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diff --git a/38831-h/38831-h.htm b/38831-h/38831-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..73927cf --- /dev/null +++ b/38831-h/38831-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6211 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Barb And The Bridle, by Robert Henderson. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Barb and the Bridle, by Vielle Moustache + +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 Barb and the Bridle + A Handbook of Equitation for Ladies, and Manual of + Instruction in the Science of Riding, from the Preparatory + Suppling Exercises + +Author: Vielle Moustache + +Release Date: February 11, 2012 [EBook #38831] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE *** + + + + +Produced by Julia Miller, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE;</h1> + +<h3>A HANDBOOK OF EQUITATION FOR LADIES, AND MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION IN THE +SCIENCE OF RIDING, FROM THE PREPARATORY SUPPLING EXERCISES ON FOOT, TO +THE FORM IN WHICH A LADY SHOULD RIDE TO HOUNDS.</h3> + +<h3><i>Reprinted from</i> "The Queen" <i>Newspaper.</i></h3> + +<h2><span class="smcap">By</span> "VIEILLE MOUSTACHE."</h2> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">LONDON</span>:<br /> +THE "QUEEN" OFFICE, 346, STRAND.<br /></p> + +<p class="center">1874.<br /></p> + +<p class="center">LONDON:<br /> +PRINTED BY HORACE COX, 346, STRAND, W.C.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/front.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>THE LADY'S HORSE.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> + + +<p>Having received numerous applications from ladies desirous of +information, as to the true principles and practice of equitation, I +venture to put before the public, in book form, a series of articles +which appeared originally in the columns of the <i>Queen</i> newspaper on +ladies' riding.</p> + +<p>Commencing with the calisthenic practices so necessary to a young lady +before beginning her mounted lessons, these papers enter into every +detail (less those of the <i>Haut École de Manége</i>) connected with the +science of riding as it should be acquired by all who wish to become +efficient horsewomen. As the rules laid down are precisely those upon +which I have successfully instructed a great number of ladies, as my +experience is of many years' standing, and acquired in the best schools +in Europe, I trust the following pages may prove useful; for, while it +is quite true that neither man nor woman can learn to ride by simply +reading a book on the subject, still a carefully-compiled manual of +equitation is always a ready means of refreshing the memory upon points +of importance in the art, which, however clearly explained by the oral +instruction of a first-class master, may yet in time escape the +recollection of the pupil.</p> + +<p class="right">"<span class="smcap">Vieille Moustache.</span>"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>Riding, considered as a means of recreation, as a promoter of health, or +as the best mode in which to display to the greatest advantage beauty +and symmetry of face and form, is perhaps unequalled among the many +accomplishments necessary to a lady.</p> + +<p>Out of doors croquet may be interesting as a game, and fascinating +enough when a lady has an agreeable partner, but as an exercise +physically its healthfulness is doubtful.</p> + +<p>There is too much standing about, often on damp grass, too little real +exertion to keep the circulation up properly, and too many intervals of +quiescence, wherein a lady stands perfectly still (in a very graceful +attitude no doubt) long enough in the chill evening air to create +catarrh or influenza.</p> + +<p>Archery, although a far more graceful exercise than croquet, is open to +the same objection as regards danger of taking cold.</p> + +<p>Skating, though both healthful and elegant, is so seldom available as +scarcely to be reckoned among the exercises beneficial to ladies. +Moreover, it is attended with considerable danger in many cases.</p> + +<p><i>To be well</i> is to look well. Healthy physical exertion is indispensable +to the former state, and in no way can it be so well secured as by +riding. Mounted on a well-broken, well-bred horse, and cantering over a +breezy down, or trotting on the soft sward, on the way to covert, a lady +feels a glow of health and flow of spirits unattainable by any other +kind of out or in door recreation.</p> + +<p>That the foregoing truths are fully appreciated by the ladies of the +Upper Ten Thousand is abundantly proved by the goodly gathering of fair +and aristocratic equestrians to be seen in Rotten Row during the London +season, and at every fashionable meet of hounds in the kingdom in the +winter time.</p> + +<p>Nor is riding confined to those only whose names figure in the pages of +"Burke" or "Debrett." Within the last twenty years the wives and +daughters of professional men and wealthy tradesmen, who were content +formerly to take an airing in a carriage, have taken to riding on +horseback. And they are quite right. It is not (with management) a bit +more expensive, while it is beyond comparison the most agreeable and +salubrious mode of inhaling the breeze.</p> + +<p>The daughter of the peer, or other great grandee of the country, may be +almost said to be a horsewoman to the manner born. Riding comes as +naturally to her as it does to her brothers. Both clamber up on their +ponies, or are lifted on, almost as soon as they can walk, and +consequently "grow" into their riding, and become at fifteen or sixteen +years of age as much at home in the saddle as they are on a sofa. In the +hunting field they see the best types of riding extant, male and female, +and learn to copy their style and mode of handling their horses, while +oral instruction of the highest order is always at hand to supplement +daily practice. To the great ladies of England, then, all hints on the +subject would be superfluous. Most of them justly take great pride in +their riding, spare no pains to excel in it, and are thoroughly +successful.</p> + +<p>In fact, it is the one accomplishment in which they as far surpass the +women of all other countries in the world as they outvie them in +personal beauty.</p> + +<p>A German or French woman possibly may hold her own with an Englishwoman +in a ball room or a box at the opera; but put her on horseback, and take +her to the covert side, she is "not in it" with her English rivals.</p> + +<p>Although the advantages and opportunities I speak of, however, render +words of advice upon female equitation unnecessary to ladies of the +<i>sangre azul</i>, I trust they may be found useful to others who may not +have had such opportunities.</p> + +<p>In the upper middle classes nothing is more probable than the marriage +of one of the daughters of the house with a man whose future lot may be +cast in the colonies, where if a woman cannot ride she will be sorely at +a loss. Unlike the ladies of high degree above alluded to, the daughter +of a man in good position in the middle class will often not have +opportunities of learning to ride until she is fifteen or sixteen, and +by this time the youthful frame, supple as it may appear, has acquired +(so to speak) "a set," which at first renders riding far from agreeable; +because it calls into action whole sets of muscles and ligaments +heretofore rarely brought into play, or rather only partially so. Hence +the unpleasant stiffness that always follows the first essays of the +tyro in riding of the age I speak of, and which painful feeling too +often so discourages beginners that they give up the thing in disgust.</p> + +<p>Now this unpleasant consequence of the first lessons may be easily +obviated by the following means. Bearing in mind that pain or stiffness +is the result of want of <i>supplesse</i>, the first desideratum is to +acquire this most desirable elasticity. To accomplish this, three months +before the pupil is put on horseback she should begin a course of +training in suppling and extension motions on foot, precisely similar to +those drilled into a cavalry recruit in the army. No amount of dancing +will do what is required. Even the professional <i>danseuse</i>, with her +constant exercise of the <i>ronde de jambe</i>, never possesses that mobile +action of the waist and play of the joints of the upper part of the +figure so thoroughly to be acquired by the exercises I speak of, which +also have the further greater advantage of giving development and +expansion to the chest. I therefore respectfully advise every careful +mother, who is desirous of seeing her daughters become accomplished +horsewomen, before taking them to the riding master (of whom more +hereafter), in the first place to employ a good drill master.</p> + +<p>Possibly, the young ladies may have had drill instruction at school; +but experience tells me that such instruction is too often slurred over, +or only practised at such long intervals that its effect is confined to +causing the pupil to walk upright and carry herself well—a very +desirable matter, but not all that is requisite as a preparation for +riding.</p> + +<p>Drill, to be effective for the above purposes, <i>should be practised +daily</i>. The course of instruction should begin with very short lessons, +lasting not more than twenty minutes at first; but these, <i>given in the +presence of mamma</i>, should be <i>most rigidly and minutely carried out, +otherwise they are useless</i>. They should gradually be increased in +length, according to the strength of the pupil, until she can stand an +hour's drilling without fatigue. The course should include instruction +in the use of dumb-bells, very carefully given. The weight of these +should in no case exceed seven pounds for a young lady of fifteen or +sixteen, and may judiciously be confined to three and four pounds for +those of a more tender age. The great use of dumb-bells is to give +flexibility to the shoulder joints and expansion to the chest. The first +lessons should not last more than five minutes, and in no case be +continued an instant after the pupil exhibits the slightest symptom +(easily discernable) of fatigue.</p> + +<p>Of the course of drill instruction, the lessons called the "extension +motions" are the most effectual in promoting flexibility of the whole +figure; but they must be gone into by very gradual and careful +induction, and their effect will then be not only beneficial, but +pleasant to the pupil.</p> + +<p>As it is possible that this may meet the eye of some lady who resides +where no eligible drill master is available, I propose in my next +chapter to give a programme of the exercises I speak of, which may then +be practised under the superintendence of the lady herself or her +governess. But in all cases where the services of a competent and +thoroughly practised drill master are to be had it is always best to +employ them.</p> + +<p>Simple as the instruction may appear, the art of imparting it has to be +acquired in a school where the most minute attention is paid to every +detail, where nothing is allowed to be done in a careless or slovenly +manner, and where (so to speak) the pupil is never asked to read before +he can spell. It is this jumping <i>in medias</i> with beginners in riding +that so often causes mischief and disgusts the pupil, who begins by +thinking that it is the easiest thing in the world to ride well, but +when she is put on horseback finds to her dismay that it is anything but +easy until acquired by practice and thoroughly good instructions.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>I proceed now to describe the suppling and extension exercises I have +before alluded to.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/fig01-02.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p>These are simple enough in themselves, certain not to be forgotten when +once learnt, and easy to impart in the way of instruction. Their great +efficacy depends, however, upon the judgment with which the instructor +varies them, so as to call into action alternately opposite sets of +muscles and ligaments, as it is by such a process only that complete +<i>supplesse</i> can be attained. The first suppling practice is performed as +follows: Place the pupil in a position perfectly upright, the heels +close together, the toes at an angle of 45 (military regulation), the +figure well drawn up from the waist, the shoulders thrown back, chest +advanced, the neck and head erect, arms hanging perpendicularly from the +shoulder, elbows slightly bent, the weight of the body thrown upon the +front part of the foot.</p> + +<p>Then the instruction should be given thus: On the word "one," bring both +hands smartly up to the full extent of the arms, in front and above the +forehead, the tips of the fingers joining (Fig. 1); on the word "two," +throw the hands sharply backwards and downwards until they meet behind +the back (Fig. 2). This exercise should be commenced slowly, and +gradually increased in rapidity until the pupil can execute it with +great quickness for several minutes consecutively. The object is to +throw the shoulders well back and give expansion to the chest.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/fig03-04.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Second practice.—On the word "one," bring the hands together (from +their position perpendicular from the shoulder) in front of the figure, +the tips of the fingers joining (Fig. 3). On the word "two," raise the +hands, still joined, slowly above and slightly in front of the head, to +the full extent of the arms (Fig. 4). "Three," separate the hands, and, +turning the palms upwards, lower them to the level of the shoulders, the +arms fully extended (Fig. 5). Simultaneously with the lowering of the +hands the heels should be raised slowly from the ground, so as to bring +the weight of the body upon the toes. On the word "four," lower the +hands gradually to the sides, carrying them at the same time well to the +rear (Fig. 6). The heels are also to be lowered to the ground as the +hands are carried backwards. This exercise should always be done slowly, +as its object is the gradual flexing and suppling of the shoulder and +elbow joints, and giving mobile action to those of the feet. In using +dumb-bells the first practice with them may be identical with the above, +the dumb-bells being grasped firmly in the centre.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/fig05-06.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Third practice.—On the word "one," close the hands firmly by the sides; +"two," raise them up quietly, bending the elbows until the hands are +touching the points of the shoulders (Fig. 7); "three," carry the hands, +still firmly closed, forwards and upwards, to the full extent of the +arms, well above and a little in front of the head (Fig. 8); "four," +bring the hands with a quick, sharp motion down to the level of the +shoulders, carrying the elbows well to the rear (Fig. 9). The first two +motions of this exercise should be performed very slowly, the last very +rapidly. It can also be practised with advantage with the dumb-bells, +and is then of great service in strengthening and developing the muscles +of the chest and arms.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/fig07-08.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>There are a great many other suppling practices, but the above, varied +occasionally by the use of the dumb-bells, will be found sufficient for +all practical purposes.</p> + +<p>Coming now to the extension exercises, I select the third as being most +effective. 1st motion. Bring the hands together in front of the figure, +as in the second suppling practice, the points of the fingers joining, +the whole frame erect and well drawn up from the waist. 2. Raise the +hands slowly above the head to the full extent of the arms, turn the +palms of the hands outwards, and lock the thumbs together, the right +thumb within the left (Fig. 10). 3. Keeping the body, head, and neck +perfectly erect, place the head between the arms, the thumbs still +firmly locked together. 4. <i>Keeping the knees perfectly straight</i>, lower +the hands, and bend the back gradually and very slowly forward and +downwards, until the points of the fingers touch the instep (Fig. 11). +5. Raise the body and head (the latter still between the arms), quietly +up in the same slow time, bringing the hands again well above the head +(Fig. 12). 6. Lower the hands gradually (turning the palms upwards), +first to the level of the shoulders, making a momentary pause there, and +then quietly to the sides, carrying the hands in their descent from the +shoulder as much as possible to the rear, while the weight of the body +is thrown entirely upon the front of the foot.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/fig09-10.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>In this exercise all depends upon keeping the knee joints perfectly +straight, and the head, in the bending-down movement, as much as +possible between the arms.</p> + +<p>The object of the practice is to give suppleness to the waist, freedom +to the knee joint by well suppling the ligaments at the back of the +knee, and at the same time to expand the chest. For these purposes, if +carefully and judiciously carried out, it is most effective, calling +alternately upon every portion of the frame wherein suppleness is +indispensable to easy and graceful riding.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/fig11-12.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Great care should be taken not to hurry this lesson, and if the pupil is +of a figure that renders it difficult for her to reach her instep in +bending down, it should not be insisted on; but it is necessary that she +should bend the back as much as possible <i>without bending the knees</i>, as +any yielding of the knee joint destroys the whole value of the exercise.</p> + +<p>To perform the above named practices comfortably, the pupil should wear +a loose dress which throws no constraint upon any part of the figure. +Slippers, too, are better than boots, as the latter confine the foot and +ankle too much for complete liberty of movement.</p> + +<p>The duration of any of these lessons should at first be carefully +proportioned to the strength of the learner, and gradually increased as +to time day by day, until she can stand an hour's work without fatigue; +but be the lesson long or short, it should be practised every day.</p> + +<p>It will be found that, with plenty of fresh air and walking exercise, +the pupil, by the aid of these suppling and extension practices, will +develope rapidly in elasticity of movement and in general health, and +that a couple or three months of such preparation will help her very +much as an introduction to her course of equitation.</p> + +<p>Any good drill master who might be employed to "set up" a young lady +would most likely teach her all the above, and much more; but I have +ventured to detail these practices, assuming that a family may be +located in a neighbourhood in which no such man is available, in which +case the exercise can be imparted and superintended by the governess of +the family. These ladies are always clever and intelligent enough to +master in a few minutes such very simple details as those above +described.</p> + +<p>Before quitting this subject a word about gymnastics may not be out of +place. Many heads of families consider them highly beneficial when +practised with bars and similar apparatus. My experience induces me to +differ from this notion, and I believe my view of the matter would be +borne out by the highest medical authority.</p> + +<p>For boys even, gymnastic exercises should be most carefully watched, in +order that no undue strain should be thrown upon the yet unset muscle +and cartilage of the frame. For young ladies I believe gymnastics to be +not only unnecessary, but injurious, and that every practical result +desirable can be arrived at by the use of such exercises as I have +endeavoured to describe, varied occasionally by the moderate use of the +dumb-bells, a few minutes of which at one time is always sufficient. +Where there is a number of young people together, there is sure to be a +tendency to outdo each other whenever physical exercises of any kind are +introduced; and, while it is easy enough to control the pupils in the +simple suppling practices I speak of, it is very difficult for any but +the most experienced persons to determine how far a young lady may go +without injury to herself in the exercises of the horizontal bars or +trapeze ropes. If any kind of gymnastic exercises are allowed for a +young lady, the best, in my opinion, are those practised with the +"Ranelagh," because no hurtful strain can possibly be thrown upon the +pupil; and for boys I believe the Ranelagh to be a first-rate invention, +as is also the "Parlour Gymnasium," and several others on similar +principles, which ignore the practice of the bars.</p> + +<p>The full practice of the gymnasium, however, for young men whose frames +have attained a certain amount of maturity, is no doubt good if not +carried to excess. I speak, however, only of young ladies of tender age.</p> + +<p>Assuming then, that our pupil has been prepared for riding as above +described, let us proceed to consider the style of dress most suitable +for her early attempts in the saddle. For very young ladies, say under +twelve years of age, I believe in hair cut short in preference to +flowing locks, because the latter are very apt to blow into the eyes and +seriously interfere with riding. For the very juvenile equestrian tyro, +the hat should be one that fastens under the chin with ribbon or +something <i>that is not elastic</i>. Nothing is more important in beginning +with young people on horseback than to give them confidence, and nothing +so completely puts them out as anything loose about the head. For young +ladies over fifteen or sixteen, hats which are fastened to the hair may +be worn. But, having regard to the progress of the pupil rather than to +appearance, I recommend every beginner, no matter what her age, to leave +no doubt about the security of her headdress. As regards riding habits, +to begin with, while they should fit sufficiently to indicate the +outline of the lady's figure, all tightness should be avoided. Tight +habits are very sightly to the eye; but, in common with tight corsets, +steel or whalebone anywhere about the dress is fatal to that perfect +liberty of movement so essential to success in a beginner.</p> + +<p>Loose jackets of course should not be worn, because the instructor would +be unable to see in what form his pupil was sitting. Nothing is better, +in the first place, than a jacket, of any coarse material the rider +chooses, made in the ordinary form, with plenty of room, especially +about the waist and shoulders. The skirt should not be too redundant or +too long, as in the latter case it is apt to get trodden on by the +horse, and in windy weather blows about, to the great annoyance of the +rider. A skirt that reaches about 12in. below the foot is amply long. As +to breadth, it should be just large enough to give space to move easily +in. A more voluminous garment is unsightly. The skirt, made independent +of the jacket, should fasten under it with a broad band. No clothing +should be worn under the skirt except riding trousers. Under-skirts of +any kind will utterly spoil the appearance of the fair equestrian, and +render her ride one of discomfort.</p> + +<p>Riding trousers, the making of which should only be entrusted to people +who are well accustomed to it, may be made of cloth or chamois leather, +booted with cloth.</p> + +<p>The boots, whether Wellingtons (if they are not out of date), side +springs, or lace boots, should be made purposely for riding. Fashion is +imperious, and that of the present day dictates a boot with a very high, +narrow heel, and a waist which is almost triangular; both are quite +unsuited for riding. The heel of a riding boot should be quite as broad +as the foot of the wearer, and should come well forward into the waist, +after the manner of a man's hunting boot, and the waist itself should be +perfectly flat, so as to give a firm level bearing on the stirrup-iron. +A sharp, narrow-waisted boot will be found not only impossible to keep +in place in the iron, but will hurt the sole of the foot very much.</p> + +<p>Of spurs (very necessary in an advanced state of proficiency, and +inadmissible, of course, to a beginner) I shall say something hereafter.</p> + +<p>Of gloves, the best kind for riding is a dogskin glove or gauntlet <i>two +sizes too large</i>. Six and a-half kid gloves do not admit of sufficient +freedom in the hand properly to manipulate the reins.</p> + +<p>The pupil should be provided with a straight riding whip which is not +too flexible, because with a very supple whip she may inadvertently +touch the horse at the wrong time and upset him.</p> + +<p>Having said thus much as to the equipment of our fair tyro, I leave all +observations as to dress fit for the hunting-field, or such promenade +riding as that of Rotten Row, for a future paper, and proceed to say +something about that very important consideration, the matter of the +riding master.</p> + +<p>In the first place, then, it is necessary that the professor of +equitation should be one who has been regularly brought up to his +business. If such a man is not within reach, then I submit that it is +better to entrust the riding education of the young lady to any staid +middle-aged gentleman who is a thoroughly good horseman, and who will +undertake the task <i>con amore</i>. If the gentleman has daughters of his +own, all the better. I do not recommend young men for the office, +because, naturally enough, they are more likely to be engrossed with the +charms of their pupils than the progress they are making with their +riding. Youthful preceptors, too, have a tendency to "make the pace a +trifle too good," and there are not even wanting instances where they +have "bolted" with their pupils altogether. This by the way.</p> + +<p>To return to the professional riding master. I may add that, in addition +to thoroughly understanding his craft, he should be a man of education +and a gentleman. Of such men there are several in the metropolis; in the +provinces they are few and far between. In most of our fashionable +watering-places one sees very neatly got-up horsey-looking men, duly +booted, spurred, and moustached, tittuping along with a small troop of +young ladies, who, with their skirts ballooned out with the fresh breeze +from the "briny," and "sitting all over the saddle," are making +themselves very uncomfortable, when they could have enjoyed the bracing +air just as well, for less money, in an open fly. The riding master, in +all probability, has promoted himself from the office of pad groom. He +knows how to saddle and turn out a lady's horse, and how to put the lady +into the saddle; he knows, also, the cheapest market in which to go for +fashionable-looking screws upon which to mount his customers. There his +qualifications as a riding master end. The inductive steps by which a +lady should be taught, the reason for everything she is asked to do, the +"aids" by which she should control her horse and establish a good +understanding with him, are all sealed mysteries to the stamp of man I +speak of. From such men and their ten-pound screws there is nothing to +be learnt in the way of riding.</p> + +<p>Assuming, then, that some of my fair readers may be so placed as to +render access to a professional riding master impossible, I have +ventured upon this brief manual of "Equitation for Ladies," because I +believe that there are many gentlemen, good horsemen, who would +willingly undertake the teaching of their young friends, but that the +former are unacquainted with the readiest way of going to work. Let me +hope that the following may be of use in such case, both to preceptor +and pupil. Addressing myself first to the former, let me advise him to +be guided from first to last by the following maxims: 1st. Never do +anything to shake the confidence or nerve of your pupil, and never give +away a chance of doing it to the horse she rides. 2nd. Never talk to her +about lesson No. 2 until she thoroughly understands lesson No. 1. While +tittuping hacks are useless, and it is necessary to have an animal, even +for a beginner, that has still plenty of life, vigour, and action in +him, such a horse requires to be thoroughly well-broken to carry a +woman, and should have plenty of work, so as to do away with the +possibility of his flirting when she is mounted. It should be borne in +mind that, although a woman who has had years of practice will be +equally at home on almost every horse upon which you can put her, yet +only a particular stamp of animal is adapted to carry her in her earlier +essays.</p> + +<p>Let me endeavour to give my idea of him. In height he should be from +15.2 to 15.3. A very tall woman may look better on a taller horse, but +it is rarely that one finds an animal over 15.3 with the requisite +proportions to ensure good action. Colour is of little account, except +that grey horses in the summer time part with their coats so freely as +to spoil a lady's habit. Quality is indispensable. A three-part-bred +horse, however, is the best, because he is likely to have more substance +in the right place than a thoroughbred. A good blood-like head and neck +are warranty for fashion. Good shoulders, in the ordinary acceptation of +the term, are not always good shoulders for a lady's horse, because +while they should be clean and sloping as to the scapula, the withers +should not be too fine. A little thickness there causes a side saddle to +fit better for the comfort of the rider. There should be plenty of depth +in the girth and rare good back ribs, for a woman's riding calls very +much on a horse's power. A short back is not conducive to ease for the +rider, whatever it may be as to the staying powers of the horse. On the +contrary, what is generally called a long-backed horse carries a lady +most pleasantly; but there must be plenty of power in the quarters, +muscular upper thighs, and strong hocks. The quarters, too, should be +good, and the setting on of the tail such as finishes the topping of the +horse well, and gives him a fashionable appearance. If conjoined to the +above-named points he stands on moderately short legs, with plenty of +bone, and has good round and sound feet, he will be found as nearly as +possible what is required.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>If a horse has been broken, so as to be obedient to the hand and leg of +a man, and steady to sights and sounds, it is considered by many that +the animal has only to be ridden with a skirt, and accustomed to strike +off without hesitation with its off legs in the canter, and it is fit to +carry a lady.</p> + +<p>This is a great mistake. It is true that teaching it to canter +collectedly with its off legs is necessary, as well as habituating it to +the skirt, but there are other and important matters to be considered +which are too often overlooked.</p> + +<p>In the first place, a man, to break a horse properly for a lady, must be +sufficiently well up at his craft to train the animal to obey the +lightest possible application of the aids of the leg; because a lady, +having but one leg to the horse, cannot give him the same amount of +support that can be given by a man, who applies both.</p> + +<p>To supply the absence of the leg on the off side, in the case of the +lady, the only substitute is the whip. But all men accustomed to +breaking know that the effect of the whip is altogether different from +that of the leg, and that while the whip is occasionally necessary to +rouse a slightly lazy horse, and put him into his bridle, in the case of +one very free, or at all hot, the whip must be used with great caution +by a lady. As I have remarked elsewhere, most young horses are inclined +to strike off in the canter with the near leg, which is most unpleasant +to the fair equestrian. To correct this, the breaker applies certain +well-known aids, which it is unnecessary here to repeat. But in order to +confirm the horse in his lesson of cantering with his off leg, the man +must give the animal a considerable amount of support with both his own +and both hands. If this is continued after the horse is advanced to the +stage of breaking where the trainer begins to fit him for a lady, and +carried on until she rides him, he will be far from a pleasant mount to +her, because, missing the support of the man's legs, the horse will not +understand the light and delicate ones which the lady will use. It is +necessary, therefore, that the breaker should accustom his charge +readily to obey the slightest indication of the rider's will, and then +ride him in a side-saddle, in precisely the same way as he will +afterwards be ridden by the lady.</p> + +<p>I remember once seeing a man, really a capital rider in his own way, +giving a lady a lesson on a horse of her own which he had broken for +her. Both master and pupil were sorely puzzled—the former because the +horse would not obey the hand and leg of the rider, as directed by the +master, and the pupil, by finding that all she was doing produced an +effect diametrically opposite to that which was intended. Perhaps the +horse, too, was as much puzzled to know what to be at as either rider or +master.</p> + +<p>The animal was a very shapely chesnut, nearly thoroughbred, very +good-tempered, but full of courage. Evidently he was unaccustomed to +carry a lady, and was beginning to give indications that his temper was +getting up. The object was to canter him to the right round the school, +"going large," as it is technically called. He had trotted to the other +hand well enough, and the young lady had ridden him fairly; but when +turned to the reverse hand, and the word "canter" was given, he +evidently missed the support afforded by the legs of a male rider. When +pressed gently forward to a shortened rein, he stepped very high in his +trot. "Touch him on the right shoulder with the whip sharply, miss," +said the riding master. In answer to the sharp cut of the whip, the +horse jumped off passionately in a canter, with his near legs first—a +dangerous thing when going round the school to the right. "Stop him, +miss," said the preceptor; "take him into the corner, bend his head to +the right. Now the leg and whip again." The same result followed—the +lady flurried as well as her horse. The riding master at last took the +lady off, and mounted the horse himself; but he rode with a man's seat, +not a woman's. The horse cantered collectedly and well into his bridle +when the master asked him. "You see, miss, it is easy enough," said the +master; "a little patience, and you will do it presently." But the +second essay of the lady was as unsuccessful as the first; nay more so, +as the horse was getting very angry. "What can be the reason?" at last +said the lady, halting her horse; "I must be very stupid." "It is some +peculiarity in your hand," said the master, soothingly; "it will be all +right by-and-by." "Do you think," said the lady, deferentially, "that +the difference of seat—your leg on the right side—has anything to do +with it?" "Not a bit," replied the preceptor. But it had all to do with +it, and eventually the lady had to be put upon an old school hack for +her ride in the park, leaving her own horse at the riding school.</p> + +<p>When the lady was gone the master observed, "Most extraordinary thing! I +can't get this horse to do wrong, and Miss A. cannot get him to go a +yard." "Did you ever ride him in a side-saddle?" I inquired. "I? +Certainly not," was the answer; "no man can break a horse in a +side-saddle" (this was true enough as regards the early stages), "and," +continued the professor, "I can't ride a bit in a side-saddle." The +latter observation settled the matter in my mind; for it has been always +clear to me that, if a man cannot acquire a true and firm seat himself +on a side-saddle, it is impossible he can teach a woman to ride. He may +teach her to sit square and upright on an old horse that has been +carrying women for years, but "going about" on such an animal is not +riding—my idea of which, as regards a lady, is, that on a horse still +full of courage and action (though not too fresh or short of work) the +rider should be able, by the application of aids sound in theory and +practice, to render the horse thoroughly obedient to her will. This is +riding. Cantering along upon an old tittuping hack is merely taking +horse exercise in a mild form.</p> + +<p>As regards a man riding in a side-saddle, I may say that some years ago +a young friend of mine, now deceased—than whom there never was a better +man with hounds—hunted in a side-saddle for three or four seasons +before his death. He had injured his right foot so badly in a fall as to +necessitate amputation at the instep, and he preferred the side-saddle +seat to the awkward and disagreeable feeling occasioned by trusting to +a cork foot in the off-side stirrup. Some of your readers may probably +remember the dashing youngster I allude to, who was always to be seen +going true and straight in the front rank, when he hunted eighteen years +ago with the Royal Buckhounds. I can safely say that the horses he rode +in his side-saddle were the perfection of ladies' hunters, and that he +was one of the best instructors of female equitation I ever met.</p> + +<p>I repeat, then, that before a horse can be pronounced fit to carry a +lady he should have been ridden in a side-saddle for some time by a man.</p> + +<p>Riding in this way, the breaker's first object should be to make the +horse walk truly and fairly up to his bridle, without hurrying or +shuffling in his pace, than which nothing is more unpleasant to a lady, +especially if she is engaged in conversation with a companion. Of course +it is indispensable that a horse should be a good natural walker, but at +the same time the animal should be carefully taught to work right up to +his bit in this most important pace; action in the others can then be +easily developed.</p> + +<p>In the trot the breaker should gradually accustom the animal to go with +the least possible amount of support from the leg. This he will easily +do by using a very long whip, and, when he feels the horse hanging back +from his work, touching him lightly on the hind quarters instead of +closing the leg.</p> + +<p>In the foregoing I am assuming that the horse has been previously well +broken, mouthed, and balanced to carry a man. To teach a horse readily +to obey such delicate aids of hand or leg, as a lady can apply, I have +found the following method most effectual: Use a side-saddle which has +no head crutch on the off side; this gives more freedom of action to the +right hand. Ride without a stirrup; your balance is sure then to be +true. Use a long whip, and wear a spur on the left heel, furnished with +short and not very sharp rowels. Make your horse walk well, and trot +well up to his bridle, with as little leg as possible, touching him +sharply with the spur if he tries to shirk his work. The long whip on +the off side will prevent him from throwing his haunches in. Before +cantering, collect him well. Keep his forehand well up, and his haunches +under him. Keep his head well bent to the right; take him into the +corner of the school or <i>manége</i>; then, keeping him up to his work +rather by the aid of the spur and whip than by the leg, strike him +lightly off to the right. A sharp touch of the spur behind the girth, +and a light firm feeling of both reins, the inward the strongest, will +cause him to strike off true. Where no riding house or walled <i>manége</i> +is available, the above may be successfully carried out in a small +paddock, having tolerably high fences and corners nearly square.</p> + +<p><i>Manner</i> in riding the horse at this stage of his breaking is of vital +importance. The hands, while kept well back, should be light and lively; +the whip and spur (never to be unnecessarily applied) should be used so +as to let the horse know that they are always ready if he hangs back +from his work; and the rider, sitting easily and flexibly in the saddle, +should ride with spirit and vivacity, making much of the horse from time +to time as he answers with alacrity to the light and lively aids +applied. A dull rider makes a dull horse, and <i>vice versâ</i>. Gradually, a +well bred, good tempered animal will learn to answer smartly to the +slightest indication of the rider's will, and while giving a good +<i>appui</i> to the hand, will convey a most enjoyable feeling from his +well-balanced elastic movement, without the necessity of strong or rough +aids. In a very brief time the long whip can be dispensed with, and all +inclination to throw the haunches in will cease. The animal has then +acquired the <i>aplomb</i> necessary to fit him for the lady equestrian. He +should then be taught by gradually inductive lessons to walk quietly up +to his fences and jump freely, his haunches well under him; and +subsequently to execute his leap from a steady, collected canter, +without rush or hurry.</p> + +<p>During the latter part of each lesson he should be ridden with a skirt +or rug on.</p> + +<p>He should then be accustomed to all kinds of sights and sounds, from the +rattle of a wheelbarrow to the pattering file firing at a review, and +the loud report of a great gun; and especially he should be habituated +<i>to having all sorts of colours</i> about him.</p> + +<p>I well remember seeing a fine horse, that had been some time in the +breaker's hand, and was perfect in his mouth and paces, put a general +officer and his lady into a complete fix. The lady went to a review, +having been assisted into her saddle by her husband in his mufti costume +before he dressed for parade. After the review, the lady dismounted to +partake of luncheon in a marquee, and, after the repast, the general +proceeded to put his wife on her horse; but the gallant steed by no +means understood the dancing plume of red and white feathers in the +officer's cocked hat, and he would none of him. He snorted, pawed the +ground in terror, ran back, and did everything but stand still, although +he had stood the marching past and firing well enough. Unluckily the +groom had been sent home, and there was nobody in mufti on the ground +who could put the lady on her saddle. Even when the general took off his +cocked hat, the horse, having taken a dislike to him, would not let his +master come near him. Finally, as there was no carriages on the ground, +the lady had to walk a considerable distance, her horse led by an +orderly. The above goes to show that to make a horse perfect for a lady, +nothing likely to occur in the way of sights or sounds should be +overlooked. If the horse possesses the requisite power and form to fit +him for a hunter, and the lady for whom he is intended graces the +hunting field with her presence, the animal should be ridden quietly in +cubhunting time as often as possible, in long trots, <i>beside</i> the hounds +going to covert, and accustomed gradually to the music of the "sylvan +choir," to stand quietly at the covert side, and take no heed of scarlet +coats. If the horse has been otherwise well broken, the above is simply +a question of time and patience.</p> + +<p>Let me now say something with regard to saddlery and appointments. The +most important of these, of course, is the side-saddle, as to the form +of which considerable diversity of opinion exists.</p> + +<p>My own experiences induce me to believe in a saddle which is as nearly +as possible <i>flat</i> from between the pommels to the cantle; any dip in +the stretcher of the tree, while it renders the lady's seat less secure, +has also the effect of throwing her weight too much upon the horse's +forehand, and thus cramping his action. When a lady has acquired skill +and confidence in her riding, a saddle with a very low-cut pommel on +the off side is best, because it not only admits of the rider getting +her hands lower (for which occasion may frequently occur), but on the +off side it gives the lady and the horse a far better appearance, the +high off side pommel spoiling the graceful contour of figure in both. +Worked or plain off-side flaps are matters of taste, and have nothing to +do with utility. The stirrup should be a Victoria, well padded. The +leather should be fitted on the near side, in a similar manner to a +man's stirrup leather, and be quite independent of the quarter strap. +The reason for this is obvious. If you fit a lady's stirrup leather ever +so carefully after she is up, you cannot tell how much the horse "will +give up" in his girth after an hour's riding, or even less; and the +leather which takes up on the off side may give to the extent of three +or four holes, thereby greatly incommoding the rider, especially if she +is in the hunting field and has to jump her horse, as it is ten to one, +although she has the power of pulling up the leather herself, if, in the +excitement of the chase, either she or anybody else will notice the +rendering of the leather, and a drop leap may bring the rider to grief, +whereas the near side arrangement is a fixture, and always reliable. For +really comfortable riding, I believe also that it is quite as necessary +that a saddle should be made in such proportion as to <i>fit the lady</i>, as +that it should fit the horse. Even a thoroughly accomplished horsewoman +cannot ride easily in a saddle that is too short from pommel to cantle, +or too narrow in the seat. In either case, both discomfort and ungainly +appearance are the result; while to a lady of slight <i>petite</i> figure, a +saddle too long from front to rear is equally unsightly, though possibly +not quite so uncomfortable to the rider. Broad girths of the best +materials are indispensable. There should be three of them. The quarter +strap or girth should lead from the near side fork of the tree to a +buckle piece attached to a ring on the off-side quarter, the ring giving +the quarter strap a better bearing. A crupper should never be used; a +horse that requires one is not fit for a lady. Saddle cloths are +unnecessary to a carefully-pannelled saddle, and hide the symmetry of +the horse. Breastplates or neck straps may be used for hunting, or the +fitting of martingales (necessary sometimes). But the less leather +about the horse, where it can be dispensed with, the better he will +look.</p> + +<p>As to bridles, as a rule, I maintain that a lady's horse properly broken +should ride right into an ordinary double bridle, bit, and bridoon, the +port of the bit proportioned to the contour and setting on of the +horse's head and neck, as should also be the length of the cheek piece +and jaw of the bit; while the question of a plain or twisted bridoon or +snaffle must be regulated by the hand of the rider and the mouth of the +horse. For park or promenade riding, fashion of late years inclines to a +single rein bridle or "Hanoverian," or hard and sharp. No doubt they are +very sightly and neat in appearance; but with a high-couraged horse they +require very nice and finished hands, and in the majority of cases, in +my humble opinion, are safe only for the most accomplished female +riders.</p> + +<p>I leave the question of bridle-fronts, bound with ribbon of pink, blue, +or yellow, to the taste of my readers; when neatly put on and fresh, +they look gay in the park. But either there or in the hunting field, I +believe more in the plain leather front, as having, if I may so express +it, a more workmanlike appearance.</p> + +<p>Having now endeavoured to describe the best preparations on foot for the +pupil, the style of dress most suitable for her first lessons in +equitation, the stamp of horse a lady should ride, the training he +should undergo for the special service required of him, and the kind of +saddlery and equipment he will travel best in, in my next chapter I will +attempt briefly, but minutely, to detail the first step in the riding +lesson proper, namely, the form in which the pupil should approach her +horse in order to be assisted into the saddle, and the mounting motions, +all of which are of great importance, as each motion should be executed +gracefully, without hurry, and in a well defined and finished manner. +Nothing connected with riding stamps the style and <i>tournure</i> of a lady +more than the fashion in which she mounts her horse and arranges her +habit; it ought, in fact, to be a matter as carefully looked to by the +instructor as her mode of entering a room would be to a master of +deportment.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>The manner in which a lady should approach her horse in order to be +assisted to mount should be carefully looked to by the instructor. +Anything like hurry, while it is calculated to render the horse +unsteady, is at the same time ungraceful, and the beginning of a bad +habit always to be avoided.</p> + +<p>Everything in the way of mounting or dismounting a horse, either by a +lady or gentleman, should be done with well-defined and deliberate, +although smart motions. This precision once acquired is the good habit +which becomes second nature to the rider, and is so highly indicative of +good manners in equitation.</p> + +<p>To some persons the formula I am about to describe may appear too +punctilious, and possibly carried to too nice a point of precision. But +my idea is that in all these matters it is well to begin by <i>overdoing +them</i> a little. We are all more or less prone to become careless in our +carriage and bearing, both on foot and horseback, as we grow older; +therefore overdoing them a trifle with young people may safely be +pronounced an error on the right side.</p> + +<p>I have frequently heard the remark that it is of no consequence how a +man or woman gets upon a horse, provided they can ride when once up. I +maintain that graceful riding is true riding, and that if it is worth +while to ride gracefully, it is equally worth while to mount gracefully.</p> + +<p>Let us then suppose the lady to be dressed and ready for her ride in +school or <i>manége</i>. She should take the skirt of her habit in the full +of both hands, holding her whip in the right; the skirt should be raised +sufficiently to admit of the wearer walking freely. Then she should walk +from a point in the school at right angles with her horse quietly to his +shoulder, and face square to her left, standing just behind the +animal's near elbow and parallel to his side. Thus facing to the front, +and still holding her skirt with both hands, she should pass her whip +from her right hand into the left, and "make much of her horse" by +patting him on the near shoulder—the best method anybody (man or woman) +can adopt as a first step to acquaintance with a strange horse; at the +same time she should speak soothingly to her new equine friend. The +horse should be held by a groom standing in front of him, and holding +him by both reins. On the assistant approaching to lift the pupil to the +saddle, the lady should return the whip to the right hand and drop her +habit. She should then take the snaffle or bridoon rein in the centre +with the left hand, at the end close to the buckle piece with the right, +and draw them through the left until she has a light and equal feeling +upon both sides of the horse's mouth. The right hand should then be +placed firmly on the near side upper crutch of the saddle, the snaffle +rein held between the pommel and the hand, the whip in the full of it. +The left hand should then grip the reins, and the lady should resume her +position square to the front, without moving her right hand or relaxing +her grasp of the pommel of the saddle. The assistant (who should be <i>a +gentleman</i>, not a groom) should then stoop low enough to place both his +hands locked together in such a position that the pupil can place her +left foot firmly on them, the left knee slightly bent. At the same time +she should also place the flat of her left hand firmly on the right +shoulder of the assistant, keeping her arm perfectly straight. The +instructor should then give her the following directions: "On the word +'one,' bend the right knee; on the word 'two,' spring smartly up from +the right foot and straighten the left knee." If the pupil executes +these movements simultaneously, keeping her left elbow perfectly firm +and the arm straight, the assistant can lift her with the greatest ease +to the level of the saddle, where, firmly grasping the pommel, she has +only to make a half turn to her left, and she is seated sideways on her +horse. The assistant should then straighten the skirt down, and taking +the slack of it in his left hand, lift it over the near side upper +crutch while the lady turns in her saddle, and facing square to her +point, lifts her right knee over the pommel, bringing her right leg +close to the forepoint of the saddle, with the leg well drawn back, and +the toe raised from the instep. The assistant should then place the +lady's foot well home in the stirrup. Before raising the right knee over +the pommel, the lady should lift the snaffle reins with her right hand +high enough to admit of her moving the leg without interfering with +them. The right knee being firmly placed between the pommels, and the +left foot in the stirrup, the pupil should then place her right hand +with the snaffle reins between the finger and thumb and the whip in the +full of the hand, firmly on the off-side pommel of the saddle. She +should then draw her left foot well back, and getting a firm bearing on +the stirrup, raise herself well up from the saddle, leaning forward +sufficiently to preserve her balance. She should then pass her left hand +back, and pull her skirt well out, so that there remains no ruck or +wrinkle in it, and then quietly lower herself down to the saddle again. +This act of clearing the slack of the skirt is one which it is so +frequently necessary for the lady to execute when riding that she should +practise it frequently in her early lessons. It is true that when the +assistant first places her on the horse he can arrange her habit as she +rises from the saddle; but, for some time, until she has acquired +firmness and perfect balance, her habit will inevitably ride up, +particularly in trotting, and it is necessary that she should learn to +be independent in this respect of the gentleman who attends her. +Moreover, as to arrange the habit gracefully requires considerable +practice, it should form a distinct part of the lesson at first when the +horse is standing perfectly still, afterwards at a walk, and finally at +a trot. In cantering it cannot be done.</p> + +<p>Having arranged the hind part of her skirt, the lady should then take +the front in her left hand, and pull it well forward, raising her right +knee at the same time, to insure that she has perfect freedom of action +for it. The left knee should then be placed firmly against the leaping +crutch (or, as it is generally called, the third crutch) of the saddle; +although with saddles devoid of an off-side pommel, it is, in fact, the +second crutch. This important adjunct to a lady's firmness and security +in riding should always be most carefully looked to by Paterfamilias +when purchasing the saddle, and by the master after it is bought. I can +well remember when the third crutch was unknown; and in these days, when +its efficiency has been so abundantly proved, it really seems marvellous +how ladies years ago could not only ride well without it, but even +acquit themselves creditably in the hunting field. The secret of the +matter, however, lies in this: First, although there was no third +support for the rider, the off-side and near-side pommels were much +closer together than those now made; the off-side one was well padded, +and in most cases where ladies rode hunting it was usual to have an +extra pad, which fitted on to the off-side crutch, and again narrowed +the interval, according to the size of the lady, until her leg fitted +tightly between the two crutches, thus giving her a very firm hold with +the right knee. Nevertheless, it is evident that only the truest balance +would enable the fair equestrians of those days to maintain their seats.</p> + +<p>When a young lady is first put on horseback, I believe in anything that +can give her confidence, and for this purpose the third crutch is +admirable, because she finds a firm purchase between the crutch and the +stirrup. As this hold, however, is apt to degenerate into a complete +reliance on the third pommel, it is necessary in a more advanced stage +of the lessons in equitation to use a saddle without any such support +for the pupil. The third crutch, when forming part of a side-saddle, +<i>should never be removed</i>, as is too frequently done by grooms for the +purpose of cleaning the saddle. The crutch itself is so constructed as +to screw into a socket in the tree. By constantly screwing and +unscrewing it, the thread of the screw wears out; in fact, this will +occur much sooner than would be supposed. The consequence is that, let +the lady or her assistant turn the third crutch to what angle they may +in order to suit the length and formation of the lady's leg, the crutch +will not remain in its proper position, but is continually shifting, +turning, and wobbling, to the great discomfort of the rider; nay, I have +seen more than one case where the crutch has turned edgeways to the +rider's leg, and caused severe pain and bruising of the delicate limb. +Let it be a strict injunction then, to your groom, "Never unscrew the +third crutch;" and if you find the support shifting in its socket, +shift the groom as soon as possible, and send the saddle to the saddler +to be firmly fixed in.</p> + +<p>Why saddlers should fit these supports to turn at all, I can see no good +reason. Some men, it is true, say that in putting a lady on horseback it +is necessary to turn the third crutch round, so as to prevent it from +catching the skirt; but for my own part I could never find any necessity +for this, or any difficulty in clearing a lady's skirt when lifting her +to the saddle. In purchasing a side-saddle, I repeat, the greatest +judgment is necessary as regards the third crutch; while it should be +long enough to give a good purchase and be well padded, it should be but +<i>slightly curved</i>. A crutch that forms a considerable segment of a +circle is both inconvenient and dangerous—inconvenient because it is a +support of this description (if any) that is in a lady's way in +mounting, and dangerous because, if in the hunting field a horse should +chance to fall with his fair rider, she would be unable to extricate +herself from her fallen steed, inasmuch as the nearly half-circular +crutch would completely pin her leg to the horse. It is, in fact, almost +as dangerous as if a man were to strap himself to his saddle (which, by +the way, I once saw a very determined hunting man do when suffering from +weakness in one leg). He had no opportunity, however, of testing his +experiment, as the master of the hounds very judiciously told him that, +if he persevered, he (the master) would take the hounds home.</p> + +<p>Nor is there any possible use in the enveloping of the leg by the thick +crutch of the side-saddle. With the slightest possible bend, the support +is sufficient if the rider sits fair and true in her saddle, while +plenty of stuffing is necessary to avoid bruising the leg, especially in +leaping. These "stumpy-looking" third crutches are certainly less +sightly in the saddle-room than the more circular ones; but I submit +that, inasmuch as it is not seen when the lady is up, it is of more +consequence to consult her comfort and safety than the eye of the groom.</p> + +<p>When the lady has arranged her dress to her satisfaction, as above +described, the next section of the lesson should consist in teaching how +she should take up her reins; and here again the greatest care should +be taken by the instructor that this is done coolly and <i>gracefully</i>, +without hurry or "fumbling." A great deal of trouble in this way may be +saved by the instructor teaching the lady how to take up her reins on +foot. Thus, take an ordinary double bridle, let a lad hold the upper +part of the head-stall in one hand, and the bits in the other, and stand +opposite the pupil. Hang both reins over your left arm just as they +would rest on the neck of the horse, the curb rein underneath, the +bridoon rein above. Let the pupil then take hold of <i>both reins</i> at the +end with the right hand; place the second finger of the left hand +between the bridoon reins with the nearside rein uppermost, and the +little finger of the same hand between the curb reins, the near-side +curb rein uppermost. Let her then place both bridoon and bit reins +perfectly flat over the middle joint of the forefinger of the left hand, +and drop the end of the reins over the knuckles, then close the thumb +firmly down on them. She will find then both bit and bridoon reins +equally divided, and an equal facility of causing them to act on the +horse's mouth, according to the direction in which she turns the wrist +of her left or bridle hand proper, or assists it with her right hand, +according to the aids hereafter to be described. The mode of holding the +reins above laid down is called in the French school "Mode de Paysanne," +or civilian method. The military fashion, which is far more elegant, but +not so well adapted at first for a beginner, is as follows.</p> + +<p>The pupil takes the end of the bridoon reins between the finger and +thumb of the right hand, and passes them over the full of the left, or, +to render the explanation still more simple, passes all the fingers of +the left hand between them, the off side rein above, and the near side +one below; the buckle piece on the knuckle of the forefinger, the rest +of the rein hanging loosely down. Let the lady then take the bit or curb +reins between the finger and thumb of the right hand, and pass the +little finger of the left between them, the near side rein uppermost. +With the right hand then let her draw the reins through the left, +until—keeping the left hand perfectly quiet—she has a light, almost +imperceptible, feeling on the horse's mouth. Let her then turn the bit +reins over the middle joint of the forefinger of the left hand, and +close the thumb down closely and firmly on them. The reins will then be +precisely in the form in which a dragoon's reins are arranged when he is +riding a finished horse at a field day or elsewhere. This method is +therefore called the "mode militaire." But inasmuch as only a +highly-finished horse can be ridden on the bit rein alone by an equally +finished rider, in order to assist the latter, and to prevent the horse +unduly feeling the action of the curb on his mouth, it is necessary that +the rider should draw up the bridoon reins so as to obtain an equal +feeling upon both bit and bridoon. Nothing can be more simple than to do +this, as the rider has only with the right hand to take hold of the +bridoon rein on the left or near side of the buckle or centre, and draw +it up until the part passing under the lower edge of the hand is of +equal length with the bit reins. She then closes her left thumb on both +reins, and shortens the right bridoon rein until it is of equal length +with the others. The rider has then an equal feeling of all four reins. +She should then hold the ends with her right hand, and let the reins +slip through the left until both hands are drawn back close to her +waist, the wrists slightly rounded outwards, the back towards the +horse's head, and the elbows drawn slightly back behind the waist.</p> + +<p>The instructor having placed the pupil's hands, should then proceed to +correct her general position. The figure should be well drawn up from +the waist, shoulders perfectly square and well thrown back, head and +neck erect, the upper part of the arm hanging almost perpendicular from +the shoulder, the elbows well back, so that a thin rod would pass +between them and the waist; the obvious reason for this position of the +hands and elbows being that, if they are allowed to go forward, the +whole flexibility of the waist—upon which depends the comfort, grace, +and security of the pupil's riding—is destroyed, and the lithe figure +of the fair rider becomes rigid and wooden in appearance, and stiff in +action.</p> + +<p>The upper part of the figure being thus placed, the master's attention +should be directed to the position of the feet and legs. That of the +right leg I have already described. The left leg, with the knee well +bent, should be placed firmly against the third crutch, the heel well +sunk, the toe raised from the instep, the foot at first well home in the +stirrup. By well stretching down the heel the rider braces all the +muscles at the back of the leg, and this, joined to drawing the figure +well up from the waist, secures that true balance so indispensable to +good riding. The right leg should be well bent and drawn back as near as +possible to the left leg.</p> + +<p>This should be the position at a walk, the aids for which, and the turns +I leave for another chapter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>Let me now offer a few remarks on a subject upon which considerable +diversity of opinion exists, namely, whether the teaching of a young +lady in riding may or may not be entrusted to a female professor of +equitation in preference to a man. At the first glance, there seems to +be good reason for preferring the tuition of the lady but, on careful +consideration, I believe most of those interested in the matter will +agree with me that, under many circumstances likely to occur, one lady, +however good a horsewoman herself, is likely to be quite unable to +render the desired assistance to a pupil, conceding, at the same time +that, as regards the details of dress, the opinion of a lady who has had +long practice in the saddle may be very useful.</p> + +<p>In the first place, the placing of the pupil on the horse and taking her +off cannot possibly be as well done, to say the least, by a lady +instructor as it can by a gentleman; neither would the performance of +such an office be graceful or convenient to either. Secondly, all that +portion of the instruction which should be given by the instructor on +foot while the pupil is on horseback can be better given by a man who +understands his business than by a lady, because, although the tone of +voice in which the instruction is conveyed should be kindly, and the +manner cheerful and encouraging, a degree of <i>firmness</i> and +<i>conciseness</i> is necessary, which few ladies possess, for the reason +that the art of teaching riding, like riding itself, requires a +considerable practice and long drilling into the instructor in a school +where smartness of diction and expression form part of the education of +an intended professor of equitation. Thirdly, assuming both instructor +and pupil to be in the saddle, a lady, although thoroughly mistress of +her own horse, is unable to aid her pupil as easily as a man can.</p> + +<p>In the early lessons given (the instructor being on horseback), it is +necessary that the latter should be close enough to the pupil's horse on +the off side to be able at any moment to place the hands of the learner, +to check any exuberant action of the horse by laying the left hand +firmly upon the reins; and in the first essays made by the pupil in the +trotting lesson, to assist her by the left hand of the instructor placed +under the right elbow of the beginner.</p> + +<p>And finally, should any necessity arise during a ride for dismounting +the pupil, a lady instructor labours under this difficulty, that having +dismounted herself, and both pupil and teacher being on the ground, the +act of mounting again by two ladies, unattended by a man, is one of +considerable difficulty and possible danger.</p> + +<p>From the very necessity of her position in the saddle, a lady teaching +another cannot, without inconvenience to both legs (the left +especially), approach near enough to her pupil's horse to assist the +latter with her left hand, because her left leg is always in danger of +coming in contact with the other horse; while on a windy day the skirt +of her habit is likely enough to be blown into his flank, and thereby +make him unsteady. Not long since I saw two ladies who were riding, +unattended by a man, in a very awkward predicament. Both are practised +riders, possessing capital seats and hands, and are equal to any +contingency likely to occur as long as they are in the saddle; nay, one +of the ladies is, I believe, the most accomplished horsewoman I ever +saw. Her seat is both fine and graceful to a degree; her hands +perfection, her nerve first-rate, and her experience in riding even +difficult horses with hounds considerable. This lady was the elder of +the two; her companion was considerably younger, but although a very +accomplished rider, she lacked the experience of her friend. Something +had gone amiss with the younger lady's saddle, and both ladies +dismounted to arrange it. The elder was quite equal to this, for I have +seen her many times saddle and bridle her own horse, and with one that +would stand quietly (being herself exceedingly supple and active), she +can put her hands on the upper pommel and vault into the saddle without +any assistance. But in the case I allude to she was completely fixed. +Her horse was a chesnut thoroughbred, only four years old; and, +although, despite all difficulty I believe, had she been alone, she +would have succeeded in mounting, her friend and her horse placed her in +an awkward dilemma. She was compelled from time to time to use one hand +to disengage the folds of her habit, and she had to hold both horses, +even if her friend could have gained her saddle unassisted. Neither +horse would stand still; the one, as is invariably the case in such +little difficulties, setting a bad example, which the other was not slow +to follow. To hold two horses, keep clear of her own habit, while the +horses were shifting their positions continually, and give her friend +even the least help in mounting, proved too much even for the +highly-finished lady equestrian, and as the <i>contretemps</i> occurred on a +lone country road, I believe they would have been compelled to lead +their horses a considerable distance, had I not chanced opportunely to +arrive. In such places as Rotten-row a lady instructor may get on +tolerably well with her pupil, because, in case of any mishap, there are +plenty of men always at hand who know what a horse is; but in +out-of-the-way country places it is very different. The British rustic, +whatever other good qualities he may possess, is not celebrated, as a +rule, for over politeness to ladies—strangers particularly. In proof of +the above, there is a story current in this neighbourhood which is +likely enough to be true, although I cannot vouch for it myself. The +tale runs thus:—A lady (one of the daughters of a noble house) having +married, had gone abroad with her husband, and been absent from the home +of her early days so long that the uprising generation of young people +about the estate knew her not. She was taking a ride one day unattended, +and mounted on a steady cob, had been visiting the long-cherished scenes +of her childhood, when she came to a very awkward bridle gate, seated on +which was a juvenile "wopstraw" in duck frock, leather leggings, and +wideawake. The boy jumped down and opened the gate for the lady, at the +same time taking off his hat. Now the fair recipient of this delicate +attention was well aware of the fact that the village people on the +paternal estate were celebrated in the county for their rough manners to +strangers, ladies forming no exception, so she was agreeably surprised +at the exceptional good behaviour of the youngster, the more so as she +was quite sure he did not know her. Taking a shilling out of her purse +she gave it to him, observing: "You are a very good boy," and added, +laughing, "I am sure you were not born at D." (the name of the principal +village on the estate). But to the donor's horror the youngster, +grasping his hat firmly in one fist and the shilling in the other, with +a fiery glare of indignation in his fat face and flashing eye, replied, +"Thou be'st a loyar (liar), I wor."</p> + +<p><i>Verbum sap.</i> All rustics are not so ill behaved as the one above +mentioned. But as very few of them will go far out of their road to +assist a stranger, it is as well that ladies riding in remote country +parts should be attended by a gentleman; and I repeat, for all purposes +of instruction, the attendance of a man will be found far more efficient +than that of a lady.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>The frontispiece represents the stamp of horse best calculated to carry +a lady, and is a very truthful likeness of a five-year-old horse, named +Prince Arthur, a son of the celebrated racehorse Stockwell, his dam a +half-bred Arab mare.</p> + +<p>The subject of the plate, therefore, has some of the very best English +blood in his veins, in conjunction with that Eastern strain from which +in all probability our magnificent British thoroughbreds derive a +considerable proportion of their power of endurance, or, in turf +phraseology, their staying quality.</p> + +<p>The horse is a first-class hack, as good a performer over the great +Leicestershire pastures and formidable oxers which so often bar the way +in that sporting county, as he has already proved himself in the +<i>manége</i>; and, as he possesses, in addition to true and most elastic +action, fine temper and indomitable courage, I venture to present his +likeness as my type of the sort of animal adapted either for Rotten-row +or to hold his own in the "first flight" over a country.</p> + +<p>A common error is that any weedy thoroughbred, too slow for racing, and +without the "timber" and substance to enable him to carry a 10-stone man +to hounds, is good enough for a lady's riding. There can be no greater +mistake. While quality and fashion are indispensable in a woman's horse, +strength and substance are equally necessary. As I have before observed, +the very conditions upon which the comfort and safety of a lady's riding +depend, leave her horse without that support in his action which he +would derive from the riding of a good man; while, however true the +balance of the lady may be, still the horse's powers are called upon in +a long ride, either on the flat or over the country, in a way which +tests him severely. There must therefore be plenty of wear and tear in +the right place—great strength in the loins, a back <i>not too short</i>, +aided by strong and well-arched back ribs, which are at the same time +not too closely locked up.</p> + +<p>The Arab horse proper, despite his great capability of endurance, his +symmetrical contour and extraordinary sagacity, is still a trying mount +for a lady unaccustomed to him. With great power in his hind quarters +(as a rule), he is short in the back, low and short in front of the +saddle. The consequence is that from his powerful back action, he +pitches too much in his collected paces to ride pleasantly to a woman, +although when striding away at top speed he is easy enough.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the English horse that possesses length enough to +enable him to travel easily under the fair equestrian too often has the +length in the wrong place, and cannot stay—a defect fatal to enjoyable +riding for a lady, at all events in the hunting field.</p> + +<p>It is to the admixture of Eastern and Western blood, therefore, that one +has to look for symmetry of topping conjoined to length in the right +place, power, and substance.</p> + +<p>I now proceed to say a few words as to the "aids" to be employed to put +the horse in motion. In order to impress these thoroughly upon the +memory of the fair tyro, the preceptor should adopt a form of question +and answer to the following effect:</p> + +<p>Q. What are the aids to make a horse walk?—A. A pressure of the leg to +his side, at the same time easing the hand.</p> + +<p>Q. How is the hand to be eased?—A. From the wrist; the arm being kept +perfectly steady, and the little finger yielding towards the horse's +neck.</p> + +<p>Q. How many lines of action should the little finger of the bridle hand +move on?—A. Four. First, towards the waist; second, towards the horse's +neck; third, towards the right shoulder; fourth, towards the left.</p> + +<p>Q. What are the objects of these motions?—A. First, to collect, halt, +or rein back the horse. Second, to give him facility of moving forward. +Third, to turn him to the left. Fourth, to turn him to the right. The +upper part of the rider's figure to be slightly turned from the waist, +by bringing forward the right shoulder when turning to the left and +<i>vice versâ</i>, in order to enable her to move exactly on the same line as +the horse, and so to preserve completely her due <i>aplomb</i> or balance in +the saddle. The above, in a slightly modified form, is the instruction +laid down in the "Military Aid Book," as is the following.</p> + +<p>Q. What is meant by a light hand?—A. An almost imperceptible easing and +feeling of the bridle hand, so as to preserve the natural delicacy of +the horse's mouth.</p> + +<p>The foregoing, however, while it indicates correctly and concisely what +a light hand is, is scarcely explicit enough for a beginner. I believe +the best definition to be this: when a horse is "light in hand," +according to the technical meaning, it should by no means be understood +that he has so delicate a mouth that he fears the action of the bit in +it. On the contrary, having in his breaking been fairly balanced, the +greater part of the weight on his haunches, and ridden well up to his +bridle, he should admit of a steady <i>appui</i> between his mouth and the +rider's hand, while he bends in the poll of the neck.</p> + +<p>Thoroughly balanced, and bending as above described, his mouth yields to +the action of the rider's hand, and is "light" in the true sense of the +principles of equitation.</p> + +<p>A great deal of nonsense is talked about ladies' hands being so much +more light and delicate than those of a man. The truth is, that, +assuming both male and female rider to be equally practised in the +saddle, there is no difference whatever in the feeling or <i>appui</i> given +by the horse.</p> + +<p>Thoroughly habituated to obey certain indications conveyed to him +through the medium of the bridle reins and leg or other aid of the +rider, he will answer to them precisely in the same manner to a lady as +he would to a man; while, on the other hand, if these indications are +not given with well-defined clearness and precision, he will not answer +to anybody's riding.</p> + +<p>There is a point, however, as regards the action of the hands, to which +I beg to call the particular attention both of young ladies commencing +their lessons in equitation and of gentlemen (non-professional) who may +undertake the task of teaching riding.</p> + +<p>A great difference of opinion exists as to whether the action of the +bridle hand should be from the wrist only, or whether (spring like, if I +may use the expression) the "give and take" action should be conveyed by +the upper part of the arm being quite mobile at the shoulder joint and +in conjunction with the forearm, the latter kept, however, close to the +side, and moving easily and freely to the horse's action. The latter +theory is warmly advocated by many thoroughly experienced horsemen and +professors of female equitation, who maintain that to teach a young lady +to keep the arm firm to the side, in the manner adopted in the military +riding school, is not only to give her a rigid wooden appearance on her +horse, but also to destroy the proper flexibility of her figure.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, some instructors—those especially who are veterans +of the cavalry <i>manége</i>—insist that firmness of the arm should in all +cases be rigidly demanded.</p> + +<p>My experience induces me to come to a conclusion which is midway between +these opposing theories.</p> + +<p>In the first lessons given to a lady on horseback it is well to insist +upon her keeping the arm steady, because otherwise she is ready not only +to yield her hand to every movement of the horse, be that yielding right +or wrong, but gradually and imperceptibly to herself her hands will +steal forward until they are eight or ten inches in front of her, the +consequence being that the muscles of the waist become rigid, and the +flexibility of her figure at its most important point, as regards +riding, is lost, while the hands remain in the awkward and ungainly +position I allude to.</p> + +<p>For the above reason, therefore, it is desirable to inculcate firmness +of the lower part of the arm to the side in the early lessons; the hands +drawn back close to the waist. And, in order to make this form of riding +more easily comprehensible to the pupil at her first essay, the +following will be found highly effective:</p> + +<p>Let the instructor stand in front of the horse, and taking the bridle +reins one in each hand, let him caution the pupil <i>not</i> to yield to him +if he pulls against her. Let him then take a quick, sharp pull at the +reins in the same way as a horse would when trying to get his head free +from the rider's control. The master will find that, despite the +caution, both the pupil's hands will come forward at once; and if this +action on the bridle had been executed by the horse instead of his +master, the former would have gained his first step in having his own +way, and, for instance, from a collected canter could increase his pace +at his own will. Now, there is nothing more important in the action of +the hand in controlling the horse than firmness and instantaneous +decision in yielding or maintaining the <i>appui</i>.</p> + +<p>"If" (say some theorists) "a horse pulls against you, drop your hand to +him." This is rather a vague expression, which, in fact, conveys no real +meaning to an inexperienced person; among horsemen it is intended to +convey that you should yield to the horse whenever he pulls or takes a +liberty with the hand. Now, the direct reverse of this is the course to +be adopted by all riders who wish to acquire good hands. When a horse +endeavours to forereach upon the rider, the latter, instead of yielding, +should close his hands firmly on the reins, and keep the arms perfectly +steady, <i>without pulling an ounce</i> against the horse; at the same time +closing his leg with equal firmness. In the next stride or two the horse +will yield to the hand, which should instantly yield to him; and thus he +learns that you are master of him, and goes well together, or, as it is +technically called, collectedly and within himself; whereas if the hand +is freely yielded whenever he takes a liberty or romps for his head, in +a very brief time he will be all abroad, and going in any form but that +best for himself or his rider.</p> + +<p>To ensure firmness and steadiness of the hands, however, equal firmness +and steadiness are requisite in the arms, and, for that reason, the +pupil should be taught to keep them close to the side; an additional +reason being that, if this is neglected, a beginner, as it were, +disconnects the figure from the waist upwards, and loses her true +balance. When the pupil has had sufficient practice to ensure steadiness +in the saddle, the injunction as to arms perfectly steady may be +relaxed; and gradually, while there is no lateral motion of the arm from +the side or sticking out of the elbows, the lady will learn to give easy +play to the shoulder joint without destroying the neatness of her +riding or her power to fix her arms for a moment if the horse tries to +get his head away. In short, my theory is that it is impossible for the +pupil to learn the true <i>appui</i>, or acquire what is usually called a +light hand, until she has acquired a steady one. It is easy enough to +tell her to "give and take" to the cadence of the horse's action; but +the precise moment at which to do this must be made clear to the learner +by some well defined and easily comprehensible rule. I submit that the +readiest way of defining it is that I have attempted in the foregoing. +Having carefully given the above instruction, see that the pupil is +sitting fair and true in the saddle, and be careful to correct any +tendency to throwing forward the right shoulder, which is both inelegant +and destructive of balance. See that the right knee is in a firm, but +still flexible form on the upper pannels. Caution the pupil while she +draws her figure well up from the waist to stretch the left heel well +down; and let her then, keeping her hands perfectly quiet, press the +horse forward into a walk with the leg, while she yields the little +finger from the wrist only. Let her make the horse walk freely out, but +up to his bridle, the whip being applied, if necessary, on the off +shoulder if he hangs back behind his work.</p> + +<p>Nearly all young people, when first put on horseback, are anxious to be +off in a canter at once, and it is a sore trial to their patience to be +kept at a walk. But there can be no greater mistake than to allow them +to canter a horse until they have learnt the "alpha" of their +business—that important lesson, how to make a horse walk true and fair.</p> + +<p>This accomplished, "going large" round school or paddock, the pupil +should be carefully instructed how to turn her horse square to the right +or left, and to rein him back. And in order to make the instruction as +clear and concise as possible, again, in a modified form, the "Book of +Aids" may be called upon. The formula there laid down, in the shape of +question and answer, is as follows:—</p> + +<p>Q. How do you turn a horse to the right or left?—A. By a double feeling +of the inward rein, retaining a steady feeling of the outward. The horse +kept up to the hand by pressure of both legs. The outward by the +strongest. Now, as in the case of a lady, there is no right leg to +support the horse, in turning, he is liable to lean upon the hand; the +rider should close the left leg firmly, and touch him lightly on the +off-side with her whip, which will at once cause him to keep his +forehand up and his haunches under him. After being once or twice so +corrected he will turn carefully, without hurry or coming on his +shoulder.</p> + +<p>The pupil should then be taught to turn her horse right and left about +in the centre of the <i>manége</i>, the aids being simply continued until the +animal faces the reverse way, the pupil turning her horse upon his +centre in the middle of the <i>manége</i>, instead of his haunches, as at the +side. Plenty of practice should be given in making these turns, because +by them the pupil learns to bring up the right or left shoulder +according to the hand turned to, the right shoulder in turning to the +left, and <i>vice versâ</i>; and this should be most carefully attended to by +the master, otherwise the body of the pupil is moving on one line and +the horse on another, and in case of his flirting the pupil is already +half-way out of her saddle. Too much attention therefore cannot be given +to this vital point in the <i>aplomb</i> for this obvious reason—if a lady +once acquires the habit (which unfortunately too many do) of allowing +the horse to turn without "going with him," it is quite on the cards +that some day a horse, a trifle too fresh, may jump round with her. If +the above principle of "going" with the horse has been thoroughly well +taught her in her early lessons she will have no difficulty in +accompanying the action of the horse, if she even fail in checking it; +but if she is permitted so to sit as to be looking over her horse's left +ear when she turns him to the right, she is leaving the question of her +seat entirely to the generosity of the steed. And it may be as well to +say at once that, with the best intentioned, broken, or mannered horse, +it may be laid down as a golden rule in riding to leave nothing to his +generosity. Horses are very keen in their perceptions, and can detect in +a manner little suspected by the inexperienced when they have one at a +disadvantage.</p> + +<p>Reining back may be practised from time to time. To do this well, again +clearly defined instructions should be given. First the horse should be +halted. Thus: A light <i>firm</i> feeling of both reins, to check his forward +movement; the leg closed tightly at the same time, to keep him up to the +hand; the reins to be eased as soon as the horse is halted. The aids for +reining back should then be explained as follows: Closing the hands +firmly on the reins, the rider should feel the horse's mouth as though +the reins were made of silken thread instead of leather, and close her +leg quietly to keep him up to the hand. There should be no dead pull at +the horse's mouth, but the reins should be eased at every step he takes +backwards, which, if the aids are smoothly and truly applied, he will do +without throwing his haunches either in or out. In the early lessons the +pupil should not be allowed to rein her horse back more than two or +three steps at a time. The use of reining back is to bring the greater +weight from the horse's forehand to his haunches, to collect him and +make him light in hand. (See "Aid Book.") It is also of great use in +assisting the pupil to correct her own <i>aplomb</i> in the saddle, and +acquire a true <i>appui</i> on the horse's mouth. Every movement of the hand +of the rider, however, and every step of the horse, should be carefully +watched by the instructor. The horse should never be allowed to <i>hurry</i> +back, as that will at once enable him to get behind his bridle.</p> + +<p>These lessons at a walk, the turns to the right and left, turns about +and reining back, should be continued until the pupil executes them with +precision. Her position should be rigidly attended to, all stiffness +avoided, and nothing in the shape of careless sitting allowed to pass +unnoticed. I repeat, the early lessons should, if anything, be a little +overdone in the way of exactness, because any careless habit acquired at +such a stage is most difficult to get rid of afterwards. When the pupil +is thoroughly <i>au fait</i> at her walking lesson, she should commence the +next important section, that, namely, of learning to trot, the formula +of which I will endeavour to explain in my next chapter, concluding this +with a description of the form in which a lady should dismount, and the +assistance that should be afforded by the master.</p> + +<p>Having halted the horse in the centre of the school, his head should be +held by a steady groom. The lady should then pass the reins from the +right hand to the left, and quietly lift her skirt with the right hand +until she can easily disengage her right knee from the upper pommels. At +the same moment her left foot should be disengaged by the assistant from +the stirrup, and her skirt from the near-side pommel or third crutch. +The lady should then drop the reins on the horse's neck, and having +disengaged her right knee, turn quietly to the left in her saddle, and +face the assistant. She should then with both hands take up the slack of +her habit until her feet are quite clear of it, otherwise, on alighting +she is liable to trip and fall, possibly right into the arms of the +assistant, which is not, by any means, according to rule.</p> + +<p>Having gathered up the skirt, the lady should then carry her hands +forward about eight or ten inches from her knees, and rest both her +hands firmly on those of the assistant, who should raise them up well +for the purpose. It remains only then for the lady to glide smoothly +down from the saddle, and, slightly supported by the assistant, she will +alight easily and gracefully on <i>terra firma</i>. Some riding masters have +a fashion of taking a lady off her horse by placing both hands on her +waist and allowing her to throw her weight forward upon them. Such a +practice is <i>outré</i>, inelegant, and unsafe, because the lady is likely +enough to throw more weight forward than the master anticipated, in +which case both may come to the ground, to the great discomfiture of the +fair equestrian.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Trotting Lesson.</span></h3> + + +<p>This, once thoroughly mastered, gives the pupil confidence and security +on her horse, and is the great inductive step by which she learns the +value of balance. Some years ago it was considered that if a lady could +sit her horse gracefully at a walk, and securely at a canter, she had +accomplished all that was correct or necessary in female equitation. +Trotting was altogether ignored, for the simple reason that ladies found +it extremely difficult to do, and impossible to find anybody who could +help them out of their difficulty by teaching them the right way. In +those days most of the riding masters were men who had been instructors +in the cavalry. In that arm of the service, trotting according to +regulation is quite a different thing to the easy rise and fall seat +practised by civilians on horseback. It is a necessity in cavalry, in +order to preserve the dressing in line, that a man should sit down in +his saddle at a trot, and allow the horse to shake him fair up and down +in it. If the rising seat were allowed, it would be impossible to +preserve anything like dressing. This shake-up, or "bumping" seat, +however, as men out of the army call it, is by no means so distressing +as some people imagine, unless the horse is unusually rough in his +action.</p> + +<p>The reason is that the military trot is taught upon the principle of +balance. The man sits fair down on his seat, and, keeping his knee +forward and his heel well down, does not cling to the horse by muscular +grasp; consequently the bumping, so terrific to the eye of the civilian, +is scarcely felt by the soldier, and in continental armies, where rough +trotting horses are exceptional, the motion or jolt is scarcely +perceptible. There are a great many popular fallacies about military +riding—as, for instance, that a dragoon rides with a very long +stirrup; that his seat is insecure; that the bumping gives a horse a +sore back; and that, except a sailor and a tailor, a dragoon officer is +about the worst horseman to be found. This is not exactly the place to +enter into any controversy on the subject; but I may as well observe at +once, and I do so because I am sure the old soldiers are not altogether +despised by the ladies, even in this non-military country, that all the +foregoing are so many mistakes. A dragoon, any time within my memory, +rode just the same length as a man does over a country—that is to say +that, measuring the cavalry man's leather and iron by the length of his +arm and hand, which is the right length for a civilian, you have exactly +the cavalry regulation length. The stirrup of a lancer indeed is +somewhat shorter than that used by most hunting men. Finally, an +acquaintance with the <i>habitués</i> of such places as Melton would prove to +unbelievers in the riding of cavalry officers that the names of most of +the men who go to the front in the hunting-field, and keep there, are to +be found in the "Army List." I have been tempted thus to digress by +having referred to the military riding school, from which in former +days, most, if not all, the riding masters who taught ladies came. Now, +although I stand up (as in duty bound) for the military system of riding +<i>per se</i>, it does not produce the right man to teach a woman to ride, if +the experience of the preceptor has been acquired in the riding school +only. Excellent as is our system (or, rather, the German system, for it +is imported from the Prussian service), for making a man a first-class +dragoon, as regards anything connected with a lady's seat or the +principle of her balance, it is useless.</p> + +<p>As regards her hands, or the application of the "aids" of the <i>manége</i>, +it is highly beneficial, because nothing can be more clear or concise +than the simple rules laid down in military equitation for the +application of the "helps," by which a horse's easy movement is +controlled and regulated. It was principally to the want of men who +could teach a lady to ride, however, that the absence of a trotting in +the side saddle was to be attributed "lang syne."</p> + +<p>It is altogether different now. Riding masters took to riding across +country, and their daughters took to it also, naturally. Awkward spills +occurred; and long journeys home after hunting, all done at a canter, +terribly shook the horse's legs and the temper of the head of the +family. "Why the deuce can't you let your horse trot?" I once heard the +worthy sire of a blooming girl of sixteen say to his daughter, who was +pounding away on the hard road on the <i>retour de chasse</i>. "For God's +sake let him trot, Carry. You'll hammer his legs all to pieces. Why +don't you let him trot?" "Because, pa, he won't let me trot," was the +unanswerable reply. True enough; Carry knew nothing about it, and there +was nobody to tell her. She was riding on a saddle that fitted neither +her nor her horse. She had no third crutch, and she had a slipper +stirrup (that worst of abominations in ladies' saddlery). Looking back +at those days, the only wonder to me is, how ladies managed to ride at +all. That they did ride is certainly proof (if any were wanting) of +their courage and perseverance under difficulties.</p> + +<p>The necessity for trotting having become apparent as ladies took more to +riding, it at length called the attention of one or two thoroughly +practical men to the subject. The first of these, I believe, was the +celebrated steeple race jockey, Dan Seffert, who had been a riding +master in his early days, and who was equally at home in the <i>manége</i> or +between the flags over a country.</p> + +<p>The running made by Mr. Seffert was soon taken up by other first-class +horsemen, among whom were Mr. Oldacre, and Mr. Allen, of Seymour-place. +The third crutch was added to the side saddle, and numerous improvements +effected in it, which rendered trotting not only practicable, but +pleasant and easy to a lady, provided she was taught the right way. I +believe we owe the third crutch and padded stirrup to Mr. Oldacre, a +first-class judge of female equitation; but I am not quite certain upon +this point. The saddle having been rendered practicable for the purpose, +the next thing requisite was a comprehensible and simple set of rules, +by which the lady could be taught to trot, without distressing either +her horse or herself. To whom these rules owe their origin is +immaterial; as to their efficiency, such as they are, I have found them +highly so, and therefore beg leave to submit them to your readers.</p> + +<p>After the usual walking lesson (abridged, however, to allow more time +for what is to follow), the pupil should ride her horse to the centre of +the school, and halt him there, so that the instructor has perfect +facility of getting at the horse on any side, and seeing the exact form +in which his pupil moves. The lady should then be instructed to take a +firm hold with the right knee on the upper pommel of the saddle, +grasping it well between the thigh and the lower part of the leg, and +carrying the latter well back, with the heel sunk as close as possible +to the left leg. By sinking the heel well, she will give great firmness +to her hold with the right leg upon the upper pommels. To accomplish +this, however, she should get well forward in her saddle, and care +should be taken that her stirrup is not too short, otherwise she will be +thrown too far back to enable her to take the necessary grip with the +upper leg. The left leg should then be well drawn back, the front of the +thigh pressed firmly against the third crutch, the left heel well sunk, +and the toe raised from the instep, because a firmness is thus given to +the leg and thigh which would otherwise be wanting. The body, from the +waist upwards, should be inclined slightly forward, and the angle at +which the left foot is drawn back from the perpendicular line from the +knee to the foot should be regulated by the inclination of the body +forward, so as exactly to balance it.</p> + +<p>Having placed his pupil in this position, and seen that her hands are +well drawn back and arms firm, the instructor should then <i>take her foot +out of the stirrup</i>, and give the following concise instructions: "On +the word 'one,' raise the body slowly from the saddle as high as +possible." Now, to do this without the aid of the stirrup can only be +accomplished by keeping the heel well down and the leg back (in the +first place, in order to balance the body), and then raising the figure +by the action of the right knee and its grasp upon the upper pommel. At +first the pupil will find this difficult, even when the horse is +perfectly motionless, and when the riding master assists her by putting +his left hand under her left elbow; but after a few efforts she will +succeed. This is the first step in learning the rise with precision. +Having accomplished it, the pupil should not lower herself again to the +saddle until the instructor gives her the word "two," when she should +lower herself as slowly as she rose.</p> + +<p>If she has been well tutored in the extension and suppling practices +alluded to in my second chapter, she will understand what "one, two" +time means in this way as well as in dancing, and her knowledge of +balance on foot will assist her on horseback. These rising and falling +motions should be continued until the pupil executes them with +precision, fair intervals of rest being allowed. The master should then +place the lady's foot again in the stirrup.</p> + +<p>The absence of this support in the previous lesson will have prevented +the pupil from leaning to the near side, and throwing her weight out of +the perpendicular—a most pernicious habit, which ladies who try to +learn their trotting in one lesson are very apt to fall into, and it is +a fault very difficult to correct. In fact, the main object in beginning +without a stirrup is to avoid this error.</p> + +<p>With the support of the stirrup the pupil will find the act of rising +and maintaining an upright or slightly bent forward position (the figure +raised well up from the saddle) a comparatively easy matter, and the +lesson should be continued thus for a quarter of an hour longer. However +trying to the patience this riding without gaining ground—"marking +time" in the saddle—may be, the lady maybe assured, that it is by rigid +attention to such minutiæ only that she can become a first-class +horsewoman, and that she is in reality losing no time.</p> + +<p>When we hear the singing of Mme. Titiens, or recollect the unrivalled +dancing of Taglioni, we are apt to forget that with all the natural +talent of these great artistes, it was close attention to rudimentary +elements that laid the foundations of their excellence. It is so in +riding, to excel in which is far more difficult than in dancing. It is +those only who are content with mediocrity who ignore detail. We come +now to the second section of this lesson, in which the pupil will begin +to find the first fruit of her previous exertion. The master having led +her horse to the side of the school, should give her instruction to walk +him freely out, riding him, however, well up against the snaffle, if +necessary for this purpose using her whip sharply. The horse will then +take fairly hold of her hand, and give her a good <i>appui</i>. The rising +and falling should then be continued at a walk, and assisted by the +impetus given by the horse's forward motion, and the stirrup, the pupil +will find her work still easier than when the horse was at a standstill.</p> + +<p>The instructor should now count his "one," "two," in different times, +allowing a longer or shorter interval between each word, according to +whether he means to convey to the pupil the notion of quick sharp action +in the horse, or long dwelling action. Thus, when the horse trots, he +will be able to count his time in exact accordance with the animal's +movements. Be the time quick or slow that he counts, he should exact +rigid conformity of action in the pupil; because this harmony of motion +to the counting is as important to success in the riding master as it is +to the music master. Time and cadence in action are vital points in +equitation.</p> + +<p>As soon as the instructor is satisfied that his pupil can easily +accommodate her action to his word, he should prepare to test both in +the trot. But if he takes a week to get the pupil to do the two previous +lessons (one of them even) properly, they should be continued until she +does it; nobody can spell until he knows the alphabet.</p> + +<p>To carry on the lesson in the trot, the instructor should mount a cob or +pony of such height as will admit of his easily placing his left hand +under the right elbow of the pupil. He should ride with his reins in his +right hand, and be sure that the horse he gets on is a perfectly steady +one.</p> + +<p>He should now put plenty of vivacity into his own manner; he will then +easily impart it to his pupil and her horse. The latter should be +smartly "woke up" if at all behind his work—pressed up to the bridle +with whip and leg, and "made ready" to increase his pace at any moment. +The master should then caution his pupil that on the words "Prepare to +trot," she should strengthen her grasp on the upper pommel, her pressure +against the third crutch, and well stretch down the left heel, while she +carries back the left leg, and inclines the body slightly forward from +the waist, arms very firm, fingers shut tight on the reins; and while +the body inclines forward there should be no outward or lateral +curvature of the spine, nor should the head be dropped. The shoulders +pressed well back, and the hands close to the waist, will give firmness +and suppleness to the whole figure. Directly the master is satisfied +with the pupil's position, he should place his left hand under her right +elbow, urge his own horse smartly on, and give the word "Trot," on which +the pupil should, without altering her position or yielding her hand, +touch her horse smartly on the shoulder with the whip; he will then trot +forward. At the first step he takes the master should help the pupil up +with his left hand, and commence counting his "one," "two" in exact +accordance with the horse's action. In nine cases out of ten the lady +will succeed, with a fair stepping horse, in catching at the first +attempt the rise at the right moment, and the increased impetus given by +the horse will assist her, while her preparatory lessons in rising and +falling will now prove their value.</p> + +<p>Should any failure, however, attend the first effort, both horses should +again be brought to the walk; the lady should be allowed to re-arrange +her habit, and recover from the inevitable flurry which attends any +failure of this sort. Patience, concise explanation, and cheerful manner +on the part of the master will presently find their reward. All ladies +do not possess great nerve, but most of them have great courage and +perseverance, and after a false start or two they get on their mettle, +and are sure to catch the true action. When once they have it, the +master should make the pace sharp and active three or four times round +the school, which is long enough for a first attempt. A couple more +turns of equal duration should terminate the first trotting lesson. The +lady should walk her horse round the school until both are cool, make +much of him by patting him on the neck, and then be taken off. Day by +day the instructor can slightly increase the length of the lesson, +always beginning it, however, as above described, until the rise and +fall of the pupil at a trot is perfectly true and fair. There should be +no twist from the waist, the shoulders perfectly square, every movement +in exact harmony with the horse's action. After the lady can rise and +fall in the saddle unaided by the master, he is better on foot, because +he can stand behind his pupil, and at once correct any fault in her +position or riding; and no fault, be it remembered, however trivial, +should be allowed to pass uncorrected.</p> + +<p>For some time the lady should continue trotting out round the school, +riding altogether upon the snaffle and sending her horse well up against +it. There should be no "give-and-take" action in the hand in this case; +but while she does not pull the weight of a feather against her horse, +she should make him maintain the <i>appui</i> by taking well hold of her +hand; his trot will then be regular and fair.</p> + +<p>After about ten days or a fortnight of such practice, the master may +commence the third section of his trotting lesson, namely, that in which +the pupil begins to collect her horse, raise his forehand, and bring his +haunches under him.</p> + +<p>The first step in this should be to ascertain that the lady is not +dependent upon the horse's mouth for any part of her firmness in the +saddle, or, more correctly speaking, to see that her balance is right +unaided by the bridle, because, although perhaps imperceptible to the +rider (man or woman), the <i>appui</i> of the mouth has more to do with the +seat than most people imagine. In good schools of equitation men tell +you "There are no hands without legs." True, and if we were to ask many +a good man that we see crossing a country to ride over a big fence +without a bridle we should perceive that there are few seats without +hands. It is to correct the tendency to trust for support to the horse's +mouth that the efforts of the instructor should now be directed.</p> + +<p>To carry this out, he should be mounted upon a horse of about equal +height to that of his pupil, on the off side, and close to whom he +should place himself. He should direct her to drop her reins entirely, +and then take them in his left hand, riding his own horse with his +right. He should then instruct the lady to place her hands behind her +waist, the right hand grasping the left elbow, as described in the +suppling practices. Cautioning her again as to firmness of grasp and +good balance, he should then urge both horses into a smart trot, and +keep them going round the school two or three times, carefully watching +the action of the pupil, and if he perceives the least indication of +distress pull up immediately. The exertion necessary to execute this +lesson is severe if the pupil has not been well suppled before being put +on horseback. If she has, there will be considerably less effort in it; +but, in any case, on first practising it, the fair tyro requires every +encouragement to persevere, because in doing one thing well, she is very +apt to forget another. Constantly reminded as to her position as the +trot goes on, she will succeed in doing all well. After two or three +such turns (the arms of course disengaged during the interval), the lady +should take up her reins again; this time the curb and snaffle reins of +equal length, and in the form (No. 1) described in a previous chapter. +She should then trot her horse freely out round the school, and she will +find the full benefit of her recent drilling without reins, inasmuch as +her seat will be many degrees firmer, and her balance more true, leaving +her more liberty of action in hand and leg to apply the necessary aids +to her horse in the coming lesson, in which at a well-regulated and +collected pace, she will learn to turn him in any direction at her will, +to rein him back, to make the inclines and circles, and prepare him for +the cantering lesson by finally riding him in his trot entirely on the +curb rein, and throwing him well upon his haunches.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Trotting Lesson</span> (<i>continued</i>).</h3> + + +<p>I come now to the final section of the trotting lesson—that which, +thoroughly acquired, I may term the thorough base of the matter. Having +satisfied himself that his pupil has command of her horse, steady seat +and hands, and true balance when riding equally on the snaffle and curb, +the master should proceed to instruct her as to the mode of arranging +the reins so as to ride on the curb alone.</p> + +<p>As this has been already described, it is needless to repeat the +formula. I may observe, however, that, in order to give increased +facility of action to the bridle hand, and avoid anything like sudden +jerk or rough pull upon the horse's mouth, it is best for the lady to +retain the end of the curb reins between the fore finger and thumb of +her right hand, by doing which she is enabled, keeping her left hand +perfectly steady, and opening and closing the fingers, to give easy play +to the reins. Without this she would find riding on the curb alone +difficult at first with the left hand only, because all the motion must +come from the wrist, and considerable practice is necessary to +accommodate this motion exactly to the action of the horse. Care should +be taken that the elbows are kept well back, so as to preserve the +suppleness of the waist, and by this time also the pupil ought to have +acquired sufficient steadiness in the saddle to admit of her giving easy +play to the upper part of the arm at the shoulder joint. But until +complete firmness of seat is gained this should not be attempted, +because in the case of a novice it disconnects the figure, and +interferes with the horse's mouth materially. The most rigid attention +also should be given to the pupil's general position, and the firmness +and correct placing of both legs—the heels well down, the upper part of +the body well drawn up from the waist, "the whole figure pliant and +accompanying every movement of the horse" (see "Military Aid Book").</p> + +<p>The lady should commence the lesson by walking her horse two or three +times round the school; and it is here, by close attention, that she +will learn that light hands are neither "heaven-born" nor impossible to +acquire. On pressing the horse forward with her leg or whip, so as to +make him walk up against the curb, it is possible her hand may be a +little heavy, and that the horse may resist it. In this case, if not +cautions and carefully watched, she will let her hands go forward. It is +for the instructor to take special care of this, and point out to his +pupil how she can ease the reins through her left hand by the aid of the +right, so as to catch the true <i>appui</i>, without yielding altogether to +the horse. In other words, she should allow sufficient rein to go +through her hand to enable the horse to walk freely forward; and then, +closing her fingers again firmly, make him go up to every hair's breadth +of rein she has given him, and fairly against the curb. There should not +be a particle of slack rein. In fact, it may be received as a sound +principle in riding that there should never be slack reins, no matter +what the pace. If you give your horse the full length of the reins even, +make him go up to them.</p> + +<p>When once the lady has gained the above-named <i>appui</i> (the right hand +assisting the left), she should be instructed to halt her horse lightly +on his haunches preparatory to reining back. And again she should do +this by drawing the reins through the fingers of her left hand with the +right, keeping the former perfectly steady, and drawing her own figure +well up, in order to avoid any tendency to lean forward. On the word +"Rein back," which should be given in a very quiet tone of voice, and in +the exact cadence in which the master desires his pupil to move her +horse to the rear, the lady should feel both reins lightly but firmly +for a moment, closing at the same instant her leg so as to keep her +horse's haunches under him, in the manner before described when using +the snaffle only, but in the present case with greater care and +precision. <i>Lightly</i> and <i>firmly</i> feeling the curb reins while pressed +by the leg, the horse will take a step back. The reins should be yielded +the instant he does so. Two or three steps back are sufficient, when the +word "Forward" should be given, preceded by the caution to close the +fingers firmly on the reins, and, with whip and leg, keep the horse well +up to his work. Feeling this amount of constraint laid upon him, the +horse will be inclined at any moment to canter. But here the tact of the +master should be exhibited in instructing his pupil to release the horse +from his fore-shortened position, by allowing about six inches of rein +(or more, if necessary), to pass through her left hand as she presses +the horse forward into a free trot (about eight miles an hour). All her +firmness of seat will be necessary now, because any irregular action on +her part will cause her hand to become heavy, and make the horse canter. +The great thing is, not to continue trotting on the curb-rein alone too +long. Short lessons often repeated, and intervals in which to correct +everything are best for pupil and instructor.</p> + +<p>When the lady can accomplish trotting out for twenty minutes without +allowing her horse to break, she should then be instructed to collect +him to a slower pace, bringing him more upon his haunches, and with his +forehand more up. This requires the nicest tact and discrimination on +the part of the rider, perfect steadiness in the saddle, and firm +pressure of the left leg; while the reins should be drawn through the +left hand with as much care as though the lady feared to break them. The +shortened pace should be smart and active, and the horse so collected as +to be ready to turn to the right, or left, or about, or make the +inclines at any moment. All these exercises should then be practised in +the same order as when the pupil rode, assisted by or on the snaffle +only.</p> + +<p>After the lady has performed these to the satisfaction of the master, +she should bring her horse to the walk and be instructed to carry the +end of the curb reins, which she has held hitherto in her right hand, +through the full of the left hand, and place both reins (the off-side +one uppermost) over the middle joint of the fore finger, and close the +thumb firmly on them. The end of the reins should be dropped to the +off-side of the horse, and hang down outside the off-side crutch; the +whip (with the point <i>downwards</i>) kept quiet. Raising the point of the +whip, when a lady is trotting a horse on the curb alone, and unassisted +by her right hand, is very apt to make him break, because the point of +the whip is always in motion, and causes the horse to turn his eye back +at it.</p> + +<p>The instructor should now carefully place the lady's bridle hand, with +the wrist rounded outwards and the thumb pointing square across the +body, the back of the hand towards the horse's head, and the little +finger turned upwards and inwards towards the waist, the arm perfectly +firm, and the wrist quite supple—as in this case it is from the wrist +only that every indication to turn, to halt, or rein back is given, +aided by the whip on the off side and the leg on the near side. The +pupil can then be taught to turn her horse to either hand, or about, at +a walk, without any motion of the bridle hand perceptible to a +looker-on, although perceptible enough to the horse. In turning to the +right, the little finger should be turned down towards the left +shoulder, and the back of the hand turned up. This movement will shorten +the right rein, and cause it to act on the right jaw of the bit. The +whip should be closed firmly (not with a blow) just behind the flap of +the saddle on the off side. The left leg supporting this will cause the +horse to turn square to his right. Exactly the reverse movement will +turn him to the left. Right or left about, aids continued, until the +horse has reversed his front.</p> + +<p>The trotting lesson may then be gone through again, the pupil riding +entirely with the left hand. But in beginning these lessons care should +be taken to let them be very short, because, in spite of all previous +supplying, considerable constraint is thrown upon the wrist at first. +Any yielding to the horse is accomplished by turning the little finger +towards his neck, while to collect him simply the little finger is +turned up again towards the waist. But the fingers and thumb of the +bridle hand must be kept firmly shut upon the reins, otherwise the hand +becomes heavy and uneven in its action.</p> + +<p>By lessons, gradually increased in length, the pupil should be +accustomed thus to ride her horse throughout the trotting lesson, and +trot him out, riding with one hand. It is not usual for ladies to +continue for any length of time riding in this form; but it is highly +necessary that they should be thoroughly well practised at it, otherwise +an important part of their course of equitation will be neglected. The +same may be said of the bending lesson, previous to cantering. It is +rarely put in practice by any but professional female equestrians. But a +lady ought to be thoroughly acquainted with its formula, because it +teaches the principle upon which a horse acquires his <i>souplesse</i>, which +is just as necessary to his freedom of action and pleasant riding as the +early suppling lessons of the pupil herself were conducive to her own +progress.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Bending and Cantering Lesson.</span></h3> + + +<p>According to the ordinary acceptation of the term, a horse is supposed +"to bend well" when he arches his neck, yields to the bit, and uses his +knees and hocks freely. This alone by no means conveys an adequate idea, +however, of what is meant by bending a horse in the scientific sense. +The "Military Aid Book" supplies the following question and answer, +which gives in a very concise form a better notion of the matter.</p> + +<p>Question: What is the use of the "bending lesson"?—Answer: To make the +horse supple in the <i>neck</i> and <i>ribs</i>, to give free action to his +shoulder, and teach him to obey the pressure of the leg.</p> + +<p>It will be seen, then, that "bending a horse" really means rendering him +supple in every portion of his frame, and especially in his ribs and +intercostal muscles, as it is suppleness in that part that gives him the +lithe, easy motions so pleasant to the rider.</p> + +<p>I have before observed that I do not consider an intimate knowledge of +the "haut école de manége" indispensable for ordinary riding purposes, +either for a lady or gentleman. But, although the "bending lesson" +thoroughly carried out may be said to be the very gist of "<i>haut école</i> +riding," even in its <i>simple form</i>, unaccompanied by the higher aids, it +is of great service in rendering a horse docile and obedient to hand and +leg, and for that purpose is always resorted to in our schools of +military equitation.</p> + +<p>Now, although I do not expect every lady to acquire the art of suppling +her own horses, still a knowledge of the "bending lesson" will make her +thoroughly acquainted with the reasons why a horse renders ready +obedience to her aids of hand and leg; and, on the contrary, why he +resists them.</p> + +<p>Stiffness (as it is technically termed) has more to do with what is +commonly called restiveness than most people imagine. A horse is asked +to do something that calls upon him to bend or supple a joint in which, +even in early youth, he is still far from supple. He cannot do it. The +rider perseveres, and the horse resists. Whereas, when he is thoroughly +suppled, he does not know how to disobey his rider (supposing the latter +to know what he is about). If a lady, therefore, will pay close +attention to the instruction of her master, she will discover that her +horse will obey her more readily, and move with more ease to himself and +her, when she applies her aids "smoothly" (without which the bending +lesson cannot be done), than by the application of sudden or violent +indications of her will. For it must be borne in mind that a double +bridle is an instrument of great power in a horse's mouth, and that what +may seem light handling to the uninitiated rider may be rough to the +horse. A fair amount of practice, therefore, in the above-named exercise +will have the effect of rendering a lady's hands remarkably true and +steady; and, although the lesson may be a little trying to the patience, +the pupil will find her reward in increased confidence and proficiency.</p> + +<p>For all practical purposes the "bending lesson" proper may be divided +into two sections, namely, the "passage" and the "shoulder in," all +other movements of the lesson being simply variations from the above +named. The "half passage" may be looked upon as an introduction to the +"full passage," but admits of being practised with facility at an +increased pace at the trot or canter, and at the latter is a very +elegant exercise. To begin with the "shoulder in." Let us suppose a +horse standing parallel to the boards at the side of the school. To +place him in the desired position it is necessary to bring his forehand +in, so that his fore and hind legs are placed upon two lines, parallel +to each other and to the boards, and then to bend his head inwards at +the poll of the neck. No more correct idea, I believe, can be conveyed +of the position than that given in the "Aid Book," which furnishes the +following answer to the question, How should a horse be placed in +"shoulder in"? "Ans.: When a horse is properly bent in 'shoulder in,' +the whole body from head to croup is curved; the shoulders leading, fore +and hind feet moving on two lines parallel to each other, hind feet one +yard from the boards."</p> + +<p>Again. "Q. What are the aids for working this lesson?—A. On the word +'right or left shoulder in,' the horse's forehand is brought in by a +double feeling of the inward rein, the outward leg closed, so as to +bring the horse's hind feet one yard from the boards."</p> + +<p>The outward rein leads, the inward preserves the bend; a pressure of the +inward leg (of the rider) compels the horse to cross his legs; the +outward leg keeps him up to the hand and prevents him from swerving. The +horse should be well bent in the pole of the neck, and well kept up to +the hand with the outward leg, the shoulders always leading.</p> + +<p>It will be seen from the above that the rider compels, or rather +<i>coaxes</i>, the horse, by very firm and steady aids, to move with his +forehand well up, and his whole figure bent (neck and ribs), with his +feet moving on two distinct parallel lines—the effect being to call +upon every important joint, and thoroughly to supple the ligaments and +tendons, as well as to create muscular development, in a way similar to +that of gymnastic or extension exercises in the human being. With young +horses in training it is necessary to watch this lesson very carefully, +and never to "ask too much" at one time, because any forcing of it would +certainly result in restiveness; the strain, even with naturally supple +horses, is considerable, and must not be persevered with one moment +after it is evidently painful. Of course, in the case of a lady +practising the lesson, it must be done upon a horse that has gone +through a long course of teaching, and to whom, therefore, the movements +cause no inconvenience. But even here the pupil will find that she must +use her hand and leg with firmness, steadiness, and decision, without +hurry or impatience, or the horse will not answer to her.</p> + +<p>The movement must be executed very slowly, and at first only by a few +steps at a time, because, however <i>au fait</i> at his work the horse may +be, the pupil will find considerable difficulty in continuing to apply +the aids.</p> + +<p>In working the "shoulder in" to the right, it is necessary for the +master, after putting the horse and rider in true position, to place +himself on the horse's off side, when he should give the word, "Right +shoulder in—march!" The lady then, firmly closing her left leg to keep +the horse up to the hand, should keep her right hand well back and low +down close to the saddle, lead the horse off with the left rein, and +close her whip to his ribs on the off side, just behind the flap of the +saddle.</p> + +<p>If the horse has been accustomed to work the lesson, with a lady he will +obey these aids. But in some cases it is necessary for the master (to +supply the absence of the right leg of a man to the horse), to push +firmly with his left hand against the horse's ribs to move him off. The +rider, while leading the horse off with the left rein, should keep up a +continual, light easy play of the right rein, so as to preserve the bend +inwards. The instructor should count "one, two," in very slow time, as +the horse moves first his fore and then his hind leg. After a few steps +onward the horse should be halted, by the rider feeling both reins, and +closing the whip firmly on the off side. He should then be made much of +and moved on again. A quarter of an hour is ample for the first lesson.</p> + +<p>After the pupil understands and can apply the aids for the "shoulder in" +(riding on the snaffle), she maybe taught to do it on snaffle and curb +together, and then on the curb alone, when she will find the nicest +balance in her seat and the most careful and delicate manipulations of +the reins necessary—joined, however, to distinct and perceptible +feeling upon the horse's mouth. And on moving her horse forward she will +find that her hand is true and steady.</p> + +<p>The "shoulder in" having been neatly done, the lady should rein her +horse lightly back and ride him forward, <i>making the corner</i> of the +school quite square, and then halt at the centre marker. On the word +"right half passage," she should turn the horse's head square down the +centre of the school, and exactly reverse the aids by which she worked +the "shoulder in"; that is, she should lead the horse off with the right +or inward rein, well balancing and assisting its power by the outward +one; with her leg she should press the horse until he places one foot +before the other, gaining ground to his front, and obliquely to his +right at the same time, until he arrives at the boards, when he will +completely have changed the hand he was working to, and at a canter +would, if necessary, be called upon to strike off with the left leg +instead of the right.</p> + +<p>After executing the "half passage" correctly, the pupil may practice the +"full passage," the difference between which and the "shoulder in" is +again concisely explained in the "Aid Book."</p> + +<p>"Q. What is the difference between the 'passage' and 'shoulder in'?—A. +In the passage the horse bends and looks the way he is going. The +outward are crossing over the inward legs, and the inward rein leads. In +the 'shoulder in' the horse does not look the way he is going. The +inward are crossing over the outward legs, and the outward rein leads."</p> + +<p>"Q. What is the difference between the full and half passage?—A. In the +'full passage' the horse crosses his legs. In the 'half passage' he only +half crosses them, placing one foot before the other."</p> + +<p>The pupil will find the passage much more easy to execute than the +"shoulder in," though, I repeat, no horse would do the former up to the +hand as he ought to do unless he has been well drilled in the latter.</p> + +<p>The greatest care on the part of both master and pupil is indispensable +to carry out this lesson. The slightest inadvertence or false movement +is at once answered on the part of the horse by his taking advantage of +it and putting himself in a wrong position, whereas if he is carefully +ridden, and kept well up to the hand, the subsequent cantering lesson +will be much more easy to perform.</p> + +<p>It must be clearly understood, however, that for a lady to attempt to +execute the "bending lesson" by written directions alone, and unaided by +the vigilant superintendence and oral instruction of a first-rate master +would be a mistake. Clear and concise as the language of the "Aid Book" +is, it is impossible for any man writing such directions to indicate the +precise moment at which each movement of hand and leg is to be made, any +more than the man who writes the score in music can regulate the hand of +the instrumental executant of it. There must be energy, patience, and +close attention on the part of the pupil; vigilance, patience, temper, +and thorough knowledge of his craft on the part of the instructor. +Master and pupil thus in accord, the latter will derive great advantage +and insight into the elegant accomplishment she is endeavouring to +acquire, while anything like carelessness on either side will be fatal +to the utility of the lesson. It should be thoroughly well done or not +at all.</p> + +<p>After the careful execution of the above lesson, the pupil should +prepare her horse for cantering by reigning him back lightly on his +haunches; touching him if necessary smartly with her whip, in order to +put him well up to his work. A step or two back (<i>well up to the +bridle</i>) is sufficient, when she should move forward, and the instructor +should give her the aids for cantering; which (once more to quote the +simple language of the "Aid Book") are as follows: "A light firm feeling +of <i>both</i> reins to raise the horse's forehand, a pressure of both legs +to keep his haunches under him, a double feeling of the inward rein, and +a stronger pressure of the outward leg, will compel the horse to strike +off true and united."</p> + +<p>The above of course is intended as instruction to a man; but +substituting a light tap of the whip on the off shoulder for the +pressure of the inward leg of the man, and very light for strong aids, +the instruction holds good in the case of the lady.</p> + +<p>Now, I have observed before that a horse to be thoroughly broken to +carry a woman should be taught to answer to very light aids, and +require, in fact, very little leg in order to understand and answer to +the indications of his rider's will. If this has been properly carried +out the lady will have no difficulty in striking her horse off to the +right, <i>true and united</i>, which means in cantering to the right (as +nearly every hack and lady's horse does) with the off fore, followed by +the off hind leg.</p> + +<p>A charger or "high <i>manége</i>" horse—which must use either leg with equal +facility, and go to the left as well as the right—in cantering to the +former hand will go with the near fore, followed by the near hind, and +be still "true and united" in his pace. When he goes with the near +fore, followed by the off hind, or <i>vice versâ</i>, he is "disunited."</p> + +<p>A point of vital importance to be looked to by the master is that his +pupil at her first attempt at cantering her horse is perfectly cool and +self-possessed, and that she applies her aids <i>smoothly</i>, without hurry +or excitement, for so great is the sympathy of the horse in this +respect, that flurry on the part of the rider is sure to cause +passionate, excited action in the horse. The manner of the master has +much to do with this; while it should be such as to keep his pupil and +her horse <i>vif</i> and on their metal, he should be careful not to crowd +the former with too much instruction at once. Her position should be +corrected before she is allowed to strike her horse off. Care should be +taken that her arms are firm, and hands well back. The waist should be +bent slightly forward, which will give it more suppleness. She should +have a firm grip of the upper crutches, both heels well down, and at her +first effort she should ride equally upon the snaffle and curb reins. To +do this (assuming that she is riding with her bridle in military form), +it is only necessary that she should draw up the slack of the near-side +snaffle rein with her right hand until it is level with and under the +near-side curb rein; then carry the snaffle rein thus shortened over the +middle joint of the forefinger of the left hand, and shut the thumb +firmly on them. She can then place the slack of the off-side snaffle +rein for a moment under the left thumb, while she places the rein +between the third and little finger of the right hand, brings the rein +through the full of the hand over the middle joint of the forefinger, +and closes the thumb firmly on it. The whip should be held in the full +of the hand, the point downwards.</p> + +<p>With her hands and figure in the above-named form, the lightest +application of the aids ought to strike her horse off "true and united;" +but if by any chance he takes off with the wrong leg or "disunited," as +may sometimes happen with the best broken horse, from a little +over-eagerness or anxiety on the part of the pupil, or a little +unsteadiness of hand, the master should cause her to bring her horse +again to the walk, and reassure her—taking care, however, on these +occasions that she never "makes much of" or caresses her horse, which +would tend to confirm him in a bad habit, but reins him back, and again +puts him up to his bridle.</p> + +<p>It is a rare occurrence when a horse (thoroughly well-broken) strikes +off incorrectly; but I am endeavouring to write for every contingency.</p> + +<p>Assuming the horse to have struck off smoothly to the instructor's word +<i>Ca-a-n-te-r</i>—which should be given in a quiet, soothing tone of voice, +and drawn out as if every letter were a syllable—the horse should be +allowed to canter freely forward, although without rush or hurry. The +pace should not be too collected at first; the military pace of +manœuvre is about the correct thing; eight miles an hour or +thereabouts; the cadence true; the horse well ridden into his bridle, +and in this case <i>yielding to the bit</i>—because, in cantering, it is +necessary to have an <i>appui</i> upon the mouth, quite different from that +to be maintained in trotting, in which it is best for the lady that the +horse should feel her hand fairly and firmly, and that there should be +little "give-and-take" action of the latter. In cantering, on the other +hand, an easy give-and-take play of the hands is indispensable, to cause +the horse to bend in the poll of his neck, yield to the hand, and go in +true form. By this time the pupil should have acquired sufficient +firmness and <i>aplomb</i> in the saddle to justify the instructor in +commencing to impart to her that mobile action and flexibility of the +upper arm at the shoulder joint, which may be regarded as the artistic +finishing of her course of equitation. But it will not do to commence +this (so goes my experience) at the outset of the cantering lesson, +wherein at first it is best to insist upon firmness of the arms, +otherwise the pupil is most likely (imperceptibly to herself) to allow +her hands to glide forward, and thus destroy the flexibility of her +waist, which is a point always to be most carefully watched. It is +possible that at first the figure of the pupil, from over-anxiety to +maintain her position and ride her horse correctly at the same time, may +be somewhat rigid; but complete flexibility cannot be expected at once. +It must be remembered that, although the action of cantering in a horse +is much easier than trotting, still it is novel to the rider, who +moreover has to keep her horse up to his work.</p> + +<p>It is not the case of putting a young lady upon an old tittuping hack +that can do little else than canter along behind the bridle and "drag +his toe" at a walk. A horse that has any action or quality in him, and +has been taught to trot up to his bridle, requires "asking" to canter, +and in the early efforts of the pupil requires keeping to his work a +little after he has struck off in his canter, otherwise he will drop +into a trot again. Such a horse, however, is the only one upon which to +teach a lady to ride. The easy-going old hack above alluded to is fit +only for an invalid to take the air on. At the same time it is asking a +good deal from the pupil in her early cantering lessons to keep her +horse up to his work, and to maintain her own position correctly; and if +she exhibits a little stiffness or formality (if I may use the +expression) at first, it may fairly be passed over until increased +confidence permits the master to give his attention to what I may +perhaps call the "unbending" of his pupil. After a few days' cantering +as above described, the lady may begin to collect her horse; and by this +time also she should be fitted with a spur, of which the best I know is +Latchford's patent. An opening in the skirt on the inside is necessary. +The shank of the spur should not be too short, otherwise it is very apt +to cut holes in the habit. The pupil, when the spur is first fitted on, +should be cautioned to keep her left toe as near the horse's side as the +heel, in order to avoid hitting him when he does not require it; and, +indeed, the wearing of the steel aid is in itself a good exercise as to +the true position of the left leg, while the blunt head of a Latchford +(when not pressed hard to the horse's side) does away with any danger.</p> + +<p>The use of the spur in a lady's riding is objected to by some; but I +cannot consider any rider (man or woman) worthy of the name who cannot +use one and be safe enough in the saddle at the same time. One objection +to spurs for ladies is, that they are apt to do all sorts of mischief in +the event of the lady being thrown from her horse. Now, the latter is a +contingency which (except in the hunting field) I do not admit as +possible, if the lady has men about her who know their business in the +horse way. If she has not such people about her, she is better without +spurs decidedly; and there is another thing she is better without, +namely, a horse of any sort.</p> + +<p>If a horse is properly broken, and has a man about him who will give him +plenty of work, and keep him from getting above himself, and his fair +owner has been as well taught as her horse, she ought to be as safe on +his back as in her brougham, in any kind of riding, except in +exceptional cases in the hunting field. By exceptional cases I mean +where a lady, unaccompanied by a good pilot, takes a line of her own +when hounds are going fast in a big grass country, and rides (jealous of +the field) at impracticable places. In such case she is likely enough to +get down, horse and all. But even so—and I have witnessed more than one +such accident—I have never found that the lady got hurt by the spur +when she wore the sort I allude to; and again, I think it is only just +to that clever loriner, Mr. Latchford, to say that he has invented a +lady's stirrup which renders danger from it in the event of a fall next +to impossible—certainly she cannot be dragged by it. In this stirrup +there is no opening at the side by means of springs or complicated +machinery of any sort. It requires neither diagram or drawing to +describe it, because it is the perfection of mechanism—extreme +simplicity. One has only to imagine an ordinary stirrup, rather +elongated than usual from the opening for the leather, the bottom bar +broad and flat; the latter perforated with two holes. Within the +above-named stirrup another, a size smaller, but fitting nicely into it. +On the lower side of the bottom bar of the inner stirrup two +projections, or obtuse points of steel, which fit into the holes of the +lower bar of the outer stirrup. Now, as long as the lady is in her +saddle the inner stirrup must, from its mechanism, remain in its place; +but in the event of her being thrown her weight acts upon the lower part +of the outer stirrup, which turns over and releases the inner stirrup +entirely.</p> + +<p>To return, however, to the question proper of spurs for a lady, I must +say that they are of the greatest assistance to her when, having +acquired the necessary degree of steadiness on her horse, she desires to +"wake him up." Too much whip is a bad thing. In riding in the country a +lady must perforce have to open a bridle gate sometimes for herself, +and if she is always using a whip to liven her horse up, she will +find it difficult to get him to stand still, even while she opens the +lightest of gates. As regards the pupil in the school, I repeat she +should be habituated to wear a spur as soon as her progress justifies +it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Cantering Lesson</span> (<i>continued</i>).</h3> + + +<p>Having satisfied himself as to the proficiency of his pupil in cantering +"going large"—that is, round the school or <i>manége</i>,—the attention of +the instructor should next be directed to teaching her to make the turns +and circles, and execute the "half passage" with precision.</p> + +<p>The use of these exercises is to confirm (while riding upon both snaffle +and curb reins) the steadiness of hand and seat and true balance of the +rider, because, although these may appear good enough while a lady is +riding her horse on a straight line, or only with the turns at the +corners of the school, many shortcomings will be detected when she +attempts to turn him square from the boards, or asks him to make a true +circle, in which the hind legs follow exactly over the same track as the +fore legs.</p> + +<p>To commence this lesson in proper form, the pupil should collect her +horse, by reining him quietly back, then move him forward well up to the +hand, at a walk and at a smart active pace. When she arrives at the +centre marker at the end of the school, the master should give the word +"down the centre," when the rider should turn her horse square to the +right (assuming, as is usually the case, that she commences her lesson +to that hand). The aids for turning at a walk having been already given, +it is only necessary to say that the turn down the centre requires only +a trifle stronger application of the left leg, to counteract any +tendency of the horse to throw his haunches outwards, and that, looking +steadily to the centre marker at the other end of the school, the pupil +should sight that marker well between her horse's ears, and ride true +and straight to it, taking care, by closing the leg in time, that the +horse does not cut off any of the ground, but plants his near fore foot +close to the boards and makes the corner equally square, because +whenever a horse is allowed to "cut the corners off" he endeavours to +get behind the bridle, and generally succeeds. The pupil, therefore, +should be cautioned in time by the instructor, and if she fails to make +good every inch of ground, the word "halt" should be given and the horse +reined back. Arrived about midway down the school, the turns to the +right should be made square from the boards, the horse's haunches kept +under him so that he does not hit the side of the school with his hind +feet. His doing which is at once a proof that he is out of hand. Arrived +at the centre of the school, the words "right turn" should be given +again, instead of allowing the pupil to ride right across the school to +the boards on the opposite side. She should then ride a couple of +lengths down the centre, and again turn her horse, by word from the +master, square to the right, and once more to the left, when arrived at +the boards. This, repeated two or three times, is a good preparation for +executing the circle; in order to facilitate the correct riding of +which, the master should cause his pupil to halt her horse at the side, +and himself walk over the ground he desires her to ride over. If he does +this correctly, the pupil will find little difficulty in riding the +circle with precision.</p> + +<p>Starting from a point close to the boards, a couple of horses' lengths +in front of the pupil, the master should make an incline to the right, +at an angle of about forty-five, until he is half-way between the boards +and the centre of the school; he should then bring up his left shoulder, +and make another incline at the same angle to the centre of the school. +Down the centre he should walk straight, the distance of a horse's +length; again bring up his left shoulder, and make two inclines to the +side. The figure he will thus describe does not quite represent a circle +as he walks; but when the horse is called upon to move his fore and hind +legs on the same track, it will be a circle in his case as nearly as +possible. Having caused the pupil to move her horse forward, the +instructor should give her the aids for circling, which are a double +feeling of the inward rein, the horse well supported with the outward, +and well kept up to the hand by the leg.</p> + +<p>In circling to the right, the horse to be well bent to the right, so +that the rider can see his inward eye; fore and hind legs moving exactly +on the same track, the horse not throwing his haunches out. The great +use of this circling is, that as the horse changes his direction no less +than six times in a small space, to keep him up to his work the lady +must bring up her left shoulder as many times as the horse alters his +direction. To do this, she must be quite supple in the waist, and +circling is therefore a capital practice to insure this freedom of +action at that portion of the figure. To render the lesson still more +easy to the pupil, I have found it answer well, after walking over the +ground, to mark it out on the tan with a stick. In military schools the +circle to the right or left is followed by the "circle and change," in +which, when arrived at the boards, the pupil, instead of turning the +horse's head to the hand he is working to, changes the bend, and turns +to the reverse hand. This, however, cannot be executed at a canter with +due precision without the use of the right leg, and is therefore (in my +opinion) better omitted in a lady's course of equitation, an additional +reason being that, when she is taught to make the change at a canter, +she can do it much more effectually and elegantly by the "half passage."</p> + +<p>The circles having been neatly done, the pupil should rein her horse +back, put him well upon his haunches, and strike him off at a collected +canter, about five miles an hour, the cadence true, the position of the +rider correct.</p> + +<p>It is at this point that the instructor should begin carefully to get +his pupil to supple herself in the saddle, while she still rides her +horse well up to his work. It should be borne in mind that a horse +cannot make turns or circles at the "pace of manœuvre" without +considerable danger to himself and his rider, because at such a pace it +is next to impossible to keep him fairly balanced, and he is liable, +even on well-kept tan, to slip up, whereas at a very collected pace, +with his haunches well under him, there is no danger whatever, although +at first it will call very much upon the energy and close attention of +the rider. Having her horse well into his bridle, the give-and-take +action of the hand should now come gradually from the shoulder joint, +and the pupil should be frequently reminded to avoid resisting the +action of the horse in his canter, but to endeavour, on the other hand, +to accompany him in his short stride. This is to be done by simply +keeping both heels well down, the hands back, the waist bent slightly +forward and perfectly supple, and avoiding too strong a grasp with the +right leg upon the upper crutches of the saddle. The figure from the +waist upwards, however, should be perfectly erect, leaning neither +backwards nor forwards, either position being both unsafe and ungainly.</p> + +<p>Nothing is more common than to see a lady sitting with the upper part of +her figure bent forward in a canter, and, if not overdone, the effect is +by no means ungraceful to the eye of a looker-on. But it is a habit +likely to increase in degree, and unsafe in any case, because it is +opposed to the principle of true balance.</p> + +<p>With the shoulders well back, the body, neck, and head upright, the +waist slightly bent forward, the hands well back, and acting by an easy +play of the upper arm at the shoulder joint—sitting, in fact, with +freedom in the saddle—the action of the horse at a collected pace will +give the rider a slightly <i>gliding</i> motion from the cantle towards the +pummels, and gradually she will thus acquire the habit of suppling +herself on her horse; ready, however, at any moment "to seize her seat" +(to use the expression of old Sam Chifney) by muscular grip if the horse +flirts or plunges, which, however, it is difficult for him to do when +going well within himself and up to his bridle.</p> + +<p>The left leg at a canter should not be drawn back, as in trotting, but +kept close to the horse's side, with the heel down, and the foot as +nearly as possible under the knee. Of course, the above-described easy +deportment in the saddle is not to be acquired in a single lesson; it +requires considerable practice and close watching by both master and +pupil. Once learnt, however, the lady has gained another important step +in her equitation.</p> + +<p>The length of time requisite to insure complete <i>souplesse</i> at this +point is dependent upon several circumstances, over which the master has +only a moderate amount of control.</p> + +<p>The figure of the pupil is an important point in the matter. If +she is naturally lithe and has been well suppled on foot, the task +will be considerably easier. If, on the contrary, she is of +a square figure—short in the neck and waist, and stiff in the +shoulders—considerably more time is requisite. But with care, +attention, and perseverance it can be acquired by all in early youth.</p> + +<p>I know a lady who rides with both dash and judgment with hounds who is +anything but a good figure; but she began under proper tuition when she +was very young, and, although no longer so, she has preserved the +<i>souplesse</i> and true balance acquired in her early days. Natural +aptitude, too, is of great assistance to both master and pupil, and +should be energetically developed by the former; at the same time, care +should be taken that the pupil does not overrun her lessons.</p> + +<p>As an instance of what can be accomplished even at a first essay by a +lady gifted with natural talent for riding, I cannot refrain from +relating the following:—Some years ago I chanced to be at the school of +a fashionable riding master in London, when a class of young ladies was +going through a ride. In the gallery from which I was observing them was +also the mother of one of the young ladies who was riding, and of +another much younger, who was standing by her side watching with the +most intense interest the riding below. The younger lady was not more +than ten or eleven years old, but of a form and figure exactly fitted +for performing well in the saddle, being tall of her age, and lithe and +supple in her movements. She did not speak, but I could see from the +excitement of her manner, the glitter of her large dark eyes, and her +changing colour, that she was heart and soul with the fair equestrians. +The ride finished with a leaping lesson, and there was some capital +jumping over a gorsed bar, hurdles double and single, and an artificial +brook. The last performance completely overcame the little spectator in +the gallery. Bursting into a violent fit of sobbing and weeping, she +clutched her mother's dress, and cried convulsively, "Dear mamma, let me +ride, let me ride." The lady, quite surprised and very much affected by +the emotion and excited state of the child, nevertheless, refused, +declaring she was too young. But the young supplicant for equestrian +honours was not to be denied; she continued to implore and weep, and, +the riding master coming to her aid, the mother gave way. Her little +daughter was put on a quiet horse, and the master himself led him round +the school at a walk, but this by no means satisfied our ambitious +little tyro. "Let me trot," she said; "I am sure I can trot." The +professor was quite sure she could not, and told her so; and, to +convince her, he started the horse trotting, and ran by his side. He was +never more mistaken. The lessons the pupil had been witnessing from the +gallery must have made a strong impression on her mind; for, to the +surprise of all of us, she caught the action of the horse at the first +step, and made the best attempt at trotting I ever saw for a beginner. +Feeling that trotting fatigued her, she asked to be allowed to canter, +and this she did in very good form. But the crowning part of the thing +was, that when we were about to take her off her horse, she begged to be +allowed to have a jump. I confess, I thought the riding master wrong in +consenting to this. But again our little friend electrified us all. A +hurdle was put up, well sloped, so as to make the jump a very moderate +one, the little pupil's hands placed, and her position rectified. No +sooner had the horse turned the corner of the school, and before the +riding master had time to check her, than the girl's eye lit up just as +I had seen it in the gallery. She caught the horse fast by the head, hit +him with her heel, put down her hands, and sat as though she had been +hunting for years. It was too late to stop her, and any interference at +the moment would have done more harm than good. With my heart in my +mouth, I saw the horse go at the hurdle. He was one that had "an eye in +every toe," and did not know how to make a mistake. But his daring +little rider had roused him thoroughly, and he jumped high enough to +clear a big fence, and far enough to take him over a small brook. Just +as the horse took off, I shouted involuntarily, "Sit back;" and the +little enthusiast answered as though my voice had been inspiration. Her +lithe little figure was bent from the waist, precisely at the right +moment; and she landed safe, except that the concussion threw her +slightly up in the saddle. Her marvellous aptitude (talent the +professionals would have called it) induced the riding master to let her +make another attempt, and this time, putting her horse at the hurdle at +the same dashing pace (which, by the way, with her wonderful nerve and +confidence, made it easier for her), she sat in the saddle, as the old +groom who tended the hurdles said, "as if she had grown there," and +landed fair and true without jolt or concussion.</p> + +<p>This young lady is now one of the most brilliant horsewomen in England. +Her genius (if I may be permitted the expression), joined to close +application and the best of opportunities of riding good horses, enabled +her in a brief space to far outstrip all her youthful competitors, and +in less than twelve months after the time I speak of she could execute +most of the "bending lesson," at a canter as well as a professional +rider, while over the country with hounds she was always close to her +pilot, than whom there was no better man. This when she was barely +thirteen years old.</p> + +<p>Such instances of extraordinary aptitude, nerve and courage, combined +with the necessary elasticity and physical power to ride, are very rare +indeed; in fact, in a long experience of such matters, I do not know of +a parallel case. Nevertheless, if the natural dash and fitness for +riding possessed by this young lady had not been carefully watched, +moulded into proper form, and restrained within due bounds, they would +inevitably have run riot with her, and brought her to grief. It is in +such cases as the above, or rather such as tend in that direction, that +the tact and judgment of a riding master is required. If the young lady +I speak of had been allowed, and the opportunity had offered, she would +have mounted without hesitation any brute that would carry a saddle, and +mischief, of course, would have resulted.</p> + +<p>To return to the cantering lesson proper. When the instructor has +succeeded in completely regulating the cadence of the horse in his pace +and the position of his pupil, he should give her due caution to wait +for the <i>last sound</i> of his word, to keep her body back and her leg +close, supporting the horse well with the outward rein, and he should +then give the word, well drawn out, gently and without hurry, "right +turn," when the pupil should turn her horse from the boards with the +same aids as at a walk, but more firmly applied, and if the horse leans +upon her hand she should keep him up with her spur.</p> + +<p>"Many a horse" (says the "Aid Book") "keeps a tolerable canter on a +straight line, but when turned he feels too much constraint laid upon +him, and leans upon the rider's hand. If at such a moment the rider +yields the reins instead of closing the hand firmly on them, turning the +little fingers up towards the waist, and closing the leg firmly, the +horse comes upon his forehand."</p> + +<p>Concise as the above passage is, it describes exactly what occurs on +first making a turn at a canter, and it calls upon all the energy and +attention of the pupil to keep the horse up to his work. But as in other +exercises in the course of equitation, her reward will be in her +thorough command over her horse under all circumstances, because by +learning to ride him with such minute precision she is always able to +anticipate his every movement.</p> + +<p>The first three or four turns at a canter should be made square across +the school, from side to side, and no second word should be given on +arriving at the boards; the pupil turning her horse again to the right +without any caution, and continuing to "go large" round the school until +she again gets the word to turn. This practice will teach her to be +constantly on the alert, and to maintain such a balance as will enable +her in turning to move exactly on the same line as her horse, bringing +her left shoulder up precisely at the right moment.</p> + +<p>Three or four turns are quite sufficient for the first lesson, because +the horse before completing these must go several times round the +school, and the pupil should ride him well up to his bit. After a few +turns, smoothly and correctly made, the pupil should bring her horse to +the walk, halt, make much of him, and sit at ease.</p> + +<p>Making much of a horse when he has performed well is always a judicious +mode of letting him know that he has been doing right; at the same it +affords him an interval of rest, which is quite necessary. This may +appear absurd to those who are accustomed to see horses continue +galloping for hours. But it must be remembered that the sort of work I +have been endeavouring to describe is altogether artificial; that the +animal thrown upon his haunches only goes through the lesson with +considerable exertion, and that if he is kept too long at it, this can +only be done by an amount of fatigue on the part of the rider which +would be far from beneficial to a lady. The object of the lesson is to +induct the pupil into a mode in which she can obtain complete mastery +over her horse. It is, as it were, a gymnastic exercise for both steed +and rider, and must not be persevered with too long at one time. After +about ten minutes' rest the pupil should again collect her horse, rein +him back, and prepare him again for cantering. She should then strike +him quietly off, and ride him very collectedly, so as to be ready to +make the circles. These should be made from about midway down the +boards; and on the last sound of the words "circle right," the pupil +should turn her horse's head from the boards, and, supporting him well +with the left leg and rein, ride in a figure exactly similar to that she +described at a walk. She will find, however, that the horse requires +considerably more support in making the circles than he did in the +simple turns. Being on the bend from the time he leaves the boards until +he arrives at them again, the nicest riding is necessary to keep his +fore and hind feet on the same track, and prevent him from throwing his +haunches out. The pace, too, should be more collected than when the +turns were made. Four miles to four miles and a half an hour is quite +fast enough, and, if necessary, the horse must be halted and reined back +several times in order to get him thoroughly collected. Two circles well +done are quite sufficient. The pupil should then again halt, "sit at +ease," and make much of her horse. By this time both he and the pupil +will have gone through a tolerably severe lesson, because the collected +pace necessary to execute it, and especially the circles, necessitates a +great deal of cantering before a beginner can ascertain the true +cadence—without which, and a considerable amount of support from her +hand and leg, it is unsafe and useless for her to attempt her turns and +circles; frequently, too, a horse will have to go several times round +the school before the instructor can see the opportunity to give the +word. Reining back again, and collecting him, call very much upon the +horse's powers, while, on the other hand, over-fatigue is specially to +be avoided as regards the pupil. After resting ten minutes or so, the +lady should conclude this lesson by walking him quietly about till he is +quite cool.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Cantering Lesson</span> (<i>continued</i>)—<span class="smcap">The Half Passage and Change</span>.</h3> + + +<p>Although the last-named exercises belong, strictly speaking, more to the +curriculum of the military riding school than to female equitation, +still, to be able to execute them with precision is of great advantage +to a lady, because they teach her that by getting a good bend on her +horse, and placing him in a certain position by the application of the +proper aids, she can compel him at her pleasure to canter with either +near or off foot leading; and, although it may not be agreeable to her +to keep her horse going with the near leg, unless she is riding on the +off side, nevertheless, the practice of the half passage and change is +an admirable, and indeed very elegant, mode of acquiring ready facility +in the effective use of hand and leg. I have said before that the horse +in the "half passage" places one foot before the other, instead of +crossing his legs completely, as in the full passage. The former mode of +progression enables the horse therefore to gain ground diagonally to his +front, instead of moving upon a line at right angles with the boards as +in the latter.</p> + +<p>The aids by which the half passage is executed are the same as those of +the "full passage," with the following exceptions. First, there is a +lighter pressure of the leg on the outward side; and in the case of a +lady it is necessary that she should use her whip on the off side behind +the saddle alternately with her leg on the near side, in order to cause +the horse to gain ground to the front, as well as to place one foot +before the other.</p> + +<p>After starting her horse at a walk, "going large," the rider should +rein him back, collect and balance him—riding equally upon snaffle and +curb reins—she should make the corner perfectly square; and when midway +between it and the centre marker, the instructor should give the word +"right half passage," upon which the pupil should still further collect +her horse into the slow pace she used in the bending lesson, and, having +arrived at the centre marker, she should bring the horse's forehand in, +by a double feeling of the right rein; the outward leg closed, to +prevent the haunches from flying out. The inward rein leads; the outward +balances and assists the power of the inward. A pressure of the left leg +causes the horse to place one foot before the other (see Aid Book). The +whip used in alternate action with the leg will cause him to move to his +right front, towards the boards.</p> + +<p>A very light and delicate application of the leg, in unison with a +similar application of the whip, is sufficient with a well-broken horse +to enable the rider to do the "half passage" correctly at a walk. The +point at which, strictly speaking, she should arrive at the boards is +just midway between the ends of the school; and in a properly-regulated +one there should always be a white marker on the wall, just above the +place where the sockets for the leaping bar are inserted in it.</p> + +<p>Keeping her eye upon this marker, the rider should lead her horse's +forehand lightly with the right rein, maintaining an easy, playful, +feeling of the snaffle in his mouth, and carefully balancing his every +step with the left rein, while she presses him up to his work with the +leg and whip. The horse's head should be bent to the right, so that his +right eye is visible to the rider as she sits perfectly square in the +saddle. The pace can scarcely be too slow, but every step must be taken +up to the bridle, the horse's forehand up, and his haunches well under +him.</p> + +<p>In no part of a lady's course of equitation is it necessary for the +instructor to pay more close attention to his pupil than in this: the +temptation to the latter to relax her position, and sit, as it were, +"all over the saddle" is great, from the difficulty she at first +experiences in applying the aids effectually, and her anxiety to do +well, causing her to twist her figure in pressing the horse with the +left leg. The horse, too, is moving with his fore and hind feet in two +distinctly different lines, which renders it far from easy, without +considerable practice, to sit fair and square in the saddle. Close +attention and quiet correction, however, will obviate all this.</p> + +<p>Many people, I am aware, assert that riding with such precision is +unnecessary to a lady. From this opinion I beg leave to dissent <i>in +toto</i>, my idea being that a course of equitation for a lady means +teaching her everything (less the lessons of the "Haute École") +connected with the subject, and that whether she chooses hereafter to +practise the "bending lesson," "half passage," and change at a canter or +not, a thorough knowledge of them will give her a facility of riding +unattainable by any other means, and make her also thoroughly <i>au fait</i> +to the reason for everything she does in order to control the animal +under her.</p> + +<p>Again, I can see no possible reason why the nicest precision should be +considered unnecessary in a lady's riding any more than it is in music; +and, to try back on my old simile, I submit that as the same scale is +written for a Thalberg as for the fair daughter of the house who +performs on the pianoforte for the <i>post prandial</i> amusement of +paterfamilias, and inasmuch as the mode in which the music is performed +is dependent in a great measure upon precision and practice, so in +riding it is necessary to make a young lady acquainted with the +principles of equitation in their minutest details, and carefully to +watch that she executes them with the most rigid exactness.</p> + +<p>To return to the half passage. On arriving at the boards the lady should +halt her horse for a moment and make much of him, then rein him back, +and again walk him round the school to the left. The half passage should +then be done to that hand, reversing the aids, and using the whip +instead of the left leg. This will bring the horse again upon the right +rein. He should now be well put up to his work, and pressed smartly off +at a very collected canter. The instructor should be most careful that +the proper cadence in pace is arrived at before he gives the word, and +should caution the pupil also that when she arrives at the boards she +should bring her horse to the walk.</p> + +<p>To facilitate this exercise also, it may be advisable in some cases to +take the whole school instead of half of it; but in that case the horse +should go over the same ground in the "half passage" at a walk, as he +afterwards does at a canter.</p> + +<p>When the exercise is done at the latter pace, no attempt should be made +at the first effort to change the horse at the boards. The master should +give the word very quietly directly the pupil turns the corner of the +school, and she should then press her horse well up, and turn his head +smoothly from the centre marker, applying her aids with firmness and +decision, endeavouring at the same time to prevent him from hurrying his +pace. This, however, at the first attempt, it is scarcely to be expected +that she will accomplish.</p> + +<p>If the whole school is taken, the point of arrival at the boards should +be about a horse's length from the end, where he should be brought +quietly to a walk, the rider for this purpose keeping the body back, +turning the little fingers of both hands up towards the waist, and +drawing the hands themselves well towards her waist. The bend of the +horse's head should then be changed to the left, by allowing the off +side reins to slip through the right hand about two inches, and drawing +the near-side reins through the left hand, with the right, to an equal +extent. The near-side reins should then be passed into the right hand, +while with the left the rider "makes much" of her horse on the near +side. This, of course, should only be done if he has executed the +movement with reasonable precision, for (to repeat) perfection cannot be +expected in the pupil's first effort.</p> + +<p>Plenty of time should be taken between these "half-passage" lessons, +because they are severe, calling very much upon the physical powers of +both horse and rider.</p> + +<p>In order to give both a fair chance, the lesson should be again done at +a walk, then at a canter, the pupil carefully instructed on arriving at +the boards to strike the horse off collectedly <i>to the left</i>. To do this +she should quietly change the bend to that hand, carry her left foot +well forward towards the horse's shoulder, so as to use an action of her +leg reverse to that she had recourse to in striking him off to the +right. She should keep him well bent, but well supported with the +outward rein. When she has him in the corner of the school, and bent +both in his neck and ribs (which in turning and putting his off fore +foot into the angle must be the case, if she applies her whip smartly +behind the flap of the saddle, and presses her left foot to his near +elbow, keeping his forehand well up at the same time), he can scarcely +refuse to strike off with his near leg; but it must be borne in mind +that a lady cannot be expected to execute this movement with any +certainty unless the horse has been previously taught by a man to obey +the aids the lady applies as above directed. This, however, every +breaker who knows his business can easily do.</p> + +<p>When a fair amount of proficiency is acquired in this lesson, the change +may be made from what is technically called a "half halt," which means +simply that, the horse being thrown more upon his haunches, the aids are +applied with great firmness, and the horse compelled to change his leg +without being brought completely to the walk. The degree of proficiency, +however, should be when the pupil can change her horse with certainty +after halting him.</p> + +<p>The pace at which the half passage is done should be very collected, +and, I repeat, if the rider and horse do it only reasonably well (that +is, the latter continuing true and united in his pace, and changing +freely after being halted), that for some little time it should be +considered sufficient, and every allowance made for the fact that the +lady, unlike the male rider, cannot give support to her horse with both +legs.</p> + +<p>Most likely at first the horse will throw his haunches out a little, and +the rider slightly lose her position. Practice and the close application +most ladies give to riding will suffice to correct all this, and in due +time the pupil will be able to execute the lesson with smoothness and +ease to herself and her horse. She will then be sufficiently advanced to +commence cantering on the curb rein alone. This, as regards finish in +the rider's hand, is in equitation what tone is in music. Every motion +of the little finger, or the slightest turn of the wrist, acts upon the +curb when it is unrelieved by the snaffle with so much more power, that +the greatest care is necessary to keep the bridle hand steady at first, +and to avoid anything approaching to suddenness or roughness of action.</p> + +<p>This steadiness is best accomplished by causing the pupil to ride with +the reins arranged military fashion, with the snaffle reins hanging over +the full of the left hand, the off side rein uppermost, and the right +hand holding the end of the curb reins, as before described, which +affords greater facility for easing and feeling them than can at first +be expected, when the action is given altogether from the left wrist. In +the latter case, the hand without considerable practice would be far too +heavy, even when the arm was kept quite firm, and unbearably heavy to +the horse if there was any motion from the shoulder of the rider.</p> + +<p>I must repeat that the lines of action of the little finger of the +bridle hand are four—namely, towards the right and left shoulder +respectively, according as the rider desires to turn the horse right or +left; and towards his neck and her own waist, as she wishes to collect, +rein back, or move him forward.</p> + +<p>Now, while in trotting on the curb rein only the hand and arm should be +kept as steady as possible, in order that the horse may make a free +<i>appui</i> between mouth and hand, "taking hold a little of the latter;" in +cantering the direct reverse of this is the case, and the hand of the +rider should give and take to every stride of the horse.</p> + +<p>It is in the mode of timing these give-and-take motions in exact harmony +with the action of the horse that fine and finished hands consist; and I +will endeavour to give an idea of the readiest way in which this +delicate manipulation may be acquired, with as much precision as the +fair rider can exercise when pressing the keys of a pianoforte.</p> + +<p>Let us suppose, then, that in preparing for the cantering lesson on the +curb, in order nicely to collect the horse, the reins are drawn quietly +through the left hand by the right, as above described, the object being +to rein the horse back a step or two, and balance him well with forehand +up and haunches under him. By the above-named drawing up of the reins a +firmer <i>appui</i> is created against the horse's mouth. By closing both leg +and whip, however, while still maintaining this <i>appui</i>, the horse will +step back. The instant he does the reins should be yielded to him, and +he will bend in the poll of the neck and yield to his rider's hand. So +that the <i>appui</i> is then scarcely perceptible. This alternate action of +hand and leg, aided by the whip, should be repeated just as many times +as it is desired to rein the horse so many steps backward, the latter +moving very slowly; a couple or three steps for the purpose above named +are always sufficient. To move the horse to the front again at a walk, +the leg should be closed, and the reins eased until he moves forward, +when he should be again collected. But if the rider desires to strike +him off at once at a canter, at the moment she eases her hand she should +apply her spur smartly just behind the girth, and touch the horse +lightly on the off shoulder with her whip. Being properly bent and +prepared, he will then strike off with his right leg first, and well +within himself; but having eased the reins as the horse takes his first +short stride forward, the rider should feel them again the next instant, +keeping her left hand well back, her arm steady, and manipulating the +reins with the right hand and the fingers of the left, so that she feels +them just as the horse's fore foot is on the ground, and eases them as +he raises it.</p> + +<p>This may appear to the uninitiated a very difficult matter, but in +reality it is not at all so, any more than it is difficult in dancing to +keep time to music, or for the musician to count the time to himself; +and by careful watching it can be mastered as well as either of the +above, or the stroke in swimming.</p> + +<p>Anybody who has witnessed a cavalry field day will have noticed that the +regimental band and the action of the horses both in trotting and +cantering past the commanding officer are in exact harmony; and many +people believe that the horses are taught to canter to the music. The +reverse of this, however, is the case. The leader of the band, having +himself passed through a course of equitation, knows the exact cadence +of the pace of manœuvre, and regulates the time of the music +accordingly; but it is because he is able to count the time of the +horses' footfall so well that he is also able to set the time of the +music. In like manner the fair equestrian, with a little practice, can +learn to count the time of her horse's canter to herself, and regulate +the action of her hand accordingly.</p> + +<p>The pupil must throw plenty of <i>life</i> into her riding, and, while she +sits easily and flexibly as regards her whole figure on the saddle, +should keep the horse equally upon his mettle. In a riding school he +requires more calling upon than when out of doors, and more "pressing +up," as it is technically called; but when once the rider has him going, +well balanced, and bending nicely, the great thing is to "let well +alone," and not ask too much, by which she would only fret and upset +him. In bringing the horse to the walk, the pupil should be cautioned to +feel him up very gradually, avoiding any sudden jerk on his mouth. The +gradual stronger feeling for two or three strides, of the taking action +of the hand, followed by a much slighter giving of the reins, will bring +the horse smoothly to the walk. The body of the rider should be inclined +slightly back from the perpendicular.</p> + +<p>When the lady has acquired ease and freedom in riding on the curb, the +turn, circles, "half passage" and change may be practised, close +attention being given that the aids are applied smoothly and quietly.</p> + +<p>After a few such lessons, the pupil may commence riding with the left +hand entirely unassisted by the right. For this purpose it is necessary +first to carry that portion of the reins held in the right hand over the +middle joint of the fore finger of the left; close the thumb firmly down +on them, and drop the slack of the rein to the off side of the saddle +near the horse's shoulder.</p> + +<p>The give-and-take action must at first be from the wrist only, the arm +being kept firm, and the hand opposite the centre of the body.</p> + +<p>For a time this will be a little difficult, especially in turning, when +the rider has only the motion of the little finger to depend upon for +the action of the bit in the horse's mouth; but by supporting the horse +well with the leg and whip, she will find that he will presently answer +readily to her aids. In turning to the right, the hand must be turned +with the knuckles up, and the little finger down towards the left +shoulder, the whip pressed to the horse's side, and the leg kept close, +in order to make the turn square. In turning to the left, the little +finger should be directed inwards and upwards towards the right +shoulder, and the left leg pressed to assist the turn, while the whip on +the off side insures its squareness. The wrist must be quite easy and +supple. In collecting, reining back, halting, or bringing the horse to +the walk, the action by which he is restrained should again at first be +altogether from the wrist, because motion from the shoulder would be too +heavy. In yielding to the horse, nothing more is necessary than to turn +the knuckles up and the little finger towards the horse's neck.</p> + +<p>By degrees, as the pupil learns to command her horse riding in this form +she must be instructed once more to give free and mobile action to the +arm at the shoulder joint, as when riding on both snaffle and curb +reins. But at first firmness of the arm is essential to give steadiness +to the hand. A good deal has been said about turning horses by pressure +of the rein against the neck without acting upon the metal in his mouth; +and opinions very diverse have been expressed on this point. With all +deference to the disputants, I submit that both are right and both wrong +in some respects. For instance, when the rider has the reins divided and +the hands well apart (a section of the lady equitation I propose to say +something about hereafter), if the rider turns the horse square to the +right or left he must use his legs as well as his hands, and +imperceptibly perhaps to himself (even if he has not been taught by +rule) he closes both the outward leg and feels the outward rein firmly, +in order to support the horse and prevent him from falling, which +otherwise he would be in danger of doing. Now, this support with the +outward rein causes it to press against the horse's neck, and to some +extent gives him the indication of the rider's will. But still it is +simply impossible to do this without acting on the snaffle or bit rein, +as the case may be, on one side or the other, as long as the reins are +attached to a bit of any sort. And after all, it is the leg which gives +the surest indication of the rider's will.</p> + +<p>One sees a lad in an Irish fair riding with a flat-headed halter turned +through the horse's mouth, and, with the rope only on one side, he will +put the horse through his paces, jump him, and turn him to either hand. +There is no metal at all in the mouth, although the hemp is not a bad +substitute; but the rope being only on one side, it is evident that it +is not pressure upon the neck that turns the horse, but the action of +the boy's leg against the intercostal muscles of the horse, and the +inflection of the lad's body to the hand he desires to turn to.</p> + +<p>Moreover, in the case, let us say of a dragoon, we will suppose at +riding school drill, it would be utterly out of the question to turn +horses by pressure on the neck and preserve order at the same time. Let +us suppose a double ride—seven mounted men on either side of a school +or <i>manége</i>. They are going large round the place, and the instructor +gives the word "Right and left turn." If each man of the fourteen were +to turn his horse by pressure of the reins against the neck, instead of +by the aid of leg and hand, the result would be that in place of making +a square turn at right angles with the boards, each horse would describe +a segment of a circle, more or less large, according to the +susceptibility of his neck, and the stiffness or otherwise of his ribs. +The consequence would be that the two sides, instead of passing left +hand to left hand through the intervals (and it must be remembered that +there is little room to spare), would be on the top of each other, and +in confusion at once. And if this would be bad at a walk, it would be +still worse at a canter. In either case it would be impossible, by the +application of such aids, to preserve the dressing. The above, I submit, +is a sufficient reason, where the utmost precision in riding is +required, why turning a horse by the action of the rein against his neck +(if, indeed, it can be done at all without the leg) is objectionable; +and another objection in the case both of the dragoon and the lady rider +is that the motions by which such aids could be applied are <i>too wide</i> +for neat and elegant riding.</p> + +<p>Horses in their breaking may be taught to answer all sorts of "cross +aids;" but for simplicity and ease of comprehension there is nothing in +equitation so good as the system practised in the German and our own +cavalry riding schools, the proof of which lies in the fact that, +although years ago one did not get even an average amount of +intelligence as a rule in our rank and file, yet every cavalry soldier +could readily understand the simple system upon which he was taught. It +is because that system forms, after all, the basis of much that applies +to female equitation that I have so frequently quoted from and alluded +to it.</p> + +<p>When the instructor finds that his pupil is quite at her ease, riding +her horse with one hand only, that she can do this, giving due freedom +of action to the arm at the shoulder joint, has perfect command of him, +and plenty of liberty and confidence in her own deportment on his back, +he should take her out and ride with her in the park or road, and +subsequently prepare her to extend her horse at a gallop, and commence +her leaping lessons.</p> + +<p>At this stage a more finished style of equestrian toilette will of +course be adopted, in lien of the loose habiliments hitherto used.</p> + +<p>I do not pretend to lay down any arbitrary rule on this subject. Much of +course depends upon the taste of the lady herself, and in this respect +English ladies are pre-eminent; a good deal also upon the judgment and +experience of those about her. But as I have good opportunities of +seeing the best types of fashionable attire for ladies' riding, I +venture to suggest some of them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Dress for Park Riding, and the Extended Paces.</span></h3> + + +<p>In no department of the charming art of dressing well is a lady so much +shackled by conventional usages as in her "get up" for riding. In all +other kinds of dress, from the full Court costume to simple morning +wrapper, such is the almost endless variety of style that there is +something to suit every woman, from the lady of high degree to "Dolly +Varden," and the "Molly Duster;" and the selection made is conclusive as +to the good or bad taste of the wearer. In riding dress it is altogether +different. "Chimney pot" hats, tight-fitting jackets, and flowing skirts +of orthodox dark rifle-green seem to be <i>de rigueur</i>, whatever may be +the figure, style, or complexion of the wearer. I submit (and in this +opinion I am borne out by several accomplished lady riders, to one of +whom I am indebted for the following suggestions) that this is wrong, +and that some modifications as regards shape and colour would be +advantageous both as regards the comfort of the ladies themselves, and +as a matter of taste.</p> + +<p>To begin with head-dress. It is manifest that whereas a lady of tall, +lithe figure, with an oval Grecian style of face, and classical contour +of head, will appear to the greatest advantage on horseback in a plain +or gentleman's hat, and with her hair so arranged as to show the outline +of the head and neck, one of the Hebe style of beauty, particularly if +slightly inclined to the "<i>embon.</i>," if so accoutred, would not look by +any means well. Yet one constantly sees the same sort of head-dress worn +by ladies whose general style is in direct contrast, the reason +presumably being that fashion admits of such little latitude for +choice.</p> + +<p>Again, as regards the jacket. A lady of slight figure (for effect) can +scarcely wear anything that fits too close, consistently with her +freedom of motion; but the fair equestrian whose proportions are not +"sylph like" is badly equipped in such a garment.</p> + +<p>To revert to the hat for the latter type of lady, the most becoming +style seems to be one with a low crown, and brim more or less wide, +according to the features of the wearer, as such hats admit of great +variety, both in material, and, what is more important, in colour; and +consequently it is not difficult for a lady to obtain that which is +exactly suitable to her both as regards feature and complexion.</p> + +<p>Some of these hats for park or road riding, ornamented with ostrich or +other feathers, are exceedingly elegant and becoming, and protect the +skin from the rays of the sun, without any necessity for a veil, which +cannot be said of the plain black or gentleman's hat. For the hunting +field, of course, feathers or ornaments are out of place; but +nevertheless most elegant low-crowned, wide-rimmed hats, made of fine +felt and without ornament, of shapes suitable to every class of feature, +are obtainable in Melton, and I presume are equally accessible in +London.</p> + +<p>The form of jacket most suitable for a lady whose proportions incline to +fulness is a tunic, made Hussar fashion, that is, it should have two +seams in the back and be well sprung inwards towards the waist without +fitting tight; the short skirt made full, and reaching well down to the +saddle; the sleeves wide. Broad braiding judiciously arranged on such +tunics, too, will have the effect of considerably diminishing the +appearance of redundant fulness of figure in the wearer.</p> + +<p>Two rows of braiding, commencing at the lower edge of the tunic behind, +should bend inwards towards the waist; but instead of diverging thence +to the shoulder points, as in a military coat, should pass over the +shoulders, about midway between them and the neck, and thence be +continued with a turn (ornamental or plain) to the front of the tunic on +both sides, and reaching down to its lower extremity. There should be no +braiding round the bottom edges of the jacket. These tunics can be made +either single or double breasted, but in either case should have broad +lappets in front; and neckties of any colour suitable to the wearer's +complexion, arranged as a gentleman ties his neckcloth, and fastened +with gold horseshoe pins, jewelled or plain, are very effective. The +single-breasted tunic should be fastened with hooks and eyes, covered by +the braid; the double-breasted jacket should fasten with plain silk +buttons. The advantage of these tunics is that, while they afford plenty +of room to the rider, and while they in no way cramp her flexibility in +the saddle, they tend to diminish to a degree scarcely conceivable the +appearance of redundant fulness or squareness of form, and give a very +elegant <i>tournure</i> to a figure that would look by no means well in a +tight-fitting jacket.</p> + +<p>Again, neckties of moderately large pattern, and ornaments in the way of +feathers and pins, or other fastenings for the cravat, all tend to +diminish to the eye the appearance of weight and size, and as a rule, +are as becoming on horseback to ladies of full figure as rigid plainness +in habits, collars, &c., are to those of spare and delicate form. It +should be borne in mind that it is on the off side that the figure of a +lady equestrian is most critically noticed by the observer. On the near +side the skirt has a great effect in increasing or diminishing the +apparent size and form of the rider. On the off side every defect in +form or dress is patent, and it is on the off side that the gentleman +attendant rides. Close-fitting jackets, then, I repeat; plain +gentleman's hats, with or without lace lappets, and extreme simplicity +of get up, will be most effective on the off side in the case of a lady +of slight figure. The style of hat and tunic I have attempted to +describe is most suitable to those whose <i>physique</i> is more developed.</p> + +<p>As regards skirts, a fair amount of fullness, according to the size of +the rider, for road or park, gives a very graceful appearance on the +near side, care of course being taken that the habit is not so long as +to admit of the horse treading on it. For hunting skirts can scarcely be +too circumscribed, as long as they afford the wearer freedom of action.</p> + +<p>A word now about colours. I repeat that except in the arbitrary dictum +of fashion there is no warranty for the all but universal prevalence of +dark rifle-green for riding habits. It must be evident that a lady who +is a "brunette" will look far better in a riding dress the colour of +which is dark chocolate or purple than she will in green of any sort; +and on the other hand a "blonde" would be more suitably attired in a +habit of a shade of light blue suitable to her complexion than in +anything of more sombre hue. Again, in the hunting field why should our +patrician ladies who grace these sporting <i>réunions</i>, with their +presence, and go as straight and well as any men, shewing always in the +front rank, be debarred by fashion or conventional usage from wearing +scarlet jackets. Scarlet is worn on foot—for opera cloaks, in shawls, +in whole dresses. Why not scarlet on horseback? I saw a lady this season +riding with one of our crack Midland packs who wore a scarlet jacket of +very fine cloth; a light blue silk cravat, fastened with a diamond +horseshoe pin; a skirt of very dark blue, and a plain man's hat of +Melton style. She was a blonde with golden hair, mounted on a bright +chestnut blood-like hunter; and, as she was of slight, lathy figure, and +rode exceedingly well, the <i>ensemble</i> was quite charming. This lady was +the cynosure of all eyes, not only on account of her capital riding but +her dress, which I heard deprecated by some as "<i>too loud</i>." My humble +opinion was that it was exactly in harmony with the place and the sport, +most becoming to the wearer, and calculated to give <i>dash</i> and +<i>brilliancy</i> to the <i>coup d'œil</i> afforded by the field as they +streamed away after the hounds; moreover, the lady herself had that +thoroughbred stamp and aristocratic bearing that would have rendered any +innovation in equestrian costume admissable in her case. But when the +complexion and style of any lady admits of it, I can see no reason why +she should not wear scarlet with foxhounds as well as her brother or her +husband. In summer time, too, is not dark rifle-green or any dark colour +and thick cloth which attracts the rays of the sun to the certain +discomfort of the wearer an absurdity, when the fair equestrian would +look far better, because more seasonably attired, in light grey, light +blue, or even in a habit of perfectly white linen, or similar fabric?</p> + +<p>As I have ventured to point out a pleasing alteration of conventional +dress in the hunting field, I trust I may be pardoned for describing +what appeared to me an equally consistent innovation in summer costume +for the saddle. Last summer I saw four young ladies taking an early +morning canter over a breezy down in this neighbourhood. The weather was +sultry. Three of the ladies wore habits of different shades of grey, +according to their respective complexions, the fabric evidently very +thin. Their equipment was completed by felt hats of different shapes, +exceedingly becoming. The fourth lady, who was very fair, wore a +perfectly white habit, made, I presume, of linen; the jacket edged with +a narrow light blue cord; her headdress was a yachting hat of Tuscan +straw, encircled by and also fastened under her chin with light blue +ribbon. In the front of her jacket she wore a moss rosebud. She was +riding an Arab-like blood horse, and being, like her companions, not +only well mounted, but a first-rate horsewoman, the effect was not only +pleasing to the eye and full of "dash," but, I am sure, most conducive +to the comfort of the fair riders themselves. Fashion apart, I may +fairly ask, would not these four ladies have looked equally well, and +felt as much at their ease, in Rotten Row as on the springy +Leicestershire turf? I devoutly hope yet to see some of the leaders of +fashion in the gay London season inaugurate some such change as I +venture to suggest; and certain I am if they did so, Rotten Row in the +month of May would present a brilliant Watteau-like appearance, very +different from that produced by the prevalence of sombre colours now +worn by the equestrian <i>habitués</i> of that fashionable ride.</p> + +<p>To return to our fair pupil (having made such selection of riding dress +as is most suitable to her style). Her first outdoor rides should be +taken on some quiet and little frequented road until she becomes +accustomed to control her horse; for there is a great difference in the +form of going of the same animal in the riding school and on the road, +as many horses that require considerable rousing in the school are all +action and lightheartedness out of doors.</p> + +<p>On the road, especially when they are hard, walking and trotting should +be the pace, the pupil riding equally on snaffle and curb reins; the +pace free and active; the trot about eight to eight and a half the hour.</p> + +<p>Cantering should never be practised on hard ground, as it is certain, +sooner or later, to cause mischief to the horse's legs. Where there is a +good broad sward by the roadside, as in the Midland counties, a good +stretching canter for miles may always be had where the ground is good +going. But such places are not to be found in the neighbourhood of the +metropolis; and it is necessary therefore to select some open common, +such as Wimbledon or Wormwood Scrubs, for cantering at first.</p> + +<p>By degrees the pupil should be accustomed to ride through thoroughfares +where there is considerable traffic, and may then make her <i>début</i> in +Rotten Row; and here I may remark that nobody, lady or gentleman, should +ever attempt riding in this fashionable equestrian resort until they +have thorough command of their horses, and, indeed, know scientifically +what riding is. The place, strictly speaking, is a ride intended for +royalty alone; and I believe I am correct in saying that the admission +of the general public to it is by no means a matter of right. Great +pains are bestowed to keep it in good order throughout the year; +especially, it is always soft and good for a horse's legs. But as a +great concourse of equestrians, male and female, is always in the Row in +the London season, and as the horses are nearly all well bred and high +couraged, there is considerable danger, both to themselves and others, +in persons with indifferent seats and hands venturing to ride in the +fashionable crowd, the danger being considerably enhanced by the fact +that such people are altogether ignorant of the risk they are running. +For my own part, after seeing some corpulent citizen rehearsing "John +Gilpin" in Hyde Park, with his trousers half-way up to his knees, and +his feet the wrong way in the stirrups, the wonder has always been to me +not that accidents occur in Rotten Row, but that there are not a great +many more.</p> + +<p>There are adventurous ladies, too, who occasionally create a sensation +among the crowd, not at all flattering to themselves if they only knew +the sentiments of those about them; and I really think it would be a +capital plan to appoint some competent gentlemen to take charge by +turns of the Row in the London season, and order the mounted police on +duty quietly to see everybody out of it who was unable to command their +horses. Matters, since the mounted constables have been put on, are not +quite so bad as formerly; but there is plenty of room for improvement +still, both as regards dogs, pretty horsebreakers, and tailors.</p> + +<p>At all events, I recommend any man taking a young lady into the Park in +the height of the London season "to have his eyes about him" in every +direction, lest some "dashing equestrian," male or female, should come +bucketing a horse in rear of his charge, and to keep a close watch also +upon the latter—to see that she <i>rides her horse</i> all the time she is +in the place, keeping him well into his bridle, which reduces to a +minimum the chances of his suddenly flirting.</p> + +<p>Elsewhere I have gone at considerable length into the subject of +possible accidents in the Park. It is perhaps necessary that I repeat +the gist of it here, which is simply that no young lady, however +accomplished a horsewoman she may be, should be allowed by her friends +to ride in the Row unattended by a male companion, who is not only a +thoroughly good horseman, but accustomed to ride beside a lady and +<i>anticipate</i> anything in the shape of bad manners on the part of her +horse; that the attendance of a groom, who rides at a considerable +distance in rear of the lady (whatever appearance of conventional style +it may give to the fair equestrian), is utterly useless to her in case +of accident, nay, in more than one instance that I have known has been +productive of it from the groom galloping up at a critical moment, and +still further exciting the lady's horse. Finally, that no lady should +ever ride a horse of high breed and courage that has been allowed to +"get above himself," by remaining day after day in the stable, or having +insufficient work, when exercised, to keep down exuberant freshness.</p> + +<p>There is no danger to a thoroughly good horsewoman in riding a horse +that is "light-hearted." But there is risk to everybody, man or woman, +in riding one "mad fresh," ready to jump out of his skin, as the grooms +say, in a crowd of other horses.</p> + +<p>For my own part, of two evils, I would rather see a lady jammed into a +lane with twenty or thirty horses, after hounds had just got away, and +everybody was struggling to get out, than I would see her in the Park +unattended by a gentleman, and mounted upon a well-bred horse that was +very fresh. I do not by any means deprecate riding in the Row. It is a +splendid piece of riding ground, and relieved to some extent, as it now +is, of overcrowding by the ride on the upper side of the Park; it is a +glorious place for a canter. But I repeat, let everybody who takes a +horse there be able to ride him, and have eyes for his neighbours as +well as himself; and especially let gentlemen who attend ladies there be +always on the <i>qui vive</i> for the adventurous Gilpins and "pretty +horsebreakers."</p> + +<p>The canter for the Row, conventionally and wisely, should be almost as +collected as that of the riding school. It is an understood thing, in +fact, that no lady or gentleman (properly so called) "sets a horse +going" there; and trotting when practised should also be done very +collectedly, both paces admitting of the display of talent and +proficiency in equitation of the rider.</p> + +<p>For the more extended paces, it is necessary again to have recourse to +open heath or common; and, before the pupil attempts to "set her horse +going," the difference between cantering, in the "andante" pace, and +galloping, should be clearly explained to her. The main difference in +this cantering is to some extent an artificial pace, because, when +practised collectedly, the greater weight of the horse is brought from +his forehand on to his haunches; and the shorter the pace, the more his +weight is on his hind legs. It is for this reason that very collected +cantering should not be continued for any great length of time, from its +tendency to strain the hocks, nevertheless cantering, like trotting, +cannot fairly be pronounced altogether artificial, because anybody who +has had the handling of a great number of young horses must have seen +many of them running loose who would canter the length of a paddock at +quite a short pace, both legs on the same side (generally the near +side); and I have seen a foal at a mare's foot trot, true and fair, for +a considerable distance.</p> + +<p>Galloping, however, like walking, is a perfectly natural pace, although +it is a mistake to say that in the gallop the horse moves both fore and +hind legs together, in what is frequently termed "a succession of +jumps." That he does this in his top speed, and especially in making a +supreme effort, as in a desperate finish of a race, is perfectly true: +but it is equally certain that at half or three quarter speed he is +leading with either near or off fore leg, and that anything but a <i>full +speed</i> gallop is simply a very extended canter. Any man who has ridden a +race must know that where the distance is great, say four miles or more, +and men do not force the pace, for perhaps two-thirds of the way every +horse (say of a score of them) will be leading with either near or off +leg, generally the former, and that a very hot excitable horse, eager to +get to the front, will <i>change his leg</i> when he finds his rider keeps +his hands down, and his horse back. It may be said that this is not +galloping but cantering; but I beg to assure all those who maintain this +opinion that such a canter is faster than any gallop resorted to, apart +from racing, that, in short, such a gallop is a very extended canter. +Whatever the term, however, may be most applicable to it, half racing +speed is quite as fast as a lady will have occasion to ride, unless in +cases of desperate emergency. At such speed the horse has altogether a +different balance to that maintained in the short canter; and, although +he does not go altogether on his shoulders, still, to afford him freedom +of action, he must be allowed to extend his head and neck, because, if +too much bent, his action will be clambering, instead of sending him +freely to his front.</p> + +<p>To gallop a horse in good form the lady should adopt a different +arrangement of the reins to any heretofore used. It is simply to divide +them, so that the little fingers of both hands pass between the snaffle +and curb reins, the latter under the little finger, and a little longer +than the former, the <i>appui</i> being principally upon the snaffle, +although there should be no slack rein on the curbs. Her hands should be +kept well apart, and as low down as she can get them. The reason for +separating the hands is, that it is far more difficult for a lady to set +her hands down than for a man to do the same thing, because the front +forks of the saddle are very much in her way.</p> + +<p>If, however, she rides with a saddle, the off side crutch of which is +"cut down," and she places her right hand outside her right knee, and +her left hand outside the near side upper crutch, she will have the +reins at nearly the same angle, and about the same feeling on the +horse's mouth, as would be obtained by a man in setting his horse going.</p> + +<p>In order to counteract any tendency of this position of the hands to +interfere with the rider's proper balance, the left foot should be +carried well forward, while the leg is pressed firmly against the third +crutch, and an equally firm grasp of the upper crutch is taken with the +right knee. A slight bend forward of the figure from the waist upwards +is admissible, but great care should be taken by the instructor that +this is not overdone, but regulated by the angle at which the left foot +is placed. With the slight bend forward, however, there should be no +rounding of the back or shoulders, or dropping of the head. Neither +should the hands be allowed to get too forward; they will be somewhat in +advance of their position at a canter, but not be more than six or eight +inches from the body—the hands with the knuckles upwards, the elbows +only slightly bent.</p> + +<p>The ground selected for this exercise should be well known to the +instructor—sound, good-going turf, perfectly free from rabbit holes or +rotten places. The pace should be gradually increased from a free canter +to about half-racing speed, the master making the pace himself, and +carefully watching his pupil in every stride her horse takes. The lady +should be instructed to let her horse "take fairly hold" of her, and +press him with the leg until he strides freely along in his gallop. She +should keep her hands shut firmly on the reins, and rest the former +against the saddle. The horse then, while taking well hold of her, will +not <i>pull</i>, nor will she pull an ounce against him, the consequence +being that when she desires to decrease her speed, she has only to lean +back gradually from her galloping position, bringing the body first +perfectly upright, and then inclining back at about the same angle she +previously carried it forward, raise her hands up from the saddle, and +carry them back to her waist, while she turns the little fingers inwards +and upwards towards it, which will cause her to feel the curb reins with +a double feeling to the snaffle, and in about a dozen strides she can +thus collect her horse into a steady canter and bring him subsequently +to a walk. The length and speed of these rides must be carefully +regulated by the master according to the nerve and strength of his +pupil. Without a fair amount of both nerve and physical power such +gallops should not be attempted at all. Where there is plenty of both, a +half-mile spin is admissible to begin with, and, with good going ground, +this may be increased gradually to a couple of miles. The instructor +should be very careful in cautioning his pupil to diminish the speed of +her horse by degrees and in the manner above described, especially +avoiding any sudden pull at him, or any unsteadiness of the hands. +Carefully practised, these gallops will give the pupil great freedom and +confidence in the saddle; and they are, moreover, wonderful promoters of +health.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Leaping Lesson.</span></h3> + + +<p>I come now to a section of our courses of instruction, which, if not as +some suppose the most difficult to impart or acquire, is nevertheless of +great importance. The principles, however, upon which a horse "does a +fence" neatly and safely, and those upon which depend the secure riding +of the lady, once properly understood, the rest is a question of +practice, the thorough training of the horse and his complete fitness +for his task being assumed. The two latter points are, however, of such +vital consequence that I will endeavour to direct attention to several +matters connected with them, which I trust may be useful.</p> + +<p>In the first place, then, it should be borne in mind that whereas every +horse of every breed in the world can be taught to jump, jumping comes +so aptly to some as to be perfectly natural, and no more trouble to them +with a fair weight than walking or galloping. Such horses are easily +taught to be <i>clever</i>; that is to say, to do "doubles," "in and out," +and crooked places, with almost the surefootedness of a goat, as well as +to jump clean timber or fly sixteen or eighteen feet of water. The sort +of animal I speak of is fond of jumping, and consequently when carefully +broken learns to <i>balance himself</i> with the greatest nicety; and, +provided the ground is sound, you cannot get him down, while he does not +know what refusing means, except in the case of utterly impracticable +places.</p> + +<p>It is upon such horses, or those which approach the nearest to them in +their qualifications, that a lady should be mounted, not only for the +hunting field itself, but in her initiation in the riding school into +the art of riding her horse over a fence. Horses that rush at their +jump, are hot-headed, or intemperate in any way, are utterly unfit for a +lady to attempt leaping with, either indoors or out. There should be +blood and quality undoubtedly, as well as substance and power, but these +must be joined to the best of temper. Possibly the very perfection of a +horse exists in that wonderful little animal the Lamb, who has just +exhibited at Liverpool the most extraordinary feats of <i>cleverness</i> and +endurance, coupled with splendid action, speed, and temper, ever yet +shown by any horse. The form in which, galloping at top speed, he jumped +over two horses lying <i>hors de combat</i> right in his way, and cleared +both and their riders without further injury to any, will live always in +the memory of those who witnessed it; while his unflinching and +determined effort to win under a weight that scarcely admitted of hope +stamp the Lamb as a horse without equal in our day. In my opinion no +price in reason could be too much to ask or give for such animal.</p> + +<p>A short time ago I had the great honour and privilege accorded me by his +noble owner of a close inspection at his private training quarters of +this unrivalled little equine gem; and I am bound to say that, although +I never quite believed in perfection of a horse until I saw the action, +manner, and general form of the Lamb, as far as my judgment or +experience goes, I freely accord to him the palm over every horse I have +seen in a lifetime spent among horseflesh in one quarter or another of +the world; but, although it is not possible in my humble opinion to find +his equal as a cross-country horse, our endeavours should be directed to +obtain for a lady hunter that which approximates most closely to the +Lamb. Let me briefly point out what are the qualities that render such +horses the fittest for carrying a lady to hounds.</p> + +<p>In the first place, the connecting points of such an animal are so true +in their relative adjustment, that while in galloping he does not +<i>clamber</i> or fight the air, he goes with action so safe as always to +clear any of those apparently insignificant obstacles, which too often +bring to grief a gallant-looking steed and his fair rider. When "ridge +and furrow" (as must sometimes occur) run the wrong way, he can go safe +from land to land; and this is of greater consequence to a lady's +riding than many suppose. The stamp of horse I speak of, too, will +gallop with his hind legs well under him, while he maintains a proper +balance of his fore hand without getting his head too low. He will do +his fences without rush or passion, and measure his distance to +perfection.</p> + +<p>Secondly, his breeding gives him the power to endure through long runs, +while his temper prevents that feverish excitement so detrimental in its +reaction on a hot horse after a long day's hunting.</p> + +<p>To return to the detail of the leaping lesson. This should always be +commenced either in a riding school or in a space so inclosed as to do +away as nearly as possible with any chance of the horse refusing. It is +not possible always to procure one that is quite a "Lamb;" and, however +well trained the animal on which the fair pupil is put, no possible +temptation to do wrong should ever be allowed to remain in his way. A +gorse-bound bar, a wattled hurdle or common sheep hurdle are all equally +good for the first attempt, care being taken not to make the leap too +high. But I do not, from experience, believe in putting the bar or other +obstacle on the ground, because the effort a well-broken horse makes to +clear it is so slight, that it puts the rider off her guard; and when +afterwards he rises higher in his jump, he is very apt to shift her in +the saddle. There is a very natural inclination on the part of a tyro in +riding, lady or gentleman (having seen a horse jump under another +person), to suppose that some effort of the hand is necessary <i>to lift</i> +the horse over the obstacle.</p> + +<p>It should be the duty of the instructor carefully to warn his pupil +against any such effort, and in the first attempt to attend only to her +true equilibrium, while she presses the horse well up to his bridle, +keeping her hands perfectly steady, well back, and well down. She should +take a firm hold of the upper crutch of the saddle with her right knee; +sit well <i>into</i> the saddle, and not on the back of it, because the +further back she sits, the greater the concussion when the horse +alights. She should put her left foot well home in the stirrup, and +press her leg firmly against the third crutch, while she keeps the left +knee quite flexible, and the left foot well forward. She should draw her +figure well up from the waist, which should be bent slightly forward; +and she should avoid <i>stiffening</i> the waist, because it is from that +point that she is able to throw the upper part of the figure backwards +at the proper moment, and at the true angle, to preserve her balance. +She should direct her glance straight between the horse's ears, and well +in front of him to the end of the school, because if she looks down at +her hands or the bar, she relaxes her upright position. The horse should +be led up to the bar by the instructor, who should be able to jump +lightly over the obstacle with the horse; and another assistant should +follow with a whip, the presence of which the horse will recognise in an +instant, without any noise being made with it, and he will go at once +into his bridle, and "take hold" of the rider's hand. A groom should +hold the end of the bar or hurdle so lightly, that if the horse touches +it, it will fall; while another groom should stand in such a position, +about a horse's length to half a one outside the instructor, as to do +away with all chance of the horse swerving from any nervous action of +the rider's hand.</p> + +<p>In jumping, at first the pupil should ride entirely upon the snaffle +rein. In fact, for early leaping lessons, it is best to put a good broad +reined snaffle in the horse's mouth, instead of a double bridle, because +it prevents any confusion about the reins, and consequent derangement of +nerve in the pupil. On approaching the bar, the latter should incline +the body back from the waist upwards, at such an angle, that a line from +the back point of the shoulder would fall about a couple of inches +behind the cantle of the saddle. This is not according to the strict +formula laid down by high-class professors of equitation; on the +contrary. "The Aid Book" tells us that "the body should be inclined +forward as the horse rises, and backwards as he alights." But I have +found in teaching <i>ladies</i> to jump their horses that, particularly with +a quick jumping one, any such attempt would result in the horse hitting +the lady in the face with his head, and thereby thoroughly disgusting +her with leaping lessons, to say nothing of possible disfigurement or +injury. The instructor cannot be too quiet, simply keeping well hold of +his horse, making him walk close to the boards, and cautioning his pupil +to sit back—<i>not away from the crutches</i> of the saddle, but to throw +the upper part of her figure back <i>the instant the horse drops his +head</i>. Any more instruction will only confuse her. The master should +jump with the horse, <i>but not hold the habit</i>, as is customary with some +preceptors of riding, because no man is so clever on his legs but that +some inequality in the tan or turf might cause him to stumble, in which +case assuredly he would pull the lady off her horse.</p> + +<p>After the first jump the master is better away from both horse and +pupil. In nine cases out of ten I have found that the above simple +directions to the latter result in her landing all right, except a +little derangement of equilibrium to the front; but the easy spring of a +well-bred and well-broken horse, and the hold he takes of her hands, +reassure her. She has made her <i>première pas</i> in jumping, and finds that +it is by no means so difficult a matter as she anticipated. In her +second attempt, if she exhibits good nerve, as most young ladies of the +present day do, the instructor need only walk up the side of the school +with her, close to the horse's shoulder, quietly correcting her if she +allows her reins to become slack, because in that case she loses the +<i>appui</i> on the horse's mouth, which in her early attempts at leaping is +of vital importance to her. In fact, it is necessary, in order to give +the pupil confidence, that the horse should jump with a firm hold upon +her hand.</p> + +<p>Many authorities on riding tell us that a horse's jump is simply a +higher stride of his gallop; from this notion I beg entirely to dissent. +In leaping, a horse first raises his forehand upwards with a half rear, +both feet quitting the ground at the same instant, the height he rises +corresponding to the angle at which he takes off. Secondly, from his +hind legs he propels himself forwards, both hind legs moving together, +and, if he is a good jumper, well under him. If leaping, therefore, is +to be compared to any other action of a horse, it must resemble a plunge +gaining ground to the front. There is no possible gain in teaching, +however, by comparing a horse's leap to his any other movement. Instinct +tells him what to do in order to clear his legs of the obstacle, and, +like walking or galloping, the action is by no means artificial, +inasmuch as a thoroughly unbroken young horse loose in a paddock will +jump through a gap on an ill-kept farm (if his dam makes the running) +with precisely the same action as a finished hunter; and, therefore, in +one sense I endorse the dictum once expressed to me by an Irish farmer +when I asked his opinion as to the natural paces of a horse. His reply +was, "Sure some of 'em goes no way natural, but just the way you don't +want thim to go; and there's some of thim that nothing's so natural to +as to ate a lot of good oats a man never sees the price of again. Thim's +bad ones. But if you're spaking of a good maning, rale Irish horse, the +most natural pace he has is to jump well." I quite agree, bar the word +pace, that jumping to a horse is as natural as any other instinctive +action. The weight, however, to be carried, and the mode in which that +weight is distributed at the critical moment, makes a material +difference to both horse and rider. Therefore, the early leaping lessons +should be confined to causing the pupil to do as little as possible to +impede the action of the horse, while she preserves her due balance. +Like the breaking of a young colt in the case of a pupil learning to +ride over a fence, if you ask too much at once or confuse the learner, +you obtain nothing but discomfiture.</p> + +<p>As regards this portion of the course of equitation, it is specially +necessary to bear in mind the old French maxim, <i>C'est ne pas le +première pas qui coûte</i>. At the same time it is quite possible, if the +first step is injudiciously taken, to spoil the whole of your previous +work. Special care should be taken that the horse does not take off too +soon; and if, from any unevenness of the rider's hands or legs, he +attempts this, the instructor should be quickly at his head again, and +compel him to do his work coolly and collectedly. "The standing leap," +as this is technically called, is considerably more difficult as regards +catching the precise moment at which to throw the weight of the body +back than the "flying leap," because in the standing leap the horse, +being nearer to the obstacle, pitches himself forward with a much +rougher action, and does not land so far on the other side of the fence; +whereas when he canters freely at it, the difference in the shock to the +rider is as great as that experienced in the pitch of a boat in a short +chopping sea, and the boat's rise and fall in a long swell, the pace +also causing the horse to take more freely hold of the rider's hand.</p> + +<p>Complete confidence, however, must be established before a lady should +be asked to ride her horse at a fence out of a walk; and nearly as much +time should be expended over this new step in the series of lessons as +were occupied in trotting.</p> + +<p>I have not, however, to define the principle upon which, in either +standing or flying leap, security of seat must be sought. Some say that +in leaping it is by muscular grasp only that a lady can retain her true +equilibrium in the saddle; others adhere to the notion that it is all +done by balance. Now the truth lies midway between these two theories. +It is quite possible for a man to ride over a fence by balance only. +Witness what one sees frequently in a circus, where some talented +equestrian maintains his footing on a bare-backed steed, while the +latter jumps a succession of bars. Here there is nothing to keep the +rider on the horse but sheer balance; and, of course, if this can be +done by one man standing up, it can be much more easily done by another +sitting down in the saddle, although very few men ride across country in +such form, nor indeed is it either safe or desirable to do so. The +thing, nevertheless, is quite easy. It is not so easy with a lady, +because her position on the saddle is altogether an artificial one; and, +moreover, the weight of the skirt is sufficient to render riding by +balance alone most difficult. It is by a combination of firm grasp on +the crutches, <i>seized</i> just before the horse arrives at his fence, and a +true balancing of the body from the waist upwards, that security of seat +in jumping is obtained. A most necessary adjunct to the above, however, +is firmness of the arms, because, if the latter are allowed to fly out +from the sides, the whole figure becomes, as it were, disconnected, and +the proper <i>aplomb</i> is lost. By taking a firm hold of the upper crutch +of the saddle with the right leg, the rider is enabled to balance her +body as the horse rises, while the pressure of the left leg against the +third crutch prevents the concussion of his landing from throwing her +forward, provided always she throws back her weight at precisely the +right moment. This requires practice, and well-timed assistance from the +instructor, thus:</p> + +<p>As soon as the pupil acquires sufficient confidence to ride her horse +fairly up to the fence, and keep his head straight to it, the master +should stand far enough from her to obtain a good view of the whole +contour of figure of horse and rider. He should place the hands of the +latter <i>well</i> apart, cause her to shut her fingers firmly on the reins, +which give firmness to the body; keep her hands well down and her figure +well drawn up, ready on the instant to throw the weight back. He should +then caution her to execute the last-named movement on his giving the +<i>single sharp word</i> "Now." The pupil should then press her horse well up +against her hand, and keep his head steady and straight to the bar. The +instant he rises the instructor should give his word sharply, and the +rider will then catch the true time at which to act upon it. This +requires only close attention and watching by instructor and pupil, both +being "vif" and thoroughly on the alert. After a few efforts the lady is +then sure to find out the time without any word. I have taught a great +many very young ladies as well as gentlemen to ride over a fence by the +aid of the word given in the above form, and have found it always of the +greatest assistance both to myself and pupils. Special attention is +necessary to keeping the hands well down and well apart, and the +shoulders quite square, because there is a natural tendency on the part +of most ladies in the first leaping lessons to throw the right shoulder +forward, which not only destroys her balance but causes her to pull the +horse's head to the near side. The hands cannot be kept too quiet at +first, for any effort to give and take to the action of the horse is +nearly certain to result in the pupil checking him at the very moment he +springs forward, and pulling him upon his fence.</p> + +<p>A well-broken horse, when put up to his bridle, will take a good hold of +the rider's hand, and if sufficient length of rein is given him will +clear the bar without the necessity of the rider moving her hands a +hair's breadth. Subsequently, when she has had sufficient practice to +feel quite at home, she can be taught how to assist him when he does a +long striding leap over water or a strong double fence with ditches on +both sides.</p> + +<p>After the standing leap is executed neatly, and in good form by rider +and horse, the flying leap should at once be practised.</p> + +<p>The pupil should put her horse into a steady canter, going to the left +round the school; and for this purpose the hurdle or bar should for the +time be removed, so as to enable the lady to get her horse into a good +free stride. When the instructor sees that she has her horse in proper +form, the hurdle should be put up again and well sloped, because, even +so, the horse will jump considerably higher in all probability than the +rider expects.</p> + +<p>This is the moment at which the master requires to be thoroughly on the +alert. He should caution the lady not to let her horse <i>hurry</i> when he +turns the corner and sees the hurdle, which many horses are very apt to +do. "Hands down," "Sit back," "Press him against your hand," and the +"Now!" at the right moment should be the concise words, given in a tone +at once lively and encouraging. The result will be a clean, clever jump, +well done by horse and rider, when the former should be "made much of."</p> + +<p>A couple or three leaps so executed are quite enough in a school, +because nothing so worries most horses as to keep them continually +jumping at the same place, and if the leap is too often repeated, they +are apt to sulk or blunder at it.</p> + +<p>Within the walls of a good riding house almost every kind of obstacle +can be represented which can be met with out of doors. The double, the +artificial brook or painted wall, all give the pupil sufficient insight +into the form in which a well-taught horse will negotiate any of the +fences to be met with in the hunting field; and the lady should be +carefully taught how to <i>stop</i> and <i>steady</i> her horse at a crooked or +cramped place.</p> + +<p>When once the leaping lessons are commenced, one should be given every +day, either before or after the riding out. If the ride is intended to +be a long one, the jumping should be done while the horse is fresh, and +has all his powers in hand.</p> + +<p>When the pupil can do the standing and flying leap, the in and out or +double in good form, riding on the snaffle, she should again return to +her double bridle, which should be fitted with a curb chain with broad +links; and the whole of it should be well padded and covered with soft +leather, to prevent any jar upon the horse's mouth in jumping. The reins +should be separated and placed as for galloping, the greatest care being +taken by the instructor that the curb is no tighter than just to keep +it in place, for which a good lip strap should be used, and the curb +chain fitted so as to admit the play of quite two fingers between it and +the horse's jaw. In placing the reins, the master should see that the +greater <i>appui</i> is on the snaffle, and that after the pupil closes her +hands upon the reins she does not shift her hold of them in the +slightest degree. Having now four reins instead of two as formerly, +there will be a tendency to "fidget" with them, or obtain a better hold. +This must instantly be corrected if it occurs, otherwise ten to one but +the lady gets the curb rein too short, and pulls her horse on his fence. +At the same time there should be no slack curb rein hanging down, but it +should be of such length that, on landing, the horse can just feel the +action of the curb, and the reason for this is obvious. In school all +leaping may be accomplished on the snaffle; but in the hunting field it +is far otherwise. In deep ground a horse requires holding together, and +no lady could do this with a snaffle bridle. And, again, in a long run, +when a horse has been severely called on, he may make a blunder on +landing from a drop in a bit of boggy ground, in which case the curb +rein is necessary in aid of the snaffle. As, therefore, it is in the +school that the pupil should be prepared for every outdoor eventuality, +riding over her fences with both curb and snaffle must be practised; +and, finally, over a small jump she must be taught to ride with the curb +alone.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Leaping Lesson</span> (<i>continued</i>).</h3> + + +<p>It may fairly be accepted as a general rule, that a horse should not be +ridden over a fence upon the curb alone. The rule, however, has its +exceptions. One of these is the possible case of a lady being placed in +such a predicament that she has no alternative in the presence of +imminent danger but that of leaping her horse to avoid it, and in such +case it may be (and, indeed, in my own experience has occurred) when the +lady was riding her horse with a single curb bridle. If the fair +equestrian so placed lacks the necessary nerve, dexterity of hand, and +firmness of seat, she must come to certain grief. It is therefore highly +desirable that, although on ordinary occasions she should use both +snaffle and curb in leaping, she should also be thoroughly <i>au fait</i> at +doing it, if the necessity arises, upon a "hard and sharp," or single +"Hanoverian."</p> + +<p>Again, leaping on the curb rein only teaches the pupil the full value of +every particle of her balance and muscular grasp on the saddle, while it +also shows her that, although as a rule a horse requires to be kept well +together, there are exceptional instances in which it is necessary to +yield the hands freely to him. The above-named is one of these cases. +The leaping lessons, however, which lead up to the point of proficiency +at which the pupil should be permitted to attempt so critical and +difficult a piece of riding must be carefully and inductively given.</p> + +<p>Assuming that the fair tyro rides her horse boldly and confidently over +the ordinary fences used in a school, and can execute an "in and out" +jump without derangement of seat or hand, the effort of the master +should next be directed towards teaching his pupil how to cause her +horse to extend himself over a jump where there is considerable width as +well as height. I must repeat that, for this purpose, a horse should be +used that is thoroughly up to his business—one that will stride freely +away and <i>gallop</i> at his fence. The best practice to begin with, in what +I may perhaps call "fast jumping" for a lady, is at an artificial brook.</p> + +<p>This is easy enough to arrange in a riding school. It requires only a +sheet of canvas, painted the colour of water, of such dimensions that +the people in the school can increase or diminish its width at pleasure. +This canvas should be long enough to extend from one side of the school +to the other, which can be managed by fastening the canvas to a couple +of light rollers. On the taking-off side of this artificial brook there +should be some low wattles, gorse bound, or otherwise; and these also +should extend quite across the school. There is then no chance of a +well-broken horse refusing.</p> + +<p>Before the canvas arrangement is stretched across the riding-house, the +pupil should be instructed to set her horse going at a free striding +canter—as fast as is compatible with safety in turning the corners, +which should be well cut off in this case, the pupil riding a +half-circle at both ends of the school. After two or three turns round +the house at this pace, in order to get the horse well into his stride, +the assistants should arrange the jump while the instructor prepares his +pupil for it. And now let me endeavour to explain the difference in the +position and action of the hands of the rider necessary for a long jump +as compared with that requisite in a short one. In the latter, safety +consists in a horse jumping well together or collectedly, because in a +cramped or crooked place speed is almost certain trouble. Where, on the +contrary, there is a broad sheet of water to be got over, "plenty of +way" on the horse—sufficient speed to give great momentum to his +effort, is indispensable. In the short leap or crooked place, then, the +horse should be made to jump throughout right into his bridle; and for +this purpose the position and steadiness of hand described in the last +article, accompanied by such pressure of the leg as will keep him up to +it, is the true mode of "doing such places."</p> + +<p>But to clear a wide jump, it should be remembered that the horse must +not only go a good pace on it, but he must be allowed to extend his head +and neck the instant he takes off. If this is neglected, the fair +equestrian, in attempting a water jump, will inevitably find herself in +the brook.</p> + +<p>Now, a man in riding at water has this great advantage over a lady in +the same case, that, having equal power with both legs, he can force his +horse up to any length of rein, no matter how long, in reason, and +compel him to face it, thus enabling the rider to hold him through every +inch of his jump, while he gives him plenty of scope to extend himself. +For a lady to do this is impossible. Too much pressure of the left leg +or repeated use of the spur, even if counteracted on the off side with +the whip, would cause the horse to throw his haunches to one side, and +he would not jump straight. Steadiness of seat, hand, and leg are +therefore indispensable to the lady. The horse ought to be well +practised at the particular jump before she is allowed to attempt it, +and therefore should require no rousing or urging, to get plenty of way +on, for his effort. But before the pupil faces her horse towards the +brook, she should be emphatically but quietly enjoined by the instructor +to respond to his word "now" as follows: Let it be understood that her +elbows should be drawn back until they are three inches or thereabouts +behind her waist, the hands about the same distance below the elbows, +the former about six inches apart, with the fingers closed firmly on the +reins and turned <i>inwards</i> and <i>upwards</i> until they touch the <i>waist</i>, +the reins divided, as for galloping, but with the slightest possible +feeling upon the curb. With her hands in the above-named form she should +ride her horse to his jump, never moving them until she hears the sharp +sound of the word "Now!" from the instructor, when at the same instant +the body, from the waist upwards, should be thrown back and the hands +shot forward, the elbows following, until they are just level with the +front of the waist. As the hands go forward, the little fingers should +be turned downwards and the knuckles upwards; this will bring the middle +joints of both hands with the nails downwards against the right thigh, +about four to six inches above (or, as the rider sits, behind) the knee; +and this turning down of the nails and forward motion of hands and +elbows will give the horse free scope of his head and neck, while the +hands coming in contact with the right thigh will still maintain the +proper <i>appui</i>, and support the horse when he lands in his jump. +Although the foregoing appears prolix in description, it occupies little +time to explain <i>vivâ voce</i>; and with the instructor by her side the +lady may practise the action two or three times while her horse is +standing still before he faces his jump. The instructor should then quit +the lady's side and place himself near the brook in such a position that +he has a fair view of the horse as he takes off. The pupil should turn +her horse quietly about, and ride to the <i>left</i> into the corner of the +school, and as soon as the horse's head is square to the jump, and +himself square to the boards, the master should give the word smartly, +"Canter." With plenty of vivacity, the pupil should immediately strike +her horse into a striding pace, keeping her hands well back and hitting +him smartly once with the spur. An assistant with a whip should also +crack it slightly behind the horse.</p> + +<p>Let the master then closely watch the moment at which the horse's fore +feet quit the ground, and give his word quickly and sharply, and in nine +cases out of ten the jump will be a success.</p> + +<p>The artificial brook should be arranged about two-thirds of the distance +down the school, so as to give the horse plenty of space to get into his +stride before he comes to it, while there will be sufficient room to +collect him after he lands. If he does it well the first time (and with +the above described handling he will scarcely fail to do so), and the +rider performs her part moderately well, the jump should not be +repeated. If, however, it is necessary again to go through the +instruction, the horse should not be put at the place back again, but +the end of the canvas be rolled up and the wattle removed, so as to +admit of his passing to the longer reach of the school. These lessons +should be given daily until the pupil executes them with the requisite +energy and correctness of riding, the instructor taking special care +never to ask his pupil, however, to do such jumps unless he sees that +she is quite equal in health and good spirits to the occasion. For +riding which requires any extra "dash" about it must never be attempted +by anybody if they are at all out of nerve.</p> + +<p>After the pupil does the brook well, it may be replaced by a double set +of gorsed hurdles, placed just so far apart as to necessitate their +being done at a single jump. In this case, however, the pupil, while +giving her horse by the action of her hands sufficient scope to allow +him to jump a considerable distance, should not be allowed to ride so +fast at the obstacle, about half the speed necessary to do water being +quite sufficient; and the off-side hurdles should be so placed that if +the horse strikes them they will give way.</p> + +<p>As a rule ladies do not perform, even in Leicestershire, over big double +fences, or very strong oxers, and the <i>indication</i> of what is required +to do them should be sufficient for riding school practice.</p> + +<p>As I have elsewhere observed, a horse will jump higher and further when +going with hounds than you can with safety ask him to do when in cool +blood, or when only roused to extraordinary effort by the use of the +spur or whip. And no man in his senses in the hunting field would ever +think of piloting a lady to a place which he would only ride at himself +at a pinch. Such jumps, therefore, as I have endeavoured to describe +within doors should represent the biggest which most ladies are likely +to encounter with in a fair hunting country. As regards riding over a +fence, with the curb rein unrelieved by the snaffle, the practice should +be as follows:</p> + +<p>A hurdle should be well sloped, so as to render the leap a very moderate +one. The rider should quit her hold of the reins, which should be +knotted and fastened by a thong to the mane. A leading rein should then +be attached to the ring of the snaffle, and the horse led quietly up to +the fence, and halted. The pupil should then draw her hands back until +they are in the same position as she would place them in putting her +horse at his jump, with the hands closed firmly, which will give +steadiness to the body. She must take a determined hold of the upper +pommel with her right knee, and be ready with the figure perfectly +poised to throw her weight back at the proper moment; placing her left +thigh also firmly against the third crutch, her foot well home in the +stirrup and well forward, the shoulders perfectly square, and the waist +quite pliant. An assistant should then crack a whip smartly in rear of +the horse, without hitting him; this will cause him to spring lightly +over the hurdle. If the position of the pupil before the horse takes off +is carefully looked to, there will be little derangement of seat.</p> + +<p>This lesson should be repeated until it is executed with precision. At +the same time, two or three jumps of this sort are quite sufficient in +one day, because, if repeated too often, the horse, missing the support +of the hand, is apt to blunder. When the lady can ride over her fence in +the above-named form, she should take up and arrange her reins, so that, +while that of the snaffle is not in the horse's way, she feels him on +the curb only. She should give him fair length of rein, draw her left +hand back to her waist, and place the right hand lightly on the left, +just in front of the knuckles; but the reins should be held military +fashion—the little finger between them, the leather over the middle +joint of the forefinger, the thumb closed firmly on it, the little +finger well turned up towards the waist. The horse must be ridden at a +smart walk, well up against the curb, until he is close enough to the +hurdle to jump. The whip must again be used, and the instructor's word +again sharply given, when the pupil should yield both hands freely, +turning the little fingers downwards, and slipping the elbows forward. +Great firmness and steadiness of seat are necessary to do this lesson +well, and considerable practice is necessary to insure complete unity of +action in the body and hands, the former being yielded quickly as the +latter is actively thrown back. To assist the pupil in her first +attempts at this portion of the leaping lesson, the curb chain should be +slackened as much as possible, and it should be one that is broad and +well padded.</p> + +<p>As the lady acquires the requisite lightness of manipulation and +additional firmness in the saddle, the curb (link by link) may be +tightened until it is in its proper place, namely, so that it admits of +the play of one finger only between it and the jaw of the horse. But the +greatest care on the part of the instructor is necessary in watching how +both horse and rider behave before this can be accomplished.</p> + +<p>The lesson is called technically "jumping from the hand," and once +thoroughly acquired, the pupil has little to learn, as regards indoor +work, in the way of riding over her fences. She may in that respect be +considered fit to take her place any time at the covert side, and hold +her own, under proper pilotage, with hounds, where of course she will +use snaffle and curb reins equally, or according to the temper and +breaking of her mount.</p> + +<p>During the leaping lessons, and in fact throughout the whole course of +equitation up to this point, the pupil should be put upon as many +different horses as possible consistent with her progress, care always +being taken that she is thoroughly master of one before she is put upon +another. The action of horses varies so much in degree, no matter how +much from similarity of breed and form it may assimilate in kind, that +to attain anything like proficiency the rider's mount requires frequent +changing; otherwise, when put upon a strange horse, she would find +herself sorely at a loss.</p> + +<p>With the exception of one practice, which in some degree resembles the +leaping lesson, we may now safely dismiss our fair pupil from technical +indoor instruction, except in the way of an occasional refresher, +whenever those about her discover any inclination to lapse into a +careless form of riding. This both men and women are so apt to do +(imperceptibly to themselves), that an occasional sharp drilling does no +harm to the most practised rider of either sex.</p> + +<p>The final instruction to be given in the school is called the "Plunging +Lesson," and maybe briefly described as follows, premising that although +it is the bounden duty of every man who has anything to do with a lady's +riding to avoid by every means allowing her to be put on a restive +horse, yet it is always possible that, from some unavoidable cause, a +lady (especially in the colonies) may some day find herself on a +bad-mannered animal that will "set to" with her. In order, therefore, +that in such an undesirable case she may not be at a loss, it is well +that when thoroughly practised in leaping, she should be put upon a +horse that will kick smartly whenever he is called upon by the master. +Such a horse is useful for the above purpose, and is generally to be +found in most riding establishments. The trick is easily enough taught, +and requires no description. Neither is it at all incompatible with +general good manners.</p> + +<p>The first thing, then, as regards the pupil, is to impress upon her that +whenever a horse "sets to" kicking with her, that her tactics should +consist first in keeping his head up, and, secondly, in finding him +something else to do than kick.</p> + +<p>A horse cannot have his head and his tail up at the same time, +therefore, when he kicks, his first effort is to get his head down. This +should be immediately counteracted by the rider sitting well back, +keeping her hands up as high as her elbows, feeling the horse firmly on +the curb reins as well as the snaffle held in one hand, while she +applies the whip vigorously across his neck. This will have the effect +of causing him to keep his head up and go to the front. The same firm +treatment will be successful in most cases where a horse attempts to +plunge. But in the latter case the hand must be yielded if there is any +attempt to rear, and if the last-named dangerous vice is carried to any +length, the rider should not hesitate to take fast hold of the mane, or +put her hand in front of the horse's neck. Both rearing or plunging, +however, may be effectually prevented by the use of the circular bit and +martingale, described under the heading "Rearing Horses and Runaway +Dogs" in the <i>Field</i> of Nov. 11, 1871. In my humble opinion, every lady +going to India and the colonies should have one or two such bits among +her outfit of saddlery, and if properly fitted in the horse's mouth, all +risk of rearing or even violent flirting is done away with. Such tackle, +however, does not prevent a horse from <i>kicking</i>, and although no lady +should ever attempt to ride one that is possessed habitually of this +vice, a sudden accession of kicking may arise in an otherwise +good-meaning horse from some ill-fitting of the saddle, or similar +casualty, causing tender back or otherwise upsetting him. Of course, no +punishment should be resorted to in these cases; but it is as well for a +lady to be able to keep her seat in such an emergency, and this she will +easily do if she keeps the horse's head up, and her leg well pressed +against the third crutch.</p> + +<p>On Brighton Downs, some years ago, I saw a young lady thoroughly master +a kicking horse in the manner above described, accompanied, however, +with a considerable amount of punishment, most resolutely applied with a +formidable whalebone whip. No second glance was necessary to perceive +that in this case the lady was well aware of the horse's propensity, and +had come out for the purpose of thoroughly taking it out of him, which +certainly she did effectually, and as he was a vicious-looking weedy +thoroughbred, "it served him right."</p> + +<p>But I must again enter my protest against ladies running such risks, +however accomplished they may be as horsewomen. Let them accept the +respectful advice of a veteran, and avoid vicious horses. Brutes that +run back, plunge, rear, or kick from sheer vice (and there are many that +do) are fit only for the riding of the rougher sex, and only of such of +them as have the ill fortune to be compelled to get their living by +riding. The so-called plunging lessons above alluded to, however, will +give a lady a thorough insight into the form in which to ride in case of +emergency.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Hunting Field.</span></h3> + + +<p>We enter now upon a new and important phase of our pupil's education in +the saddle. Before doing so, however, I feel bound to observe that from +time to time a vast amount of "twaddle" is ventilated on the question of +the propriety of ladies riding with hounds. All sorts of absurd +objections have been brought forward against the practice; as, for +instance, that hunting as regards ladies is a mere excuse for display +and flirtation, and that it is both unfeminine and dangerous. I believe +that these objections, made by people who never knew the glorious +exhilaration of hunting, may be very briefly disposed of. I reside where +the very cream of the midland hunting is carried on, and I perceive that +year after year the number of ladies of high rank and social position +who grace the field with their presence is on the increase; while to the +best of my belief no female equestrians <i>who are not ladies</i> have been +seen with hounds in Leicestershire or its vicinity for some years. So +much for the stamp of woman that hunts nowadays.</p> + +<p>As regards flirtation and display, I am at a loss to understand why +anti-foxhunting cynics should have selected the covert side, or the road +to it, for their diatribes; for there <i>can</i> be no time for flirting when +hounds are once away. It must be manifest to every man who has the most +remote notion of what manner of people our aristocracy and gentry are, +that they will only know at the covert side precisely the same stamp of +person they meet elsewhere in society. In that society there are dinner +parties, flower shows, balls, the opera, all affording equal or better +opportunities for flirtation than the hunting field. As to hunting being +unfeminine, it is difficult, I submit, to pronounce it any more so than +riding in Rotten-row. And finally, as regards danger, I propose to show +how it can be rendered all but impossible if due care and forethought +are exercised by the male friends or relatives of the hunting lady. Let +us now, therefore, having traced out the course of instruction in the +riding school, on the road, and in the park, consider how safety is best +ensured to the beginner.</p> + +<p>As regards the stamp of horse the fair <i>débutante</i> of the chase should +ride, I have already endeavoured to give my idea. I have only to add +that he should be very fit for his work, the pink of condition, without +being above himself; and, finally, that no temptation as to fine action +or clever fencing should ever induce a lady to ride a hunter that has a +particle of vice about him. With the best of piloting it is impossible +always to keep her out of a crowd, where she is in a woeful dilemma if +mounted on a horse that kicks at others. I have seen this more than +once, and have heard expressions from the suffering riders that must +have been far from pleasing to refined feminine ears. I must, however, +record a special instance of politeness under difficulties which I +witnessed during the past season. Hounds were running with a breast-high +scent, the pace very fast, when the leading division had their extended +front diminished to single file by a big bullfincher, practicable only +in one place. Among those waiting their turn to jump was a lady who +always rides very forward. She was mounted on a rare-shaped, blood-like +animal, that looked all over like seeing the end of a long day, but +exhibited considerable impatience at the check. In some cases, as all +hunting people know, the difficulty is always increased to those who are +compelled to wait by a ruck of riders crowding up from the rear. The +case I allude to was no exception to this rule, and among others came a +welter middle-aged gentleman, riding a horse quite up to his weight—a +grand hunting looking animal, that appeared intent upon clearing every +obstacle in his path, not excepting the impatient ones who were doing +the gap in Indian file. The veteran, however, who was a capital +horseman, managed to pull up his too-eager steed just in rear of the +lady's horse, and was forthwith accommodated with a most vicious kick +with his near hind leg. Fortunately, the distance was too great to +admit of the stout gentleman receiving the full benefit of the intended +favour, which nevertheless made his boot-top rattle, and materially +altered the genial expression of his rubicund visage. Turning gracefully +in her saddle, the fair votary of the chase expressed her deep regret at +the bad behaviour of her horse. "I am very sorry—awfully sorry; I hope +you are not hurt," she said, in a tone which ought to have consoled any +middle-aged sportsman for a broken shin. "I never knew him to do it +before," continued the lady. "Pray don't say a word, Miss," replied the +old gentleman, taking off his hat with a genuine thoroughbred air; +"don't say a word; they are only dangerous when they do it behind." +Whether they do it "behind" or "before," kick in a crowd at other +horses, or hit at hounds with their fore feet (as some thoroughbreds +will do when excited), they are equally disqualified for ladies' +hunters, however gaily they may sail over the turf or clear the +obstacles in their way.</p> + +<p>To proceed with our lessons. Before venturing to take our aspirant for +the honours of the chase to a regular meet of foxhounds—where she is +apt to become excited, and possibly unnerved by the imposing array of +"pink," gallant horsemen, and aristocratic ladies riding steeds of +fabulous price, dashing equipages, and thrusting foot people, always +ready to embarrass a beginner—it is best to seek out a quiet line +nearly all arable land, where the fences will be small, where there are +few ditches to be met with, and where the going on the stubble or fallow +will be good enough when the crops are off the ground. The pupil should +wear a "hunting skirt" properly so called—that is, one not too +redundant, made of strong cloth, and booted with leather about eight or +ten inches wide round the bottom. This is a very necessary precaution, +because it prevents the skirt from hanging up in the fences and getting +torn. Hunting boots also should be worn, back-strapped, tongued in at +the foot, and reaching nearly to the knee, the upper part made of thick +but very flexible leather—buckskin is the best. It is soft, and at the +same time thick enough to save the leg from a blow from a strong binder, +which occasionally hits very hard in its rebound, having been previously +bent forward by somebody who has just jumped the fence.</p> + +<p>A "Latchford" spur of the sort before described is also requisite, and +the question of the arrangement of skirt necessary to enable the rider +to use the spur effectively has caused considerable diversity of opinion +among <i>cognoscenti</i> on hunting matters. Some ladies have an opening made +in the skirt, through which the shank of the spur passes; and in order +to keep the latter in its place, it is usual to have a couple of strings +strongly stitched on to the inside of the skirt. These are tied round +the ankle, and prevent the skirt to a great extent from getting foul of +the spur. But this method decidedly involves a certain amount of risk, +because, in case of the horse making a blunder and falling, the lady has +not the free use of her leg. Again, there is a method of letting the +spur shank through a small opening similar to a large eyelet hole, made +of strong elastic, and let into the skirt, the point of insertion having +been previously measured when the rider is in the saddle and her left +leg and foot are properly placed as regards the third crutch and +stirrup. But a still better way is that which I have seen adopted lately +by several ladies who go very straight with hounds. It is as follows. +After the skirt has been carefully measured and <i>marked</i> (the lady up), +an opening is made perpendicularly, large enough to admit of the lady's +foot passing through it. This opening should be made about six or eight +inches above the place where the ankle will touch the skirt, when the +left leg is fairly stretched down, the knee bent, and the heel sunk. +When the instructor has assisted his pupil into the saddle, he should +put her foot in the stirrup, and wait until she has carefully arranged +her habit; he should then take her foot out again, and the lady should +lift it high enough to enable her attendant to pass it <i>through the +opening</i>. The foot can then be replaced in the stirrup, and the spur +buckled on. The upper leather (by the way) should be broad and slightly +padded. By these means the left foot and the leg from six to eight +inches above the ankle will be entirely clear of the skirt, which will +give the rider perfect freedom of action, while the opening is not +sufficiently wide to admit of the skirt being blown clear of the leg. +This, moreover, is prevented by the leather booting; in fact, in a +well-made hunting skirt there should be no slack cloth for the winds to +play with at all.</p> + +<p>The kind of whip to be used is the crop (without the thong) of a hunting +whip; a Malacca crop is the best for a lady, because the lightest. It +should have a good crook to it, well roughened on the outside, and be +furnished, moreover, with a roughened nail head, in order to prevent the +crop slipping when the rider attempts to open a gate. Gauntlet gloves +with strong leather tops are best, because they prevent the possibility +of the rider's hands being scratched or injured in jumping a ragged +fence; but if the lady dislikes gauntlets, the sleeve of the jacket +should be made to fasten with three buttons close to the wrist, because +the sleeves now so much in fashion, being very wide at the wrist, are +apt in taking a fence to catch and get torn, in addition to the risk of +the rider being pulled off her horse. These casualties, which of course +cannot occur with the clean-made jump taken in the riding school, are +likely enough to happen in the field, and should be carefully guarded +against.</p> + +<p>As regards the shape and make of the jacket I have already said so much, +that I must leave it to the taste and figure of the rider, always +assuming that while she allows herself plenty of freedom of movement, +she does not wear anything too loose, or any <i>steel</i> supports about her, +as for hunting these are highly dangerous.</p> + +<p>As regards headgear, the same style of thing that sufficed for the +riding school may not be considered sufficiently effective for the +hunting field; and, without venturing upon ground so delicate as an +opinion or even knowledge of ladies' "coiffure," I may say that at +Melton and other fashionable hunting centres there has for some time +existed an artful combination between the ladies' hat makers and the +hairdressers, by means of which that very elegant affair the "Melton +hat" is deftly fitted with an arrangement of hair behind which is +immovable, no matter where the wearer jumps in hunting. The +hairdresser's services are first called into requisition; possibly he +imparts the "arcana" of his craft to the lady's maid; but one or other +succeeds in making such an arrangement of the hair as renders it at once +secure in riding and becoming to the style of the lady herself. The hat +with the hair attached behind is then placed on the head, and secured by +an invisible elastic band. Should any of my readers desire information +on these matters, so important to a lady's comfort in the hunting +field, I can furnish them with the names of the people in Melton and +elsewhere who can give them every detail.</p> + +<p>Having our pupil accoutred as before described, and taken her to a quiet +farm, the instructor should pick out a line, start at a walk in front of +his charge, pop his horse quietly over the fences, and see that his +pupil does them with equal coolness and without rush or hurry. When she +can do this well, the pace should be increased to a steady canter; and +the master riding beside her should be careful that she <i>steadies</i> her +horse three or four lengths before he takes off, always riding him well +into the bridle.</p> + +<p>This kind of practice should be continued for some days, until the pupil +is quite at home at her work, and the master should then proceed to +instruct her as to the mode in which to make her horse "crawl" through +gaps and crooked, cramped places, and do "on and off" jumps and doubles. +The animal best adapted for this sort of practice is one that is +<i>clever</i> rather than <i>fast</i>. An Irish horse, out of a ditch and bank +country, is preferable. But the instructor should take special care, by +first doing these "on and off" jumps himself, to ascertain that the +banks are sound; otherwise there is danger of just the worst kind of +fall a woman can have. We have lately had a lamentable instance of this +in the case of a noble lady, one of the most brilliant horsewomen in +England.</p> + +<p>For my own part, I am entirely against a lady jumping her horse in the +field at any place where there can be the slightest doubt as to good +foothold, unless she is preceded by a man to pilot her. If the latter +gets down, he can always (assuming him to be a good workman) get clear +of his steed, whereas at these rotten places a lady and her horse are +likely to fall "all of a heap," and injury greater or less is a +certainty to the rider.</p> + +<p>Not long since I saw a little girl, about ten years old, riding with +hounds on a mite of a pony which was as clever as a monkey. The little +heroine took a line of her own (no doubt she knew the country well), and +kept her place among the foremost for some time; presently she +disappeared, and we found her impounded, pony and all, up to the back of +the latter in a piece of rotten ground which had let them in like a +"jack in the box." Neither the pony nor his plucky little rider were +hurt, but (as they say in Ireland) that was more by good luck than good +guiding.</p> + +<p>I maintain that children at that age should never be left in the hunting +field to their own devices, however well they may ride, and that, either +in their case or that of young ladies of riper age, they should never be +allowed to go with hounds, unless accompanied by a man who is not only a +thorough horseman and judge of hunting, but is also well acquainted with +the country he is riding over, and accustomed to pilot ladies.</p> + +<p>After the pupil has learned to make her horse "creep" in the manner +above described—to insure success in which, however, the closest +watching is necessary on the part of the instructor, and directions +requisite in each individual case, utterly impossible in written general +instructions—she should be carefully taught to open gates for herself, +because it is nearly sure hereafter to occur that she may have to ride +at a pinch in a country place where her route lies through a line of +bridle gates, and the attendance of a man to open them for her may not +be available. Nothing is easier than for a lady to open a well-hung and +well-latched gate, the hinges of which are on the off side. Bridle gates +occur most frequently in great grazing countries, such as +Leicestershire, Warwickshire, or Northamptonshire, by reason of the +necessity of confining cattle within certain limits. The gates are +generally heavy, well poised on their hinges, and opening either with +wooden latching or iron spring ones, easily reached at the top.</p> + +<p>If the gate is hung on the off side, all the lady has to do is to ride +her horse with his head in an oblique direction between the gatepost and +the gate, so that when she has the latter open she can continue moving +on in the same slanting direction. She should first press the end of her +crop down upon the latch, if it is a wooden one, keeping herself +perfectly upright in the saddle, and steadily seated in it. Directly the +latch lifts she should press firmly against it with the rough crook, +push the gate open, and press her horse onwards in the same oblique +direction, by which the animal's croup clears the gate sooner, and all +risk of its closing on him is avoided. If there is a long iron spring +latch to the gate, it must first be pulled open with the crop, so that +the latch rests against the hasp, and a steady purchase must then be +taken against the upper bar with the crop, and the gate thus quietly +pushed forward: this if it opens <i>from</i> the rider. If the reverse, the +horse's head should be kept perfectly square close to the gate post, +until the latch is lifted and rested on the hasp. The gate should then +be <i>pulled</i> open, and the horse's head inclined just the reverse way to +that adopted when the gate opens <i>from</i> the rider. But in no case should +she <i>lean</i> forward, or put herself out of her balance, in order to get +hold of the latch or the gate itself, and she should be particularly +careful that the reins do not catch against the long iron hasps so +common to the gates I speak of.</p> + +<p>Only last year, I met a lady who rides a good deal unattended, and, +seeing her about to open a gate I knew to be rather an awkward one, I +trotted on to assist her; but (possibly desiring to show me that she +could do it unassisted) she leant forward to give the gate <i>a lift</i>, and +in doing so she dropped the reins upon her horse's neck, when the animal +immediately hooked the headstall of a single curb bridle upon a long +iron hasp, and, finding himself fast to it, drew back suddenly and broke +the headstall, the bit fell out of his mouth, and the lady (utterly +helpless) had no alternative but to slip off as quickly as possible. +Fortunately, the animal was a very quiet one, or the consequences might +have been serious; as it was, we managed to change bridles, and, having +spliced the broken one, went on our separate ways. But, I repeat, one +cannot be too careful or methodical in opening gates. When one opens +from the <i>near</i> side, the reins must be passed into the right hand, the +crop into the left, and the greatest care taken, if the gate opens <i>to</i> +the rider, to <i>push it</i> well back behind the horse's quarters before she +moves on, riding with her horse's head <i>towards the hinges</i>. When a +near-side hung gate opens <i>from</i> the rider, there is less difficulty, it +being only necessary after lifting the latch to push against the gate +with the crop, sitting quite upright, and giving swing enough to the +gate to enable the rider to get clear of it. But in either case, to or +from, with a gate hung on the near side the latch should first be +lifted, by using the crop in the <i>right hand</i>, resting the latch if +possible against the hasp, and then changing hands with the crop and +reins as before mentioned. If this is not done, and the rider attempts +to lift the latch with her left hand, she must change the direction of +her horse's head when the gate is open, at the great risk of bringing it +on his quarters.</p> + +<p>These directions, like others I have ventured upon, may appear too +minute; but it should be remembered that, whereas, carefully followed +out, a lady on a steady horse accustomed to gates can open them with +safety, any carelessness may result in a bad accident, because the +steadiest horse, if "hung up" in a gate, will become furious if he +cannot instantly get clear of it. When, therefore, the pupil is well +practiced at this sort of work, and has learned to feel her way in +cramped places as well as to do her fences at a steady canter, a fair +half-speed gallop may be ventured on, the pupil setting her horse going, +and pressing him if necessary with the spur, to take his fences in his +stride, the spur being used, however, some distance from the fence. The +master should ride beside his pupil in this lesson, carefully watching +the pace of the horse and the action of the rider. A nice easy line of +about a couple of miles should be taken, and the pace maintained +throughout. A month of this kind of practice will form a capital +introductory step to hunting: and when, in the mild misty mornings of +russet-brown October, foxhounds begin to beat up the quarters of the +vulpine juveniles, abjuring her "beauty sleep," the lady may with +advantage, before the "early village cock proclaims the dawn," don her +hunting habiliments, and, under the careful tutelage of her "pilot," +trot off to covert and see the "beauties" knock the cubs about.</p> + +<p>This is by far the best way to begin hunting in reality. There are very +few people about at that early hour, and those only who are thorough +enthusiasts about the sport; consequently there is more time for the new +votary of Diana to get accustomed to the alteration in her horse's form +of demeaning himself. For be it known to the uninitiated that even an +old horse, that requires kicking and hammering along a road when ridden +alone, is quite a different animal and mover the instant he sees the +hounds, and will show an amount of vivacity perhaps very little expected +by his rider; while a well-bred young one requires a great deal of +riding on such occasions.</p> + +<p>The short bursts sometimes obtained in "cub hunting" are capital +practice for a lady; while occasionally a veteran fox, some wily old +purloiner of poultry, affords a good twenty or five-and-twenty minutes, +even when the fences are blind. I recommend our pilot, however, to keep +his charge out of these latter matters, for blind jumping is always bad +for a lady.</p> + +<p>As regards taking a beginner out with harriers, I am against it. It is +very well for invalids or corpulent gentlemen who are "doing a +constitutional;" but it teaches a young lady nothing of what is really +meant by hunting—which, however, she is in a first-rate position to +learn with the cubs.</p> + +<p>Staghunting with a deer turned out from a cart and caught with a +whipthong, is equally inefficacious, because the hunting as a rule only +commences when the run is over. Moreover, there is always a crowd of +people who come out for riding only, and care nothing about hunting, and +these are the most likely to get into a lady's way, and bring her to +grief.</p> + +<p>The same may be said of drag hunting, which I hold to be no place for a +lady, any more than steeplechasing.</p> + +<p>Let us then, legitimately to inaugurate our pupil into the usages and +forms of hunting proper, stick to cub hunting until November opens the +fences and gives her a chance to prove the value of her previous +instruction.</p> + +<p>Before closing this article, I cannot refrain from citing an instance of +the great value of a lady learning to cross the country well, +irrespective of the sport of foxhunting and its health-giving and +exhilarating effects. Within ten miles of where I write this resides a +lady, young, wealthy, and beautiful, who, although not a religious +<i>recluse</i>, is as thorough and sincere a devotee of religion as any +cloistered nun. Her whole time is spent in acts of charity, and +ministering to the spiritual and bodily welfare of the poor for miles +round her residence. No weather is too inclement, no night too dark, to +stop her on her errands of mercy and charity. If summoned even at the +dead of night to attend the bedside of a sick or dying person, as +frequently happens, she will dress herself quickly in rough habiliments +suitable to it—maybe in tempestuous weather—saddle and bridle a horse +herself if her people are not quick enough for her, and, provided with +cordials, a prayer book, and a long hunting crop, she will gallop off +the nearest way to her destination, taking the fences, if they lie in +the road, as they come; and one bright moonlight night I saw her do two +or three places that would stop half the men that ride to hounds +hereabouts. This lady, who may fairly and without exaggeration be called +the "ministering angel" of the district, does not, it is true, hunt now; +but it was in riding to hounds that she acquired her wonderful facility +of getting over the country.</p> + +<p>The above is no sensational story. The lady, her brilliant riding, her +true religion, and her charities, are well known, and can be vouched for +by hundreds of people in this part of the world. Who shall say after +this that hunting is unfeminine?</p> + +<p>I have a word more to add, according to promise, as regards the fitting +of the circular bit.</p> + +<p>This bit, which can always be procured at Messrs. Davis's, saddler, 14, +Strand, is fitted in the horse's mouth above the mouthpiece of a snaffle +or Pelham bridle. It has a separate headstall, and is put on before the +ordinary bridle. It requires no reins, is secured by a standing +martingale to a breastplate, and is a certain remedy for horses flirting +or rearing when too <i>fresh</i> (which, however, I repeat, for a lady's +riding should never be allowed).</p> + +<p>The strap between the breastplate and the ring bit should be just long +enough to enable the horse to move freely forward, without liberty +enough to admit of his rearing.</p> + +<p>In the next chapter I will endeavour to describe what regular hunting +for a lady means; point out the readiest way of getting to our most +fashionable packs of hounds; and how ladies residing even in the +metropolis may enjoy a day or two of good sport on this fine grass +country at the least necessary expense, may witness and enjoy hunting in +its perfection, and, if requisite, may breakfast in Mayfair or +Belgravia, have a glorious gallop over the Midland pastures, and return +to a late dinner. Of course I am aware that neither of the above-named +localities is likely to hold many hunting ladies in November. But the +fashionable quarters of London are not deserted in February, and spring +hunting is perhaps after all the most enjoyable.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Hunting Field</span> (<i>continued</i>).</h3> + + +<p>Among the many advantages afforded by the "iron road" to lovers of +hunting there is none more appreciable than the facility it affords to +those who reside in a non-foxhunting country of getting to hounds with +ease and rapidity.</p> + +<p>Without any greater inconvenience than the necessity of early rising, a +lady who lives in Tyburnia or Belgravia may easily enjoy a day's hunting +in Warwickshire or Leicestershire, and be in her own home again in +reasonable time in the evening.</p> + +<p>During the early spring hunting of the present year, several ladies came +to Market Harborough and Melton on these sporting expeditions, and +returned the same day thoroughly satisfied.</p> + +<p>One party, consisting of three ladies and as many gentlemen, seemed to +me to have been admirably organised, and to be quite a success +throughout.</p> + +<p>They left Saint Pancras at eight o'clock in the morning, in a saloon +carriage, arrived at Melton at half-past ten, and were at the meet at +eleven, with military punctuality. They enjoyed a capital day with the +Quorn hounds, left Melton at half-past six, after riding a considerable +distance back, and arrived in town at nine o'clock.</p> + +<p>A novel and agreeable feature in the arrangement was that the party +dined in their luxurious carriage while being whirled back to the +metropolis, a first-class dinner and the best of wines having been +furnished from the hotel, and served in admirable form. After the +journey and the sport one of the ladies (I was told) held a numerously +attended and fashionable reception at her own house the same evening; +and with a brougham in waiting at St. Pancras, and a pair of fast +horses, joined to the wonderful "smartness" (if I may be permitted the +expression) displayed by the fair and aristocratic votary of Diana in +the field, I should think the thing quite possible as regarded time.</p> + +<p>The above-named party was mounted at Melton by some friends; but, by +giving fair notice, thoroughly good and well-made hunters can always be +secured by any of the Midland hunting centres by those who do not care +to rail their own horses from London. Market Harborough is still more +accessible than Melton, being but two hours from London, and situated in +the centre of a splendid grass country, hunted by Mr. Tailby; while a +smart trot of eight miles would bring the sporting <i>voyageur</i> to +Kilworth Sticks and the Pytchley, provided the right day was selected. +Rugby, too, is equally accessible, and boasts a fair hotel, where the +charges are not more extortionate than they are at Harborough, which is +saying a good deal. The hunting in the vicinity of Rugby, however, amply +compensates for a little overdoing in the matter of charges.</p> + +<p>It is scarcely possible to go to Rugby the wrong day to get at hounds +within a reasonable distance, and some of the meets of that admirable +pack, the North Warwickshire, are frequently at such picturesque and +convenient trysting places as Bilton Grange—now celebrated by the +Tichborne trial, and sworn to as the place where the "Claimant" was not. +However this may be, a straight-necked and wily gentleman is generally +to be found at home, either in the plantations of the grand old demesne +or close by at Bunker's Hill or Cawston Spinney, who is tolerably +certain to lead the claimants for his brush a merry dance across the +glorious grass country to Barby, Shuckborough, or Ashby St. Leger. The +fences, too, in this part of the Midlands are just the thing for a +lady's hunting, and, while quite big enough in most cases to require a +little doing, they are by no means so formidable as those in High +Leicestershire and the Quorn country. The old-fashioned bullfincher is +rare, and double ox fences equally so, while there is a pretty variety +of nice stake-and-binders, pleached hedges, and fair-water jumping, +with an occasional flight of rails, big enough to prove that the fair +equestrian's hunter can do a bit of timber clean and clever. In fact, I +know no country I would as soon select for a young lady to commence +regular hunting in as that in the vicinity of Rugby. Combe Abbey, +Misterton, and Coton House are all sweetly English, as well as +thoroughly sporting places of meeting, and the truly enjoyable trot or +canter over the springy turf, which everywhere abounds by the roadside +in these localities, and makes the way to covert so pleasant, has more +than once been pronounced by hunting critics to be more desirable than +hunting itself in parts of England where the road is all "Macadam," and +the land plough, copiously furnished with big flint stones, such as one +sees in Hampshire. <i>Apropos</i> of which charming country there is a +sporting tale prevalent in this real home of the hunter.</p> + +<p>A rich, middle-aged, single gentleman, a thorough enthusiast about +foxhunting, had a nephew, a very straight-going youngster, who the +"prophetic soul" of his uncle had decided should one day be <i>the</i> man of +the country in the hunting field, and second to none over our biggest +country; and, to enable "Hopeful" to lead the van, the veteran mounted +him on horses purchased regardless of expense. Furthermore, determined +that no casualty in the way of breaking his own neck should suddenly +deprive his favourite nephew of the golden sinews of the chase, the old +Nimrod made a very proper will, leaving all his large property to his +fortunate young relative.</p> + +<p>Things, indeed, looked rosy enough for our young sportsman. Youth, +health, wealth, a capital seat, and fine hands upon his horse, any +quantity of pluck, a thorough knowledge of hunting, and plenty of the +best horses to carry him—who could desire more? Alas that it should be +so! even the brightest sunshine may become overcast—the fairest +prospect be marred—by causes never dreamt of by the keenest and most +far seeing among us.</p> + +<p>At the termination of a capital season in the Midland, our youngster, +not content to let well alone, and, like that greedy boy Oliver still +"asking for more," unknown to his worthy uncle, betook himself to the +New Forest in Hampshire.</p> + +<p>"Hopeful" was a sharp fellow enough, and he did not believe that all was +gold that glittered; but he was under a very decided impression that +wherever there was a good open stretch of green level turf it was safe +to set a horse going. Alas! the luckless young sportsman was not aware +that in the New Forest this is by no means a certainty, and one day, +when riding to some staghounds, determined to "wipe the eye" of the +field, he jumped a big place which nobody else seemed to care for, and, +taking his horse by the head, set him sailing along the nearest way to +the hounds. A lovely piece of emerald-green turf was before him; he +clapped his hat firmly on, put down his hands, and, regardless of wild +cries in his rear, made the pace strong. Suddenly and awfully as the +Master of Ravenswood vanished from the sight of the distracted Caleb +Balderstone and was swallowed up in the Kelpie's Flow, so disappeared +"Hopeful" and his proud steed; both were engulfed in a treacherous bog, +and, before either horse or man could be extricated, "the pride of the +Shires" was smothered in mud beneath his horse.</p> + +<p>Next season, at a "coffee-housing" by a spinney side, where hounds were +at work, an old friend of the bereft uncle ventured to condole with him +on his loss.</p> + +<p>"Sad business," he said, shaking his old hunting chum warmly by the +hand; "sad business that about poor Charlie down in Hampshire!"</p> + +<p>"Sad, indeed," replied the veteran uncle, returning the friendly +squeeze. "Who would have thought my sister's son would have ever done +such a thing? Staghunting was bad enough," he continued, as the +irrepressible tear coursed down his furrowed cheek; "staghunting was bad +enough, but to go at it in Hampshire—I shall never get over it. As to +his being smothered, of course that served him perfectly right."</p> + +<p>Turning, however, from the above melancholy instance of degeneracy in +sport to the pleasanter theme of the right locale in which a lady should +commence foxhunting, I must not forget Leamington, the neighbourhood of +which beautiful and fashionable watering place affords some capital +sport to those who delight in "woodland hunting." The woods at +Princethorpe, Frankton, and the vicinity, hold some stout foxes that +afford many a nice gallop, while the country is rideable enough for a +lady if she keeps out of the woods.</p> + +<p>Leamington, too, has first-rate accommodation for hunting people. There +are, indeed, no better hotels to be met with anywhere than the "Regent" +or the "Clarendon," or more moderate charges for first-class houses; +while the "Crown" and the "Bath" afford capital quarters for gentlemen, +and ample provision for doing their horses well.</p> + +<p>The charming Spa, moreover, is at an easy distance from Rugby, and by +railing a horse to the latter place, ready access can be had to hunting +in the open country, six days in the week.</p> + +<p>My advice, then, to young ladies, who desire to witness foxhunting in +perfection, is to select one of the above-named localities, and to put +herself at once under the guardianship in the field of a thoroughly good +pilot who knows the country.</p> + +<p>Words of advice to the latter are superfluous. All the men who undertake +the responsible office of guiding a lady after hounds hereabouts are +quite at home at their business, and it may be satisfactory to my fair +readers to know, that, although there are a great number of ladies +riding regularly with hounds in the North Warwickshire, Pytchley, and +Atherstone country, no accident attended with injury to a lady rider has +occurred within my recollection, which extends over a long series of +years.</p> + +<p>The initiation at cub hunting will have given our pupil confidence, and +accustomed her to the excitement shown more or less by every horse at +the sight of hounds; and careful attention to the rules of jumping +before laid down will insure safety if she adheres carefully to her +pilot's line. It is as well, however, that she should understand wherein +consists the reason for what her hunting guide does, and what should be +done and left undone, from the time of arrival at the meet until the +<i>retour de chasse</i>.</p> + +<p>In the first place, then, while her mentor will of course see to her +girths and horse appointments before a start is made to draw a covert, +the lady should carefully look to her own dress, head gear, &c., and be +certain that everything is in its place, and shows no signs of giving +way. But if anything chances to be out of order—if she has ridden to +the meet any considerable distance—it is best to dismount and repair +damages at once. As a rule, there are always houses available for this, +and nimble-fingered dames zealous in the service of any lady who desires +their assistance.</p> + +<p>When the fair votary of the chase travels to the meet on wheels, I +recommend her by all means the use of a warm overcoat, of which the +Ulster is very convenient, and was very much worn for the above purpose +last season. In proceeding from the meeting place to the covert a great +thing is to keep out of the crowd—no matter how well-behaved a horse +the rider may be on—because in a ruck there is always more or less +danger of her being kicked herself. The most likely position for a good +start will of course be selected by the pilot; but it should be +remembered that to be quiet while hounds are at work in covert is a +fixed law of the hunting code; to avoid heading a fox when he breaks +away, another vital point; and no exclamation of surprise or wonder +should be allowed to escape the lips, even if a fox (as I have seen +happen more than once) should run between the horses' legs. Foxes, +though it may be assumed that they all possess a large amount of craft +and cunning, differ as much in nerve and courage as other animals; and +while one will sometimes dash through a little brigade of mounted +people, the shout of a small boy on foot may turn him back; and while +Reynard, again, will frequently rush off close to a lady's horse and +take no notice of either him or his rider if both remain quiet, the +waving of a handkerchief, or even the slightest movement of the lady on +her steed, may cause Sir Pug to alter his mind, and thus a good thing +may be spoilt. For the foregoing reasons, therefore, to be perfectly +quiet and remain steady, if near a possible point at which a fox can +break away, is indispensable. When hounds are settling on his track +great care should be taken to avoid getting in their road, or in any way +interfering with them. After they have settled, the object should be to +<i>go well to the front and keep there</i>—first, because the greatest +enjoyment in hunting, viz., seeing the hounds work, is by that means +attained; and, secondly, whenever there is a check, a lady riding well +forward gets all the benefit of it for her horse, whereas those who lose +ground at the start, and have to follow on the line, keep pounding away +without giving their horses a chance of catching their wind—a very +material thing in a quick run.</p> + +<p>A check of a few minutes, affording a good horse time, has enabled many +a one to stay to the end of the longest run, when an equally good animal +has been "pumped" in the same thing for want of such a respite from his +exertions.</p> + +<p>Again, a great point to be observed is to maintain such a position as +will enable the rider to turn with the hounds at the right moment; +resolutely resisting any temptation in order to cut off ground, to turn +too soon, and risk spoiling sport by crossing their line.</p> + +<p>It should be remembered that it is quite as easy to jump the fences when +one is in the front rank, as it is when sculling along with the rear +guard, and much safer, because the ground always affords better foothold +and landing, when it has not been poached up by a number of people +jumping. This is especially the case after a frost, when the going is at +all greasy.</p> + +<p>Even in cases when hounds slip an entire field, and get the fun all to +themselves, still those who get away well at first will have all the +best of the "stern chase."</p> + +<p>If, fortunately, our fair tyro is well up when a fox is run into and +killed, she should carefully avoid getting too close to the hounds when +they are at their broken-up prey. There are always keen eyes about that +can discern on these occasions whether a lady has been riding straight +and well, and there will not be wanting some gallant cavalier to offer +her the tribute due to her "dash" and good workmanship, in the shape of +that coveted trophy of the chase, the brush. There may, however, be more +than one lady up on these occasions (I have seen several after very good +things), and, as a rule, the brush is most likely to be offered to the +lady of the highest rank. These trophies, therefore, are scarcely to be +counted upon as a reward for even the best and straightest riding—the +less so as of late years it has been observed that in most cases a very +stout and straight-necked fox succeeds in eluding his pursuers, and +"lives to fight another day."</p> + +<p>In beginning regular hunting, one good run in a day for a lady should +suffice for some little time. In November the days are very short, and +often enough a fox started after three o'clock will be running strong +when darkness comes on. For a lady, and a beginner especially, it is +best to leave off and trot quietly home while there is yet daylight.</p> + +<p>As regards "get up" or equipment, I must add to my former suggestions +that a lady for the hunting field should be provided always with a +waterproof overcoat, which should be rolled up in as small a compass as +possible, and is better carried by her pilot or her second horseman (if +she has one out) than attached by straps to the off-side flap of her own +saddle; as, in addition to spoiling the symmetry of the saddle on that +side, I have seen instances of things so attached hanging up in ragged +fences, no matter how carefully they may have been put on.</p> + +<p>A sandwich case and flask are highly necessary also. Hunting is a +wonderful promoter of appetite, and it is not beneficial to a young +lady's health to go from early breakfast to late dinner time without +refreshment; while it is quite possible—nay, very probable in a grass +country—that she may be a long way from head-quarters when she leaves +the hounds, and in a part where refreshment for a lady cannot be had for +love or money.</p> + +<p>The Melton people have met this requirement very efficiently. Thus, into +a very flat, flexible flask, with a screw-cup top, they put a most +succulent liquid, composed of calves' foot jelly and sherry. This flask +is accompanied by a very neat little leather case, which contains half a +dozen nice biscuits, or, in some instances, a small pasty, composed of +meat. These cases, with the flask, are made to fit into the pocket of +the saddle on the off-side under the handkerchief, and the flap of the +pocket is secured by a strap and buckle.</p> + +<p>To roll a waterproof neatly, the following plan is the best: Lay the +garment down flat, opened out, on a table, the inside upwards; turn the +collar in first, then turn the sleeves over to the inside, laying them +flat; next turn in both sides of the coat from the collar downwards, +about eight or ten inches; then turn in the bottom of the garment about +the same distance, when it will form a pocket. One person should hold +this steady while another rolls the collar end very tightly up towards +the pocket; it will then fit into it so closely as to make a very small +and compact roll of the whole coat.</p> + +<p>I must not omit to say that, in addition to the first-rate hunting to be +had in the Midlands, there is some good sport with hounds obtainable +nearer the metropolis, namely, in the Vale of Aylesbury, with that noble +patron of sport, Baron Rothschild. But still I must award the palm to +Leicestershire, Warwickshire, and Northamptonshire as far away superior +to anything in the hunting way to be seen in any other part of England. +In whatever part, however, the fair lover of hunting seeks her sport, +she should bear in mind that when she is once away with hounds she +cannot be too particular as to riding her horse with the utmost care and +precision, and to avoid taking liberties with him by jumping big places +for the sake of display. It cannot be too strenuously impressed upon her +mentor that, as long as the true line to the hounds can be maintained, +the less jumping that is done, the longer the horse will last; that one +big jump takes as much out of him as galloping over three big fields; +and that he should be <i>ridden every inch of the way</i>, because when +hounds get off with a good scent it is impossible to say that they may +not keep on running for a couple of hours, in which case, if too much is +done with him at first, he will inevitably, to use a racing phrase, +"shut up."</p> + +<p>The light weight of most hunting ladies is a point in favour of the +horse; but it is more than counterbalanced by the absence of support +which a man who rides well can give with the right leg. It is the +absence of this support in the case of a lady's horse, however well +ridden, that causes him to tire sooner than he would if ridden by a +gentleman; and hence the necessity in selecting a horse to carry a woman +with hounds for having not only staying power, but two or three stone in +hand. Nevertheless, although unable to give to the animal as much help +as can be afforded by a gentleman, ladies can do much by the exercise of +that tact and judgment which is their peculiar gift.</p> + +<p>Every lady who hunts is sure to be more or less an enthusiast about +horses, and is always, according to my experience, ready to adopt any +suggestion which tends to their well doing. I therefore venture to point +one or two matters which I trust will be found useful.</p> + +<p>In the first place, when the hounds have settled to their fox and people +have shaken themselves into their places, the fair rider in her early +essays in the field should bestow her principal attention upon the +animal, upon which depends much of her sport. With a good man by her +side, she will run no risk from thrusting neighbours, and although she +cannot too soon begin to have "one eye for the hounds and another for +the horse," it is the latter which demands all her energies. The whole +business is exciting. The genuine dash, the vigour, the reality, that is +so striking to a novice when hounds come crashing out of covert, through +an old wattle, or bounding over a strong fence; the up-ending and +plunging of impatient young horses, the brilliant throng of fashionable +equestrians, the rattle of the turf under the horses' feet as they +stride away—all these, or any of them, are quite sufficient to warm up +even old blood, and are certain to send that of the young going at such +a pace that all rule and method in riding is very apt to be forgotten, +or thrust aside in the eager desire "to be first."</p> + +<p>It is just at this critical moment that I would advise my fair readers +to lay to heart the necessity of controlling their excitement, because +it is at such a time that a horse, especially at the beginning of the +season (if allowed), will "take out of himself" just what he will want +hereafter, assuming a stout fox that means business to be to the front. +A soothing word or two, and "making much" of the excited steed, will +generally cause him to settle in his stride and cease romping; whereas, +if the rider is excited as well as the horse, we have oil upon fire at +once. Again, it cannot be too forcibly impressed upon ladies riding with +hounds that the latter require <i>plenty of room to work</i>.</p> + +<p>"Place aux dames" is a rule rigidly observed by gentlemen in the hunting +field. Room for the hounds should form an equally inviolable law with +ladies in the same place. And it is the more necessary to impress this +upon beginners, because many a first-rate man who pilots ladies, +although bold as a lion over a country, and cautious to a degree as to +the line he takes for his fair <i>compagnon de chasse</i>, is oftentimes far +too modest to check her exuberant riding, and the consequence is, many +an anathema—not loud, but deep—is bestowed upon both by exasperated +masters and huntsmen.</p> + +<p>Unlike the professional riding master, a first-rate pilot—such, I mean, +as is paid for his services—though well behaved and respectful, is +likely enough to lack much education, except such as he has received in +the saddle or on practical farming matters; and his awe of a lady, +properly so called, is so considerable as to preclude his exercise of +the <i>fortiter in re</i> altogether, no matter how much his charge is +unwittingly infringing the rules of sport.</p> + +<p>I saw an amusing instance of this not long ago. A lady, the widow of a +wealthy civil servant in India, having returned to her native land laden +with the riches of the East, being still young and excessively fond of +riding, purchased a stud of first-class hunters, took a nice little +hunting box in Leicestershire for the season, and engaged the services +of a very good man to pilot her. As a rule every lady rides in +India—some of them ride very well; but a rattling gallop at gun fire, +in the morning, over the racecourse at Ghindee or Bangalore, is quite a +different matter to a gallop with the Pytchley hounds. The "Bebe sahib" +(great lady) had no idea, mounted as she was, of anybody or anything +(bar the fox) being in front of her. And be it known to those who have +never been in India that "great ladies" there are "bad to talk to," +being in the habit pretty much of paying very little attention to +anything in the way of counsel coming from their subordinates. Our +Indian widow was no exception. So she did all sorts of outrageous things +in the field in riding in among the hounds—and, indeed, before them—to +the disgust of the master and everybody else, including her pilot, who +in her case was certainly no mentor—but the latter was too well paid to +risk offending the peccant lady; he ventured a gentle hint or two, and, +being snubbed, gave it up for a bad job.</p> + +<p>He was so severely rated, however, by the masters of hounds in the +district—one of whom declared he would take them home directly he saw +the lady and her pilot with them—that the latter was fairly at his +wits' end to know how to keep the too dashing widow within bounds. +Sorely puzzled, he sat in his spacious chimney nook one night smoking +his pipe in moody silence, his wife knitting opposite him.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, John?" began his spouse. "Matter!" he replied; "it's +enough to drive a man mad; Mrs. Chutnee's going again to-morrow, and, as +sure as fate, she'll ride over the hounds or do something, and get one +into trouble."</p> + +<p>"What makes her go on so, John?" again inquired the <i>cara sposa</i>.—"Go +on! it is go on: I think that the name for it. Go on over everything! no +fence is too big for her. I like her for that, but she never knows when +to stop. Last week she knocked an old gentleman over, and he lost a +spick span new set of teeth as cost, I dare say, a matter of twenty +guineas; and the day before yesterday she lamed a hound as was worth a +lot of money, to say nothing of hurting the poor brute. I don't know +what to be at with her, and that's a fact, because, barring her going so +fast, she is the best-hearted lady ever I see."</p> + +<p>And John relapsed into silence, blowing mighty clouds of smoke, while +his wife plied her knitting-needles. But a woman's wit, in difficult +cases, is proverbial; and in the watches of the night a bright notion, +based upon knowledge of her own sex, flashed upon the anxious mind of +the snoring John's wife. The result was as follows. Next morning, true +to time, John was in attendance to accompany the fair widow to the +field. They had some distance to ride to covert, and after a smart spurt +of a mile or two on the sward, the lady pulled her horse up to walk up a +hill.</p> + +<p>"John," said the lady (who was in high spirits), "what do people here +think of my riding?"—"Well, some thinks one thing, and some thinks +another," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"That's no answer," observed the fair interlocutor; "what do they say? +that is the thing. I know one thing they can't say; none of them can say +they can stop me over any part of the country, no matter how big it is."</p> + +<p>Opportunity, says some wise man, is for him who waits. Now was John's +opportunity to avail himself of his clever little wife's bright idea.</p> + +<p>"Stop you, my lady! no, that's just what they do all say; and what's +more, they say you can't stop yourself—that you ain't got no hands, and +your horse takes you just where he pleases, if it's even right over the +hounds."</p> + +<p>The "Bebe sahib" was bitterly chagrined, for she prided herself justly +upon her capital hands upon a horse. She was silent for a few minutes, +and then she said, "I want you to tell me what to do, just to let these +people know, as you do, that I have hands."—"Then I will tell you, my +lady," said John, brightening up. "Just you do this: when the hounds get +away, you let me go first, and keep your horse about a hundred yards +behind me. I'll pick out a line big enough, I'll warrant, and that will +show them all about your seat and your jumping. Then about the hands; if +you please, whenever I pull up, you do the same. They say as you can't +stop your horse, you know."</p> + +<p>"Can't I?" said the little lady, "can't stop my horse when I like! I'll +let them see that. Can't stop! I should like to know what a woman can't +do if she makes up her mind to do it."</p> + +<p>John's wife was a capital judge; there was no more riding over hounds or +disarranging of elderly gentlemen's teeth. But the "Bebe sahib" has +taken me to the extremity of my space, and I must pull up, reserving +further observations and suggestions on the hunting field for my next +chapter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Hunting Field</span> (<i>continued</i>).</h3> + + +<p>On reading my previous observations on Fox-hunting, it may occur to many +ladies that in order to enjoy the sport, great nerve and physical power, +as well as a thorough knowledge of the principles of equitation and long +practice, are indispensable, and that in default of either of the above +qualifications they ought not to venture into the field. This, however, +would be an extreme view of the case. It is quite true that to go +straight to hounds and take the country and the fences as they come it +is necessary that a lady should be in vigorous health, as well as a +thoroughly accomplished horsewoman. But, grant the latter condition, +those of even more delicate constitutions, and consequently lacking the +nerve and strength to take a front-rank place and keep it, may still +participate to a great extent in all the enjoyable and healthy +excitement of the chase, if they follow it out in a grass country, and +put themselves under the guidance of a man who knows that country well.</p> + +<p>It cannot be too generally known to those who are not strong enough to +sail away with the hounds over big fence or yawning brook that one great +advantage as regards hunting afforded by a grass country is that a lady +who is attended by a man well up at the topography of the district can +generally find her way through easily opened bridle gates from point to +point, from whence, throughout the best part of even a long day, she can +witness and enjoy the sport, although she is not with the hounds; and +this without pounding on the macadam and shaking her horse's legs; for +all our Leicestershire roads are set, as it were, between borders of +green velvet in the hunting season. All that is necessary to a most +enjoyable day (if it is fine) is a horse that can get over the ground +in tiptop form—a good bred one that can gallop and stay. On such a +one, lots of grand hunting may be seen if it cannot be done by even a +timid lady who dare not essay jumping.</p> + +<p>Turning, however, from the delicate and timid to those whose health and +physique enable them to hold their own in the front rank, I venture to +point out a possible casualty that may happen in hunting, which, +although not of frequent occurrence, may easily be attended with +dangerous results if the fair rider with hounds is unacquainted with the +means of counteracting it. I allude to the possibility of a horse in +crossing a ford, where the stream is rapid and the bottom uneven, losing +his footing. I have seen this occur more than once, both to good men and +to ladies, and the result was not only an immersion over head and ears, +but considerable danger as well. This is easily to be prevented, as +follows: The fact of a horse losing his footing in deep water is at once +apparent by his making a half plunge, and commencing to swim, which +instinct teaches him to do directly he feels that he is out of his +depth. At such a moment, if the rider confines the horse, he will +inevitably roll over in his struggle. The great thing, therefore, on +such an occasion is at once to give him his head, quitting the curb rein +entirely, and scarcely feeling the snaffle, "while any attempt to guide +the horse should be done by the slightest touch possible" (see "Aid +Book"). The reins should be passed into the right hand, with which, +holding the crop also, the rider should take a firm hold of the upper +crutch of the saddle. She should, at the same time, with her left hand +raise her skirt well up, disengage her left leg (with the foot, however, +still in the stirrup), and place it <i>over the third crutch</i>. By these +means she will avoid any risk of the horse striking her on the left heel +with his near hind hoof, which otherwise in his struggle he would be +almost certain to do. If a horse is left to himself he will swim almost +any distance with the greatest ease, even with a rider on his back; and +there is no more difficulty in sitting on him in the form above named +than in cantering on <i>terra firma</i>. It is absolutely necessary, however, +to get the foot—and especially the stirrup—out of the way, otherwise +there is always danger of his entangling himself with them or with the +skirt. When the horse recovers his footing on the bottom he will make +another struggle, but the hold of the right hand upon the pommel will +always preserve the seat of the rider. To be quite safe in such a +predicament is simply a question of knowing what to do, and having the +presence of mind to do it <i>quickly</i>. To show that the necessity for +swimming a horse may occur to a lady as well as to a gentleman the +following case, I trust, will suffice.</p> + +<p>Many years ago I was riding with a lady from the village of Renteria <i>en +route</i> to San Sebastian, in the north of Spain. The way was round a +couple of headlands, between which was a deep bay, running up to the +hamlet of Lezo. This bay was all fine sand up to some low but rather +precipitous cliffs at the head of the inlet, but at the extremity of +either headland careful riding was requisite by reason of rough rocky +places. On the occasion I allude to the tide was flowing when we rounded +the first point. Having been long accustomed to the place, however, we +both considered that we had ample time safely to turn the other +extremity of the bay; but a lively spring tide, aided by a brisk +north-easterly wind, caused the sea, running in through the narrow gut +of "Passages," to increase in velocity to such an extent that we were +completely out in our reckoning. Seeing the tide gaining rapidly on us, +we set our horses going at top speed over the level sand, racing (as it +were) with the "hungry waters" for the distant point. When we neared it, +however, I saw at once that it was hopeless to attempt rounding it, for +our horses were already above the girths in water, keeping their feet +with difficulty on the level sand, and I knew that to try to keep them +on their legs on the shelving and rocky bottom at the extremity of the +point would result in their rolling over us. There was nothing, +therefore, for it but to try back, endeavour to regain the head of the +inlet, and make the attempt, however difficult, to clamber up the steep +but still sloping face of the cliff. Long before we reached our point, +however, both horses were swimming; but they made scarcely a perceptible +struggle in doing so, as the rising water lifted them from the level +sand bodily off their feet. The lady (who was at first a little +flurried) lost no time in getting her habit and her leg out of the way +of mischief, and quickly regaining her nerve laid fast hold of the +saddle, and laughing, declared it was "capital fun." I confess, on her +account, and that of the horses, I did not think so; but encouraged her +in her fearlessness. We gave the horses their heads, and they struck out +bravely towards the cliff. As soon as they recovered their footing, the +lady, having been previously cautioned to extricate her foot from the +stirrup, slipped off her horse, the water taking her up to her waist. I +lost no time in following her example, and turning the horses loose, we +drove them at the sharp and slippery incline up the hill. Both horses +scrambled up, with no further damage than the breaking of a bridle; but +to get the lady (encumbered as she was with her wet garments) up the +steep hillside was a task I have not forgotten to this day. The face of +the cliff was studded with patches of gorse here and there, which +assisted us certainly at the expense, of my companion, of severely +scratched hands and torn gloves. But the ground was so slippery that our +wet boots caused us continually to slip back, both of us in this respect +being at a great disadvantage with the horses, whose iron shoes and +corkings enabled them to obtain better foothold. Partly, however, by +dragging, partly by cheering the lady to persevere, I succeeded in +gaining the level ground with her, while the sea broke in heavy, noisy +surges below, and sent the spray flying over us. The lady, who had borne +up bravely so far, fainted from reaction when we gained the level sward, +where the horses were grazing quietly, none the worse for their bath. +But there were three stalwart Basque peasants at work hard by, turning +up the soil with their four-pronged iron forks. Their cottage was close +at hand, and having partially revived the fair sufferer, we carried her +to the house, where she received every attention from the padrona, and +no further evil resulted, except scratches and torn garments. But while +I was sensibly impressed with the courage displayed by my companion, who +was a slight, delicate woman, I am quite certain that ignorance of the +right thing to do at the right time would have been fatal to both of us. +As the tide gained so rapidly upon us, had the lady allowed her horse to +flounder or plunge in it, she would inevitably have become entangled +with him and drowned, despite any effort of mine to save her.</p> + +<p>I have witnessed many other instances of the facility with which horses +will extricate their riders from difficulties in deep water. Among these +I know none more worthy of record than the following.</p> + +<p>Some years ago a large Government transport, conveying troops and +horses, was wrecked at Buffalo, Cape of Good Hope. Among the troops was +a detachment of light cavalry. The ship parted on the rocks, and despite +the efforts of the people on shore, the greater part of the troops +(officers and men) were drowned. An officer of the cavalry party, +however, determined to make an effort to reach the shore, upon which a +heavy sea and tremendous surf were breaking. He launched his horse +overboard, and, plunging quickly after him into the tumbling sea, seized +the horse by the mane, and succeeded in retaining his grasp, while the +plucky and sagacious animal gallantly dragged his master in safety +through the surf.</p> + +<p>I repeat, then, Be always on your guard in crossing deep water with a +horse, or in fording a stream where the current is rapid. In India and +other tropical countries the necessity for being able to swim a horse +occurs more frequently than at home; and, in the monsoon time +especially, it behoves everybody who is going a journey on horseback to +be extremely careful how they attempt to cross a swollen stream, as the +freshets come down with such rapidity that I have frequently seen a +horse carried off his legs by the force of the current when the water +has not been more than knee-deep, and, when once the foothold is gone in +such places, it is extremely difficult frequently to find a place at +which to get out again, on account of the precipitous formation of most +of the banks. In any case, however, the above-named directions will be +found effectual, and the horse, if left to himself, will find a landing +place, even if he swims a considerable distance to gain it.</p> + +<p>A point of considerable importance as regards hunting also is for ladies +to avoid riding home in open carriages, no matter how fine the weather +may be, or how well they may be wrapped up. Riding <i>to</i> the meet on +wheels is all very well, particularly if the distance is great and by a +cross-country road, and the time short. But, after galloping about +during the greater part of the day, no conveyance home other than her +horse is fit for a lady, except the inside of a close carriage on rail +or road, and a good foot warmer at the bottom of the carriage; and if +there has been much rain, riding home on horseback is by far the safest +plan. I have frequently ridden home sixteen and eighteen miles after +dark with a lady whom I had the honour of escorting on her hunting +excursions, sometimes in very bad weather, and I can safely say that, +rain, snow, or sleet, she never took cold. After leaving the hounds my +first care was always to make for some hospitable farmhouse near the +road, or in default thereof, some decent roadside inn, where we could +have the horse's legs well washed, and the lady's waterproof carefully +put on if there was rain about. I always carried for her a second pair +of dry knee boots, carefully folded up in a waterproof havresack. These +boots were made with cork soles within and without, and, as such boots +are easily carried by any man who pilots a lady (of course I don't mean +the pilot who rides in scarlet), I specially recommend them to +consideration. The most difficult thing after riding a long day's +hunting, in which, now and again, a good deal of it will be in wet +weather, is to keep the feet warm. Throughout all the rest of the system +the circulation may be kept going by the exercise even of slow steady +trotting; but the wet, clammy boot, thoroughly saturated, it may be, by +more than one dash through a swollen rivulet, strikes cold and +uncomfortable in the stirrup iron even to a man, who has a better +opportunity of counteracting it by the use of alcoholic or vinous +stimulants. It is therefore highly conducive to a lady's comfort after +her gallop with hounds, if she has far to go home, to change her boots; +and this, with a little care and foresight on the part of her attendant, +can always be accomplished. With a dry pair of boots, a good waterproof +overcoat, and a cambric handkerchief tied round her neck, a lady may +defy the worst weather in returning from hunting.</p> + +<p>A word now about second horsemen, in a country like this, where the +<i>habitués</i> of it know tolerably well, if hunting is to be done in a +certain district, that a fox, given certain conditions of wind, is most +likely to make for certain points, and that if a covert is drawn blank, +the next draw will be in a certain locality, it is not difficult for a +good second horseman to be ready at hand when the lady requires a fresh +charger. But (assuming always that she can afford to have a second horse +out) nothing connected with her hunting requires more discrimination +than the selection of a second horseman. Any quantity of smart, +good-looking, light-weight lads, who can turn themselves out in +undeniable form, and ride very fairly, are always to be had, with good +manners and equally good characters; but one thing requisite is that +they should know every inch of the country they are in. Thus a lad, +however willing, from Scotland or Ireland, would be of very little use +as a second horseman in the midland district of England; and therefore +weight, up to ten stone at all events, is of less consequence than an +intimate knowledge of the topography of the surrounding country.</p> + +<p>To have a second horse at the right spot at the right time, and with +little or nothing taken out of him, requires in most cases considerable +foresight and judgment on the part of the lad who is on him, and +therefore a fair amount of intelligence, in addition to careful riding, +is indispensable, as well as natural good eye for country. The different +form in which second horses are brought to the point where they are +required is conclusive as to the foregoing, for one constantly sees two +animals, up to equal weight and in equal condition, arrive at the same +spot, one not fit to go much further, and the other with scarcely the +stable bloom off his coat.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Condition of Hunters.</span></h3> + + +<p>As the value of most of the foregoing suggestions as regards a lady +riding to hounds is more or less dependent upon the form and condition +in which the horse destined to carry her in the chase is put, I trust a +few words upon this important subject may be acceptable.</p> + +<p>In the first place, then, experience proves that the getting of a horse +into really good condition is a work of considerable time, and that when +once the animal has arrived at the desired point of physical health +which will enable him to make the most of his powers, as a rule, it is +considered to the last degree undesirable that anything should be done +to throw him out of his form.</p> + +<p>Many years ago it was considered that a horse that had been hunted +regularly through a season should be turned out to grass throughout the +summer, and that if he was taken up when the crops were off the ground, +there was time enough to get him fit by November; while it was +considered altogether unnecessary to give him more than one feed of corn +a day while turned out. In numerous cases I have known he had none from +April to September.</p> + +<p>The present form of treating hunting horses is diametrically the reverse +of the foregoing. A horse once "wound up" (as it is technically called) +for hunting is generally kept up all the year round; his spring and +summer training consisting of long, slow, steady work, principally +walking exercise.</p> + +<p>Now, my own opinion, based upon many years of experience and close +observation, does not agree with either of the foregoing practices.</p> + +<p>The first evidently was wrong, because a horse, even running in and out +throughout the entire summer, though well kept on corn, will put up an +amount of adipose substance, which cannot be got off in two months, +with due regard to the preservation of proper quality and muscular +fibre. While, on the other hand, I believe that, although by keeping +your horse up all the year round you will bring him out in rare form in +November, yet still he will not last you so long as one that has had +fair play given to his lungs by a few weeks' run when the spring grass +is about; for, however good the sanitary arrangements of our modern +stables and the ventilation of boxes may be, the air breathed in them +cannot be so pure as that of a fresh green meadow. Men and women require +a change of air once a year at least, and everybody who can afford it +looks forward with pleasurable anticipation to their autumn holiday. Why +should the noble animal who has carried us so well and so staunchly +through many a hard run be denied his relaxation and his change of air +in the spring?</p> + +<p>As a substitute for turning horses out for a brief run in the spring, it +is customary in some stables to cut grass and give it, varied by vetches +and clover, to the horse in his box. These salutary alteratives are good +in themselves, but there is still wanting the glorious fresh air of the +open paddock, which, when all nature is awakening from the long slumber +of winter, is so renovating to the equine system.</p> + +<p>It is best to fetch your horse up at night, because it is in the night +when turned out that he eats the most; but the object of giving the +animal his liberty is not that he may blow himself out with grass, but +that, in addition to the purifying effect to the blood of spring +herbage, he shall also breathe the spring air unadulterated. If this is +carried out, I believe those who practise it will find that their +hunters will last them many years longer than those that are kept at +what may be called "high stable pressure" all the year round.</p> + +<p>Prejudice, however, is strong as regards the foregoing matter, as in +others connected with the stable treatment and general handling of +horses. People are far too apt to go into extremes and adopt a line of +treatment because it is in vogue with some neighbour or friend who is +supposed to be well up on the subject, and must therefore be right in +everything he does. The best way, I submit, is to call common sense +into play, and be satisfied that the oracular friend has some good +reason "which will hold water" for what he does.</p> + +<p>I respectfully recommend the spring run then, by all means; and, if I +may venture so far to infringe the imperious laws of fashion, I would +venture to suggest that hunters might be allowed just a little bit more +tail, for the purpose for which nature intended it—namely, to keep off +the flies, which in summer will find them out, in or out of the stable. +Extremes in fashion as to the trimming of horses are nearly as absurd as +one sees from time to time in the dress of ladies and gentlemen, and +quite as devoid of sense or reason. Who has not seen the old racing +pictures in which Diamond or Hambletonian figure with a bob tail, and +who has not laughed at the grotesque figure (according to modern notions +of a racehorse) of these "high-mettled ones," all but denuded of their +caudal appendages?</p> + +<p>As a matter of taste and good feeling, therefore, I venture to plead for +a trifle more tail for hunters than is at present allowed. To a good +stableman it gives no trouble, and in spring and summer time it is of +great use to the horse. When the latter is brought up from the spring +run, the question of restoring his hunting form (if, indeed, he can be +said to have lost any of it) is simple enough; in fact, there are few +subjects on which more twaddle is talked than about the "conditioning of +hunters," stablemen being particularly oracular and mysterious about it. +Roomy, clean, and well-ventilated boxes, good drainage, four and five +hours' walking exercise every day, the best oats procurable given +<i>whole, not crushed</i>, with a moderate allowance to old horses of good +beans, and a fair allowance of good old hay or clover, perfect +regularity in exercise and stable times, the attendance of a thoroughly +good-tempered cheery lad who knows his business, and the total +prohibition of drugging or physicking of any sort, unless by order of a +veterinary surgeon—these are the arcana of the much talked-of +"conditioning." Some tell you that a hunter should have scarcely any +hay. I have yet to learn why not, because I am quite sure that really +good hay assists a horse to put up muscle. Of course he is not supposed +to gorge himself with it, as some ravenous animals would do if allowed. +But the same thing may be said of a carriage horse or a charger. Waste +of forage is one thing, the use of it another; and as there has been +considerable discussion of late as to the cost of feeding a horse, I beg +to say that on a fair average those even in training, requiring the best +food, can be kept, when oats are 32s. or 33s. a quarter, for 15s. a +week. I speak of course of the absolute cost of forage of the best kind.</p> + +<p>Where horses are delicate feeders, and this is the case with some who +are rare performers in the field, the appetite should be coaxed, by +giving small quantities of food at short intervals, making the horse, in +fact, an exception to the ordinary stable rule of feeding four times a +day. A really good groom will carefully watch the peculiarities of such +a horse as regards feeding, and come in due course to know what suits +the animal, the result being plenty of good muscle, equal to that of +more hearty "doers." But stimulating drugs, I repeat, should never be +permitted. Carrots as an alterative are good, but they should be given +only when ordered by a veterinary surgeon, in such quantities as he +orders. They should be put in the manger whole, never cut up, as there +is nothing more dangerous than the latter practice in feeding, because +numerous instances are on record of horses choking themselves with +pieces of carrot.</p> + +<p>When hunting time approaches, a little more steam as regards pace at +exercise may be put on. Trotting up hills of easy ascent serves +materially to "open the pipes," and, despite a very general prejudice to +the contrary, I maintain that, for some weeks before hunting commences, +a horse is all the better for a steady canter of moderate length every +morning. A very good reason why stud grooms as a rule object to this is, +simply because it involves a great deal more work in the stable.</p> + +<p>If horses are only walked or trotted at exercise, one man generally can +manage very well to exercise two horses, riding one, and leading the +other with a dumb jockey or bearing reins on him; but, if the horse is +to be cantered, there must be a man or boy to every horse, and, +consequently, exercise would occupy considerably more time.</p> + +<p>It is quite clear that the horse will have to gallop when hunting +begins, and, as all training should be inductive, it is absurd to say +that he should do nothing up to the 31st of October but walking and +trotting, while on the first day of November his owner may come down +from town and give him a rattling gallop with hounds. Surely such +extremes are not reconcilable with common sense!</p> + +<p>Let me now say a word about washing horses, about which also +considerable diversity of opinion exists, some maintaining that the +brush and wisp alone ought to keep the horse's skin in proper form, and +others advocating washing partially.</p> + +<p>In my time I have tried all sorts of stable management, and I believe +the truth is as follows: Nothing is more conducive to a horse's health +than washing, with either cold or tepid water. But if you adopt the cold +water system, you must be sure that it is done in a place where there is +no draught. It should be commenced in summer time. There should be two +thoroughly good stablemen in the washing box, and a boy to carry water +from the pump. The horse's head and neck should be thoroughly washed, +brushed, scraped, sponged, and leathered, and a good woollen hood put +on. His body washed thoroughly in the same way, and a good rug put on. +Then his legs equally well done, and bandaged. Let him then be put into +his box for a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes, stripped and dressed +by a man who will let his shoulder go at him, not one who will play with +him. When thoroughly dressed his coat will shine like new satin, and his +whole manner will tell you how refreshed he is by his bath. The washing +cannot be done too quickly consistent with thorough good work. Two good +men and a smart boy ought to wash, clothe, and bandage a horse in five +minutes, or they are not worth their salt.</p> + +<p>If the cold water system is begun in summer, and regularly followed up, +it can be carried on throughout the winter, no matter how severe the +weather may be, and an incalculable advantage of the system is that a +horse so treated is almost impervious to cold or catarrh.</p> + +<p>But to carry the treatment out, a lot of first-class stablemen are +indispensable, men who—no "eye servants"—do their work <i>con amore</i>, +and take a genuine pride in their horses. If the thing is negligently +done, or dawdled over, it is likely enough to be productive of mischief.</p> + +<p>Where the stable staff is limited in number and not first-rate in +quality, if washing is resorted to, tepid water must be used, because +one smart man can wash a horse in tepid water in a proper washing house +unassisted. But a special veto should be put upon washing a hunter's +legs, as is too often done, outside in the yard, the horse tied to a +ring in the wall, with the cold night air blowing on him. No matter if +warm or cold water is used, whether or not mischief follows is mere +matter of chance if the foregoing bad treatment is permitted.</p> + +<p>Briefly, then, it may be said, if you have good men about you and enough +of them use cold water, beginning in the summer and continuing it +regularly. If you are short of really good stablemen, use tepid water; +but use it in a washing box built for the purpose, and never let it be +done out of doors.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + + +<p>Having endeavoured to mark out the course of equitation from the +preparatory suppling practices to the orthodox conventionalities of the +hunting field, I conclude this series of papers with a few hints which I +trust will be useful to ladies about to proceed to India or the +colonies.</p> + +<p>In the first place, as regards riding habiliments, I recommend ladies +going to India to procure everything in the shape of habits, trousers, +and hats in this country. In India they cost a hundred per cent. more +than at home, and the natives can only make them by pattern. Riding +boots can be procured in the East quite as well made and as durable as +those made in England, and at a fifth of the price.</p> + +<p>Saddlery should be taken out from England. It is also just a hundred per +cent. dearer in India. One good side-saddle, such as I have previously +described, will with care last a lady many years. Of bridles she should +take at least half a dozen double ones (bit and bridoon). Horse clothing +of any sort as used in England is not required in India.</p> + +<p>As regards the horse itself on which the fair emigrant to the East will +take her health-preserving morning gallop at gun-fire, I must say +little. I have endeavoured elsewhere to give some idea of what Arab +horses are; and, as every lady going to India is certain to know some +male friend who is well up at buying a lady's horse, I need only say +that, if the animal purchased is a young unbroken one, the best plan is +to send him to the nearest cavalry or horse artillery station, and have +him broken precisely in the same form as an officer's charger. The Arab +dealers from whom the horse, if unbroken, is most likely to be +purchased, know nothing, and care less, about breaking, and the people +about them have the very worst hands upon a horse I have ever seen.</p> + +<p>All riding in India, except in cases of absolute necessity, should be +done very early in the morning. The lady should be in the saddle soon +after gun-fire (five o'clock). By the time she arrives at the galloping +ground (in a large station or cantonment generally the racecourse) the +sun will be up, so quickly does it rise, with scarcely any twilight, in +India; but its rays are not then vertical, nor is the heat either +oppressive or injurious until much later in the day.</p> + +<p>A couple or three hours' riding is sufficient for health, and the great +thing is to go home quite cool; the bath and breakfast are then most +enjoyable. Evening promenades are as a matter of fashion, and indeed, of +reason, usually attended by ladies in carriages. There are many, +however, who prefer riding on horseback again in the latter part of the +day; but experience proves that evening riding on horseback is not good, +as a rule, for ladies. Exposure to the sun on horseback, or indeed in +any way, should be specially avoided, as should also violent exercise of +any kind, that on horseback not excepted. The rattling gallop, which is +not only exhilarating but healthful in Leicestershire, is inadmissible +in most parts of India, where extremes of any kind are injurious. +Finally, I would respectfully impress upon every lady who is likely to +go to India, those especially who, having been born there, have been +sent home for their education, that they should avail themselves of +every opportunity in this country of becoming efficient horsewomen. To +be able to ride well is very desirable for a lady who is to pass her +life in Europe, in India it is absolutely indispensable; and if the +lady's equitation is neglected in early days at home, she will find +herself sadly at a loss when she arrives in India; for although there +are plenty of thoroughly competent men there who could instruct her, +their time is taken up with teaching recruits at the early time of the +day at which a lady could avail herself of their services. As regards +riding in Australia, the Cape, New Zealand, Canada, or the West Indies, +briefly it may be said that again it is best to take out saddlery from +this country, because, although it can be procured in any of the +above-named colonies far cheaper than in India, it is still +considerably dearer, and generally not so good as at home. At the Cape, +in Australia, and in New Zealand—the two former colonies +especially—long journeys have frequently to be done by ladies on +horseback; and if a thoroughly practical education in the saddle is +necessary to health, as regards a sojourn in India; it is equally so as +a matter of convenience in other of the British dependencies abroad.</p> + +<p>Let me, then, close my humble efforts at carefully tracing out the +readiest way for a lady to become a thorough horsewoman by again +recommending them all to begin early, and to pay implicit attention to +the tuition of a first-class instructor; always to throw their whole +heart into their riding, fixing their minds rigidly on it while +learning, and never, however proficient or confident they may be, +venture, unless upon a life-and-death emergency, upon half-broken +horses. During the Indian mutiny instances occurred in which ladies owed +their lives to their nerve and courage in mounting horses ill-adapted to +carry them, and by dint of sheer determination urging them into top +speed and safety to the fair fugitives. In such desperate emergencies +there is no alternative but to accept the lesser risk; but in ordinary +cases my advice (the result of long experience) is to all lady riders, +never mount an untrained horse, and never allow your horse to become too +fresh for want of work.</p> + +<p>A casualty which may be attended with trifling consequences to a man may +have the most serious results in the case of a lady; while I am firmly +of opinion that no such thing as an accident ought ever to occur to her +on horseback if due care and foresight are exercised by those about her, +and if the lady herself will be careful whenever or under whatever +circumstances she approaches or mounts a horse to be always on her +guard, to <i>ride</i> all the time she is on him, to remember that in all +matters that relate to riding the homely old adage, "Afterwit is not +worth a penny an ounce" is strictly applicable, and that the golden rule +is, "Never give away a chance to your horse."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Transcriber's Note: Hyphen variations left as printed.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Barb and the Bridle, by Vielle Moustache + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE *** + +***** This file should be named 38831-h.htm or 38831-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/8/3/38831/ + +Produced by Julia Miller, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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