would not render +him unsuitable to carry a male rider. + +Competency in the instructor is of the first importance. Nothing is more +absurd than for a man who cannot ride well in a side-saddle, to try to +unfold to a lady the mysteries of seat. Such men, instead of getting +into a side-saddle and showing their pupils "how to do it," generally +attempt to conceal their ignorance by the use of stock phrases. If asked +"Why?" they invariably reply, "Because it's the right thing to do," or +words to that effect. I have never heard of women venturing to teach men +how to ride. + +Davis, a young groom we had, was a rare instance of a man who was +thoroughly competent to teach ladies how to ride, because he had lots +of practice in side saddles, and had ample opportunities of learning the +theory of the art, while I was teaching pupils in a riding school, where +I rode and jumped horses without a skirt. Fig. 1 shows Davis riding in a +side saddle over a gate, on my grey horse Gustave. The fact of his not +hanging on to the horse's head is a good proof that he had a strong +seat. + +[Illustration: Fig. 1.--Man riding a horse over a fence in a +side-saddle.] + +The first lessons in balance and grip should be given by a competent +horsewoman, and the riding-skirt should either be taken off or pinned +back (for instance, with a safety-pin), in order that the lady +instructor may be able to see and at once correct faults in the position +of the legs, which is hardly a task fit for a man, even were he +competent to perform it. After the pupil has acquired a good seat at +the various paces and over small fences, her further education in the +guidance and control of her mount might be entrusted to a competent +horseman, preferably to a good cross-country rider, and not, as is +frequently the case, to an ex-military riding-master, who, having been +taught that a cavalryman's right hand has to be occupied with a sword or +lance, considers that ladies should also adopt the one-handed system of +riding! As a rule, the services of a good horseman are desirable when +the pupil is fit to ride in the open, because he is more helpful than a +lady rider in rendering prompt assistance on an emergency. Besides, +riding men usually know more about the bitting and handling of horses +than women, and are therefore better able to impart instruction in this +branch of equitation. + +It is as impossible to lay down a hard-and-fast rule as to the age at +which a girl may be allowed to mount a pony or donkey, as it is to +control the spirits and daring of a foxhound puppy. Those who possess +the sporting instinct and the desire to emulate the example of their +hunting parents or friends, should certainly be encouraged and taught to +ride as soon as they manifest their wish to do so. Many hunting women +allow their children to occasionally attend meets in a governess car or +other suitable conveyance, and the budding sportsmen and sportswomen in +the vehicle keenly follow the hounds, as far as they can do so, by the +roads. On non-hunting days during the season, it is no uncommon sight +in hunting districts to see ladies walking by the side of their tiny +daughters who are mounted on ponies, and giving them instruction in +riding. In cub-hunting time we may often see the good results of such +lessons, when parent and daughter appear together, and the little girl +on her pony follows the lead over small fences which "mother" knows can +be negotiated by both with safety. + +Twenty years ago, infants were often carried in panniers or baskets, one +on each side of a led pony or donkey, with the supposed object of +initiating them to horse exercise. The pannier training was followed by +the little girls being placed on a pilch, and conducted about by a +mounted groom with a leading-rein. This leading-rein system is +absolutely worthless as a means for teaching horse-control to children, +and should be used only as a safeguard with an animal which the young +rider may be unable to hold. + +At whatever age a child is taught to ride, we should bear in mind that +the exercise always entails a certain amount of fatigue, and should be +taken in moderation. The many lamentable accidents which have occurred +to young girls from being "dragged," show the vital necessity of +supplying the small horsewoman with the most reliable safety appliances +in saddlery and dress. The parent or guardian often overlooks this +all-important point, and devotes his or her entire attention to securing +a quiet animal. + +Girls who do not possess any aptitude or desire to ride should not be +compelled to practise this art, for, apart from the cruelty of +subjecting a highly nervous girl to the torture of riding lessons, such +unwilling pupils never become accomplished horsewomen. In the same way, +a child who has no ear for music, and who is forced against her wish to +learn the piano, never develops into a good player. + +The same remark applies to older ladies, who, with the usual angelic +resignation of my sex, try their best to obey the command of their lords +and masters by learning to ride. I fear that success in this art is +seldom attained by ladies over thirty years of age, for by that time +they have generally lost the dashing pluck of their youth; their figures +have become set and matronly; and, as a rule, they find great difficulty +in mastering the subtleties of balance and grip. Also, a state of +nervous anxiety is apt to add to the general stiffness of their +appearance, and to suggest discomfort and irritability. + +We read from time to time alarming rumours of "spinal curvature" as a +result of side-saddle riding, but I have never known a case of this to +occur, either to old or young, although the near-side position of the +leaping-head has a tendency to develop the muscles of the left leg more +than those of the right leg, a fact which I discovered as soon as I +began to ride a bicycle, after having had many years' experience on +horses. Riding alternately on a saddle with the leaping-head on the near +side and on one with the leaping-head on the off side, would help to +save the back and legs of a lady's horse. In cantering or galloping, the +animal puts more weight on the leading fore leg, which is consequently +more liable to suffer from the injurious effects of work than the +non-leading leg; and, as we all know, to canter or gallop comfortably, a +lady's horse has to lead with his off fore when the leaping-head is on +the near side; and _vice versâ_. Also, the vulnerable side of the back +and withers of an animal which carries a side-saddle, is the one which +is opposite to that on which the leaping-head is fixed. I am afraid that +these practical considerations would not outweigh the dictates of +fashion and the expense of having two saddles for one horse. The _Young +Lady's Equestrian Manual_, which was published in 1838, tells us that in +the early part of the last century, a plan which was similar to the one +in question was adopted of having movable crutches, "in order to afford +a lady, by merely changing their relative positions, the means of +riding, as she might please, on either side of her horse," and that this +change of crutches was found advantageous. I do not think that a +side-saddle built on this principle would look neat enough for modern +requirements. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HORSES FOR LADIES. + + +A hunter suitable for a lady should be temperate, sound, strong, safe +and clever over fences, and fast enough for his country. As extra +fatigue is entailed on a lady's mount by the side position of his rider, +he should be quite 21 lbs. above the weight he has to carry. As a rule, +he should not be younger than seven, and should have had, at least, two +seasons' hunting in which to learn his business. Fig. 2 shows us a +typical high-class Leicestershire hunter; and Fig. 3, a good Australian +hunter. + +Mr. Vansittart's Romance (Fig. 4) was one of the nicest of the many +Australian horses I rode, during my sojourns in India, between the years +1885 and 1891. He was thoroughbred and was the winner of several races +on the flat and across country. In those days, the idiotic custom of +docking horses had not found favour in Australia. + +[Illustration: Fig. 2.--Miss Burnaby's Butterfly.] + +The requirements of the various hunting countries differ greatly. For +the Shires, a lady would want a well-bred galloper which can "spread +himself out" over his fences, because there is almost always a ditch or +a rail on one side or the other of the Midland hedges. Temperate he must +be, because the fields in Leicestershire, for instance, are so large +that there is often a crowd of riders waiting their turn at the only +practicable place in a jump, filing through a gate, or waiting _en +masse_ in a cramped space at the covert side, and a horse who displays +temper on such occasions is naturally regarded as a nuisance and danger +by the rest of the field. Besides, it must be remembered that nothing +tends to spoil the nerves of any rider, man or woman, more than +attempting to hunt in a big country like Leicestershire on a +bad-tempered horse, and especially on a refuser which has a tendency to +rear. On no account should a lady ride a roarer, although the artful +dealer may assure her that the "whistle" which the animal makes, will be +a secret unknown to any one except herself and the horse. In the large +majority of cases, roaring is a disease which increases with time, and +the accompanying noise is distressing to all lovers of horses who hear +it. Kickers, even with red bows on their tails, should on no account be +ridden; for they are a danger to man, woman, horse, and hound, and are +the cause of many accidents every hunting season. It would appear that +ladies--not those of the present day, let us hope--were not sufficiently +careful in insisting on this last-mentioned requirement in their +hunters; for Captain Elmhirst, writing in 1883, says, "Horse dealers, +farmers, and--we are sorry to add--ladies must especially be avoided; +for who ever saw a vicious kicker that was not ridden by one of these +three?" + +[Illustration: Fig. 3.--Miss Neil's Jackeroo.] + +Apart from the danger to others, it is obvious that no sane woman would +ride a horse which would be likely to kick her in the event of a fall. +When I was in India, I had to get rid of a horse because of his vicious +tendency in this respect. He was a good-looking Australian, a clever +fencer, and had a nice mouth, but so vicious that when we first got him, +he used to rush open-mouthed at any one who went near him, except his +syce. My husband took him in hand, and he became sufficiently civilised +to take carrots from me. When I rode him, I found he was always looking +out for an excuse to "play up," or to lash out at other horses. In order +to test his jumping, a lightweight gentleman rider one day rode him over +a made course. The animal blundered badly at one of the fences, threw +his rider, and while the man was lying on his back on the ground the +horse deliberately put a fore foot on him, and would have doubtless +broken his back, if my husband, who was standing near the fence, had not +pulled the vicious brute off. We got rid of him, and I heard shortly +afterwards that he had killed his jockey, a native, in a hurdle race at +Calcutta, by the adoption of similar vicious tactics. It would have been +criminal to have taken such a horse as that into any hunting-field. + +[Illustration: Fig. 4.--Mr. Vansittart's Romance.] + +A hunter should have good shoulders (long, flat, and oblique) and a +comparatively high forehand; for horses which are lower in front than at +the croup are uncomfortable to ride, and there is generally some +difficulty in retaining the side saddle in its place on their backs. The +height of a hunter will depend greatly on that of his rider. For +instance, a tall woman with a "comfortable" figure would be suitably +mounted on a horse 16 hands or more high, whereas a light girl of medium +height would find an animal of say 15-2 as much as she could comfortably +manage; for we must remember that big horses, as a rule, take a good +deal of "collecting." A small horse generally stays better, can come out +oftener, is handier, and not so likely to hurt one if he falls. For the +Shires I do not think a lady's hunter should be much under 15-2, and he +must be a big jumper and well bred. Hunting women, as a rule, do not pay +much attention to the good looks of their horses, for hunting is not a +church parade, and the finest performer over a country is always admired +and coveted whatever his appearance may be. The same may be said about +colour; although, as a grey horse is conspicuous enough to be singled +out of a crowd of bays and browns, a lady who is at all "impartial" in +her seat would do well to select a horse wearing a less noticeable tint +of coat. As rearing is the worst vice a lady's mount can possess, no +horse who has a tendency to rear should be ridden by a woman, as from +her position in the side-saddle she is far more helpless than a man on +such an animal. A lady's hunter should not have too light a mouth, but +should go nicely up to his bridle, and not resent the use of the curb, +which is sometimes necessary in avoiding danger. He should on no account +be inclined to pull. A perfect hunter is like a thorough good sportsman, +who regards his share of bangs and blows as all in the day's work. As +the majority of hunters have their own likes and dislikes about jumping +certain kinds of fences, a lady should know precisely what to expect +from her mount and what his jumping capabilities are, before taking him +into the hunting-field, which is not the place for experiments. I had +many pleasant days out hunting with the Quorn, Belvoir, Cottesmore, and +North Cheshire on the Irish mare, Salary (Fig. 5). + +In summing up the requirements of a hunter for either man or woman, I +cannot do better than to quote the following sound advice from Whyte +Melville: "People talk about size and shape, shoulders, quarters, blood, +bone and muscle, but for my part, give me a hunter with brains. He has +to take care of the biggest fool of the two, and think for both." + +[Illustration: Fig. 5.--Irish mare, Salary.] + +To be capable of safely crossing a stiff country, a horse requires at +least a few falls--which had best be shared by a man--and much +experience, which cannot be obtained without time. Hence, I would advise +no lady, however well she may ride, to hunt on a young horse, who will +always require a good deal of time in which to learn his business. It is +certainly no pleasure to be on the back of a horse who is inclined to +drop his hind legs in the ditch on the other side, or to "chance" a post +and rails. Many young horses are so reluctant in going at a fence, and +in "spreading themselves out," that they are no good except when ridden +by a man who can use his legs, which is a feat that a woman is unable to +accomplish. + +A perfect _hack_, whether for man or woman, is far more difficult to +find at the present time than a good hunter, and when found will command +a fancy price. The ideal hack is a showy, well-bred animal of the +officer's charger type, which has been thoroughly well "made" in all his +paces. Such an animal appears at his best when executing a slow, +collected canter, with arched neck and looking full of fire and gaiety, +though ridden with an almost slack rein, and intent only on rendering +prompt obedience to the slightest indication of his rider. In Germany +and France the hacks ridden in the Tiergarten and Bois, for instance, +are thoroughly "made," and compare very favourably with the pulling, +half-broken brutes on which many ladies appear in the Row. In former +times, before the introduction of the leaping-head made hunting possible +for women, more attention was paid to the breaking and training of hacks +than at present, on account of the great demand for "complete ladies' +horses." The advent of the bicycle for ladies has almost abolished +hacking as a pastime and means of exercise, and hence the difficulty in +finding a well-broken animal for this work. The best substitute is, I +think, a good polo pony, because the requirements of that game demand +that the animal should be temperate, handy, and capable of being ridden +with a slack rein. The polo pony Pat (Fig. 6) is a perfect hack, with a +snaffle-bridle mouth, and so steady and clever that he can canter round +the proverbial sixpence. He has played well in several polo matches. + +[Illustration: Fig. 6.--Polo pony, Pat.] + +Although many ladies in this country have never enjoyed the luxury of +riding a high-caste Arab, we occasionally see these animals in the Row +and hunting-field. The sight of an "Arabi tattoo" to an old Indian like +myself, revives many pleasant memories of delightful equine friends in +the East. The Arab is _par excellence_ the most perfect hack for a lady, +and I think it would be ungrateful of me in this new edition to omit the +portrait of my Arab pony Freddie (Fig. 7), even though the cut of the +riding-habit is out of date. + +Although a good horsewoman may be satisfied with any animal which is fit +for a man, provided he is steady to mount and does not require an +unusual amount of collecting; it is not safe to put an inexperienced or +nervous rider on a horse that has not been taught to carry a habit, +which a groom can do by riding the animal with a rug or dark overcoat on +the near side, and letting it flop about. Horses rarely object to the +presence of a skirt, though I have known cases in which the animal went +almost wild with terror when the right leg was put over the crutch. It +is, therefore, wise to accustom a horse to the skirt and leg by means of +a groom. + +The fact of a lady having to ride in a side-saddle, puts her under the +following three disadvantages as compared to a man in a "cross-saddle": +she is, as a rule, unable to mount without assistance; she cannot apply +the pressure of the right leg to the side of the horse; and it is +difficult for her "to drop her hands" in order to pull him together. The +judicious application of a crop or ash-plant (my husband, though an +Irishman, swears by a Neilgherry cane) may partly make up for the +absence of a leg on the off side; but, however well a woman may ride, +she should not have a horse which "plays up" when he is being mounted, +or sprawls about and requires constant pulling together when she is in +the saddle. + +[Illustration: Fig. 7.--Arab pony, Freddie.] + +The style of hack should be in thorough keeping with that of the rider. +A slight lady has a greater range of choice in horseflesh than a portly +dame, who would be best suited with a weight-carrying hunter or compact +cob. The height might vary from 14-2 to 15-3. I hardly think that even a +small woman would look well on a pony which is less than 13-3. + +A beginner should be put on a lazy animal, whether horse or pony, that +will condescend to trot or canter for only a short distance, which will +be quite far enough for its inexperienced rider. Many parents who are +supervising the riding instruction of their children, look too far ahead +when selecting a mount. Instead of purchasing a steady, plodding, though +not unwilling slave, they invest in a second- or third-stage animal, +which is absolutely useless to a beginner, because it wants more riding +than she can give it. Such a young lady needs a thoroughly steady +animal, no matter how old or ugly it may be, and she will probably learn +more about riding on it in a month, than she would in a year on a horse +which would have to be led by a groom, on account of its unsteadiness. A +good donkey is a most useful conveyance for young girls, as he can +generally be trusted to take things quietly, and will not unduly exert +himself without being called upon to do so. + +For the benefit of inexperienced riders, I must not omit to mention that +the measurement of horses is taken from the highest point of the withers +to the ground. A horse is measured by hands and inches, not, as in +humans, by feet and inches. A hand is 4 in., therefore an animal of 15 +hands is 5 ft. in height; 16 hands, 5 ft. 4 in.; 17 hands, 5 ft. 8 in.; +and one of 17-2--which would be a gigantic height in a saddle horse, +but not in a cart horse--would be 5 ft. 10 in. high. A woman of medium +height, like myself, who stands 5 ft. 3 in. in "stocking feet"--a +height, by-the-bye, which is accorded to the Venus de Medici (we might +make use of that fact on being termed "little")--would find a horse of +15-1 or 15-2 a very nice, useful height; though she need by no means +limit herself to height with any horse which is springy and active, does +not require a great amount of collecting, is easy in his paces, and has +a good mouth. The bigger a horse is, the more fatiguing do we find him +to ride, if his mouth, manners, and paces are not thoroughly "made." The +late Esa bin Curtis, a celebrated Arab horse dealer, in speaking of big +buck-jumping Walers, said, "God hath not made man equal unto them," and, +however well a woman may ride, it is no pleasure to find herself +breathless and exhausted in her efforts to control such animals. On the +other hand, many small horses which play up are most difficult to sit, +for, although they may not take their rider's breath away by their +display of physical power, they are like quicksilver on a frying-pan, +and highly test our agility in the matter of balance and grip. + +I cannot conclude this chapter on ladies' horses without expressing my +strong condemnation of the senseless and cruel practice of docking +riding horses, which has nothing in its favour except its conformance to +fashion, and which in this case is disgusting cruelty. Thoroughbred +horses are never docked, whether they be used for racing, +steeplechasing or hunting, and it is a monstrous thing to mutilate +unfortunate half-breds, especially mares, and condemn them to be +tortured by flies, and to have the most sensitive parts of their bodies +turned into a safe camping ground for insects, simply because these poor +animals have a stain in their pedigree. In summer time, when flies are +troublesome, we may often see a long-tailed brood mare at grass +protecting both herself and her suckling foal from these irritating +pests by the free use of her tail; but docked mares are deprived of this +means of driving away insects, and have been known to unwittingly injure +their young by kicking and plunging violently in their efforts to rid +themselves of attacking flies. The unfortunate foal is unable to take +its natural nourishment in peace, and consequently does not thrive so +well as does the offspring of an unmutilated mother. One of the feeble +arguments set forth in favour of docking is, that it prevents a hunter +from soiling the coat of his rider by his tail; but, as my husband truly +says in his new edition of _Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners_, "This +idea is an absurdity, because an undocked horse cannot reach his rider +with his tail, if it is banged short, which is a fact known to all +military men. Besides, mud on a hunting coat is 'clean dirt.'" The +actual pain caused by the operation is trivial as compared with the +life-long misery to which tailless horses are subjected, for we deprive +them for ever of their caudal appendage, and the ridiculous stump +sticking up where the tail ought to be, is as ungraceful as it is +indecent, especially in the case of mares. Our friend, the late Dr. +George Fleming, says in _The Wanton Mutilation of Animals_, "nothing can +be more painful and disgusting to the real horseman and admirer of this +most symmetrically formed and graceful animal than the existence of this +most detestable and torturing fashion; and those who perform the +operation or sanction it are not humane, nor are they horsemen, but +rather are they horse-maimers and promoters of the worst form of cruelty +to animals. Let anyone go to Rotten Row during the season, and satisfy +himself as to the extent to which the fashion prevails, and the +repulsive appearance which otherwise beautiful horses present. The +astonishing and most saddening feature of the equestrian promenade is +the presence of ladies riding mares which are almost tailless. Surely a +plea might be entered here for the use of a fig-leaf to clothe the +nude." I feel sure that if my sex had a voice in the matter, this +wholesale mutilation of mares would soon cease. Dr. Fleming, writing in +the _Nineteenth Century_ over twenty years ago, said: "I hope and +believe that when the horse-loving public and the friends of animals +begin to realise how cruel and degrading some of these mutilations are, +they will not be long in having them suppressed"; but the horse-lovers +do not appear to have done much in this matter so far. This writer tells +us that "the ancient Welsh laws protected it" (the horse's tail) "from +harm at the hands of man," and that "an ecclesiastical canon was issued +in order to prevent it from being damaged in the eighth century." Cannot +our laws do something to protect mares, at any rate, from the cruelty of +docking in the twentieth century? Dr. Fleming, in reviewing the history +of docking from its earliest times, tells us that he saw an old print +"which represented a very emaciated horse, with a fashionable tail, +standing in a luxuriant meadow, his body covered with flies, which +prevented him from grazing, and from which he could not free himself; a +notice board in the field announced that horses were taken in to graze, +those with undocked tails at six shillings a week and docked ones at +eighteenpence." + +When Voltaire visited this country in the first quarter of the +eighteenth century, he was so impressed with our barbarity, especially +in the cutting off the tails of our horses, that he could not refrain +from giving vent to one of his pungent sarcasms in the following +epigram:-- + + "Vous fiers Anglois + Barbares que vous êtes + Coupez la tête aux rois + Et la queue à vos bêtes; + Mais les François, + Polis et droits, + Aiment les lois, + Laissent la queue aux bêtes + Et la tête à leurs rois." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +SIDE-SADDLES. + +Description of a Side-Saddle--Saddle Tree--Covering of a + Side-Saddle--Panel--The Leaping Head--Stirrup Leather--Safety + Bars--Safety Stirrups--Girths--Balance Strap--Breast-plate--Weight + of a Side-Saddle--Shape of the Seat of a Side-Saddle--The Saddle + must Fit the Rider--Crupper--Numdahs and Saddle + Cloths--Side-Saddles for Children--Saddling a Horse--Prevention of + Sore Backs--Cleaning a Side-Saddle. + + +DESCRIPTION OF A SIDE-SADDLE. + +A properly made side-saddle consists of the following parts:-- + +1. A _tree_, which is a wooden frame that is strengthened with steel and +iron, and is provided with an _upper crutch_ (_near head_) and _webs_. + +2. A _leather covering_, which comprises the _seat_, _off flap_, and +_safe_, which is the trade term for the near flap. + +3. A _panel_ (or cushion), which is placed underneath the tree, so as to +protect the animal's back from the hurtful pressure of the unprotected +tree. + +4. A _leaping head_, which helps the lady to obtain security of seat. + +5. A _stirrup leather_. + +6. A _stirrup iron_. + +7. A _stirrup bar_ for the stirrup leather. + +8. _Girths._ + +9. _Balance strap._ + +To these ordinary components of a side-saddle, a _breast-plate_ and +_saddle cloth_ or _numdah_ are sometimes added. On rare occasions a +_crupper_ is used. + +[Illustration: Fig. 8.--Side view of saddle tree.] + + +SADDLE TREE. + +The tree (Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11) consists of two _bars_ (side boards), +which are connected together in front by the _pommel_, and behind by +the _cantle_. The pommel is made up of a _gullet plate_, which is a +steel arch that goes over the withers, and its coverings. The _points of +the tree_ are connected, one on each side, to the front ends of the bars +and to the gullet plate, and they point downwards. The _stirrup bar_, +which should be of a safety pattern, is attached to the near bar, a +little lower down than the leaping head. + +[Illustration: Fig. 9.--Underneath view of saddle tree.] + +The _webs_ (Fig. 11) of a tree are strong hempen bands which cover the +open space down the centre of the tree, and are nailed, at one end, to +the pommel, and at the other end to the cantle. They are tightly +stretched, in order to give the rider a comfortable seat, and to keep +her weight off the horse's backbone. + +The _office of the bars of the tree_ is to evenly distribute the rider's +weight, by means of the panel, over the muscles which run along each +side of the horse's backbone, and which form the only suitable bearing +surfaces for the purpose in question. No weight should fall on the +animal's backbone, because it is very sensitive to pressure, even when +the pressure is well distributed. In order to obtain this indispensable +condition of evenly-distributed pressure, the bars of the tree of a +saddle which is to be made for a particular horse, should accurately fit +the bearing surfaces of the back upon which they rest, and should be +well away from the backbone; in fact, the distance between the bars +should not be less than four inches. When the rider is in the saddle, a +fair amount of space should exist between the gullet plate and the +withers, so that no injurious pressure may fall on the top or sides of +the withers, which are particularly susceptible to inflammation from +this cause. + +In order to avoid giving an undue height to the pommel, with the object +of keeping it off the withers, it should be "cut back" (Fig. 11), +although this cutting back need not be carried to the excessive extent +that is sometimes practised. In a man's saddle, the pommel is generally +straight. + +[Illustration: Fig. 10.--Front view of saddle tree.] + +The _points of the tree_ should accurately fit the parts upon which they +rest, so as to prevent any "wobbling" of the saddle. The near point of +the tree (Fig. 10) is usually made long, with the idea of helping the +saddle to keep in its place; but if this is done, the off point should +be comparatively short, because, if both points be long, they will be +apt to become pulled further apart in the event of the horse turning +round sharply, as he would have to do in a narrow stall, or even when +refusing a jump. + +The _upper crutch_, or, as it is called by saddlers, the _near head_, +is a more or less upright projection which is placed on the near side of +the pommel, in order to give support to the rider's right leg. The slope +and bearing surface of this near head should be regulated, so that (as +we shall see further on) the lower part of the rider's right leg may +extend downwards along the shoulder of the horse, and that the lady may +be able to exert full pressure against the near head, by the inward +rotation of her thigh (p. 157). The height of the near head depends on +the thickness of the rider's thigh, because a fat leg will require a +higher crutch than a thin one. If the upper crutch be unduly long, it +will push the skirt up and give it a bad appearance. We must, however, +bear in mind that if it is too short for its legitimate purpose, it will +afford an insecure grip to the right leg, which is a consideration that +must not be neglected. + +Before the leaping head (p. 33) was invented, side-saddles were provided +with an _off crutch_, which was placed on the off side of the pommel. In +a very old saddle which I saw, it took the form of an upright handle, +which was placed parallel to the direction of the withers, and which +apparently was intended to be grasped by the right hand of the rider in +case of emergency. In a saddle of mine, which is about 100 years old, +the off crutch projects horizontally to the right. Fifty years ago, the +off crutch was almost always upright, and was often placed so close to +the near crutch that the rider was able to get a fairly firm support for +her right leg by jamming it between these two crutches. As the great +utility of the leaping head received increasingly wide recognition, the +off crutch underwent a gradual process of decadence, because it is of no +benefit to a rider who understands the use of a leaping head. +Indications of its previous existence may occasionally be seen, +especially abroad, in the form of an entirely useless thickening of the +off side of the pommel. + +[Illustration: Fig. 11.--Underneath view of saddle tree and its webs.] + + +COVERING OF A SIDE-SADDLE. + +The seats of good saddles are generally of pigskin, and the flaps of +cow-hide. The fact of the seat being of buckskin or other rough leather +will increase the lady's security in the saddle, but may somewhat +detract from the smartness of her appearance, especially if the leather +is white. I can see no objection to the seat of the saddle being of +rough brown leather. Formerly, all side-saddles had a "stuffed safe," in +which the front part of the near flap is padded, but nowadays it is +rarely, if ever, used by smart hunting people. It is evidently the +surviving remains of the voluminous pad, upon which ladies used to rest +the lower part of their right leg in the days before the leaping head +was invented. Ornamental stitching about the seat and safe of a saddle +is equally out of date. + + +PANEL. + +It is all important that the panel should be so carefully stuffed, that +the rider's weight will be evenly distributed over the bearing surfaces +of her animal's back. Even if this is done to perfection, the desirable +arrangement will last for only a short time, if the stuffing is of the +wrong kind of material. Instead of using fine wool (best flock), +incompetent or unduly economical saddlers often employ flock which is +largely composed of cotton waste, and, consequently, when they stuff or +re-stuff a saddle, lumps, from the absorption of perspiration, are apt +to form in the panel, with the frequent result of a sore back. Although +the stuffing of side-saddles is too technical a subject to attack in +these pages, I would fail in my duty to my readers if I omitted to +advise them always to go to a first-class saddler for a new saddle, or +to get an old one re-stuffed, which should be done as may be required, +preferably, before the beginning of the hunting season, supposing that +the saddle has seen a good deal of service. It is often thought that +expert saddlers are to be found only in London; but if a saddler is +clever at his trade, the fact of his having a shop in a good hunting +district, must be a great advantage to him in studying the requirements +of riding people. + + +THE LEAPING HEAD + +was invented about 1830 by M. Pellier, who was well known in Paris as a +riding master. Its object is to help the rider to obtain security of +seat by a fixed surface against which she can press the front and lower +part of her left thigh. Before the invention of the leaping head, ladies +had to rely entirely on the right leg for grip, and consequently few, if +any of them, were able to hunt. Mr. John Allen, who wrote _Modern +Riding_, in 1825, tells us that "the left leg is nearly, if not wholly +useless; for though a stirrup is placed on the foot, the only use of it +is to ease the leg a little, which, for want of practice, might ache by +dangling and suspension." + +The following are the chief points to be considered about a leaping +head:-- + + * * * * * + +1. Its curve should be so arranged that the harder a lady presses +against it, the more will her left leg be carried inwards, so that the +flat (inside) of her knee may be brought in contact with the flap of the +saddle (Fig. 12). An ordinary leaping head is curved, as a rule, in such +a manner that when a rider seeks to obtain support from it by the +pressure of her left leg, this limb is carried outwards, and she is able +to get a _point d'appui_ only at the extreme end of this projection +(Fig. 13). It is evident that the closer the left leg is to the saddle, +the firmer will be the seat. Besides, the more the left leg is brought +outwards, the more weight will be put on the near side, which, as we +shall see further on, is the very thing a rider ought to avoid. + +2. The leaping head should be close to the upper crutch (Figs. 12 and +16). The usual plan of putting it much lower down (Fig. 15) tends to +bring the weight to the near side, a fact which can be easily tested, +especially in trotting, by trying the improvement in question, which was +suggested to me by Mr. Ford of Rugby, who is a very competent and +experienced saddler. + +[Illustration: Fig. 12.--Grip with improved leaping head.] + +3. Usually, the leaping head is attached to the tree by means of a +screw, which is an arrangement that has the disadvantage of not allowing +the leaping head to be placed close to the upper crutch. If the leaping +head is riveted on to the tree (as in Figs. 10 and 16), which is the +better plan, it can be placed as near as we like to the upper crutch, +and it will have no tendency to wobble about, as it would be apt to do, +if it was fixed by a screw. As the screws of the leaping heads of cheap +saddles are almost always made of annealed iron, which is a form of +cast-iron, it is not an uncommon occurrence for the screw of one of +these saddles to break, which is more apt to occur at a critical moment, +as for instance when the horse is jumping or "playing up," than when he +is going quietly. On the only occasion I ever rode over a fence in one +of these cheap Walsall saddles, the screw broke, but luckily I +"remained." + +4. When the leaping head is a fixture, the bearing surface which it +presents to the rider's left leg should be in the same direction as the +upper part of that limb, so that the pressure on it may be evenly +distributed. By placing a straight stick under the leaping head, and +holding it in the direction which the left thigh would occupy, when the +rider is mounted, we can easily see if the bearing surface is in the +proper position. + +5. As an aid to security of seat, it is well to have the under surface +of the leaping head and the off side of the upper crutch covered with +rough brown leather, which, we should bear in mind, is concealed from +view, when the lady is in the saddle, and consequently it will not +detract from the smartness of her appearance. + +[Illustration: Fig. 13.--Grip with ordinary leaping head.] + + +STIRRUP-LEATHER. + +The stirrup-leather, which is on the near side, should always be +attached to a bar, and not, as is sometimes done, to the balance strap +(p. 53); because, in this case, its length will be subject to frequent +variation, not only when the saddle is put on different animals, but +also when the horse gets slack in his girth from work. When it is fixed +to a bar, which should always be of the safety kind, no alteration in +the correct length of the leather will take place. + +The arrangement for undoing the stirrup-leather is in the most +convenient position when it is close to the iron, and not in proximity +to the stirrup-bar, as is the case in a man's hunting saddle. If the +leather is used in the latter manner, the buckle will be apt to hurt the +inside of the lady's left leg, when she brings the knee close to the +flap of the saddle; and it will be more inconvenient to alter the length +of the leather, when the lady is mounted, than if the buckle or hook was +low down. The hook (Fig. 14) is better than a buckle, because it lies +flatter and is easier to arrange. + +[Illustration: Fig. 14.--Hook for stirrup leather.] + + +SAFETY BARS. + +A safety bar is a bar which will release the leather, in the event of +the rider falling from the saddle, and at the same time getting her foot +caught in the stirrup-iron. To be reliable, it should do this, whether +the lady falls on the near side, or on the off side. The best safety bar +which has up to the present been put before the public, is undoubtedly +Champion and Wilton's latest pattern. It releases with absolute +certainty on both sides, and can be fitted in such a manner that it will +allow the flat of the left leg to be brought close to the saddle. As +safety bars and safety stirrups are the only means for ensuring a lady +from being dragged by her stirrup, and as Champion and Wilton's safety +bar is more reliable in this respect than any safety stirrup, it stands +to reason that it should be used with every side-saddle. With this bar +on a saddle, there is of course no objection to the use of a safety +stirrup, in order to make "doubly sure." It is usually fitted with a +thick flap (Fig. 15), which prevents the left leg from being brought +close to the saddle; but this objection can be removed by the adoption +of Mr. Ford's plan of greatly reducing the size of the flap of the bar, +and making it fit into an opening cut out of the near flap of the saddle +(Fig. 16). I have found this arrangement a great improvement on the old +clumsy flap, the lower edge of which is unpleasantly apt to catch on the +rider's boot, especially when trotting. I shall discuss the failings of +safety stirrups further on. + +[Illustration: Fig. 15.--Leaping head too low down.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 16.--Side view of a properly made saddle.] + +Owing to the position which a lady occupies in a side-saddle, she is +often inclined to draw her foot back to such an extent that she would +pull the leather out of the bar, if the action of the bar was similar to +that of a man's saddle; but a Champion and Wilton's bar is so devised +that it will free the leather, only when the pressure of the left leg is +removed from the flap of the bar, in which case the lady will have +quitted the saddle. Hence, as long as she keeps her seat, she cannot +pull the leather out of the bar by drawing back her left leg. The only +thing which prevents this safety arrangement from being absolutely +perfect, is the liability the leather has of falling out of the bar and +becoming lost, in the event of the rider severing her connection with +the saddle, in which case the retaining action of the flap on the bar +will cease. + +For this emergency, Messrs. Champion and Wilton provide side saddles +with a small leather case which contains an extra stirrup, and which is +attached to the near side of the saddle, so that it is concealed from +view, when the lady is mounted (Fig. 17). The weight of the stirrup and +case is only half a pound. + +[Illustration: Fig. 17.--Champion and Wilton's extra stirrup case.] + + +SAFETY STIRRUPS, + +both for men and ladies, have been in existence for hundreds of years. +Apparently the first variety of this contrivance was the capped +stirrup-iron, either simple (Fig. 18) or in the form of a slipper (Fig. +19), which was provided with an arrangement on its sole that prevented +the toe of the slipper from yielding to downward pressure, but allowed +it to revolve upwards, and thus to facilitate the release of the foot, +in the event of a fall. The simple capped stirrup was used by ancient +Spanish Cavaliers, and is still employed by many of their descendants in +America. In apparent oblivion of these facts, the Christie stirrup (Fig. +20), made on the same principle, was patented about four years ago. +Besides its undue weight (1-1/4 lb. as compared to the 1/2 lb. of the +slipper stirrup), it has the further disadvantage of allowing the +possibility of the toe being caught between its bars (Fig. 21). Want of +neatness appears to have been the only cause of the abandonment of the +capped stirrup, which is certainly safer than any of its successors, the +first English one of which appears to have been the Latchford safety +stirrup (Fig. 22). It consists of two irons; the small one, which is +placed within the large one, being made to come out the moment the foot +gets dragged in it, in which case it parts company with its fellow, and +is then liable to get lost. The Scott safety stirrup (Figs. 23 and 24) +has not this fault, for its inner iron always retains its connection +with the outer one, and can be replaced without delay, if the lady after +her tumble desires to remount. The Latchford, Scott ordinary, and Cope +safety stirrup (Figs. 25 and 26) open only one way, so that the foot, +when correctly placed in any of them, may not be liable, as in the event +of a fall, to be forced through the outer iron, in which case the lady +would almost to a certainty get hung up if her saddle was not provided +with a safety bar. In these stirrups, the side of the "tread,"[46-*] +which ought to be to the rear, is generally indicated by the fact of its +being straight, while the other side is curved (Fig. 24). This is done +in Fig. 27, by the word "heel." + +[Illustration: Fig. 18.--Capped stirrup-iron.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 19.--Slipper stirrup.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 20.--The Christie stirrup.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 21.--Foot caught.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 22.--Latchford stirrup.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 23.--Scott's stirrup.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 24.--Scott's stirrup open.] + + * * * * * + +The _chief faults of so-called safety stirrups_ are as follows:-- + +1. They may catch on the foot, on account of getting crushed by coming +in violent contact with a tree, wall or other hard object, or by the +horse falling on his near side. When I was living in India, I had a +Scott safety stirrup jammed on my foot in this manner, by a horse which +I was riding, making a sudden shy and dashing against a wall. The iron +was so firmly fixed to my foot by this accident, that it could not be +taken off until, after much pain and trouble, my foot was freed from +both boot and stirrup. Had I been unseated, I would probably have been +killed, because my saddle had not a safety bar. + +[Illustration: Fig. 25.--Cope's stirrup.] + +2. Those which open only when the foot is put into them in one way, are +apt to cause a fatal accident if put in the wrong way, which may easily +happen from carelessness or ignorance (p. 64). The methods (straight +edge of "tread," or word "heel") used with these stirrups, to indicate +the proper side on which to put the foot into the iron, may convey no +meaning to persons who are not well acquainted with the details of +side-saddle gear, and in moments of hurry and excitement may be easily +overlooked. + +3. Any ordinary safety stirrup which is used without a safety bar may +cause a lady to get "hung up," if she is thrown to the off side and her +heel gets jammed against the saddle in the manner shown in Fig. 28. + +[Illustration: Fig. 26.--Foot released by Cope's stirrup.] + +4. If the outer iron is small in comparison to the size of the foot, the +rider may easily get dragged. + +5. If the outer iron of a Scott's reversible safety stirrup is large in +comparison to the size of the foot (as in the case of a young girl), +the rider may get dragged in the event of a fall, by the foot going +through the stirrup. Accidents caused by a foot going through a stirrup +have often occurred to men from falls when hunting and steeplechasing. + +[Illustration: Fig. 27.--Scott's stirrup.] + +Some ladies think it "smart" to ride with a man's ordinary stirrup iron, +or (madder still) with a small racing stirrup, attached to a leather +which does not come out. I once saw a lady who adopted this senseless +plan fall and get dragged. By an extraordinary piece of good luck she +was saved from a horrible death by her boot coming off. + +All that can be said in favour of safety stirrups, is that they are +less liable to cause accidents than ordinary stirrups. The fact remains, +that the danger of being dragged by the stirrup can be entirely obviated +only by the use of an efficient safety bar. + +[Illustration: Fig. 28.--Foot caught on off side.] + + +GIRTHS. + +In referring to this subject, I cannot do better than give the following +extract from _Riding and Hunting_:-- + +"Girths, while fulfilling their duty of efficiently keeping the saddle +on a horse's back, should be as little liable as possible to hurt the +surface on which they press. Hence they should be broad, soft, and +constructed so that their tendency to retain sweat between them and the +horse's skin may be reduced as far as practicable. They can best fulfil +the last-mentioned important condition when they are absorbent and open +in texture. It is evident that sweat retained between the girth and the +skin will have the effect of the moisture of a poultice in rendering the +part soft and unusually liable to injury from pressure or friction. + +"As a material for girths, wool is superior to cotton or leather, +because it is softer, more absorbent, and does not become so hard on +drying after having become wet. The only drawback to ordinary woollen +girths is that they are not sufficiently ventilated, an objection which +has been overcome in specially constructed woollen girths that are sold +by many good saddlers. + +"The plan of giving ventilation by slitting up a broad leather girth +into several narrow straps, or by using a number of cords of cotton or +of plaited or twisted raw hide often acts well; but its adoption may +give rise to girth-galls, if care is not taken to smooth out, when +girthing up, any wrinkles there may be in the skin underneath the girth. +It is evidently more difficult for the pressure to be evenly distributed +by these cords, than by a broad girth which consists of one piece. + +"Great care should be taken to keep girths clean and soft, and to oil +them from time to time, if they be of leather. + +"I prefer a broad girth attached at each side by two buckles to two +narrow girths. The Fitzwilliam girth, which consists of a broad girth +with a narrow one over it, is handy with a martingale or breast-plate, +through the loop of which the narrow girth can be passed." + +In a Fitzwilliam girth, the pressure of the narrow one on the centre of +the broad one, makes the edges of the broad girth incline outwards, and +thus apparently helps to save the horse from becoming girth-galled. + +Girths should always be buckled high up on the near side, in order to +prevent their buckles hurting the rider's left leg, by making an +uncomfortable bump in the flap of the saddle; and also to allow plenty +of space on the girth straps of the off side, for shortening the girths +as may be required. + + +BALANCE STRAP. + +This is a leather strap which is attached to the off side of the rear +part of the saddle, at one end; and to a strap close to the girth straps +of the near side, at the other end. Before the days of safety bars, its +near side end was usually buckled on to the stirrup leather, which was a +faulty arrangement, not only as regards the leather (p. 36), but also +because its degree of tightness was a constantly varying quantity which +entirely depended on the amount of pressure that the rider put on her +stirrup. The presence of a properly tightened balance strap helps to +prevent lateral movement on the part of the saddle. Also it counteracts, +to some extent, the excess of weight which almost every rider puts on +the near side of her saddle; this good effect being due to the fact that +the off attachment of the balance strap is farther away from the centre +line (axis) of the animal's body than the near attachment; and +consequently the pull of the balance strap on the off side acts to +greater mechanical advantage than the pull on the near side. + + +BREAST-PLATE. + +The breast-plate is attached at one end to the girth or girths, and at +the other end to the staples of the saddle. Its use is to prevent the +saddle shifting backwards, as it might do if the girths were slack, +especially if the animal was very narrow waisted. Even with a +well-shaped horse, a breast-plate is often useful on a long day and in a +hilly country. It is much in favour with hunting ladies. Staples are +small metal loops which are fixed to the front part of the saddle-tree. + + +WEIGHT OF A SIDE-SADDLE. + +In order to avoid giving a horse a sore back and consequently disabling +him for the time being, it is essential to have the tree rigid, so that +the weight may remain evenly distributed over the bearing surfaces of +his back, which rigidity cannot be obtained without having the tree +fairly heavy. The necessary width and length of saddle and strength of +upper crutch and leaping head are also questions of weight. Hence if we +require a saddle for rough and dangerous work like hunting, we must not +entertain the ridiculous idea of having a light saddle, so that it may +look particularly smart. A fair weight for a side-saddle is one-seventh +of the weight of the rider, that is to say, two pounds for every stone +she weighs, with a minimum weight of 18 lbs. + + +SHAPE OF THE SEAT OF A SIDE-SADDLE. + +The level-seated fad which some fashionable saddlers try to impress on +their inexperienced customers is an absurdity from a hunting point of +view, because no one out of an idiot asylum would care to sit for +several hours on a perfectly level surface, whether it was a saddle or a +chair. The discomfort which such an attempt would entail, is due to the +fact that the nature of our anatomy requires a certain amount of dip in +that portion of the seat upon which most of the weight falls. The +level-seated idea is purely theoretical, because no saddles are made in +conformance with it. For hunting we must have comfort, without, of +course, any undue violation of smartness. Besides, a certain amount of +dip in the seat, similar to that shown in Fig. 16, is an aid to +security. A cutback pommel (Fig. 11) improves the look of a side-saddle +without diminishing the rider's grip. The seat on the near side should +be eased off, so as to allow the rider's left leg to get close to the +horse; and the near side, close to the cantle, should be made a little +higher than the off side, in order to correct any tendency there may be +to sit too much over on the near side. + +The saddles which I used on Romance (Fig. 4), and Freddie (Fig. 7), +about fifteen years ago, were not called "level seated," but we may see +that they are quite as neat and smart as those of the present time, +which fact shows that very little change has been made in the shape of +side-saddles since the eighties. + + +THE SADDLE MUST FIT THE RIDER. + +The two great points in this requirement are that the upper crutch and +leaping head should be in a suitable position, and the saddle +sufficiently long, so as to be about a couple of inches clear of the +back of the rider's seat. The right position of the upper crutch and +leaping head can be determined only by experiment. If the tree is so +short as to allow any undue weight to fall on the cantle, the horse will +naturally run the risk of getting a sore back. The height of the upper +crutch and the length of the leaping head will vary according to the +thickness of limb. We shall see on pages 150 to 152, that the position +of the upper crutch which will suit a lady who hooks back her right leg, +will not be applicable to one who carries her right foot forward; and +_vice versâ_. A saddle which suits a rider's style of equitation will +invariably fit her, if its tree and its crutches are long enough. Hence, +if more than one member of a family wants to ride and there is only one +horse, a saddle which will fit the biggest will suit all the rest. + + +CRUPPER. + +The office of a crupper is to prevent the saddle working forward on the +horse's back, which it will not do if the animal is of a proper shape +and the girths sufficiently tight. In ancient days, when riding-horses +were more rotund than they are now, and saddles were not so well made, +cruppers were generally used, but within the last forty years they have +gone entirely out of fashion. A crupper is not to be despised in +out-of-the-way parts abroad, when we have to ride animals of all sorts +and sizes, and when we have only one saddle. + + +NUMDAHS AND SADDLE-CLOTHS. + +As the principles which regulate the use of these appliances with cross +saddles are the same as those with side saddles, I cannot do better than +give the following extract from _Riding and Hunting_, with one or two +additions: + +"Saddle-cloths are generally made of felt, and their primary object is +to prevent the panel from soaking up sweat and becoming thereby soiled +and more or less spoiled. The term numdah or numnah, which is applied to +felt saddle-cloths, is derived from a Hindustani word that signifies +'felt.' A saddle-cloth should be as thin as efficiency in serving its +purpose will allow it to be, so that it may give as little play as +possible to the saddle. Although the fitting of the saddle should as far +as practicable be limited to the adjustment of the shape of the tree and +to regulating the amount of stuffing in the panel; the use of a numdah +with a saddle which does not fit the horse or which is not sufficiently +stuffed, is often a valuable makeshift when necessity gives no other +choice. The employment of an ordinary saddle-cloth is accompanied by the +slight disadvantage, that the middle line of the back which is covered +by the saddle is deprived of the benefit of air circulating along it, by +the fact of the saddle-cloth resting on it. An attempt to remedy this +objection is sometimes made by cutting a longitudinal piece out of the +centre of the saddle-cloth. Here the cure is worse than the complaint, +because injurious pressure will be exerted by the edges of the aperture +thus made, especially if the edges are bound with tape, to preserve them +from fraying out. + +"A saddle-cloth should extend about two inches beyond the bearing +surfaces of the saddle, so that its edges may not give rise to unequal +pressure on the back, which would occur if the saddle-cloth was shorter +than the tree. + +"Saddle-cloths made of one thickness of leather admirably answer the +purpose of saving the panel from injury; but for hunting and other +long-continued work they have the objection of retaining perspiration, +instead of soaking it up, as felt ones do. It is a good plan before +using a new saddle-cloth, to rub a little neat's-foot oil into its rough +(upper) surface, which is much more absorbent than its smooth side. If +neat's-foot oil is not at hand, cod liver oil or castor oil may be used. +The oily application can be repeated, according as the leather gets +dry." + +As a substitute for a panel, Messrs. Champion and Wilton have devised a +numdah lined with spongio-piline and covered with linen, to be used with +a saddle, the underneath part of the tree of which is covered with +leather. The chief advantage of this numdah is that a saddle which is +provided with two or more of them, can always present a dry bearing +surface to the horse's back. A stout numdah of this kind can be used +with a high withered animal, and a thin one with a horse which has thick +withers. Its inventors claim that it distributes the weight better and +keeps the saddle steadier than a panel. + + +SIDE-SADDLES FOR CHILDREN. + +As children are unable to take the necessary precautions against +accident, no considerations of fashion or smartness should outweigh +those of safety for the little ones. Even the old handle at the off side +of the saddle (p. 30) might be a valuable help to a very young beginner. +The seat of the saddle and the bearing surfaces of the upper crutch and +leaping head had best be of rough leather, and particular attention +should be paid to the construction of the upper crutch and leaping head, +so that a maximum of grip may be obtained, which is a point that is +deplorably neglected by many of the makers of side-saddles for children. +Children can ride in any comfortable saddle, supposing that it is not +too small. I have taught very small girls to ride in my saddle and jump +without reins on a horse 15-3 high. A lady who attended one of these +lessons, which were held in Ward's riding-school in London, made two +sketches of her little friends which, by the kind permission of the +Editor of the _Queen_, in which paper they appeared, I am able to +reproduce. We may see that the small horsewoman is sitting well over her +hurdle and is riding with comfort in a saddle that is far too large for +her. The lady friend of the two little girls wrote about our work in the +_Queen_ of June 17, 1893, as follows: "I made the acquaintance of the +authoress of _The Horsewoman_ one morning in Ward's Manège, where I went +to see two little friends taking their riding lesson from her. It was a +novel and pretty sight. Mrs. Hayes has inaugurated a method of +instruction hitherto unpractised, and which must recommend itself to any +one who sees the extraordinary progress which accompanies it. The +children are dressed in gymnastic costume (Fig. 29) and it was the third +time only that they had been put on a horse--a large horse it was too, +and as patient and kindly as it is possible to be. The first thing Mrs. +Hayes teaches is how to sit. By the pupils wearing no skirt she can see +at a glance whether the position of the legs is right, and this is +all-important. + +[Illustration: Fig. 29.--Child mounted.] + +"By the time I saw the children they were galloping gaily round and +round, with radiant faces and flying hair, sitting better into the +saddle, even at this early stage, than many a woman who considers +herself a complete rider. They are not allowed to hold the reins; the +hands lie in the lap, holding the whip across the knees, which accustoms +them from the first to keep their hands low, besides teaching them to +keep their seat without 'riding the bridle,' as so many people do. The +horse is driven with long reins, like those used in breaking by Captain +Hayes, and managed by him with the dexterity of a circus master. After a +few turns at the canter, wicker hurdles are put up, and, to my +astonishment, the children, without the slightest fear or hesitation, +settled themselves down, leaned well back, and popped over without +raising their hands or altering the position of their legs (Fig. 30). +They had been over the same hurdles at the second lesson, and too much +can hardly be said in praise of a system that has such results to offer +in so short a space of time. Mrs. Hayes herself, as may be supposed, +looks every inch a 'workman' in the saddle. She has ridden in most +quarters of the globe; and, as if she sighed for other worlds to +conquer, and were _blasée_ about all sorts and conditions of horses, she +rode a zebra at Calcutta which was broken within an hour by her husband +sufficiently to be saddled and bridled. Her experiences on his back are +entertainingly set forth in her book _The Horsewoman_, which is well +worth the reading, not only for its hints on horsemanship, but for the +many amusing sporting anecdotes. Her other book is one which one would +hardly have expected from a woman whose life has been in so great a +measure devoted to horses and sport. It is called _My Leper Friends_. A +friend indeed they must have thought her, with her devoted sympathy and +repeated endeavour to alleviate the sufferings from the most distressing +and repulsive malady in the world. Another book is now on the stocks, +the preparation of which keeps Captain and Mrs. Hayes for the present in +England. That done, they will soon start again on their travels, England +being a place that never holds their roving spirits long. The +curiosities, and beautiful stuffs and feathers, which they have gleaned +in many lands will have to disappear into big boxes and be warehoused, +until some fresh store of adventures recalls the wanderers home. + +"Meanwhile she teaches the art, of which she is indeed a past mistress, +in a way which it is a pleasure and profit to see; and I can most +conscientiously advise any mother to send her girls to her if she wishes +them to at once become perfect horsewomen while remaining perfect +ladies." + +[Illustration: Fig. 30.--Child jumping without reins.] + +We had so many charming pupils during our short stay in London, that I +shall always regard this teaching period as one of the pleasantest +events of my life. I often think about them all, and wonder how they are +getting on with their riding, and, as their various difficulties have +been present in my mind while writing this book, I have done my best to +solve them all as clearly as possible. We put up small hurdles and got +our tiny pupils to ride over them, because I saw that they had grasped +my explanation and demonstrations of balance and grip, and it made them +mightily proud of themselves, and keen on learning all they could about +riding, when they found that they could sit over fences with ease. +Although the school hurdles were small, our grey horse which they rode +was a big jumper, which could negotiate a five-foot posts and rails with +ease, so the children who rode him were unconsciously carried a far +greater height than they imagined, for we all know that a big jumper +makes a fine leap, even over small fences. In teaching children to ride +we should always provide them with saddles in which they can obtain the +grip that we ourselves require, and should see that the length of the +stirrup-leather is correct. We should remember that the young +horsewoman, however tiny she may be, requires to be provided with the +best and safest appliances in the matter of stirrup, safety bar, and +safety skirt, that we can give her; and I may say that if I had a +daughter I would never allow her to ride unless her saddle was provided +with Champion and Wilton's safety bar, which I use, and unless she wore +my skirt or the safe little coat shown in Fig. 57. If reliance has to be +placed on a safety stirrup in the absence of Champion and Wilton's +safety bar, only the capped stirrup-iron (Fig. 18) or the slipper +stirrup (Fig. 19) should be employed. I have no faith in one-sided +safety stirrups for young girls, for we cannot put old heads on young +shoulders in the matter of careful attention about placing the foot in +the safety stirrup from the proper side. A groom may put the stirrup +correctly on the foot of his young mistress before starting out with her +for a quiet ride, but these men naturally know nothing about the correct +length of the stirrup leather, and during the ride the stirrup may come +out of the foot and be caught haphazard by the rider, with the result +that, should she become unseated and thrown from her saddle by her horse +suddenly shying with her, she may be dragged and killed. I therefore +cannot too strongly recommend all mothers to see that their daughters' +saddles are provided with reliable safety bars, and of course that the +children are provided with safety skirts, for a safety bar is useless if +the rider's skirt catches on the upper crutch and holds her suspended. +In July 1897 a young daughter of a well-known nobleman was dragged by +her stirrup and killed while exercising her pony in a paddock. As the +stirrup was of a one-sided pattern, it must have been negligently placed +the wrong way (Fig. 31) on the foot of the poor girl, who was only +fifteen years old. I heard that rider, saddle, and pony were all buried +on the same day. I would not be inclined to blame the groom if he were +inexperienced, as many are, in the one-sidedness of so-called safety +stirrups. Another equally terrible accident occurred in September 1893, +when a young lady was dragged by her stirrup and killed while hacking +along a road at Kilhendre, near Ellesmere, with her groom in attendance. +As far as I could gather from the newspaper report of this sad accident, +a butcher's cart driven rapidly round a corner caused the lady's pony to +shy suddenly and unseat her, with the result that she was dragged by her +stirrup and killed. At the inquest which was held on the body of this +poor girl, the jurymen devoted their entire attention to the character +of the animal she was riding, and as the father of the young lady, who +had bred the pony himself, was able to show that it was a staunch and +reliable animal, the usual verdict of accidental death was given. These +twelve good men and true absolutely ignored the stirrup, which had been +the sole cause of this awful occurrence, and concentrated their entire +attention on the innocent pony she rode. + + +SADDLING A HORSE. + +As a horse's loins are ill fitted to bear weight, the saddle should be +placed as far forward as it can go, without interfering with the action +of his shoulder-blades, the position of the rearmost portion of which is +indicated by the "saddle muscle," which is a lump of muscle below the +withers. The saddle can be placed about three inches behind it. Instead +of putting the saddle on the exact part of the back it is to occupy, it +is best to place it a few inches too far forward, and then to draw it +back, so as to smooth down the hair under it, and thus make it +comfortable for the animal. The front girth is first taken up, and then +the next one, which is passed through the loop of the martingale or +breast-plate, supposing that two girths of equal width are used. To +prevent any wrinkles being made in the skin under the girths, and to +make the pressure even, the groom should shorten the girths to about +half the required extent on one side, should finish the tightening on +the other side, and should run his fingers between the girths and skin +in order to smooth out any wrinkles, the presence of which would be +liable to cause a girth-gall. As girthing up, when the lady is mounted, +will have to be done on the off side, sufficient space for that purpose +will have to be left on the girth-straps of that side. After the rider +has been put up, the girths should be again tightened, and it is +generally advisable to repeat this operation after she has ridden her +horse for a short time, especially if the animal has the trick of +"blowing himself out." With a Fitzwilliam girth, the narrow girth which +goes over the broad one is passed through the loop of the martingale or +breast-strap, supposing that one or both of these appliances are used. +The balance strap should be tightened to a fair extent, though not quite +so much as the girths, because the portion of the ribs over which it +passes, expands and contracts far more than that encompassed by the +girths. + +[Illustration: Fig. 31.--Foot caught, on account of its having been put +into the stirrup from the wrong side.] + +If a saddle-cloth be used, the groom, before girthing up, should bring +the front part of the cloth well up into the pommel with his forefinger +or thumb, so as to prevent it from becoming pressed down on the withers +by the saddle. + + +PREVENTION OF SORE BACKS. + +The chief causes of sore backs brought on by side-saddles are:-- + +1. Badly fitting saddles. The fitting of saddles has already been +discussed in this chapter. + +2. Neglect in girthing up sufficiently tight. As the tightness of the +girths diminishes according to the duration and severity of the work, +the girths should be taken up after the lady has ridden for some time. +For ordinary hacking, tightening the girths after, say, five minutes' +riding will generally be sufficient; but this operation should be +repeated, for instance at the meet, when out hunting. Knowledge of the +necessity of having the girths tight enough, to prevent the saddle +wobbling, will enable the rider to take the necessary precautions +against putting her animal on the sick list from this cause. + +3. Undue weight on the near side, which is generally caused by too long +a stirrup, by the leaping head being placed too low down, and by rising +at the trot for too long a time. + +4. Mismanagement of the horse after his return to the stable, which is a +subject I will allude to further on. + + +CLEANING A SADDLE. + +The leather work of a saddle should be kept clean and soft, with the +stitches clearly defined, and not clogged up by grease or dirt. No stain +should be left on a white pocket-handkerchief or kid glove, if it be +passed over any portion of the leather. Beeswax may be used to give the +saddle a polish; but it should be sparingly applied and should be well +rubbed in, for it is apt to make the leather very sticky. Nothing but +specially prepared or good white soap (made into a thick lather) should +be employed to clean the leather work, except a little lime-juice or +lemon-juice to remove stains. The use of soft soap permanently darkens +leather. A small amount of saddle dressing may be put on once a month, +in order to keep the leather soft and pliable. The steel work should, of +course, be kept bright. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[46-*] The "tread" is the part of the stirrup-iron on which the sole +of the rider's boot rests. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +BRIDLES. + +Description of a Bridle--Varieties of Bits--Snaffles--Curbs--Pelhams-- + Nose-bands--Reins--Martingales--Adjustment of the Bridle. + + +As there is no difference between the bridles used by men and those +employed by ladies, I have compiled this chapter from my husband's +_Riding and Hunting_, to which I beg to refer my readers for any further +information they may require. + + +DESCRIPTION OF A BRIDLE. + +A bridle consists of a bit, head-stall and reins. The _bit_ is the piece +of metal which goes into the animal's mouth; the _head-stall_ or +"_head_" is the leather straps which connect the bit to the horse's +head; and the _reins_ enable the rider to use the bit. + +Some persons incorrectly restrict the term "bit" in all cases to a curb. +This particular application of the word is from custom allowable in the +expression "bit and bridoon," in which the bit signifies a curb, and the +bridoon a snaffle. + +[Illustration: Fig. 32.--"Head" of a Single Bridle: _a_, Crown-piece; +_b_, _b_, Cheek-pieces; _c_, Throat-latch; _d_, Front or Brow-band.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 33.--Unjointed Snaffle.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 34.--Chain Snaffle.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 35.--Ordinary Snaffle with Cheeks.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 36.--Nutcracker action of Jointed Snaffle on Horse's +Mouth.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 37.--Action of Unjointed Snaffle on Horse's Mouth.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 38.--Action of the Curb as a Lever.] + +The _names of the different leather parts of a bridle_ (Fig. 32) are as +follows:-- + +The _crown piece_ (_a_) passes over the horse's poll. + +The _cheek pieces_ (_b_ _b_) connect the crown-piece with the bit. + +The _throat-latch_ (_c_), which is usually pronounced "throat-lash," +passes under the animal's throat, and serves to prevent the bridle from +slipping over his head. + +[Illustration: Fig. 39.--Properly constructed Curb for ordinary Hunter. +Side View.] + +The _front_, _forehead-band_ or _brow-band_ (_d_) goes across the +horse's forehead, and has a loop at each end, for the crown-piece to +pass through. "Front" is the trade name for this strap. + +The _head-stall_ or _head_, which is the trade term, is the name given +to all this leather work. + + +VARIETIES OF BITS. + +Bits may be divided into snaffles, curbs and Pelhams. + + +SNAFFLES. + +A _snaffle_ is a bit which acts on a horse's mouth by direct pressure, +and not by leverage. + +[Illustration: Fig. 40.--Ward Union Curb Bridle with Half-moon Snaffle.] + +A _bridoon_ is the term applied to the snaffle of a _double bridle_, +which is a bridle that has a curb and a snaffle. A double bridle is +often called a "bit and bridoon." + +[Illustration: Fig. 41.--Curb Chain covered with India-rubber Tube.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 42.--Chin-strap unbuckled.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 43.--Chin-strap buckled.] + +The best kinds of snaffles are the half-moon snaffle which has an +unjointed and slightly curved mouth-piece (Fig. 33); and the chain +snaffle (Fig. 34). The objection to the jointed snaffle (Fig. 35), which +is the kind generally used, is that it has a nut-cracker action on the +animal's mouth, instead of exerting a direct pressure, as shown +respectively in Figs. 36 and 37. A chain snaffle should always have a +Hancock's "curl bit mouth cover," which is a roll of india-rubber that +curls round the mouth-piece, and prevents it hurting the mouth. In the +absence of this india-rubber arrangement, we may cover the mouth-piece +with two or three turns of wash-leather, which can be kept in its place +by sewing. + +[Illustration: Fig. 44.--Curb reversed by horse throwing up his head, in +the absence of a chin strap.] + +In all cases a snaffle should be thick and smooth, so that it may not +hurt the horse's mouth. + + +CURBS. + +A curb is a bit which acts as a lever, by means of the curb-chain that +passes under the animal's lower jaw (Fig. 38). Fig. 39 shows a properly +constructed curb for a horse with an ordinary sized mouth. The best curb +which is in general use is the Ward Union (Fig. 40). The curb-chain +should have broad and thick links, so that it may not hurt the lower +jaw. This precaution can be supplemented by a leather guard or by +passing the curb-chain through a rubber tube (Fig. 41). A chin-strap +(Figs. 42 and 43) is necessary to keep the curb in its place (Fig. 44). + + +PELHAMS. + +A Pelham is a bit which can act either as a curb or a snaffle, according +to the reins which are taken up. Unless a lady thoroughly understands +the handling of the reins, she should not use a Pelham, because her +tendency when riding will be to feel both reins, in which case the +snaffle reins will pull the mouth-piece high up in the mouth, which, as +we shall see further on, is the wrong position for the action of the +curb. Hence, only one pair of reins (either those of the snaffle or +those of the curb) should be brought into play when using a Pelham. + + +NOSE-BANDS. + +The use of a nose-band is to keep the horse's mouth shut, in the event +of his holding his jaws wide apart, so as to resist the action of the +bit. To be effective, it should be fixed low down. The cavasson +nose-band (Fig. 45) is neat and serviceable. + +[Illustration: Fig. 45.--Cavasson Nose-band.] + + + +REINS. + +Reins should be fairly broad (say, 7/8 inch) and moderately thin, so +that they may be handled with efficiency and ease. With a double bridle, +the curb reins are sometimes made a little narrower than the snaffle +reins, which is an arrangement I like, because it greatly helps the +rider to distinguish one pair of reins from the other. With the same +object, I like the snaffle reins to be connected by a buckle, and the +curb reins by sewing. + +[Illustration: Fig 46.--Standing Martingale attached to rings of the +Snaffle.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 47.--Lord Lonsdale's registered Running Martingale.] + + +MARTINGALES. + +The only kinds of martingales which we need consider are the _standing +martingale_ which is buckled on to the rings of the snaffle (Fig. 46) +and the _running martingale_ (Fig. 47). Following in the footsteps of +that high priest of Irish horsemanship, Mr. John Hubert Moore, I pin my +faith to the standing martingale, as it has enabled me on many occasions +to ride, in peace and quietness, horses which without it would have been +most dangerous "handfuls." Its great virtue, when properly put on, is to +prevent the animal getting his head too high. If he be allowed to do +this and is unruly, whether from vice or impetuosity, our power over him +will more or less vanish, and besides he will not be able to accurately +see where he is going, in which case we will be lucky if we escape +without an accident. The famous steeplechase horse, Scots Grey, would +never win a race without one of these martingales to keep his head in +proper position. When lengthened out to its maximum effective length +(Fig. 48), it cannot possibly impede the horse in any of his paces or in +jumping. It is, of course, well to accustom a horse to its use before +riding him in it over a country. It at least doubles one's power over a +puller, and is invaluable for controlling and guiding a "green" animal. + +[Illustration: Fig. 48.--Maximum length of Standing Martingale.] + +It is a common idea that the chief use of a running martingale is to +prevent a horse raising his head too high. We find, however, that when +our best flat race and steeplechase jockeys and other good horsemen ride +with this martingale, they almost invariably have it so long, that it +has little or no effect in keeping the head down. When a horse is +prevented from raising his head too high by a standing martingale +attached to the rings of the snaffle, he is punished by the tension of +the martingale being transmitted to the mouth-piece of the snaffle, if +he tries to get his head in the air; but the moment he brings his head +down and bends his neck, cessation of the painful pressure will reward +him for his obedience. This automatic means of dispensing punishment and +reward is so accurate in its working, that a horse soon learns the +lesson set before him. But with a running martingale, the rider, in +order to reward the horse for bringing his head into proper position, +would have to slacken out the reins with a promptness that would be +seldom attainable, and with an entire disregard of control over the +animal. In fact, with a running martingale, adjusted so as to prevent +the horse from getting his head too high, the reins would have to +perform the dual office of keeping down the head, and of regulating the +speed, which duties could seldom be successfully combined. With a +standing martingale, however, the rider can safely relinquish the +adjustment of the height of the animal's head to the martingale, and +consequently he is not forced to check the horse's speed, when he wants +to get his head down. Some good horsemen, on finding that the running +martingale did not perform its supposed office efficiently, have +discarded it altogether, and thenceforth have trusted to their hands to +act as their martingale. In this they were right not to use a running +martingale to keep a horse's head down; but they were wrong in thinking +that keeping the head down was the only, or even the principal, use of +this article of gear. If we closely examine its action, we shall find +that the great value of this martingale is to aid the rider in turning a +horse by keeping his neck straight, when cantering or galloping, which +object is greatly facilitated by the opposite rein exerting a strong +pressure on the neck. + +[Illustration: Fig. 49.--Side view of Horse's lower jaw.] + +In regulating the length of the running martingale, we should carefully +guard against making it so short that it would interfere with the +horse's mouth, when he is not carrying his head unnaturally high; for +such interference could have no good result, and would probably impede +the animal's movements. Although it is impossible to determine with +mathematical accuracy the exact length of this martingale, we find in +practice that it should not be shorter than a length which will allow +it, when drawn up, to reach as high as the top of the withers. +Lengthening it out another three or four inches will generally be an +improvement. The use of a running martingale shorter than the minimum I +have just laid down, more or less irritates the horse; because, even +when he holds his head in correct position, he cannot escape from its +disagreeable pressure. The employment of a short running martingale for +'cross country work is a very dangerous proceeding; for if the rider +does not leave the reins loose when jumping, the horse will be almost +certain to hurt his mouth, and consequently he will be afraid to face +his bit, or will become unmanageable from pain, either eventuality being +highly dangerous to horse and rider. + +[Illustration: Fig. 50.--Angle made by the Cheeks of a Curb, when the +Reins are taken up.] + + +ADJUSTMENT OF THE BRIDLE. + +The bit is placed in the horse's mouth, because there is a vacant space +(of about four inches in length) on the gums of his lower jaw, between +his back teeth and tushes (canine teeth or eye teeth), as we may see in +Fig. 49. A mare has no tushes, or possesses them in only a rudimentary +form. The tushes of a horse begin to appear through his gums when he is +about 4 years old. If horses had not this convenient gap (interdental +space) in their rows of teeth, we would probably have to guide and +control them by means of reins attached to a nose-band, which is a +method practised by many American cow-boys when breaking in young +horses. Owing to the fact that their nose-band (hackamore) does not hurt +the animal's mouth, and that it gives all the necessary indications, +excellent results, I believe, are obtained with it. + +[Illustration: Fig. 51.--View of under-surface of Lower Jaw.] + +As the pressure of the bit should be an indication of the wishes of the +rider and not a means of inflicting pain, the bit should rest on the +least sensitive portion of the interdental space, namely, on the part +just above the tushes; because there the jaw-bone is broader than higher +up, and is consequently better able to bear pressure. Hence, with a +double bridle, the mouth-piece of the curb should be just clear of the +tushes of the horse or gelding (Fig. 49), and about one inch above the +corner front teeth of the mare; in fact, as low as possible without +making the curb-chain liable to slip over the animal's chin. The fact +of the mouth-piece of the curb being in this position has the further +advantage, that it prevents the curb-chain from working up on the sharp +edges of the lower surface of the jaw. The curb-chain in Fig. 50 rests +in what is called the "chin-groove," which is the depression that covers +the bone immediately below the point at which the lower jaw divides into +two branches (Fig. 51). The edges of these branches are sharp, but that +portion of the bone which is between their point of separation and the +front teeth, is smooth and rounded. + +The snaffle, whether by itself or in conjunction with a curb, should be +placed sufficiently low, so as not to wrinkle the corners of the mouth. + +The tightness of the curb-chain should in no case exceed that which will +allow the cheeks of the curb the amount of "play" shown in Fig. 50. With +a light mouthed horse, the curb-chain might be let out another hole or +two. + +The throat-latch should be loose, so that it may not exert any pressure +on the animal's wind-pipe. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +RIDING DRESS. + +Habits and Safety Skirts--Breeches--Underclothing--Hats--Boots--Gloves-- + Riding Under-Bodice, Hunting Ties, Collars, Cuffs, and Ties. + + +HABITS AND SAFETY SKIRTS. + +The choice of the material for a riding habit is naturally limited to +the price which the purchaser intends to pay for the garment. I would, +however, strongly counsel the selection of the best possible cloth, as +only from it can a really successful habit be constructed. Tailors who +make a habit for five guineas, doubtless give the best value they can +for that sum; but when we consider that a good Melton cloth costs about +a guinea a yard, we can understand that it is impossible to get material +of that class in a cheap garment. All good habit makers will +admit--though in most cases very reluctantly--that Melton is by far the +best material for riding habits which are intended for hard wear, as in +hunting; but it possesses, in their eyes, the very grave fault of +longevity, for a good Melton habit lasts for several years. Rough-faced +cloths, such as cheviot, frieze, and serge, retain moisture like a +blanket, and shrink after exposure to much rain; but Melton, which is of +a hard and unyielding texture, and has a smooth surface, is almost +impervious to wet. The virtues of this material are much appreciated by +experienced hunting women for hard wear. There is "a something" about +the hang of a perfectly-fitting Melton habit which no other material +seems to possess; and whatever the elements may be doing, it never +appears out of place. On the other hand, if it is badly cut, it exposes +the shortcomings of its maker in the most ungenerous manner, and is so +obstinate that all the altering in the world will not make it forgive +the insult to its cloth. A Melton habit, therefore, requires to be cut +by one who is an artist at his trade. Another advantage possessed by +this cloth is that it is far easier to clean than any rough-faced +material. An experienced saddler has drawn my attention to the fact that +the dye from skirts made of cheap shoddy material, is apt to come off +and seriously injure the leather of the saddle. + +The colour of a habit is a matter of taste on which I can offer no +advice, except that a lady who requires to wear her habit until it +exhibits signs of old age, would do well to select an inconspicuous +tint. I have always found dark blue the most serviceable shade, because +it does not fade, even in tropical climates, nor does it, like black, +turn green and rusty-looking before it is worn out. Besides, it admits +of a new skirt or new coat, as the case may be, without emphasising the +disparity in age of its companion so much as is the case with lighter +shades, such as grey for instance. Some years ago, various shades of +green, brown, and claret colour were worn, but they seem to have been +superseded by dark grey and dark blue, at least in the Shires, though +since the death of our lamented Queen Victoria, black has been greatly +used. + +[Illustration: Fig. 52.--The Hayes' Safety Skirt open for mounting.] + +In selecting a Melton habit, a heavy make called treble Melton should +be chosen for the skirt, and a lighter one of the same material, which +all good habit makers keep in stock, for the coat; because, in order to +hang well, a skirt must be of heavy cloth, which would, of course, be +too hard and unyielding for a riding coat. We require a "kind," pliable +cloth for our coats, to allow us absolute ease and freedom of movement, +but our skirts, even for wear in the tropics, should be of a thick, +heavy make. When I went out to India in 1885, safety skirts were +unknown, or, at least they were not constructed by Creed, of Conduit +Street, who made my habits, and who was in those days regarded as the +best habit maker in London. He told me that my thick Melton skirt would +be of no use to me in that hot country, and recommended a habit of +khaki-coloured drill, for which I paid sixteen guineas, as he would not +make any kind of riding habit for less than that sum. I soon found that +my investment was a failure, for the skirt flapped about like a sheet in +the wind, and the marks of perspiration on my coat looked most +unsightly, so I handed over my drill habit to my _ayah_, a gift which I +know she did not appreciate at anything approaching its cost. I found +myself more comfortably garbed in my Melton skirt, for heat in riding is +not felt to any appreciable extent below the waist, and I provided +myself with jackets of white drill, on which marks of perspiration are +not so unsightly as on a coloured material. + +[Illustration: Fig. 53.--Off side of The Hayes' Safety Skirt.] + +As safety in the saddle is the first consideration, and as no article of +riding dress has proved such a death-trap as the skirt, no lady should +ride in one of the old-fashioned, dangerous pattern. I am thankful to +say I was never dragged in any of those ancient garments, but I was +fully aware of this danger, and devised, as I explained in the first +edition of this book, a means of lessening it by buttoning "the under +and outer part" of the skirt just above the knee to the breeches, by +means of large flat cloth buttons, the same colour as the skirt, being +sewn on the breeches, and corresponding button-holes being made in the +skirt. The idea was a practical one, but I was by no means satisfied +with it, and I began to evolve a safety skirt of my own. While I was +experimenting with a pair of scissors on an old skirt in which a groom +was seated on a side-saddle, a habit maker sent me and asked me to wear +and recommend what he called a "perfectly-fitting skirt." This awful +thing had glove-like fingers, which were made to fit the upper crutch +and the leaping head! I hope no lady ever risked her neck in such a +death-trap as that. In puzzling out my safety skirt, I desired to attain +two objects, namely, absolute safety in the saddle, and a decent +covering for my limbs when out of it, so that I might be able to +dismount and walk exposed to the gaze of men at any time or place, +without my dress, or rather want of it, being made the subject of +remark. I had a nice quiet horse, who allowed me to thoroughly test my +invention by falling off his back in every conceivable direction, my +husband being present to prevent my voluntary fall from degenerating +into a "cropper." Mr. Tautz, the well-known breeches maker of Oxford +Street, witnessed these acrobatic feats, and after we had all been +perfectly convinced of the absolute safety of the garment, he took it on +a royalty. My skirt has now been on the market for several years, and I +am glad to have this opportunity of thanking the numerous ladies who +have shewn their appreciation of it. Fig. 52 gives the appearance of the +"Hayes' Safety Skirt," when its wearer is ready to mount, Fig. 53 shows +the off side when in the saddle, in Fig. 54 we see the side opening, +from which the cloth near the crutches is cut entirely away, closed for +walking, and Fig. 6 shows the hang of the skirt when the wearer is +mounted. Since this skirt was invented, I have had several opportunities +of further testing its merits, especially when riding young horses which +have fallen with me in Leicestershire, and I would not care to ride in +any other kind. There are several safety skirts, but it is obvious that +the best kind is one that is safe to ride in, presentable when +dismounted, and easily arranged, which conditions are thoroughly +fulfilled by my patent. There are riding women who object so much to the +indecency of apron skirts (Figs. 55 and 56) that they adopt the +dangerous closed pattern. My skirt would commend itself to those of my +sex who are sufficiently old-fashioned in their ideas to desire a safe +and, at the same time, decent and graceful covering. Some ladies +consider it "smart" to expose their limbs, if we may judge from the free +exhibitions to be seen in the hunting field, while others, who are aware +of the unbecoming effect, have their breeches made extra baggy behind! + +[Illustration: Fig. 54.--The Hayes' Safety Skirt closed for walking.] + +The apron skirt is an extremely cold, comfortless garment for winter +wear, because it is merely a left-side covering for the limbs, while the +right side being entirely unclothed, the lines and rotundity of the +figure are, when the wearer rises in trotting, displayed to the +wondering gaze of those who ride behind her. As, in the apron skirt, +there is no covering of Melton cloth to sit on and take off some of the +wear and tear of the breeches, these garments become quickly worn out at +the seat, and necessitate a double thickness of cloth at that part. +There is another kind of safety skirt which is a combination of breeches +and skirt in one; but I consider this a very unsanitary arrangement, for +it is obvious that the undergarment must be kept clean, and handed over +when necessary to the laundress to be carefully washed, before sending +it to a tailor to be pressed and repaired as may be required. It is part +of a groom's duty in small households to attend to the cleaning of his +mistress's hunting boots and skirt, but a combination garment should not +be cleaned by a male servant. + +[Illustration: Fig. 55.--Apron skirt open for mounting.] + +Any skirt which ensures safety in the saddle is preferable to the +old-fashioned shape, with its dangerous bundle of cloth over the +crutches, a fact which is so well understood by hunting women that none +who hunt in Leicestershire, or I hope in any other place, appear in +those early Victorian atrocities. Provision of this kind does not appear +to be insisted on for the safety of young ladies; for I saw a girl +dragged in Leicestershire, and Lord Lonsdale, who fortunately stopped +her horse, sent her home, and told her not to hunt with his hounds until +she had provided herself with a safety skirt. The young and +inexperienced, who, with the fearlessness of ignorance, are prone to +rush headlong into difficulties, ought surely to be safeguarded in every +possible manner. Fig. 57 shows a safe and comfortable riding dress for a +very young girl. For winter wear, the coat and leggings should be made +of Melton; and the breeches of elastic cloth or knitted wool to match. +It is well to have the coat buttoned over the right leg, so as to +protect that limb from cold and wet. For summer use, a linen coat is +worn. We may notice that the sweet little horsewoman has a good seat, +and is capable of taking sole charge of her nice pony. + +The safest and most comfortable length for a riding skirt is when it +just covers the rider's left foot when she is seated in the saddle with +her stirrup at its usual length. It is best for a lady to use her own +saddle when having her habit fitted, as her stirrup will then be at the +length she rides in, and the crutches will also receive the necessary +consideration from the fitter. + +Care should be taken that the skirt fits well over the right knee, when +the wearer is seated in her saddle. Creed and other good makers of the +past always padded this knee part, which gave not only a nice, rounded +appearance to the knee, especially in the case of a very thin lady, but +ensured the skirt being put on straight with a minimum of trouble. +Present day skirts have not this small round pad for the right knee to +fit into, but its omission is far from being an improvement on the old +fashion. + +[Illustration: Fig. 56.--The apron skirt closed for walking.] + +Whatever shape a lady may select for her riding coat, she should pay +particular attention to the fit of the sleeves, which must not in any +way hamper the movements of her arms. Before trying it on, its wearer +should procure a good pair of riding corsets, which must allow free play +to the movements of her hips, and, above all, she must not lace them +tightly. Wasp waists have luckily gone out, never, I hope, to return. +The size of a woman's waist, if she is not deformed, is in proportion to +that of the rest of her body. Therefore, a pinched waist, besides +rendering the tightly girthed-up lady uncomfortable, to say nothing of +its probable effect on the tint of her nose, deceives no one. It is +impossible to ride with ease and grace in tight stays, a fact which we +should remember when trying on a habit coat, for the fitter will follow +the shape, or mis-shape, of the corsets, and the coat will be built on +those lines. The back of the garment should be quite flat, and padding +may be needed in the case of hollow backs, as there should be no high +water line across the back defining where corset ends and back +commences. The collar should fit nicely into the neck at the back, and +not gape open from being cut too low. There should be no fulness at the +top of the sleeves, for nothing looks more unsightly than "bumpy +shoulders" on horseback. It would be well for the wearer when trying on, +to lean back and extend her arms, as she would do when giving her horse +his head over a fence, in order to find out if the sleeves are likely +to hamper the movements of the arms, as they sometimes do, from the coat +being cut too narrow across the chest. It is no use fitting on a coat +once or twice, and then leaving it to chance; for, to secure a perfect +fit, the garment will require to be tried on until there are no further +alterations to be made in it. Whatever shape may be chosen, the coat +should not be made too long, or it will flap and flop about in a most +ungraceful manner. Fig. 58 shows a loose-fitting coat which is not +smart, because it is too long, and as it rests on the horse's back, it +will wrinkle up when its wearer sits down in trotting and will look +ugly. If this coat was a good four inches shorter at the back, and +graduated off to just cover the right knee, it would be clear of the +horse's back and present a far neater and less sloppy appearance. Many +habit makers who run apron skirts of their own, insist on making riding +coats far too long, of course with the object of hiding the indecency of +the apron skirt when its wearer is on foot. Ladies who do not adopt that +kind of skirt, should not allow tailors who have had no practical +experience in side-saddle riding, to dictate what _they_ consider best, +to experienced horsewomen. I find that young habit makers who are new at +their business are far more trying in this respect, than their more +experienced elders. + +[Illustration: _Photo. by_ THE REV. G. BROKE. +Fig. 57.--Riding dress for child.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 58.--Loose riding coat, too long.] + +We have only to look at fashion plates to see that no dress is suggested +for ladies who are inclined to be stout, for in them, only slim figures +appear to receive consideration. I would recommend the loose-fitting +coat as the most becoming for portly persons, because with a loose +garment there is no abrupt accentuation of bulk, a fact which many stout +ladies who adopt the Eton jacket style of dress, fail to recognise. On +the stage, a slim actress may look well in tights, but this skin-like +covering on a bulky figure would be ridiculously ugly. As the same lady +draped in loose flowing robes may present a graceful and dignified +appearance; those who are inclined to be portly would do well to wear +loose-fitting riding coats, being careful to see that they are made to +just reach the saddle and not flop on the back of the horse, or they +will not be smart or comfortable to ride in. In Fig. 58 I have shown how +unnecessarily bulky a woman with a 25-inch waist may be made to look in +a loose coat which is too long. Tailors do not like making these +articles of dress, especially when they are of Melton cloth, because +they are extremely difficult to manipulate, and the "hang" of such a +garment will be hideous if its cutter be not a true artist at his +business, for a loose coat is nothing if not graceful in outline. It is +impossible to tell, when seated on a wooden horse, how a loose coat will +hang when ridden in, so the finishing touches, such as pockets, &c., +should never be made until the wearer has tried the coat on her own +horse, with a critical friend to ride with her and tell her if anything +is amiss with it. The little extra trouble this precaution may involve, +is nothing as compared with the disappointment of having to "put up" +with an ill-fitting garment. Some tailors have a Mayhew saddle on their +block horse for fitting skirts; because in that kind of saddle, the +crutches give them no trouble as regards "poking up"; but if a lady uses +a saddle with ordinary crutches, she should be wary and take her own +saddle for the fitting of her skirt. There are habit makers who +recommend tight-fitting coats for stout figures, because, they argue, +the bulk is there and must go somewhere; but a deaf ear should be turned +to such arguments, as an ample figure should be concealed; not +accentuated. Naturally these gentlemen are prejudiced against loose +coats, for apart from the difficulty in making them, they cut into a +much larger amount of valuable cloth than tight-fitting ones. Tailors +will readily admit that this shaped coat is the best for young girls, +because tight-fitting ones would give them too much of a "grown-up +appearance," but not for the stout girl, who has far more need to +conceal her "grown-up appearance"! + +[Illustration: Fig. 59.--Front view of good riding coat.] + +Twenty years ago tailors were much more particular over their work than +they appear to be at the present time. Creed always insisted on a lady +bringing her own saddle, before he would fit a habit, and, if the +garment did not please him, it would be discarded and another cut out +ready for her when she next came to be fitted. This generous method of +dealing was amply repaid; because it soon became known that the old man +would not allow an imperfect garment to leave his shop. + +For hunting, it is best to have a coat which will afford us protection +from cold and wet, and therefore its fronts should be made to cover the +right knee, the buttons being concealed under the "skirt" of the coat. +This shape is in every way good, because there are no floppy fronts to +trouble us by blowing back on windy days, and when the rain drips from +the hat, the coat-covering helps to keep our right knee dry. In the +old-fashioned habits, great care was taken that nothing could become +displaced, to spoil the effect, as an old lady friend puts it, of "the +beautiful gliding motion of a ship in full sail." I fear now-a-days we +allow our sails to flop about far too much, and destroy that "beautiful +gliding motion." What could be more ugly than a coat with tails which +reach nearly to a horse's hocks, and no front covering whatever to +protect the knee in bad weather? Wind, which is no respecter of persons, +seizes these long tails and hurls them over the back of the rider's +head, as she stands in a wild blast at the covert side looking very +"tailly" and cold. Besides covering the right knee, the coat should have +a collar that will turn up and fasten at the throat with a button and +strap, to keep out wet, and cuffs that will turn down over the hands. + +[Illustration: Fig. 60.--Back view of good riding coat.] + +Clad in a sensible garment of this kind, which should be smart and +well-fitting, we can defy the elements without running any undue risks. +Fig. 59 shows a coat which is made to cover the right knee. Fig. 60 +gives the back view, and is a useful length. Fashion, whoever he or she +may be, invents more or less fearful and wonderful coats, which appear +every season in the hunting field; but these curiosities "go out" +suddenly, and the end of the season generally sees us all garbed in the +old motley; for the newcomers have been tried and found wanting. + +The best way to clean a mud-stained habit is to dry it thoroughly and +brush the mud off. Any white marks of perspiration from the horse which +may remain after a skirt has been thoroughly brushed and beaten, may be +removed by benzine collas, or cloudy ammonia diluted with water, or they +may be sponged with soft soap and water, care being taken to remove all +the soap from the cloth. + +For riding during the hot weather in India and other tropical countries, +a very useful garment is a Norfolk jacket in cream stockinet, which can +be purchased ready-made. It fits the figure closely, and has three +pleats in front and behind, which are sewn to the garment, the buttons +being concealed under the front pleat (Fig. 61). The best kind of belt, +I think, for wearing with this jacket is one made like a girth, of +ordinary cream girth webbing, as it is easy to wash when soiled. Jackets +in white drill, which may be worn open with soft-fronted shirts (Fig. +62), are also to be commended, as they wash well and always look clean +and cool. Some ladies dispense with a jacket, and ride with a shirt and +belt; but that style is not generally becoming, and is suggestive of +forgetfulness in dressing. In Ceylon I obtained very smart checked +flannel for riding jackets. In China and Japan a fine crêpe flannel, +which does not shrink in washing, may be had for this purpose, but I +have been unable to procure it in other countries. + +[Illustration: Fig. 61.--Terai hat and Norfolk jacket.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 62.--Pith hat and drill jacket.] + +A lady who intends to hunt will find a driving coat necessary when +travelling by rail, or driving to and from a hunt. Fig. 63 shows a +comfortable coat in Melton cloth, with "storm" collar and cuffs of +astrakan. A good driving coat is a costly garment, but it can be +utilised as a winter or travelling coat. The collar of the subject of +this illustration was made specially high for use in Russia, where, +during winter, the cold is so intense that I often found my +pocket-handkerchief frozen hard in my pocket, although this thick Melton +coat was wadded throughout. The Hayes' Safety skirt worn under this coat +is looped up from the right knee button to a tab of elastic attached to +the waist of the skirt, which obviates the necessity of holding up the +skirt. + +[Illustration: Fig. 63.--Good driving coat.] + + +BREECHES. + +I shall not say anything about trousers, because I do not think they are +worn by riding women of the present time, and also for the very good +reason that I have never worn them. I think they would be uncomfortable +to use for hunting, for, unlike breeches, they do not fit the knees +closely. Trousers went out of fashion about thirty years ago, before +safety skirts came into general use. It used to be extremely difficult +for ladies to get a properly-fitting pair of riding breeches, as no +correct measurement for them was taken, and it was not pleasant to be +obliged to interview male fitters respecting the cut of these garments. +Messrs. Tautz and Sons, of Oxford Street, solved the difficulty by +providing us with a competent female fitter, who takes careful +measurements for breeches, and rectifies any faults there may be in +their fit. The best kind of material for breeches is elastic cloth, +which is specially made for that purpose. It is both strong and porous, +and can be obtained in any shade to match the riding-habit, which, of +course, is necessary. The breeches should be fitted while the wearer is +seated on a wooden horse, and special attention should be devoted to +their cut at the knees; for if the cloth at the right knee does not lie +flat and fit that part like a glove, the wearer will suffer discomfort +from being "rubbed" by the friction of the superfluous material. +Following the senseless custom adopted by men, many of whom hate it +themselves, we have our breeches to button on the shin bone. I would +recommend ladies who experience discomfort, from the combined pressure +of boot and breeches buttoned on the shin bone, either to revert to the +old style of buttoning the breeches a little to the outside of the leg, +or to have their riding boots made shorter, see page 117. Besides, there +is no necessity for us to ape men's fashions in either boots or +breeches, because these garments are not seen, and we require them to be +thoroughly comfortable. For hunting and winter use I like what are +called "continuations" fixed to breeches, as these gaiter-like pieces of +cloth cover the leg to a certain distance below the swell of the calf, +and keep it warm, besides preventing the knee of the breeches from +working round, which men obviate by using garter-straps. Leather +breeches for ladies' use are too unsanitary to merit consideration. + +For use in the tropics, a lady would require breeches of a very thin +make of elastic cloth, and, if continuations were liked, it would be +best to have them made detachable, as they could not be worn with +comfort during the hot weather. + + +UNDERCLOTHING. + +Ladies who hunt should always carefully protect themselves against chill +by the adoption of warm underclothing, for they are frequently exposed +for hours to bitter cold, wind, snow, sleet, hail and fog, and if one is +thinly clad, and, as often happens, there is a long wait at a covert +side, a dangerous chill may be contracted. An under-vest of "natural" +wool should be worn next the skin, and a pair of woollen +combinations--which button close to the throat, and are provided with +long sleeves, will be found very comfortable and warm. Combinations are +better for riding use at any time than ordinary underclothing, as there +is no superfluous material in them to become displaced and cause +discomfort. They can be had in very thin material for use in the tropics +and for summer wear. Warm woollen stockings are to be recommended for +hunting, and especially for ladies who suffer from cold feet. Those who +find woollen garments irritating to the skin may remove the difficulty +by wearing them over thin silk. Any trouble in keeping the stockings in +place can be best overcome by the use of plain sewn elastic garters, +which have no buckles or straps, being placed below the knees, and the +upper part of the stockings turned back over them and pulled down the +leg as far as they will go, so that each stocking may lie perfectly flat +on the leg. The elastic bands should be of the usual garter width, and +should be sufficiently roomy not to hurt the legs. As I found chamois +leather, with which breeches are usually lined, unsatisfactory, I +invented a comfortable substitute for it in the form of a removable pad, +which has met with the approval of several hunting women. I would be +happy to give privately any particulars concerning this invention to +ladies who may be interested in it. + + +HATS. + +The tall silk hat has, during recent years, been largely superseded by +the more comfortable if less elegant-looking bowler. On hunt full-dress +occasions, such as a Quorn Friday, the ladies of the hunt generally +wear tall hats, but I notice that bowlers have as a rule been worn +during the rest of the week. The high hat is said to be the more +becoming of the two, but it takes a lot of trouble to keep in order, and +a bowler is more comfortable and useful for rough work. A lady who is +wearing a tall hat for the first time, should not forget to lower her +head well in passing under trees, as this kind of head-gear requires +more head room than a bowler. The best arrangement for keeping a riding +hat firmly fixed on the head is to have a small piece of velvet sewn +inside the front, so that it comes on the forehead, and to have for the +back, a piece of elastic an inch wide sewn to the hat, well to the +front. Care should be taken that the elastic is not too tight, in which +case it might cause a nasty headache, as well as a ridge on the forehead +from the pressure of the hat. In selecting a bowler, a lady should be +careful to choose a becoming shape, as these hats vary greatly in form. +To my mind, the kind most generally becoming has a low crown and rather +broad brim. High-crowned hats with closely turned-up brim are trying to +most faces. + +Although it is not usual for hunting women in the Shires to wear +hat-guards, I would strongly recommend their adoption, because, however +well a hat may be secured by elastic, an overhanging branch at a fence +may knock it off, and it is as well to be able to recover it without +assistance. When hunting this season, I lost my hat at a fence, and my +long-suffering husband had to give up a good place in a run to go back +and fetch it, whereas, if I had had a hat-guard, this tiresome +occurrence would have been prevented. It is best to attach the cord of +the hat-guard to a button-hole of the habit-jacket, for then, if the hat +comes off, the cord can be more easily caught than if it is fastened +inside the back of the collar of the coat. On windy days the advantage +of a hat-cord is obvious. Ladies who object to its use may say that +overhanging branches should be avoided, but when hounds are running, and +one is mounted on a tall horse, it is impossible to always steer clear +of stray twigs, and therefore men find a hat-guard very useful. + +For tropical climates the pith hat or _sola topee_ (Fig. 62) is best for +the hot weather. Helmets, besides being apt to give one a headache on +account of their weight, do not afford sufficient protection to the +rider's temples from the sun. The double Terai hat of grey felt (Fig. +61) is becoming, but it is very heavy. Pith is lightest and most +suitable for wear during intense heat. In the cool weather a bowler or +straw sailor may be worn; but even in the cold season ladies should +avoid wearing a small hat when the sun is above the horizon, for its +rays are treacherous. I have had many a splitting headache from +disregard of this precaution. + +In trying on a riding hat, the hair should be dressed low down, as it +will be worn when riding, in order to obtain a comfortable fit; for the +hat must fit the head and not be perched on the top of it, or it will +not "remain" if the horse goes out of a walk. The old arrangement of +dressing the hair in a coil of plaits at the nape of the neck has quite +gone out, but it was a far neater one for riding than the "tea-pot +handle" and other curious knobs and buns of the present time. The +pulled-out style, in bad imitation of Japanese hair dressing, gives a +dirty and untidy appearance, and looks perfectly hideous on horseback, +and especially when the place where the back hair ought to be, is +adorned with a round brooch! If ladies who adopt this bad style could +only see how much it vulgarises an otherwise nice appearance, they would +at once abjure it. A neat way to arrange the hair for hunting is to coil +it firmly round the head, and fasten it with plenty of hairpins--those +bent in the centre and with ball points are, I think, the most +reliable--and to pin over the hair an "invisible" silken net the same +colour as the hair, which will keep it tidy. + + +BOOTS. + +I wish to lay particular stress on the necessity of riding boots having +thin pliable soles, and being easy over the instep; because I once saw a +lady dragged by her stirrup and only saved from death by her boot coming +off and thus releasing her. I do not think that sufficient attention is +paid either by ladies or bootmakers to the fact that a loose riding boot +may be the means of saving its wearer's life: I never devoted much +thought to the subject before witnessing this accident. The use of tight +boots in winter has the great disadvantage of keeping the feet very +cold, even when warm stockings are worn. Saddlers have invented safety +bars and stirrups, habit makers have provided safety skirts, but +bootmakers have not yet thought out a hunting boot which would release +the foot in the event of a safety bar failing to act, or of a safety or +other stirrup being crushed in a fall. A thin pliable sole and plenty of +room over the instep to allow of the left foot being easily pulled +through the boot, would greatly minimise the danger in question. We +seldom hear of a jockey being dragged, although flat races are ridden in +saddles that have no releasing bars, and even steeplechases are often +ridden in these saddles, when a rider has a difficulty in getting down +to the weight; but all jockeys wear boots which have thin, and, +consequently, very pliable soles. Fashion dictates that ladies' +top-boots should be as high as those worn by men, which is very absurd; +because they are not seen, and the hard, unyielding leather of a high +top-boot pressing either on the breeches buttons, or on the under part +of the right leg is apt to cause great pain and discomfort. Then, again, +when a Champion and Wilton saddle with safety bar flap is used, the top +of the left boot is liable to catch in the flap when its wearer is +rising at the trot and is thus apt to release the stirrup leather. Fig. +64 shows the top of the boot in position to raise the safety bar flap in +the manner mentioned. I have obviated these inconveniences and have +ridden in comfort by wearing boots made two inches shorter than the +regulation height, and by wearing breeches with "continuations," no +stockings are exposed to view, even when one gets a fall. With boots of +this length there is no possibility of the left leg being hurt by +pressure of boot and breeches buttons on the shin bone. Fashionable +bootmakers who build boots for ladies on the pattern of those worn by +men, seem to be unaware of the fact that a woman's grip in a side-saddle +is entirely different from that of a man in a cross-saddle, and many +ladies suffer unnecessary discomfort by meekly accepting what they are +told is "the proper thing." Our friend Mr. James Fillis, in his +interesting work, _Breaking and Riding_, says that for ladies' wear he +prefers "ordinary boots to long boots, which are too hard, and are +consequently apt to cut the wearer under the knee, and to prevent her +feeling the horse with her leg;" but as ordinary boots would not be +considered sufficiently smart for hunting, or even hacking in the Row, +the compromise I advocate will be found to answer all requirements. In +ordering a pair of riding boots we should go to a good maker and have +them of patent leather, which is smarter and cleaner than blacking +leather. For wear in tropical countries, I found that boots which have +the foot part of patent leather and the leg of morocco, with a thin +leather lining to stiffen and keep the leg part in place, are cooler and +more comfortable than any other kind. A pair of boot-hooks will be +required for putting them on, and a boot-jack for taking them off. A +little Lucca oil used occasionally prevents patent leather from +cracking. The dry mud should be brushed off soiled boots with a soft +brush that will not scratch the leather, and they should then be sponged +over with a damp sponge and polished with a selvyt or chamois leather. +Patent leather, which has lost its brightness from wear, can be polished +with Harris's Harness Polish or any similar preparation which does not +cake on the leather or injure it in any way. We should remember that +boots will last much longer and retain their shape to the end if they +are always kept, when not in use, on trees. It is best to wear new +riding boots in the house before they are ridden in, so as to make them +pliable to the "tread" in walking, and to work off their stiff and +uncomfortable feeling. + +[Illustration: Fig. 64.--Top of boot catching on safety bar flap.] + + +GLOVES. + +Antelope-skin or dog-skin gloves are, I think, the best for hunting. I +prefer the former, as they are very soft and pliable. Whatever kind of +gloves are chosen, care should be taken to have them sufficiently large +to allow perfect freedom to the hands; for tight gloves make the hands +cold, and greatly impede their action in the management of the reins. In +selecting gloves, a careful measurement of the fingers should be taken, +so that they may not be too short. Although gloves of the best quality +are somewhat expensive, they are well cut, they wear better and are +altogether more satisfactory than cheap imitations. On very cold days, I +prefer white woollen gloves to any other kind. In wet weather they are +indispensable, for a better grip of slippery reins can be got with them +than with leather ones. I agree with Jorrocks that "Berlin gloves are +capital for 'unting in, they keep your 'ands warm, and do to rub your +nose upon in cold weather," though I have not tried their effect in this +respect! During a winter which I spent in Russia, I derived the +greatest comfort from the use of woollen gloves, which I found far +warmer than any other kind. For the tropics, kid or suède gloves may be +worn in the cold weather, but in the hot months I found white cotton the +most comfortable kind, as they are cool, thin and soft, and wash and +wear better than silk, which the reins quickly destroy. Perspiration +from the hands will show through leather gloves, which, on drying, will +become as stiff as a board. It should be remembered that rings worn when +riding, especially those containing stones, hamper the action of the +fingers, and are very destructive to gloves. + +[Illustration: Fig. 65.--Front view of riding under-bodice.] + + +RIDING UNDER-BODICE, HUNTING-TIES, COLLARS, CUFFS AND TIES. + +A garment which I have thought out, and which I believe will fill a +want, is a riding under-bodice with long sleeves and wristbands, to +which cuffs can be attached, and also a stud at the throat for the +attachment of a hunting-tie or collar. This bodice is in stockinet, and +fits closely, without, as in the case of ordinary shirts, any +superfluous material marring the outline of the figure (Figs. 65 and +66). Ladies generally have so much difficulty in fastening cuffs, that +they will doubtless welcome a close-fitting garment of this description, +and it will do away with the tiresome habit-shirts and dickeys which +have an irritating trick of following one's neck about, instead of +remaining in a fixed position. Besides, collars which cannot be kept +firmly in place generally necessitate the use of pins, which should +never be employed with any article of riding attire. + +[Illustration: Fig. 66.--Back view of riding under-bodice.] + +A hunting-tie or stock, which is a combination of collar and tie, the +collar part being either starched or soft, according to choice, is the +warmest and most becoming kind of neck arrangement for hunting. It is +not easy to put on neatly, and it would be well for a novice when +purchasing these ties to get the shopman to initiate her into their +mysteries, and to take one home correctly tied, to be kept as a copy +until its somewhat intricate manipulation has been mastered. My +husband's directions for the arrangement of a hunting-tie are as +follows:--"The centre of the stock is placed on the front of the neck, +the ends are passed in opposite directions round the back of the neck, +brought in front, tied in a reef knot, crossed in front of this knot, +and finally secured, as a rule, by means of a pin or brooch of the +safety or horse-shoe or fox pattern. A gold safety pin is often used. A +brooch pin is naturally safer than an ordinary pin. Nowadays, hunting +ties are nearly always made of white cotton material" (_Riding and +Hunting_). + +If a collar is preferred to a hunting-tie, it should not be too high, +for nothing is more uncomfortable in riding than a collar which compels +its wearer to preserve a stiff neck and runs into her whenever she tries +to turn her head. The best kind of cuffs are those which have button +holes for links or solitaires in the centre, as they allow room for +thick gloves to be passed under them. The necktie to be worn is a matter +of choice, but white and black ties are always becoming, the former for +preference, as they brighten up a dark habit. It is always well to +abjure startling colours; for the dress, saddlery and gear of a +horsewoman should be characterised by simplicity and neatness. On this +point I can offer no sounder advice than that given to Laertes by his +father, who said: + + "Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, + But not express'd in fancy; rich not gaudy; + For the apparel oft proclaims the man;" + +and also the woman. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING. + + +MOUNTING. + +Supposing, as is usually the case, that there is a groom to hold the +horse, and a gentleman to put the lady up; the groom, after the reins +are placed on the animal's neck just in front of the withers, should +stand in front of the horse, and should keep the animal's head up by +holding the snaffle reins, one in each hand, close to the rings. If a +double bridle be employed, as is usually the case, he should on no +account hold the bit reins, lest an accident may happen from the curb +hurting the horse's mouth. If there be no snaffle, the cheek-pieces of +the headstall of the curb or Pelham should be held. With a strange or +uncertain tempered animal, it is best for the lady to approach him from +his "left front," and she will do well to speak kindly to him and pat +him on the neck, for these two forms of conciliation are greatly +appreciated by horses. Having arrived alongside her mount, she should +stand just behind his near foreleg, close to, but not touching him, and +facing to the front, with her shoulders at right angles to his side. +She now places her right hand, with the whip in it, on the upper crutch, +and raises her left foot about twelve inches from the ground, while +keeping the leg, from knee to ankle, in a more or less vertical position +(Fig. 67). The whip should be held as in this illustration, so as to +avoid alarming the horse. The gentleman who is to put her on her horse, +places himself close to, and in front of her, bends down, and places the +palm of one hand (generally the left one) under the ball of her left +foot, while he supports that hand by putting the palm of the other hand +under it. The lady then places her left hand--with the elbow turned out +a little, so as to be able to utilise that arm in raising herself--on +his right shoulder (Fig. 68). + +[Illustration: Fig. 67.--Foot raised for mounting.] + +Having finished the "prepare to mount" stage, she straightens her left +knee by lightly springing upwards off the ground by means of her right +foot, and at the same time pressing on her cavalier's shoulder so as to +straighten her left arm. The moment he feels her weight on his hands, he +should raise himself into an erect position, so as to bring her on a +level with the saddle, on which she places herself by turning to the +left while she is being raised, and bearing on the upper crutch with her +right hand. It will be difficult for the gentleman to do this lift +properly, unless the lady keeps her left knee and left elbow straight +during the ascent. The gentleman's task will be greatly facilitated if +he takes advantage of the lady's spring; but even if he lets that +helpful moment pass by, he can do the lift in a satisfactory manner with +the small drawback of an extra expenditure of muscular effort. The fact +of the lady exerting a strong downward pressure on the gentleman's left +shoulder, makes the lift much easier for him than if he had to do it +entirely by his arms. It is most important for the beginner to +understand this extremely simple method of mounting, so that, if failure +results, she may know who is in fault. Her only serious error is that of +neglecting to straighten her knee. His crimes in this respect are many. +_First_, he may catch hold of the heel of her boot in the preliminary +stage, and will thus prevent her utilising the play of her left ankle +joint in her spring. Experiment will show that this trick of catching +the heel hampers a lady's movements in mounting much more than might at +first be thought possible. _Second_, from knowing no better, or from a +desire to show off his strength, he may use only one hand to lift the +lady, and will then almost always have cause to regret his superfluity +of self confidence. _Third_, he may stand too far away from her, and +thus bring her left foot too much forward, in which case it will be +almost impossible for her to straighten her left knee. _Fourth_, he may +also prevent her from doing this indispensable part of the performance, +by trying to raise her before she has put her weight on his hands. +_Fifth_, he may stand too far away from the side of the horse, in which +case he is liable to throw her over to the off side of the horse (as +happened once to me), by giving her an oblique instead of a vertical +propulsion. A minor form of this mistake is attempting to put the lady +on the saddle, instead of raising her to the height at which she can +easily take her seat. After a lady has suffered from clumsy attempts to +put her up, it is not to be wondered at if she regards the feat of +mounting as one which requires some peculiar knack to accomplish; and, +as failure in mounting is particularly ungraceful, she naturally becomes +nervous about attempting it. If she has any doubts as to her +capability to mount easily, she might make some preliminary attempts to +stand and support herself for a few seconds on a gentleman's hands, with +her left hand on his shoulder and her right hand on the upper crutch. +When she finds that she can do this successfully, she may, when her leg +is again straight, give him a signal (or take one from him) to raise her +to the necessary height, so that she may sit in the saddle. If she be +very timid, she may practise mounting indoors, with her right hand on +the top of an upright piano, and her left on a gentleman's shoulder as +before. Although it is usual for the gentleman to give the words, "One, +two!" as a signal for her to make her spring and straighten her knee +before he raises her, no such caution is necessary; for he will know, by +feeling her weight on his hands, when she is in a proper position to be +raised. + +[Illustration: Fig. 68.--Ready to mount.] + +Having arrived on the saddle, the lady places her right leg over the +crutch, while her attendant puts her left foot in the stirrup, adjusts +any elastic loops that may be present, and straightens her skirt, as may +be required. She then takes up the reins. It is advisable for the lady +not to touch the reins until she is securely placed in the saddle and is +ready to use them, because the act of placing her right hand on the +crutch while holding the reins in it, is liable to render the horse +unsteady, and the reins are of no use to her until she is firmly seated. + +If there is only one man to help the lady to mount, he should place his +left arm through the snaffle reins, so as to prevent the animal from +getting away while putting her up. + +I think all hunting men should know how to put a lady up, because +accidents in the field are constantly occurring, and some poor Diana who +has had a tumble is always grateful to any good Samaritan who renders +her this small service. A well-meaning sportsman who kindly offered me +his help on such an occasion, knew so little about the mysteries of +side-saddle riding, that he attempted to give me a "leg up," as if I +were a man! + +It would be well for every school where riding is taught to be supplied +with a wooden horse, on which pupils could learn the method of getting +into the saddle, and would thus avoid becoming flurried or nervous when +mounting, especially if the horse is a stranger. Also, a dummy horse +would be an admirable subject on which to do preliminary practice in +other details of riding, such as grip, length of stirrup, leaning back +(as when going over fences), position of the hands, holding and handling +the reins, etc. In this way, beginners would learn what they had to do, +before getting on a horse. + +_Mounting from the ground unaided_ depends for its success chiefly on +the respective heights of horse and rider, although a lady can be helped +considerably in this attempt by letting out the stirrup leather, which +she will have to shorten after climbing into the saddle. Unless a lady +is tall and athletic, it will be almost impossible for her to perform +this feat on a full-sized horse. This method of mounting should, as a +rule, be avoided, because, apart from its not being very graceful, it +is apt to disarrange the position of the saddle, by pulling it to the +near side, and the animal would then be liable to get a sore back, +especially if he had to go through a long day with hounds. + +[Illustration: Fig. 69.--Dismounting without help.] + +_Mounting from a block_, low wall, or other suitable object, may be done +without help, if the animal is "confidential" and accustomed to the +work. If a man be present, he may stand in front of the horse and hold +him in the way already described for the groom to do (page 125). If the +animal shows unwillingness to approach the mounting-block, the man +should hold the off cheek-piece of the headstall of the bridle with his +right hand, and, with the flat of his left hand, prevent the horse from +swinging his hind quarters out. When the horse is sufficiently close, +the lady should take the whip and reins in her left hand, put her left +foot in the stirrup, take the upper crutch with her left hand and the +cantle with the right, and spring lightly between both hands into the +saddle. The right leg is then put over the upper crutch and the skirt +arranged. + + +DISMOUNTING, + +in the days of voluminous skirts, was a far more serious business than +it is now; for the "knee recess" had to be carefully freed from the +crutches of the saddle, and the skirt gathered up in the hands of the +rider, so that she might not tread on it. Riding women of to-day +generally prefer to dismount without assistance, for they are no longer +hampered with an early Victorian skirt. While a man holds the horse, the +rider releases her foot from the stirrup and loop, removes her right leg +from the crutch, and placing her right hand on it and her left hand on +the leaping head to steady herself (Fig. 69), springs lightly to the +ground. If help is required from a male attendant, it is best for him to +offer his right arm, on which the rider places her left hand (Fig. 70), +as she leaves the saddle. If there is only one man present, he should +take the snaffle reins in his left hand, before offering his right arm +to the lady. Another plan is for the lady to give her hands to the man +who assists her to dismount, but that would not be pleasant in the case +of an ordinary groom. An old-fashioned way of helping a lady to +dismount, was to put an arm round her waist and lift her from the +saddle! + +[Illustration: Fig. 70.--Dismounting with help.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +HOW TO HOLD THE REINS. + +Principles--Holding Single Reins in Both Hands--Holding Single Reins in + One Hand--Holding Double Reins in Both Hands--Holding Double Reins + in One Hand--Shortening the Reins--Military Method of Holding the + Reins--Respective Merits of One-Handed and Two-Handed Riding. + + +As there is but little difference between the respective ways men and +women should use their reins, I have taken the most of this chapter from +_Riding and Hunting_. + + +PRINCIPLES. + +The following are the usual principles to be observed in holding the +reins:-- + +1. A secure grip of the reins should be maintained, with as little +stiffness as possible, because stiffness implies continued muscular +contraction, and consequent defective manipulation from fatigue. + +2. When both hands are used, we should hold the reins so that we can +freely use our hands, either separately or together, in any required +direction. + +3. When both hands are used, the manner of holding the reins by one +hand should be the same as that by the other, so that the feeling of the +hands on the reins may be the same on both sides. + +4. When a horse which has an "even" mouth is going in a straight +direction, the action of one rein should be the same as that of the +other rein. + +[Illustration: Fig. 71.--A rein in each hand.] + + +HOLDING SINGLE REINS IN BOTH HANDS. + +Pass the near rein between the little finger and the ring finger of the +left hand, bring it out between the forefinger and thumb, and take up +the off rein in the same manner in the right hand (Fig. 71). The reins +thus held will be in the best position for general use, especially as +the hands can then be readily separated, if we wish to turn the horse to +one side or the other. + +[Illustration: Fig. 72.--Single reins crossed in one hand.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 73.--Single reins crossed in one hand.] + + +HOLDING SINGLE REINS IN ONE HAND. + +While holding the reins as in Fig. 71, pass the off rein into the left +hand between its forefinger and thumb, and across the portion of the +near rein that is in the palm of the left hand (Fig. 72). On letting go +the off rein with the right hand, we close the fingers of the left hand, +turn the left hand inwards, and let it fall from the wrist in an easy +manner (Fig. 73). When holding the reins in one hand, we should not keep +the knuckles in a vertical position, because, by doing so, one rein will +come up higher on the horse's neck than the other rein. On the contrary, +both in one-handed and two-handed riding, the knuckles should be held +more or less horizontally, as they would be when the hand is allowed to +fall without stiffness from the wrist. + +[Illustration: Fig. 74.--Double reins held separately in two hands.] + +Whether the reins are held in one hand or in two, we should avoid +"rounding the wrists," not only on account of the consequent stiffness +imparted to these joints, but also because that action tends to make us +carry the elbows outwards, and thus diminishes the force which the arms +are capable of exerting on the reins. + +[Illustration: Fig. 75.--Holding double reins crossed in one hand.] + + +HOLDING DOUBLE REINS IN BOTH HANDS. + +We may hold double reins in both hands in the same way as we hold single +reins, except that the little fingers separate the reins on each +respective side (Fig. 74). The question as to which rein should be on +the outside may be decided by the amount of control which is required +to be obtained over the horse; because, by the rotation of the hand, we +can work the outward rein more effectively than the inward rein. If the +snaffle is to be the predominant bit, its reins should be on the +outside, and the curb-reins slack. + + +HOLDING DOUBLE REINS IN ONE HAND. + +The forefinger of the left hand separates the two off reins, the little +finger divides the two near ones, and the reins are crossed in the palm +of the hand (Fig. 75), as with single reins. It is convenient to have +the reins on which we want to have the stronger pull on the outside. If +the rider wishes to use only one rein, she may hold it crossed in her +hand, and may hook up the other on the middle finger, and let it loose +(Fig. 76), or draw it up to a greater or less extent. + +[Illustration: Fig. 76.--Double reins in left hand: one crossed, the +other hooked up on middle finger.] + + +SHORTENING THE REINS. + +In shortening the reins we should alter the feeling on them as little as +possible, and should carefully keep them at the same length, so as not +to interfere with the horse's mouth. If a rein is in each hand (Fig. +71), we had best pass the off rein into the left hand (Fig. 72); close +the left hand on both reins (Fig. 73); slip the right hand forward on +the off rein till the proper length is obtained; take up both reins in +the right hand; let go the slack of the reins with the left hand; take +up the near rein with the left hand; and separate the hands. + +[Illustration: Fig. 77.--Reins held in one hand in military fashion.] + +If the reins are held in one hand (the left, for instance), take them up +in the right hand; slip the left hand forward on the near rein; and, +when the desired length is obtained, take up both reins with the left +hand. + + +MILITARY METHOD OF HOLDING THE REINS. + +In almost all riding schools, ladies are taught to hold the reins in +military fashion, which enacts that they should be held in the left +hand, with the little finger dividing them, and their ends brought up +between the finger and thumb (Fig. 77). Thus, the hold on the reins is +chiefly maintained by the lateral pressure of the fingers and by the +downward pressure of the thumb on them. As the muscles which draw the +fingers laterally together, are far weaker than the muscles which cause +the hand to become clenched, it follows that this method of holding the +reins is much less secure and a good deal more tiring than the crossed +plan (Fig. 73), which has the further advantage of utilising the +friction between the opposing surfaces of leather. This method is also +unsuitable for two-handed riding, because it violates the principle laid +down on pages 136 and 137, that the manner of holding the reins by one +hand should be the same as that by the other hand (compare Figs. 71 and +78). + +[Illustration: Fig. 78.--Off rein taken up by right hand from position +shown in Fig. 77.] + + +RESPECTIVE MERITS OF ONE-HANDED AND TWO-HANDED RIDING. + +All good horsewomen, especially when out hunting, ride with both hands +on the reins, because, even with the quietest animal, the two hands may +be needed for control or guidance. Besides, an even feeling on the reins +when they are held in one hand, can be maintained only by keeping the +hand in the centre-line of the horse's body, which is naturally a more +or less irksome task for the rider. With only one hand on the reins, the +rider's available strength is reduced by nearly one-half, and the reins +have to be held much shorter than if both hands were on them. One-handed +riding is all right for military men, who have to wield a sword or +lance, and polo players, who have to use a polo-stick, but it is +ridiculous for ladies. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE SEAT. + +Theory of the Seat--Practical Details. + + +THEORY OF THE SEAT. + +The best seat for all practical purposes is evidently one which affords +security and comfort to the rider and freedom from injury to the horse. +The lady should sit (not lean) forward in the saddle, so as to get a +good grip of the crutches; and should bring her seat well under her +("sit well into the saddle"), in order to bring the centre of gravity of +her body well back, as regards her base of support, and thus to increase +her stability, which will depend almost entirely on her power to resist +forward propulsion, when the horse suddenly stops or swerves to the +left. Her hold of the reins will in any case prevent her from toppling +backwards over the animal's tail, in the event of his making an +unexpected movement forward from the halt, or suddenly increasing his +speed when in motion. The faulty practice of riding the crutches, +instead of sitting down in the saddle, brings the weight forward, and +places the lady in the best possible position to fall off. + +The greater difficulty which a rider has in keeping her seat when her +mount abruptly swerves to the left, than when he goes to the right, is +due to the fact that in the former case, the upper crutch is drawn away +from the right thigh; but in the latter case, it forms a more or less +effective obstacle to the forward movement of the right thigh, and thus +helps the rider to retain her seat. To explain this subject more fully, +I may point out, that if a person is standing on the foot-board of the +right side of a rapidly moving train which suddenly turns to the left, +he or she would be far more inclined to fall off, than if a similar +change of direction had been made to the right, in both of which +instances the side of the train would play the part of the upper crutch. +The fact that the lower part of the rider's right leg rests against the +horse's near shoulder, as in Fig. 79, will materially help her in +keeping her seat, in the event of an abrupt swerve to the left. + +The side position of the seat, combined with the fact that the head has +to be kept more or less in the direction the horse is proceeding, causes +more weight to be placed on the near side than on the off. Although the +rider cannot entirely remove this disadvantage, she may lessen this +unequal distribution of weight, (1) by avoiding the use of too long a +stirrup leather, for the longer it is, the more inclined will she be to +bring her weight to the near side, in order to obtain the assistance of +her stirrup; (2) by sitting a little over on the off side, so as to +place her weight as much as possible on the middle line of the seat of +the saddle, namely, over the backbone of the horse; and (3), as already +pointed out (p. 34), by having the leaping head close to the upper +crutch. In order to meet the second requirement, she should rest her +weight on her right leg, which in any case will have less fatigue to +bear than the left one. Putting the weight on the right leg has the +further advantage of lessening the tendency of the right shoulder to go +forward, and of diminishing the pressure of the left foot on the +stirrup. + +[Illustration: Fig. 79.--Position of rider's legs at the walk.] + +The preponderance of weight on the left side of the saddle is liable to +cause undue pressure on the off side of the withers, and also, though to +a lesser extent, on the off side of the backbone, under the cantle of +the saddle, with the result that ladies' horses frequently get sore +backs at these places. As this unequal distribution of weight on the +near side varies more or less at each stride of the horse; the saddle +has a strong inclination, during movement, to keep working from one side +to the other, and consequently, in order to check this hurtful tendency, +a lady's saddle has to be girthed up much tighter than a man's saddle, +and also to be provided with a balance strap (p. 53). + +The only means by which the rider can maintain her position in the +saddle are balance and grip, both of which are accomplished by muscular +action, though in different ways. What is popularly known as "grip," is +effected by continued muscular contraction, which speedily gives rise to +fatigue, and consequently can be kept up for only a comparatively short +time. The balance required for holding the body more or less erect, as +in walking, standing and sitting, is, on the contrary, preserved by the +alternate contraction and relaxation of a large number of muscles, the +work of which, being intermittent and more or less evenly distributed, +can be maintained for a long period without fatigue. It is therefore +evident that a lady should ride as much as possible by balance, and that +she should use grip only when its aid is demanded for keeping her secure +in the saddle. It is obvious that grip is the riding function of the +legs; and balance, that of the body. As grip has generally to be put in +action at a moment's notice, the legs should be kept in such a position +as to enable them to apply the necessary grip with promptness and +precision. Hence the rider should not move about in the saddle, as some +are inclined to do, in the attempt to "sit back" when going over a +fence. + +While keeping the legs in a uniform position, the rider will obtain all +the _balance_ she needs, by the play of her hip joints and by that of +the joints of the body above them, and will thus be enabled to sit +erect, lean back or forward, or bring her weight to one side or the +other, as may be required. + +_Grip_ from the left leg is obtained by pressure against the leaping +head, which can be effected either by certain muscles of the thigh or by +those of the ankle joint. The amount of pressure which can be obtained +by the former method is far less than by the latter, for which a short +stirrup leather is necessary. The comparative feebleness of this action +of the thigh muscles can be readily seen by the small resistance which +they can make against downward pressure, when the knee is raised with +the foot off the ground. If, however, the foot is on the ground, the +muscles which straighten the ankle joint will enable the knee to be +raised, even against strong downward pressure. It might be objected to +this mode of obtaining grip, that the powerful pressure thus exerted on +the stirrup iron, would cause a downward pull on the (near) left side, +which is, however, counterbalanced by the upward pressure of the left +leg on the leaping head, and consequently it has no displacing effect on +the saddle. It is evident that this action of the ankle joint can be +performed effectively, only when the ball of the foot rests on the +stirrup. If the foot is put "home," the ankle joint will have little or +no play. When using the leaping head, we should bear in mind that the +action of the muscles which straighten the ankle joint, should be +independent of the body. If this condition is not observed, the tendency +will be to put undue weight on the stirrup, and to bring the body +forward. + +It is evident that placing weight on the stirrup, without at the same +time exerting counterbalancing pressure against the leaping head, will +not only put undue weight on the near side, but will also bring the body +forward. + +[Illustration: Fig. 80.--Hooked back leg, the direction of the pressure +of which is shown by the fore finger of the left hand.] + +The right leg can help in obtaining grip, either by bending the knee and +bringing the calf of the leg round the upper crutch, or by lateral +pressure of the knee against that crutch. The former method is entirely +wrong, because it cannot be fully carried out, except by bringing the +body forward,[150-*] which action is incompatible with firmness of +seat, when going over fences, or when the horse makes any abrupt and +disconcerting movement. This "hooked-back" seat also predisposes a lady +to fall over the off shoulder of an animal which suddenly swerves to +the near side; the reason being that in such a case, the upper crutch +acts as the pivot of revolution. On account of causing the weight to be +brought forward, this hooked-back style also tends to make her bump up +and down in her saddle. The lateral method, which is effected by the +inward rotation of the right thigh, is free from the foregoing +objections; and by causing the lower part of the right leg to be placed +against the horse's shoulder, it affords the rider valuable indications +of the animal's movements. Also, as the lateral pressure is as nearly as +practicable in a direction opposite to that of the pressure of the left +leg against the leaping head; it will act to the best advantage, and it +will allow the body full freedom to be drawn back by the play of the hip +joints. The pressure of the hooked-back leg is, on the contrary, nearly +at right angles to that of the left leg (Fig. 80), and consequently it +affords very little help in the attainment of grip. + +The hooked-back style of riding induces fatigue by continued muscular +contraction, and is a fertile cause of ladies becoming cut under the +right knee, which fact is fully proved by the numerous devices which +have been brought out by saddlers with the view of obviating this +injury. + +[Illustration: Fig. 81.--Seat at the walk.] + +It is easy to prove by experiment, that when we sit in an unconstrained +position on a chair or saddle for instance, the direction of our +shoulders will be at right angles to that of our legs, or, more +correctly speaking, at right angles to a line bisecting the angle +formed by our legs. Hence, when riding, we cannot continue to sit +absolutely "square" (having our shoulders at right angles to the +direction of our mount) without keeping our body in a stiff position, +which in a short time will be productive of discomfort and fatigue. +Although the maintenance of a twisted position of the body to the right +is incompatible with ease, no discomfort will arise from looking more or +less straight to the front, because the muscles which regulate the +direction of the neck and eyes are gifted with great mobility, and their +respective periods of contraction and relaxation are comparatively +short, when we are looking to the front. Even when walking at ease, the +direction of the shoulders, which alters at every step, in no way +affects that of our line of sight; and it certainly would not do so, +when we are riding. The continued maintenance of a perfectly square seat +entails so much muscular rigidity, that it is unsuitable for +'cross-country work, or for the riding of "difficult" horses. In any +case, it causes the body to assume a twisted and therefore an unnatural +position; because the fact of the right hip joint being more advanced +than the left one, will prevent the lower and posterior part of the +trunk (the pelvis) from being parallel, as it ought to be, with the line +connecting the shoulders. To facilitate the attainment of a "square +seat," some saddlers incline the upper crutch a good deal towards the +off side, and thus curtail the space between that crutch and the near +side of the horse's shoulder and neck so much, that the rider is unable +to get her right leg into proper position, and is consequently obliged +to "hook it back." I need hardly say that such saddles do not suit good +horsewomen. + +An absurd fallacy of some of the "square seat" school is that the right +thigh (from hip joint to knee) should be kept parallel to the horse's +backbone, a position which would put a great deal more weight on the +near side of the saddle than on the off, and would consequently be +liable to give the horse a sore back. On the contrary, the even +distribution of the rider's weight is an essential condition of comfort +to the animal and of security of seat to the rider, and is of +infinitely greater importance than the attainment of a conventional and +unnatural attitude. + +[Illustration: Fig. 82.--Length of stirrup.] + +The majority of riding-masters are such admirers of the "square seat," +that when giving a lady her first few lessons, they will as a rule keep +constantly telling her to keep her right shoulder back, which she +cannot do without twisting and stiffening her body. + +For practical requirements, as out hunting or on a long journey, the +seat should be free from all constraint and rigidity, so that it can be +maintained without undue fatigue for several hours, during which time +the rider should be able at any moment to utilise the grip of her legs +with promptness, precision and strength. A lady, with a good seat and +properly made saddle, will ride quite square enough (Fig. 81) to avoid +any lack of elegance in her appearance without having to adopt a +conventional twist. + + +PRACTICAL DETAILS. + +The first thing for a rider to do is to place herself in a thoroughly +comfortable position on the saddle. She should sit well down in it, in +the same manner as she would sit on a chair in which she wished to lean +back, and would thus get her seat well under her, and would be able to +obtain, when required, a strong grip of the crutches. In this position +she will be able to increase her stability by bringing her shoulders +back, which she could not do with the same facility, if, instead of +leaning back, she sat back. In order to see where she is going, she +should sit more or less erect. Her left foot should be placed in the +stirrup only as far as the ball of the foot, so as to allow the ankle +joint full play. The stirrup leather should be long enough to enable the +left thigh to clear the leaping head, when the lady rises at the trot; +and short enough for it to exert full pressure against the leaping +head, by the action of the ankle joint. A correct compromise between +these two opposing conditions is obtained when the length of the leather +will just allow the flat of the hand to be easily placed between the leg +and the leaping head (Fig. 82). + +[Illustration: Fig. 83.--Correct position of legs.] + +The rider should obtain her grip of the leaping head just above the +point of the left knee, as shown in Fig. 83; and by rotating the right +thigh inwards, she should press the flat of that knee against the upper +crutch, as if she were trying to bring her two knees together. While +gripping in the manner described, the portion of the right leg which is +below the knee, should rest in an easy position against the horse's +near shoulder, as in Fig. 79. + +[Illustration: Fig. 84.--Leaning back.] + +When the beginner has learned how to sit in the saddle, she should +practise leaning back, which she can best do by gripping the crutches, +while keeping her legs in proper position (Fig. 84), and leaning her +body back until she can almost touch the horse's croup. When doing this +for the first few times, her teacher should support her, in order to +give her confidence, and the groom, if necessary, should hold the horse, +which should of course be a quiet animal. The object of this practice is +to show her that the movements of her body are entirely independent of +her grip of the crutches, and that the forward and backward motion of +her body is regulated by the action of her hip joints, and not by +altering her seat, which should remain fixed, and, as it were, glued to +the saddle, at the walk, canter, gallop and jump; the trot being the +only movement at which she should rise. Having learned the meaning of +grip and leaning back, she can take a snaffle rein in each hand, as in +Fig. 71, while keeping her hands low and well apart; she can then "feel" +the horse's mouth by drawing her hands towards her through a distance of +a few inches, and then keeping them in a fixed position. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[150-*] The muscles of our limbs are attached at each end to bones, +between which there are one or more joints; and they act by their +power of contraction, which enables them to become shortened to about +two-thirds of their length. The full effect of this contraction can be +obtained by a muscle only when its points of attachment are separated +to their utmost extent, and it becomes diminished in proportion as the +distance between them is shortened by the bending of the intermediate +joint or joints, up to a length equal to that of the muscle in a fully +contracted state, at which limit the muscle is out of "play." The +muscles which bend the knee are attached, at one end, to the back of +the shin bone, close to the knee; and at the other extremity, to the +end of the ischium (lower part of the pelvis), which is below the hip +joints. Consequently, the more the knee is bent and the more the upper +part of the body is drawn back by the play of the hip joints, the +nearer are the opposite points of attachment of these respective +muscles brought together, and the less power will they have to hook +back the knee. Hence the more a lady leans back, when going over a +fence for instance, the less firmly will she be able to hook her leg +round the upper crutch. Therefore, ladies who adopt this hooked-back +seat, are invariably prompted by the requirements of this position, to +bend forward, and have more or less difficulty in bringing the upper +part of the body back. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +HANDS, VOICE, WHIP AND SPUR. + + +HANDS. + +Nearly every writer on the subject of riding is of opinion that "good +hands" are inborn and cannot be acquired. This may be so, but the worst +of hands may be greatly improved by good teaching and practice. +Continental horsemen do not, as a rule, learn how to ride across +country, but the majority of them devote much study to the various +methods of bitting and handling horses, and, as far as hacking is +concerned, their horses are better broken and better handled than they +are in this country. I am not alluding to the question of seat, as I +think Britons, and especially our Colonial cousins, can beat them on +that point; but it is evident, as can be seen any day and in any hunting +field, that more study should be devoted to the acquirement of good +hands. A course of school riding, especially on a made "school" horse, +which is a very light-mouthed animal, would greatly lessen the +clumsiness of heavy hands; or, if such instruction were unobtainable, +good practice might be had on a young horse which had been carefully +broken by a competent horseman. No young horse will pull until he is +taught to do so by bad handling, and a lady who wishes to improve her +hands might ride a young animal, in the company of an old steady horse, +and ascertain in this way what the natural condition of a horse's mouth +really is and how easily it may be controlled. I do not think that many +ladies have heavy hands with horses--their chief fault lies in their +want of control over their mounts. Many ride with the reins so loose +that their horses get out of hand and go in an uncollected manner, and +accidents not unfrequently occur from this cause. As horses which are +not well in hand in the hunting field will, sooner or later, bring their +riders either to grief or to disgrace, this slipshod method of handling +should be avoided. Although the grip which a lady obtains in a +side-saddle should render her entirely independent of the reins as a +means of support, she is handicapped by being unable to lower her hands +to the same extent as a man. I have found that with horses which carry +their heads too high, and throw them up if the rider tries to lower +them, a standing martingale attached to the rings of the snaffle affords +considerable help in obtaining perfect control, especially with young +horses. But I would not recommend a lady to use a standing martingale +with a horse which has not previously been accustomed to it, nor indeed +at all, unless she rides chiefly on the snaffle; for although it is +perfectly safe to use the curb with a standing martingale in steadying +and collecting a horse, it would be highly dangerous to touch it when +the animal is jumping. The majority of riding men regard the standing +martingale as dangerous--and rightly, for only men with good hands can +safely use it. If any sudden snatch or jerk were made at the curb, and +the horse in throwing up his head found himself caught by the standing +martingale, a very serious accident might happen. The standing +martingale in no way impedes a horse's jumping, for horses do not jump +with their heads in the air, unless they fear the curb. Fig. 48 shows +its maximum length. It may be said that ladies ought not to ride horses +which carry their heads too high, but many of us have to make the best +of what we can get in the matter of horseflesh, and employ the surest +methods at our command for keeping such animals under perfect control. +The standing martingale is dangerous in hunting only when going through +gates, as it is liable to catch in a gate post and cause trouble. + +The faster a horse goes at any particular pace in a natural and +unconstrained manner, the more will he try to extend his head and neck, +so as to bring the centre of gravity of his body forward, and also to +aid the muscles of the neck in drawing the fore limbs to the front. The +pulling in of the head and neck by the reins will, therefore, be a +direct indication to the animal to slacken his speed. If he be well +broken he will not only go slower, but will also signify the fact of his +obedience by yielding to the bit by the play of the joints of his head +and neck. When he keeps these joints (namely, those which connect the +lower jaw to the head, and the head to the neck, and the joints of the +neck themselves) free from all rigidity and bears lightly on the bit, he +is what is called "well in hand," in which state every horsewoman should +endeavour to keep her mount, as it is the _beau idéal_ one that admits +of full control by the rider and of perfect freedom of movement on the +part of the horse. Having the horse well in hand, the rider should be +careful to keep the reins _at one unaltered length_ for the particular +rate of speed at which she is going. If she desires to increase it, she +should give her horse a signal which he understands, and should lengthen +the reins as may be required. If she wishes to go slower, she should +proportionately shorten them; but she should _always_ preserve +uniformity of speed at any pace by keeping a fixed length of reins. +Nothing is worse for a horse's mouth than the constant "give and take" +(in Ireland they call it "niggling" at a horse's mouth) which is +practised by almost every bad rider. This fact is so well recognised by +our jockeys that "Keep your hands steady" is the chief order which +competent trainers of racehorses give to their lads. When a rider keeps +shifting the position of her hands, her bewildered animal will be unable +to know at what speed she wants him to travel. All this reads very +simple, but sometimes we find that horses, especially when excited by +hounds, insist on going at their own pace. If the coast is clear in +front, and the horseman in advance has got safely over and away from the +fence to which a lady is approaching, it would not be wise for her to +interfere with her hunter, because, if he knows his business, he won't +fall if he can help it. But if, on the other hand, the only practicable +place in a fence is not free, the keenness of the animal must be checked +by a judicious use of the curb. If he is so headstrong as to refuse to +obey this command by slackening speed, he should be turned round either +to right or left, whichever may be the easier for his rider. When we +find ourselves in such a tight corner we must, for our own safety as +well as for that of our neighbours, exercise a certain amount of force +in controlling our horses. The "silken thread" method of handling, which +is, or should be, employed at any other time, stands us in poor stead in +the face of this difficulty. There are horses which will neither slacken +speed nor turn for their riders, and a runaway in the hunting field is +by no means rare. If any lady has a hunter who takes charge of her in +this manner, I would strongly advise her to ride him in a standing +martingale (p. 82), because with its aid she will generally be able to +turn him, even if she cannot stop him in any other way. A horse which +will neither slacken speed nor turn in any direction gallops on, as a +rule, with his head up, and, having succeeded in shifting the snaffle +from the bars to the corners of his mouth, he is impervious to the +action of the curb, because his head is too high for the curb to act +with advantage. On such an animal the standing martingale is valuable, +because it makes him keep his head in a proper position. A great deal +of sound sense has been written by different horsemen on the subject of +"hands." Sam Chifney tells us to use the reins as if they were silken +threads which any sharp pull would break, and Mr. John Hubert Moore +always gave the advice to take a pull at the reins as though you were +drawing a cork out of a bottle without wishing to spill one drop of its +contents. I have often, in my own mind, likened a horse's mouth to a +piece of narrow elastic which is capable of expansion up to a certain +point. When vigorously tugged at, it is no longer elastic, but as +unyielding as ordinary string. Good hands maintain its elasticity, bad +ones convert it into string. A sympathetic touch on a horse's mouth can +only be made by "good hands." A musician, if he is an artist, will +accompany a weak-voiced singer so sympathetically that the sweet though +not robust notes of the voice are heard to the best advantage: he is a +man with good hands. A heavy-fisted player, desiring to show his command +over the instrument, will try to turn the accompaniment into a +pianoforte solo, and the nice notes of the struggling singer will be +entirely drowned by noise. He is like the heavy-handed, unsympathetic +rider. + + +VOICE. + +For pleasant riding, it is essential that the horse should understand +his rider's orders, which are usually given to him only by the reins and +whip. However efficiently a lady may use these "aids," the fact remains +that a good understanding between herself and her mount is better +established by the voice than by any other means. With a little vocal +training any ordinary horse, when going fast, will pull up more promptly +and with greater ease to his mouth and hocks, by a pleasantly uttered +"whoa," than by the action of hands and reins. Young horses, like +foxhound puppies which are taken out for the first time, show great +reluctance to pass moving objects; but if the rider speaks encouragingly +to her mount in a tone of voice that means he must go on, he will try +his best to obey her, although his attention may be divided betwixt fear +and duty. As a reward, his rider should give him a few pats on the neck +and speak encouragingly to him, and she will doubtless find that he will +make a bolder effort to obey her voice when he again finds himself +confronted with a similar difficulty; because he will associate his +first escape from apparent disaster with her voice, and will in time +have such confidence in her guidance that a word from her will be quite +sufficient to assure him that all is well. When riding bad horses at my +husband's breaking classes abroad, I found it best not to speak to them; +for a bond of friendship had not been established between us, and I +noticed that the sound of my voice often stirred up their angry passions +by reminding them, I suppose, of some former rider who had scolded them +while ill-treating them. It was unsafe even to pat and try to be +friendly with such spoiled horses. I remember a very violent animal in +Pretoria which showed resentment in this respect by rushing at me after +I had dismounted, simply because I endeavoured to pat and say a kind +word to him. I have no doubt that he would have accepted my well-meant +advances if we had had time to mutually understand each other. A show +jumper named Mons Meg was so terrified of the man who used to ride her +that, on hearing his voice, even from a distance, she would break out in +a perspiration and stand trembling with terror. The mare was really so +kind that we had her for a time at Ward's Riding School, and she was +ridden without reins over jumps by several of our pupils. I took her to +ride in a jumping competition at the Agricultural Hall; but, +unfortunately, the rider she disliked came to her stall and spoke to +her, with the usual result, and when I got on her back she was violently +agitated, and refused the second fence, which was a gate. At one moment +it seemed as though she would have brought us both to grief, for she +tried to jump out of the ring among the people--a feat, I was afterwards +told, she had performed on more than one occasion. She would always jump +kindly when away from the hated show ring, where she must at some time +or other have been badly treated. When animals get into a state of +nervous excitement, a few pats on the neck and a soothing word or two +often act like magic in calming them down. A mare which was lent me in +Calcutta by a horse importer, and on which I won a cup in an open +jumping competition, was in such a state of nervousness that she would +not let me take the trophy until I patted and spoke to her, and the +presentation was then effected without a scene. This animal, which was a +well-bred Australian, was a stranger to me, and had never carried a lady +before that day. Nevertheless, she passed successfully through a +terribly trying ordeal, and I am certain that she would not have made +the great efforts she did in jumping, if I had not soothed and +encouraged her with my voice. She was only 14-2 in height, and was +competing against big horses, some of which were ridden by steeplechase +jockeys. The competition took place at night in a circus which was +lighted by electricity, and which was open at each end. The object to be +jumped was a white gate placed midway across the arena, and raised each +time that it had been successfully cleared. From the glare of electric +light in this crowded place, we had to go into outer darkness and +carefully avoid the tent pegs and ropes in finding our way to the other +entrance. While we were waiting our turn to jump, we had to stand near a +cage of lions which growled savagely during the whole time, and also in +the vicinity of two camels. My mount disliked the camels far more than +the lions; in fact, she hated the sight of them, and would have done her +best to escape, if I had not turned her head away from them and patted +and soothed her. Mr. Frank Fillis, who was the proprietor of the circus, +told me that horses have such an antipathy to camels that they will not +drink, however thirsty they may be, from a bucket which has been used +by one of these long-necked animals. By-the-bye, my acquisition of this +cup caused me to be branded as a "circus rider" by the ladies in a +Little Pedlington village in this country; for when the local society +leader called on me, I was out, and my son, by way of entertaining her, +showed her "the cup that mother won in a circus!" + +In order for the voice to be effective, the word of command must be +given at the moment when a horse is about to play up in any way, not +after he has committed a fault, and therefore a knowledge of horses and +their ways is necessary before we can use the voice properly. It is +always advisable to keep an eye on our mount, because if we do not do +so, we shall be unable to seize the generally brief moment which exists +between the thought of evil in the animal's mind and its execution. +Those who have lived much among horses must have frequently noticed this +preparatory period before a horse plays up, and no doubt have profited +by the warning their experienced eyes gave them; for if we see what is +about to come, and know how to avert it, we are often able to save +ourselves from disaster. + +In order that the animal may thoroughly understand our words of command, +we should have as few of them as possible, employ them only when +necessary, and always in the same respective tone of voice, whether it +be a soothing word of encouragement accompanied by a few pats on the +neck, or the word "steady" given in a determined tone, and accompanied +by a restraining pull on the reins as may be necessary. The word "whoa" +is best uttered in rather a high key and in a drawling tone, when we +begin to pull up a horse during movement; but we should reserve +"steady," like the curb, for use in emergency, and should utter it in a +threatening tone of voice. The words of command which an inexperienced +rider will find most useful are a click of the tongue for a walk, trot, +and canter; "whoa" to pull up; "steady" when he is going too fast, or +indulging in unnecessary leaps and bounds; "go on," with a few pats on +the neck, if he is nervous about passing any object, or shying; and a +quiet word or two of encouragement, with more pats on the neck, when he +is in a state of nervous excitement, as, for instance, on his first day +with hounds. + +[Illustration: Fig. 85.--Hunting whip.] + +When visiting a horse in his stable to give him a carrot or other +tit-bit, his mistress should call him by his name, and he will soon +neigh on hearing her voice, if she always gives him something nice; for +horses, like poor relations, don't appreciate our visits unless they can +get something out of us. Lady Dilke had a horse which she had trained to +lick her hand. On going up to him in his box she would put out her hand +and say "Lick her, dear," and the animal would give her his mute caress +like a dog: it was very pretty to see how well the pair understood each +other. We may see the power of the voice exemplified in cart horses, +which will turn to right or left, go faster or slower, or pull up, +according as they receive the word of command from the wagoner who +walks beside them. The voice is also greatly used by polo players. +Horses are very catholic in their admiration for tit-bits. They like all +kinds of sweets and fruit, and will even crunch up the stones of plums +and peaches, which require good teeth to crack. An old favourite of mine +was particularly fond of chocolate and jam tarts! + + +WHIP. + +The chief uses of a hunting whip are to help the rider to manipulate +gates, and to be cracked; the former being much more necessary to a +horsewoman than the latter. The crop should therefore be of a +serviceable length. It is the very silly fashion at present to have +hunting whips that are less than two feet long. Many are made of +whalebone, and are covered with catgut, their special advantage being +that their flexibility greatly facilitates the process of cracking. A +more serviceable crop for a lady is one of stiff cane, the thick end of +the handle of which is made rough, as in Fig. 85, or is provided with a +metal stud, so that the handle may not slip when it is pushed against a +gate. Formerly, two feet three inches was the usual length of a hunting +crop for both sexes. Three feet is a much better length for ladies, who +cannot "get down into their saddle" like men. Besides, a fairly long +crop is very useful for keeping a horse straight by the rider touching +him with it on the off flank when he wants to run out to the left, which +is his favourite side for refusing in the large majority of cases. A +short crop is useless for this purpose, as the right hand will be fully +occupied on such trying occasions in keeping the animal's head toward +the obstacle, and the crop should be able to perform its share of the +work by a turn of the wrist, care being taken that no jerk is +communicated to the rein. + +[Illustration: Fig. 86.--Thong properly put on.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 87.--Thong properly put on.] + +The thong is about three feet ten inches long, is furnished with a lash, +which is about a foot long, and is attached to the keeper, which is a +leather loop at the end of the crop. Men generally like a thong of white +pipe-clayed leather, but as the colour is apt to come off and soil one's +habit, a brown leather thong is best for ladies. + +The keeper of the modern hunting whip has a slit, near its end, through +both thicknesses of leather. In attaching the thong, the loop at its +upper end is placed over the end of the keeper, and it is then passed +through the slit and drawn tightly (Fig. 86). The old-fashioned keeper, +which is still greatly in use, is a simple loop of leather, over which +the loop of the thong is put, and the remainder of the thong is threaded +through the opening at the end of the keeper (Fig. 87). A wrong way to +put on the thong is, in the first instance, to pass the loop of the +thong through (instead of over) the keeper (Fig. 88). Some authorities +might take exception to the way the thong is put on in Fig. 89. + +To facilitate the use of the thong, it is well to have a long keeper, as +in Fig. 86. The keeper of the whip which is shown in Fig. 85, and also +in Fig. 87, is too short. + +[Illustration: Fig. 88.--Thong incorrectly put on.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 89.--Thong not quite right.] + +The chief use of the thong in hunting is to recover the crop if it +happens to be pulled out of the hand when opening a gate, before doing +which, one or more turns of the thong are consequently taken round the +hand. It also enables us to warn off hounds who approach too near our +horses' legs, on which occasions the whip should be held at arm's +length, with thong and lash vertical. A touch of the lash may aid in +encouraging a friend's horse to go through something to which he +objects, but a man would doubtless be handy to do the needful in such a +case. It would be well for a lady to know how to crack her whip, if her +help were required in turning hounds, or in hurrying up a laggard hound; +but this art should first be learnt on foot, under the tuition of a +competent man, in much the same way as Mr. Frank Ward teaches his pupils +to catch the thong with precision for four-in-hand driving; and the +lady's hunter must also be trained to stand having a whip cracked on his +back, before any experiment of that kind is performed in the hunting +field. It is a good plan to first accustom hunters to the cracking of a +whip in or near their stables, letting them see the performance, and, +after a ridden horse will quietly stand the whip being flicked, his +rider may safely crack it, supposing, of course, she is able to wield +her flail correctly, and without touching the animal; hence the +necessity of acquiring precision in this art before attempting it on +horseback. An experienced hunting woman tells me that women should be as +useful in the field as men; but I fear that is impossible, for we cannot +get on and off our horses as easily as men, to render prompt help in +cases of emergency; hold open a gate on a windy day, or perform the +numerous kindly acts which fall to the lot of the mere male. Besides, +however active and well-intentioned we may be, we are hampered by our +dress, and still more so by the want of it, in the case of an apron +skirt. If a crop is used for hacking, say in the Row, the thong should +be taken off, for it would look as much out of place there as a pink +hunting coat. The whip should be always carried handle downwards, on the +off-side, as if we were trying to conceal its presence, and not as +though we were riding with "a rein in each hand, and a whip in the +other." + +In a country of hedges, like the Shires, it is well to acquire the habit +of holding the whip in such a way that the handle of the whip will +point directly backwards; for if it is inclined outwards, it will be apt +to catch in a branch or twig, when going through a bullfinch (Fig. 90) +or straggling hedge. + +[Illustration: Fig. 90.--A practicable Bullfinch.] + + +SPUR. + +The spur is inapplicable to the requirements of ordinary side-saddle +riding; because, in order to use it properly, it should be applied, as +nearly as practicable, at right angles to the side of the horse, so as +to touch him only on one spot, in which case the knee would have to be +brought well away from the flap of the saddle, and the toe of the boot +turned outwards. This would necessitate the use of a long stirrup +leather, which would bring the rider's weight too much to the +near-side, and would also render her seat insecure; because, instead of +being able to get grip by the play of her left ankle joint (p. 149), she +would have to draw back the left foot, and press the upper part of the +thigh against the leaping head. Her forced adoption of this feeble +attempt to obtain firmness of seat is due to the fact that if she raised +her left knee to put pressure on the leaping head, her foot, in all +probability, would come out of the iron, owing to the long leather being +slack at that moment. Besides, with a leather at that length, it would +be impossible for her to press her leg strongly against the leaping head +by the action of the ankle joint. A lady who rides with her stirrup +leather at the correct length (Fig. 79), can use the spur only in a more +or less parallel direction to the animal's side, in which case, the +spur, if it is sharp, will be almost certain to tear the skin, instead +of lightly pricking it. + +The entirely wrong system of handling, feeding, and leading horses +almost always on the near side, teaches them to turn much more easily as +a rule to that side, which is a lady's weak side, than to the right. +Consequently, when they "run out" at a fence, they almost invariably +swerve to the left. In such a case, a man has his hands to turn the +animal's head and neck, and his drawn back right leg to straighten the +hind quarters; but the handicapped lady can supplement the action of her +reins only by the whip, which she cannot use very effectively, owing to +her perched-up position on the saddle. If she used a spur she would be +at a still greater disadvantage, because, in order to escape the pain of +the "persuader," the animal would naturally swing his hind quarters +round to the right, and would consequently bring his fore-hand still +more to the left, by the action of this misapplied "aid." If the lady's +whip is not sufficiently long to give her mount the requisite reminder +on the off flank, either by being pressed closely against it, or by the +administration of a sharp tap, it will be useless for straightening him. +Lady Augusta Fane, who is one of the best horsewomen in Leicestershire, +and who certainly rides a greater variety of hunters during a season +than any other lady in the Shires, is strongly opposed to the use of the +spur. She tells me that "if a horse is so sticky as to require a spur, +he is no hunter for this country; and if he is a determined refuser, no +woman, spur or no spur, can make him gallop to these big fences and +jump. I consider a spur a very cruel thing, and feel certain that many +men would find their horses go better, and jump better, if they left +their spurs at home, and many accidents would be avoided." Lord +Harrington, who is well known as a fine horseman, also dislikes spurs, +and has advocated their abolition in the Yeomanry. In this he should +receive the support of all good riders, as they know that +placid-tempered horses have better paces, higher courage, superior +staying power, and greater cleverness and tact in times of danger than +excitable ones. In polo, where the legs are far more required for +guiding the horse than in hunting, the use of sharp spurs is forbidden, +except by special permission. Whyte-Melville points out that my sex are +unmerciful in the abuse of the spur. He says:--"Perhaps because they +have but one, they use this stimulant liberally and without compunction. +From their seat and shortness of stirrup every kick tells home. +Concealed under a riding habit, these vigorous applications are +unsuspected by lookers on." I have seen more than one poor animal's side +badly torn and bleeding from a lady's spur. A lady who rides a horse in +the ordinary way with this instrument of torture, which she is unable to +use correctly, brands herself in the eyes of her more experienced sister +as an incompetent horsewoman. I have heard hunting men advocate the spur +for ladies; but they would probably change their opinion if they were to +try the effect of riding with one spur, and that on the left foot, +especially in a lady's hunting saddle. Very few men who wear spurs are +able to use them properly; Whyte Melville says not one in ten, and "the +tenth is often most unwilling to administer so severe a punishment." The +late George Fordham wholly repudiated "the tormentors," and said they +made a horse shorten his stride and "shut up," instead of struggling +bravely home. My husband, in _Riding and Hunting_, says it is the +fashion to wear spurs with top-boots, but many good horses go much +better without them. Whyte Melville remarks that "a top-boot has an +unfinished look without its appendage of shining steel; and although +some sportsmen assure us that they dispense with rowels, it is rare to +find one so indifferent to appearances as not to wear spurs." Men wear +spurs in hunting because it is fashionable to do so, but there is no +such arbitrary law laid down for ladies, and the presence of the spur +certainly adds to the danger of dragging by the stirrup; for, as Whyte +Melville points out, its buckle "is extremely apt to catch in the angle +of the stirrup iron, and hold us fast at the very moment when it is +important for our safety we should be free." + +[Illustration: Fig. 91.--Spur-carrying whip used for high school +riding.] + +In Continental high school riding, a spur is a necessity, as, without +its aid, the _écuyères_ would not be able to perform many of their _airs +de manège_. These ladies, in order to apply the spur with freedom, have +the stirrup leather so long that they are deprived of the immense +advantage, which the play of the ankle-joint gives us, of applying +pressure with the leg against the leaping head, and with the flat of the +knee against the saddle flap. The "school" rider seeks to strengthen her +weak seat by the employment of a very long and greatly curved leaping +head, which serves to support her leg while her knee is removed from +the flap of the saddle when using the spur. This leaping head, which +almost encircles the left leg, would, of course, be a most dangerous +thing to use when hunting. The spurred lady also has a spur clamped on +to her whip, in order that she may be able to prod her horse equally on +both sides. The whip-spur (Fig. 91) is like a wheel with sharp spokes +and no tyre. The application of the spur by Continental _écuyères_, +especially in obtaining the more difficult _airs_, is more or less +constant, so as to keep the animal in a continued state of irritation. I +went behind the scenes in a well-known circus in Paris, where I saw a +lady mounted and waiting to go on and give her performance. A man was +holding her horse's head, and a second attendant, with a spur in his +hand, was digging the unfortunate animal on the near side under her +habit, which he was holding up for the purpose. He took care to inflict +the cruel punishment on a part of the horse's body which would not be +seen by the public! The animal, being unable to advance, was lifting his +legs up and down (doing the _piaffer_), and sighing and groaning in +agony. When the circus doors were opened and relief thus came to him, he +bounded into the arena like a fury, amidst the thunderous applause of +the audience! I should have liked to have seen that spur-man punished +for cruelty to animals, for if the performance went on, as I believe it +did, every night, that horse's near side must have been in a shocking +condition! It is by no means an unusual occurrence for high school lady +riders to be securely tied to their saddles. + +We must remember that a hunter has to carry his rider for several hours. +Hunting is not steeplechasing, and if a reluctant fencer cannot be +sufficiently roused by a touch of the whip, I fail to see what is to be +gained by spurring him on the near side, and thus giving him a direct +incentive to refuse to the left. Besides, as it is the opinion of some +of our best horsemen that nine out of every ten men who hunt would be +better and more safely carried if they rode without spurs, I certainly +think that no lady should subject her hunter to "the insult of the +spur," especially as she can inflict the punishment only on the near +side, and thus provoke a defensive attitude which she has no +compensating power to successfully resist. + +Some years ago I rode in a jumping competition at Ranelagh. There were +about twenty men and one lady besides myself among the competitors. The +lady found at the last moment that she had forgotten her spur, and a +servant was sent to her trap for it, as she said she could not ride +without it. She used her spur, but was unable to get her horse over even +the first fence! Lufra, a well-known prize winner at the Agricultural +Hall and elsewhere, won the Cup, after a strong contest against my horse +Gustave, who was given a red rosette for being second. Gustave had never +jumped in a competition before. He was ridden in a plain snaffle, and +the only mistake he made was in just tipping the raised gate with his +hind legs. He was evidently unaware that it had been raised, for when I +took him at it again, just to show the ladies that he could jump it, he +cleared it beautifully, and his temperate style of fencing was greatly +admired. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +FIRST LESSONS IN RIDING. + +The walk--Turning--The halt--The trot--The canter--The gallop--Jumping-- + Reining back. + + +THE WALK. + +A horse which is held by a groom for a lady to mount, will generally +start off at a walk without any given signal to do so, when the servant +leaves his head, unless his rider desires him to remain at the halt, +when she would give him a command, by saying "whoa!"; and when she wants +him to proceed on his journey, she should say "go on," or click with the +tongue. It is best to put a beginner on an animal which has been trained +to await the commands of his rider, in order that she may from her very +first lesson in riding, learn the rudiments of horse control. She should +never jerk the reins as a signal to start, because this practice is very +apt to confuse and consequently to irritate the animal, especially as +the perpetrator of this _bêtise_ will, in all probability, use the same +means for stopping him. Before she gets on his back, the instructor +should show how the reins should be held, and how the horse should be +given the order to walk. It is the custom in many riding schools to +place the curb and snaffle reins in the rider's left hand and leave her +to find out their use as best she can, but as the lady will require to +devote almost the whole of her attention to her seat, and as in hunting +she will ride with both hands on the reins, it is better to give her a +snaffle rein to hold in each hand, and not introduce the curb until she +is sufficiently secure in her seat to be able to manipulate it properly. +The unusual feeling of sitting on the back of a moving animal will often +cause a lady to lean forward and grip her crutches, in order to retain +her seat, especially at the turns in the school or enclosure, where she +may be receiving her lesson, but the instructor should watch her +carefully, and should call a halt when the pupil is observed to be +riding her crutches instead of sitting well down in her saddle, and +obtaining the necessary steadying power without bringing the weight of +her body forward. The rider will not require to grip her crutches while +proceeding in a forward direction at a walk, although their aid may be +necessary when executing a turning movement, and she should also be +ready to apply grip at any moment of emergency. She will at first +experience some difficulty in being able to dissociate balance from +grip, and as her efforts to do so may be somewhat fatiguing to her, her +first lessons should be of short duration. Fig. 92 shows an easy, +comfortable position when riding at a walk. + +After the rider has mastered the art of sitting comfortably and firmly +in her saddle at a walk, she should be given a whip to hold in her +right hand, which should also hold the right rein. I think the best kind +of flail for a beginner is a long cane. A cutting whip is not +sufficiently stiff to be used as an indication, and it is apt to tickle +the horse's sides, and make him unsteady. + +[Illustration: Fig. 92.--Thorough-bred mare at a walk.] + + +TURNING. + +A lady should not be initiated in the mysteries of any other pace, until +she is able to turn her horse at a walk, in any direction, while +maintaining a correct balance of her body, and applying only sufficient +grip to aid the movement. + +In turning a horse to the right, she should lower her right hand and +carry it well away from his shoulder, while "feeling" the right rein, +so as to give him as clearly as possible, the indication to turn; she +should press the left rein against his neck, by moving her left hand to +the right; she should grip her crutches, and lean to the right; and +should resume her erect position when the turn is completed. If the +animal answers these indications only by turning his head to the right, +and does not bring his hind quarters round to the left, she should touch +him lightly with the whip on the off flank, so as to make him bring his +hind quarters round. In turning to the left, the opposite indications +are employed; the only difference being that the whip cannot be used on +the animal's left side, owing to the presence of the skirt. This +inability to employ the whip on the left side is not of much consequence +as a rule, because almost all horses readily bring their hind quarters +round to the right, when they are turned to the left. + +Having turned to the right, she may ride her horse in a circle to the +right, while inclining her body slightly inwards, and keeping a nice +feeling of the right rein, and a firm grip of her crutches round the +circle, which at first should be large, as the smaller the circle the +more difficult it will be to ride and guide one's mount. The reversed +aids are used when circling to the left. + + +THE HALT. + +In pulling up a horse from a walk, or any other pace, the rider should +say "whoa," should lean back, and at the same time draw in the reins +with an even, steady feeling, while keeping her hands low. If she has +any difficulty in halting with precision, she should practise walking +her horse short distances and stopping him at the word "whoa," which +should be given to him in a tone that he can understand, for he cannot +obey orders unless he knows their meaning. + + +THE TROT. + +When learning to ride, ladies should endeavour to be thorough, and +should not proceed to study a new pace, before the previous one has been +entirely mastered. If the body is nicely balanced at sharp turns at the +walk, with the weight evenly distributed on the saddle, and both legs +kept perfectly steady and in their right position, a great deal will +have been done towards acquiring a firm seat. + +When the pupil is able to ride with ease and grace at the walk, she may +receive a lesson in trotting. I think it is best to teach the trot +before the canter, because the majority of horses trot a few steps +before they strike off into the canter. + +[Illustration: Fig. 93.--Preparing to rise at the trot, with stirrup at +correct length]. + +As an ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory, the instructor should +first of all show her pupil how the trot is correctly executed, either +without a skirt or with one pinned back, so that the position of her +legs may be seen. She should try to make her practical demonstrations +perfectly clear, and should encourage her pupil to question her +concerning any points in this difficult pace which she does not +understand. It is a good plan to trot both with and without a stirrup, +in order to show that the weight of the body during the rise should be +placed on the right leg, and not on the stirrup. Reference to Figs. 79, +93, 94, 98, 99, 100, 102 and 104 will show that the right leg remains in +precisely the same position at the walk, trot, canter, and leap. The +great difficulty in trotting is to keep this leg absolutely steady, and +to prevent it from working backwards and forwards with the motion of the +body, which can be done only by maintaining a steady pressure against +the upper crutch with the right knee. When this has been obtained, and +the rise can be made with the right leg held motionless, the rider will +find herself able somewhat to relax this pressure, but in a mild form it +is always necessary to press the right knee against the upper crutch in +trotting, so as to aid the balance and to avoid putting too much weight +on the stirrup. The right leg from the knee down should lie flat and in +a slanting position against the horse's shoulder (Fig. 79), the movement +of the animal's limb being distinctly felt by the rider's leg which is +resting against it. Having ascertained that the stirrup is sufficiently +long to admit of the flat of the hand being placed between the left leg +and the leaping-head when the rider is not exercising grip (Fig. +82)--which will allow the lady to clear the leaping-head when rising at +the trot--she should take rather a short hold of her horse, and induce +him to bear on the snaffle to aid her to rise; for a horse which will +not bear on the reins is not a comfortable animal to trot with. A lady +should lean slightly forward and rise when the animal's near fore leg +comes on the ground. In Fig. 93 we see the horse's off fore on the +ground and the lady preparing for the rise with her body inclined +forward. Fig. 94 gives us the position of the rider at the rise, and +that of the horse's near fore leg. As a well-executed trot can be +acquired only after a great deal of practice, a lady should not be +disheartened if she makes but slow progress. She will find it difficult +to time the rise accurately, and until she can do this it is best for +her to sit down in the saddle and bump up and down _à la militaire_, +keeping her seat by the aid of her crutches, and occasionally making an +effort to rise. If she rises at the wrong time, her effort will be +productive of a churning movement, which should at once be +discontinued, for that slipshod style of trotting is not only incorrect, +but is liable to give the horse a sore back, and will prove very tiring +to the rider. In making the rise she should straighten her left knee as +in mounting, and bear slightly on the stirrup, executing her upward +movement by the aid of the ankle-joint and by simultaneously pressing +the upper crutch with her right knee, when she will return to her former +position without being in any way jerked during the movement. The +stirrup should always be kept in one fixed position at the ball of the +foot, and both foot and stirrup should act with automatic precision, +without the slightest jerk or wriggle, exactly as though the lady were +making an upward step from the ground. The pressure of the foot should +be directed on the inner side of the stirrup-iron, in order that the leg +may lie close to the flap of the saddle. She will not require to lift +herself from the saddle, for the horse will put her up to the necessary +height, if she straightens her left knee and prepares to rise at the +right moment. The height of the rise will vary according to the size and +action of the horse. An animal of, say, 15-3, with a long, swinging +trot, will cause his rider to rise higher in the saddle than a smaller +horse with a short, shuffling gait. Many ponies have a short, quick trot +requiring a hardly perceptible rise from the rider; but they are not, as +a rule, comfortable trotters. The lady, as I have already remarked, +rises when the animal's near fore leg is placed on the ground, and +remains seated while the off fore leg rests on the ground, but the +height and duration of the rise will depend on his power of forward +reach. Some ladies exert themselves far too much in rising, and flop +down on their saddles with a noise which attracts attention to their +faulty riding, and which must be very uncomfortable both to them and +their mounts. The chief cause of this faulty style is the adoption of a +long stirrup (Figs. 95 and 96), by which the weight of the body is +brought so much to the near side that the rider can rise only with great +muscular exertion, and with the risk of giving her mount a sore back, by +the downward drag of the saddle to this side. If the horse were to break +into a canter, the lady with a long stirrup would obtain her grip by +bringing back the left leg as in Fig. 97 and pressing against the +leaping-head high up on the thigh, which would give her a very insecure +and ungraceful seat. I have seen ladies trying to trot with the left +leg, from hip to foot, swinging about like the pendulum of a clock, as +if they had no knee-joint at all. When we see an effort to trot with a +stiff left leg swinging along the horse's shoulder, we may safely +conclude that the rider has her stirrup too long, and knows nothing +about the art of trotting, or that the leaping-head of her saddle is +placed so low down on the near side that she is unable to ride in it, +and has to stick on as best she can. As we do not use the leaping-head +in trotting, its position on the saddle may appear unimportant, but this +is not the case; for, even if a lady has her stirrup at its correct +length, the fact of the leaping-head being placed low down on the near +side, compels her to ride with her stirrup longer than she would have to +do if this crutch were properly placed. The farther it is away from the +upper crutch, the greater difficulty will a lady have in rising at the +trot. I have tried to ride in saddles in which I have found trotting +such a tiring business, and requiring so much muscular exertion on my +part, that it was much more comfortable for me not to rise, but to bump +in military fashion. Many ladies, probably from the same reason, never +rise in the trot. It is both wrong and unkind to put girls on bad +saddles and then reproach them for not sitting straight at the trot, for +I have found it absolutely impossible to do so in some saddles. Much of +the soreness and misery which ladies suffer in their efforts to trot, +would be obviated if the leaping-head of their saddles were placed as in +Fig. 16. + +[Illustration: Fig. 94.--Rising at the trot, with stirrup at correct +length.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 95.--Preparing to rise at the trot, with stirrup too +long.] + +Although a well-executed trot looks nice, it should be only sparingly +indulged in, because it is more fatiguing to the rider than the canter +and is particularly liable to give a horse a sore back; for, do what the +lady will to sit "square," the saddle, supposing she rises, cannot fail +to have some side motion. Of course the rider should walk or trot, and +not canter, on metalled roads and hard ground, but she should always +take advantage of any bit of soft "going" and indulge in a nice easy +canter on it. + +A lady learning to trot will require to do her hair up securely with +plenty of hair-pins, pay attention to the fit of her hat, and see that +it is provided with elastic an inch wide (p. 114), because she will find +her head jerked about a good deal during her first lessons. The trot +should be properly studied in a school or enclosure before a lady is +taken out on the roads, for she can learn nothing by "slithering" along +anyhow, and will be liable to contract a bad method of riding, which +will probably prevent her from ever becoming a good horsewoman. We must +remember that the trot is the most difficult of all paces, and can be +correctly acquired only after much patient practice; but it is worth +doing well. Very few ladies excel in this art, for the simple reason +that they do not care to go through the drudgery of it. Some ladies are +so impatient that they give up the study of a pace as soon as they can +stick on their saddles. How few who hunt can really ride well! In +Leicestershire a fine horsewoman remarked to me that several ladies ride +hard who are indifferent horsewomen--a fact which I think we may see +demonstrated in every hunting-field; but what is worth doing at all is +surely worth doing well, and a lady should strive to be a good +horsewoman as well as a plucky rider. When a horse increases his pace +without being ordered to do so, he should be at once checked by a pull, +not a jerk, on the reins, which should be accompanied by a word, such as +"steady," uttered in a warning, determined tone that he will understand; +because he should never be allowed to take the initiative, which he +would do by breaking into a canter. The trot should be slow at first, +until the rider is secure in her seat, when it may be increased +gradually to its fullest limit. The faster a horse trots, the stronger +bearing should we have on the reins, but when we find the pace +degenerating into a rocking movement, the animal should be steadied and +collected, because he is exceeding the limit of his speed, and is +probably trotting with his fore and cantering with his hind legs, as we +may frequently see with horses which are being overdriven in harness. +After practice has been acquired in trotting in a forward direction, and +the rider is able to sit with ease and grace, she should trot in a +circle to the right, taking care to keep a good grip, incline her body +inward, and guide her horse with precision. The circle, which should be +large, may then be made to the left, which will more strongly test the +rider's seat, and particularly her command of her right leg. If she does +not ride correctly, this circling should be stopped, and the mistake +rectified by more practice in a forward direction. + +[Illustration: Fig. 96.--Rising at the trot, with stirrup too long.] + +If a horse, during the trot, suddenly breaks off into a canter, the +rider should sit down in her saddle as in the walk, and grip her +crutches as may be required. She should not be the least bit alarmed at +this new pace, supposing that she has not been taught to canter, for all +she will have to do will be to sit down and allow her body to follow the +movements of the horse by the play of her hip joints, as explained in +the first lesson (p. 159). The lady who has practised leaning back (p. +158) will be able almost at once to adapt herself to the requirements of +the canter; but as the trot is the subject of her study, the horse +should be instantly pulled up. In order to do this safely, she should +lean slightly back in her saddle, and stop him gradually, employing her +usual word of command, and, while keeping her hands low down and well +apart, exert a firm and fixed pressure on the reins. The rider must +never allow herself, however disobedient her mount may be, to "job" his +mouth with the reins, or to use them at any time as a means of +punishment. Also she must not try to pull him up suddenly, but always +gradually, in order that he may not strain the ligaments or tendons of +his legs. If a horse hears and understands his rider's word of command, +he will pull up in a manner most easy to himself. In practising the +trot, the pupil should try to look between her horse's ears, and should +keep her elbows as close to her sides as is comfortable, for she would +lose power over her mount by turning them out. If she interferes with +the horse's mouth, and does not keep her reins at one fixed length, the +animal will naturally become unreliable in his paces. If she feels a +pain in her side or gets a headache while trotting, the lesson for that +day should be at once stopped, because she will not be able to ride +properly if she is enduring any kind of discomfort. Parents should pay +great attention to this matter, especially if the riding instructor is +a man, because a girl would naturally be disinclined to mention any +personal ailment to him. Whoever the teacher may be, he or she should +always humour a nervous pupil, and not, as many do, start with the idea +of getting her "shaken into her seat," at the risk of ruining her riding +nerve for ever and causing her to loathe her lessons. If a pupil during +her first trotting lesson suffers from nervousness, it is best to +discontinue the trot and finish the lesson at the walk, in order to +settle her nerves and not frighten her out of her wits. Her next +trotting lesson should be commenced at the walk, and an occasional +effort be made to trot a short distance, so that she may gradually +obtain the necessary confidence, and an encouraging word should always +be given her when she does well. + +[Illustration: Fig. 97.--Canter, with right leg hooked back, and stirrup +too long.] + + +THE CANTER. + +After the pupil has mastered the difficulties of the trot, she will +appreciate the enjoyable motion of an easy canter, which is the lady's +pace _par excellence_. In the canter a horse should lead with his off +fore leg, except when he is turning or circling to the left, and a +beginner should be given a horse or pony which has been trained to +canter correctly. As the majority of horses are not taught to start from +a walk to a canter, the pupil should proceed at a smart trot, and, while +holding the reins somewhat slack, turn her horse's head slightly to the +left, and touch him on the right shoulder with her whip, to make him +break into a canter with his off fore leading. + +[Illustration: Fig. 98.--Good seat at canter or gallop.] + +She should sit firmly into her saddle, should lower her hands (Fig. 98) +more than in the trot, and should fix the speed at which she wishes her +horse to proceed, while keeping an easier feeling on his mouth than when +trotting. She should indulge in no snatches at the reins, but should +always preserve one fixed length of rein, unless she requires to alter +the pace. The legs should remain perfectly still as in the walk, the +knees should be kept ready to grip the crutches at any required moment, +and the body from the hips upward should conform to the motion of the +horse. Figs. 98, 99 and 100 show a nice easy position in the different +phases of the canter. It is absolutely essential for a lady to acquire a +good strong seat at this pace, because it is practically the same as in +the gallop and jump, and must therefore be regarded as her hunting seat. +One of the first things to remember in the canter is to allow no +movement of the seat, which should remain nailed as it were to the +saddle, the hip joints supplying all the necessary motion to the body, +and, as I have already said, the legs should be kept perfectly steady. +To increase the adherence of the left knee against the flap of the +saddle, the left foot should be carried a little outwards away from the +horse's side, and its pressure chiefly applied to the inner side of the +stirrup-iron, which will consequently be more depressed than the outer +side. It has been remarked that an ugly seat at the canter is a sight +that would spoil the finest landscape in the world, so a lady who +desires to ride well should not be satisfied if she can merely stick on, +like the lady in Fig. 101, but should try to ride correctly. Her head +will perhaps at first be jerked to and fro like a "vexed weathercock," +but practice will enable her to overcome the tendency to fix the muscles +of her neck and to allow her head to follow the motion of her body. She +should take care that her elbows do not flap up and down like the +pinions of an awkward nestling learning to fly, but should keep them +close to her sides, where they will be of more assistance to her in +controlling her horse. In cantering on a circle to the left, a horse +should of course lead with his near fore, for if he then leads with his +off fore he will be liable to cross his legs and fall. If the canter is +false--that is to say, if a horse is leading with the wrong leg--the +movements of the limbs will be disunited, and the rider will find the +motion rough and unpleasant, in which case she should pull him up and +make him lead with the correct leg. When the pupil feels herself +becoming tired or unsteady in her seat, she should give the horse her +verbal signal to stop, at the same time taking an even and gradual pull +at the reins. As I have already said, a horse should be gradually pulled +up from a canter into a trot or walk. Although a beginner's mount will, +or at least should, allow a certain amount of liberty to be taken with +his mouth, it must be remembered that every horse will go better with a +rider who tries to save his mouth as much as possible when conveying +her orders to him by means of the reins. When he is going too fast, the +warning word "steady" should always accompany any restraining action of +the reins, until the horse is accustomed to his rider's handling, when +the pull may be taken in silence. As the voice is a valuable "aid" in +riding, I would strongly advise the inexperienced horsewoman never to +speak to her horse when he is at work, except when giving him an order. +He will then be able to understand the meaning of her words of command. +Particular attention should be paid to the observance of this rule, for +a lady who is incessantly talking to her horse, reproving or caressing +as the case may be, renders him more or less indifferent to the voice as +a means of control on an emergency. After he has carried her well, a few +pats on the neck will establish a feeling of good fellowship between +horse and rider, and the animal will always regard these caresses, and +the kindly words that accompany them, as a sure sign of his mistress's +approval. After she has dismounted she may "make much" of him, but while +on his back it is wiser to reserve her voice for giving orders. A +"funky" rider as a rule keeps continually talking to her mount, and the +animal gets to know that she is nervous, and soon becomes the master. A +horse, like a domestic servant, will not be obedient and respectful +unless he thoroughly understands that his first duty is to obey. Neither +a horse nor a servant who fails to recognise this fact is worth his +keep. Every girl who is learning to ride, naturally desires to +establish a feeling of friendship between herself and her mount, because +she knows that he can get rid of her off his back any time he likes; but +she should remember that a horse, like a servant, is always ready to +take a liberty, and therefore any kindness she may bestow on him should +be tempered with discretion and forethought as to its future results. +She may pet him as much as she likes, but she should never allow him to +have his own way, in opposition to her expressed command. The adoption +of a conciliatory method with horses which deliberately refuse to obey +orders is fatal, because the lady who takes that course literally allows +the reins of authority to slip through her fingers. + +[Illustration: Fig. 99.--Good seat at canter or gallop.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 100.--Good seat at canter or gallop.] + + +GALLOP. + +An experienced hunting man remarked to me that a large number of ladies +who hunt, fail in ability to make their horses gallop, which is a pace +never taught by riding masters. The gallop is not only necessary to +acquire, especially by a lady who intends to hunt, but it improves the +strength of seat more than any other gait. Besides, a rider who is +unaccustomed to it, is always in danger of coming to "grief," if her +horse breaks away with her, either from being startled or from mere +"light-heartedness." For a lady's first lesson in galloping, a piece of +nice soft smooth ground, free from stones and holes, and, say, a quarter +of a mile or three furlongs in length, should be selected. The pupil +should be provided with a rather sluggish horse, which requires some +"riding up to his bridle," and should be told to canter her horse at his +highest speed, for the canter and gallop merge imperceptibly into each +other. The seat in the canter is precisely the same as that in the +gallop, except that when the horse is going very fast, a lady will find +it easier to lean slightly forward, take a good steady hold of the +reins, and keep her hands in one fixed position, as low down as +possible. If she has any difficulty in getting her mount to extend +himself, the instructor should ride with her and set the pace. When the +lady's horse is really galloping, he should slacken speed a little, and +let the animal pass him, in order that the pupil may learn to ride a +gallop without a lead. The chances are that her horse will want to +follow the example of his companion and go slower; but she should keep +him going at the same fast pace by a touch with the whip and a click of +the tongue, until she has arrived at the end of the specified distance. +As a fast gallop is very trying to a horse's legs, it should be limited +to occasional short spins on soft and smooth ground. In the next lesson +the instructor should assume the lead, and tell his pupil to pull her +horse up at a given distance, while he gallops away from her. This would +be excellent practice for testing her power of horse control, because in +hunting it is of vital importance that she should always have her mount +in hand, and be able to stop him when necessary, even if a crowd of +horses are galloping away in front of her. To do this when riding at a +fast gallop, she should gradually slacken his speed, using the word +"steady," and taking an even pull on the reins. It may be necessary for +her to ride at this pace with a double bridle (curb and snaffle). Fig. +100 shows how the curb and snaffle reins should be held. I have not +advocated giving a beginner a bit and bridoon, because in hunting she +should always ride with the snaffle, and reserve the curb for use in +cases of emergency, such as steadying her mount when galloping over +plough or heavy ground, or in slackening his speed. The pupil who is +learning to gallop should try the effect of the curb in stopping her +horse while another horse is galloping away from her. As it is a severe +bit, she would be wise to "feel" her horse's mouth with it only just +enough to induce him to slacken his speed according to her indication. +It should be used with the object of reminding him that it is in his +mouth. If he does not obey the hint, the lady should take a stronger +pull, and be ready to release her pressure when she feels her horse +restrained by its influence, and then she should ride on the snaffle. My +husband, in _Riding and Hunting_, says:--"With a double bridle we may +ride on the snaffle as much as we like, and keep the curb for +emergencies; although, from not knowing how to hold the reins properly, +men frequently get into the habit of always riding on both reins, and +then they blame the double bridle for being too severe.... A curb is +indispensable with many horses for crossing an English hunting country +in good style. We must also remember that out hunting, and with large +fields, like what we see with the Quorn and Pytchley, the ability to +obtain instant control over one's mount, even in the midst of exciting +surroundings, is essential for the safety of one's self, one's horse, +and one's companions, and for avoiding interference with sport.... I +have known some horses, whose mouths had evidently been spoiled by +injudicious, if not cruel, treatment, that would go quietly only in a +snaffle." Whyte Melville, discussing the merits of the snaffle, +says:--"This bit, the invention of common-sense going straight to its +object, while lying easily on the tongue and bars of a horse's mouth, +and affording control without pain, is perfection of its kind." Of the +double bridle he says:--"I need hardly explain to my reader that it +loses none of the advantages belonging to the snaffle, while it gains in +the powerful leverage of the curb a restraint few horses are resolute +enough to defy. In skilful hands, varying, yet harmonising, the +manipulation of both, as a musician plays treble and bass on the +pianoforte, it would seem to connect the rider's thought with the +horse's movement, as if an electric chain passed through wrist, and +finger and mouth, from the head of the one to the heart of the other." + +[Illustration: Fig. 101.--Bad seat; right leg hooked back, stirrup too +long, and foot "home."] + + +JUMPING. + +After the pupil has mastered the art of trotting, cantering, and +galloping, and understands how to handle and control her mount with +correctness and precision at these paces, she should be given a lesson +in riding over fences. We may put up a small hurdle, or some easy +obstacle, in an enclosed place, and tell her to canter her horse +straight to the centre of it and jump it. All that she need be +instructed to do, is to give the horse his head when he is rising at the +jump, and to lean well back when he is about to land over it. By giving +her horse his head, I mean that she is to extend her arms to their +utmost length, and bring them again into position after he has landed. +Fig. 102 shows a lady leaning back and extending her arms at a fence. +The pupil will not require to alter the length of her reins when riding +over fences, presuming, of course, that she has been taught from the +first to keep a nice easy feel on her horse's mouth. She should be +careful to leave the curb alone, and always ride over fences on the +_snaffle_. The lady in Fig. 102 is riding only with a snaffle, and with +a nice easy length of rein. I must pause here to draw attention to the +fine riding of the lady, Miss Emmie Harding, of Mount Vernon, New +Zealand, who is jumping this formidable wire fence on her hunter +Marengo. Our hard riding Colonial sisters have nothing to learn from us +in the matter of sitting over stiff fences, even high wire barricades +that would certainly stop a whole field in the Shires. Some critical +ladies may consider that her left foot is carried too far back, but this +is not the case, as she is riding with her stirrup at the ball of the +foot and obtaining her grip of the leaping head without depressing the +left knee. When we require to obtain the maximum amount of grip, as in +jumping, we instinctively draw back the left foot, as shewn in Fig. 102, +in order that the ankle joint may exert its utmost power in pressing the +leg against the leaping head. In Fig. 104 the position of the legs is +identical with Fig. 102. We can see that Miss Harding rides with her +right leg forward, in the manner I have advocated. The rider should take +a good grip of her crutches, and keep her legs perfectly steady and +close to her horse. She should always ride him straight, not sideways, +at his fences. There should not be the slightest movement of her seat in +the saddle. As I have already explained, she should try to imagine that +she is nailed down to the saddle and cannot be shifted, and that the +movement of her body must come from the play of the hip joints. + +[Illustration: Fig. 102.--Miss Emmie Harding jumping wire.] + +If her small brother possesses a rocking-horse, she should mount it and +rock herself on it, if she does not entirely understand what is meant by +"the play of the hip joints." If she rides over her first fence +incorrectly, she should not be allowed to do so a second time without +being put right. It would, therefore, be advisable for her to have her +skirt pinned back, in order that the instructor, who should be standing +by the fence at the near side, may see exactly how she obtains her grip. +It is obvious that this lesson in jumping should be given either by, or +under the supervision of a person experienced in side-saddle riding. The +pupil may be allowed to hold a whip, but she should not use it, for she +might acquire the bad habit of hitting her horse every time he jumps a +fence. The whip in hunting should be kept for use at specially big +fences, and as a reminder to the horse that he must exert his best +efforts to clear them with safety. Even then it is employed as an aid, +but not as a means of inflicting punishment. No good horsewoman cuts her +horse about the body with a whip. If the fence has been nicely jumped, +the pupil extending her arms properly and keeping her hands low, we may +"make much of her," and that will recompense her for any uncomplimentary +things we may have said about her riding. After the small fence has been +jumped nicely, it may be replaced at the next lesson by one somewhat +higher; and when the lady has had practice over it on her steady horse, +she may ride another mount who is a bigger jumper. No extra instructions +need be given to her except that the higher the fence, the more must she +lean back on landing. This jumping practice will probably teach her to +always lean back when riding over a drop fence, or going down a steep +hill. Some ignorant people shout, "Sit back," when a lady is riding at a +fence; they should say, "Lean back," which means quite another thing. + +[Illustration: Fig. 103.--Maximum amount of pressure on leaping head.] + +If a lady, when taking her riding lessons, finds herself in any way +uncomfortable in her saddle, she should at once stop and have the fault, +whatever it may be, rectified. She should always be careful, when +dressing for riding, to see that all her garments are put on correctly, +so that nothing may get displaced and cause discomfort when she is in +the saddle. If this does happen, she should dismount, if possible, and +arrange matters without delay; otherwise she may be severely cut or +rubbed and be unable to ride again for some time. After she has been +taught to ride, she should be given a nice horse and a safe jumper, for +she well deserves one, and will be able to ride him. She should hack him +along quiet roads and bridle paths and learn to open gates and go +through them nicely, always shutting them after her. + +[Illustration: Fig. 104.--Position of legs in jumping.] + + +REINING BACK. + +As a lady will be unable to open gates correctly unless her horse will +rein back readily, it will be necessary for her to obtain practice in +this useful exercise. A horse which has to carry a woman should have +previously been taught to rein back, chiefly by word of command and with +only slight indications of the reins, because in the rein back a lady is +greatly handicapped by her want of control over the animal's hind +quarters. In this movement we should above all things avoid leaning back +and putting an equal feeling on both reins, for that would be the very +thing to prompt him to rear. It is evident that as a horse has to be +light in front when going forward, he should be light behind when +reining back. Therefore, the rider should lean forward. Also, she should +feel the reins alternately, turning the horse's head towards the fore +leg which is more advanced than the other fore leg. When she takes a +steady pull with her right rein and finds that the horse draws back his +off-fore, she should slacken the right rein and take a similar steady +pull with the left rein to induce him to bring back his near fore, and +so on. During this alternate feeling of the reins she should keep her +hands as low as practicable, so that the horse may lower his head and +put weight on his forehand, and consequently facilitate the movements of +his hind legs. For each step the lady should use the words of command, +"rein back," in a decided tone of voice, supposing of course that the +animal has been taught the meaning of this verbal order. However well a +lady may carry out these directions, she may not effect her purpose with +precision, because the side pulls of the respective reins will prompt +the horse, if he has not had previous training, to bring round his hind +quarters in the opposite direction. The rider can prevent him doing this +to the right by pressure of the whip on his off-flank; but owing to the +necessary shortness of her stirrup, she will not be able to prevent him +from swinging his hind quarters round to the left. Here, the fact of a +man having a leg on each side of his horse and fairly long stirrups, +makes him far more capable of reining back a horse properly, than a lady +seated on one side of the animal. A man obtains command of a horse's +hind quarters by the pressure of his legs, especially when the feet are +drawn back. As horses very much dislike reining back, I would caution +the rider not to disgust her animal by continuing it for too long a +time. He should be occasionally reined back a couple of times for four +or five paces, and after each rein back should be allowed to go forward, +and he should be rewarded for his obedience by a few pats on the neck +and some words of encouragement. If the animal's temper be upset by too +much reining back, he will probably adopt the dangerous habit of running +back, when he would be very liable to fall, or he may rear. As +inconsiderate people will persist in taking kickers into the hunting +field, every lady who desires to hunt should be able to rein back her +horse, in order to remove him, if possible, from the dangerous vicinity +of an animal whose tail is adorned with a red bow, which is a sign that +he is a kicker, and not that he has been recently vaccinated. + +Her next lessons should be devoted to obtaining practice in jumping +various kinds of fences, and in riding up and down hill, over ridge and +furrow and difficult ground, which we will deal with in another chapter. +A lady should remember to always keep an eye on her mount, and never let +her attention be diverted from the order of his going, however much she +may be otherwise occupied. To people who have had much practice in +riding various horses, this forward outlook becomes almost automatic. + +I would advise my imaginary pupil to learn the following ancient rhyme +by heart, and to observe its teaching, although it is not entirely +applicable to ladies-- + + "Your head and your heart keep boldly up, + Your hands and your heels keep down, + Your knees keep close to your horse's sides + And your elbows close to your own." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +RIDING ACROSS COUNTRY. + +"Made" fences--Practice over natural fences. + + +"MADE" FENCES. + +It is necessary for a lady who intends to hunt, to obtain as much +practice as possible over the various kinds of fences which she may have +to negotiate when hunting, before she appears in the field. Although +ladies living in the country may have an opportunity of obtaining +practice over natural fences of gradually increasing size, it is +generally more convenient, and perhaps safer, to utilise "made" fences +in a field or paddock. These obstacles need not be very high to commence +with, but they should assume various forms, due prominence being given +to the most common kind of fence encountered in the country in which the +rider desires to hunt. Two or more specimens of this particular obstacle +may be included in the artificial collection. To imitate Leicestershire +fences we may make, for the first jump, the nearest approach we can to +an ordinary hedge; the second, a hedge with a ditch on the taking-off +side; the third, a post and rail fence; and the fourth, another hedge, +with a ditch on both sides. We may follow that with a "cut-and-laid" +fence with a ditch on the take-off side; and a stone wall, made up of +loose stones or bricks. In the middle of the field, where the rider can +obtain a good run at it, we may construct a water jump. The other fences +should be built by the side of the boundary fence of the paddock or +field, which may have to be artificially heightened for the purpose, but +not supplied with wings; for in hunting, fences are not protected for us +in that way. The pupil should first learn to jump them riding from left +to right, as horses generally refuse to the left, and that side being +blocked by the boundary fence, the horse will be more liable to go +straight. The animal should, of course, first be ridden over them by the +teacher in the presence of the pupil, who will see exactly at which jump +her mount may be likely to give trouble. She should also observe the +pace at which the animal is ridden, especially at the water jump. If he +is sluggish, it would be wise for the lady to give him a touch with the +whip when riding at timber, which he must not chance, and at +cut-and-laid fences, which must also be jumped cleanly; for if a horse +gets a foot in the top binder, the chances are that he will fall. +Besides, he must exert himself to clear the ditch on one or both sides. +He should be ridden over the course at a canter, and allowed to jump the +fences without interference from his rider, for he will try his best to +avoid falling. He should be ridden fast at water, as a certain amount of +speed is necessary for jumping length; but he should not be taken at +full gallop, as he would then be too much extended to raise himself in +his spring. If the correct pace could be gauged to a nicety, I should +say it is just a shade faster than a hand gallop. Horses, as a rule, +jump water badly, perhaps for the very good reason that they seldom get +schooled at this kind of obstacle. + +A line of "made" fences in a field or paddock would have to be +comparatively close together, say, with intervals of not less than 30 +yards between them; although double that distance would be much better. +A lady riding over these obstacles could hardly help going at the same +speed, and, therefore, there would be but little opportunity for +teaching her how she ought to regulate her pace for each of them, which +would not be the case if they were a quarter of a mile or so apart. One +advantage of riding over a line of "made" jumps is, that it strengthens +a rider's seat, for no sooner has she landed over one fence, than she +must be ready to negotiate the next one. She should remember to keep her +hands low down and as steady as possible, carefully avoiding shifting in +the saddle, flourishing her whip, checking her mount with the reins, +shouting to him, or committing any other act which is likely to distract +his attention from the fence in front of him. The horse given to the +pupil to ride should be an experienced hunter, and, in that case, she +may safely trust him to carry her over the various leaps without any +interference whatever. If he takes them a shade faster than did the +animal on which she rode over her first fence, she should not try to +check him. As it is impossible for her to know the exact moment he is +going to take off, she should give him his head, when he is coming up to +the obstacle, and be ready to lean well back as he is landing over it. +If a lady is riding with her reins too short, and the horse, in jumping, +makes a sudden snatch to get more rein, she should at once let them slip +through her fingers, and learn, from that experience, to ride with the +reins sufficiently long to enable her to have an easy feel of her +horse's mouth, without in any way hanging on to his head. Some +inexperienced ladies get alarmed when a horse is about to take off, and +check him with the reins, which is a most dangerous proceeding. I have +known the safest of jumpers pulled into their fences and caused to fall +by the adoption of such tactics. A lady should remember that when her +mount is going straight for a fence, with the intention of getting +safely to the other side, any interference on her part will cause him to +either blunder badly, or, if the jump is a fixture, to fall. If a horse +slackens speed when near a fence, and suddenly runs out, his rider +should let him refuse and take him at it again. I once got a very bad +fall through turning a horse quickly at a fence which he was in the act +of refusing. We were close to the jump, he had no time to take off +properly, so he breasted the obstacle, a stiff timber jump, and +blundered on to his head. That taught me a salutary lesson, and +therefore I would warn all ladies to let their horses run out when the +animals have taken the first step in the wrong direction, as it is then +too late to keep them straight with safety, and a sudden turn, with the +object of trying to do so, is very apt to make a horse blunder. + +When a touch with the whip is given to remind a horse that he has to +clear a big ditch on the landing side, or when riding at timber, it +should be used on the off flank by a turn of the wrist, but without +jerking the reins. The whip, as I have before remarked, should be +employed as an aid and not as a means of inflicting pain. A lady should +not bustle her horse at his fences, except perhaps at water, for every +horse has his own pace at which he prefers to jump, and the clever sort +will always manage to put in a short stride, or take a longer one at the +last moment, if they find that the strides they are using will not bring +them up to the correct spot from which to take off. In hunting, the +fences are generally taken at a canter, and the pace is increased in +galloping over the open ground. Horses are thus what is called +"steadied" at their fences, but the pull should not be made nearer the +fence than 30 yards. When a lady has made up her mind to ride at a +fence, she should think of nothing else but getting over it. Some women +go at their fences in such a half-hearted, irresolute manner that their +horses learn to refuse. Too much practice over "made" fences is +monotonous to the rider and hateful to her horse, who is only too apt to +become "reluctant" in such cases. Hence, if the lady has ridden over +the fences nicely, from left to right and from right to left, and taken +her artificial brook at a good pace, she should not be required to do +any more jumping on that occasion. The ground near the fences should be +laid down with tan, stable litter, or anything else which will make the +falling soft, in the event of the pupil having a tumble. It would be +better for a lady not to be given a lead in riding over these "made" +obstacles, because it is necessary for her to have as much practice as +possible, at first, in controlling her mount without assistance. + + +PRACTICE OVER NATURAL FENCES. + +A lady who has gone through the hard drudgery of learning to sit well, +will be repaid for her efforts on finding herself able to ride with ease +over natural fences. Her companion should select the obstacles, and give +a lead, but the pupil should not send her horse at a fence until she has +seen her pilot safely landed and going away from it. She should +occasionally assume the lead, in order that she may not always rely on +the guidance of others. Unless there is a paucity of obstacles, no fence +should be jumped twice, and the companion or attendant should be a man +who knows the country, so that he may direct his pupil to obstacles +without going out of the way to meet them. The more these fences are +treated as adventitious circumstances, and not the main object of the +ride, the steadier and more safely will a horse jump them. A lady +should ride as many different horses as she can, and in company, for +when four or five horses are cantering together, the lady's mount will, +doubtless, be sufficiently excited to require steadying in approaching +his fences, and she may then learn to gauge the distance at which to +take a pull at him. Those who are riding with her should require her to +wait her turn at the only practicable place in a fence, as she would +have to do when hunting, to pull her horse up to a halt, and to send him +at his fence with a run of only a few strides. She should also practise +trotting her horse up to a fence to see what is on the other side of it, +and, if it is negotiable, she should turn him away from it, give him a +short run at it, and jump it. After she has obtained as much practice as +possible, on different horses, over various kinds of natural fences, and +has shown ability to control her mount at a gallop, and when excited by +the presence of other horses galloping in front of him, she should be +considered competent to commence her hunting career, and take her place +in the field at the beginning of the cub-hunting season. She should +remember on all occasions of difficulty and danger to keep a cool head +and trust to the honour of her mount. A good horsewoman, even if she has +had no experience in hunting, will not be likely to incur disgrace by +wild and incompetent riding, for, having been accustomed to keep her +mount under thorough control, she will carefully avoid spoiling the +sport of others, while seeing as much of it as she can in a quiet, +unobtrusive manner. A lady should remember that strangers are not hailed +with delight in any English hunting field; but when they are found to be +competent to take care of themselves and their horses, they are far more +kindly received, than if they go there as recruits in the great slipshod +brigade. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +HACKING. + + +It is necessary for a lady to acquire a knowledge of the rules of the +road before riding in public, especially if she be attended by a groom, +who would of course ride behind her. Persons, whether riding or driving, +when proceeding in opposite directions, pass each other on the near +(left-hand) side of the road, and when going in the same direction, the +more speedy party goes by the other on the off (right) side. A male +companion would ride on her off side. In military riding, the rule when +meeting a rider proceeding in the opposite direction is "bridle hand to +bridle hand." + +When the young horsewoman assumes charge of her mount in the open, she +should always keep a watchful eye on the road in front of her, in order +to avoid as far as possible dangerous ground and approaching vehicles. +Her eyes and ears should enable her to mentally note objects coming +behind her, as well as those on either side, such as, for instance, +loose horses or cattle in fields, the approach of trains, etc., in order +that she may be prepared for any sudden movement on the part of her +animal. Loose horses which we meet in fields have such a playful way of +galloping up behind, and frequently taking great liberties, that it is +often necessary to get into the next enclosure as quickly as possible. +Even when quietly cantering on grass by the side of the road, the +vagaries of loose horses or cattle, or even the sudden flight of birds +on the other side of the dividing boundary, may cause a rider to be +taken by surprise, if she has not previously made a mental note of her +neighbourhood. Also, she should always have reassuring words on the tip +of her tongue for her animal in case of momentary alarm. The quietest +horse in the world may occasionally exhibit fear, but if his rider uses +her eyes and ears, she will generally be prepared for any sudden flight +of fancy on his part, and will not be likely to lose her head. + +A lady should avoid trotting on broken or uneven ground, or on a road +which is covered with loose stones, as her horse would be liable to fall +and perhaps cut his knees. Unless in a hurry to reach her destination, +she should not, like a butcher's boy, trot her horse at his fastest +speed. The ground chosen for a canter should be soft and, if possible, +elastic, and she should, of course, avoid the "'ammer, 'ammer on the +'ard 'igh road," which is a fruitful cause of lameness. Any soft parts +at the side of a road may be used for the canter, or if the ground is +very hard and dry, as it sometimes is in summer, and also in frosty +weather, only quiet trotting and walking exercise could be taken with +safety to the horse. A lady should always study her mount, and carefully +select the "going." It is best to ride down-hill at a walk. If a horse +stumbles he should never be hit or jobbed in the mouth, because he takes +no pleasure in making false steps, or even in breaking his knees. + +A lady should always give any passing vehicle as much room as possible. +If her animal is afraid to pass any object on the road, the groom or +attendant should at once ride in advance and give him a lead. If he +still evinces fear, his rider should speak encouragingly to him, pat him +on the neck, and tell him to go on. If this fails, and he shows an +inclination to turn in an opposite direction, she should check him at +once, and order him to go on in a severe tone of voice. It will be on +such occasions as these that a rider who has never acquired the silly +habit of constantly talking to her mount, will find the voice a powerful +factor in horse control. Unfortunately, many people, when a horse shies, +lose their heads, clutch at the reins, hit the horse, and commit other +foolish acts which only irritate the animal, without in any way allaying +his fear, supposing, as we do, that the horse is good-tempered, and is +not shying from vice. The voice of his rider will inspire him with +confidence, and, therefore, when he has made an anxious and fearful step +in the right direction, he should be patted and spoken to in an +encouraging tone, so that his mind may not be wholly occupied with the +terrifying object in front of him. It is a good plan to incline his +head away from it as much as possible. I have ridden young horses who +have shied at almost everything, but have never worried them to go up to +and smell the object of their aversion, as some recommend, because it is +not always practicable to do so, as, for instance, in the case of a +motor car. It is not wise to give undue importance to comparative +trifles. The voice has always stood me in good stead with shying horses, +who soon get to regard it as a sure sign that they have nothing to fear. +A lady who has been properly taught to ride, and sits correctly, should +remember that whatever her horse may do in plunging about from one side +of the road to the other, he cannot unseat her, so she need feel no +alarm on that point. The greatest danger is that the horse may dash into +something which in his fright he has not seen, but that, fortunately, is +a very rare occurrence, even with young horses. However frightened a +lady may herself feel, she should never reveal her secret to her horse +by speaking to him in a terrified tone of voice, or by otherwise +displaying fear; and above all things, she should never lose her temper +and hit him, no matter how obstinate he may be, as doing so will only +make him shy on the next occasion, with a display of temper thrown in, +and he will then be more difficult than ever to manage. The best way to +act with a horse which shies from desire to "play up," is to take as +little notice as possible of his antics, give him more work, and less +corn. + +A lady should always ride slowly round a corner, and keep a good look +out in front of her. Many things may happen during the course of a ride +to try the nerve of both horse and rider, but if anything should startle +a horse, his rider should keep her head cool, sit tight, and do her best +to pull him up. She will have doubtless accustomed him to the meaning of +the word "steady," or other verbal order which she may have employed +when slackening speed. This word, accompanied by a steady and vigorous +pull on the reins, should succeed in stopping him before he has had time +to get up much speed. If, however, a lady finds she cannot pull him up, +she should try to turn him to the left, as that will be the easier, +supposing, of course, she has sufficient room in which to turn. If not, +she should saw his mouth with the bit by working it from side to side. +The groom, or attendant, should on no account gallop after her, as doing +so will only tend to make the lady's horse go all the faster. I remember +riding a very hard puller belonging to Mr. Wintle, of Shanghai. One day +this animal bolted with me, and the stupid native _mafoo_ behind +galloped on after me. I managed to stop the animal by turning him to the +left, and pointing his head away from the homeward direction in which we +were proceeding, but I was greatly hampered by my mount hearing the +footfalls behind him. The native groom was frightened, and no doubt +thought he could help me, which he could best have done by pulling up. I +cannot too strongly impress on all ladies who ride the necessity of +using a safety-bar on their saddles (p. 38), and wearing a safety skirt, +even when hacking; for a sudden cause of fright may make the animal +unseat his rider, and it is no uncommon thing for a horse to fall when +going over apparently level ground, even at a walk, in either of which +cases she might get dragged by her stirrup or skirt, if it is of the +non-safety pattern. In any case of difficulty with a horse, a lady +should contrive at all hazards to retain her self-possession and her +seat, remembering that the least symptom of alarm on her part will +increase the terror or obstinacy of the animal. My advice for stopping a +runaway is not so easy to follow as drawing on a glove, but it has +extricated me on many occasions from a dangerous position and, +therefore, I know it to be practicable; but I hope no lady may ever have +occasion to put it to the proof. Although all quarrels between horse and +rider should be avoided, a woman should never, by over-indulgence, +induce her mount to consider that she is afraid of him, because if he +once gets that idea into his head, he will exert every means to convince +her that he is the master, and will end by doing precisely what he +likes, instead of implicitly obeying her commands. By watching my +husband reduce to subjection vicious horses in various parts of the +world, I have seen that although equine demons cannot be conquered by +physical strength, they can be controlled by coolness, patience and +knowledge, which is a fact that every riding woman should bear in mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +RIDING WITHOUT REINS. + + +Undoubtedly the best and quickest way for a lady to learn to ride well +is the one which I shall now describe, and which I believe I have been +the first to practise. + +Before putting up the pupil, it is well to teach the horse the work he +has got to do, which should be performed, if possible, in an enclosure +not less than 17 yards in diameter: 20 yards would be a better size. The +track should be soft. A thick, smooth snaffle having been put on, the +leather reins are taken off, and others (the best are of "circular" or +"pipe" webbing, 1-1/2 inches broad) about 22 feet long are substituted. +If circular webbing cannot be obtained, ropes or ordinary leather reins, +if of the proper length, will do. The animal is made to circle round the +driver by the outward rein (the left rein if he is going to the right) +passing round his quarters, while the inward rein (the right in this +case) leads him off and bends him in the direction he has to go (Fig. +105). The horse should be made to circle in a thoroughly well-balanced +manner, so that the circle described by his fore feet will be the same +as that made by his hind feet, and he should be taught to turn smoothly +and collectedly. The driver should stand partly to one side of the horse +and partly behind him, as in Fig. 105, but should on no account keep +following the animal; for, if he does so, he will throw too much of his +weight on the reins. This should, of course, be avoided; for the lighter +the feeling on the reins, the better, so long as the horse goes up to +his bridle. The pressure of the outward rein should act like that of the +outward leg of a man who is riding a horse on a circle, in keeping his +hind quarters "supported"; so that the circle described by the hind feet +may not be greater than that made by the fore feet. In order to give +adequate command over the horse, a standing martingale, put at a proper +length, will be required for this driving on foot. This method of +mouthing horses is fully described in my husband's _Illustrated Horse +Breaking_. When the horse circles and turns equally well on both reins +and jumps cleverly, the beginner may be put on the saddle without giving +her any reins to hold. In order to keep her hands down and occupied, she +may hold a whip or stick in both hands resting on her lap, as shown in +the illustration, or she may fold her arms in front of her. Whatever may +be the pace, if the pupil begins to lose her balance, to be frightened, +to sit awkwardly, or to become tired, the driver should at once halt the +horse and should try to rectify matters as far as possible. + +[Illustration: Fig. 105.--Driving horse over jumps.] + +The lesson should be commenced by the driver starting the horse into a +steady walk, on a circle to the right, as that will be easier than going +to the left. After a few circles, and when the rider has acquired some +confidence, the driver may give her the "caution" that he is going to +turn the horse, which he does by turning him to the "left-about" by +means of the left rein, while "supporting" the hind quarters by the +right rein. After the required number of circles has been made to the +left, the caution may be repeated, and a "right-about" turn done. When +the pupil has become sufficiently advanced, a steady trot on the right +circle may be attempted; the turns being executed as before. +Subsequently, a canter may be tried. As the rider gains expertness, the +turns may be made without giving any caution, and the sharpness with +which they are done may be gradually increased. When the rider has +acquired a good firm seat, she may get a jumping lesson. The best kind +of fence is a round thick (at least 6 inches in diameter) log of wood. +It should be of good substance and weight, so that, if the horse hits it +once, he will not care to repeat the experiment. It should be free from +any sharp points or edges that might blemish the animal, if he "raps" +it. This log should be at least 15 feet long, should have one end a +little outside the circumference of the circle on which the animal +works, and the other end pointing towards the centre of the circle. The +log, at each extremity, may be propped up on empty wine or beer cases +(Fig. 105). No wing or upright pole which might catch in the reins +should be placed at the inner end of the log. If a log such as I have +described be not procurable, a hurdle or gate might be employed. It is +well to begin this lesson by placing the log on the ground, and first +walking the horse, who carries his rider, over the log, which might then +be raised 5 or 6 inches. The bar need not be put up higher than 3 feet. +The whole of this jumping practice should at first be given while +circling to the right. As the capabilities of all are not alike, the +teacher, who ought also to be the driver, should exercise his judgment +in apportioning the work done. As a rough approximation, I should say +that an apt pupil who had never been previously on a horse, ought to do +in fairly good style, after a dozen lessons, all I have described. These +lessons, which had best be given daily, ought not to exceed half an hour +in duration. Great care should be taken that the rider gets neither +fatigued nor "rubbed." As a rule, a man will be required to drive the +horse on foot with the long reins; for few women would be able to do +this work, and teach at the same time. If the instructor be a lady, she +might get an experienced man to drive for her, while she gives the +cautions and orders. + +While receiving her first lesson in riding without reins, the pupil +should try to keep her seat by the combined help of balance and grip, +and should not attempt to hold on to the saddle with her hands, which, +subsequently, will be required solely for the manipulation of the reins +and whip. As a rider can manage a horse in a moment of danger twice as +well with two hands as with one, it is impossible for her to become a +fine horsewoman if she acquires the fatal habit of clutching hold of the +saddle, which she inevitably will do the instant she feels insecure in +her seat, or becomes nervous, if she be that way afflicted. To guard +against this evil, the learner should be taught to ride in a modern +English saddle, which, as we all know, has got no off pommel. + +By allowing her body to be perfectly lissom from the waist upward, she +will be able to conform to the movements of the horse, and will not feel +herself violently jerked from side to side by any quick turn or untoward +movement he may make. If she stiffens her body and assumes an awkward +position in her saddle, she will find herself, on the animal being +sharply turned, unable to retain her seat with ease. As it is difficult, +even for an accomplished horsewoman who is not accustomed to riding +without reins, to do this when mounted on a light-mouthed horse, and +without a signal from the driver of his intention to turn sharply in the +trot or canter to "right" or "left" as the case may be; the pupil, until +she has acquired the knack of conforming to every movement of the +animal, should receive due warning from the driver. When he signifies +his intention to turn the horse, she should grip the crutches with her +legs, and incline her body in the direction to be taken by her mount. By +watching the animal's ears, she will soon learn to become independent +of the driver's signal. + +She will find, until she has acquired practice in riding without reins, +that it is far more difficult to retain her balance in the saddle during +these turns, than in riding over a fence; for when an obstacle has to be +negotiated, she is made aware beforehand of the intended movements, but +in turning without a signal she has not that advantage. If the lessons +are given, first at a walk, and the pace gradually increased according +as she becomes secure in her saddle, she will soon acquire a good firm +seat, and will have no tendency to be displaced by her horse shying with +her, or by making a sudden plunge to right or left. + +I have described in Chapter VIII. how a lady should sit in her saddle, +so I need not repeat these directions. While being driven with the long +reins, the rider should endeavour to sit as upright as she can, without +any stiffness, and leaning neither to the front nor back, except when +rising at the trot, when the body should be inclined a little forward, +so as to make the movement smooth. + +The _walk_ requires no special mention. At the _trot_, before she has +learned when and how to rise in her stirrup, it is best for her not to +make any attempt to do so, but to let herself be bumped up and down +until she feels that, although the movement may be unpleasant, it does +not render her seat insecure. While doing this, she should be careful +not to put any weight on the stirrup. After she has thus learned to trot +without rising, she should try to feel her stirrup just before her body +is bumped upward by the horse, and she will soon become able to time her +movements, so as to rise in her stirrup with grace and ease. To do this, +her effort should be strictly confined to aiding the upward lift which +the horse gives to her body, and should be free from any jerk or +wriggle. She should have her weight well on her right leg, and should +keep her stirrup in one unaltered position (p. 192). The ankle acts here +as a spring to take away any jerk that might occur during the movement. +The stirrup, as I have said on page 192, should be at the ball of the +foot, and the left knee should be kept steady and close against the flap +of the saddle. If the horse, during the trot, suddenly breaks off into a +canter, the rider should sit down in her saddle, and be ready to grip +her crutches with both legs, if necessary. + +When _cantering_, the lady should try as much as possible to ride by +balance and not by gripping her crutches tightly the whole time. She +will thus be able to sit in a nice, easy position, and will be ready to +grip the moment she requires to do so, as when turning, or if she feels +she is losing her balance. Whenever the pupil gets displaced in her +saddle or frightened, the horse should at once be pulled up; for the +lesson will be of no use to her, if she feels forced to adopt a stiff, +awkward position in her saddle for the sake of safety. + +It is well to know that an almost infallible sign of a rider being +frightened of her horse is a tendency to unduly bend or "crane" +forward. Hence, the instant this sign becomes apparent either to learner +or teacher, the lesson should be discontinued, or the pace, if that was +the cause of the nervousness, should be decreased as might be required. +This "funky" seat on horseback looks bad, is particularly unsafe, and is +hard to correct when once acquired. + +In _riding up to a fence_ the lady should in no way alter her position, +but should merely grip the crutches firmly, while keeping her body +perfectly lissom, with her head and shoulders slightly back. Many +persons have a notion that the proper way to sit over all jumps is to +bend forward when the animal is rising, and to lean back when he is +descending. This is quite wrong; for, as the horse, before propelling +himself forward and upward by his hind legs, has to raise his forehand +off the ground by the straightening out of one or both of his fore legs, +it is evident that it would be inadvisable to put any additional weight, +at that moment, on the forehand. As most persons have a natural tendency +to bend forward too much when going at a fence, I have advised the rider +to bring her head and shoulders a little back, just sufficient to +correct such a tendency. When a horse is in the act of taking off at a +standing jump, the rider should lean forward, and bring her head and +shoulders back, when he is landing. It is always sound practice to lean +well back when landing over a fence, so as to take the weight off the +horse's fore legs as much as possible. An experienced rider solves all +these problems automatically. + +The fact of a side saddle giving the very strong grip it does, induces +many ladies who find they can sit over a fence without falling off, to +become so well satisfied with their own riding, that they neglect to +acquire a good seat over a country. Their slipshod style is neither +graceful, nor does it enable them to give their horse any assistance, if +he happens to make a mistake; for they are certain to tumble off, if +they receive any unusual provocation. + +The hold the lady has on the crutches should prevent her falling, if the +animal stops dead when coming up to a fence. A lady who has acquired a +good firm seat ought never to be displaced from her saddle while her +mount remains on his legs. + +Though progress in the art of riding without reins must of necessity be +slow and somewhat tedious at first, still, I would strongly recommend +all ladies who are able to do so to practise this method, for they will +find it the best and most rapid by which they can acquire a good and +firm seat on horseback. The great difficulty in this work is to find a +man who can use the long reins and manage a horse with correctness and +precision in the various paces, and in jumping. It would be most +dangerous for a lady to allow herself to be driven by the long reins by +any man who was not a thorough master of this difficult art of horse +guidance and control. Even with such a man, the horse to be ridden and +jumped without reins should be previously trained for this work, and +should be taught to stop dead the instant he receives the word of +command. As a lady who is inexperienced in this kind of riding, may get +a toss when being turned, especially if she tries to hook back her right +leg, it is obvious that the "falling" should be soft and that the pupil +be supplied with a safety bar and a safety skirt. It will be seen by the +extract from the _Queen_, page 60, that even small girls who were taught +to sit their horses in the manner that I have described in this book, +were able to ride well over fences without reins after two lessons. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +NERVE. + + +No lady can enjoy riding, or become proficient in that art, unless she +has good nerve. Luckily, the large majority of girls who learn to ride +possess abundance of nerve and pluck, an excess of which is often a +danger to safety in the hunting field. It may be noticed, however, that +the finest horsewomen do not make any showy display of their prowess, +for they ride to hunt, and do not hunt to ride. Pluck is an admirable +quality as far as it goes, but it must be supported by nerve. + +It is the custom to laugh at people who are suffering from temporary +loss of nerve, but it is heartless to do so, as we have all, I believe, +felt, more or less, what Jorrocks would term, "kivered all over with the +creeps," at some period or other of our lives. Bad horses and bad falls +are apt to ruin the strongest nerve, and there must be a cause to +produce an effect. For instance, I never feared a thunderstorm until our +house was struck by lightning; but now, when a storm comes, I feel like +the Colonel to whom a Major said on the field of Prestonpans: "You +shiver, Colonel, you are afraid." "I _am_ afraid, Sir," replied the +Colonel, "and if you were as much afraid as I am, you would _run away_!" +It may, however, be consoling to ladies who are battling against loss of +nerve, to hear that I have known brilliant horsemen lose their nerve so +utterly that they were unable to take their horses out of a walk. With +quiet practice their good nerve returned again, and they have ridden as +well as ever. Nerve in riding is recoverable by practice on a very +confidential horse. Some men give their wives or daughters horses which +are unsuitable for them, and which they are unable to manage. Is it any +wonder that such ladies have their nerve entirely shattered in their +efforts to control half-broken, violent brutes of horses? It is +customary to blame ladies who are unable to control their horses in the +hunting field; but the men who supply them with such animals are, in +many cases, the more deserving of censure. There are men, not many, I +hope, who consider it unnecessary for their womenkind to learn to ride +before they hunt; but no one has a right to thus endanger the lives of +others. Such ladies possess plenty of pluck, but not the necessary +knowledge to guide their valour to act in safety. A Master of hounds +told me that his nerve was so bad that he positively prayed for frost! +At the end of one season he gave up the hounds; but he is again hunting +them, so his nerve must have become strong. Mr. Scarth Dixon, writing on +this subject, says: "It is a curious quality, that of nerve. A man's +nerve, by which I mean his riding nerve, will go from him in a day; it +will sometimes, but not frequently, come back to him as suddenly as it +departed. Everyone who has hunted for any length of time and kept his +eyes open must be able to call to mind many a man who has commenced his +hunting career with apparent enthusiasm, who has gone, like the +proverbial 'blazes,' for two or three seasons, taking croppers as all in +a day's work, and then all at once has given up hunting altogether +because his nerve has gone. He has, perhaps, tried to 'go' for a season, +enduring unknown tortures in the attempt, and then he has given up +altogether. He has never joined the skirting brigade, not, perhaps, as +some would suggest, because he was too proud to do so after having once +been a first-flight man, but because he did not care sufficiently for +hunting." This writer knew a man who gave up riding to hounds because he +had lost his nerve, and yet he continued to ride in steeplechases, which +may be explained by the fact that the rider on a "flagged course" knows +what is in front of him, and has little or nothing to fear from bad +ground. Mr. Otho Paget considers that "a failing nerve may be always +traced to the stomach," and recommends moderation in eating, drinking, +and smoking. Frank Beers, the famous huntsman of the Grafton, had his +hunting career closed by a severe illness, which apparently deprived him +of all his former dash. Mr. Elliot says: "At the commencement of the +season (1890-91) an attempt was made by the poor man to resume his +duties, but one hour's trial proved to Mr. Robarts and those present +that all hope had vanished, and the above-named gentleman, being in +charge during Lord Penrhyn's absence, sent the hounds home." Huntsmen, +like other riding men, generally lose some of their nerve after forty. +Mr. Otho Paget tells us that the late Tom Firr was the only huntsman he +ever knew who retained his riding nerve to the end. He was riding +brilliantly at fifty-eight, in his last season with the Quorn, when he +met with an accident which compelled him to resign his post. With Lord +Lonsdale as Master, and Tom Firr as huntsman, the Quorn possessed two of +the most perfect horsemen who ever crossed Leicestershire. + +I think the best treatment for a lady suffering from loss of nerve is, +first of all, to attend to her health, which will probably be out of +order; then get a steady horse or pony and ride him quietly for a time, +and the chances are that the good nerve will all come back again. It +grieves people who have been unable, from various causes, to keep up +their riding practice, to think that they have lost their nerve, and +they brood over it until they often imagine they are past hope of +recovery, but that is a great mistake. This feeling can be struggled +against, and, in most cases, conquered, by quiet measures. Nothing but +the most "confidential" animal will help to do it, so I would warn my +riding brethren not to make matters worse for their womenkind by +providing any other kind of mount. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +FENCES, COUNTRY AND GATES. + + +From a hunting point of view, the chief value of fences lies in the fact +that they retard the hounds more than the horses, and help the foxes to +save their brushes. On arable land, fences as a rule are used merely as +boundaries; but on grazing land, they are needed to prevent stock from +roving beyond their assigned limits. Hence, in a grass country, the +obstacles are generally much more difficult to negotiate than on tilled +ground. Also, the nature of grazing stock demands variation in the +stiffness and height of the fences, which, in the Midlands, have to +restrain the migratory propensities of frisky young bullocks; but in +dairy-farming counties like Cheshire, much smaller and weaker ones amply +serve their purpose in acting as barriers to placid bovine matrons. + +Farmers in the Shires have found that hawthorn hedges make the most +serviceable fences under old time regulations. When these hedges are +allowed to grow in a natural manner, they take the form of a bullfinch +(Fig. 90), which, though impossible at many places, often leaves a gap +at others. Consequently, bullfinches are gradually going out of fashion +in the Shires, and are generally converted into cut-and-laid fences, of +which there is an example in Fig. 106. This alteration is usually made +in winter, and is effected by cutting with a bill-hook about half way +through the small trunks of the hawthorn shrubs, turning them to the +left, and interlacing their tops and their branches, as we may see in +Fig. 107, which shows us the appearance Fig. 106 presented during its +construction. A cut-and-laid is usually about 3 feet 9 inches high, and +is the wrong kind of obstacle to "chance," because it is very stiff. +Some hunting people who know very little about country life, call a +cut-and-laid fence a "stake-and-bound fence," which (Fig. 108) is an +artificial barrier made by putting a row of stakes in the ground and +twisting brushwood between them. Stake-and-bound fences are common in +Kent, and are not nearly so dangerous to "chance" as a cut-and-laid, +because the ends of their stakes are only stuck in the ground. The +practice of cutting and laying hedges is so general in the Midlands, +that we rarely see a bullfinch which does not show signs of having been +tampered with in this manner. Even the height to which the hawthorn +bushes in Fig. 90 have attained, does not entirely conceal the traces +left by the bill-hook, some years before this photograph was taken. + +Posts and rails are often used in the Shires to strengthen decrepit +fences (Fig. 109), and to take their place when no hawthorn bushes are +present (Fig. 110). Their difficulty of negotiation is naturally +increased by the presence of a ditch on the taking off or landing side, +as in Fig. 111. As a rule, they are about 3 feet 6 inches high. A not +uncommon form of posts and rails is a Midland stile (Fig. 112). A +familiar combination of a hedge and posts and rails is an oxer (Fig. +113). The gap in this illustration has been repaired by wire, and I am +much indebted to the ox who kindly allowed us to take his portrait, as +well as the fence which owes its name to his family. + +Although the Whissendine is a prominent feature of the Cottesmore +country near Stapleford Park, I need not dwell upon brooks as a form of +hunting obstacle in the Shires, for they are seldom jumped; not from +faintheartedness on the part of riders, but because the ground on the +taking-off or landing side is often treacherous, and the presence of +posts and rails or wire on one or both of the banks is a frequent +occurrence. Also, the width of these brooks and bottoms varies greatly +according to the amount of rainfall. People whose experience of leaping +is limited to that of fences on firm and level ground, like those in a +jumping competition, are naturally apt to overlook the severe manner in +which a hunter is handicapped when coming up to an unknown fence, after +a long and fast run through heavy, rough and hilly ground. + +[Illustration: Fig. 106.--A cut-and-laid fence.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 107.--A cut-and-laid fence during construction.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 108.--A stake and bound fence.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 109.--Post and rails to close gap in hedge.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 110.--Posts and rails.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 111.--Posts and rails with ditch.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 112.--Midland stile.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 113.--An oxer.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 114.--Wire in front of bullfinch.] + +Wire (Fig. 114) is terribly common in some parts of the Shires, and +often makes any attempt to ride straight impossible. In countries where +it is prevalent, speed is a much more valuable attribute of a hunter than +cleverness in jumping, because the main object of the rider will then be, +as a rule, to get over fields and through gates with a minimum of +"lepping." Some of our Colonial sisters might taunt us for not trying to +leap wire in the brave manner done by Miss Harding (Fig. 102) and other +New Zealand and Australian horsewomen, but their conditions of country +are entirely different from ours. In the Shires, for instance, wire, as +a great rule, is visible only from one side of the fence which it +contaminates, and often takes the form of a concealed trap. Hence it is +carefully avoided both by horses at grass and by riders. + +My husband tells me that banks, stone walls and "stone gaps" are the +chief fences in Ireland; that hedges are seldom encountered, except in +the form of furze on the top of banks; and that he has rarely seen posts +and rails in his native land. While enjoying a very pleasant visit last +winter with Mr. Arthur Pollok, the Master of the East Galway Hounds, he +took the photographs of Figs. 115 to 120. Fig. 115 shows a broad bank +about 4 feet high, with a deep ditch on each side, and a tall man +standing on the top of it, so as to give an idea of its dimensions. Fig. +116 is a side view of Fig. 115. In Fig. 117, Mr. Pollok, who is also +tall, is standing beside a higher and more upright bank which has the +usual accompaniment of broad ditches. In Fig. 118, the very popular +Master of the East Galway is close to a typical Galway stone wall of the +"cope and dash" order and close on 5 feet in height. This formidable +obstacle derives its name from the fact that the stones on its top are +firmly cemented together by a dash of mortar. The Masters, hunting men, +hunting ladies, and horses of the East Galway and Blazers think nothing +of "throwing a lep" over a cope and dash of this kind. Ordinary second +flighters in the Shires would probably prefer the Galway "loose stone +wall" depicted in Fig. 119 or the small bank shown in Fig. 120. He also +tells me that although there is wire in East Galway, it is used only for +fencing-in large spaces of ground, and as it stands out alone by itself, +it is no source of danger to horse or rider. My husband returned to +Crick delighted with the people in County Galway, especially because, +when he went out hunting, almost everyone of the small field, both +ladies and men, seeing that he was a stranger, were glad to meet him, +and went up and spoke to him in a very friendly manner. Over there, +hunting is evidently a sport, and not a social function. + +Fig. 121, which was very kindly taken from the top of Yelvertoft Church +for this book by the Rector of that nice parish, gives a good idea of +the country over which we hunt in Northamptonshire. In that county, the +grass fields are smaller and the country more wooded than in +Leicestershire, which has the inestimable advantage of possessing so +many bridle paths, that people who hunt in it have very little road +tramping to do. Even that trying infliction is mitigated to some extent +in most parts of the Shires, by the presence of grass on the sides of +country roads, as in Fig. 122. + +[Illustration: Fig. 115.--Galway bank.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 116.--Side view of bank shown in Fig. 115.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 117.--Galway bank.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 118.--"Cope and dash" wall.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 119.--Loose stone wall.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 120.--Low bank with ditch on both sides.] + +[Illustration: _Photo. by_ REV. R. J. GORNALL. +Fig. 121.--View of country between Yelvertoft and Crick.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 122.--Grass on each side of the road.] + +When hunting in England, gates are hardly ever jumped, for two very good +reasons. First, because it would take a Manifesto or a Cloister to +negotiate a series of them safely during a long run; and second, because +the habit of leaping gates would be almost certain to unfit a horse for +the task of steadily going through the various phases of opening and +shutting these means of ingress and egress. Besides, gates are often in +such positions, as regards taking off and landing, that it would be +impossible to fly them safely, even if the way were clear of hunting +companions, which is seldom the case in large fields. Every horsewoman +should remember that nothing is more apt to spoil a horse than allowing +a brace of alternative ideas to occupy his mind at the same time. Hence, +when a hunter sees a gate during a run, his thoughts should be solely +occupied in doing his best to aid his rider to open, get through and +shut it, or hold it open, if necessary. + +Gates, as a rule, may be divided into five-barred gates (Fig. 123) and +bridle gates (Fig. 124). Variety in gates is chiefly limited to their +form of fastening, which is generally on the left-hand side of the rider +when the gate opens towards her (Figs. 125, 126 and 127); and on her +right-hand side, when it opens away from her (Fig. 129). In Fig. 125, we +see the old-fashioned wooden latch. In Fig. 126, the spring latch has to +be pulled towards the hinges of the gate; and in Fig. 127, away from +them. In the double gate shown in Fig. 128, the upper fastening consists +of a moveable D; the lower one being a very common supplementary latch, +which in Fig. 129, is cunningly secured by a curved piece of iron that +renders the gate impossible to be opened, except by a person on foot. +Another form of craft that we sometimes encounter, is an arrangement by +which the gate hangs so heavily on its latch, that the would-be +passer-through has to lift up the gate before he or she can open it, and +often at an expenditure of strength of which many women are incapable. +To perform this feat, a rider would of course have to dismount, which +would be very awkward, if a lady was by herself. I have met gates of +this annoying description on bridle paths on which the public have a +right-of-way. + +[Illustration: Fig. 123.--Ordinary five-barred gate.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 124.--Bridle gate.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 125.--Gate with wooden latch.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 126.--Gate with spring latch which has to be drawn +back.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 127.--Gate with spring latch which has to be pushed +forward.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 128.--Double gate.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 129.--A puzzle in gate-opening.] + +A gate is opened either with the hand or hunting crop, the former being +more efficient than the latter, if the latch is within reach, which +would seldom be the case if the rider was on a tall horse. When the +fence at the side of the fastening of a gate is low enough to allow the +rider to place her horse's head over it, she usually can, by doing so, +open the fastening by whip or hand, draw the gate back or push it +forward, as the case may be, and pass through. If the hedge at the side +of the fastening is too high for this to be done, she will have to place +herself alongside the gate, with the horse's tail towards the hinges, +and then open the latch, by means of the hand (with or without a whip) +which is next to the latch. If the gate opens away from her, she may +have to push it forward by hand or crop, unless she is on a well +instructed animal, who will be always ready to save her +this trouble, by pushing the gate open with his breast. If the gate +opens towards her, the horse should be so trained, that when she has +undone the latch, and has begun to draw the gate towards her, he will +turn his hind quarters round (make a _pirouette renversée_, as the +French call it), move his fore quarters a little to one side, so as to +get them clear of the gate, and pass through, the moment he sees that +his rider has opened the gate sufficiently for him to perform that final +manoeuvre. For instance, if a mounted lady wants to get through the +gate shown in Fig. 126, she should pull back the latch with her right +hand (with or without a whip), and on drawing the gate towards her, the +horse should bring his hind quarters round to the left; move his fore +legs a little to the left; and, if need be, rein back a step or two, so +as to be in the proper position to move forward, as soon as he has +plenty of room to do so. As a lady has not a leg on each side of her +mount, to enable her to turn his hind quarters to whichever side she +likes, she will have far more difficulty than a man in teaching a horse +these very useful movements. At the same time, when a horse is anxious +to get through a closed gateway, as he will generally be when his head +is turned towards his stable, he will very quickly learn how to ably +assist his rider in this process. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +HUNTING. + +When ladies began to hunt--Hunt subscriptions--In the field-- + Cub-hunting--Blood--Coming home--Rider's Physical Condition--Tips + and thanks--The Horn--Hirelings--Farmers and Wire--Pilots-- + Propriety--Falls. + + +WHEN LADIES BEGAN TO HUNT. + +Although the hunting field is nowadays graced by the presence of many +good horsewomen who ride well to hounds and are capable of taking care +of themselves and their mounts, it is only within about the last seventy +years that ladies have ridden across country. Mr. Elliott in his book +_Fifty years of Fox-hunting_ tells us that in 1838 "Mrs. Lorraine Smith +and her two daughters, with Miss Stone from Blisworth, were the only +ladies who hunted then. The Misses Lorraine Smith rode in scarlet +bodices and grey skirts. The improved side-saddle was not then invented +to enable a lady to ride over fences." We learn from the same writer +that in 1841 "a lady named Miss Nellie Holmes was out, topping the +fences like a bird to the admiration of all; and when she came to the +brook, over she went.... That was the first lady whom I saw go over a +country. There is one certainty about ladies, what one does another will +do, if it be worth the doing. Very soon others were at the game, and +many have played it well since." In a pleasant little book entitled _The +Young Ladies' Equestrian Manual_, written by a lady and published in +1838, we read, "No lady of taste ever gallops on the road. Into this +pace the lady's horse is never urged, or permitted to break, except in +the field; and not above one among a thousand of our fair readers, it +may be surmised, is likely to be endowed with sufficient ambition and +boldness, to attempt the following of hounds." The saddle given in a +drawing in this book has no leaping head, but the writer mentions, as I +have previously noted, that movable crutches were being introduced to +enable a lady to ride on either side of her horse. The leaping head (p. +33), third crutch, or third pommel, as it was first called in England, +came into use in this country in the forties, and with its aid ladies +felt themselves endowed with sufficient ambition and boldness to follow +hounds. Captain Elmhirst, writing in 1877, says: "It will, I think, be +admitted by everyone that the number of ladies who hunt now is at least +tenfold as compared with a dozen years ago," and every year since that +was written, has seen a steady increase in the ranks of hunting women. + + +HUNT SUBSCRIPTIONS. + +Perhaps it may not be out of place to say something about what a lady +should do if she desires to join a hunt and has no menkind to arrange +such business matters for her. Every woman who hunts should (and usually +does, I believe,) contribute her share of payment towards the sport in +which she participates. If a lady is well off, and intends to hunt +regularly, she would probably not give less than £25; but the Quorn and +some other fashionable hunts lay down no hard and fast rule concerning +the amount to be subscribed, which varies according to individual +circumstances. The minimum subscription to the Pytchley is £25 for a man +and £10 for a lady. Lord North, who is Chairman of the Committee of the +Warwickshire Hunt, states (_The Field_, 20th December, 1902), in a very +generous manner, that "fox-hunting must never be allowed to become the +sport of the rich alone. It is a national sport, and must be open to +all--to rich and poor alike." There is, however, a recognised sum which +qualifies the donor for hunt membership; for instance: the Craven +minimum subscription, with membership, is £10; the Crawley and Horsham, +15 guineas; while subscribers of £25 to the Meynell hunt are privileged +to wear the hunt button. In several hunts--Lord Fitzwilliam's, Mr. +Bathurst's, the Belvoir, when hunted by the Duke of Rutland, and +others--the Master hunts the country at his own expense, subscriptions +being accepted only for Covert, Wire, Poultry, or Damage Funds, as the +case may be. The Vale of White Horse (Cirencester) requires a +subscription from ladies of "£5 per day, per week." Strangers who hunt +occasionally with a subscription pack where capping is not practised, +are expected to contribute towards the Poultry or Damage Fund. In some +hunts a cap is taken from non-subscribers, from whom a certain fixed sum +is expected; the Essex and Suffolk requires five shillings a day, the +Burstow a sovereign, and the Pytchley and Warwickshire two pounds. The +usual "field money" in Ireland is half-a-crown. The Blackmore Vale, +although a subscription pack, does not fix any sum, but sensibly expects +people to subscribe according to the number of horses they keep, and the +amount of hunting they do. An old and sound rule is £5 for each horse. +As subscriptions vary in different hunts, the best plan for a lady who +has to arrange her own business matters, is to write to the secretary of +the hunt which she desires to join, and obtain from him the required +information. She will find _Bailey's Hunting Directory_ a most useful +book of reference. + + +IN THE FIELD. + +Under this heading, I shall try to give practical advice to those who +are commencing their hunting career, and explain several things that I +would have liked to have known myself when I first rode to hounds. As we +may learn something from the failings of others before entering the +expensive school of experience, it would be wise, before we hunt, to +study certain complaints which experienced hunting men have published +anent our sisters in the field. Mr. Otho Paget says: "I am not one of +those who think that women are in the way out hunting, and in my +experience I have always considered they do much less harm than the men, +but the time when they do sin is at a check. They not only talk +themselves, but they encourage men to talk as well, and I have +repeatedly seen a woman lead a whole field over ground where the pack +intended to cast themselves. The woman, instead of attending to what +hounds are doing, enters into a conversation with a man and together +they talk on without paying heed to the damage they may do. My dear +sisters, forgive me for calling you to order, but if you would only keep +silent when hounds are at fault, and stand quite still, you perhaps +might shame your admirers into better behaviour, and thereby be the +means of furthering the interests of sport." This rebuke means that when +a gallop is suddenly stopped by hounds losing the scent of their fox and +being obliged to puzzle out the line, the ladies of the hunt should +remain silent, should pull up and not impede the huntsman who will do +his best to aid his hounds in recovering the lost scent. Mr. Paget's +remark about the lady who led the field over ground where the pack +intended to cast themselves, means that the hounds were trying to +recover the lost scent without the assistance of the huntsman, but +their efforts had been spoiled by the people who rode over the ground +and thus foiled the line. It is obvious that to spoil the sport of +others in this negligent manner is to cover ourselves with humiliation, +and other unbecoming wraps. + +It must be remembered that hunting, unlike other forms of sport, has no +written rules of its own for the guidance of the uninitiated. Every +indulgence should therefore be shown to the hunting tyro who innocently +commits errors; for in nine cases out of ten it is probable she does so, +from ignorance of the unwritten laws which govern the conduct of the +experienced hunting man and woman. On this subject Mr. Otho Paget +writes: "The lady novice comes in for her share of blame, and though she +may not get sworn at, black looks will soon explain the situation. For +her I would also crave indulgence, and if she becomes a regular +offender, you can ask her male friends to tell her in what way she is +doing wrong. In whatever way we may treat them, there is no excuse for +the novice, male or female, embarking on a hunting career, without +having ascertained the customs and observances which are considered +necessary by those who have had considerable experience.... Anyone who +comes out hunting without knowing the rules of the game, is a constant +source of danger to those who are near." This is all very true of +course; but the aspiring Diana may well ask "what are these said rules, +and where can I obtain them?" I feel sure that all hunting novices +would greatly appreciate and study an orthodox code of hunting laws, as +it would be far pleasanter for a lady to avoid mistakes by their +guidance, than to have "her male friends to tell her in what way she is +doing wrong," possibly _after_ she has received "black looks" from the +whole of the field. Hunting is a science which has to be learnt, and +every game of science should have its published code of regulations, or +it cannot be played without grave blunders by those who have to pick it +up at haphazard. + +In justice to my sex it must be allowed that they do not holloa on +viewing a fox, a fault that is often committed by men, especially in the +Provinces. Colonel Alderson quoting from an old pamphlet on hunting +which was reprinted in 1880 by Messrs. William Pollard and Co., Exeter, +says: "Gentlemen, keep your mouths shut and your ears open. The fox has +broken cover, you see him--gentlemen, gentlemen, do not roar out +'Tally-ho'! do not screech horribly. If you do, he will turn back, even +under your horses' feet, in spite of the sad and disappointed look on +your handsome or ugly faces. Do not crack your infernal whips, be +silent." + +Whyte Melville says: "I do not say you are never to open your mouth, but +I think that if the inmates of our deaf and dumb asylums kept hounds, +these would show sport above the average and would seldom go home +without blood. Noise is by no means a necessary concomitant of the +chase, and a hat held up, or a quiet whisper to the huntsman, is of +more help to him than the loudest and clearest view holloa that ever +wakened the dead, 'from the lungs of John Peel in the morning.'" + +As this chapter is written with the desire to help the inexperienced +huntress, she will, I feel sure, be grateful to the writers who have +advised her what not to do, so we will study the next complaint which +comes from that experienced sportsman Captain Elmhirst, who describes a +hunting run better, I think, than any other writer on the subject. He +says: "When ladies cast in their lot with the rougher sex, lay +themselves out to share in all the dangers and discomforts incidental to +the chase, and even compete for honours in the school of fox-hunting, +they should in common fairness be prepared to accept their position on +even terms, nor neglect to render in some degree mutual the assistance +so freely at their command, and that men in a Leicestershire field so +punctiliously afford to each other. The point on which they so +prominently fail in this particular is, to speak plainly, their +habitual, neglect--or incapacity--at gateways. Given the rush and crush +of three hundred people starting for a run and pressing eagerly through +a single way of exit--to wit, an ordinary gate swinging easily and +lightly, and requiring only that each passer through should by a touch +hinder its closing after him or her. Of these three hundred, in all +probability thirty are ladies; and I commit myself to the statement that +not more than five of that number will do their share towards +preserving the passage for those who follow them. The bulk of them will +vaguely wave what they, forsooth, term their hunting-whips towards the +returning gate; while others merely give their mounts a kick in the ribs +and gallop onwards, with no look behind at the mischief and +mortification they have caused. The gate slams, the crowd press on to +it, a precious minute or two is lost and scores of people are robbed of +their chance in the forthcoming gallop. And yet these are our sisters +whose arms and nerves are strong enough to steer an impetuous horse over +a most difficult country and who turn away from nothing that we can dare +to face. The intense annoyance entailed by a gate being dropped into its +intricate fastenings through want of ability or of consideration on the +part of the fair Amazon immediately preceding him, has brought into the +mouth of many a chivalrous sportsman a muttered anathema of the feminine +taste for hunting that scarce any other provocation would have availed +to rouse. It is only quite of late that a certain number of ladies have +supplied themselves with whips at all capable of supporting a gate; and +not many of these can use them even now. I make bold to say that not +only every lady who hunts should be armed with a sufficient hunting-crop +(with of course a lash to guard against its loss in a gateway), but that +no lady ought to deem herself qualified to take her place in the field +until she has learned how to use it. Were such a rule adhered to, we +should hear none of the sweeping remarks indulged in by sufferers who +have over and over again writhed under disappointments, that if +inflicted by our own sex, would have quickly called forth direct charges +of inconsiderateness and want of courtesy." + +From this admonition the tyro may learn two things which will be of +great service to her in hunting. First, the necessity of providing +herself with a strong hunting crop, which should be sufficiently long +and stiff to stop a gate easily, with a good handle to it capable of +opening or stopping a gate, and the orthodox thong and lash attached to +prevent the whip from falling on the ground if she loses her hold of it +at a gateway. Provided with this serviceable crop, a lady, before she +appears in the hunting field, should ride through as many different +varieties of gates as she can find, and should thoroughly master the art +of opening and shutting them herself, and of giving the necessary push +with her crop as she passes through for the assistance of imaginary +riders behind her. In Leicestershire there are so many bridle roads that +a lady may obtain any amount of this practice when hacking. It would be +well for her to ride the horses on which she intends to hunt, as she +will be teaching them to go steadily through gates while she is +perfecting herself in the art of opening and shutting them, and her +hunters will also learn the important accomplishment of being able to +push a gate when it opens from her. She should be careful to securely +shut every gate through which she may pass, because farm stock are apt +to stray through gates which are left open and cause great +inconvenience to their owners. If a lady is the last to pass through a +gate when hunting, she should always remember to shut it. Men are often +far greater culprits than women at gates, apart from their holloaing +propensities. Many men seem to regard the sport as provided for them +alone, and look upon my sex as being in the hunting field on sufferance. +Most of us have met the entirely selfish male who gallops up to a gate, +rushes through it and lets it bang behind him, well knowing that a lady +is making for the same means of exit, and is only a few lengths away. + +Considering that women pay for their hunting and are not on the free +list, it seems rather superfluous for men to assure them that they do +not object to their presence in the hunting field, an announcement which +appears in print so often that it sounds like protesting too much. We +never hear of hunting women recording the fact that they do not object +to the presence of men: even ladies who carry the horn themselves are +free from prejudice in this respect. Hunting men, in assuring us of +their distinguished toleration, almost appear to copy each other in +their charming manner of expressing that fact. For instance, Whyte +Melville says: "Far be it from me to assert that the field is no place +for the fair; on the contrary, I hold that their presence adds in every +respect to its charms." Then why does he suggest such a thing? Captain +Elmhirst assures us that he is "one of those who, far from cavilling +selfishly at their presence, heartily admit the advantages direct and +indirect in their participating in a pursuit in which we men are too +often charged with allowing ourselves to be entirely absorbed." Mr. Otho +Paget says: "I am not one of those who think that women are in the way +out hunting, and in my experience I have always considered they do much +less harm than the men." Nice, truthful man, and great favourite as he +deserves to be. The celebrated Beckford appropriately gives as a +frontispiece, in his _Thoughts on Hunting_, a portrait of Diana, the +goddess of hunting, having her sandals girded on for the chase, and +explains the picture by saying: "You will rally me perhaps on the choice +of my frontispiece; but why should not hunting admit the patronage of a +lady? The ancients, you know, invoked Diana at setting out on the chase, +and sacrificed to her at their return; is not this enough to show the +propriety of my choice?" How much nicer the ancients must have been than +many moderns are! They often provoke poor Diana when setting out for the +chase, and sacrifice her to their bad tempers on their return! According +to Jorrocks, hunting men must be vainer than we are, for we do not wear +pink. That great sportsman found that "two-thirds of the men wot come +out and subscribe, wouldn't do so if they had to ride in black!" + +Another admonition which should receive the serious attention of the +hunting tyro comes from Whyte Melville, who says: "Now I hope I am not +going to express a sentiment that will offend their prejudices and +cause young women to consider me an old one, but I do consider that in +these days ladies who go out hunting ride a turn too hard.... Let the +greatest care be taken in the selection of their horses; let their +saddles and bridles be fitted to such a nicety that sore backs and sore +mouths are equally impossible, and let trustworthy servants be told off +to attend them during the day. Then, with everything in their favour, +over a fair country fairly fenced, why should they not ride on and take +their pleasure? + +"But even if their souls disdain to follow a regular pilot (and, I may +observe, this office requires no little nerve, as they are pretty quick +on a leader when he gets down), I would entreat them not to try 'cutting +out the work,' as it is called, but rather to wait and see at least one +rider over a leap before they attempt it themselves.... What said the +wisest of kings concerning a fair woman without discretion? We want no +Solomon to remind us that with her courage roused, her ambition excited, +all the rivalry of her nature called into play, she has nowhere more +need of this judicious quality than in the hunting field." Possibly the +writer was thinking of two rival Dianas who ride to cut each other down, +and who are a nuisance and danger to the entire field. One, if not both +of them, has generally to be picked up as the result of this jealous +riding. + +[Illustration: Fig. 130.--Ridge and furrow.] + +As it is in Leicestershire that many of our finest horsewomen may be +seen, I would strongly recommend the lady who has done some preliminary +hunting with harriers, can ride well, and who is supplied with +suitable hunters which she can thoroughly control, to learn to hunt in +that country. She will there get the best possible instruction in hunt +discipline and see the game correctly played, which is far better for +her than graduating in a country where people ride to holloas, where the +Master is unable to control his field, and where hounds are interfered +with in their work by ignorant or careless sportsmen. Besides, if she +made her _debût_ in a country which is badly hunted, she would learn a +great deal that she would have to unlearn, if she should ever desire to +hunt in Leicestershire. A Leicestershire field may be divided into four +classes: the first flight people who show the way, ride comparatively +straight and require no lead; the second flighters, who use the first +flighters as their skirmishers and follow them as straight as they can; +the third flighters (to which class the hunting tyro ought to belong +while getting to know the country), who ride through gates and gaps and +over small fences; and the fourth flighters, or macadamisers, who, like +Jorrocks, "are 'ard riders, because they never leave the 'ard road." + +The lady who is a capable horsewoman, which I need hardly say she ought +to be before she attempts to hunt in any country, should, if she wishes +to ride in Leicestershire, get as much practice as possible over ridge +and furrow (Fig. 130), in order that she may be able to gallop easily +and comfortably over it when hunting; for those who are unaccustomed to +deep ridge and furrow are apt to tire themselves and their horses +unnecessarily. The lines of snow in Fig. 131 show the presence of ridge +and furrow in the distance. As it is requisite for a lady to know how to +ride on the flat and over fences, it is equally important that she +should obtain all the practice she can in negotiating difficult ground, +so that the hunting field may have no unpleasant surprises in store for +her. A very steep incline will stop many people. There is one in the +North Cheshire country, near Church Minshull I think, which is like +riding down the side of a house to get to the valley below. The passage +from the high ground to the Belvoir Vale is also quite steep, enough to +give us pause. The best and safest way to ride down such places is for +the rider to lean back and take her horse very slowly and perfectly +straight down the incline. He should never be taken sideways; because if +he makes a mistake and his hind quarters are not under him, he will be +very liable to roll over on his rider. If he is kept perfectly straight +and misses his footing, he will try to save himself by putting his +weight on his hind quarters, and will probably find himself sitting on +his haunches until he recovers his balance. The rider, by leaning back, +removes weight from his forehand and is prepared for any mistake he may +make. She should remember to lower her head in passing under trees and +not hurry her mount in the least, even though she may see the whole +field streaming away from her in the valley below. In going up hill, if +the ascent be very steep, the rider would do well to lean forward and +catch hold of her horse's mane, if he has one, or of the breastplate, so +as to avoid letting her weight make the saddle slip, and also to put her +weight well forward and thus assist the horse. She should let him take a +zigzag course, and should on no account interfere with his head by +pulling on the reins. We may notice that a waggoner with a heavy load +always takes his horse in a zigzag direction up a steep hill, as it is +easier for the animal, and allows him occasional intervals for rest, if +necessary. We should ride slowly and save our mount as much as possible +on such occasions. + +[Illustration: Fig. 131.--Ridge and furrow in the distance.] + +When we go a-hunting we should not forget to provide ourselves with a +pocket-handkerchief of a useful size; for a dab of mud on the face is a +common occurrence. Our noses and often our eyes require "mopping" on a +cold day, and as the small square of lace bedecked or embroidered +cambric which usually does duty as a handkerchief, is totally unable to +meet the various calls made upon it, it is ridiculously out of place. If +a watch is needed, it is most conveniently carried in a leather wristlet +made for the purpose, as it can then be consulted at any moment, by +merely raising the hand, without having to fumble for a watch-pocket. + +I must not omit mention of the necessary flask and sandwich case, which +are generally given into the charge of the second horseman; but if a +one-horse lady goes home at the change of horses, she will not require a +"snack." + +As one of the first principles of hunting is to spare both ourselves and +our horses any unnecessary fatigue, a lady should, if possible, always +drive to the meet, or go by rail. If she has to ride, she should +undertake no distance beyond ten miles. I have ridden twelve, but I +think that is too far. If she rides her hunter, she should take him +quietly, alternating the pace between a walk and a slow canter on the +soft side of the road, the orthodox pace being six miles an hour. She +should trot as little as possible, in order to avoid the risk of giving +her mount a sore back; for trotting, if she rises in the saddle, is the +pace most likely to cause trouble in this respect. On arriving at the +meet, she should never neglect the precaution of having her girths +tightened as may be required, for her horse will have thinned down +somewhat from exercise, and the girths will allow of another hole or two +being taken up. One of the most fruitful causes of sore back is +occasioned by thoughtlessly hunting on a horse which is slackly girthed +up, as the friction of the saddle will soon irritate the back, with the +result, generally, of a swelling on the off side of the withers, and on +the off side of the back, near the cantle. I wish to draw particular +attention to the necessity of tightening the girths of a side-saddle, +even when a horse has been led to a meet; because I have found from long +experience of riding young horses with tender backs, as well as hunters +in hard condition, that, given the most perfectly-fitting saddle, +trouble will arise sooner or later if this precaution is neglected. Some +ladies are so careful about the fit of their saddles, that they have a +separate saddle for each of their hunters. I know of a lady who has +fourteen hunters so equipped. + +When hounds move off to covert, a lady should be sufficiently watchful +to secure a good place in the procession, as it sometimes happens that a +field is kept waiting in a road or lane while a covert is being drawn, +and, if she be at the tail end of it, she will get a bad start. In +taking up her position she should, of course, be careful not to +interfere with others. Mr. Otho Paget gives the following good advice, +which we should all endeavour to follow: "When we go a-hunting, I think +we should forget all the petty squabbles with our neighbours, and meet +for the time on terms of cordiality. Anything approaching a quarrel will +spoil the day's sport for you. Everyone should try to be genial and +good-tempered, so that, even if there is only a moderate run, you return +home feeling happier for the exercise and the good fellowship. There are +many things to try one's temper in the hunting field, when everybody is +excited, but one should control one's feelings and be invariably +courteous in speech. You should apologise, even when you think you are +in the right, for the other man may be equally certain he is in the +right, and it would be difficult to say who was in the wrong. At the +same time, when a man apologises and is evidently sorry, you ought to +accept his apologies in a kindly spirit, even though he has jumped on +the small of your back." It is almost superfluous, perhaps, to tender +advice of this kind to my gentle sex, but still, sometimes--very +rarely, of course--we find ourselves uttering impatient remarks in the +excitement of the chase, which we feel, on mature reflection, that we +would have preferred to have left unsaid. + +A lady will require to keep a very clear head when the fox breaks covert +and the huntsman sounds the well-known "Gone away," which is the signal +to start. In a field of three or four hundred horsemen and women all +galloping off at once with a whiz like the sound of a flock of startled +birds, there must be neither hesitation nor recklessness on the part of +the young Diana, who should ride with discretion and judgment in order +to steer clear of danger, especially at the first fence. There are +generally a few left on the wrong side of it, and the chances are that +there will not be so great a crowd at the next one. At the start, a +judicious use of the curb will doubtless be necessary for keeping an +excited hunter under control, and allowing the rider in front plenty of +room to jump and get clear away from his fence. When horses have settled +down to the required pace, which will be regulated by the hounds and +according to scent, a lady should ride on the snaffle, keep her hands in +a steady fixed position, as low down as comfortable, and should maintain +a good look out in front of her, so that she may, after jumping into one +field, see the shortest and best way into the next. Jorrocks speaks +truly in saying "to 'unt pleasantly two things are necessary--to know +your 'oss and know your own mind.... Howsomever, if you know your horse +and can depend upon him, so as to be sure he will carry you over +whatever you put him at, 'ave a good understanding with yourself before +you ever come to a leap, whether you intend to go over it or not, for +nothing looks so pusillanimous as to see a chap ride bang at a fence as +though he would eat it, and then swerve off for a gate or a gap." If +there is a crowd at the only practicable place in a fence, a lady must +wait her turn, and should her horse refuse, she must at once give place +to any rider who may be behind her, and wait until her turn comes again +before having a second attempt to clear the obstacle. As precious time +is lost by refusing horses, it is generally wiser if possible to find +some other means of exit than to argue with a refuser. Remember that +there is always a gate which can be opened, near a haystack, as the +farmer places his hay where he can easily get at it (Fig. 132). A lady +should save her horse as much as possible, jump only when she is +obliged, for hunting is not steeplechasing, and try to keep within sight +of hounds. She should remember to shut any gate she may use, and to +carefully avoid riding over winter beans, wheat, clover, roots, turnips, +or any crops, or ground newly sown with seed. + +A lady should take a pull at her horse when going over ploughed land or +down-hill in order to keep him well collected, and should always ride +slowly over ground that is deep and holding, if she values her hunter's +soundness. + +Ladies who know every fence and covert in a country have a great +advantage over strangers, because foxes frequently make a point from +one covert to another, and experienced hunting women will generally have +a good idea where they are going. Like Surtees' Michael Hardy, they know +their country and the runs of its foxes. There are people that have +hunted in Leicestershire all their lives, who manage to keep +comparatively near hounds and see good sport without jumping a single +fence. They know the country, generally ride to points, and act as +admirable pilots to the uninitiated. I owe them a deep debt of gratitude +for showing me the way, when I rode young horses who were getting their +first lessons in hunting. Croppers never came to me under their wise +guidance, but only when tempted by the keenness and excitement of my +over-sanguine youngster, I essayed lepping experiments which were not +always successful. + +[Illustration: Fig. 132.--Haystack and gate.] + +A lady should never put her mount at a fence which she is not certain he +is able to jump, for it is better to be a coward than a corpse, and even +if she is pounded and loses a run, both she and her horse have plenty +more good hunting days in store. Some hunters will refuse a fence at +which they see the horse in front of them come to grief, and as it is +only natural that any horse with brains should feel more or less +frightened at such times, his rider should sympathise with him and +encourage him to make an effort, in much the same way as we would coax a +child to take a dose of medicine. Few horses like jumping. Whoever saw +animals at liberty larking over fences from sheer delight in leaping? It +takes a deal of time and patience to make a good fencer, although, of +course, some horses learn the art much more quickly than others. +Although few horses enjoy jumping, they, luckily for us, detest falling, +and I feel sure that if people would only leave their mouths alone and +regard the use of the curb at fences as a death-trap, we should hear of +far fewer falls in the hunting field. Captain Elmhirst truly says: +"Horses are very sage at saving themselves and consequently you. They +care little for the coward on their back; but for their own convenience +they won't fall if they can help it." To prove this I may relate the +following interesting and instructive fact: Some years ago I was giving, +at Ward's Riding School, Brompton Road, London, practical demonstrations +of riding over fences without reins, my husband driving on foot a horse +which he had taught to jump, with the long reins. When my part of the +show ended, a single pole was raised to a height of five feet, and +Gustave, which was the name of this amiable grey horse, was asked to go +and jump that fence by himself. He was allowed only a short run at it, +as the school is not a large one, but in his desire to obey orders he +would canter up to the pole, and if he considered that he had misjudged +his correct distance for taking off, he would go back of his own accord +and take another run at it. My husband was as much surprised as I was +when we first saw the horse do this, as we had not credited him with so +much intelligence. Therefore, when I hear people talking about +"lifting" and "assisting" horses over their fences, I cannot help +thinking that if they lifted themselves off their backs they would see +how much better horses are able to jump without their assistance. Many +of my readers doubtless saw the Grand National of 1900, and how poor +Hidden Mystery, who, after he had fallen and had unshipped his rider, +jumped the fences with safety to himself and the field. Such sights must +show how necessary it is for us to interfere as little as possible with +our horses when riding them over fences. + +If most horses dislike jumping, it is certain that they love hunting and +will exert every effort to keep in touch with hounds. Those who doubt +this should ride a young horse, and note how anxious he is to try and +keep with hounds and how, with the fearlessness of ignorance he would +charge any fence and probably kill both himself and his rider, if he +were permitted to urge on his wild career. Blow a hunting horn near a +stable where there are hunters, and then listen to the snorting, kicking +and excitement which your action has aroused; but it is unwise to repeat +the experiment, for the chances are that the excited war horses inside +may do some damage in their frantic efforts to get out and follow the +music. Watch farmers' horses loose in a field when hounds are in the +vicinity, and you will see them careering madly up and down, as if they +too would like to join in hunting the fox, although their avocation in +life dooms them to the placid work of drawing a plough or heavy cart. +As in horses so in men, and those who possess the sporting instinct +will run many miles in the hope of catching a glimpse of a hunt, even +though they may never be able to follow hounds on horseback. These foot +people are not welcomed in any hunting field, but there is no denying +that they are keen on the sport, or they would not tire themselves as +they do, in their efforts to see something of it. Jorrocks says: "I +often thinks, could the keen foot-folks change places with the +fumigatin' yards o' leather and scarlet, wot a much better chance there +would be for the chase! They, at all events, come out from a genuine +inclination for the sport, and not for mere show sake, as too many do." + +If a lady has the misfortune to own a hunter who, on refusing a fence, +shows an inclination to rear on being brought up to it again, my advice +would be to sell him, as rearing is of all equine vices the most +dangerous, and a woman in a side-saddle is unable to slip off over the +tail of a horse who is standing on his hind legs, a feat I have seen +accomplished by men. Besides, a horse who will try to rear at a fence +instead of jumping it, will be sure to revert to the same form of +defence, whenever the will of his rider does not coincide with that of +his own. It is very unwise to lend a hunter to anyone who is not a +thoroughly good rider. I had in Calcutta a clever Australian horse which +I used to ride in the paper-chases that are run over a "made" course. He +had never refused or made the slightest mistake with me until I lent +him to a friend. When I again rode the horse, he refused with me at the +first fence. I spoke to him, took him again at it and he jumped it, but +I had a similar difficulty at another obstacle, and was entirely out of +the chase. I was subsequently told by those who knew the horse that the +man to whom I had lent him was very noisy, had cut the animal about with +his whip, and had treated the surprised onlookers to scenes with him at +every fence. The horse had a light snaffle mouth, and would quickly +resent any undue interference with it. It is unwise, also, to lend a +hunter to even an expert rider, if he or she is afflicted with a bad +temper. I heard of a case of a brilliant hunter being lent to an +accomplished horsewoman who returned him after a day's hunting with +large wheals on his body, showing how cruelly she had used her whip on +him. The lady to whom the animal belonged was greatly distressed on +seeing the condition of her favourite hunter, who was one of the best +that ever crossed Leicestershire. A whip, as I have said, should never +be used with the object of inflicting pain, but as an "aid." It is a +good plan to always give a hunter a touch with the whip when sending him +at an exceptionally big fence, as a reminder that he must exert his best +efforts; but in order that the horse may thoroughly understand its +meaning, it should be used only at stiff fences; the touch should not be +so severe as to hurt him, and should be given on his off flank. A horse +must bring his quarters to the right before he can run out to the left, +and a touch on the off flank will help to keep him straight. + +If a lady finds herself on dangerous or difficult ground, as for +instance, land intersected with rabbit holes, her best plan will be to +slacken the pace into a trot or walk, if necessary, and leave the rest +to her horse, who will do his best to keep a firm footing. Parts of the +South African veldt are dangerous to ride over because of meerkat holes, +but the horses in that country are marvellously clever in avoiding them, +if they are left alone. Rabbit holes are responsible for many bad +accidents in hunting. I was out one day with the Belvoir on a young mare +who put her foot into one while going at a smart pace over ridge and +furrow. She wrenched off a fore shoe and pecked so badly that I thought +she must fall, but I had the sense to lean back and leave her mouth +alone, and she appeared to save herself with a spare leg at the last +moment, recovering her balance by the aid of the ridge which she had +breasted. Minus a fore shoe, I had to take her home at a walk, and I +smiled to myself when I saw her make a vicious stamp at a rabbit who was +in the act of disappearing into another hole. + +A lady should send her horse at a good pace at a brook (Fig. 133), but +not at top speed, as he will not be able to collect himself to take off +at a long jump if he is sent at it at full gallop. We may see in jumping +competitions, especially at the Agricultural Hall, that a clever horse +can clear a fair expanse of water when allowed a run of only a few +lengths. The water jump at the Richmond Show is placed in such a +position that a horse cannot be given a long run at it, and yet many +horses clear it easily. It measures, I believe, about 14 feet, and is so +narrow that a horse I once rode over it showed his sense by clearing the +width instead of the length, and landing near the stand. I do not think +that out hunting it is usual to expect a horse to negotiate a water jump +of say over 12 feet in width. Some horses, like some men, possess a +special aptitude for jumping width, although they would doubtless be +poor performers at height, the style of jumping being entirely +different. The hunter who is equally proficient at both styles of +fencing, is as rare as he is valuable. Captain Elmhirst records an +instance of "a whole Leicestershire field pounded by 12 feet of water," +and how the difficulty was at last overcome by a shallow spot being +discovered, a rail broken down and the field "slink pitifully +through.... How we hug ourselves as we gallop under a railway arch, to +find we have bridged a bit of water that would frighten no one outside +the vaunted Midlands." I believe the reason why the majority of hunting +people dislike water is that they do not care to ride fast at it, for +fear of being crumpled in a fall. I do not agree with the statement that +a hard funker rushes at his fences. Ignorance and enthusiasm may lead +people into doing that, but funk oftener than not either pilots them +away from fences entirely, or incites them to pull their horses off +them, and then abuse the animals for refusing! When the funky rider +does make up his mind to take a jump, he generally lets everybody near +know it by the noise he makes, ostensibly to encourage his horse, but in +reality to keep his heart in the right place, and not in his mouth. The +ignorant horsewoman, as pointed out by the Duchess of Newcastle, rushes +her horse at difficult obstacles, because she is fearless of dangers +unknown to her; but a wholesome fall generally teaches her to temper +valour with discretion. If a lady finds herself on a horse which is +pulling too hard to be within perfect control, she should stop him as +soon as possible and take him home, for very obvious reasons. If there +is difficulty in stopping him, the best way is to try and keep him on +the turn until he obeys the rein. + +[Illustration: Fig. 133.--Brook.] + +The presence of a line of pollard willows in the distance (Fig. 134) is +a certain sign that a brook is flowing past their roots. + +In going through woodland country, a lady should be careful to lower her +head in passing under trees and to ride slowly. It is essential for her +to decide at once the direction which she intends to take, to keep her +horse well collected, and not allow him to deviate from it by going the +wrong side of a tree or opening, or to take the initiative in any other +way. A good horsewoman is seen to great advantage in riding through +woodland country. + + +CUB-HUNTING. + +A lady intending to hunt should obtain as much practice in the +cub-hunting season as she possibly can; for she will be helping to get +both herself and her hunters into condition, and, as the season goes on, +will gain experience of what fox-hunting will be like. In the early days +she must not look forward to having a gallop, for hounds are being +taught to hunt and kill a cub in covert, and the most useful service she +can render at such times is to stand by the covert side and prevent any +foxes from breaking away. I believe that only people who are really fond +of hunting take part in the morning and dress by candle, lamp, or +gas-light. When they are ready to ride perhaps a long distance to +covert, there is often only sufficient daylight to see with, rain +drizzling down steadily and everything looking cheerless. A light meal, +if it be only a cup of cocoatina and a slice of bread and butter, should +be taken before starting, and if it is wet or threatening, a good rain +coat should be worn. Towards the end of September and throughout October +there will be galloping and jumping, and often the pace will be fast +enough for the condition of both horse and rider, as we may see by +steaming animals and flushed faces at the end of a run. I have so +greatly enjoyed these cub-hunting runs with their freedom from crowding +and crush, that I can heartily endorse the opinion of Captain Elmhirst, +who says: "Call it cub-hunting, or call it what you like, there will be +few merrier mornings before Xmas than that of the Quorn on the last days +of September." It seems like the breaking up of a family party when the +cubbing ceases and all the pomp and circumstance of fox-hunting +commences. I often wonder if people who take no interest whatever in +cub-hunting, but who regularly appear on the opening day of the season, +really ride to hunt, or hunt to ride? Jorrocks tells us that, "Some come +to see, others to be seen; some for the ride out, others for the ride +'ome; some for happetites, some for 'ealth; some to get away from their +wives, and a few to 'unt." Our tyro who is enjoying her cubbing will be +wise to take a back place on the opening day of the season, and thus +avoid being jostled by the mighty crowd she will see on a Kirby Gate +day. She will doubtless find her mount far more excited and difficult to +manage than ever before, and will require to exert a good deal of tact +and patience in restraining his ambition to catch the fox. The opening +day is always the most trying one of the season. All the world and his +wife seem to be at the meet. There are people in vehicles of every kind, +on foot, on bicycles and tricycles, as well as about four hundred +horsemen, and many things happen on this day of crowding and discomfort +which must sorely tax the patience of the most angelic tempered Master. + +[Illustration: Fig. 134.--Pollard willows in the next field.] + +A lady who has had a good season at cub hunting, ought to be able to +take her place among the third-flight people, where she will gradually +gain experience and a knowledge of the country, which will enable her to +pass into the second rank, and finally into the first; but she must work +her way up by degrees, and remember that no one can ride safely over +Leicestershire in the first flight who is not mounted on an accomplished +performer, and is not thoroughly well acquainted with the country. + + +KICKERS AND RED BOWS. + +Unless a lady is perfectly certain that her mount will not lash out at +hounds, she should keep well away from them, and should never ride into +a covert where they are. I once had a mare of this description who never +kicked horses, but who would try to get a sly kick at even our own +wow-wows during a hacking ride. We had some foxhound puppies at walk, +but I never allowed her to get near them, and our own dogs got so artful +that they always managed to evade her kicks. I do not believe that mare +would ever have been safe with hounds, so I took good care to give her +no opportunity of disgracing the pair of us in the hunting field. In +every other respect she was most amiable. As there are inconsiderate +people who ride kickers, a lady should carefully avoid getting near a +horse whose tail is adorned with a red bow. If this is impossible, and +it often is in crowds, she should try and keep to the left of the +kicker, so that if he lashes out he may not be able to break her legs. +Scrutator in his book on _Foxhunting_ points out that "the risks men +encounter in the chase are great enough without being subjected to the +chance of having their legs broken by a bad-tempered brute at the covert +side." I once had the misfortune to see a man's leg broken by a vicious +kicker in Leicestershire. Another case happened while I was in Cheshire, +and yet these dangerous be-ribboned animals can still be seen in almost +every hunting field. + +We must here draw a sharp line of distinction between horses which kick +from vice, and those, especially young ones full of corn and short of +work, which throw up their heels from exuberance of spirits. Many mares, +particularly in springtime, are apt to kick from causes which I need not +discuss. Hence, geldings are more free from this baneful habit than +their female relations, and are consequently, as a rule, more reliable +mounts. Great care should be observed in gradually accustoming a young +horse to placidly bear the excitement of being surrounded by a large +number of his equine companions, and he should thoroughly learn this +part of his education before he is required to quit the outskirts of the +field, and take his place as a hunter. This preliminary training of +course comes under the heading of breaking and not of hunting. A young +horse "turned out" in the open, not unfrequently gives a companion a +playful kick, which very seldom inflicts any injury, because it has no +"venom" in it, and the hoof that administers the tap is unshod. I have +even seen mares with a foal at foot, give the young one a slight push +with the hind hoof, to make him get out of the way. The motives of such +taps are of course entirely different from the dangerous malevolence +that prompts a confirmed kicker to "lash out" at horse or man who comes +within striking distance. We should bear in mind that a touch behind is +very apt to provoke a kick, whether of the vicious, playful or +get-out-of-the-way kind. Hence a rider should always be careful never to +allow her horse's head to touch the hind quarters of an animal in front, +which is a precaution that is of special application in crowds of +pulled-up horses. Also, on such occasions, she should keep him straight +and should prevent him from reining back. Any man or woman who knowingly +rides a kicker in a large hunting field, is guilty of disgraceful +conduct; because it is impossible for everyone to get out of reach of +this bone-breaker's heels, during the frequent stoppages which occur out +hunting. Some persons have a red bow put on their animal's tail, or they +place a hand at the small of their back, with the palm turned to the +rear, as a sly device to get more elbow-room in crowds. It is evident +that such artful tricks are unworthy of imitation. + + +BLOOD. + +With full consideration of the importance of blood for making hounds +keen, I must say that the digging out of foxes is a phase of hunting +that I greatly dislike to witness. I do not think that any writer has +put this question more fairly than Captain Elmhirst, who says:--"We must +grant that hounds are glad to get hold of their fox; but we cannot grant +that it is at all necessary that they should do so. In a well-stocked +country he must be a very bad huntsman who cannot find them blood enough +by fair killing; while in a badly stocked one it is very certain you +cannot afford wanton bloodshed. Moreover, it is almost an allowed fact +that hounds well blooded in the cub-hunting season do not require it to +any extent afterwards; and many authorities maintain that a good 'flare +up' of triumph and excitement over the mouth of an earth is just as +effectual and satisfactory to hounds as an actual worry. + +"And what do the field think of it? They hate and abominate it, each and +every one of them. They neither sympathise with the feeling that prompts +the act, nor hold with the expediency of its commission. To them it +represents no pleasure, and certainly coincides with none of their +notions of sport. They would find much greater fun in seeing rats killed +in a barn, and derive from the sight a much higher sense of +satisfaction. Condemned, probably, to stand about in the cold, unwilling +witnesses of what they heartily detest, they spend the time in giving +vent to their annoyance and contempt.... Finally, fox-digging, in the +sense we refer to, is a crying enormity, a disgrace to a noble sport, +and should be put down as rigorously as vivisection." + +Tearing a poor fox to pieces is a sight which very few women would care +to watch, except those manly ones who take a delight in killing wild +animals themselves. Such persons would be able to look unmoved at a +bullock being pole axed, without losing a particle of their appetite for +a cut off his sirloin. + + +COMING HOME. + +We are accustomed to associate hunting with pleasant runs; but there are +days when covert after covert is drawn blank and a fox not found until +late. Sometimes, but very rarely, we have an entirely blank day. A lady +with only one hunter out should use her own judgment about participating +in a late run. A great deal would depend on the distance the animal has +travelled and the length of the journey home. Some people ignorantly +imagine that a hunter should be kept out until he has had a run, unless +the day proves entirely blank, however tired he may be. If it is +necessary for people who stay out all day to ride second horses, it is +equally important that the one-horse lady should know when her mount has +had enough. It is always a safe plan for her to retire at the "change of +horses"; for there is no pleasure in continuing to hunt on a tired +animal, and there is certainly danger in so doing. Old-time sportsmen +were content with one horse a day. "Scrutator" tells us that in the time +of Mr. Meynell "it was not the fashion to have second horses in the +field." If I may express an opinion, I think that many ladies are +inclined to regard horses as machines, and expect too much from them. +This is probably due to that unfortunate saying "as strong as a horse," +estimating the standard of mechanical power as "horse power," and so +forth. I have no doubt that our domestic cat would dislike the person +who said that cats have nine lives. A horse is, in reality, by no means +as strong as many of us imagine, and his legs are a continual source of +anxiety. Ladies who hunt should get a veterinary book, preferably +_Veterinary Notes for Horse-owners_, and when they have read it through, +they will not be likely to overtax the powers of their hunters. I once +saw in an old _Graphic_ a picture of Lady Somebody's mare which that +worthy dame had ridden to death. The animal had, it was explained, gone +brilliantly with her ladyship that day and had fallen dead while passing +through a village. The artist had drawn the poor mare stretched out, +surrounded by an inquisitive field, and the owner posed as the heroine +of a great achievement, instead of one who had rendered herself liable +to prosecution for cruelty to animals. I feel sure that no woman would +knowingly commit such a heartless action. When a horse begins to show +signs of distress, his rider should instantly pull up, and, if +necessary, walk him quietly home. His "state of condition" should always +be taken into account at such times. The hurried and distressed state of +a horse's breathing, and his laboured action, are sure signs to the +experienced horsewoman that the animal has had enough. To persons who +know little or nothing about horses, the fact of their usually +free-going mount ceasing to go up to his bridle and to answer an +encouraging shake of the reins or touch of the whip, are valuable +indications that he should be pulled up, either into a trot or walk. If +he is in hard condition, a respite from exertion, for ten minutes or a +quarter of an hour, will make him all right for another gallop, which +should be given with due circumspection. If the horse is not in thorough +galloping condition he should be taken home at a quiet walk. Keeping a +horse standing, especially in a cold wind, after a fatiguing run, is not +an unfrequent means of giving the animal congestion of the lungs. A wise +woman will take care of a good hunter, for such animals are not easy to +replace, and, as Jorrocks says, "We know what we 'ave, but we don't know +what we may get." If a lady intends to ride her hunter home, it would +greatly conduce to his comfort, and possibly her own, especially if she +has been several hours in the saddle, to dismount for, say, a quarter of +an hour, have her horse quietly led about, and then ride him home at a +walk. If she is using a second horse, it is always wise to get her +second horseman to take the saddle off her first horse and rub his back +well with the hand, especially at the off side of the withers and of the +back, under the cantle, in order to restore the circulation of the part +before taking him home. The animal ought to be given an opportunity of +refreshing himself by drinking at a brook or trough on his homeward way. +No harm can arise from a horse drinking cold water when at work, however +hot he may be, if his exercise be continued at a slow pace for a short +time. + +A lady's hunter should always be examined, if possible by his mistress, +or by one of the male members of her family, on his return from a day +with the hounds, and his back and legs should receive special attention. +The chief accidents which are liable to happen by such work, are sprains +of tendons and ligaments below the knees, over-reaches, cuts, punctures +from thorns, and injuries from the saddle. It is not within the province +of this book to deal with such subjects, and few ladies would go through +the bother of studying them. Nevertheless, there are some exceptions, as +we may see by the comparatively large number of lady doctors, and by the +fact that only the narrow-minded policy of the Royal College of +Veterinary Surgeons prevented Miss Custance, who had studied at the +Edinburgh New Veterinary College, from obtaining her diploma, to which +she was fully entitled by her scientific attainments and practical +experience. Those of my readers who wish to understand the treatment of +horses in health and disease, cannot do better, as far as books are +concerned, than to study my husband's _Stable Management and Exercise_, +and _Veterinary Notes for Horse-owners_. + +One point about the examination of a hard-ridden hunter which is within +the comprehension of even an inexperienced girl, is the detection and +proper treatment of lumps on his back which have been produced during +the ride by hurtful pressure of the saddle, and which almost always +appear on the off side of the withers, and on the off side of the back, +near where the cantle rested. If these swellings be neglected, they will +probably become developed into abscesses, which will incapacitate the +animal from work for a month or longer. An admirable way of treating +them, as soon as the saddle is removed, is to pour some whiskey, brandy +or other spirit into the hollow of the hand, apply it to the lump, and +rub the swelling briskly with the palm of the hand for at least five +minutes. I have often seen a large swelling of this kind visibly +decrease in size during this process, which, in the many cases I have +witnessed, always caused the lump to disappear by the following morning. +In applying this form of massage, no delay should occur, after removing +the saddle, which should always be taken off the moment the animal +returns to his stable, and his back well rubbed with the hand or with a +dry whisp of straw or hay. When entrusting the carrying out of this +treatment to the groom, care should be taken that the spirit is +administered externally to the horse, and not internally to the man. If +spirit be not available, careful friction with the palm of the hand will +generally be sufficient to ensure the desired result. This treatment +should not be applied, if the skin over the part is broken, for in that +somewhat rare case the friction would irritate the wound. + + +RIDER'S PHYSICAL CONDITION. + +The young or old Diana, especially if she is not in hard riding +condition, is very apt to get rubbed, generally by the cantle of the +saddle. If the skin is cut, a dry dressing of tannoform, which is a +powder that can be got from a chemist, will be found a good and speedy +remedy; and is also useful for cuts in horses. It would be injudicious +to ride again, or to have an injured hunter ridden again, until such an +abrasion has healed. + +It is essential for a lady who intends to hunt, to be able to ride a +fast gallop without becoming "blown." Some hunting ladies do preparatory +work cubbing or with the Devon and Somerset Staghounds. Those who are +obliged to forego these pleasant methods of "getting fit," would do well +to get into fairly good condition by long walks or bicycle rides. I +would warn my young readers that all fast exercise should be taken +gradually and in moderation, and that they should never disregard +symptoms of fatigue; because when muscles are tired, they are unable to +act with strength and precision. + + +TIPS AND THANKS. + +We should always remember to carry some small change in our pockets to +be given as tips to gate-openers and any poor persons whose services we +accept. + +And now, gentle ladies, let me remind you never to forget to render +thanks to every person, gentle or simple, who may, by the performance of +some kindly act, have helped to contribute towards your day's enjoyment. +We should also try to be as useful as possible to each other; for we all +admire that "nice pleasant woman" who, instead of attempting to hold us +up to ridicule if our "back hair" is falling down, or anything has +happened which ruffles our appearance, rides up and quietly brings the +fact to our notice. I have heard female voices audibly "picking holes" +in a lady's mount, which is very unkind; for their poorer sister was +doubtless riding the best horse she could get, and the hearing of such +rude remarks may entirely spoil her day's pleasure. + + +THE HORN. + +Mr. J. Anstruther Thompson in his most instructive book, _Hints to +Huntsmen_, gives the following horn notes and explanation of their +meaning. Ladies who intend to hunt should study the music of the horn in +order that they may understand what hounds are doing in covert (Fig. +135), and be ready to start off as soon as they hear the recognised +signal. + +"To call hounds on when drawing a covert." + +[Illustration: Music] + +"A prolonged swelling note to call them away." + +[Illustration: Music] + +"A long single note when all are away." + +[Illustration: Music] + +"A double note when on a scent (called doubling the horn)." + +[Illustration: Music] + +"Two short notes and a long one for 'Gone away.'" + +[Illustration: Music] + +"'Tally-ho! back,' on horn and crack of whip." + +[Illustration: Music] + +"A rattle for 'Whoo, whoop.'" + +[Illustration: Music] + +From the foregoing it will be seen that it is necessary to be on the +alert for short notes, because they mean business, while the long ones +denote a covert drawn blank. + + +HIRELINGS. + +The large majority of hunting women ride their own animals, or mounts +lent them by friends; but some less fortunate ones have to content +themselves with hirelings, many of which are unreliable conveyances, +because they pass through so many hands, that they run a great risk of +being spoiled by bad riders, and in that respect, horses have +unfortunately very retentive memories. From two to three guineas is the +usual charge for a day; and from £12 to £20 for a month. In both cases, +the job-master has to bear all reasonable risks. A person who hires a +horse for longer than a day, has to keep the animal and pay for his +shoeing. £15 a month is a reasonable charge for the loan of a good +hunter. When wishing to hire by the month, it is well to go to a +job-master who has a large collection of hirelings, like Mr. Sam Hames +of Leicester, so that the hirer may get a change of mounts, in the event +of the first not being suitable. + +[Illustration: _Photo. from_ "_Country Life._" +Fig. 135.--The Cottesmore drawing a covert.] + +I have ridden a few hirelings, but hunting on them gave me no pleasure; +because I was entirely ignorant of their capabilities, and it is not a +pleasant feeling to ride at a nasty fence with a big note of +interrogation sticking in one's heart. "Scrutator" in his interesting +book, _Foxhunting_, says he "never could find any pleasure in riding +strange horses. They neither understand your way of doing business, nor +you theirs, so there must of necessity be doubts and drawbacks until +both become more intimately acquainted." I have seen so many bad +accidents happen to men who were riding hired hunters, that I cannot too +strongly impress on my readers the necessity of letting caution mark the +guarded way, by testing a strange mount at small fences to see how he +shapes, before taking unwise risks. Last season, a young man who was +hunting with the Pytchley on a hireling came a cropper at the first +fence, staked his mount and got a kick in the head. He was greatly +distressed about the poor horse which the dealer had assured him could +"jump anything," a feat that no hunter in the world can perform. An +accident of this kind with a hired hunter is a most unpleasant +occurrence; because, if the bruised and mud-stained horseman happens to +be a stranger to the dealer, the latter will naturally blame his riding, +while the injured one who has to break the news as gently as possible, +will consider that he has been misled concerning the animal's jumping +capabilities. Jorrocks's advice, "know your horse," should be engraved +in capital letters on the heart of everyone who hunts, as its observance +would prevent many distressing accidents both to humans and equines. + + +FARMERS AND WIRE. + +There is very little wire in Leicestershire, though it is far too common +in other parts of the Shires. Fences where the warning red board (Fig. +136) or red rag (Fig. 137) is seen, should be avoided, as these signals +denote the presence of wire. As these death-traps bear no warning notice +in some places (Fig. 138), it behoves people hunting in such countries +to keep a sharp look-out for unmarked wire and iron hurdles (Fig. 139). + +[Illustration: Fig. 136.--Wire board.] + +Some farmers appear to use wire in an unnecessary manner. For instance, +placing it on the top of a gate (Fig. 140) seems to have no _raison +d'être_, except to hurt unfortunate hunters which in breasting such a +gate to push it open, are apt to get badly pricked and run suddenly back +to avoid it, with the possible result of injury to both horses and +riders behind them. Also, I have seen wire put up in fields in which +there were no cattle, and removed after the hunting season, to duly +appear again in the following one. Other tricks, such as sending +sheep-dogs to head foxes, and stationing farm hands to shout "wire!" +where there is none, have also come under my personal notice. Indeed it +is impossible to live in the country, without observing such acts of +hostility on the part of farmers towards "hunting people." I cannot help +thinking that much of this tension might be removed, if every hunt +secretary followed the example of Colonel Francis Henry, the Hon. +Secretary of the Duke of Beaufort's Hunt, of whom we read in _Baily's +Magazine_ of March, 1902:--"Colonel Henry, who, in the opinion of his +numerous friends, seems to possess the secret of eternal youth, +contrives to enquire personally into every complaint that is sent to +him, whether relating to damaged fences, loss of poultry or, rarely, +'wire offences.' There is no better known figure in Gloucestershire than +that of Colonel Henry on his hack, one of his own breeding by the way, +which carries him on his long rides; he is wont to say that in dealing +with a grievance 'one visit is worth a dozen letters.' His geniality, +and the painstaking care with which he investigates every matter to +which his attention is called, dissipate at their beginning many +difficulties which, handled with less sympathetic diplomacy, would 'come +to a head' and produce the friction which tells against sport. +Landowners, farmers, and business men alike in the Badminton country are +keen supporters of fox-hunting, and their attitude towards the sport is +due in no small degree to the unremitting attention and care for their +interests displayed by the honorary secretary both in winter and +summer." The truth of Colonel Henry's remark that one visit is worth a +dozen letters, was exemplified to me the other day by an old lady, a +farmer's wife, who regretted the sad change in "hunting people" since +her young days, when they "used to come in and chat with me as affable +as could be." She mentioned the name of Mr. Wroughton, who partook of +some of her "cowslip wine," and so much was she impressed with the visit +that every small detail of it, even the year, month, day and hour, and +also where he sat in her parlour, remains a treasured memory. He made a +friend who will always speak of him in the highest terms, because he was +nice and civil to her, and it seems to be a matter for regret that this +friendly feeling is not more generally cultivated than it is in hunting +districts. + +[Illustration: Fig. 137.--Red flag.] + +Unfortunately, the old-fashioned motherly, hardworking farmer's wife is +a type of woman which is rapidly dying out, and the modern specimen +belongs to that large and useless brigade of "perfect ladies" who are +above their position and who regard work as undignified. I recently saw +an advertisement from a farmer's daughter who said in it that she had +offers of plenty of mounts, but wanted some lady to give her a riding +habit! Surely it would have been far better for her to have worked and +earned one, instead of cadging in such a manner for her amusement? +Proverbially bad as our fresh butter in the Midlands is, I fear the time +is approaching when butter making will entirely cease, for, with few +exceptions, farmers' daughters are not trained to do dairy work. A +modern "young lady" from a farm, who had been educated in a Board +school, applied to a well known lady of title for a situation as +governess; but her ladyship pointed out that her educational attainments +did not qualify her for such a post, and suggested that she should +obtain employment as a parlourmaid. Needless to say that the farmer's +daughter scorned the idea of thus "lowering" herself! Even the daughters +of farm labourers nowadays ride their bicycles, instead of going out to +service as their mothers and grandmothers did before them, and dress +themselves ridiculously out of keeping with their position and +surroundings. It seems very incongruous to see such girls living in +indolence in country villages, while the daughters of their parson, +as frequently happens in large families, turn out and earn their own +livelihood. + +[Illustration: Fig. 138.--"'Ware wire."] + +It would cost very little to give an annual ball, say, after the Hunt +ball and before the decorations were taken down, to farmers and their +wives and any local residents who help towards the support of hunting, +and I feel sure that an entertainment of this kind would be productive +of beneficial results. In order to make it a success, it would have to +be attended by some of the members of the local Hunt, and not in any way +bear the stamp of a charity ball; for untravelled middle-class people in +this country are, as a rule, very "select," and eaten up with social +ambition, and many who would not think of attending a subscription +dance, would be attracted by "an invitation Hunt ball." Besides, after +all, even if local residents and farmers pay their guinea to be present +at an annual Hunt ball, they feel themselves rather "out of it," if they +are not personally acquainted with anyone in the room, and wisely avoid +such dreary functions. It is recorded of Mr. Conyers that he once +presented every farmer's wife in his hunting district with a silk dress, +saying that the ladies must be propitiated if hunting is to flourish. + +[Illustration: Fig. 139.--Iron hurdle.] + +One of the reasons why hunting is unpopular among farmers is the selfish +and reckless manner in which many followers of a hunt ride over arable +land; the greatest sinners in this respect being those who reside in +towns, and who, knowing nothing about agriculture, err more from +ignorance than indifference. Unless vegetation stares them in the face, +they evidently think there is no harm in riding over ploughed land, no +matter how distinctly the smoothly-harrowed surface and carefully +prepared drains indicate the presence of seed underneath. In such a +case, our best plan would be to skirt along, as near as possible, the +hedge or other boundary, even if we have to go a little out of our way. +Riding over cultivated "heavy" (clay) land, especially if its surface is +wet, is particularly hurtful to the crop, because each imprint of a +horse's foot will form a small pool of water, which will rot the seed +inside it. In "light" (sandy) land, the water in such holes will +quickly drain off, and little or no injury will be done. While hoping +that young horsewomen will not allow their enthusiasm for hunting to +outweigh their sense of prudence when steering their horses over +farmers' land, I would entreat them to also "hold hard" when approaching +allotment ground, for this land is rented, as a rule, by the poorest of +the poor, who have no gardens in which to grow vegetables, etc., for +their use, and a small field of, say, a few acres may be cultivated by +several villagers and their children in their "spare time of evenings." +Each tenant has his own patch of allotment land on which he grows what +he requires for his use. In winter we may frequently see the entire +field under wheat cultivation, as many poor families grow their own +grain, which the local miller grinds into flour, and in this way they +save the baker's bill, as they make their own bread. To ride over and +destroy their small crops is a sin which I am sure no lady would +knowingly commit, and, therefore, it behoves us all to exercise due +circumspection when we find ourselves on arable land. + +[Illustration: Fig. 140.--Wire on top of gate.] + +Also, on pasture land we have need to temper valour with discretion, and +especially after Christmas, when ewes and cows are heavy with young, and +are not in a fit state to safely endure the dual evil of fright and +violent exercise. Later on, when lambs have appeared, it is cruel to +gallop so near these mothers and their young, as to cause suffering. +Sheep are such stupid animals that they appear to have no idea of +evading a crowd; and cattle, as a rule, lose their heads from fright, +and career madly about their fields, sometimes for two or three days +after the sudden passing of a hunt. When a gate is negligently left +open, and the terrified animals avail themselves of this method of +escape, the unfortunate farmer will generally have great trouble in +finding and bringing them back, because they often go long distances, +and he has seldom any means of knowing what route they have taken. +Horses give him far more trouble than cattle in this respect, because +they can travel faster and farther. I have seen ladies who have the +interests of hunting deeply at heart--Mrs. James Hornsby, for +instance--ride back and fasten gates which have been carelessly left +open. + +One grievance which lies very near the heart of a farmer, because I +suppose it frequently touches his pocket, is the damage done to his +fences, especially during a check, by people who unnecessarily potter +through small gaps, which, after they have finished, resemble open +spaces. The farmer who has to get them mended speaks very bitterly about +fox-hunting, especially if he has to do the repairing at his own +expense, as he argues that if it was necessary to work a passage in this +manner through his hedge, the field might have been content with one +open door instead of making several. A farmer in the North Cheshire +country was so irate on this point that on one occasion when the hunt +wanted to cross his land, he and his men gave us a welcome with +pitchforks! + +A kind of farmer whom I despise is the man that hunts on the free list +and pretends to support fox-hunting, while he keeps his land encompassed +by wire during the entire season! I have known some of these men enjoy +unmerited popularity with the Master, and even take charge of Hunt wire +boards. Their non-hunting neighbours who take down wire and over whose +land they ride with safety, are obviously the better supporters of +hunting, although they may not be able to afford a nag, even if they had +time to devote to the sport. The farmer who takes down his wire is +naturally displeased with a Hunt which favours an individual who keeps +it up; but I think if all Hunt secretaries were like Colonel Henry, such +delinquents would soon be brought to book, for no Master would care to +see with his hounds, a farmer who kept his land wired during the hunting +season. Some of the illustrations of wired fences in this book have been +photographed on the land of so-called "hunting farmers." An even worse +class of man than the double-dealing farmer is the wealthy landowner who +preserves his coverts, shoots foxes, lets his shooting at a big profit, +and then goes off to hunt in some fashionable centre, like Melton +Mowbray. In Leicestershire he would be regarded as a hunting man, while +in his own district he is known as a vulpicide, for Reynard is seldom, +if ever, found in his coverts. One has only to live in the country, and +pretend indifference about fox-hunting, to see the tricks which some +farmers perform in order to prevent people from riding over their land. +I remember in the North Cheshire country a big covert, which was always +considered a certain find, being drawn blank, much to the huntsman's +surprise. As he called off his hounds, after a thorough investigation, a +farmer said, with a smile: "I knew they wouldn't find a fox here, for +Mr. ----'s foxhound puppy, which he is walking, has been rummaging +about this covert all morning!" It appears that Mr. Blank was a farmer +whose land adjoined the said covert, and who had found his foxhound +puppy more useful in driving away foxes than his sheepdogs. + +Instead of doling out compensation to farmers as a form of charity, it +would be much better for our hunting authorities to meet them on a level +footing, get them to appoint a committee of their own, and pay that +official body, every year, a certain proportion of the hunt +subscriptions, to be applied according to the wishes of the Farmers' +Committee. + + +PILOTS. + +I have not enlarged on the subject of hunting pilotage, because, truth +to tell, I have never indulged in the luxury of a pilot, as I have +preferred to know the capabilities of my mount and to see and act for +myself. I believe that any woman who can ride and manage her horse with +intelligent forethought, has no more need of a paid pilot than has the +small boy who takes his chance on his pony. If a lady has no male +companion to remain with her during the day's hunting, she should +provide herself with a groom, whose services will be very useful to +her, in the event of anything going wrong, and in helping her in various +ways. It would be absurd for her to expect casual aid at every turn, in +a large field composed chiefly of strangers, especially when its giver +would be deprived of his place in a run. + +Pilots seem to be going out of fashion, if we may judge by the large +number of women who hunt safely without their assistance. The +inexperienced huntress generally has her father, brother, husband, or +some male friend or servant to show her the way, which is the safest and +best method of learning to hunt, because they would know both the +capabilities of the young lady and her mount, and could be trusted to +keep her out of harm's way. If a paid pilot is engaged, his horse should +not be a better fencer than that of his charge. He should also know her +riding form, and over what kind of jumps she intends him to lead her. + +I would strongly impress on an inexperienced lady the necessity of +learning to judge pace, that is to say, to know at what speed her horse +is going. The chief duty of a pilot is to set the pace for her, and to +select such fences as he knows her horse is capable of jumping, the +former being more important than the latter, as it is far more difficult +to learn. She should see that her pilot is safely over a fence before +sending her horse at it. Only practice and natural aptitude can teach a +lady to judge pace: it cannot be learnt from any book. + +A lady should not deceive her pilot, any more than we should withhold +the truth from our doctor or lawyer. If she feels more in skirting trim +than in hard hunting nerve, she should not hesitate to say so; for we +all like to take things easy at times, whether it be in hunting or in +anything else, according as we feel fit or otherwise. There is no +gainsaying that the human barometer is regulated to a great extent by +the weather, as we may see by the big fields which greet the Master on a +fine hunting morning. + +The unpleasant disclosures which have been recently made in our Law +Courts, concerning the free and easy conduct of a certain set of hunting +men and women, may prejudice many mothers against hunting as a fitting +pastime for their daughters; but the indiscretions of a few idle fast +people should not be taken as a sample of the behaviour of an entire +field. In the crowd and bustle of hunting, the large majority of the +people are seriously engaged in the business of the day, and have no +time to indulge in flirtations. Certainly no sane man would choose a +meet or covert side, where he is surrounded by a crowd of people, to do +his love-making. If the usual discretion is observed in the choice of a +companion for a young lady going to and returning from a hunt, she would +have far less opportunity for "frivol," than in any ordinary ball room +or theatre. We need only watch hunting men and women passing through a +crowded gateway, to see that each one goes in turn, and that there is +very little consideration for sex. + + +FALLS. + +Although the subject of falling is not a pleasant one to discuss, still +we cannot ignore it, for even the best horsewoman occasionally gets hurt +by her horse falling with her. Accidents sometimes occur over the most +trivial obstacles, and when least expected; and are not confined to +jumping, for some of the worst falls have happened on the flat. I +remember Captain King-King breaking three ribs and a collar-bone--a +pretty good dose in one gulp--by his mount coming down with him on the +flat when hunting in Leicestershire. The late Whyte Melville met his +death by a similar accident; and poor Archbishop Wilberforce was killed +while quietly hacking, by his horse putting his foot in a hole and +throwing him on his head. Unfortunately, we are unable to learn the art +of falling correctly, because we have only one neck, and, if we break +that, our experiments must abruptly cease. We may, however, minimise the +danger of its fracture by leaning well back at our fences, and by +ducking our chins into our chests when we feel ourselves coming the +inevitable cropper. The worst kind of fall is when a horse breasts a +stiff fence and either turns a complete somersault, or falls violently +on to his head. In the former case, the accident generally means severe +internal injuries, to say the least of it; in the latter, a broken +collar-bone or concussion of the brain. Such bad accidents are happily +rare; for, if a horse can jump, he will certainly do his best to clear +an obstacle with his fore legs, and if he catches his hind ones and +comes down, our chances of either being killed, or crippled for life, +are far smaller. In Leicestershire I once saw a stranger send his mount +at a posts and rails fence about five feet high, which the animal +breasted and went over with a sickening fall; but I could not help +thinking that the man must have been either riding a hireling, or must +have imagined that his horse was a wonderful jumper to have sent him at +such a forbidding thing, especially as it had been avoided by the first +flight people, and what they can't jump, strangers may be perfectly +certain ought to be left alone. In this case, the animal, which may have +been easily able to take the jump, went at it unwillingly, for he saw it +was not the line taken by other horses, and he was doubtless annoyed at +being asked to incur what must have appeared to him an unnecessary risk. +A similar thing occurred when a well-known Leicestershire lady broke her +collar-bone. Horses were filing through the gate, and the lady, who was +anxious to get forward, put her horse at a stiff posts and rails by the +side of it. He apparently regarded the act as unnecessary, for he went +at it in a half-hearted fashion, struck the fence, fell, and hurt his +rider. It is the custom to say that the first flight people who ride +safely over Leicestershire are mounted on the best horses that money can +buy; but at the same time, we should remember that they seldom deceive +their mounts by asking them to jump anything which is either impossible +or unnecessary. Mr. Hedworth Barclay, who is one of the finest horsemen +in Leicestershire, always rides with great judgment. If he did not, he +would not have been safely carried for fourteen seasons by his brilliant +hunter Freeman, and for an almost equally long time by Lord Arthur and +Franciscan. + +A great deal of ignorant nonsense has been written about people (and +even horses!) taking "their own line," but such scribes ought to go to +Leicestershire and show how that can be done! Ladies who try to follow +the teaching of such people, do so at great personal risk; for it is +absurd for a stranger, however well she may ride or be mounted, to think +that she can safely take her own line over an unknown country, and +especially such a one as Leicestershire, which is in many parts entirely +unjumpable. As it requires several seasons to learn the "lie of the +land," most people wisely prefer to hunt in a county they know. Some +ladies make a great boast of their numerous falls. One recently told me +that she had had fourteen croppers in a hunting season; but when I hear +such talk, I cannot help thinking that there is something radically +wrong with their riding, for our best horsewomen very seldom fall. + +I have noticed that horses have been staked in hunting, through being +taken sideways instead of straight, at their fences. It is most +dangerous to ride an animal in this manner; because, if he makes a +mistake and falls, he will come down on his side and may roll over on to +his rider in his efforts to regain his feet. We may observe that when a +horse is lying on his side he invariably makes a preparatory half roll +in rising from that position. + +The first thing to do when a horse comes down, is to try to get clear as +soon as possible, and to let go the reins, unless the rider can retain +them without any risk. She is so encumbered by her skirt, even if it is +only an apron, that she will probably get kicked or trodden on, if she +hangs on to the reins. "Scrutator" wisely remarks that "so long as there +is a chance of holding him together, the pigskin should not be +abandoned, but when that chance is gone, by your horse's fore-legs +getting into the ditch on the other side, throw yourself clear of him to +avoid a pommelling." In such times of difficulty and danger, a lady +should remember to leave her horse's mouth alone, and not frighten him, +at a moment when her life may depend on his remaining quiet. Whatever +happens, she should never utter a startled cry, for that will do no good +and may lead to disastrous results. Professor Sample, the American +"Horse Tamer," once found himself underneath a cart, while breaking a +horse to harness with the long reins. Enveloped as he was in his driving +reins, a bad accident might have resulted if he had not kept his +presence of mind, while his faithful "Jo," whom he called to his +assistance as if nothing had happened, came and helped him out of his +dangerous position. He then turned to the audience and calmly told them +that he was showing them "how not to do it!" When a lady gets a bad fall +out hunting, and we see her attended by men only, we should at once go +to her assistance, whether we know her or not; because it is always +better for a woman to have one of her own sex to help her and, if +necessary, unloosen any garments which are matters that men know nothing +about. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +RIDING AND HUNTING ABROAD. + + +I now turn to the pleasant subject of riding and hunting abroad, with +special reference to India, where almost all our fellow countrymen and +women ride and own horses. Even in lonely up-country stations which +contain only a few white residents, gymkhanas are often got up by +officers who train and ride their own horses and ponies. Nothing seems +to give these good sportsmen greater pleasure than lending their equine +favourites to their lady friends. Therefore, a visitor who is fond of +riding, need never be at a loss for a mount, as I found during my four +years' residence in that hospitable land. I can truly say that I did not +understand what real hospitality is, until I went to India, and shall +always remember the great kindnesses my husband and I received from +Native Princes. For instance, the late Maharajah of Vizianagram, who was +devoted to horses, invited us to visit him, placed a furnished house, +servants, horses, carriages, food, wines and every other comfort at our +disposal, and considered our month's stay much too short. Ladies in +India who ride, obtain so much practice as a rule on various kinds of +animals, that they soon become expert horsewomen. It is the custom there +to ride twice a day: In the early morning after _choti haziri_ (little +breakfast), which usually consists of a cup of tea, a boiled egg, bread +and butter; and in the evening. There is no law of trespass in India, +and it is delightful to canter for miles while sharing the freedom of +the Son of the Desert who is carrying you. There is nothing like these +lonely scampers as a cure for petty worries, for you can put them so far +behind you, that on your return you have forgotten their existence. +Calcutta is an ideal riding city, with its beautiful _maidan_ (plain), +where there are miles of springy turf for galloping, a large race-course +with well-kept training and hacking tracks, and hurdles for those who +desire jumping practice. There is also a Red Road, which is the Rotten +Row of the place, for afternoon hacking among the beauty and fashion, so +what more could the heart of man or woman desire? During the misnamed +"cold weather," women who are fond of cross country work, can ride once +a week over made fences in the paperchases. The course is usually about +three miles long, well supplied with fences, chiefly hurdles and stiff +mud walls from three feet six to four feet six high. As the start takes +place at about seven in the morning, and as the meets are some distance +from the town, the devotees of sport have to be up at about five +o'clock, dress by lamplight, send on their chasers, and drive or hack to +the trysting place. Two "hares" carry the paper in bags slung across +their shoulders and receive a quarter of an hour's grace in which to +plant their burden, where they know the coloured slips will take some +finding. The hares ride over the fences, and by distributing their +landmarks sparsely and in places where their pursuers can follow only in +single file, they often make it difficult for the leading division to +keep the line. Those who over-run the paper, of course imperil their +chance of being among the first six, which is the number of "placed +horses" in these paperchase records. A writer in _Ladies in the Field_, +while discussing this form of sport, says: "Any old screw, country-bred +pony or short-shouldered Arab may be brought out on these occasions." +That author evidently had no experience of Calcutta paperchasing, +because a horse for this work must not only be a fast galloper and +clever jumper, but also must have a good mouth and temper, and be fit +and well. In fact, the ideal paperchaser is a cross between a +steeplechaser and a hunter, for he has to possess the speed and quick +jumping qualities of the former, and the amiability and brains of the +latter. Unless a lady has such a mount, it will be almost impossible for +her to secure a coveted place among the first half dozen. Also, there +are so many horses, say, forty or more, all galloping at the same +fences, which are not broad enough for a quarter of that number to take +abreast. Consequently, those behind have to see that the coast is clear, +before they can proceed. Falls frequently occur, but serious accidents +are happily rare. It is true that two men have been killed in these +chases; but although ladies have taken part in them since the early +days when that fine horsewoman, Mrs. "Jim" Cook, set the example, I have +not heard of any woman getting badly hurt. Mrs. Cook, who was known in +India as the "Mem Sahib," holds the record of being the only woman who +has won the Paperchase Cup when competing against men. She won in 1881, +was the only lady in about twenty starters, and her mount was +appropriately named Champion. The late Lord William Beresford was +second, and General Cook, her husband, was third. After I left India, +Lord William gave a cup to be competed for by ladies only, which must +have acted as a strong stimulant to those who had vainly tried to beat +the "mere male." Mrs. Murray was a most plucky rider, and made more than +one good bid for the Paperchase Cup, which she well deserved to win. I +had a very good Australian horse named Terence, by Talk of the Hills, +which got placed in these chases, but when I hoped to do great things +with him, I got typhoid fever and exchanged my residence to the General +Hospital. The first time I took Terence, who was a beautiful jumper, to +a paperchase, two horses fell in front of him at the first jump. A horse +ridden by that good sportswoman, Mrs. Saunders, refused a hurdle in +front of us, and Terence followed suit. After I had got him sailing away +again, a horse ridden by Mr. Garth, a well known horseman, fell over a +big blind ditch just in front of Terence, who luckily cleared the lot. +Captain Turner was walking about minus horse and hat, and that famous +G.R., Captain "Ding" Macdougal, had a nasty purl. In fact, that chase +was a chapter of accidents. Mr. "Tougal," who had helped to lay the +paper, told me afterwards that two of the unbreakable mud walls were +four feet three inches high, which is a very formidable height, +considering that the horses had to jump out of deep mud. That chase took +place on 2nd January, 1890, and I think it was a far higher test of +'cross country cleverness, than hunters in the shires have to go +through. + +Mr. Clark, who lived and paperchased for several years in Calcutta, and +who was a large horse dealer in Hilmorton, near Rugby, tells me that he +frequently measured the mud walls which were built for these chases, and +often found them full five feet high. The large majority of horses +ridden in these events are well bred Australians, which, taking them all +round, are the best jumpers I have ever seen. Some "country-breds" are +fine fencers, but Arabs, delightful as they are for hacking, rarely +distinguish themselves across country. + +The Calcutta natives were always on the look-out for squalls, like the +Irish "wreckers" of olden days. It was no uncommon sight to see a black +man, with nothing on but a _kummerbund_, running away to his lair, with +a stirrup leather, hat, or even a pair of spurs belonging to some +dethroned sportsman. The horse ridden by Mrs. Saunders in the paperchase +I have alluded to, was a powerful "Waler" which, according to his +importer, Mr. Macklin, had won nearly all the jumping prizes in +Australia! He had evidently been spoiled at the competition business, +like many other horses, for despite the careful handling of his +mistress, he was useless as a paperchaser. We had, while living at +Melton Mowbray, a black Irish horse which also had won prizes at show +jumping, but he was a most determined refuser in the open, and had many +other tricks of temper, so we soon got rid of him. + +On off days, during the cold weather in Calcutta, Mr. Milton, who was a +dealer and owner of large livery stables, used to invite the riding +community to hunt jackals with his "bobbery pack." The meet took place +at the stables before daylight, and the "hounds" were carried to covert +in a sort of water-cart. They were a most ferocious lot, to judge by the +scuffling, squealing and snarling that took place _en route_. When they +were let out, they appeared to lose their heads; the greyhounds, +whippets, fox-terriers, bull-terriers, pariahs and nondescripts +scampering off in various directions and requiring a good deal of +keeping in order. Naturally, the greyhounds and whippets did the +coursing, and having sighted a jack, they soon put an end to him. Our +huntsman's chief anxiety, as far as I could see, was to arrive in time +to secure a bit of the prey for the small fry. It was very interesting +to watch the work of these "hounds," and to note that the small terriers +used their noses to advantage, and often put their speedier companions +on the right track. I had many enjoyable scampers with Mr. Milton's +bobbery pack, which I believe is still going strong in the City of +Palaces. + +At Lucknow, paperchasing was nearly allied to steeplechasing, for the +course was flagged, and there was no paper to disturb the galloping. Few +ladies took part in those functions, but I enjoyed my gallop on Mr. +McAndrew's pony, Suffolk Punch, which, after floundering a bit at the +double, came down at the last fence, luckily without damaging either of +us. The great drawback to the paperchasing at the capital of Oudh, was +the blinding dust which was raised by the leading animals, and which +almost obscured the fences in front of their followers. As I was only on +a pony, all I could see in front of me was flitting shadows in a brown +fog, so I left everything to my game little mount, who was galloping his +hardest. For the same reason, dust thrown up by the leaders, is not +unfrequently the cause of accidents at steeplechasing in India. + +Near Bombay and Mozufferpore, jackals are hunted during the cold season +by foxhounds sent out from England. In 1889, Mr. Rowland Hudson, Master +of the Mozufferpore pack, had seventeen couple of foxhounds, nine of +which were supplied by himself, and eight by subscription. These hounds +were selected by the late Tom Firr, from the Quorn, Cottesmore, and +Pytchley, and they accounted for fifteen brace of jackals from November +to March, hunting only two days a week, and after having had several +good runs. Foxhounds stand the heat of India badly, and most of them out +there die of liver disease, despite the precaution taken of sending them +to the hills during the hot months. + +At Singapore, drag-hunting provides good sport in which ladies +participate, and show their fine horsewomanship to admiring friends, +when the run finishes over the fences on the racecourse. At Shanghai we +can go paperchasing on China (Mongolian) ponies, which, despite their +want of pace and somewhat three-cornered appearance, are very clever +over bad ground. The ladies whom I had the pleasure of meeting in +Shanghai, like those in India, were all devoted to riding, and I had +many merry scampers across country with them. In the country round +Tientsin, we had often to jump over ponderous coffins, for John Chinaman +has a provoking way of omitting to bury his relations, after he has +stowed them away in their long homes. + +Having to stay for a month at Suez, I was greatly disappointed to find +no better mounts than the very knowing Egyptian donkeys. As I had never +ridden that kind of animal before, I sent my syce, Motee, to hire a +couple for the day. To my surprise, the donkey owner came to tell me +that I could not ride any of his animals unless he accompanied me! I +assured him that I was capable of managing an ass, and would take every +care of the beast entrusted to me. He smiled, apparently at my +presumption, and as I saw that he would not let me have my way, I +consented to the infliction of his company. At the appointed time he +appeared on foot, leading two mokes and armed with a long thick stick. +As he was evidently going to walk, I whispered to Motee to gallop after +me as hard as he could, and give the stick man the slip. This I found +far easier said than done, because my donkey utterly ignored my +commands, even when they were backed up by force, and would take orders +only from his master. I saw the man trying to conceal a smile, as I +whacked my placid mount with the energy of one who meant business, so +impatiently asked him if he had fulfilled the promise he had given Motee +to bring me his best donkeys. He assured me that I was sitting on the +back of Mrs. Langtry, who was well known as the fastest animal in Suez, +and by far the handsomest. He said he had Mrs. Cornwallis West, Ellen +Terry, Mary Anderson, Mrs. Kendal, and other good mounts; but Mrs. +Langtry was the pick of the basket for speed and endurance. I asked the +name of Motee's moke, which he said was his next best one, and found +that it was called Mr. Gladstone! The pair were excellent friends, and +insisted on walking side by side, although Motee did all he could to +keep Mr. Gladstone behind. Disliking this aspect of affairs, I dealt +Motee's mount a couple of sharp cuts with my whip over the quarters, +with the object of inducing him to set the pace. This resulted in such +high kicking on the part of Mr. Gladstone, that Motee nearly fell off, +and the man behind ran up yelling in such an angry tone, that I almost +feared he would chastise me in a similar manner. He cooled down and then +patronisingly told me that when I had grown older and had gained more +experience in riding, I would not be guilty of cruelty to dumb animals. +Having failed in my tactics, and paid for my ride, I resigned all +further activity in the proceedings, and submitted to having the speed +of my mount regulated by the stick from behind. When pursued, Mrs. +Langtry would go off with a rush, pausing at intervals to listen for +footsteps behind, and assure herself that the stick man was well out of +reach. Once she relapsed into a dreamy reverie, and so far forgot +herself as to allow her owner to wake her up with a tremendous whack, +which sent her flying with such force that I was nearly jerked out of +the saddle. Our destination was the First Castle, and I was glad to turn +homewards. Motee did not appear to have enjoyed his share of the joke, +for he looked very angrily at the donkey man as he removed my saddle, +and said: "Dis no good ponies, _Mem Sahib_, plenty _tamasha_." + +That evening when I was recounting my adventures at dinner, Count Carlo +Sanminiatelli, who was staying at the same hotel, asked me in French if +I was fond of riding. On hearing my reply, he at once placed at my +disposal nearly three hundred remounts which were to be shipped later on +to Massowah. These horses belonged to the Italian Government, which was +expecting a row with King John of Abyssinia. After that, Motee and I +used to disappear for hours in the desert every day, and we wended our +way back to the hotel, only when the pangs of hunger forced us to do so. +We would try sometimes as many as fifteen animals in a day, and I took +the numbers of those which were nice to ride. In a very short time I +had a list of more than a dozen of the nicest horses, which I intended +to keep for my own hacking. As most of them had been accustomed to the +barbarous Mameluke bit, which is used in Egypt, they took very kindly to +my snaffle. The desert is a grand place for trying experiments with +horses; for in it there is nothing to frighten or distract their +attention from their work, and if one does happen to get a spill, the +falling is very soft. As soon as the news of my doings became noised +abroad in Suez, the riding men mustered in great force and borrowed +several of the horses I had passed as quiet. It was amusing to see some +of the horsemen sending all over the place to borrow a saddle, and in a +couple of days we all met for a ride. One of the ladies rode very well, +but she would not try any of the remounts, as she had her own Arab. +There was seldom such excitement in Suez before, the lawn tennis ground +became quite deserted, and everyone seemed to have gone riding mad. + +Coursing steinbok with greyhounds used to be a popular sport in South +Africa, but when my husband and I were in Kimberley in 1892, Mr. Fenn +was establishing a pack of foxhounds. I fear the Jameson Raid and its +dire results have sadly disturbed the harmony of that sporting +community. + +I cannot help thinking that the Germans are more devoted to riding than +any other Continental nation. I have not hunted in Germany, as I was +there only during the summer; but I sold a good hunter to a German Count +who was a fine horseman and a Master of Foxhounds. He told me that a +large number of ladies hunted with his pack. I was particularly struck +with the immense size and beauty of the riding schools in Berlin. In the +Berliner Tattersall there are three large riding schools, and I seldom +went there without seeing some ladies on horseback. In the largest +riding school there is a gallery, a refreshment room, reading room, +several dressing rooms, a bandstand, and seating accommodation for +hundreds of people. The proprietor told me that in the winter months +when the weather is too bad for outside riding, ladies ride in the +schools, and various entertainments are given. I saw a large number of +ladies riding in the Tiergarten, although it was out of the season, and +I expected to find the ride as empty as Rotten Row in the winter months. +As I went there before eight in the morning, our German cousins must be +early risers. On the last occasion we visited the Tiergarten, we were on +our way home from Russia, and, having a couple of hours to wait for our +train, we strolled into the delightful wooded ride. It was about +half-past seven on a cold March morning, and almost the first people I +saw there were the Kaiser and the Kaiserin, so I no longer marvelled at +German ladies' taste for early rising. + +When I was in the Bois de Boulogne last season, it was greatly +frequented as usual, but it struck me that fewer women ride there now +than formerly, and that motor cars have absorbed their attention. + +Although the riding schools of Paris are not to be compared to those of +Berlin, the worst of them is far superior to the two miserable civilian +riding schools in St. Petersburg, where riding is almost entirely a +military function. Very few Russian women ride, although history tells +us that Peter III. kept a pack of hounds, and that his wife, Catherine +II., according to her memoirs, listened to the loving solicitations of +Soltikov while they were riding together "to find the dogs." A saddle +belonging to this amorous lady, which I saw at the Hermitage, was like +an Australian buck-jumping saddle, with large knee rolls and a high +cantle. It was covered with red velvet and decorated with cowrie shells. +The side saddle appears to have been first used in Russia by the +daughters of the Emperor Paul. + +The Duchess of Newcastle, writing in _Ladies in the Field_, on "the +untidy slipshod way the riders are often turned out" in Rotten Row, +terms this state of things "a disgrace to a country which is considered +to have the best horses and riders in the world," and wonders what +foreigners must think of the sorry spectacle. This "floppy" untidyness +of riding dress appears to have been introduced by the "new woman." +Twenty years ago, top hats and perfectly fitting habits were _de +rigueur_; but now neither horses nor riders are so well trained for park +hacking as they were in those days. The Duchess also points out that it +is as cheap to be clean as dirty, and there is no reason why the horses +should not be groomed, and their bits burnished. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +WALKING FOXHOUND PUPPIES. + + +I believe I am correct in stating that no woman who has ever hunted, +professes any other feeling than that of ardent admiration for the +hounds which provide her with sport; but I would like to see this +admiration take, among hunting women, the more practical form of walking +hunt puppies, in whose future well-being they should have a keen +personal interest. There are two maiden ladies in Ireland, who, although +they have never hunted, and are long past the age at which they are +likely to do so, always, from sheer love of sport, walk a couple of +foxhound puppies for their district hunt. We want, I think, more of this +sporting Irish feeling among our sex, for I am sure that apart from all +other considerations, a hunting woman would find more to interest her in +the rearing and training of a foxhound puppy, whose career she could +literally follow, than in spending money and time in clothing and +nursing a useless pug or toy terrier. There is no more intelligent and +charming companion for a woman than a young foxhound, who appears to be +able to do everything but speak, and even that he can do in a mute way, +for when he is greatly troubled, he cries like a human being, with real +tears. I am thinking as I write of a young Cottesmore pup I was walking +at Melton Mowbray who, when a friend accidentally trod on his foot, came +yelping up to me for sympathy with big tears rolling down his face. When +I picked up this heavy lump of dog and soothed him, he at once stopped +his yelping and his tears like a child. + +Mr. Otho Paget in his interesting book, _Hunting_, says, "The whole +future success of your breeding hounds rests on being able to get good +walks," and in order to ensure such success, he advises generosity in +the matter of prize giving at the annual puppy show and the luncheon on +that occasion, to be "as smart and festive as you can make it." Mr. +Paget considers that the "ideal home for a puppy" is a farmhouse; but +even if this statement were correct--which I greatly doubt, seeing the +poverty of many farmers and the neglected state of their own domestic +animals--few farmers walk foxhound puppies even in classic +Leicestershire. When a large landowner, good sportsman and lover of +hunting like the late Duke of Rutland, makes an agreement with his +tenant-farmers, to walk puppies, the work is certain to be carried out +in a give and take manner which will cement good feeling between both +parties, and will promote sport; but the practice which obtains in some +badly managed hunts of sending a whipper-in to dump down his cartload +of puppies on any people who will consent to take them, is not only akin +to cadging, but is also productive of many cases of neglect which ought +to come before the notice of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty +to Animals. Instead of deputing servants to dispose of young hounds in +this casual manner, the Master or his Secretary should approach the +residents of the district, and either personally, or by writing, arrange +with them to walk puppies, so that they may be prepared to receive their +young charges. Also, the Master or Secretary should visit the puppies at +walk occasionally, as such practical interest taken in their welfare, +would tend to encourage the walker in her by no means easy task of +rearing the youngsters. + +Mr. Otho Paget's advice as to prize giving and a sumptuous lunch hardly, +I think, meets the requirements of the case. We can dismiss the lunch, +as very few of my sex care for "smart and festive" feeding, and as far +as the prizes go for their trouble and expense with the animals, what is +the use of judging puppies six months after they have returned from +walk? The poor, neglected, half-starved animal who goes back to kennels +all skin and bone may, if he be a well-shaped hound, show up better at +the time of judging, than those who were returned full of good food and +in hard exercise, but who may have lost in condition by fretting, or by +having to live on shorter rations than before. Some puppies, as I know +from experience, have either died during the six months' interval, or +have been drafted to another pack. Therefore it would be far more +satisfactory and encouraging to puppy walkers for the judging to be on a +day fixed for them to take their young charges to the kennels. In bygone +days when country squires lived on their land and their tenants were +under contract to walk puppies, the present arrangement no doubt +answered well enough, because it was to the tenant's interest to do his +best to please his landlord; but times have changed since then. The +large majority of people who hunt nowadays, rent hunting boxes for the +season, and take so little interest in country life that they fly off to +town on the first appearance of frost, and are not seen again until the +land is fit to be ridden over. When the season ends, they disappear till +the following one. Few of them know any of the resident farmers or +inhabitants of hunting centres even by sight, or want to know them. This +snobbish exclusiveness is very harmful to the interests of hunting, +because the farmers are under no obligation to them--quite the +reverse--and a farmer can, if he likes, refuse to allow them to ride +over his land. Therefore, when hunting people show farmers no civility, +the agriculturists naturally do not care to go to the trouble and +expense of walking hunt puppies, as several farmers have told me, unless +they are given a better inducement to do so than present arrangements +offer. Then again, in judging puppies returned from walk, supposing the +judging takes place at once, as it should do, only the condition of the +puppies, and not their "points" should be taken into consideration; for +the walker usually has to take any puppies that are given to him, and as +he does not breed them, he cannot be held responsible for any defects +which may be in their make and shape. The hunt puppy-show ought to be a +function entirely apart from the walkers' show, and until this is done, +the unfortunate puppies will continue to be dumped down on any stranger +who will consent to take them. + +I cannot help thinking that the great mortality which takes place every +season among young hounds, might be considerably lessened if the various +hunts were to send out with the puppies, for the benefit of +inexperienced walkers, a pamphlet or card of printed instructions +concerning their feeding and general management. They should also +request the walker to report any case of sickness, and should at once +despatch a competent veterinary surgeon to investigate such cases and +prescribe for the young patients. The inexperienced puppy walker, in her +anxiety to get her charges strong, often gorges them to repletion with +raw meat even before they have got any permanent teeth, which is as +absurd as feeding an infant on raw steak. We know not how young hounds +contract distemper, but they cannot be prevented in their daily walks +from eating offal, and if the germs of the disease are taken into their +bodies in this way, the hound whose system has been weakened by +"heating" and unsuitable food will seldom recover. I do not wish to pose +as an authority on this subject and am simply giving, for the benefit +of ladies who find themselves placed in a similar predicament, my +experience, or rather, at this stage, inexperience, in walking a couple +of Cottesmore pups. I tried very hard to save those pups, nursed them +night and day, and had them in my room at night, but both died. One of +them was slowly recovering, but was so weak that he could hardly stand, +and I was recommended to give him some fresh meat cut up small. This +food occasioned a relapse, and next day he was dead. I notice that Mr. +Otho Paget in his book on _Hunting_ recommends "a little raw fresh meat" +for weakly pups, but possibly he would not advocate it for one getting +over distemper. I attributed the death of my charges solely to improper +feeding, and have since been successful in rearing others by feeding +them at first on bread and milk, biscuits and gravy, scraps of cooked +vegetables, and when meat has been given, I have taken care to see that +it has been _cooked_. Even with the greatest attention to diet and +exercise, that horror, distemper, has attacked them, but they have made +a good recovery. At the time of writing I am walking a couple of +Pytchley pups, which alas, will soon go to their permanent home. Both of +them have had distemper, one in a very severe form, accompanied by an +abscess in his throat, which prevented him from swallowing anything but +beaten eggs and milk for several days. His portrait (Fig. 141) shows +that he has now "grown into a hound," and I am proud of him, for all of +the Pytchley pups of the first, or spring batch, which were distributed +in this village died of distemper with the exception of my couple. My +pups must have contracted the disease from a neighbouring farmer's dog +who died of it in great agony with an abscess in his throat. Possibly +the adoption of some kind of muzzle would prevent puppies from eating +diseased matter. + +[Illustration: Fig. 141.--Pytchley puppy, Mottley.] + +My belief in the necessity of giving hounds cooked meat and rigorously +abjuring it in a raw state, excited ridicule here, but when the good +result of such "faddy" feeding was proved by the healthy condition of +the animals, the unbelievers acknowledged themselves converted. Mills, +in his _Life of a Foxhound_, tells us that Ringwood, who appears to have +been a fine hound, was brought up solely on "sweet milk, meal and +broth"; but I find that pups in hard exercise want a generous supply of +cooked paunch as well as bones for the development of their teeth, and +that if they are blown out with sloppy food, their internal arrangements +become disorganized. Besides, a hound cannot gallop on meal alone. One +of the greatest difficulties with which puppy walkers in small villages +have to contend, is in obtaining an adequate supply of paunches and +bones, for country butchers do not kill many animals in the week, as +there is little sale for meat. The average villager purchases a joint +for his "Sunday's dinner," which either lasts the whole week, or is +supplemented by scraps of meat, or even a "bone pie"! An ox paunch is of +course dressed and sold as tripe, all sorts of pork scraps are made up +into brawn, mutton ditto into "faggots," so that there is very little +left for the foxhound puppies. During the hot summer months it is best +to give pups very little cooked meat, but plenty of cooked vegetables, +biscuit, house scraps of bread, &c., and in cold weather the first meal +of the day should, if possible, be given warm, or mixed with warm milk, +for when young animals are cold and hungry, it is a good thing to warm +their little insides. All meat should be given cut up. When feeding +hounds on remains of fish, care should be taken to remove large bones, +which are very apt to choke them. If puppies are shut up at night in a +barn or loose box, their abode should be cleaned out every morning, and +any soiled straw removed. Attention should be paid to the thawing of +their drinking water during severe weather. After they have got their +teeth and begin to snarl over their bones, it is best to feed them in +separate tins, or the stronger and greedier of the two will get far more +than his fair share, even if he allows his pal to have any at all. I +have found ordinary large sized baking tins useful for feeding purposes, +as crockery is liable to get smashed. It is a good plan to have a system +of regular feeding morning and evening; for puppies, like children, +thrive better on regular meals than when they are "picking and nipping" +all day. A constant supply of fresh water should be always at hand for +their use. + +For ladies who attend personally to the wants of their canine friends, +Messrs. D. H. Evans, of Oxford Street, have registered a kennel coat, +which I think will fill a want. They have adopted my suggestions +respecting its make and shape, and have made it in mud-coloured washing +material, as that tint looks less unsightly when soiled than white, +which is worn by kennel huntsmen. A protection of this kind for the +dress is needed in tending dogs, and I have found it a very serviceable +garment. Fig. 142 shows the front view of this coat; and Fig. 143, the +back view. + +[Illustration: Fig. 142.--Front view of Kennel Coat.] + +Another point to remember in the management of puppies is never to wash +them. I believe every experienced hound man will bear me out in +attributing many tiresome ailments to the bath tub. Hounds can be kept +perfectly clean by careful brushing, and their coats will show a gloss +and polish that no bathing can give. It is not unusual to find mange in +pups fresh from kennel, and care should be taken that the brush is not +used on the affected animal. I found that applications of paraffin and +salad oil, in equal parts of each, quickly cured mange, and that the +hair on the coat grew thick and appeared to be greatly benefited by the +lotion. + +Although pills are supplied by some hunts to be given to pups who are +off their feed, it is no easy task for a woman, or even man, to induce +an animal to swallow one, and the struggles of the terrified youngster +who objects to the pill, often make it do more harm than good. That safe +old medicine, castor oil, is generally at hand, and a puppy will lap a +spoonful or two in milk without making a fuss. My experience of dog +doctoring has been practically limited to castor oil, except during +distemper, when five grains of quinine have been given daily with +beneficial results. The best way to give this medicine is to mix it with +a small piece of butter and spread this ointment on a piece of cheese, +which will be eagerly gobbled up, as all hounds appear to like cheese. +The pups should have plenty of clean dry straw for their bedding, and +boards are far safer and more comfortable for them to lie on than +bricks, which are always more or less cold and damp. Each pup selects +his own spot for his bed, which he arranges to his liking, and if plenty +of straw be given, he will burrow under it in very cold weather and thus +keep himself warm. There is certain to be one pup which we like best, +but no favouritism should be shown outwardly, as it breeds envy, hatred +and malice, and all bow-wows are afflicted with jealousy. It is best if +possible to take two pups, as a lone hound is miserable without a +playmate, and if he has no one to play with, he will be almost sure to +get into mischief. One will want to boss the other, but they can +generally be left to settle their own quarrels. In every pack there is a +master hound who rules the roost, but if he degenerates into an +intolerable bully, he may, not improbably, be killed and eaten by the +others, an occurrence which Mr. Mills tells us took place in Mr. +Conyer's kennel at Copthall, Essex. + +[Illustration: Fig. 143.--Back view of Kennel Coat.] + +Next to feeding, the most important thing in puppy walking is exercise. +Foxhounds have to know how to gallop, and therefore the young hound +requires training. It is both cruel and useless to keep a healthy pup +shut up in a stable or yard and afford him no opportunity of learning +his work. As soon as the young ones settle down in their new home, they +may be taken out for short walks, in order to accustom them to pass +traffic, and if possible they should have a steady old dog to lead them; +for even the placid cow coming home to be milked, will prove an object +of terror to them and probably cause them to bolt home. With the +exercise of patience and kindness, such fearsome journeys will soon be +made with safety, and moving objects will cease to be regarded; in fact +a bold hound will be likely to prove far too venturesome, and his +hair-breadth escapes from being run over will occasion much anxiety. +After the pups have got accustomed to getting out of the way of fast +traffic, it is excellent training for them to learn to follow a bicycle, +Fig. 144; but the rider must go slowly at first and only short +distances, in order not to overtax the strength of the young hounds. A +good rule is to slow down when the animals lag behind, and if they show +any signs of fatigue, and are not stopping merely to make +investigations, it is time to go slowly home. They will soon be able to +gallop as fast as any ordinary rider can safely steer her bicycle, and +will sometimes show their freshness and play, by catching hold of her +skirt with their teeth, as once happened to me and gave me a fall. +Foxhounds are however so intelligent that the animal who playfully +caused my discomfiture, looked sorrowfully at me as I lay sprawled out +with my machine on the ground, and I feel sure that when I reproached +him, he understood the drift of my remarks, for he never afterwards +attempted to touch my skirt, though he has often come bumping into me, +when flying for protection from some imaginary enemy. It is impossible +to be really angry with these most affectionate irresponsible beings, +for they are brimful of the exuberance of youth, and if they roll over +each other in the middle of the road just under the front wheel, it is +advisable to try and get out of the way. A good plan when this road +playing begins is to keep the break going, ready for "happenings." +Riding with pups is excellent practice in bicycle control! From bicycle +exercise we passed to the higher stage of taking out the pups with +horses, but I regret we did not continue the bicycle training, because +one day the bolder hound of the two (Fig. 145), who had several narrow +escapes by reason of his insane propensity for running into the middle +of the road and jumping up at the muzzle of an advancing horse, met with +a serious accident, to wit, a fractured fore leg. I was not present when +it occurred, but I had often ridden out with this hound, whose vagaries +in the matter of jumping up at my horse's muzzle or playfully biting his +hocks, frequently necessitated my riding at a walk. The animals who were +ridden with these hounds were quiet, insomuch as they never attempted to +kick them when all were loose in a paddock, or when ridden; but I even +the quietest horse in the world is apt to show annoyance if very great +liberties are taken with his person by either man or hound. My +experience teaches me to remember this fact and not try a horse, who is +not a huntsman's mount, too highly in this respect. The more sedate pup +of the two is in fine condition, because he takes no liberties with the +horses and therefore he obtains his requisite exercise; but if I wanted +a bold, generous, dashing foxhound who can use his nose, swim a river or +perform in brilliant style the work required in hunting, I should +unhesitatingly choose the bold cripple, who I hope will get his leg +right, for he would certainly perform brilliantly in any hunt, although +as a show hound he would be superseded by his more sulky and indolent +brother. + +[Illustration: Fig. 144.--Puppies with bicycle.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 145.--Pytchley puppy, Monarch.] + +As the first requisites in a foxhound are pluck and confidence, I +would, in selecting a couple of pups from the usual cartload, prefer to +take from those who came and faced me boldly, as if inquiring my +business, rather than to seek for "show" points among those who require +to be dragged from the back of the cart for inspection. Many people are +debarred from walking foxhound pups from the tales they have heard about +their destructiveness, but these yarns are grossly exaggerated, for the +youngsters are no worse than ordinary puppies in their desire to try +their new teeth on sponges, brushes, boots or anything else they can +procure. If they are taught from the first that such things are riot, +and are given in their idle moments a bone on which to expend their +energy, they will peacefully occupy themselves with it for hours, and +after they have eaten it or as much of it as is possible to be broken +off, they will solemnly proceed to inter it for resurrection on some +future occasion. + +A young dog who has had his necessary exercise, will prefer to sleep +than to get into mischief; but if kept idle, he will naturally seek some +means of working off his pent-up energy. It is as cruel to punish a +young animal for gnawing and biting inanimate objects, as it is to +strike a teething infant who is similarly prone to use his teeth on +anything he can get hold of. We generally supply such a child with a +bone ring or something equally safe to bite; and if we do not give a +puppy a bone, he will quickly find something for himself. I have a +sheep-dog pup who, having gnawed and buried a boot in the paddock, was +brought to me for correction. I gave him a "good talking to" and +ordered him to lie down near me under the table, where I believed he +would be out of mischief. I went on with my work and thought he was +asleep, but when I bent down and looked at him, I found him busy at a +large hole he was biting in our carpet! It was all my fault--he ought to +have had a bone. + +We now come to the important question of corporal punishment, which I +have deferred, as I hate it, but I know that it is a necessary evil. +Solomon's warning about sparing the rod is more applicable, I think, to +foxhounds than to children, for the spoilt hound has before him a +fearful day of reckoning which a child may escape. Therefore our +supposed kindness in ignoring sins of omission or commission is, in the +case of a young hound, a cruel wrong which will assuredly cause him a +great deal of suffering that timely correction on our part may avert. In +the first place we ought to insist on implicit obedience, not by +coaxing, but by the whip, for if a hound wilfully disobeys the person +whom he loves as his mother, how much less will he be inclined to obey +the orders of a stranger who is his whipper-in? When it is necessary to +punish a glaring offence concerning which the lady walker, who is acting +the part of mentor, has given an unheeded warning, the offender should +be well whipped by someone told off to perform this operation, and when +they fly to her for sympathy, she should remain silent as one who knows +they have been justly punished. If she has to undertake these salutary +thrashings herself, she should call the hounds to her in a tone of +voice which she knows they can hear, and if, as frequently happens, they +hesitate for a moment, look at her and then decide to disobey her +command, she should follow them up, still calling on them to come to +her, but now in a severer tone, and the disobedient ones will generally +falter and take refuge in any available place. Then is the time to +punish them with a few sharp cuts of whip or cane. There will be no +howling, as the pups know very well that they have transgressed, and +will show it on the way home by answering promptly when they are called. +Pups must be punished only when they are caught in the act of +disobedience; but a sin of yesterday must never be punished to-day; +because foxhounds, like all dogs, have a keen sense of justice, and only +understand the meaning of punishment when it is timely administered. All +attempts at hunting on their own account should be rigorously repressed, +and the personal dignity of the house cats should be upheld. Even when +the hounds are accorded the special favour of entering the house, our +pussies must be no more disturbed by them than they would be by our +house dogs who sleep near the fireside with them. I like to encourage +hounds to visit me occasionally in the house, as then they are, so to +speak, on their honour, and they so much appreciate these visits that +they lie peacefully near the fire with the cats in perfect friendship, +after having carefully examined, without touching, everything in the +room. They may look and smell, but not touch, and as bad behaviour in +this respect means instant ejection, they soon become like visitors to a +museum. The worst about puppy walking is that one has to part with these +delightful companions, and that parting is a time of sorrow which we +feel almost as keenly as if they were our children leaving home for the +first time with all life's troubles before them. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +KINDNESS TO HORSES. + + +A great deal has been said and written about bad-tempered horses, but +hardly enough anent the riders who make them sulky or irritable. +Jorrocks' remark that "the less a man knows about an 'oss, the more he +expects" is perfectly true; for such persons seem to regard horses as +machines, and are ever ready to slash them with the whip across the +head, or any other part on which they think they can inflict most pain, +and then when animals resent such cruelty, they dub them bad-tempered +brutes! There are people belonging to the show-off brigade, who punish +horses without the slightest provocation, in order to attract general +attention to their fine (?) horsemanship. Their method is first to job +the animal in the mouth, and when he exhibits the resulting signs of +irritated surprise, to "lamb" him well. Another kind of horse-spoiler is +the man who, having been angered by some person, vents his pent-up rage +on his unfortunate mount. Far be it from me to call down the wrath of +the lords of creation on my thin head by denouncing them all as cruel +monsters, but my experience is that, in the majority of cases, horses +are rendered vicious by brutal treatment on the part of men. A horse, +like a dog, has a keen sense of justice; he never forgets unmerited +punishment, but is in a constant state of nervous anxiety when ridden by +a man who treats him unkindly. A dog exhibits a similar feeling of +distrust of a cruel master by crouching up to him when called, instead +of being delighted to see him, and according him a frisky welcome. I +will give an instance of what I once saw a bad-tempered man do with a +bird in India. The animal was a small green parrot which the man had +taught to perform a certain trick; but I don't know what it was, because +the parrot did not execute it when asked to do so. The owner of the bird +was a very mild private individual, who I thought was fond of animals, +and who asked me to see the effect of his training on this parrot. He +tried to get the little thing to perform, but as it would not, for some +cause best known to itself, he actually wrung its neck in my presence! I +shall never forget that incident, because it gave me one of the greatest +shocks I have ever experienced. This was, of course, an exceptional case +of temper, which I mention only to show to what extremities a violent +burst of rage may carry a sane individual. We often hear of an +uncontrollable temper, but I believe that every man can, if he likes, +govern his rage, unless, of course, he is demented. If the vast +majority of so-called vicious horses could write the story of their +lives, what terrible tales of suffering and injustice they would relate! +A horse, unlike a dog, bears punishment in silence, and any brutal +creature may with impunity torture a horse, but if he tried to hurt a +dog in like degree, the yelping of the animal would alarm the entire +neighbourhood, and be almost certain to call forth a strong remonstrance +from some lover of animals whose sympathy had been excited by hearing +such piteous cries. People who are unacquainted with the inner life of +stables, have no idea of the brutality which many grooms and strappers +inflict on the animals in their charge. When we find a horse which is +difficult to bridle, owing to the objection he has to allowing his +muzzle or ears to be approached by the hand of man, we may be almost +certain that this vice has been caused by the application of a twitch, +either on his upper lip, or on one of his ears, a method of restraint +which should never be employed. By laying down the law on this point of +horse control, I in no way pose as an authority, but rely on what my +husband, who is a veterinary surgeon, thinks on this matter. He tells me +that during the two trips which he made in 1901 to South Africa in +veterinary charge of remounts, he examined the mouths of over seven +hundred horses and found that more than ten per cent. of them had been +permanently injured, especially on the tongue, by the inhuman +application of twitches. No one, veterinary surgeon or layman, is +justified in using a twitch that will make the animal subsequently +difficult to handle. If any of my readers wish to know how a twitch can +be applied without this drawback, they should consult my husband's book, +_Illustrated Horse Breaking_. Of all horses, a good hunter which passes +into the hands of an incompetent master, is most to be pitied. The +wretched condition of many hunters is truly pitiable. Their skins, +instead of showing the glow of health, present a dried-up, +kippered-herring appearance, and some of the poor things have the +miserable half-starved look of Berlin cab horses, chiefly because they +live as a rule in a constant state of thirst, owing to the objection +their grooms have of allowing them a sufficiency of water to drink. Such +parched animals will quickly tell their mistress this secret, by loudly +neighing, if, when she goes near their boxes or stalls, she takes up and +rattles a stable bucket. This thirst torture is abominable cruelty. + +In this country, grooms, as a rule, are given a free hand in the feeding +and management of horses, with frequently disastrous results, owing to +the consequent system of commissions and tips from horse dealers, corn +dealers, saddlers and shoeing smiths. In India and the Colonies, +horse-owners usually take a practical interest in the welfare of their +equine servants, which are therefore properly fed, and have a plentiful +supply of fresh water to drink. Almost all hunting grooms keep horses in +loose boxes tied up during the day, in order to prevent them lying +down, soiling themselves and disarranging the bedding, which would, of +course, entail trouble on the stable attendants. To such men, the good +effect of liberty on legs and health is, of course, a negligible +quantity. It is evident that the benefit of a loose box is nullified, if +the animal in it is tied up. When we visit horses in their stable and +find that they exhibit terror at our approach, we may conclude that +their fear is due to bad management, because no horse which has been +kindly treated, will show the slightest fear on being approached. A +class of groom whom I would not care to keep, is the funky man who is +continually yelling at his animals, and thus unfits them to obey our +words of command when we ride them. Every horse-owner, even from a +purely humane point of view, should spare a few minutes at night before +turning in, to see that the animals have got plenty of hay and are not +parched with thirst. I would strongly plead for our dumb friends in this +matter, because, on more than one occasion, I have found my horses shut +up for the night without "bite or sup," and by the welcome they always +gave me, I know they were most grateful to me for my nightly visits, not +only in neighing on hearing me speak, but also in dutifully obeying my +voice when I rode them. If a horse, like a dog, gets to know that his +mistress is his kindest friend, he will do his best to please her, and +will remain steady at her command even under very great provocation to +"play up." Here again Jorrocks' advice to know your horse comes in, for +our stable friendship with our animals establishes a bond of unity which +they will always remember and appreciate. Horses are very sporting +animals, and the love of competition is inherent in them all, from the +hack to the steeplechaser. When it is a question of a gallop, an old nag +will put his best foot foremost and try to outdistance his companion, +even though his chances of so doing may be extremely small. In hunting +and racing we see horses gamely struggling on, often under severe +punishment. To my mind, half the pleasure of witnessing equine +competitions of speed and staying power is lost by the brutality of +jockeys who, possibly from rage and disappointment at losing a race, +often unmercifully punish their animals with whip and spurs, even when +the first three horses have passed the winning post. + +One of the most fruitful causes of bad mouths is the practice which many +servants adopt of jerking the reins, when a horse which they are holding +becomes restless, even when the inquietude consists merely in looking at +passing objects. Men who adopt this barbarous method of control, never +accompany the action of their hand with the voice, and, consequently, +the unfortunate animal does not know why he is punished. He naturally +connects any pressure of the mouth-piece on the bars of his mouth with +the idea of pain, from which he tries to escape by throwing up his head. +Hence, instead of going freely up to his bit, and thus putting himself +in touch with his rider, he will fight against it and will be +unpleasant, if not dangerous, to ride. + +There have been many funny books written about horsemanship! In a very +incompetent book on this subject, the author states: "In riding, if a +horse does not nag himself properly, take short hold of the reins with +your left hand, lean back in the saddle, with a light whip or stick give +him three or four strokes right and left down his shoulders, at the same +time holding the reins tight so that he does not go from under you; he +will soon alter his pace. That requires practice, with nerve and +judgment." I think that a person who would be guilty of such a display +of "nerve and judgment" deserves similar punishment with the whip. It is +in the hands of such men that horses earn the reputation of being +bad-tempered. This writer also tells us "not to give water before +feeding, as it weakens the saliva in a horse's mouth!" Whyte Melville +owed his success in horse management to the adoption of kind and humane +methods. All those who have broken and ridden young horses know how +thoroughly sound is his advice:--"From the day you slip a halter over +his ears he should be encouraged to look to you, like a child, for all +his little wants and simple pleasures. He should come cantering up from +the farthest corner in the paddock when he hears your voice, should ask +to have his nose rubbed, his head stroked, his neck patted, with those +honest pleading looks which will make the confidence of a dumb creature +so touching; and before a roller has been put on his back, or a snaffle +in his mouth, he should be convinced that everything you do to him is +right, and that it is impossible for _you_, his best friend, to cause +him the least uneasiness or harm. + +"I once owned a mare that would push her nose into my pockets in search +of bread and sugar, would lick my face and hands like a dog, or suffer +me to cling to any part of her limbs and body while she stood perfectly +motionless. On one occasion, when I hung up in the stirrup after a fall, +she never stirred on rising, till by a succession of laborious and +ludicrous efforts I could swing myself back into the saddle, with my +foot still fast, though hounds were running hard, and she loved hunting +dearly in her heart. As a friend remarked at the time, 'The little mare +seems very fond of you, or there might have been a bother'! Now this +affection was but the result of petting, sugar, kind and encouraging +words, particularly at her fences, and a rigid abstinence from abuse of +the bridle and the spur." + +Many animal lovers, especially those who have had no personal experience +in studying the peculiarities of our dumb servants, consider that all +horses behave well if kindly treated. This belief has a certain +foundation in fact, in the case of amiable animals which appreciate good +usage. There are, however, many horses, especially among the half-bred +hackney class of riding animal, possessed of bitter obstinacy which no +amount of kindness on our part can subdue. Some of these animals allow +us to get on their backs and carry us quietly, so long as we permit them +to proceed at their desired pace; but as soon as we attempt to assert +ourselves in this matter, they display their sullen tempers in various +ways, either by plunging, pulling, or setting up other defences against +our authority. If we insist on our orders being obeyed, they show fight, +or more usually a sullen nagging resistance that continues the whole +time we remain on their backs, and they carry out the same programme +every time we ride them. With such nasty tempered brutes, breaking is of +no avail, for they are quiet as long as we allow them to set the pace +and carry us as they like. A breaker who is a good horseman and +possessed of extreme tact and patience, which of course is necessary, +may continue the fight longer than an ordinary rider cares to do, but he +can produce no permanent result, for he is unable to give the animal a +new heart. Therefore, when we consider the important question of manners +in a horse, we should first learn all we can about the disposition and +temper of the animal both in and out of the stable. Given a sound +foundation to work upon, that is to say, a placid generous tempered +horse, we may confidently set to work in polishing up his manners as may +be required, but with the sullen brutes I have described, it is a +useless task. We find much the same thing in some human beings. George +Moore, in his novel, _Esther Waters_, graphically depicts the sullen +obstinacy of a low class of person who will "neither lead nor drive." I +think that this dogged obstinacy of temper is rarely met with among +thoroughbred, or even well-bred horses, for I have found it to exist in +its worst form only among half-breds, and especially among those which +have hackney blood in their veins. As a rule, a bad-tempered +thoroughbred does not sulk, he fights openly, says his say, like an +irritated master or mistress, and, having relieved his mind, lets the +matter drop, and does not nurture it up for future use, like the +servants in the kitchen. My advice to any lady who is trying to win the +regard of a sullen brute of this class, would be to give up the task as +hopeless, get rid of him, and expend her kindness on an animal more +worthy of it. No horse that will not "chum" with you, by ready obedience +without asserting himself at every step he takes, is worth his keep, and +it is no pleasure to either man or woman to ride such animals, however +excellent both the rider's temper and horsemanship may be. + +I would recommend any lady who is about to purchase a horse, to do her +best to find out, not only if the animal is quiet, but if his former +owner was also amiable, and on no account to buy a horse which has been +spoiled by a bad-tempered man, or woman, supposing that any of my sex is +sour-tempered, which I very much doubt, unless, of course, she had been +spoiled by a vicious male! We should bear in mind that absolute +perfection, either among humans or equines, is unattainable, and, as +Jorrocks points out: "If his 'oss is not so good as he might be, let him +cherish the reflection that he might have been far worse!" + +I think that the native syces of India, like the Russian _ishvoshik_ +(cabman), treat their equine charges with far greater sympathy and +kindness than our English grooms and cab-drivers do. In India we ride +stallions; my grey Arab, Fig. 7, was an entire, and was so kind and +gentle that he was always most careful not to tread on his syce who +slept in his box with him, rolled up in a corner, like a bundle of old +clothes. When Gowlasher, which was the man's name, groomed him, the pony +would playfully catch his arm between his teeth and make a pretence of +biting it, but he never allowed his teeth to hurt the skin. Gowlasher +liked to show me the funny little tricks of this animal; but if Freddie +had attempted to touch the arm of an English groom, he would have been +promptly struck across the muzzle, because his playfulness would have +been misunderstood. + +It is not the custom in this country to hunt or hack stallions, which +are often led out for exercise with two men hanging on to their heads, +both armed with stout sticks. Magic, a grey Arab entire, which we +brought home from India and sold to Colonel Walker, of Gateacre, who won +several pony races with him, carried me quietly in the Row, and his new +owner found him a very clever polo pony. When passing through London on +my return from a visit to Russia, we put up at an hotel in Oxford +Street, where the night was rendered hideous to me by the brutal +slashing of cab horses; for one hears nothing of that kind in Russia, +and yet we English people pride ourselves on being a horse-loving +nation! The speed of Orlov trotters is very great, but no whip is used +in driving them; the coachmen drive with a rein in each hand, like the +drivers of American trotters, and shout after the manner of firemen to +clear the road, for these animals seem to require a good deal of +holding. The Russian cabby uses a small whip like an ordinary dog-whip, +which he tucks away somewhere under his seat, and when his horse is +taking things too easy, it is only necessary for him to show it him, for +he is driven without blinkers, to cause him to at once hasten his pace. +Very often the man is unprovided even with this toy thing, in which case +he obtains a similar result by abusing the animal's relations! During +the whole time that I was in Russia, I never once saw a cabby hurt his +horse with the whip. Russia is the last country to which one would go to +learn anything about the treatment of human beings, knowing what we do +of her past and present history; but we certainly should emulate the +Russian coachmen in their kindness to horses, and not shock our +neighbours by exhibitions of brutality which may be seen daily in the +London streets. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +CROSS-SADDLE RIDING FOR LADIES. + + +The question periodically arises as to whether women should adopt men's +saddles in preference to their own. I have studied the art of riding +astride in an ordinary man's saddle, and would give a negative answer to +that query. The fact that by the adoption of the cross saddle, about +seven pounds in weight would be saved, and the work for the horse would +be somewhat easier, ought not to outweigh the enormous disadvantages on +the other side. Whenever a lady is dragged by skirt or stirrup and +killed--an accident which, happily, occurs but rarely nowadays, for we +wisely adopt the best safety appliances to prevent it--up crops that +evergreen question of cross-saddle riding, as if men never come to +grief! Statistics would, I think, show that, considering the large +number of women who hunt, the proportion of fatal accidents to them in +the hunting field is extremely small as compared with the male record. +Then, again, the question of sore backs from side-saddles may be urged; +but with a well-fitting saddle which is properly girthed up, this +trouble can be averted. Besides, sore backs are not confined to side +saddles, for every hunting man, at some period or other, has had a +sore-backed horse in his stable. My argument against the adoption of +men's saddles is, in the first place, that such saddles afford us far +less security of seat than we obtain in our own; for I do not think that +men could ride, as we can, over fences without the aid of the reins. +This statement is borne out, not only by the attempts which many good +horsemen have made to do so, while my husband drove animals over +obstacles with the long reins, but also by the fact that all men like a +horse that goes well up to the bridle for cross-country work. Then, +again, a woman's limbs are unsuited to cross-saddle riding, which +requires length from hip to knee, flat muscles, and a slight inclination +to "bow legs." I practised my cross-saddle riding in a school well +supplied with large mirrors in which I could see my figure as I passed. +It was anything but graceful, for the rotundity, which even in some men +is very ugly on horseback, was far too much _en évidence_, and caused an +outburst of laughter from the ladies who were watching my performance. I +at first found it rather difficult to preserve my balance well in +cantering on a circle, but that came to me far more quickly than ability +to ride properly over a fence in a plain flapped saddle, such as I +presume ladies would want to use if they adopted that style of riding. +The directions given me were to lean back and grip with my knees; but, +as in side-saddle riding, I left the reins quite loose, instead of +hanging on to them as most men do, I lost the aid which they might have +afforded me in my efforts to stick on. Besides, my grip was all wrong, +and seemed to be obtainable only at the thigh, which, my husband tells +me, ought, for riding purposes, to be flat and not round. My experience +of this kind of riding appears to have been borne out by another lady +who tried it, for "Rapier," in the _Sporting and Dramatic News_, Nov. +26th, 1892, says: "A few weeks ago my correspondent 'Ion,' who is, I +believe, an excellent horsewoman, told me how she made an essay at +riding on a man's saddle, with the result that she had a very bad fall." +I believe both of us would have done better if we had had no previous +experience of riding, and had acquired the art of hanging on to the +reins. A lady who is well known with the Devon and Somerset Staghounds +asked my husband's advice about a suitable saddle, as she desired to +ride astride, and he helped her to procure one with large knee pads, +made on the principle of Australian buck-jumping saddles, which appears +to have answered her purpose very well; but I do not know how she would +get on in Leicestershire. Mrs. Tweedie rode astride in a Mexican saddle, +which, like those used by natives in India, are something after the +pattern of an easy-chair. William Stokes, in an old work on riding which +was published at Oxford, tells us that in Mexico "the _pisana_, or +country lady, is often seen mounted before her _cavaliero_, who, seated +behind his fair one, supports her with his arm thrown round her waist." +This was much more gallant than the old English method, for the lady, +after being seated sideways on the horse's croup, had to run the risk of +being knocked off by her cavalier, who vaulted into the saddle in front +of her. The plate illustrating this nice performance shows that the man +had to stand with his left leg in the stirrup and put his weight on the +saddle with his hands, while he raised his right leg over the lady's +head. Having lived in the East, I am aware that Oriental women ride +astride, but I have not seen any of them voluntarily go out of a walk. +It is not difficult to trot and canter in a man's plain hunting saddle, +but I think our conformation requires the assistance of knee rolls for +jumping. We may see even fair horsemen thrown by a horse suddenly +stopping dead at a fence, an accident that rarely occurs to a woman in a +side saddle, as the grip afforded by her crutches gives her greater +security of seat. + +A large number of men's saddles have recently been purchased in London +for the use of American ladies who desire to adopt cross-saddle riding. +They intend wearing frock coats and breeches made exactly like men's +hunting breeches, and top boots; but as the frock coats are +tight-fitting and follow the contour of the figure, I do not think that +the costume will enhance the elegance of the wearer. In the Tiergarten +at Berlin I saw a German lady riding astride in a kind of divided skirt, +and as she was rather portly, her palfrey appeared to be fully +caparisoned. If the cross-saddle were to be generally adopted by women, +it would be but a revival of an ancient custom which was in use before +the side-saddle with a leaping head rendered it possible for women to +ride across country. According to Audry, English ladies discarded +cross-saddle riding, and began to ride with the right leg over the +crutch, about the middle of the seventeenth century, which style the +Countess of Newcastle is said to have been the first to adopt. In the +_Encyclopĉdia Londinensis_ we read that Queen Elizabeth "seems to have +been the first who set the ladies the more modest fashion of riding +sideways," but I think the honour of its introduction is due to Ann of +Bohemia, the consort of Richard the Second. Garsault tells us that +during the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, ladies of the +French Court usually rode astride on donkeys. Whatever may be said in +favour of cross-saddle riding, we must bear in mind that it was not +until the introduction in 1830 of the leaping head that women were able +to ride over fences, and it would be a most reactionary measure to try +to dispense with this valuable improvement on the ancient and +incompetent order of things. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +RIDING DIFFICULT HORSES. + +General Remarks--Shying--Stumbling--Dancing and Prancing--Throwing up + the Head--Habit-shy--Jibbing--Shouldering--Backing--Pulling-- + Refusing--Boring--Kicking--Buck-jumping--Rearing. + + +GENERAL REMARKS. + +As ladies are not supposed to have to ride "difficult" horses, a chapter +on the best means of managing such animals may appear superfluous; but +even the steadiest animal is apt to go wrong at times, and as forewarned +is forearmed, it is best for us to know how to act in cases of +emergency. I do not think that there exists in this world an absolutely +perfect horse, or faultless human being for that matter, although many +members of both the human and equine race nearly approach the ideal +standard, especially among our own gentle sex. A woman who rides a great +variety of horses finds that each of her mounts has his or her special +peculiarity of temper, which often sorely taxes her supply of patience +and tact in keeping it under control. All horses, even the quietest, try +to show their authority when ridden by a stranger, and still more so +when they find themselves carrying a rider who sits in a side-saddle, +which must be a most unnatural burden to a horse that has been broken +and ridden by men. Apart from considerations of side-saddle gear, the +extra steadiness which is required of him in standing "stock" still +while a lady is being put up on his back and her habit arranged, +necessitates more patience on his part than with a male rider. On the +other hand, he may be impressed with the idea that he is being asked to +carry a more precious burden, and that he must prove himself worthy of +the confidence reposed in him. I think this feeling of honour exists in +horses, for I am reminded of a charger which an officer in India lent +me, with somewhat anxious misgivings, to ride. He told me that the +animal would be sure to buck at a certain spot, and, as he rode with me, +he warned me when I came to this debateable ground to be ready for the +usual performance. We cantered along quietly, as we had been doing, for +I thought it best to pretend nothing, and my mount, to his owner's great +surprise, made no attempt to buck, either then or subsequently, while I +was riding him, and we remained the best of friends. A hunter mare which +I had in Cheshire, gave another instance of this honourable feeling +among equines. When ridden by my husband or myself, she loved to show +off by shying at a white gate, a heap of stones, a piece of paper, a +bird, or any imaginable thing that she could find as an excuse to dart +suddenly from one side of the road to the other. When we got to the +hunting field, with all its noise and turmoil, she was as steady as +possible, and the violent shying, which was her way of showing off, +seemed to be quite forgotten. She would carry my son to his school, a +distance of about five miles, and bring him home without making any +attempt to shy with the child, but if an adult person rode her on the +same route, she would play up as usual. I can only infer from this +experience that, as I have already said, many horses possess a certain +sense of honour. As shying is the most common vice among horses, we may +consider it first. + + +SHYING. + +I have called this habit or trick of becoming violently startled without +adequate cause a vice, because in old horses who frequently shy with the +object of unseating a rider thus suddenly taken unawares, it certainly +is a very bad vice, and one for which the only cure is good +horsemanship--that is to say, a seat sufficiently secure in the saddle +to enable us to treat such conduct with indifference. If we attach +importance to it by losing our temper and hitting an artful offender of +this kind, punishment may cause an unpleasant exhibition of temper on +his part, besides letting him see that his object has been accomplished. +In the case of young and nervous horses, shying arises from timidity and +not from vice, and therefore it behoves us to exhibit patience and +kindness in inspiring confidence in such animals and assuring them that +there is no reason for terror. The best means of doing this is to ride +on and take no notice, although we may see by the behaviour of our +mount, as he keeps his ears pricked, snorts at the terrifying object in +front of him, slackens his pace, and prepares to either stop or dart +away, that he will require encouragement to induce him to go on. As long +as he answers the indications of the reins and pressure (not cuts) of +the whip we should keep silent; but when he falters as if his heart were +failing him, it is time for us to encourage him with the voice, softly +at first, and louder, in a determined tone of command, if he still +hesitates. With a young horse it is well to continue speaking to and +soothing him until he has falteringly passed the cause of alarm, as the +sound of his rider's voice often inspires him with confidence at the +critical moment by withdrawing his attention from the object of his +fright. If a lady is riding with a friend and is engaged in conversation +when her horse begins to show fear at some object of alarm, she should +continue her talk, because it will give him more encouragement to go on, +than sudden silence on her part, which he might take as a sign that she +shares his fear. If she finds it necessary to shorten her reins in +anticipation of his "playing up," she should do it in an easy and +gradual manner, so as not to let him know her intentions, and above all +things she should refrain from speaking to him until it is absolutely +necessary, which will be at the moment he is getting ready to swerve. I +have at present a very amiable and steady hunter, which will invariably +shy at any high vehicle, but will pass traction engines, trains and even +motor cars quite quietly. No doubt his unsteadiness is nervousness and +not vice, and is the result of an accident. It is not a good plan to +wrestle with a horse until he can be induced to go up to and smell what +he was shying at; for besides attaching too much importance to a trivial +failing, it is not always possible to do this, in the case of moving +objects, which cause animals far more terror than stationary ones. The +whip should never be used on a shying horse with the object of hurting +him, because it is unjust to inflict pain for an unintentional mistake, +and idiotic to regard the exhibition of his fear as a personal affront, +which is often done by ignorant riders. Almost all horses when they are +very fresh, and especially on cold days, will shy and jump about on +first being taken out, partly with the desire to keep themselves warm, +and also with delight at being able to come out and enjoy a scamper. +Dogs exhibit much the same skittishness; even old animals gamble like +puppies when they are taken out, and the shying which results from +freshness in horses should be tolerated within, of course, reasonable +limits. Exercise will take away the superfluous playfulness, and it is +one of the best of cures for equine failings, because even young horses +which are regularly ridden, soon give up their habit of nervous shying +and become steady conveyances. However terrified an inexperienced +horsewoman may be on finding herself on a horse which shies badly, she +should take care not to divulge her secret to him, as the animal would +then try to usurp the reins of authority and refuse to obey her +tremulous exhortations. She should always bear in mind that horses, +young or old, nervous or bold, require as much keeping in their place as +do domestic servants. Therefore, in all critical situations in which our +ability to govern is directly challenged, we should assume the virtue of +power if we have it not, and hang our banners on the outer walls, even +though we may not have a shot in the locker. + + +STUMBLING. + +Stumbling is not a vice, and therefore it would be as unjust to hit a +horse for accidentally tripping, as it would be to strike a human being +for making a false step and possibly spraining an ankle. Its chief +causes may, I think, be traced to weakness; and, in the case of young +horses, to bad shoeing and dirty stables. The subject of horse-shoeing +is one which does not appeal to ordinary riders, so I may refer any lady +who desires to study it, to my husband's chapter on it, in his new +edition of _Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners_. The feet of horses +should not be washed, because this practice renders horses liable to +cracked heels and thrush, both of which ailments diminish the +sure-footedness of an affected animal. If the feet are carefully picked +out and brushed they can be kept in a hard, healthy condition, such as +we find in the feet of young and unbroken horses which have never been +shod. The stable should be kept clean and dry, for it is useless to +expect a horse's feet to remain in a sound condition if he be allowed +to stand in a wet and dirty stall or loose-box. The feet should always +be carefully picked out after an animal has been exercised on tan, which +contains matter that is injurious to the feet if it be allowed to remain +in them. We have had bad cases of thrush caused by carelessness in this +respect. As regards conformation, it is evident that horses with upright +pasterns and heavy shoulders are far more apt to stumble than +well-shaped ones, besides being rough and unpleasant to ride. Young +horses which are shod for the first time, often stumble a great deal, +until they get accustomed to their artificial foot-gear, and learn to go +in a collected manner. Animals that are punished for stumbling by +ignorant or bad-tempered riders, frequently acquire the detestable habit +of dancing about every time they make a false step. + + +DANCING AND PRANCING. + +This vice, which some badly-broken horses possess, of refusing to walk +when required, and "blowing their noses" when spoken to, proceeds +generally from temper, and a desire on the animal's part to show his +authority. It is sometimes caused by the rider hanging on to the reins, +especially if she uses a sharp curb or Pelham. I have known cases of +horses which had been sold at a great sacrifice on account of this +trick, become perfectly steady in a few days when properly handled. On +the other hand, there are animals which prance from vice, and refuse to +obey even the best horsewomen. I know of nothing more annoying to a +lady, for it causes her to feel hot and uncomfortable, to say nothing +of a possible headache and pain in the side. Such fretting and fuming +brutes are not fit to ride, and should be put through a course of +breaking lessons, preferably with the long reins, and be punished by +being compelled to rein back, walk and halt at word of command. If it is +inconvenient to have them properly broken, they should be driven in +harness at a walk, and be kept standing about as much as possible to +teach them obedience. A lady can offer very little defence when riding a +dancing horse, but she may gain some respite by making him halt, +supposing she does not desire to trot or canter. If a steady animal +commences to dance without any exciting cause, such as the prospect of a +hunt, his bitting and girthing up should be carefully examined, as there +may be something hurting him, or the saddle may be pinching his back. +Horses which are tormented by flies are apt to dance about, in which +case it is best to trot or canter as much as possible. In India and +other tropical countries where these pests are particularly troublesome +during the hot weather, horse-hair wisps specially made for the purpose, +are carried for brushing them away. + + +THROWING UP THE HEAD. + +If a curb be used, care should be taken that its mouthpiece is not +placed too high up in the mouth; that the chain is not too tight, in +which case it would hurt the jaw; and that the mouthpiece of the snaffle +does not press against the corners of the mouth. If there is nothing +hurting the animal's mouth, he should be ridden by a groom in a standing +martingale, at a length which will prevent him from getting his head too +high. I like the Irish plan of buckling the standing martingale to the +rings of the snaffle, better than that of attaching it to the noseband, +because it teaches the animal to "give" to the bridle, and not to lean +persistently on the noseband. The noseband method is generally adopted +by polo players. The precaution of seeing how the horse behaves when he +finds that he can no longer indulge in his favourite vice, should always +be taken before he is ridden by a lady; because at first the checking +influence of the standing martingale is sometimes resented by efforts to +rear and plunge badly. If the use of the long reins is understood, it is +better to have the horse circled and turned with them, but very few +people are capable of using them in an efficient manner. When the animal +finds himself unable to successfully resist this fixed defence and +prefers to carry his head quietly, rather than to hurt his mouth by +violently throwing his head up, he may be safely ridden by a lady in +this martingale, and she will then be able to control him. Very few +horses will fight against the martingale for any length of time, and as +this most useful article of gear is considered to be indispensable to +polo players for controlling their animals, its value to ladies who +cannot, by reason of their perched-up position in a side-saddle, lower +their hands like men, is inestimable. + + +HABIT-SHY. + +I use this term to designate the trick that some horses, chiefly those +which are unaccustomed to the side-saddle, have of sidling away from the +skirt. A good plan is to put up a groom in a side-saddle with a rug on, +and get him to ride in circles to the left, kicking the rug about with +his foot until the horse goes collectedly, which he will generally do in +a few lessons. + + +JIBBING. + +Jibbing, or "balking" as the Americans term it, is a detestable vice. As +a rule, it is the outcome of the knowledge an animal has acquired of his +own power. Some horses are foolishly allowed by their riders to jib +successfully. For instance, I was once riding with a lady whose animal +"planted" himself at a certain spot and refused to "budge." Instead of +trying to make him go on, his mistress wearily said that that was her +limit, and that she always took him home from it, because he did not +want to go any farther! I suggested a change of horses, but she would +not hear of it; for she said I might upset his temper and make him worse +than ever. Needless to say, the spoiled brute did precisely as he liked +with her, and as she submitted to being "bossed" in this feeble manner, +there was nothing to be done but go home every time he "wanted" to do +so. If a horse jibs and there is nothing hurting him in the saddle or +bridle, he should be shaken up sharply and ordered to go on. If he +treats that order with silent contempt, the best thing to do is to make +him turn and keep him circling until he gets tired of this performance +and will go in the required direction. It is wiser not to strike an +obstinate jibber, unless as a last resource, for further rousing his bad +temper is productive of no good result. If punishment has to be resorted +to, his rider should be able to form an idea of what defence he will be +likely to offer by way of retaliation. If he is inclined to rear, the +cuts should be given well behind the girth, and he should be kept on the +turn to the right, in order that he may not fix his hind legs, which he +would have to do in order to get up. If kicking be his speciality, they +should be applied on the shoulder, while his head is held up as high as +possible. If punishment proves ineffectual, it should be discontinued at +once, as no woman cares to be the centre of an admiring crowd while she +is engaged in a fight which, in nine cases out of ten, does more harm +than good. A man told me that he cured a bad jibber by getting off him +and throwing a lighted cracker under him; but such heroic measures had +best not be undertaken by a lady, who would be wise to hand over the +animal to a competent breaker if she wished to ride him again. + + +SHOULDERING. + +This is a form of jibbing in which the horse tries to get rid of his +rider by pressing her against some convenient object, such as a tree or +wall. As he will naturally do this on the left side, his rider should +try to turn him to the left to make him bring her away from the object +in question. In other respects she should act as recommended in +"Jibbing." + + +BACKING. + +This is another variety of jibbing; but it is also caused by using a +severe bit which a horse is afraid to face. If the bitting and saddling +are right, a touch with the whip given behind the girth will generally +prove effective. Sometimes a horse will deliberately back in order to +kick another. In the hunting field, mares are at times very apt to try +this trick, so care should be taken to prevent it. + + +PULLING. + +I have found from experience that the best kind of gear in which to hold +a hard puller, who goes along with his mouth open and is so headstrong +that he will not slacken speed when required, is an ordinary double +bridle, a cavesson nose-band and a standing martingale. It is far better +for ladies, especially out hunting, to ride animals in gear in which +they are able to hold them, than to have them dashing about as they +like, and proving a source of danger, not only to their riders, but to +the rest of the field. A lady should never ride a hard puller when +hunting; but as some of us have to put up with what we can get, it is +well to fix up a difficult mount of this kind in a manner that will +keep him under control. + +Some clever people assert that any horse can be held with a snaffle; but +I am certain that pullers can, as a rule, be much better controlled by a +curb, provided that it is properly put on. I have no faith in severe +bits, because the desire to pull and tear away emanates from the brain +of a horse, and if we hurt his mouth by using a severe bit, we only +succeed in making him more headstrong than ever. Most, if not all, young +horses make frantic efforts to get away after the hounds, when they are +hunted for the first few times; and, until they settle down and learn +that fences require jumping and not galloping into, it is far more +difficult to hold them without a standing martingale than with one. If a +horse is getting out of hand, even under the restraining influence of a +curb, we can generally manage to turn him with the aid of a standing +martingale, and so long as we can do that, he cannot run away, as I have +found when I have been placed in somewhat critical situations, with my +curb ineffective in preventing a headstrong youngster from urging on his +wild career under the intense excitement of his first day with hounds. +The desire which a puller has to get away would probably only occur in +the early part of the day when the starting rush is made, but if it were +successful he would bolt among a lot of horses and be almost certain to +cause an accident. A cavesson nose-band properly put on, will shut the +mouth of a puller which wants to keep it open, and will thus help the +rider to control him. If a lady possesses doubts as to her ability to +hold her horse, she should keep well away from the field, so that she +may not endanger the safety of others. It is always best to put animals +which are at all likely to pull, through a regular course of cub hunting +from the very beginning of the season, so that they may gradually work +along from the "pottering" to the galloping stage. A course of such +instruction sobers them down, and they will then give their rider far +less trouble than if they are dashed off into the excitement of +fox-hunting without having had good preliminary training. This is a fact +which ladies should bear in mind; for I have found it work very +successfully. + +There is nothing like plenty of regular work for taking the nonsense out +of pulling horses. Mr. Caton, a well-known American trainer of match +trotters, whom I met in St. Petersburg, told me that he always sent his +bad pullers to do a week or two's work in one of the city tram-cars, for +they always came back with a good deal of the "stuffing" taken out of +them. Pulling is of course a very bad vice; for a pulling horse knows +well enough what his rider is asking him, through the medium of the +reins, but he shakes his head, or throws it up, if he can, as much as to +say that he will _not_ obey. A lady should not be alarmed if she finds +her mount getting out of hand; but should, if possible, let him go for a +short distance and then take a pull at him, at the same time speaking +determinedly to him, and not in a frightened tone. If the brute will not +obey, we must use severe measures, and in extreme cases, it is well to +"saw" the bit from one side to the other, in order to hurt his mouth so +much, that from very pain he must perforce yield. I believe that many +bad accidents have occurred through riders becoming frightened and +refraining from the use of force in stopping a hard puller, who is thus +allowed to run away. I think that if people could keep their heads clear +and not clutch on to the saddle and let the reins loose, or maintain a +dead hold of them, which is equally ineffective, but husband their +resources for determined attacks, very few horses would succeed in +bolting with their riders. Of course a great deal depends on the +strength of the seat of the rider; for we must sit very tight and not +let our mount feel us wobbling about in the saddle. We should never +forget the power of the voice as a factor in horse control, and our +attempts to stop a pulling animal should always be accompanied by a +sternly expressed word of command. In my travels abroad, I have ridden +some extremely bad pullers which were said to bolt with men; but +although I certainly had trouble with such animals, none of them +succeeded in running away with me and taking me where they liked. My +husband also has a similar record in this respect, so I cannot help +thinking that when a rider is actually bolted with, he or she must have +got frightened and confused at a critical moment and have allowed the +animal to literally take the reins of authority in his teeth. It +requires a good deal of physical strength to control a hard puller, and +I have had my gloves and hands badly cut in wrestling with particularly +headstrong brutes. On the other hand, some horses which have really nice +mouths, get the name of being pullers, on account of having been ridden +by "mutton-fisted" men who hang on to the reins and thus irritate them +beyond control. I am reminded of a big Australian horse, about seventeen +hands high, which Mr. Macklin, the Australian horse-shipper, brought to +Calcutta and lent me to ride in a paper-chase there. This animal carried +me perfectly, although his rough rider (more "rough" than "rider") +afterwards showed me an unjointed snaffle bent almost double, which he +said had been caused by this "pulling devil of a horse"! There is a +great deal of truth in the saying, that if you don't pull at a horse, he +won't pull at you. I am sure that many horsemen, and certainly every +riding member of my sex, will bear me out in stating that women manage +pullers far better than do men, because they do not hang on to their +mouths, in order to help them in keeping their seats. Where many women +greatly err in riding confirmed pullers, is in inability to take +sufficiently harsh measures which are needed for their control. I am +aware that there are animals, especially race-horses, which cannot be +held at all until they have gone a certain distance. The pace holds +them, but such headstrong animals tire themselves unnecessarily, and +generally have to "shut up" before the finish of a long distance race; +for the steady plodding horse will almost invariably prove the better +stayer of the two. In hunting, the pace will not always hold a horse, +because hounds may check at any moment, the start to a "holloa" may +prove a false alarm, and leaving out the uncertain behaviour of foxes, a +sudden stoppage may be caused by an impossible fence, river, railway, or +by a variety of causes which would amply prove the fallacy of the pace +holding a hard puller in the hunting field. As pulling horses are the +cause of frequent hunting accidents, I would specially caution my +readers against riding animals which they are not able to keep in hand. + +If a lady is riding a good old hunter who insists on going his own pace, +she should interfere with him as little as possible, even in her desire +to steady him over bad ground and at his fences; because the large +majority of these animals have their own method of doing business, and +can be safely trusted to take care of themselves. If they are unduly +checked in galloping, they are apt to pull very hard, and greatly tire +their riders. I am, of course, alluding to good-tempered, well-made +hunters which go best with a rider who sits still on their backs and +trusts to their experience and honour. + +Concerning the best kind of bridle in which to hold a puller, I cannot +do better than quote the following remarks from my husband's book, +_Riding and Hunting_:--"As regards the bitting of a puller, I would +advise that with a double bridle the curb should be put low down in the +mouth.... In all cases an unjointed snaffle is much the best form of +bit. With a double bridle we have a choice between the two. We should +bear in mind that the action of a curb is peculiarly liable to produce +insensibility of the mouth on account of its pressure being distributed +almost completely round the lower jaw, while that of the snaffle falls +only on the upper surface of the jaw. Even the jointed snaffle and the +chain snaffle leave the under surface of the jaw free from pressure, and +consequently interfere comparatively little with the circulation and +nervous supply of that part. Hence we should avoid riding even the worst +puller continuously on the curb, the action of which we should alternate +from time to time with that of the snaffle, so as to preserve the +sensibility of the jaw. It is evident that the sensibility of the mouth +is the means by which we are enabled to remain in touch with the +forehand of the horse. I would here recommend the alternative, not the +combined, employment of the curb and the snaffle." Thin bits which +irritate horses' mouths often cause them to fight and pull hard; it is +unfortunately no uncommon sight in the hunting field to see a tortured +horse bleeding from the mouth, and yet such animals are expected to +gallop and jump kindly! + + +REFUSING. + +To jump or not to jump, that is the question with which determined +refusers have "stumped" some of the very best cross country riders. I am +reminded of an instance which occurred in India, when a fine horsewoman, +seeing a friend unable to make his mount jump in a paper-chase, which is +nearly akin to a steeple-chase, rode him herself in the next one, with +no better result, and great must have been her mortification on finding +herself left on the wrong side of the first fence which the determined +brute refused to look at, even when carrying this charming lady, to whom +many equine bad characters had yielded obedience. This appeared to be a +sheer case of equine temper and obstinacy; for the animal could jump +well when he liked, but the man or woman has yet to be born who can make +a horse jump when he has decided not to do so. I have a very strong +belief that refusers are made, not born, for every unbroken horse which +my husband had to deal with in his travels, tried his best to give +satisfaction by making an effort, even if an unscientific one, to clear +the obstacle, generally a heavy log of wood propped up on boxes, which +was offered for his consideration. If he jumped well, and in the +flippant style of a natural fencer, more boxes were produced, and +sometimes these youngsters cleared quite a respectable height in one +"lepping" lesson with me on their backs, and my husband at the end of +the long reins. The abuse of the curb at fences is the cause of, I +think, half the falls, and more than half of the refusals which we see +in the hunting field. In Ireland, where the large majority of our +hunters come from, the snaffle is the bit used in breaking and hunting, +as it is in steeple-chasing; and although our Irish neighbours find the +curb has its advantages, we must admit that they keep it in its proper +place and do not allow it to usurp the snaffle when riding over fences. +The sportsmen of Tipperary, Kildare, Cork and other parts of Ireland, +who have to negotiate immense banks, would ridicule the idea of riding +at such obstacles on the curb, because no sane person would think of +checking a horse in such a manner; and the solid "cope and dash" stone +walls of Galway also require to be taken by an animal whose mouth is not +interfered with. Here in England we see these Irish hunters frequently +ridden at fences on the curb, and the poor brutes, in order to save +their mouths and keep on their legs, throw up their heads and give a +half buck over the obstacle, landing on all fours, and then get a cut +with the whip for having jumped badly! This is how many refusers are +made. Another recipe for making a refuser is to pretend to ride hard at +a fence and, at the last moment, turn the animal's head from it, and +then loudly rate and "lambaste" him for refusing! Still another method +is to "funk" the obstacle when it is too late, and check the horse with +the curb _after_ he has made his spring, which will cause him to crash +into the middle of the fence, and probably bring both himself and his +rider to grief. My husband, being a veterinary surgeon, has had hunters +brought to him in a most pitiable state of laceration, caused, I +believe, in many cases, by "funk" and curb, a most disastrous +combination. We have in our stable at the time of writing, a very +intelligent hunter who was dreadfully injured from having, it is said, +"jumped bang into a fence," but I wish that patient sufferer could tell +me the real cause of his accident. It was one of those crumpling falls +which seem to mean death to both horse and rider, but luckily in this +case, the rider escaped with a few bruises and a smashed hat. The horse +was also fortunate in a way, as no bones were broken; but the skin and +flesh of his near fore-leg were torn off from almost the shoulder to the +knee, and I wondered, as I looked on that gaping, bleeding wound, and +the poor animal quivering with pain and hardly able to bear even placing +the tip of his toe on the ground, if he would ever have the courage to +face a fence again. Luckily, he is all right now. + +I have heard people talk about a "good fall" being the best means for +teaching horses how to jump, and there is a certain modicum of truth in +this, especially with young horses, and young horsemen too for that +matter; but when an old hunter gets a "bad" fall, I doubt whether he +ever recovers his jumping form again, any more than we ourselves who may +have come an awful "buster" after we have reached the "age of +discretion." Horses frequently refuse on account of some physical +infirmity. Unsoundness in one or both fore legs naturally makes a horse +chary of jumping, because of the painful jar which he will receive on +landing, when he is obliged to place his entire weight on his fore legs. +Then again, if his feet are not in a hard and sound condition, he +"funks" the pain of landing over a fence and tries his best to avoid +jumping. Many unsound horses, generally hirelings, are hammered along +out hunting, especially on roads, with most inconsiderate cruelty. I +once tried to hunt on a hireling which, I soon saw, was not in a fit +state to carry me without pain. Had I insisted on having my money's +worth out of the animal, it would have been nothing short of gross +cruelty. His fore legs were bandaged, as is usual with hired mounts, and +he galloped and jumped several small fences soundly, as far as I could +feel; but when he came to a rather formidable one, he stopped and tried +to rear. I at once found an easier means of egress, which took me for a +short distance on a road, and the hard ground of only about 20 yards +seemed to tell so much on one leg, that I felt him going decidedly +short, pulled him up and walked him home. When I arrived in Melton +Mowbray, a lady, the last person in the world whom I would have cared to +meet, hailed me with the news that Miss So-and-so had broken her +collar-bone, a fact which appeared to give her more pleasure than +sorrow, "and you" she said, "have lamed your horse"! The dealer +evidently expected this result; for when I rode the horse into his +yard, so that I might personally explain things to him, he told me that +the animal, which was only a four year old, had been "ridden very hard" +by an officer, who, I am sorry to say, has since lost his life in South +Africa. The dealer tried his best to make amends by subsequently +offering me another mount for nothing; but he certainly did err in +letting out this young unsound animal, and spoiling my day's sport, for +which I had paid the usual guineas. My only regret in the matter is that +I galloped and jumped an animal which was not in a fit state to perform +such work. + +Horses are frequently rendered refusers by being repeatedly jumped over +the same fence, until they get so disgusted with the performance that +they will have no more of it. Spurs and whip then come into play and +make matters worse. Even if the animal jumps the fence after a good deal +of unnecessary fighting, the memory of this unjust punishment remains in +his mind, and is productive of the violent agitation which such horses +exhibit on being taken near a jump. It is a wise plan to stop a +"lepping" lesson immediately after the horse has cleared the jump in +good style, and then make much of him (patting him on the neck and +speaking kindly to him). Punishing horses at fences with whip and spur +renders them afraid to face their jumps; because they think that they +will be knocked about, even when they are trying their best to give +satisfaction. Many faulty and bad tempered riders are unnecessarily +cruel in this respect. If a horse refuses from seeing an animal fall in +front of him, his natural prudence should not be taken as a personal +affront, but he should be spoken to and encouraged to try, preferably, +if possible, after another horse has got safely over the obstacle, if +there is no other part of the fence negotiable. I think that by dint of +patience and tactful management, many refusers may be taught to repose +sufficient confidence in their riders to make an effort when required, +but that can be done only by gentle means and easy tasks. Old tricky +offenders cannot be cured of this or any other vice. A lady who is +hunting on a doubtful jumper should be careful not to upset other horses +by letting her refuser perform in front of them, but should show +consideration for her companions by keeping a backward place, supposing +that several horses are taking their turn at jumping the only +practicable part in a fence. Refusers are detested in the hunting field, +and a lady whose hunter is known to shirk his fences and stir up equine +rebellion, is soon classed among the large number of those who never +will be missed. + + +BORING. + +Horses are said to bore when they carry their heads down and lean +heavily on the bit or bear on it to one side. As both the curb and +Pelham have a tendency to make a horse carry his head low, they should +not, as a rule, be used with a borer. The rider might make the animal +keep his head in proper position by playing with the snaffle, the +cheekpieces of the bridle of which may be shortened, so that the +mouthpiece may press against the corners of the mouth and thus induce +him to keep up his head. The same effect can be obtained with the gag +snaffle, which has the advantage that, when one's object is gained, one +can ease off the gag reins and take up the other reins, which are used +in the ordinary manner. When a horse bores to one side, or when he bores +with his head stuck straight out, the standing martingale will often be +useful for correcting this unpleasant fault. I have seen in trotting +matches a bearing-rein (called in America an "over-draw check-rein") +passing between the animal's ears, going down the top of his head and +attached to the pommel of the saddle, effectively employed to correct +this fault. It would, of course, be too unsightly to be used by a lady, +but her groom might employ it advantageously in teaching a borer to +carry his head in correct position. + + +KICKING. + +If practicable, we should first of all see that the saddle does not hurt +the horse in any way. If this be all right, we may "shake him up" with +the snaffle reins and make him carry his head high. If this be not +effective, he should be given a few cuts with the whip on the +_shoulder_. Making him hold up his head and touching him on the shoulder +are done to "lighten" his forehand, and to put more weight on his hind +quarters. Also, we may with much advantage give him some practice at +reining back, within judicious limits, either when we are in the saddle, +or with the long reins. When a horse starts kicking, the rider should +take a strong grip of her crutches and lean back, as far as she is able, +while holding his head up, and thus prevent herself from being thrown +over his head. The most awkward kicker I ever rode was a mountain Zebra +(Fig. 146), which my husband broke in at Calcutta. He kicked very neatly +without lowering his head, and, as the slightest touch on his ears drove +him nearly out of his mind, I had great difficulty in avoiding them, as +he kicked with a sort of peculiar wriggle which complicated the +performance for me, because I had had no practice on a kicking zebra, +and had to pick up my knowledge as I went on. It was no use trying to +rein _him_ back; for he had a neck like a bull, with a small rudimentary +dewlap, and at every kick he gave, he made a noise like a pig grunting. +His skin was the best part about him, and was as lovely and soft to the +touch as the finest sealskin. As I believe I am the only woman who has +ridden a mountain zebra, this photograph is probably unique. It ought to +be a better one, seeing the trouble I took to make my obstinate mount +stand still; but he seemed to regard the camera as an infernal machine +destined for his destruction, and flatly refused to pose nicely for his +portrait. He was far too neck-strong to make a pleasant mount for a +lady. Kickers, as I have already said, should never be taken into any +hunting field. + +[Illustration: Fig. 146.--Riding mountain zebra.] + + +BUCK-JUMPING. + +Under this heading I shall include the minor vices of plunging and +"pig-jumping." Bucking is all but unknown among English and Eastern +horses, but is seen to its highest perfection among Australian and New +Zealand animals, especially those that have been allowed their liberty +up to a comparatively late period of life, say, four years old. I have +ridden some buck-jumping Argentine horses which were expert performers: +many of the wild Russian steppe horses are very bad buck-jumpers. Some +English horses, especially thoroughbreds, can give a very fair +imitation of this foreign equine accomplishment. I remember riding a +steeple-chase horse called Emigrant, which placed quite enough strain +both on me and my girths when he was first called upon to carry a +side-saddle. If a horse has any buck in him, the side-saddle will be +almost certain to bring it out; for with it the animal requires to be +girthed up extra tightly; the balance strap "tickles and revolts" him, +the lady's weight is farther back than on a man's saddle, and the +unusual feeling of carrying a rider whose legs are placed on one side, +tends to irritate a highly sensitive horse. If an animal, on being +saddled, gets his "back up," he should not be mounted until this certain +indication of the buck that is in him has been removed, which may be +done by either circling him with the long reins, or letting a groom run +him about a little until his back goes down. A cold saddle and a chilly +day will often cause a horse to come out of his stable with his back in +bucking position, and, unless a lady knows her animal well, it is best +to get it down before she mounts, because he may buck as she is in the +act of placing her right leg over the crutch--a part of mounting which +animals that are unaccustomed to it greatly dislike, as, I suppose, they +think she is going to give them a kick on the head! + +As I used to do the rough-riding for my husband on his horse-breaking +tours in various countries, I have had to sit a good many buck-jumpers, +and, am thankful to say, I never got thrown, because, from what I have +seen of men being catapulted and placed on the flat of their backs on +the ground, this kind of fall must be, as Jorrocks would say, "a hawful +thing." The great difficulty in sitting a buck-jumper consists in +keeping the body from being jerked forward in the saddle, and slackening +the reins the moment the animal makes a vicious downward snatch at them, +by ducking his head; for if the rider hangs on to his head, he will pull +her forward by means of the reins, and she will be unable to sit the +buck which will follow. All confirmed buck-jumpers look out for this +opportunity whenever the rider draws the reins tightly. Ladies who ride +with the right leg hooked back would not be able to sit a buck-jumper; +for I found that the chief means which prevented me from being thrown +was the ability to lean back, which the forward position of my right leg +gave me. When riding bad horses at my husband's classes, I was able to +see beforehand what special defence such animals offered, and was, +therefore, prepared to cope with them; but I have been taken unawares +when mounted on Australian horses which dealers in India have lent me, +when they have wanted to sell such animals as having carried a lady. I +remember one very handsome Waler, which went like a lamb with me until +suddenly, when cantering quietly along, he took it into his head to try +and buck me off. He did his best to accomplish his purpose, and was +encouraged in his efforts by my pith hat coming off and flopping about +my head. I wished the thing could have fallen, but it was held by the +elastic--we wore our hair in plaits at the nape of the neck in those +days--and I had securely pinned the elastic with hairpins under my +hair. This great wobbling hat only caused the horse to buck worse than +ever, until he tired of his performance and came to a sudden halt. I was +greatly exhausted, and suffering from mental tension, because I was +entirely unprepared for this attack, and doubted the security of my +stronghold, for the girths of my saddle had seen a lot of service, and +the strain on them, caused by the violent bucking of this powerful +sixteen-hand animal, was very great. + +The bigger a horse is, the more difficult he is to sit when he bucks +badly, because he can put much more force into the performance than a +small animal, and he shakes the breath out of one much sooner. It is +lucky for us that a wise providence has placed a limit on a horse's +bucking capabilities. I think that ten or twelve bucks, given in good +style and without an interval for recuperation, is about as much as any +horse can do, but possibly my Australian readers can give statistics on +this point. I hope I am not offending them in saying that Australian +horses are the most accomplished buck-jumpers I have met. Australian +shippers send many of them over to India, and rely on the long sea +voyage to quieten them down, which it does to a certain extent. Mr. +Macklin, an Australian importer, told me that a horse-carrying ship was +wrecked on some part of the coast, an island, I believe, between +Australia and India, and that there is a big colony of wild horses to be +picked up by anyone who will go and take them. I like Australian +horses, because they are excellent jumpers, have beautiful shoulders +and are remarkably sound in wind and limb. They are moreover handsome +breedy looking animals, and those of them which are addicted to bucking, +soon give up this vice, if ridden by capable people. + +A lady who finds herself on a bucking horse should try her best to keep +both her head and her seat, and not be in any way disconcerted by +hearing the angry grunts which such animals often give with each buck +they make to get her off. She should lean back and firmly grip her +crutches as in sitting over a fence, and should try to imagine that she +is jumping a line of obstacles placed close together. If she feels any +forward displacement after one buck, she must hastily get into position +to be ready for the next one, without pausing for a moment to think, +because there will be no time for thought, and her recovery of balance +must be done automatically, while the animal is doubling himself up for +his next buck. If her hat, which is generally the first thing to leave +the saddle, flies off, no notice must be taken, because the instant the +rider devotes her attention to anything else but sticking on, she +relaxes her grip and stands a good chance of being thrown. The most +difficult of all bucking I have experienced was when hunting in +Leicestershire on a young Argentine mare, which started to buck when we +were galloping down hill over deep ridge and furrow. I knew her bucking +propensities, because my husband broke her in and I had had a good deal +of bucking practice with her, so I was able to remain, but that down +hill ridge and furrow performance was extremely hard to sit. Like most +young animals, she hated ridge and furrow, and her temper was upset on +finding that she had to gallop down hill over this troublesome ground. +The necessity of devoting careful attention to the soundness of the +girth-tugs, stirrup-leather, and balance-strap when riding a horse which +is likely to buck is obvious, for of course if they give way under the +strain, no lady would be able to retain her seat. + + +REARING. + +Rearing is the worst of all vices in a horse which has to carry a +side-saddle, because a lady, by reason of her side position and her +inability to lower her hands to the same extent as a man, is utterly +powerless on a rearer. I have seen men slip off over the animal's tail, +when he was standing on his hind legs, but this is a feat which a woman +is unable to accomplish, as I found when a horse reared and came over +with me at Tientsin in China, and hurt my spine so much that I felt its +effects for several years afterwards, especially after a hard day's +hunting, or a long swim. Swimming appears to tax the soundness of the +spinal bones quite as much as does riding. The best thing to do with a +rearer is to prevent him from fixing his hind legs, which he would have +to do before he can get up, and therefore a long whip should be used, +and the animal touched with it as near the hocks as possible, keeping +him at the same time on the turn to the right. Confirmed rearers are +however so quick in getting up on their hind legs, that the rider has no +time, even were she supplied with a sufficiently long whip, to get +anywhere near his hocks, and all she can do is to lean well forward and +leave his mouth alone. If she is still alive when he comes down, my +strong advice would be to get off his back, and give him, as the late +Mr. Abingdon Baird did in the case of a similar brute, to the first +passer by! Rearing is no test of horsemanship, and the sickening sight +of ladies in circuses mounted on rearers is one from which every good +horsewoman would recoil with horror. At Rentz circus in Hamburg I saw +one of these awful sights, and noticed that the ringmaster kept touching +the _steiger_ on the fore-legs with the whip in order to make him paw +the air. I have been told that so long as a rearing horse keeps pawing +in this manner, he will not fall over, but such horrid exhibitions ought +to be prevented. There is nothing more trying to the nerves of any rider +than hunting on a refuser which has a tendency to rear, and I have known +ladies whose nerves have been utterly shattered in their efforts to +govern such dangerous brutes. Take my advice ladies and have nothing to +do with these animals; for it is far easier to get rid of a horse than +it is to recover one's nerve, and the longer a lady tries to wrestle +with a rearer, the more difficulty will she have in overcoming the +strain on her nervous system. I would not take a rearing horse at a +gift, for such animals can never be made sufficiently reliable for any +woman to ride. Horses sometimes learn this detestable vice from others. +I once had an animal in Calcutta which began rearing with me without any +known cause, and I was greatly mystified about his behaviour until one +day I saw my syce, who was exercising him, in company with a native on a +horse which was rearing badly, while my mount was imitating him, a +performance which I subsequently discovered had been going on daily for +some time. If a previously quiet horse suddenly starts a new form of +playing up, the riding of the groom or person who has been exercising +and handling him should be carefully watched, and no animal which is +known to be unsteady should be allowed to teach his bad tricks to a +lady's mount, for we know that horses very quickly pick up bad habits +from each other. Baron de Vaux, in his book _Ecuyers et Ecuyères_, tells +us that Emilie Loisset, who was a brilliant high school rider, was +killed by a rearer coming over with her. He says:--"_Elle souffrait +beaucoup, car la fourche de la selle lui avait perforé les intestins. +Après deux jours de douleurs horribles, la pauvre Emilie Loisset rendit +le dernier soupir, surprise par la mort en pleine jeunesse et en plein +succès._" The animal she rode is described as _d'origine irlandaise et +de mauvais coeur_. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +NAMES OF EXTERNAL PARTS OF THE HORSE. + + +I shall here of course omit to describe parts, such as the eyes, head +and tail, for instance, which are known to everyone. The figures and +letters employed in the following list, have reference to those on Fig. +147, except when Fig. 148 is mentioned. + +The hoof (10) is the horny box which encloses the lower part of the leg. +The front part of the hoof, near the ground surface, is called the +_toe_; the side portions, the _quarters_; and the rear parts, the +_heels_. The outer portion of the hoof is termed the _wall_, which is +divided into a hard, fibrous outer covering, called the _crust_, and a +soft inner layer of non-fibrous horn. The designations "wall" and +"crust" are often used indiscriminately. + +The _frog_ is the triangular horny cushion which is in the centre of the +ground surface of the hoof, and which, by its elasticity and strength, +acts as a buffer in saving the structures inside the hoof from the +injurious effects of concussion. + +_The cleft of the frog_ is the division in the middle line of the frog. +In healthy feet, it consists of only a slight depression. In a disease, +called "thrush," of the sensitive part which secretes the frog, the +cleft forms a deep, damp and foul-smelling fissure, and the frog becomes +more or less shrivelled up. The frog similar to the skin of the palms of +our hands, requires frequent pressure to make it thick and strong. The +horn of the hoof is merely a modification of the cuticle (scarf skin). + +The _bars_ of the hoof are the portions of the wall of the hoof which +are turned inwards at the heels, and run more or less parallel to the +sides of the frog. The _sole_ is that portion of the ground surface of +the foot which is included between the wall, bars and frog. + +The _pastern_ (9) is the short column of bones (two in number) which +lies between the fetlock and hoof. + +The _fetlock_ (8) is the prominent joint which is just above the hoof. + +The _cannon bone_ (7) is the bone that extends from the fetlock to the +_knee_ (6), which, in the horse, corresponds to our wrist. + +The _back tendons_ or _back sinews_ (_M_) form the more or less round +tendinous cord which is at the back of the leg, from the knee (or hock) +to the fetlock. These tendons, which are two in number, usually appear +in the form of one cord; but in horses which have a very fine skin and +"clean legs," we may see that one of them is placed behind the other. +The term "clean legs" signifies that the limbs are not only sound, but +are also free from any fulness, which would more or less obscure the +contour of the bones, tendons and ligaments. _Muscles_ are the lean of +meat, and their ends are connected to bones by means of _tendons_, which +consist of hard, fibrous and inelastic material. The _ligaments_ of the +limbs are composed of the same material (white connective tissue) as +tendons, and serve to connect bones together, without the intervention +of muscle. The horse has practically no muscles below his knees and +hocks. + +[Illustration: Fig. 147.--External parts of horse.] + +The _suspensory ligament_ is the fibrous cord which lies between the +cannon bone and the back tendons. The fact that it stands sharply out +between these two structures, when viewed from the side, shows that it +is in a sound condition, which is a most important point as regards +usefulness; because injury to it, from accident or overwork, is a +fruitful cause of lameness, especially in saddle horses that are +employed in fast work. + +The _fore-arm_ (5) is the portion of the fore leg between the knee and +the elbow. + +The _point of the elbow_ (_I_) is the bony projection which is at the +top and back of the fore-arm. + +The _point of the shoulder_ (_H_) is the prominent bony angle which lies +a little below the junction of the neck and shoulder, and consists of +the outer portion of the upper end of the humerus. + +The _forehead_ (_A_) is the front part of the head which is above the +eyes. + +The _nose_ (_B_) is a continuation of the forehead, and ends opposite +the nostrils (_C_). + +The _muzzle_ is the lower end of the head, and includes the nostrils, +upper and lower lips (_D_ and _E_), and the bones and teeth covered by +the lips. + +The _chin-groove_ (_F_) is the depression at the back of the lower jaw, +and just above the fulness of the lower lip, which, in this case, +assumes the appearance of a chin. + +The _angles of the lower jaw_ (_G_) are the bony angles between which +the upper end of the wind-pipe lies. + +The _withers_ (4) are the bony ridge which is the forward end of the +back. + +The _shoulders_ (3) are the bony and muscular portion of the body which +is more or less included between a line drawn from the point of the +shoulder (_H_) to the front end of the withers, and another line drawn +from the point of the elbow (_I_) to the rear end of the withers. +Anatomically speaking, the shoulders consist of the _humerus_ (the bone +which lies between the elbow and the point of the shoulder), shoulder +blade, and the muscles which cover them. + +The _crest_ (_T_) is the upper part of the neck, extending from the +withers to the ears. + +The _jugular groove_ (_U_) is the groove which is on each side of the +neck, just above the wind-pipe. It marks the course of the jugular vein. + +The _poll_ (_V_) is the part on the top of the neck, immediately behind +the ears. + +The _breast_ is the front portion of the body which we see between the +fore legs and below a line connecting the points of both shoulders, when +looking at the animal from the front. The chest is the cavity which is +covered by the ribs, and which contains the lungs, heart, etc. +Therefore, instead of saying that a horse which struck a fence without +rising at it, "chested" it, we should, on the contrary, say that he +"breasted" it. This confusion between the terms "breast" and "chest" is +not unusual. + +The _brisket_ (16) is the part formed by the breastbone, and is the +lower part of the chest. + +The _girth-place_ is that portion of the brisket which is just behind +the fore legs, and which the girths pass under when the horse is +saddled. + +The _back_ (4 and 11) is practically the withers and that portion of the +upper part of the body which is covered by the saddle. Strictly +speaking, it is that portion of the spine which is possessed of ribs. In +common parlance, the term "back" is often applied to the upper part of +the horse, from the withers to the highest point of the croup (Fig. 148, +_H_). This measurement includes the _loins_ (12) as well as the back. +The bones (six vertebrĉ) of the loins have no ribs, and, consequently, +the flanks on each side are soft to the touch, and have a tendency to +"fall in" (become depressed), especially if the abdomen, which is +underneath them, be insufficiently filled with food. The _croup_ (17) is +that part of the spine which is between the loins and tail. The hind +legs are connected to the croup by means of the pelvis, which is firmly +united to the croup by strong ligaments. The pelvis stands in the same +relation to the hind legs as the shoulder blades do to the fore limbs, +the chief difference between them being that the pelvis is a single bony +structure composed of several bones, and the shoulder blades are +separate bones. The front part of the pelvis is called the _point of the +hip_ (_S_). + +The _stifle_ (_N_) is the joint of the hind leg which is at the lower +part of the flank. The _thigh_ extends from the stifle to the hip joint. + +The _hock_ (20) is the large and freely movable joint which is +immediately above the hind cannon-bone. The _point of the hock_ (_Q_) is +the bony projection at the back and top of the hock. The _hamstring_, or +_tendo Achillis_ (_P_), is the tendinous cord which runs up the back +of the leg from the point of the hock. The _gaskin_ (19) is the part of +the leg immediately above the hock and bounded at the rear by the +hamstring. The term, _thigh_, is usually applied to the part of the hind +leg above the gaskin; but, correctly speaking, it is the part of the +hind leg above the stifle. + +[Illustration: Fig. 148.--Measurements of horse.] + +The _belly_, or _abdomen_ (15), is the underneath portion of the body of +the horse which is not covered by bone. + +The _point of the buttock_ (_O_) is the rearmost point of the pelvis. + +_The dock_ (_R_) is the solid part of the tail. + +The _height of a horse_ (_A B_, Fig. 148) is the vertical distance of +the highest point of his withers from the ground, when he is standing +with his fore legs nearly vertical and with the points of his hocks in a +vertical line with the points of his buttocks. I have qualified +"vertical" by "nearly" when referring to the fore legs; for when the +hind legs are placed as in Fig. 147, the weight of the head and neck, +which are in front of the fore legs, would cause the animal to stand +somewhat "over." When a pony is being measured for polo or racing, his +legs should be placed in the position I have described, although his +head may be lowered until his crest is parallel with the ground. + +The _length of the body of a horse_ (_D E_, Fig. 148), may be assumed as +the horizontal distance from the front of the chest to a line dropped +vertically from the point of the buttock. This measurement is a somewhat +arbitrary one, but it is probably the best for the purpose. French +writers generally take the length of a horse as the distance from the +point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock. As this is not a +horizontal measurement, I prefer to it the one just given. + +The _depth of the chest at the withers_ (_A C_, Fig. 148) is the +vertical distance from the top of the withers to the bottom of the +chest. This measurement being taken for convenience sake is an arbitrary +one, because the chest is lower between the fore legs than behind the +elbow, which is the spot I have selected. Besides, the actual height +of the withers above the roof of the chest, has no fixed relation to the +depth of the chest. + +_Depth of the body_ (_F G_, Fig. 148). The best and most uniform point +to take this is, I think, the lowest point of the back. + +_Height at the croup_ (_H I_, Fig. 148) is measured from the highest +point of the hind quarters. + + + + +INDEX. + + + Abdomen, 471. + + Accidents, 5. + + Across country, riding, 219. + + Age to begin, 4. + + Agricultural Hall, 167, 335. + + Alderson, Colonel, 310. + + Allen, Mr. John, 33. + + Angles of lower jaw, 468. + + Ann of Bohemia, 430. + + Apron skirts, 96. + + Arabs, 17, 18, 424. + + Argentine horses, 457. + + Ash-plant, 18. + + Audry, 430. + + Australia, 269. + + Australian horses, 457, 460. + + Ayah, 92. + + + Back, 469. + + " tendons, 466. + + Backing, 442. + + Backs, sore, 350. + + Badminton, 361. + + _Baily's Hunting Directory_, 307. + + _Baily's Magazine_, 358. + + Baird, Mr. Abingdon, 463. + + Balance, 148, 149. + + " strap, 36, 53. + + "Balking," 440. + + Banks, 269, 287, 450. + + Bar, stirrup, 27. + + Barclay, Mr. Hedworth, 378. + + Bars of the hoof, 465. + + " of the tree, 26, 28. + + " , safety, 38-42. + + Baskets, 5. + + Beckford, 315. + + Beers, Frank, 246. + + Belly, 471. + + Belvoir, 14, 306, 335. + + " Vale, 320. + + Beresford, Lord William, 384. + + Berliner Tattersall, 392. + + Bicycles, 6, 16. + + Bit, 70. + + " and Bridoon, 70, 76. + + ", cover for, 77. + + Blackmore Vale, 307. + + Blazers, 270. + + "Blood," 345. + + "Blowing their noses," 437. + + "Bobbery pack," 386. + + Body, length of, 472. + + Bois de Boulogne, 16, 392. + + Bombay, 387. + + Boots, 116. + + Boring, 454. + + Brandy, 350. + + _Breaking and Riding_, 118. + + Breaking classes, 166. + + " tours, 458. + + Breast, 469. + + Breast-plate, 54. + + Breeches, 110. + + Bridle, adjustment of, 86. + + Bridles, 70. + + Bridoon, 75. + + Brisket, 469. + + Brooks, 335, 338. + + Brow-band, 74. + + Brutality, 414-417. + + Buck-jumping, 457. + + Bullfinch, 248. + + "Bumpy shoulders," 100. + + Burnaby's Butterfly, Miss, 8, 9. + + Butter, 362. + + Butterfly, Miss Burnaby's, 8, 9. + + Buttock, point of the, 471. + + + Calcutta, 12, 167, 333, 382, 386, 456, 464. + + Camels, 168. + + Cannon bone, 466. + + Canter, the, 200. + + Cantering, 240. + + " false, 203. + + Capping, 307. + + Carriages, passing, 229. + + Carrots for horses, 170. + + Case for extra stirrup, 42. + + Catherine II., 393. + + Caton, Mr., 444. + + Cattle, 248. + + Ceylon, 108. + + Cheek pieces, 74. + + Cheshire, 248, 343, 432. + + Chest, 469. + + " , depth of, 472. + + Chifney, Sam, 165. + + Children, side-saddles for, 59-66. + + " , teaching, 59-64. + + Child's riding dress, 60, 98. + + China, 108, 388, 462. + + Chin-groove, 88, 468. + + Church Minshull, 320. + + Circus, 169. + + " in Paris, 182. + + Clark, Mr., 385. + + "Clean legs," 466. + + Cleaning a saddle, 69. + + Cloister, 287. + + Cloth, 89, 90. + + Coat, driving, 109. + + " , fitting riding, 100. + + Coats, riding, 100-108. + + Coffins, jumping, 388. + + Collars, 124. + + Colonel, 244. + + Colour of habit, 90. + + Coming home, 346. + + Committee, Farmers', 373. + + Compensation to farmers, 373. + + Condition, rider's, 351. + + "Continuations," 112. + + Conyers, Mr., 366. + + Cook, Mrs. "Jim," 384. + + "Cope and dash," 269. + + Cottesmore, 14, 250, 395. + + Country, 248. + + Covert fund, 307. + + Covering of a side-saddle, 32. + + Cows, 368. + + Cracked heels, 436. + + Craven, 306. + + Crawley and Horsham, 306. + + Creed, Mr., 92, 99. + + Crest, 469. + + Cross-saddle riding, 426-430. + + Croup, 470. + + " , height at, 473. + + Crown-piece, 74. + + Crop, 172. + + Crupper, 26, 56. + + Crust of hoof, 465. + + Crutch, off, 30. + + " , upper, 29. + + Crutches, movable, 305. + + " , riding the, 146. + + Cub-hunting, 338. + + Cuffs, 122. + + Curb-chains, 88. + + Curbs, 70, 78, 208, 209, 326, 438, 443, 448, 450, 451. + + Custance, Miss, 349. + + "Cut-and-laid" fence, 249. + + "Cut back" pommel, 28. + + + Dairy-farming, 248. + + Damage fund, 307. + + "Dancing," 437. + + Davis, 2, 3. + + de Vaux, Baron, 464. + + Depth of chest, 472. + + " " body, 473. + + Devon and Somerset Staghounds, 351, 428. + + Diana, 315. + + "Difficult" horses, 431-464. + + Dilke, Lady, 170. + + Dismounting, 134. + + Distemper, 398. + + Dixon, Mr. Scarth, 245. + + Dock, 472. + + Docking horses, 21-24. + + Donkeys, 20, 388. + + Double bridle, 75, 208. + + "Dragged," 5, 50, 64-66, 98. + + Dress, riding, 89-124. + + + East Galway, 269, 270. + + _Ecuyers et Ecuyères_, 464. + + Elbow, point of the, 468. + + "Ellen Terry," 389. + + Elliot, Mr., 246. + + Elmhirst, Captain, 10, 305, 311, 314, 331, 336, 341, 345. + + Emigrant, 458. + + Emperor Paul, 393. + + _Encyclopĉdia Londinensis_, 430. + + Esa bin Curtis, 21. + + Essex and Suffolk, 307. + + _Esther Waters_, 422. + + External parts, names of, 465-473. + + + Falls, 376-380. + + Fane, Lady Augusta, 179. + + Farmers, 248, 249, 357-373, 397. + + " , Compensation to, 373. + + " , Committee, 373. + + " , daughters, 362. + + Feet, care of the, 436. + + Fence, riding up to, 241. + + Fences, 248. + + " , "made," 219. + + " , natural, 224. + + Fenn, Mr., 391. + + Fetlock, 466. + + Field, in the, 307. + + _Field, The_, 306. + + Fillis, Mr. Frank, 168. + + " , Mr. James, 118. + + Firr, Tom, 247, 387. + + First Lessons, 3. + + Flask, 323. + + Fleming, Dr. G., 23, 24. + + Flirting, 375. + + Flock, 32. + + Foot "home," 150. + + Ford, Mr., 34, 40. + + Fordham, George, 180. + + Fore-arm, 468. + + Forehead, 468. + + Forehead-band, 74. + + Foxhounds in India, 387. + + Foxhunting, 343, 354. + + France, 16. + + Franciscan, 378. + + Freddie, 18, 19, 424. + + Freeman, 378. + + "Frivol," 375. + + Frog of hoof, 465. + + Front, 74. + + Frost, praying for, 245. + + "Funking," 450, 451. + + + Galway, 269, 450. + + Gallop, 206. + + Garsault, 430. + + Garth, Mr., 384. + + Gaskin, 471. + + Gates, 248, 287-303, 312, 313. + + Geldings, 343. + + Germans, 391. + + Germany, 16. + + Girls riding, 4, 5. + + Girth place, 469. + + Girths, 51-53. + + "Give and take," 163. + + Gloucestershire, 361. + + Gloves, 120. + + "Gone away," 326. + + Gowlasher, 424. + + Grafton, 246. + + Grand National, 332. + + _Graphic, The_, 347. + + Grip, 148, 149. + + Gullet plate, 27. + + Gustave, 3, 183, 331. + + + Habits, 89-110. + + Habit-shy, 440. + + Hackamore, 87. + + Hacking, 227. + + Hacks, 16-20. + + Hair, management of, 115, 116. + + Halt, the, 188. + + Hames, Mr. Sam, 354. + + Hamstring, 470. + + Hancock's bit cover, 77. + + Handkerchiefs, 323. + + Hands, 160. + + " steady, keeping, 163. + + Harding, Miss, 210, 269. + + Harrington, Lord, 179. + + Hat-guards, 114. + + Hats, 113. + + " for the tropics, 115. + + Hayes' safety skirt, 94. + + Haystacks, 329. + + "Head," 70, 74. + + " , near, 30. + + Head-stall, 70, 74. + + Heavy land, 367. + + Heels, 465. + + Height at croup, 473. + + " of horse, 472. + + Henry, Colonel, 358, 361, 372. + + Hidden Mystery, 332. + + High School Riding, 181. + + _Hints to Huntsmen_, 352. + + Hip, point of the, 470. + + Hirelings, 452. + + Hock, 470. + + Holloaing, 310. + + Home, coming, 346. + + Hoof, 465. + + Hooked-back seat, 151, 154. + + Hook for stirrup-leather, 38, 39. + + Horn, the, 352. + + Hornsby, Mrs., 371. + + Horse, talking to, 229, 230. + + Horse-breaking classes, 166. + + " " tours, 458. + + Horses for ladies, 8. + + " , buying, 423. + + Hospitality, 381. + + Hot countries, jackets for, 108. + + _Humerus_, 469. + + Hunt balls, 365, 366. + + Hunter, height of, 12. + + Hunters, Australian, 8. + + " , Leicestershire, 8-16. + + Hunting, 395, 399. + + " abroad, 381. + + " ties, 122. + + " whips, 312, 313. + + " women, 4, 5. + + + _Illustrated Horse-Breaking_, 234, 417. + + India, 92, 381, 382, 432, 449. + + " -rubber mouth-piece cover, 77. + + Ireland, 307, 394, 450. + + Italian remounts, 390. + + + Jackeroo, Miss Neil's, 11. + + Jackets for hot countries, 108. + + Jameson Raid, 391. + + Japan, 108. + + Jaw, angles of lower, 468. + + Jibbing, 440. + + Jorrocks, 120, 244, 315, 326, 333, 341, 348, 357, 424. + + Jugular groove, 469. + + Jumping, 209, 449-454. + + " competitions, 168, 183. + + " without reins, 236. + + + Kaiser and Kaiserin, 392. + + Keeper of whip, 174. + + Kennel coat, 402. + + Kent, 249. + + Kickers, 10, 11, 12, 342-345. + + Kicking, 455. + + Kindness to horses, 414. + + Knee-pad, 99. + + King-King, Captain, 376. + + Kirby Gate, 342. + + + _Ladies in the Field_, 383, 393. + + Laertes, 124. + + Lash, 173. + + Leading fore leg, 7. + + Leaning back, 150, 158. + + Leaping head, 33-36. + + Left leg, action of, 149. + + " , swerving to the, 146. + + Legs, position of, 3. + + Leicestershire, 95, 98, 179, 196, 219, 247, 270, 311, 316, 319, 328, + 334, 336, 342, 343, 357, 372, 377, 378, 395, 428, 461. + + Length of body, 472. + + Level-seated saddle, 55, 56. + + _Life of a Foxhound_, 400. + + Ligament, suspensory, 467. + + Ligaments, 467. + + Light land, 367. + + Lions, 168. + + Little Pedlington, 169. + + Loins, 470. + + Loisset, Emilie, 464. + + Long reins, 233. + + Lonsdale, Lord, 98, 247. + + Lord Arthur, 378. + + Lord Fitzwilliams, 306. + + Lucknow, 386. + + Lufra, 183. + + + Macdougal, Captain "Ding," 384. + + Macklin, Mr., 385, 446, 460. + + McAndrew, Mr., 387. + + Magic, 424. + + Major, 244. + + Mameluke bit, 390. + + Manifesto, 287. + + Marengo, 210. + + Mares, 343. + + " , docking, 22, 23. + + Martingale, running, 82-88. + + " , standing, 82, 161. + + "Mary Anderson," 389. + + Measuring horses, 20. + + Meerkat holes, 335. + + Melton cloth, 89-92. + + " Mowbray, 386, 395, 452. + + Men riding, 1. + + " teaching ladies, 2, 4. + + Meynell, 306. + + " , Mr., 347. + + Mexico, 428. + + Michael Hardy, 328. + + Midlands, 248. + + Midland stile, 250. + + Mills, Mr., 400, 405. + + Milton, Mr., 386. + + Modern Riding, 33. + + Mons Meg, 167. + + Moore, George, 422. + + " , Mr. John Hubert, 82, 163. + + Motee, 388. + + Mounting, 125-134. + + Mouth-piece, cover for, 77. + + Mozufferpore, 387. + + Mr. Bathurst's, 306. + + "Mr. Gladstone," 389. + + "Mrs. Cornwallis West," 389. + + " " Kendal," 389. + + " " Langtry," 389. + + Murray, Mrs., 384. + + Muscles, 467. + + Musician, 165. + + Muzzle, 468. + + _My Leper Friends_, 62. + + + Near head, 30. + + Neckties, 124. + + Neil's, Jackeroo, Miss, 11. + + Neilgherry cane, 18. + + Newcastle, Countess of, 430. + + " , Duchess of, 337, 393. + + New Zealand, 269. + + " " horses, 457. + + "Niggling," 163. + + _Nineteenth Century_, 23. + + North Cheshire, 14, 320, 371. + + " , Lord, 306. + + Nose, 468. + + Nose-band, cavesson, 443. + + Nose-bands, 79, 87. + + Nostrils, 468. + + Numdahs, 57-59. + + + Off crutch, 30. + + Oriental women, 429. + + Orlov trotters, 425. + + Oxer, 250. + + + Pace, judging, 374. + + Paget, Mr. Otho, 246, 247, 308, 309, 315, 325, 395, 396, 399. + + Panel, 32, 33, 57. + + Panniers, 5. + + Paperchasing, 382-386. + + Paris, 392. + + Pastern, 466. + + Pasture land, 368. + + Pat, 17. + + Patent leather, 118. + + Pelhams, 78. + + Pellier, M., 33. + + Pelvis, 470. + + Penrhyn, Lord, 247. + + _Pirouette renversée_, 303. + + Pilots, 373. + + Pith hats, 115. + + Ploughed land, 327. + + Points of the tree, 27. + + Poll, 469. + + Pollard willows, 338. + + Pollok, Mr. Arthur, 269. + + Pommel, 27, 28. + + Polo, 144, 179. + + " ponies, 16, 17. + + Posts and rails, 249. + + Poultry fund, 307. + + Prancing, 437. + + Pretoria, 166. + + Prestonpans, 244. + + Pulling, 442-448. + + Puppies, exercise for, 406. + + " , feeding, 398, 402. + + " , judging, 396, 397. + + " , medicine for, 404. + + " , punishing, 411. + + Pytchley, 209, 306, 307, 357. + + " pups, 399. + + + Quarters, 465. + + Queen Elizabeth, 430. + + _Queen, The_, 60, 243. + + Quorn, 14, 209, 247, 306, 341. + + " Friday, 113. + + + Rabbit holes, 335. + + Ranelagh, 183. + + "Rapier," 428. + + Rearers and rearing, 333, 462. + + Red board, 357. + + " bows, 342-345. + + " rag, 357, 358. + + Refusers and refusing, 327, 328, 449-454. + + Reining back, 214. + + Reins, 78-82. + + " , how to hold the, 136. + + " , jerking the, 419. + + " , long, 233. + + " , military way of holding, 142. + + " , riding without, 233. + + " , shortening the, 142. + + Remounts, Italian, 390. + + Rentz's Circus, 463. + + Richmond Show, 336. + + Ridge and Furrow, 319. + + Riding abroad, 381. + + _Riding and Hunting_, 51, 57, 70, 124, 136, 180, 208, 447. + + Riding masters, 155. + + " without reins, 233. + + Right leg, action of, 150. + + " " , position of, 150. + + Road, rules of the, 227. + + Roberts, Mr., 246. + + Romance, 8, 55. + + Rotten Row, 16, 17, 392, 393. + + Running away, 231. + + Russia, 109, 121. + + Russian cabmen, 424, 425. + + " horses, 457. + + Rutland, Duke of, 306, 395. + + + Saddle, cleaning a, 69. + + " cloths, 57-59. + + " to fit rider, 56. + + Saddling a horse, 66-68. + + Saddles, riding in men's, 426-430. + + "Safe," 25, 32. + + Safety bars, 38-42, 231. + + " skirts, 89-110, 231. + + " stirrups, 42-51, 64-66. + + St. Petersburg, 393. + + Salary, 14, 15. + + Sample, Professor, 379. + + Sandwich case, 323. + + Sanminiatelli, Count, 390. + + Saunders, Mrs., 384, 335. + + Scots Grey, 82. + + "Scrutator," 343, 354, 379. + + Seats of side-saddles, 32, 55. + + Seat, the, 145. + + " , theory of the, 145-156. + + Second horseman, 323. + + " horses, 347. + + Shanghai, 231, 388. + + Sheep, 368. + + Shires, 8, 12, 91, 176, 179, 248, 249, 250, 269, 270, 357. + + Shoulder, point of the, 468. + + Shouldering, 441. + + Shoulders, 468. + + Shying, 229, 432, 433-436. + + Side-saddle, weight of, 54. + + Side-saddles, 1, 2, 6, 7, 25-69. + + Sideways, jumping horses, 378. + + Singapore, 388. + + "Sit back," 214. + + Skirt, accustoming horse to, 18. + + " , length of, 98. + + Slipper stirrup, 42. + + Snaffles, 75, 326, 438, 443, 448, 450. + + Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 396. + + _Sola topee_, 115. + + Sole of the hoof, 465. + + Soltikov, 393. + + Sore backs, 7, 68, 324, 350. + + South Africa, 335, 391. + + Spinal curvature, 6. + + _Sporting and Dramatic News_, 428. + + Spur, 177. + + " on whip, 182. + + Square seat, 153-155. + + _Stable Management and Exercise_, 350. + + Standing jump, 241. + + Standing martingale, 439. + + " "over," 472. + + Stapleford Park, 250. + + Staples, 54. + + Stake-and-bound fence, 249. + + Starting, 185. + + "Steady!" 169, 204. + + "Steadying" horses, 223. + + Steep ground, 320. + + _Steiger_, 463. + + Steinbock, coursing, 391. + + Stifle, 470. + + Stirrup bar, 27. + + " , case for extra, 42. + + " , leather, 36-38. + + " " , length of, 156. + + " , man's, 50. + + " , position of foot in, 156. + + " too long, 146. + + Stirrups, safety, 42-51, 64-66. + + Stock, 122. + + Stokes, William, 428. + + Stone gaps, 269. + + " walls, 269. + + Strangers, 327. + + Stuffing of saddle, 32, 33. + + Stumbling, 436. + + Subscriptions, hunt, 306. + + Suffolk Punch, 387. + + Suez, 388. + + Surtees, 330. + + Suspensory ligament, 467. + + Swimming, 462. + + Syces, 424. + + + Tailors, 89, 102-105. + + Talking to horses, 229, 230. + + Tan, 437. + + Tannoform, 351. + + Tautz, Mr., 94, 110. + + Tendo Achillis, 470. + + Tendons, 467. + + Terai hat, 115. + + Terence, 384. + + Tientsin, 388, 462. + + Tiergarten, 16, 392, 429. + + Tips, 352. + + Tit-bits for horses, 170. + + Thanks, 352. + + _The Young Lady's Equestrian Manual_, 305 + + _The Wanton Mutilation of Animals_, 23. + + Thigh, 470, 471. + + Third crutch, 305. + + " pommel, 305. + + Thompson, Mr. Anstruther, 352. + + Thong, 173. + + Throat-latch, 74, 88. + + Thrush, 436, 437, 466. + + _Thoughts on Hunting_, 315. + + Throwing up the head, 438. + + Toe, 465. + + "Tougal," Mr., 385. + + Tree, points of the, 27, 29. + + " , saddle, 25, 26-31. + + Trot, rising at the, 190-194. + + " , the, 189-200, 239. + + Turner, Captain, 384. + + Turning, 187. + + Tushes, 86. + + Tweedie, Mrs., 428. + + Twitches, 416, 417. + + + Under-bodice, 122. + + Under-clothing, 112. + + Upper crutch, 29. + + + Vale of White Horse, 307. + + Vehicles, passing, 229. + + Venus de Medici, 21. + + _Veterinary Notes for Horse-owners_, 22, 347, 350, 436. + + Vizianagram, 381. + + Voice, 165, 204, 229. + + Voltaire, 24. + + + Walers, 21. + + Walk, the, 185, 239. + + Walker, Colonel, 424. + + Walking puppies, 394-413. + + Wall of hoof, 465. + + _Wanton Mutilation of Animals, The_, 23. + + Ward, Mr. Frank, 175. + + Ward's Riding School, 59, 60, 167, 331. + + Warwickshire Hunt, 306, 307. + + Washing horses' feet, 436. + + " puppies, 402. + + Watches, 323. + + Watering horses, 417, 418. + + Webs, 28. + + Weight of side-saddle, 54. + + Whip, hunting, 172. + + Whips, 334. + + Whissendine, 250. + + Whiskey, 350. + + "Whoa!" 170. + + Whyte Melville, 180, 181, 209, 310, 314, 315, 376, 420. + + Wilberforce, Archbishop, 376. + + Willows, pollard, 338. + + Wintle, Mr., 231. + + Wire, 250, 357-373. + + " fund, 307. + + Withers, 468. + + Women riding, 1. + + Woodland country, 338. + + Wroughton, Mr., 361. + + + Yelvertoft Church, 270. + + Young horses, 15, 16, 166, 433, 434, 435, 443. + + + Zebra, riding a, 62, 456. + + + + +List of Books on Horses + +By CAPTAIN M. HORACE HAYES, F.R.C.V.S. + + + _The Field._--"As trainer, owner and rider + of horses on the flat and over a country, the + author has had a wide experience, and when to + this is added competent veterinary knowledge, + it is clear that CAPTAIN HAYES is entitled to + attention when he speaks." + + PUBLISHED BY + MESSRS. HURST & BLACKETT, LTD. + 13, Great Marlborough Street, W. + + + + +BOOKS ON HORSES. + + +=VETERINARY NOTES for HORSE-OWNERS.= An Illustrated Manual of Horse + Medicine and Surgery, written in simple language, with 267 + Illustrations. Sixth Edition. Revised throughout, considerably + enlarged, and 121 new and original Photographs added. Large crown + 8vo, buckram, 15s. net. + +"A necessary guide for horse-owners, especially those who are far +removed from immediate professional assistance."--_The Times._ + +"Of the many popular veterinary books which have come under our notice, +this is certainly one of the most scientific and reliable."--_The +Field._ + +"This book leaves nothing to be desired on the score of lucidity and +comprehensiveness."--_Veterinary Journal._ + +"It is superfluous to commend a book that is an established success, +and that has gone on from edition to edition extending its +usefulness."--_Army and Navy Gazette._ + + +=POINTS OF THE HORSE.= A Familiar Treatise on Equine Conformation. Third + Edition in the Press. + +"Capt. Horace Hayes, the best of writers upon horses, has issued a +second edition--considerably altered and enlarged, and magnificently +illustrated--of his admirable work upon the 'Points of the Horse,' which +is, in fact, a complete work on horses, their races and +peculiarities."--_Athenĉum._ + +"The intrinsic value of the book and the high professional reputation of +the author should ensure this new edition a cordial welcome from +sportsmen and all lovers of the horse."--_The Times._ + + +=RIDING AND HUNTING.= Fully Illustrated with upwards of 250 Reproductions + of Photographs and Drawings. In 1 vol., demy 8vo, cloth. Price 16s. + net. + +"Capt. Hayes has produced a book which cannot fail to interest, if not +to instruct the experienced horseman, and the beginner may learn from +its pages practically all that it is necessary for him to know."--_The +World._ + +"We can imagine no more suitable present for one who is learning to ride +than this book."--_Pall Hall Gazette._ + +"He is no doubt the greatest authority, both on horses and horsemanship, +now living in this country. Everything which he writes is lucidly +expressed, and no detail is too trivial to be explained."--_The +Spectator._ + + +=THE HORSEWOMAN.= A Practical Guide to Side-Saddle Riding. By MRS. HAYES. + Edited by CAPT. M. H. HAYES. Second Edition, re-written, enlarged, + and with about 150 new and original Photographic Illustrations + added. 1 vol., demy 8vo. 12s. net. + +"This is the first occasion on which a practical horseman and a +practical horsewoman have collaborated in bringing out a book on riding +for ladies. The result is in every way satisfactory, and, no matter how +well a lady may ride, she will gain much valuable information from a +perusal of 'The Horsewoman.'"--_Field._ + +"A large amount of sound, practical instruction, very judiciously and +pleasantly imparted."--_The Times._ + +"We have seldom come across a brighter book than 'The +Horsewoman.'"--_The Athenĉum._ + +"With a very strong recommendation of this book as far and away the best +guide to side-saddle riding we have seen."--_Saturday Review._ + + + +=STABLE MANAGEMENT AND EXERCISE.= A Book for Horse-Owners and Students. + Illustrated by numerous Reproductions of Photographs taken + specially for this work. In 1 vol., demy 8vo. Price 12s. net. + +"Capt. Hayes, who may justly claim to be the first authority now living +on all matters connected with the horse, is always welcome, and the more +so because each successive volume is a monument of 'the reason +why.'"--_The County Gentleman._ + +"Eminently practical."--_The Field._ + +"The work of an exceptionally competent authority, who thoroughly +understands his subject, and is able to make the results of his +practical knowledge clear to readers."--_Badminton Magazine._ + + +=ILLUSTRATED HORSEBREAKING.= Second and Cheaper Edition. Large crown 8vo. + Price 12s. net. + +_This Edition has been entirely rewritten, the amount of the letterpress +more than doubled, and 75 reproductions of Photographs have been added._ + +"It is a characteristic of all Captain Hayes' books on horses that they +are eminently practical, and the present one is no exception to the +rule. A work which is entitled to high praise as being far and away the +best reasoned-out one on breaking under a new system we have +seen."--_The Field._ + +"The work is eminently practical and reliable."--_Veterinary Journal._ + + +=HORSES ON BOARD SHIP.= A Guide to their Management. By M. H. HAYES. In 1 + vol., crown 8vo, with numerous Illustrations from Photographs taken + by the Author during two voyages to South Africa with horses. Price + 3s. 6d. net. + +"The book altogether is like the rest of Captain Hayes' works, written +on sound, practical lines, and is all the more welcome in that it deals +with a subject on which we have yet a great deal to learn."--_The +Field._ + +"As he has had two voyages to South Africa in charge of large +consignments, his experience is eminently practical, and his book +contains much valuable information, and ought to enable the War Office +to avoid in the future some of the errors of the past."--_Morning Post._ + +"We are sure that the book will be found useful and instructive to those +who are new to the work of conveying either large or small numbers of +horses across the seas."--_County Gentleman._ + + +=TRAINING AND HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA.= Fifth Edition. Crown 8vo, cloth, + 6s. + +"We entertain a very high opinion of Capt. Hayes' book on 'Horse +Training and Management in India,' and are of opinion that no better +guide could be placed in the hands of either amateur horseman or +veterinary surgeon newly arrived in that important division of our +Empire."--_Veterinary Journal._ + + +=INFECTIVE DISEASES OF ANIMALS.= Being Part I. of the Translation of + Friedberger and Froehner's Pathology of the Domestic Animals. + Translated and Edited by the Author. With a Chapter on Bacteriology + by Dr. G. NEWMAN, D.P.H. Demy 8vo, 10s. 6d. net. + +"Whether considered as a work of reference for busy practitioners, as a +text-book for students, or as a treatise on pathology in its widest +significance, this volume meets every requirement, and is an invaluable +addition to our literature."--_Veterinary Record._ + + +=AMONG HORSES IN RUSSIA.= With 53 Illustrations from Photographs taken + chiefly by the Author. In 1 vol., large crown 8vo. Price 10s. 6d. + net. + +"The book is exceedingly well written and illustrated."--_Graphic._ + +"The author has made an exceedingly entertaining book of his +experiences."--_Baily's Magazine._ + + +=AMONG HORSES IN SOUTH AFRICA.= In 1 vol., crown 8vo. Price 5s. + +"Capt. Hayes' book is genuinely interesting, and fully repays +reading."--_Black and White._ + +"The book is very readable."--_Spectator._ + +"The book is written in a pleasant, chatty style, and with a broad +mind."--_Sportsman._ + + +=MODERN POLO.= By Captain E. D. MILLER, late 17th Lancers. Edited by + Captain M. H. HAYES. Second Edition, revised and enlarged. In one + vol., demy 8vo., with numerous Illustrations from Photographs and + Drawings. Price 16s. net. + +"Both in the matter of polo-playing and in that of choosing or breeding +polo ponies, the volume is a certain authority."--_The Times._ + +"'Modern Polo,' written by E. D. Miller and edited by Capt M. H. Hayes, +will assuredly become the authoritative work concerning the game, which +is rapidly growing in favour in this country. It is clear and bright in +style, and it is provided with numerous illustrations from +photographs."--_Black and White._ + +"Mr. Miller's is by no means the only work upon the Game of Polo, but it +is, at least, the most complete and comprehensive work upon the subject +that has yet been issued. It has had the benefit, too, of the editorship +of Capt. M. H. Hayes, one of the best authorities of the day in regard +to all matters connected with horsemanship. To Capt. Hayes are also due +the excellent photographs by which the book is illustrated, showing +almost every turn and stroke in a rather complicated game."--_Graphic._ + + +LONDON: HURST AND BLACKETT, LIMITED. + + + + +Transcriber's Note + + The following typographical errors have been corrected: + + xiii 68 Ready changed to 68. Ready + xiii 75 Holding changed to 75. Holding + xiii in Fig 77 changed to in Fig. 77 + 19 Arab pony, Freddie changed to Arab pony, Freddie. + 48 Fig. 25. Cope's changed to Fig. 25.--Cope's + 62 wanderers home changed to wanderers home. + 102 _Photo by_ changed to _Photo. by_ + 125 DISMOUNTING, changed to DISMOUNTING. + 137 on both sides changed to on both sides. + 174 in Fig 87 changed to in Fig. 87 + 195 a-well executed changed to a well-executed + 250 106.--A cut and-laid changed to 106.--A cut-and-laid + 273 in Fig 115 changed to in Fig. 115 + 478 342-245 changed to 342-345 + 479 Moore, George, 422 changed to Moore, George, 422. + 479 Ninteenth changed to Nineteenth + Ads p. 3 MANAGEMENT AND EXERCISE changed to MANAGEMENT AND EXERCISE. + Ads p. 3 =MANAGEMENT IN= INDIA changed to =MANAGEMENT IN INDIA= + Ads p. 4 _Sportsman_ changed to _Sportsman._ + + The following words were inconsistently spelled or hyphenated: + + Breast-plate / Breastplate + buck-jumpers / buckjumpers + cavesson / cavasson + cheek pieces / cheek-pieces / cheekpieces + cross-saddle / cross saddle + cross-country / 'cross-country / cross country / 'cross country + cub-hunting / cub hunting + fore-hand / forehand + fore-leg / foreleg / fore leg + Fox-hunting / Foxhunting + hair-pins / hairpins + head-stall / headstall + Hooked-back / Hooked back + Illustrated Horse-Breaking / Illustrated Horse Breaking / Illustrated + Horsebreaking + mouth-piece / mouthpiece + nose-band / noseband + now-a-days / nowadays + paper-chase / paperchase + race-course / racecourse + race-horses / race-horses + re-written / rewritten + safety-bar / safety bar + sheep-dogs / sheepdogs + side-saddle / side saddle + side-saddles / side saddles + steeple-chase / steeplechase + steeple-chasing / steeplechasing + stirrup-bar / stirrup bar + Thorough-bred / Thoroughbred + Under-clothing / Underclothing + Whyte-Melville / Whyte Melville + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Horsewoman, by Alice M. 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