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diff --git a/40684-0.txt b/40684-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c43af58 --- /dev/null +++ b/40684-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7667 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40684 *** + + THE + AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN + + BY + MRS. ELIZABETH KARR + + "Gold that buys health can never be ill spent, + Nor hours laid out in harmless merriment." + J. WEBSTER + + [Illustration] + + BOSTON + HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY + New York: 11 East Seventeenth Street + The Riverside Press, Cambridge + 1884 + + + Copyright, 1884, + BY ELIZABETH KARR. + + _All rights reserved._ + + _The Riverside Press, Cambridge_: + Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Co. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +In presenting this volume to the women of America, the author would +remark that, at least as far as she is aware, it is the first one, +exclusively devoted to the instruction of lady riders, that has ever +been written by one of their own countrywomen. In its preparation, no +pretension is made to the style of a practiced author, the writer freely +acknowledging it to be her first venture in the (to her) hitherto +unexplored regions of authorship; she has simply undertaken,--being +guided and aided by her own experience in horseback riding,--to write, +in plain and comprehensive language, and in as concise a manner as is +compatible with a clear understanding of her subject, all that she deems +it essential for a horsewoman to know. This she has endeavored to do +without any affectation or effort to acquire reputation as an author, +and wholly for the purpose of benefiting those of her own sex who wish +to learn not only to ride, but to ride well. She has also been induced +to prepare the work by the urgent solicitations of many lady friends, +who, desirous of having thorough information on horseback riding, were +unable to find in any single work those instructions which they needed. + +Many valuable works relating to the subject could be had, but none +especially for ladies. True, in many of these works prepared for +equestrians a few pages of remarks or advice to horsewomen could be +found, but so scant and limited were they that but little useful and +practical information could be gleaned from them. The writers of these +works never even dreamed of treating many very important points highly +essential to the horsewoman; and, indeed, it could hardly be expected +that they would, as it is almost impossible for any horseman to know, +much less to comprehend, these points. The position of a man in the +saddle is natural and easy, while that of a woman is artificial, +one-sided, and less readily acquired; that which he can accomplish with +facility is for her impossible or extremely difficult, as her position +lessens her command over the horse, and obliges her to depend almost +entirely upon her skill and address for the means of controlling him. + +If a gentleman will place himself upon the side-saddle and for a short +time ride the several gaits of his horse, he will have many points +presented which he had not anticipated, and which may puzzle him; that +which appeared simple and easy when in his natural position will become +difficult of performance when he assumes the rôle of a horsewoman. A +trial of this kind will demonstrate to him that the rules applicable to +the one will not invariably be adapted to the other. The reader need not +be surprised, therefore, if in the perusal of this volume she discovers +in certain instances instructions laid down which differ from those met +with in the popular works upon this subject by male authors. + +Another inducement to prepare this volume existed in the fact that the +ladies throughout the country, and especially in our large cities and +towns, are apparently awakening to an appreciation of the importance of +out-door amusement and exercise in securing and prolonging health, +strength, beauty, and symmetry of form, and that horseback riding is +rapidly becoming the favorite form of such exercise. Instructions +relating to riding have become, therefore, imperative, in order to +supply a need long felt by those horsewomen who, when in the saddle, are +desirous of acquitting themselves with credit, but who have heretofore +been unable to gain that information which would enable them to ride +with ease and grace, and to manage their steeds with dexterity and +confidence. The author--who has had several years' experience in +horseback riding with the old-fashioned, two-pommeled saddle, and, in +later years, with the English saddle, besides having had the benefit of +the best continental teaching--believes she will be accused of neither +vanity nor egotism when she states that within the pages of this work +instructions will be found amply sufficient to enable any lady who +attends to them to ride with artistic correctness. + +Great care has been taken to enter upon and elucidate all those minute +but important details which are so essential, but which, because they +are so simple, are usually passed over without notice or explanation. +Especial attention has also been given to the errors of inexperienced +and uneducated riders, as well as to the mistakes into which beginners +are apt to fall from incorrect modes of teaching, or from no instruction +at all; these errors have been carefully pointed out, and the methods +for correcting them explained. A constant effort has been made to have +these practical hints and valuable explanations as lucid as possible, +that they may readily be comprehended and put into practical use by the +reader. + +From the fact that considerable gossip, including some truth, as to +illiteracy, rudeness, offensive familiarity, and scandal of various +kinds has in past years been associated with some of the riding-schools +established in our cities, many ladies entertain a decided antipathy to +all riding-schools; to these ladies, as well as to those who are living +in places where no riding-schools exist, the author feels confident that +this work will prove of great practical utility. Yet she must remark +that, in her opinion, it is neither just nor right to ostracize +indiscriminately all such schools, simply because some of them have +proven blameworthy; whenever a riding-school of good standing is +established and is conducted by a well-known, competent, and gentlemanly +teacher, with one or more skilled lady assistants, she would advise the +ladies of the neighborhood to avail themselves of such opportunity to +become sooner thorough and efficient horsewomen by pursuing the +instructions given in this work under such qualified teachers. + + ELIZABETH KARR. + + NORTH BEND, OHIO. + + + + +A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS. + + +INTRODUCTION. + PAGE + + Utility, health, and enjoyment, in horseback riding.--Affection + of the horse for a kind mistress.--Incorrect views entertained + by ladies relative to horses and horseback riding.--Tight + lacing incompatible with correct riding.--Advantages of + good riding-schools.--Instinct not a sufficient + guide.--Compatibility of refinement and horseback + riding.--Importance of out-of-door exercise. 1 + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE HORSE. + + Origin and countries of the horse.--Earliest Scriptural mention + of the horse.--Caligula's horse.--Horseback riding in the + Middle Ages.--The Arab horse and his descendants.--Selection + of a horse, and points to be observed.--Suitable gaits for the + several conformations of riders.--The fast or running + walk.--Various kinds of trotting.--The jog trot + undesirable.--Temperament of the horse to be taken into + consideration.--Thorough-bred horses.--Low-bred + horses.--Traits of thorough and low bred horses.--Purchasing a + horse; when to pay for the purchase.--Kindness to the horse + instead of brutality.--Advantages of kind treatment of the + horse.--Horses properly trained from early colt-life, the + best.--Certain requirements in training a horse for a + lady.--Ladies should visit their horses in the stable.--Ladies + of refinement, occupying the highest positions in the + civilized and fashionable world, personally attend to their + horses.--Nature of the horse.--Unreliable grooms; their + vicious course with horses intrusted to their care.--Care + required in riding livery-stable horses. 13 + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE RIDING HABIT. + + Riding habit should not be gaudy.--Instructions concerning the + material for riding habit, and how this should be made.--The + waist.--The basque or jacket.--Length of riding habit.--White + material not to be worn on horseback.--Riding shirt.--Riding + drawers.--Riding boots.--Riding corset.--Riding coiffure or + head-dress.--Riding hat.--Minutiæ to be attended to in the + riding costume.--How to hold the riding skirt while + standing.--Riding whip. 52 + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE SADDLE AND BRIDLE. + + Saddle of ancient times, and the manner of + riding.--Planchette.--Catherine de Medici deviser of the + two-pommeled saddle.--M. Pellier, Sr., inventor of the third + pommel.--English saddle.--Advantages of the third + pommel.--Saddle should, invariably, be made and fitted to the + horse.--Seat of saddle.--Kinds of saddles for different + ladies.--Proper application of the third pommel.--Saddle + recommended and used by the author.--Points to be attended to + in procuring a saddle.--Girths.--New mode of tightening + girths.--Stirrups and stirrup-leathers.--Safety + stirrups.--How to attach the stirrup-leather.--The bridle and + reins.--Martingales.--Snaffle-bits.--Curb-bits.--Curb-chain.--Tricks + of horses with bits, and their remedy.--Adjustment of the + bit and head-stall.--Care of the bit.--How to correctly place + the saddle on the horse.--Remarks concerning girthing the + horse.--Great advantages derived from knowing how to saddle + and bridle one's horse. 67 + + +CHAPTER IV. + +MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING. + + Timidity in presence of a horse should be overcome.--First + attempts at mounting.--Mounting from a horse-block.--Mounting + from the ground.--Mounting with assistance from a gentleman; + how this is effected.--What the gentleman must do.--A restive + horse while mounting; how to be managed.--Attractiveness of + correct mounting.--To dismount with assistance from a + gentleman; what the gentleman must do.--Attentions to the + skirt both while mounting and dismounting.--Dismounting + without aid; upon the ground; upon a very low + horse-block.--Concluding remarks. 99 + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE SEAT ON HORSEBACK. + + The absolute necessity for a correct seat.--Natural riders + rarely acquire a correct seat.--The dead-weight seat.--The + wabbling seat.--Essential to good and graceful riding that + the body be held square and erect.--The correct seat.--Proper + attitude for the body, shoulders, waist, arms, hands, knees, + and legs, when on horseback.--Uses and advantages of the + third pommel.--Lessons in position should always be taken by + the novice in horseback riding.--Faulty positions of ladies + called "excellent equestriennes," pointed out at an imaginary + park.--Remarks concerning the improper use of stirrups and + pommels.--Pupils and teachers frequently in erroneous + positions toward each other.--Obstinacy of some pupils, and + wrong ideas of others.--Ladies should not be in too much + haste to become riders before they understand all the + elementary and necessary requirements; but should advance + carefully, attentively, and thoroughly.--Suggestions to + teachers of ladies in equitation. 114 + + +CHAPTER VI. + +HOLDING THE REINS, AND MANAGING THE HORSE. + + A thorough knowledge of the management of the horse highly + necessary for a lady.--Position in the saddle has an + important influence.--Horses generally more gentle with women + than with men.--Position should be acquired first, and + afterwards the reins be used.--How to hold the hands and + snaffle-reins, in first lessons.--To turn the horse to the + right, to the left, to back him, to stop him, with a + snaffle-rein in each hand.--Manner of holding the + snaffle-reins in the bridle-hand; to turn the horse to either + side; to back, and to stop him.--To change the snaffle-reins + from the left to the right hand; to reinstate them in the + bridle-hand.--To separate the snaffle-reins; to shorten or + lengthen them.--To hold the curb and bridoon, or double + bridle-reins; to shorten or lengthen them; to shorten the + curb and lengthen the snaffle-reins; to shorten the snaffle + and lengthen the curb-reins.--To tighten a rein that has + become loose.--To change the double bridle from the left to + the right hand; to return it to the left hand.--Management of + reins when making quick turns.--European manner of holding + the double bridle-reins, a pair in each hand.--The + equestrienne should practice and perfect herself in these + various manoeuvrings with the reins.--The proper rein-hold + creates a correspondence between the rider's hand and the + horse's mouth, and gives support to the animal.--Give and + take movements--The dead-pull.--In collecting the horse the + curb must be used.--The secret of good riding.--The + management of the reins with restive horses.--Liberty of the + reins sometimes necessary.--Movements of horse and rider + should correspond.--Horse united or collected.--Horse + disunited.--To animate the horse.--To soothe the horse.--What + to do in certain improper movements of the horse.--Concluding + remarks. 145 + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE WALK. + + The movements of the horse in walking.--A good walk is a + certain basis for perfection in other gaits.--A lady's horse + should be especially trained to walk well.--Every change + in the walk, as turning, backing, and stopping, should be well + learned, before attempting to ride in a faster gait.--The walk + is a gait more especially desirable for some ladies.--The advance, + the turn, the stop, the reining back, in the walk.--Remarks on + the reining back. 181 + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE TROT, THE AMBLE, THE PACE, THE RACK. + + The movements of the horse in trotting.--The trot a safe gait + for a lady.--The jog trot.--The racing trot.--The true + trot.--The French trot.--The English trot; is desirable for + ladies to learn.--Objections to the French trot.--How to + manage the horse and ride the English trot.--Which is the + leading foot of the horse in the trot.--To stop a horse in + the English trot.--Trotting in a circle.--Circling to the + right, to the left.--The amble.--The pace.--The rack. 197 + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE CANTER. + + Leading with the right foot, with the left foot.--The rapid + gallop.--The canter.--The true canter.--To commence the + canter; position of the rider, and management of the + horse.--To canter with the right leg leading.--To canter with + the left leg leading.--To determine with which leg the horse + is leading in the canter.--To change from the trot to the + canter.--To turn in the canter, to the right, to the + left.--Management of the horse while making a turn in the + canter.--To stop in the canter.--Remarks concerning position + in the canter. 221 + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE HAND GALLOP, THE FLYING GALLOP. + + The hand gallop, a favorite gait with ladies.--Position and + management of the reins, in the hand gallop.--Cautions to + ladies when riding the hand gallop.--To manage a disobedient + horse during the hand gallop.--Turning when riding the hand + gallop.--Position of rider while turning in the hand + gallop.--The flying gallop an exercise for country + roads.--Cautions to ladies previous to riding the flying + gallop.--Holding the reins, position of the rider, and + management of the horse, in the flying gallop.--To stop in + the flying gallop.--Concluding remarks. 238 + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE LEAP, THE STANDING LEAP, THE FLYING LEAP. + + Advantages of learning to leap.--Requisites necessary in + leaping.--The standing leap.--Position of the rider, + rein-hold, and management of the horse, in the standing + leap.--Points to be carefully observed in the leap.--How to + make the horse leap.--Management of the reins and of the + rider's position during the leap.--Counsels which should be + well learned by the rider before attempting the leap, and + especially as to the management of the horse.--How to train a + horse to leap.--A lady should never attempt the leap, except + with a horse well trained in it.--Horses do not all leap + alike.--The flying leap.--Important points to know relative + to the flying leap. 249 + + +CHAPTER XII. + +DEFENSES OF THE HORSE, CRITICAL SITUATIONS. + + A lady's horse should be gentle, well-trained, and possess + no vice.--Shying, and its treatment.--Shying sometimes due + to defective vision, and at other times to + discontent.--Balking, and its treatment.--Backing, and its + treatment.--Gayety.--Kicking, and its remedy. An attention + to the position and motions of the horse's ears will + determine what he is about to do.--Plunging; bucking; what + to do in these cases.--Rearing, and the course to be + pursued.--Running away, and the course to be + pursued.--Unsteadiness of the horse while being mounted, + and how to correct it.--Stumbling, and its treatment.--What + to do when the horse falls.--Remarks concerning the use of + the whip and spur.--Be generous to the horse when he yields + to his rider. 271 + + +ADDENDA. + + Thirty-four points necessary to be learned, and to be well + understood by equestriennes.--Conclusion. 301 + +GLOSSARY 313 + +INDEX 319 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + FIGURE PAGE + + 1. HEAD OF ARABIAN STEED 24 + + 2. HEAD OF LOW-BRED HORSE 24 + + 3. WIDTH OF LOWER JAW IN THE THOROUGH-BRED 26 + + 4. WIDTH OF THE LOWER JAW IN THE LOW-BRED 26 + + 5. OBLIQUE SHOULDER 27 + + 6. STRAIGHT OR UPRIGHT SHOULDER 28 + + 7. ENGLISH SADDLE 69 + + 8. STOKES' MODE OF GIRTHING THE SADDLE 77 + + 9. VICTORIA STIRRUP 79 + + 10. SPRING-BAR FOR STIRRUP-LEATHER 79 + + 11. LENNAN'S SAFETY STIRRUP 80 + + 12. LATCHFORD'S SAFETY STIRRUP 81 + + 13. CHIFNEY BIT 84 + + 14. THE COMBINATION BIT 85 + + 15. DWYER'S CURB-BIT 86 + + 16. THE BIT ADJUSTED 90 + + 17. LADY READY TO MOUNT HER HORSE 104 + + 18. LADY READY TO DISMOUNT 110 + + 19. CORRECT SEAT FOR A LADY (_Back view_) 119 + + 20. CORRECT SEAT FOR A LADY (_Side view_) 124 + + 21. CROOKED POSITION IN SADDLE (_Miss X._) 129 + + 22. CROOKED POSITION IN SADDLE (_Mrs. Y._) 133 + + 23. INCORRECT POSITION OF LEGS AND FEET (_Side view_) 136 + + 24. INCORRECT POSITION WHEN LEGS AND FEET ARE WRONGLY + PLACED (_Back view_) 137 + + 25. SNAFFLE-REINS; ONE IN EACH HAND 149 + + 26. SNAFFLE-REINS; BOTH IN THE LEFT HAND 153 + + 27. DOUBLE BRIDLE; ALL REINS IN THE BRIDLE-HAND 162 + + 28. DOUBLE BRIDLE; A SNAFFLE AND A CURB REIN IN EACH HAND 166 + + 29. THE WALK 185 + + 30. THE TROT 205 + + 31. ENTERING UPON THE CANTER WITH THE RIGHT LEG LEADING 225 + + 32. THE FLYING GALLOP 243 + + 33. THE STANDING LEAP--RISING 251 + + 34. THE STANDING LEAP--DESCENDING 259 + + 35. THE HORSE 299 + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + "How melts my beating heart as I behold + Each lovely nymph, our island's boast and pride, + Push on the generous steed, that sweeps along + O'er rough, o'er smooth, nor heeds the steepy hill, + Nor falters in the extended vale below!" + + _The Chase._ + + +Among ladies of wealth and culture in England, the equestrienne art +forms a portion of their education as much as the knowledge of their own +language, of French, or of music, and great care is taken that their +acquirements in this art shall be as thorough as those in any other +branch of their tuition. The mother bestows much of her own personal +supervision on her daughter's instruction, closely watching for every +little fault, and promptly correcting it when any becomes manifest. As a +result universally acknowledged, a young English lady, when riding a +well-trained and spirited horse, is a sight at once elegant and +attractive. She exhibits a degree of confidence, a firmness of seat, and +an ease and grace that can be acquired only by the most careful and +correct instruction. The fair rider guides her steed, without +abruptness, from walk to canter, from canter to trot, every movement in +perfect harmony; horse and rider being, as it were, of one thought. + + "Each look, each motion, awakes a new-born grace." + +Unfortunately, at the present day, from want of careful study of the +subject, the majority of American lady riders, notwithstanding the +elegance of their forms and their natural grace, by no means equal their +English sisters in the art of riding. In most instances, a faulty +position in the saddle, an unsteadiness of seat, and a lack of sympathy +between horse and rider, occasion in the mind of the spectator a sense +of uneasiness lest the horse, in making playful movements, or, perhaps, +becoming slightly fractious, may unseat his rider,--a feeling which +quite destroys the charm and fascination she might otherwise exercise. +If my countrywomen would but make a master stroke, and add correct +horseback riding to the long list of accomplishments which they now +possess, they would become irresistible, and while delighting others, +would likewise promote their own physical well-being. There is no +cosmetic nor physician's skill which can preserve the bloom and +freshness of youth as riding can, and my fair readers, if they wish to +prolong those charms for which they are world renowned, charms whose +only fault is their too fleeting existence, must take exercise, and be +more in the fresh air and sunshine. + +How much better to keep old age at bay by these innocent means, than to +resort to measures which give to the eye of the world a counterfeit +youth that will not deceive for a moment. Even an elderly lady may +without offense or harsh criticism recall some of the past joys of +younger years by an occasional ride for health or recreation, and, while +gracefully accepting her half century, or more, of life, she can still +retain some of the freshness and spirit of bygone years. + +Not only is health preserved and life prolonged by exercise on +horseback, but, in addition, sickness is banished, or meliorated, and +melancholy, that dark demon which occasionally haunts even the most +joyous life, is overcome and driven back to the dark shades from whence +it came. Should the reader have the good fortune to possess an +intelligent horse, she can, when assailed by sorrows real or fancied, +turn to this true, willing friend, whose affectionate neigh of greeting +as she approaches, and whose pretty little graceful arts, will tend to +dispel her gloom, and, once in the saddle, speeding along through the +freshening air, fancied griefs are soon forgotten, while strength and +nerve are gained to face those troubles of a more serious nature, whose +existence cannot be ignored. + +To the mistress who thoroughly understands the art of managing him, the +horse gives his entire affection and obedience, becomes her most willing +slave, submits to all her whims, and is proud and happy under her rule. + +In disposition the horse is much like a child. Both are governed by +kindness combined with firmness; both meet indifference with +indifference, but return tenfold in love and obedience any care or +affection that is bestowed upon them. The horse also resembles the child +in the keenness with which he detects hypocrisy; no pretense of love or +interest will impose on either. + +To the lady rider who has neither real fondness for her horse nor +knowledge of governing him, there is left but one resource by means of +which the animal can be controlled, and this is the passion of fear. +With a determined will, she may, by whipping, force him to obey, but +this means is not always reliable, especially with a high-spirited +animal, nor is it a method which any true woman would care to employ. +If, in addition to indifference to the horse, there be added nervousness +and timidity, which she finds herself unable to overcome by practice and +association, the lady might as well relinquish all attempt to become a +rider. + +Should any of my readers think that these views of the relations between +horse and rider are too sentimental, that all which is needed in a horse +is easy movement, obedience to the reins, and readiness to go forward +when urged, and that love and respect are quite unnecessary, she will +find, should she ever meet with any really alarming object on the road, +that a little of this despised affection and confidence is very +desirable, for, in the moment of danger, the voice which has never +spoken in caressing accents, nor sought to win confidence will be +unheeded; fear will prevail over careful training, and the rider will be +very fortunate if she escapes without an accident. The writer is +sustained in the idea that the affection of the horse is essential to +the safety of the rider, not only by her own experience, but also by +that of some of the most eminent teachers of riding, and trainers of +horses. + +Maud S. is an example of what a firm yet kind rule will effect in +bringing forth the capabilities of a horse. She has never had a harsh +word spoken to her, and has never been punished with the whip, but has, +on the contrary, been trained with the most patient and loving care; and +the result has been a speed so marvelous as to have positively +astonished the world, for although naturally high tempered, she will +strain every nerve to please her kind, loving master, when urged forward +by his voice alone. + +Some ladies acquire a dislike for horseback riding, either because they +experience discomfort or uneasiness when in the saddle, or because the +movements of their horses cause them considerable fatigue. There may be +various reasons for this: the saddle may be too large, or too small, or +improperly made; or the rider's position in the saddle may be incorrect, +and as a consequence, the animal cannot be brought to his best paces. +Discomfort may occasionally be caused by an improperly made +riding-habit. The rider whose waist is confined by tight lacing cannot +adapt herself to the motions of her horse, and the graceful pliancy so +essential to good riding will, therefore, be lost. The lady who wears +tight corsets can never become a thorough rider, nor will the exercise +of riding give her either pleasure or health. She may manage to look +well when riding at a gait no faster than a walk, but, beyond this, her +motions will appear rigid and uncomfortable. A quick pace will induce +rapid circulation, and the blood, checked at the waist, will, like a +stream which has met with an obstacle in its course, turn into other +channels, rushing either to the heart, causing faintness, or to the +head, producing headache and vertigo. There have even been instances of +a serious nature, where expectoration of blood has been occasioned by +horseback riding, when the rider was tightly laced. + +The naturally slender, symmetrical figure, when in the saddle, is the +perfection of beauty, but she whom nature has endowed with more ample +proportions will never attain this perfection by pinching her waist in. +Let the full figure be left to nature, its owner sitting well in the +saddle, on a horse adapted to her style, and she will make a very +imposing appearance, and prove a formidable rival to her more slender +companion. + +There is a mistaken idea prevalent among certain persons, that horseback +riding induces obesity. It is true that, to a certain extent, riding +favors healthy muscular development, but the same may be said of all +kinds of exercise, and this effect, far from being objectionable, is +highly desirable, as it contributes to symmetry of form, as well as to +health and strength, conditions that in a large proportion of our +American women are unfortunately lacking. Those who ride on horseback +will find that while gaining in strength and proper physical tissue, +they will, at the same time, as a rule, be gradually losing all excess +of flesh; it is impossible for an active rider to become fat or flabby; +but the indolent woman who is prejudiced against exercise of any kind +will soon find the much dreaded calamity, corpulency, overtaking her, +and beauty of form more or less rapidly disappearing beneath a mountain +of flesh. + +There are many persons who entertain the mistaken idea that instinct is +a sufficient guide in learning to ride; that it is quite unnecessary to +take any lessons or to make a study of the art of correct riding; and +that youth, a good figure, and practice are all that is required to make +a finished rider. This is a most erroneous opinion, which has been +productive of much harm to lady riders. The above qualifications are +undoubtedly great assistants, but without correct instruction they will +never produce an accomplished and graceful rider. + +The instinctive horsewoman usually rides boldly and with perfect +satisfaction to herself, but to the eye of the connoisseur she presents +many glaring defects. Very bold, but, at the same time, very bad riding +is often seen among those who consider themselves very fine horsewomen. +In order to gain the reputation of a finished rider, it is not essential +that one should perform all the antics of a circus rider, nor that she +should ride a Mazeppian horse. The finished rider may be known by the +correctness of her attitude in the saddle, by her complete control of +her horse, and by the tranquillity of her motions when in city or park; +in such places she makes no attempt to ride at a very rapid trot, or +flying gallop-gaits which should be reserved for country roads, where +more speed is allowable. + +There is still another false idea prevalent among a certain class of +people, which is that a love for horses, and for horseback riding +necessarily makes one coarse, and detracts from the refinement of a +woman's nature. It must be acknowledged that the coarseness of a vulgar +spirit can be nowhere more conspicuously displayed than in the saddle, +and yet in no place is the delicacy and decorum of woman more +observable. A person on horseback is placed in a position where every +motion is subject to critical observation and comment. The quiet, +simple costume, the easy movements, the absence of ostentatious display, +will always proclaim the refined, well-bred rider. Rudeness in the +saddle is as much out of place as in the parlor or salon, and greatly +more annoying to spectators, besides being disrespectful and dangerous +to other riders. Abrupt movements, awkward and rapid paces, frequently +cause neighboring horses to become restless, and even to run away. +Because a lady loves her horse, and enjoys riding him, it is by no means +necessary that she should become a Lady Gay Spanker, indulge in stable +talk, make familiars of grooms and stable boys, or follow the hounds in +the hunting field. + +There are in this work no especial instructions given for the hunting +field, as the author does not consider it a suitable place for a lady +rider. She believes that no lady should risk life and limb in leaping +high and dangerous obstacles, but that all such daring feats should be +left to the other sex or to circus actresses. Nor would any woman who +really cared for her horse wish to run the risk of reducing him to the +deplorable condition of many horses that follow the hounds. In England, +where hunting is the favorite pastime among gentlemen, the number of +maimed and crippled horses that one meets is disheartening. Every lady, +however, who desires to become a finished rider, should learn to leap, +as this will not only aid her in securing a good seat in the saddle, but +may also prove of value in times of danger. + +Before concluding I would again urge upon my readers the importance of +out-of-door exercise, which can hardly be taken in a more agreeable form +than that of horseback riding,--a great panacea, giving rest and +refreshment to the overworked brain of the student, counteracting many +of the pernicious effects of the luxurious lives of the wealthy, and +acting upon the workers of the world as a tonic, and as a stimulus to +greater exertion. + + + + +THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE HORSE. + + "Look, when a painter would surpass the life, + In limning out a well-proportioned steed, + His art with Nature's workmanship at strife, + As if the dead the living should exceed; + So did this horse excel a common one, + In shape, in courage, color, pace, and bone." + * * * * * + --"what a horse should have he did not lack, + Save a proud rider on so proud a back." + + _Venus and Adonis._ + + +It is supposed that the original home of the horse was central Asia, and +that all the wild horses that range over the steppes of Tartary, the +pampas of South America, and the prairies of North America, are +descendants of this Asiatic stock.[1] There is, in the history of the +world, no accurate statement of the time when the horse was first +subjugated by man, but so far back as his career can be traced in the +dim and shadowy past, he seems to have been man's servant and companion. +We find him, on the mysterious ruins of ancient Egypt, represented with +his badge of servitude, the bridle; he figures in myth and fable as the +companion of man and gods; he is a prominent figure in the pictured +battle scenes of the ancient world; and has always been a favorite theme +with poet, historian, and philosopher in all ages. + + Footnote 1: A very interesting work, by C. A. Piétrement, has recently + been issued in France, entitled _Les chevaux dans les temps + prehistorique et historique_. The author shows that wild horses were + hunted and eaten by man in the rough stone age. He also determines in + what European and Asiatic regions the eight extant horse families were + domesticated, and traces their various wanderings over the earth, + deducing many interesting facts from the history of their migrations. + +The first written record, known to us, of the subjection of the horse to +man is found in the Bible, where in Genesis (xlvii. 17) it is stated +that Joseph gave the Egyptians bread in exchange for their horses, and +in 1. 9, we read that when Joseph went to bury his father Jacob, there +went with him the servants of the house of Pharaoh, the elders of the +land of Egypt, together with "chariots and horsemen" in numbers. +Jeremiah compares the speed of the horse with the swiftness of the +eagle; and Job's description of the war charger has never been +surpassed. + +Ancient Rome paid homage to the horse by a yearly festival, when every +one abstained from labor, and the day was made one of feasting and +frolic. The horse, decked with garlands, and with gay and costly +trappings, was led in triumph through the streets, followed by a +multitude who loudly proclaimed in verse and song his many good services +to man. + +This adulation of the horse sometimes went beyond the bounds of reason, +as in the case of Caligula, who carried his love for his horse, +Incitatus, to an insane degree. He had a marble palace erected for a +stable, furnished it with mangers of ivory and gold, and had sentinels +guard it at night that the repose of his favorite might not be +disturbed. Another elegant palace was fitted up in the most splendid and +costly style, and here the animal's visitors were entertained. Caligula +required all who called upon himself to visit Incitatus also, and to +treat the animal with the same respect and reverence as that observed +towards a royal host. This horse was frequently introduced at Caligula's +banquets, where he was presented with gilded oats, and with wine from a +golden cup. Historians state that Caligula would even have made his +steed consul of Rome, had not the tyrant been opportunely assassinated, +and the world freed from an insane fiend. + +In the legends of the Middle Ages the knight-errant and his gallant +steed were inseparable, and together performed doughty deeds of valor +and chivalry. In our present more prosaic age, the horse has been +trained to such a degree of perfection in speed and motion as was never +dreamed of by the ancients or by the knights of the crusades; and there +has been given to the world an animal that is a marvel of courage, +swiftness, and endurance, while, at the same time, so docile, that the +delicate hand of woman can completely control him. + +The Arabian is the patrician among horses; he is the most intelligent, +the most beautifully formed, and, when kindly treated, the gentlest of +his race. He is especially noted for his keenness of perception, his +retentive memory, his powers of endurance, and, when harshly or cruelly +treated, for his fierce resentment and ferociousness, which nothing but +death can conquer. In his Arabian home he is guarded as a treasure, is +made one of the family and treated with the most loving care. This close +companionship creates an affection and confidence between the horse and +his master which is almost unbounded; while the kindness with which the +animal is treated seems to brighten his intelligence as well as to +render him gentle. + +When these horses were first introduced into Europe they seemed, after a +short stay in civilization, to have completely changed their nature, +and, instead of gentleness and docility, exhibited an almost tiger-like +ferocity. This change was at first attributed to difference of climate +and high feeding, but, after several grooms had been injured or killed +by their charges, it began to be suspected that there was something +wrong in the treatment. The experiment of introducing native grooms was +therefore tried, and the results proved most satisfactory, the animals +once more becoming gentle and docile.[2] Since then the nature of the +Arabian has become better understood, and, both in this country and in +Europe, he shows, at the present day, a decided improvement upon the +original native of the desert. He is larger and swifter, yet still +retains all the spirit as well as docility of his ancestors. In America +his descendants are called "thorough-breds," and Americans may well be +proud of this race of horses, which is rapidly becoming world renowned. + + Footnote 2: "The Bedouin (and every other race of Orientals that I am + acquainted with seems to possess somewhat the same quality) exhibits a + patience towards his horse as remarkable as is the impatience and + roughness of the Englishman.... In his (the Oriental's) mental + organization some screw is tight which in the English mind is loose; + he is sane on a point where the Englishman is slightly cracked, and he + rides on serene and contented where the latter would go into a + paroxysm of swearing and spurring. I have seen an Arab horse, broken + loose at a moment when our camp was thronged with horses brought for + sale, turn the whole concern topsy-turvy, and reduce it to one tumult + of pawing and snorting and belligerent screeching; and I never yet saw + the captor when he finally got hold of the halter show the least trace + of anger, or do otherwise than lead the animal back to his picket with + perfect calmness. Contrast this with the 'job' in the mouth and the + kick in the ribs and the curse that the English groom would bestow + under similar circumstances, and you have, in a great measure, the + secret of the good temper of the Arab horse in Arab + hands."--_Blackwood's Magazine_, 1859. + +Before purchasing a saddle-horse, several points should be considered. +First, =the style of the rider's figure=; for a horse which would be +suitable for a large, stout person would not be at all desirable for one +having a small, slender figure. A large, majestic looking woman would +present a very absurd spectacle when mounted upon a slightly built, +slender horse; his narrow back in contrast with that of his rider would +cause hers to appear even larger and wider than usual, and thus give her +a heavy and ridiculous appearance, while the little horse would look +overburdened and miserable, and his step, being too short for his rider, +would cause her to experience an unpleasant sensation of embarrassment +and restraint. On the other hand, a short, light, slender rider, seated +upon a tall broad-backed animal, would appear equally out of place; the +step of the horse being, in her case, too long, would make her seat +unsteady and insecure, so that instead of a sense of enjoyment, +exhilaration, and benefit from the ride, she would experience only +fatigue and dissatisfaction. + +If the rider be tall and rather plump, the horse should be fifteen hands +and three inches in height, and have a somewhat broad back. A lady below +the medium height, and of slender proportions, will look equally well +when riding a pony fourteen hands high, or a horse fifteen hands. An +animal fifteen hands, or fifteen hands and two inches in height, will +generally be found suitable for all ladies who are not excessively large +and tall, or very short and slender. In all cases, however, the back of +the horse should be long enough to appear well under the side-saddle, +for a horse with a short back never presents a fine aspect when carrying +a woman. In such cases, the side-saddle extends from his withers nearly, +if not quite, to his hips, and as the riding skirt covers his left side, +little is seen of the horse except his head and tail. Horses with very +short backs are usually good weight-carriers, but their gaits are apt to +be rough and uneasy. + +Another point to be considered in the selection of a horse is, what gait +or gaits are best suited to the rider, and here again the lady should +take her figure into consideration. The walk, trot, canter, and gallop +are the only gaits recognized by English horsewomen, but in America the +walk, rack, pace, and canter are the favorite gaits. If the lady's +figure be slender and elegant, any of the above named gaits will suit +her, but should she be large or stout, a brisk walk or easy canter +should be selected. The rapid gallop and all fast gaits should be left +to light and active riders. + +The fast or running walk is a very desirable gait for any one, but is +especially so for middle-aged or stout people, who cannot endure much +jolting; it is also excellent for delicate women, for poor riders, or +for those who have long journeys to make which they wish to accomplish +speedily and without undue fatigue to themselves or their horses. A good +sound horse who has been trained to this walk can readily travel thirty +or forty miles a day, or even more. This gait is adapted equally well to +the street, the park, and the country road; but it must be acknowledged +that horses possessing it rarely have any other that is desirable, and, +indeed, any other would be apt to impair the ease and harmony of the +animal's movements in this walk. + +The French or cavalry trot (see page 203) should never be ridden on the +road by a woman, as the movements of the horse in this gait are so very +rough that the most accomplished rider cannot keep a firm, steady seat. +The body is jolted in a peculiar and very unpleasant manner, occasioning +a sense of fatigue that is readily appreciated, though difficult to +describe. + +The country jog-trot is another very fatiguing gait, although farmers, +who ride it a good deal, state that "after one gets used to it, it is +not at all tiresome." But a lady's seat in the saddle is so different +from that of a gentleman's that she can never ride this gait without +excessive fatigue. + +A rough racker or pacer will prove almost as wearisome as the +jog-trotter. Indeed, if she wishes to gain any pleasure or benefit from +riding, a lady should never mount a horse that is at all stiff or uneven +in his movements, no matter what may be his gait. + +The easiest of all gaits to ride, although the most difficult to learn, +is the English trot. This is especially adapted to short persons, who +can ride it to perfection. A tall woman will be apt to lean too far +forward when rising in it, and her specialties, therefore, should be +the canter and the gallop, in which she can appear to the greatest +advantage. The rack, and the pace of a horse that has easy movements are +not at all difficult to learn to ride, and are, consequently, the +favorite gaits of poor riders. + +In selecting a horse his =temperament= must also be considered. A +high-spirited, nervous animal, full of vitality, highly satisfactory as +he might prove to some, would be only a source of misery to others of +less courageous dispositions. First lessons in riding should be taken +upon a horse of cold temperament and kindly disposition who will resent +neither mistakes nor awkwardness. Having learned to ride and to manage a +horse properly, no steed can then be too mettlesome for the healthy and +active lady pupil, provided he has no vices and possesses the good +manners that should always belong to every lady's horse. + +It is a great mistake to believe, as many do, that a weak, slightly +built horse is yet capable of carrying a woman. On the contrary, a +lady's horse should be the soundest and best that can be procured, and +should be able to carry with perfect ease a weight much greater than +hers. A slight, weak animal, if ridden much by a woman, will be certain +to "get out of condition," will become unsound in the limbs of one +side, usually the left, and will soon wear out. + +Before buying a horse, the lady who is to ride him should be weighed, +and should then have some one who is considerably heavier than herself +ride the animal, that she may be sure that her own weight will not be +too great for him. If he carries the heavier weight with ease, he can, +of course, carry her. + +In selecting a horse great care should be taken to ascertain whether +there is the least trace of =unsoundness in his feet and legs=, and +especially that variety of unsoundness which occasions stumbling. The +best of horses, when going over rough places or when very tired may +stumble, and so will indolent horses that are too lazy when traveling to +lift their feet up fully; but when this fault is due to disease, or +becomes a habit with a lazy animal, he should never be used under the +side-saddle. + +[Illustration: Fig. 1.--Head of Arabian Steed.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 2.--Head of Low-Bred Horse.] + +If the reader will glance at Figs. 1 and 2, she will observe the +difference between the head of the low-bred horse and that of the best +bred of the race. Fig. 1 represents the head of an Arabian horse; the +brain is wide between the eyes, the brow high and prominent, and the +expression of the face high-bred and intelligent. Fig. 2 shows the head +of a low-bred horse, whose stupid aspect and small brain are very +manifest. The one horse will be quick to comprehend what is required of +him, and will appreciate any efforts made to brighten his intelligence, +while the other will be slow to understand, almost indifferent to the +kindness of his master, and apt, when too much indulged, to return +treachery for good treatment. The whip, when applied to the latter as a +means of punishment, will probably cow him, but, if used for the same +purpose on the former, will rouse in him all the hot temper derived from +his ancestors, and in the contest which ensues between his master and +himself, he will conquer, or terminate the strife his own death, or that +of his master. + +Another noticeable feature in the Arab horse, and one usually considered +significant of an active and wide-awake temperament, is the width and +expansiveness of the nostrils. These, upon the least excitement, will +quiver and expand, and in a rapid gallop will stand out freely, giving a +singularly spirited look to the animal's face. + +The shape and size of the ears are also indications of high or low +birth. In the high-bred horse they are generally small, thin, and +delicate on their outer margins, with the tips inclined somewhat towards +one another. By means of these organs the animal expresses his different +emotions of anger, fear, dislike, or gayety. They may be termed his +language, and their various movements can readily be understood when one +takes a little trouble to study their indications. The ears of a +low-bred horse are large, thick, and covered with coarse hair; they +sometimes lop or droop horizontally, protruding from the sides of the +head and giving a very sheepish look to the face; they rarely move, and +express very little emotion of any kind. + +The eye of the desert steed is very beautiful, possessing all the +brilliancy and gentleness so much admired in that of the gazelle. Its +expression in repose is one of mildness and amiability, but, under the +influence of excitement, it dilates widely and sparkles. A horse which +has small eyes set close together, no matter what excellences he may +possess in other respects, is sure to have some taint of inferior blood. +Some of the coarser breeds have the large eye of the Arabian, but it +will usually be found that they have some thorough-bred among their +ancestors. + +[Illustration: Fig. 3.--Width of lower jaw in the thorough-bred.] + +Width between the sides or branches of the lower jaw is another +distinctive feature of the horse of pure descent. (Fig. 3.) A wide +furrow or channel between the points mentioned is necessary for speed, +in order to allow room for free respiration when the animal is in rapid +motion. The coarser breeds have very small, narrow channels (Fig. 4), +and very rapid motion soon distresses them. + +[Illustration: Fig. 4.--Width of lower jaw in the low-bred.] + +The mouth of the well-bred horse is large, allowing ample room for the +bit, and giving him a determined and energetic, but at the same time +pleasant, amiable expression. The mouth of the low-bred horse is small +and covered with coarse hair, and gives the animal a sulky, dejected +appearance. + +[Illustration: Fig. 5.--Oblique shoulder. The angle at the joint being +about 45°.] + +The light, elegant head of the Arabian is well set on his neck; a slight +convexity at the upper part of the throat gives freedom to the functions +of this organ, as well as elasticity to the movements of the head and +neck; and the _encolure_, or crest of the neck, is arched with a +graceful curve. But it is especially in the shape of the shoulders that +this horse excels all others, and this is the secret of those easy +movements which make him so desirable for the saddle. These shoulders +are deep, and placed obliquely at an angle of about 45°; they act like +the springs of a well-made carriage, diminishing the shock or jar of his +movements. They are always accompanied by a deep chest, high withers, +and fore-legs set well forward, qualities which make the horse much +safer for riding. (Fig. 5.) + +[Illustration: Fig. 6.--Straight or upright shoulder. The angle at the +joint being more than 45°.] + +The animal with straight shoulders, no matter how well shaped in other +respects, can never make a good saddle-horse, and should be at once +rejected. These shoulders are usually accompanied by low withers, and +fore-legs placed too far under the body, which arrangement causes the +rider an unpleasant jar every time a fore-foot touches the ground. +Moreover, the gait of the horse is constrained and not always safe, and +if he be used much under the saddle his fore-feet will soon become +unsound. This straight, upright shoulder is characteristic of the +coarser breeds of horses, and is frequently associated with a short, +thick neck. Such horses are not only unfit for the saddle, but, when any +speed is desired, are unsuitable even for a pleasure carriage. (Fig. 6.) + +The haunch of the low-bred horse is generally large, but not so well +formed as that of the thorough-bred. This portion of the Arabian courser +is wide, indicating strength, and force to propel himself forward, while +his tail, standing out gayly when he is in motion, projects in a line +with his back-bone. His forearm is large, long, and muscular,[3] his +knees broad and firm, his hocks of considerable size, while his +cannon-bone, situated between the knee and the fetlock, is short, +although presenting a broad appearance when viewed laterally. + + Footnote 3: "There is, however, a medium in this, and the advantage of + length in the arm will depend on the use to which the horse is + applied. The lady's horse, the cavalry horse, every horse in which + prancing action is esteemed a beauty, and in which utility is, to a + certain degree, sacrificed to appearance, must not be too long in the + arm. If he is long there, he will be proportionally short in the leg; + and although this is an undoubted excellence, whether speed or + continuance is regarded, the short leg will not give the grand and + imposing action which fashion may require. In addition to this, a + horse with short legs may not have quite so easy an action as another + whose length is in the shank rather than in the arms."--_W. Youatt._ + +On each front leg, at the back of the knee, there is a bony projection, +giving attachments to the flexor muscles, and affording protection to +certain tendons. The Orientals set a great value upon the presence of +this bone, believing that it favors muscular action, and the larger this +prominence is the more highly do they prize the animal that possesses +it. The pasterns of the high-bred horse are of medium length, and very +elastic, while the foot is circular and of moderate size. + +In the preceding description, the author has endeavored to make plain to +the reader the most important points to be observed in both the +high-bred and the low-bred horse, and has given the most pronounced +characteristics of each. + +Between these extremes, however, there are many varieties of horses, +possessing more or less of the Arabian characteristics mingled with +those of other races. Some of the best American horses are numbered +among these mixed races, and, by many, are considered an improvement +upon the Arabian, as they are excellent for light carriages and buggies. +The more they resemble the Oriental steed, the better they are for the +saddle. + +The lady who, in this country, cannot find a horse to suit her, will, +indeed, be difficult to please. It will be best for her to tell some +gentleman what sort of horse she wishes, and let him select for her; +but, at the same time, it can do no harm, and may prove a great +advantage to her to know all the requisite points of a good +saddle-horse. It will not take long to learn them, and the knowledge +gained will prevent her from being imposed upon by the ignorant or +unscrupulous. Gentlemen, even those who consider themselves good judges +of horse-flesh, are sometimes guilty of very serious blunders in +selecting a horse for a lady's use; and should the lady be obliged to +negotiate directly with a horse-dealer, she must bear in mind constantly +the fact that, although there are reliable and honorable dealers to be +found, there are many who would not scruple to cheat even a woman. A +careful perusal of the present work, together with the advice of an +_upright_ and _trustworthy_ veterinary surgeon, or a skilled +riding-master, will aid her in protecting herself from the impositions +of unprincipled horse-jockeys and self-styled "veterinary doctors." + +In any case, whatever be the other characteristics of the animal +selected, be sure that he has the oblique shoulder, as well as depth of +shoulder, and hind-legs well bent. Without these characteristics he will +be unfit for a lady's use, as his movements will be rough and unsafe, +and the saddle will be apt to turn. + +If it be desired to purchase a horse for a moderate price, certain +points which might be insisted on in a high-priced animal will have to +be dispensed with; for instance, his color may not be satisfactory; he +may not have a pretty head, or a well-set tail, etc., but these +deficiencies may be overlooked if he be sound, have good action, and no +vices. He may be handsome, well-actioned, and thoroughly trained, but +have a slight defect in his wind, noticeable only when he is urged into +a rapid trot, or a gallop. If wanted for street and park service only, +and if the purchaser does not care for fast riding, a horse of this +sort will suit her very well. Sometimes a horse of good breed, as well +as of good form, has never had the advantages of a thorough training, or +he may be worn out by excessive work. Should he be comparatively young, +rest and proper training may still make a good horse of him, but great +care should be taken to assure one's self that no permanent disease or +injury exists. The Orientals have a proverb, that it is well to bear in +mind when buying an animal of the kind just described:--"Ruin, son of +ruin, is he who buys to cure." + +Always examine with great care a horse's mouth. A hard-mouthed animal is +a very unpleasant one for a lady to ride, and is apt to degenerate into +a runaway. Scars at the angles of the mouth are good indications of a +"bolter," or runaway, or at least of cruel treatment, and harsh usage is +by no means a good instructor. + +While a very short-backed horse does not appear to great advantage under +a side-saddle, he may, nevertheless, have many good qualities that will +compensate for this defect, and it may be overlooked provided the price +asked for him be reasonable; but horses of this kind frequently command +a high price when their action is exceptionally good. Corns on the feet +generally depreciate the value of a horse, although they may sometimes +be cured by removing the shoes, and giving him a free run of six or +eight months in a pasture of soft ground; if he be then properly shod, +and used on country roads only, he may become permanently serviceable. +There is, however, considerable risk in buying a horse that has corns, +and the purchaser should remember the Oriental proverb just referred to, +and not forget the veterinary surgeon. + +Before paying for a horse, the lady should insist upon having him on +trial for at least a month, that she may have an opportunity of +discovering his vices or defects, if any such exist. She must be careful +not to condemn him too hastily, and should, when trying him, make due +allowance for his change of quarters and also for the novelty of +carrying a new rider, as some horses are very nervous until they become +well acquainted with their riders. Should the horse's movements prove +rough, should he be found hard-mouthed, or should any indications of +unsoundness or viciousness be detected, he should be immediately +returned to his owner. It must be remembered, however, that very few +horses are perfect, and that minor defects may, in most instances, be +overlooked if the essentials are secured. Before rejecting the horse, +the lady should also be very sure that the faults to which she objects +are not due to her own mismanagement of him. But if she decides that she +is not at fault, no amount of persuasion should induce her to purchase. +In justice to the owner of the horse, he ought to be reasonably paid for +the time and services of his rejected animal; but if it be decided to +keep the horse, then only the purchase-money originally agreed upon +should be paid. + +The surest and best way of securing a good saddle-horse is to purchase, +from one of the celebrated breeding farms, a well-shaped four-year-old +colt of good breed, and have him taught the gaits and style of movement +required. Great care should be taken in the selection of his teacher, +for if the colt's temper be spoiled by injudicious treatment, he will be +completely ruined for a lady's use. A riding-school teacher will +generally understand all the requirements necessary for a lady's +saddle-horse, and may be safely intrusted with the animal's education. +If no riding-school master of established reputation as a trainer can be +had, it may be possible to secure the services of some one near the +lady's home, as she can then superintend the colt's education herself +and be sure that he is treated neither rashly nor cruelly. + +The ideas concerning the education of the horse have completely changed +within the last twenty-five years. The whip as a means of punishment is +entirely dispensed with in the best training schools of the present day, +and, instead of rough and brutal measures, kindness, firmness, and +patience are now the only means employed to train and govern him. The +theory of this modern system of training may be found in the following +explanation of a celebrated English trainer, who subdued his horses by +exhibiting towards them a wonderful degree of patience:--"If I enter +into a contest with the horse, he will fling and prance, and there will +be no knowing which will be master; whereas if I remain quiet and +determined, I have the best of it." + +The following is an example of the patience with which this man carried +out his theory:-- + +Being once mounted on a very obstinate colt that refused to move in the +direction desired, he declined all suggestions of severe measures, and +after one or two gentle but fruitless attempts to make the animal move, +he desisted, and having called for his pipe, sat there quietly for a +couple of hours enjoying a good smoke, and chatting gayly with passing +friends. Then after another quiet but unsuccessful attempt to induce +the colt to move, he sent for some dinner which he ate while still on +the animal's back. As night approached and the air became cool, he sent +for his overcoat and more tobacco, and proceeded to make a night of it. +About this time the colt became uneasy, but not until midnight did he +show any disposition to move in the required direction. Now was the time +for the master to assert himself. "Whoa!" he cried, "you have stayed +here so long to please yourself, now you will stay a little longer to +please me." He then kept the colt standing in the same place an hour +longer, and when he finally allowed him to move, it was in a direction +opposite to that which the colt seemed disposed to take. He walked the +animal slowly for five miles, then allowed him to trot back to his +stable, and finally--as if he had been a disobedient child--sent him +supperless to bed, giving him the rest of the night in which to meditate +upon the effects of his obstinacy. + +To some this may seem a great deal of useless trouble to take with a +colt that might have been compelled to move more promptly by means of +whip or spur; but that day's experience completely subdued the colt's +stubborn spirit, and all idea of rebellion to human authority was +banished from his mind forever. Had a contrary course been pursued, it +would probably have made the creature headstrong, balky, and unreliable; +he would have yielded to the whip and spur at one time only to battle +the more fiercely against them at the first favorable opportunity, and +his master would never have known at what minute he might have to enter +into a contest with him. That a horse trained by violent means can never +be trusted is a fact which is every day becoming better recognized and +appreciated. + +"A great many accidents might be avoided," says a well-known authority +upon the education of the horse, "could the populace be instructed to +think a horse was endowed with senses, was gifted with feelings, and was +able in some degree to appreciate motives."... "The strongest man cannot +physically contend against the weakest horse. Man's power reposes in +better attributes than any which reside in thews and muscles. Reason +alone should dictate and control his conduct. Thus guided, mortals have +subdued the elements. For power, when mental, is without limit: by +savage violence nothing is attained and man is often humbled." + +The lady who has the good fortune to live in the country where she can +have so many opportunities for studying the disposition and character +of her animals, and can, if she chooses, watch and superintend the +education of her horse from the time he is a colt, has undoubtedly a +better chance of securing a fine saddle-horse than she who lives in the +city and is obliged to depend almost entirely upon others for the +training of her horse. Indeed, very little formal training will be +necessary for a horse that has been brought up under the eye of a kind +and judicious mistress, for he will soon learn to understand and obey +the wishes of one whom he loves and trusts, and if she be an +accomplished rider she can do the greater part of the training herself. + +The best and most trustworthy horse the author ever had was one that was +trained almost from his birth. Fay's advent was a welcome event to the +children of the family, by whom he was immediately claimed and used as a +play-fellow. By the older members of the family he was always regarded +as part of the household,--an honored servant, to be well cared +for,--and he was petted and fondled by all, from paterfamilias down to +Bridget in the kitchen. He was taught, among other tricks, to bow +politely when anything nice was given him, and many were the journeys he +made around to the kitchen window, where he would make his obeisance in +such an irresistible manner that Bridget would be completely captivated; +and the dainty bits were passed through the window in such quantities +and were swallowed with such avidity that the lady of the house had to +interfere and restrict the donations to two cakes daily. + +Fay had been taught to shake hands with his admirers, and this trick was +called his "word of honor;" he had his likes and dislikes, and would +positively refuse to honor some people with a hand-shake. If these +slighted individuals insisted upon riding him, he made them so +uncomfortable by the roughness of his gaits that they never cared to +repeat the experiment. But the favored ones, whom he had received into +his good graces and to whom he had given his "word of honor," he would +carry safely anywhere, at his lightest and easiest gait. Fay never went +back on his word, which is more than can be said of some human beings. + +The great difficulty in training a horse for a lady's use is to get him +well placed on his haunches. In Fay's case this was accomplished by +teaching him to place his fore-feet upon a stout inverted tub, about two +feet high. When he offered his "hand" for a shake, some one pushed +forward the tub, upon which his "foot" dropped and was allowed to +remain a short time, when the other foot was treated in the same manner. +After half a dozen lessons of this sort, he learned to put up his feet +without assistance; first one, and then the other, and, finally, both at +once. These performances were always rewarded by a piece of apple or +cake, together with expressions of pleasure from the by-standers. Fay +had a weakness for flattery, and no actor called before the curtain ever +expressed more pleasure at an _encore_ than did Fay when applauded for +his efforts to please. That the tub trick would prove equally effectual +with other horses in teaching them to place themselves well on their +haunches cannot be positively stated. It might prove more troublesome to +teach most horses this trick than to have them placed upon their +haunches in the usual way by means of a strong curb, or by lessons with +the lunge line. It proved entirely successful in Fay's case, and a horse +lighter in hand or easier in gait was never ridden by a woman. + +Fay's training began when he was only a few weeks old: a light halter +and a loose calico surcingle were placed on him for a short time each +day, during which time he was carefully watched lest he should do +himself some injury. When he was about eight months old, a small bit, +made of a smooth stick of licorice, was put into his mouth, and to this +bit light leather reins were fastened by pieces of elastic rubber: this +rubber relieved his mouth from a constant dead pull, and tended to +preserve its delicate sensibility. Thus harnessed he was led around the +lawn, followed by a crowd of youthful admirers and playmates, who formed +a sort of triumphal procession, with which the colt was as well pleased +as the spectators. Every attempt on his part to indulge in horse-play, +such as biting, kicking, etc., was always quickly checked, and no one +was allowed to tease or strike him. + +Nothing heavier than a dumb jockey was put on his back until he was four +years old, when his education began in sober earnest. After a few +lessons with the lunge line, given by a regular trainer, a saddle was +put on his back, and for the first time in his life he carried a human +being. + +When learning his different riding gaits on the road, he was always +accompanied by a well-trained saddle-horse, aided by whose example as +well as by the efforts of his rider he was soon trained in three +different styles of movement, namely, a good walk, trot, and hand +gallop. Fear seemed unknown to this horse, for he had always been +allowed as a colt to follow his dam on the road, and had thus become so +accustomed to all such alarming objects as steam engines, hay carts, +etc., that they had ceased to occasion him the least uneasiness. This +high spirited and courageous animal had perfect confidence in the world +and looked upon all mankind as friendly. His constant companionship with +human beings had sharpened his perceptive faculties, and made him quick +to understand whatever was required of him. The kindness shown him was +never allowed to degenerate into weakness or over-indulgence, and +whenever anything was required of him it was insisted upon until +complete obedience was obtained. In this way he was taught to understand +that man was his master and superior. + +Although it is not absolutely essential that a lady's horse should learn +the tricks of bowing, hand-shaking, etc., yet the lady who will take the +pains to teach her horse some of them will find that she not only gets a +great deal of pleasure from the lessons, but that they enable her to +gain more complete control over him, for the horse, like some other +animals, gives affection and entire obedience to the person who makes an +effort to increase his intelligence. + +Lessons with the lunge line should always be short, as they are very +fatiguing to a young colt, and when given too often or for too great a +length of time they make him giddy from rush of blood to the head; not a +few instances, indeed, have occurred where a persistence in such lessons +has occasioned complete blindness. + +A lady's horse should be taught to disregard the flapping of the +riding-skirt, and it is also well for him to become accustomed to having +articles of various kinds, such as pieces of cloth, paper, etc., +fluttering about him, as he will not then be likely to take fright +should any part of the rider's costume become disarranged and blow about +him. + +He should also be so trained that he will not mind having the saddle +moved from side to side on his back. The best of riders may have her +saddle turn, and if the horse be thus trained he will neither kick nor +run away should such an accident occur. + +It is also very important that the horse should be taught to stop, +and stand as firm as a rock at the word of command given in a low, +firm tone. This habit is not only important in mounting and +dismounting,--feats which it is difficult, if not impossible, for the +lady to perform unless the horse be perfectly still,--but the rider +will also find this prompt obedience of great assistance in checking +her horse when he becomes frightened and tries to break away; for he +will stop instinctively when he hears the familiar order given in the +voice to which he is accustomed. + +A lady should not fail to visit her horse's stable from time to time, in +order to assure herself that he is well treated and properly cared for +by the groom. Viciousness and restlessness on the road can often be +traced to annoyances and ill-treatment in the stable. Grooms and stable +boys sometimes like to see the horse kick out and attempt to bite, and +will while away their idle hours in harassing him, tickling his ears +with straws, or touching him up with the whip in order to make him +prance and strike out. The result of these annoyances will be that, if +the lady during her ride accidentally touches her horse with the whip, +he will begin prancing and kicking; or, if it is summer time, the gnats +and flies swarming about his ears will make him unmanageable. In the +latter case, ear-tips will only make the matter worse, especially if +they have dangling tassels. When such signs of nervousness are +noticeable, especially in a horse that has been hitherto gentle, they +may usually be attributed to the treatment of the groom or his +assistants. + +Most grooms delight in currying their charges with combs having teeth +like small spikes and in laying on the polishing brush with a hand as +heavy as the blows of misfortune. Some animals, it is true, like this +kind of rubbing, but there are many, who have thin, delicate skins, to +whom such treatment is almost unmitigated torture. Should the lady hear +any contest going on between the horse and groom during the former's +morning toilette, she should order a blunt curry-comb to be used; or +even dispense with a comb altogether, and let the brush only be applied +with a light hand. Grooms sometimes take pleasure in throwing cold water +over their horses. In very warm weather, and when the animal is not +overheated, this treatment may prove refreshing to him, but, as a +general rule it is objectionable, as it is apt to occasion a sudden +chill which may result in serious consequences. + +The stable man may grumble at the lady's interference and supervision, +but she must not allow this to prevent her from attending carefully to +the welfare of the animal whose faithful services contribute so largely +to her pleasure. When she buys a horse she introduces a new member into +her household, who should be as well looked after and cared for as any +other faithful servant or friend. Indeed, the horse is the more +entitled to consideration in that he is entirely helpless, and his lot +for good or evil lies wholly in her power. If the mistress is careless +or neglects her duty, the servants in whose charge the horse is placed +will be very apt to follow her example, and the poor animal will suffer +accordingly. + +Perhaps the lady, however, may object to entering the stable, and agree +with the groom in thinking it "no place for a woman." Or she may fear +that in carrying out the ideas suggested above she will expose herself +to the ridicule of thoughtless acquaintances who can never do anything +until it has received the sanction of fashion. + +For the benefit of this fastidious individual and her timid friends we +will quote the example of the Empress of Austria, who, although +occupying an exalted position at a court where etiquette is carried to +the extremes of formality, yet does not hesitate to visit the stable of +her favorite steeds and personally to supervise their welfare; and woe +to the perverse groom who in the least particular disobeys her commands. + +Many other examples might be given of high-born ladies, such as Queen +Victoria, the Princess of Wales, the Princess of Prussia, and others, +who do not seem to consider it at all unfeminine or coarse for a woman +to give some personal care and supervision to her horses. But to enter +into more details would prove tiresome, and the example given is enough +to silence the scruples of the followers of fashion. + +Like all herbivorous creatures that love to roam in herds, the horse is +naturally of a restless temperament. Activity is the delight of his +existence, and when left to nature and a free life he is seldom quiet. +Man takes this creature of buoyant nature from the freedom of its +natural life, and confines the active body in a prison house where its +movements are even more circumscribed than are those of the wild beasts +in the menagerie; they can at least turn around and walk from side to +side in their cages, but the horse in his narrow stall is able only to +move his head from side to side, to paw a little with his fore-feet, and +to move backwards and forwards a short distance, varying with the length +of his halter; when he lies down to sleep he is compelled to keep in one +position, and runs the risk of meeting with some serious accident. In +some stables where the grooms delight in general stagnation, the horses +under their charge are not allowed to indulge in even the smallest +liberty. The slightest movement is punished by the lash of these +silence-loving tyrants, in whose opinion the horse has enough occupation +and excitement in gazing at the blank boards directly in front of his +head. If these boards should happen to be whitewashed, as is often the +case in the country, constant gazing at them will be almost sure to give +rise to shying, or even to occasion blindness. If the reader will, for +several minutes, gaze steadily at a white wall, she will he able to get +some idea of the poor horse's sensations. + +Is it then to be wondered at, that an animal of an excitable nature like +the horse should, when released from the oppressive quiescence of his +prison-house, act as if bereft of reason, and perform strange antics and +caperings in his insane delight at once more breathing the fresh air, +and seeing the outside world. But, while the horse is thus expressing +his pleasure and recovering the use of limbs by vigorous kicks, or is +expending his superfluous energy by bounding out of the road at every +strange object he encounters, the saddle will be neither a safe nor +pleasant place for the lady rider. To avoid such danger, and to +compensate, in some degree, the liberty-loving animal for depriving him +of his natural life and placing him in bondage, he should be given, +instead of the usual narrow stall, a box stall, measuring about sixteen +or eighteen feet square. In this box the horse should be left entirely +free, without even a halter, as this appendage has sometimes been the +cause of fearful accidents, by becoming entangled with the horse's feet. + +The groom may grumble again at this innovation, because a box stall +means more work for him, but if he really cares for the horses under his +charge he will soon become reconciled to the small amount of extra work +required by the use of a box stall. Every one who knows anything about a +horse in the stable is well aware of the injury done to this animal's +feet and limbs by compelling him to stand always confined to one spot in +a narrow stall. A box will prevent the occurrence of these injuries, +besides giving the horse a little freedom and enabling him to get more +rest and benefit from his sleep. + +Some horses are fond of looking through a window or over a half door. +The glimpse they thus get of the outside life seems to amuse and +interest them, and it can do no harm to gratify this desire. Others, +however, seem to be worried and excited by such outlooks; they become +restless and even make attempts to leap over the half door or through +the window. In such cases there should, of course, be no out-of-door +scenery visible from the box. + +The groom should exercise the horse daily, in a gentle and regular +manner; an hour or two of walking, varied occasionally by a short trot, +will generally be found sufficient. Being self-taught in the art of +riding, grooms nearly always have a very heavy bridle hand, and, if +allowed to use the curb bit, will soon destroy that sensitiveness of the +horse's mouth which adds so much to the pleasure of riding him. The man +who exercises the horse should not be permitted to wear spurs; a lady's +horse should be guided wholly by the whip and reins,--as will be +explained hereafter,--and in no case whatever should the spur be used. +If the lady wishes to keep her horse in good health and temper she must +insist upon his being exercised regularly, and must assure herself that +the groom executes her orders faithfully; for some men, while professing +to obey, have been known to stop at the nearest public house, and, after +spending an hour or two in drinking beer and gossiping with +acquaintances, to ride back complacently to the stable, leaving the +horse to suffer from want of exercise. Other grooms have gone to the +opposite extreme, and have ridden so hard and fast that the horse on +his return was completely tired out, so that when there was occasion to +use him the same day it was an effort for him to maintain his usual +light gait. Grooms who are always doctoring a horse, giving him nostrums +that do no good but often much harm, are also to be avoided. In short, +the owner of a horse must be prepared for tricks of all kinds on the +part of these stable servants; although, in justice to them, it must be +said that there are many who endeavor to perform all their duties +faithfully, and can be relied on to treat with kindness any animals +committed to their care. + +Should the lady rider be obliged to get her horse from a livery stable, +she should not rely entirely upon what his owner says of his gaits or +gentleness, but should have him tried carefully by some friend or +servant, before herself attempting to mount him. She should also be very +careful to see, or have her escort see, that the saddle is properly +placed upon the back of the horse and firmly girthed, so that there may +be no danger of its turning. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE RIDING HABIT. + + "Her dress, her shape, her matchless grace, + Were all observed, as well as heavenly face." + + DRYDEN. + + +A riding habit should be distinguished by its perfect simplicity. All +attempts at display, such as feathers, ribbons, glaring gilt buttons, +and sparkling jet, should be carefully avoided, and the dress should be +noticeable only for the fineness of its material and the elegance of its +fit. + +One of the first requirements in a riding dress is that it should fit +smoothly and easily. The sleeves should be rather loose, especially near +the arm-holes, so that the arms may move freely; but should fit closely +enough at the wrist to allow long gauntlet gloves to pass readily over +them. It is essential that ample room should be allowed across the +chest, as the shoulders are thrown somewhat back in riding, and the +chest is, consequently, expanded. The neck of the dress should fit very +easily, especially at the back part. Care must be taken not to make the +waist too long, for, owing to a lady's position in the saddle, the +movements of her horse will soon make a long waist wrinkle and look +inelegant. To secure ease, together with a perfect fit without crease or +fold, will be somewhat difficult, but not impossible. Some tailors, +particularly in New York, Philadelphia, London, and Paris, make a +specialty of ladies' riding costumes, and can generally be relied on to +supply comfortable and elegant habits. + +The favorite and most appropriate style of =riding jacket= is the +"postilion basque;" this should be cut short over the hips, and is then +especially becoming to a plump person, as it diminishes the apparent +width of the back below the waist. The front should have two small +darts, and should extend about three inches below the waist; it should +then slope gradually up to the hips,--where it must be shortest,--and +then downward so as to form a short, square coat-flap at the back, below +the waist. This flap must be made without gathers or plaits, and lined +with silk, between which and the cloth some stiffening material should +be inserted. The middle seam of the coat-flap should be left open as far +as the waist, where about one inch of it must be lapped over from left +to right; the short side-form on each side must be lapped a little +toward the central unclosed seam. The arm-holes should be cut rather +high on the shoulders, so that the back may look less broad. If the lady +lacks plumpness and roundness, her jacket must be made double-breasted, +or else have padding placed across the bust, for a hollow chest mars all +the beauty of the figure in the saddle, and causes the rider to look +round-shouldered. The edge of the basque should be trimmed with +cord-braid, and the front fastened with crocheted bullet buttons; +similar buttons should be used to fasten the sleeves closely at the +wrist, and two more should be placed on the back of the basque just at +its waist line. + +Great care must be taken to have the jacket well lined and its seams +strongly sewed. The coat-flaps on the back of the basque, below the +waist-line, should be held down by heavy metallic buttons, sewed +underneath each flap at its lower part, and covered with the same +material as that of the dress. Without these weights this part of the +dress will be apt to be blown out of position by every passing breeze, +and will bob up and down with every motion of the rider's body, +presenting a most ridiculous appearance. + +For winter riding an extra jacket may be worn over the riding basque. It +should be made of some heavy, warm material, and fit half tightly. If +trimmed with good fur, this jacket makes a very handsome addition to the +riding habit. + +Poets have expatiated upon the grace and beauty of the long, flowing +riding skirt, with its ample folds, but experience has taught that this +long skirt, though, perhaps, very poetical, is practically not only +inconvenient but positively dangerous. In the canter or gallop the horse +is very apt to entangle his hind-foot in it and be thrown, when the +rider may consider herself fortunate if she escapes with no worse +accident than a torn skirt. Another objection to this poetical skirt is, +that it gathers up the mud and dust of the road, and soon presents a +most untidy appearance; while if the day be fresh and breezy its ample +folds will stream out like a victorious banner; if made of some light +material the breeze will swell it out like an inflated balloon; and if +of heavy cloth its length will envelop the rider's feet, and make her +look as if tied in a bag. + +To avoid all these dangers and inconveniences the =riding skirt= should +be cut rather short and narrow, and be made of some heavy material. Two +yards and a quarter will be quite wide enough for the bottom of the +skirt, while the length need be only about twelve inches more than the +rider's ordinary dress. The skirt should be so gored as to form no +gathers or plaits at the waist. Tailor-made skirts are so neatly gored +as to remain perfectly smooth when the rider is seated in the saddle. As +the pommels take up a good deal of room, the front part of the skirt, +which passes over them, should be made a little longer than the back, so +that, when the rider is seated in the saddle, her dress may hang evenly. +If made the same length all around it will, when the lady is mounted, be +entirely too short in front, and, besides presenting an uneven, +trail-like appearance, will be apt to work back, or to blow up and +expose the right foot of the wearer. + +The bottom of the skirt should have a hem about three inches wide, but +should never be faced with leather, as this will give a stiff, bungling +effect, and if the rider should be thrown, and catch the hem of her +skirt on either pommel or stirrup, the strength of the leather lining +would prevent the cloth from tearing and thus releasing her. Shot, +pieces of lead, or other hard substances are also objectionable, because +by striking against the horse's side they often cause him to become +restless or even to run away. To keep the skirt down in its proper +position a loop of stout elastic, or tape, should be fastened +underneath, near the bottom, and through this loop the foot should be +passed before being put into the stirrup. The point where the loop +should be fastened must be determined by the position of the lady's foot +when she is correctly seated in the saddle. Some riders use a second +elastic for the right foot, to prevent the skirt from slipping back, but +this is not absolutely necessary. + +The basque and skirt should be made separate, although it is a very good +plan to have strong hooks and eyes to fasten them together at the sides +and back, as this will prevent the skirt from turning, or slipping down +below the waist, should the binding be a little too loose. The +placket-hole should be on the left side and should be buttoned over, to +prevent it from gaping open; it must be only just large enough to allow +the skirt to slip readily over the shoulders. + +The best material for a riding habit is broadcloth, or any strong, soft +fabric that will adapt itself readily to the figure. The color is, of +course, a matter of taste. Black is always stylish, and is particularly +becoming to a stout person. Dark blue, hunter's green, and dark brown +are also becoming colors, especially for slender, youthful figures. In +the country, a linen jacket may be worn in warm weather, and will be +found a very agreeable substitute for the cloth basque, but the skirt +should never be made of so thin a material, as it will be too light to +hang well and too slippery to sit upon. + +To secure ease and freedom in the saddle, a garment closely resembling a +pair of =pantaloons= will have to be worn under the riding skirt, and be +fastened down securely by means of strong leather or rubber straps, +which pass under the foot and are buttoned to the bottom of the +pantaloons. These pantaloons should be made of some soft cloth the color +of the dress, or else of chamois skin, faced up to the knee with cloth +like that of the skirt. Most people prefer the chamois skin for winter +use, as it is very warm and so soft that it prevents much of the chafing +usually occasioned by the rubbing of the right leg on the pommel. + +No under =petticoats= are necessary where the pantaloons are used, but +if the rider wear one, it should be of some dark color that will not +attract attention if the riding skirt be blown back. Black silk will be +an excellent material for such a skirt in summer, something warmer being +used in winter. This skirt should have no folds or gathers in it, but if +the rider be very thin a little padding around the hips and over the +back will give her the desired effect of plumpness. + +An important article of every-day wear will have to be discarded and a +=riding-habit shirt= used in its place. This shirt must be made short, +that the rider may not have to sit upon its folds and wrinkles, which +she would find very uncomfortable. The collar should be high and +standing, _à la militaire_, and made of the finest, whitest linen; it +should be sewed to the shirt for greater security, and should just be +seen above the high collar band of the basque. + +The =drawers= must also be made very much like those of a gentleman, and +the lower parts be tucked under the hose. The garters should be rather +loose, or elastic. + +Buttoned boots, or those with elastic sides, should not be worn when +riding. For summer use, the shoe laced at the side, and having a low, +broad heel, is liked by many. The ladies' Wellington boot, reaching +nearly to the knee, is also a favorite with some, and, when made without +any seam in front, prevents the stirrup-iron from chafing the instep. To +be comfortable, it should have a broad sole and be made a little longer +than the foot. This boot, however, gives the wearer rather an Amazonian +appearance, and has also the great disadvantage of being very difficult +to get off, the lady usually being obliged to appropriate the +gentleman's bootjack for the purpose. The =best boot= for riding +purposes, found to be the most comfortable, and one easy to get on and +off, is made of some light leather, or kid, for summer use, and of +heavier leather for winter; it extends half way to the knee, laces up in +front, has broad, low heels and wide soles, and is made a little longer +than the wearer's foot, so that it may be perfectly easy, as a tight +boot in riding is even more distressing than in walking. + +The =corset= is indispensable to the elegant fit required in a riding +habit, but should never be laced tight. It should be short on the sides +and in the front and back. If long in front it will be almost impossible +for the rider to pass her knee over the second pommel when she attempts +to mount her horse, and will cause her, when riding, to incline her body +too far back; when long at the sides it will be even more inconvenient, +for, if at all tight, it will make the rider, when in the saddle, feel +as if her hips were compressed in a vise; when too long behind, it will +interfere with that curving or hollowing in of the back that is so +necessary to an erect position; it will also tend to throw the body too +far forward. If the rider have any tendency to stoutness all these +discomforts will be exaggerated. The C. P. or the Parisian _la Sirene_ +is undoubtedly the best corset for riding purposes, for it is short, +light, and flexible, and not prejudicial to the ease and elegance of +good riding, as is the case with the stiff, long-bodied corset. + +The =hair= should be so arranged that it cannot possibly come down +during the ride. To effect this, it must be made into one long braid, +which must be coiled upon the back of the head, and fastened firmly, but +not too tightly, by means of a few long hairpins. The coil may be put on +the top of the head, but this arrangement will be found very +inconvenient, especially where the hair is thick, for it will make the +hat sit very awkwardly on the head. The hair should never be worn in +ringlets, as these will be blown about by the wind, or by the movements +of the rider, and will soon become so tangled as to look like anything +but the "smooth flowing ringlets" of the poet. Nor should the hair be +allowed to stream down the back in long peasant-braids, a style +mistakenly adopted by some young misses, but which gives the rider a +wild and untidy appearance. When the horse is in motion these braids +will stream out on the breeze, and an observer at a short distance will +be puzzled to know what it is that seems to be in such an extraordinary +state of agitation. It is also a mistake to draw the hair back tightly +from the forehead, as this gives a constrained look to the features; it +should, on the contrary, be arranged in rather a loose, unstudied +manner, which will tend to soften the expression of the face. It is the +extreme of bad taste to bang or frizz the hair across the forehead, or +to wear the hat somewhat on the back of the head. These things are +sometimes done by very young girls, but give to the prettiest and most +modest face an air of boldness and vulgarity. + +The =riding hat= at present fashionable, and most suitable for city or +park, is made of black silk plush with a Stanley curved brim, and +bell-crown, and is trimmed with a narrow band around the crown, directly +above the brim. Another favorite is a jockey-cap, made of the same cloth +as that of the habit. Either of these may be obtained at the hat stores. +For riding in the country, where one does not care to be so dressy, the +English Derby, or some other fashionable style of young gentleman's felt +hat, may be used; with a short plume or bird's wing fastened at the +side, a hat of this description has a very charming and coquettish air. +There is another style of silk hat manufactured expressly for ladies, +which may also be obtained at any hatter's; it has a lower crown than a +gentleman's silk hat, and looks very pretty with a short black net-veil +fastened around the crown, as this relieves the stiff look it otherwise +presents. This style of hat is very appropriate for a middle-aged +person. Care must be taken to have the hat neither too loose nor too +tight; if too tight, it will be apt to occasion a headache, and if too +loose will be easily displaced. + +Long veils, long plumes, hats with very broad brims, or very high +crowns, as well as those which are worn perched on the top of the head, +should be especially avoided. The hat must always be made secure on the +head by means of stout elastic sewn on strongly, and so adjusted that it +can pass below the braid or coil of hair at the back of the head. An +ordinary back-comb firmly fastened on the top of the head will prevent +the hat from gradually slipping backwards. + +These apparently trifling details must be attended to, or some prankish +breeze will suddenly carry off the rider's hat, and she will be +subjected to the mortification of having it handed back to her, with an +ill-concealed smile, by some obliging pedestrian. Many little +particulars which seem insignificant when in the dressing-room will +become causes of much discomfort and suffering when in the saddle. The +pleasure of many a ride has been marred by a displaced pin, a lost +button, too tight a garter, a glove that cramped the hand, or a ring +that occasioned swelling and pain in the finger. These details, +unimportant as they may seem, must be carefully attended to before +starting for a ride. Pins should be used sparingly. If a watch is worn, +it should be well secured in its pocket, and the chain carefully +fastened to a button of the jacket. + +The =riding gauntlets= should be made of thick, soft, undressed kid, or +chamois skin, be long wristed, and somewhat loose across the hands, so +that the reins may be firmly grasped. With the exception of the watch, +the chain of which should be as unostentatious as possible, it will not +be in good taste to wear jewelry. A cravat or small bow of ribbon will +be in much better taste than a breast-pin for fastening the collar, and +may be of any color that suits the fancy or complexion of the wearer. +The costume may be much brightened by a small _boutonnière_ of natural +flowers; these placed at the throat or waist in an apparently careless +manner give an air of daintiness and refinement to the whole costume. + +There is one accomplishment often neglected, or overlooked, even by the +most skillful lady riders, and that is, expertness in =holding the +riding skirt= easily and gracefully when not in the saddle. In this +attainment the Parisian horsewoman far excels all others; her manner of +gathering up the folds of her riding skirt, while waiting for her horse, +forms a picture of such unaffected elegance, that it would be well for +other riders to study and imitate it. She does not grab her skirt with +one hand, twist it round to one side, allow it to trail upon the ground, +nor does she collect the folds in one unwieldy bunch and throw it +brusquely over her arm. Instead of any of these ungraceful acts, she +quietly extends her arms down to their full length at her sides, +inclines her body slightly forward, and gathers up the front of her +skirt, raising her hands just far enough to allow the long part in front +and at the sides to escape the ground; then by bringing her hands +slightly forward, one being held a little higher than the other, the +back part of the skirt is raised. While accomplishing these movements +her whip will be held carelessly in her right hand, at a very short +distance below the handle, the point being directed downwards, and +somewhat obliquely backwards. The whole of this graceful manoeuvring +will be effected readily and artlessly, in an apparently unstudied +manner. In reality, however, all the Parisian's ease and grace are the +results of careful training, but so perfect is the instruction that art +is made to appear like nature. + +In selecting a =riding whip= care should be taken to secure one that is +straight and stiff; if it be curved, it may accidentally touch the horse +and make him restless; if flexible it will be of no use in managing him. +The handle of the whip may be very plain, or the lady may indulge her +taste for the ornamental by having it very elaborate and rich, but she +should be careful never to sacrifice strength to appearances. Any +projecting points that might catch on the dress and tear it must be +dispensed with. That the whip may not be lost if the hand should +unwittingly lose its hold upon it, a loop of silk cord should be +fastened firmly to the handle, and the hand passed through this loop. +When riding, the whip should always be held in the right hand with a +grasp sufficient to retain it, but not as if in a vise; the point should +be directed downward, or toward the hind-leg of the horse, care being +taken not to touch him with it except when necessary. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE SADDLE AND BRIDLE. + + "Form by mild bits his mouth, nor harshly wound, + Till summer rolls her fourth-revolving round. + Then wheel in graceful orbs his paced career, + Let step by step in cadence strike the ear, + The flexile limbs in curves alternate prance, + And seem to labor as they slow advance: + Then give, uncheck'd, to fly with loosen'd rein, + Challenge the winds, and wing th' unprinted plain." + + VIRGIL, _Sotheby's Translation_. + + +In ye ancient times, the damsel who wished to enjoy horseback riding did +not, like her successor of to-day, trust to her own ability to ride and +manage her horse, but, seated upon a pad or cushion, called a "pillion," +which was fastened behind a man's saddle, rode without a stirrup and +without troubling herself with the reins, preserving her balance by +holding to the belt of a trusty page, or masculine admirer, whose duty +it was to attend to the management of the horse. We learn that as late +as A. D. 1700, George III. made his entry into London with his wife, +Charlotte, thus seated behind him. Gradually, however, as women became +more confident, they rode alone upon a sort of side-saddle, on which by +means of the reins and by bracing her feet against a board, called a +"planchette," which was fastened to the front of the saddle, the rider +managed to keep her seat. Such was the English horsewoman of the +seventeenth century, in the time of Charles II.,--"the height of fashion +and the cream of style." + +To the much quoted "vanity of the fair sex" do we owe the invention of +the side-saddle of our grandmothers. About the middle of the sixteenth +century Catherine de Medici, wife of Henry II. of France, having a very +symmetrical figure which she wished to display to advantage, invented +the second pommel of the saddle, and thus, while gratifying her own +vanity, was unconsciously the means of greatly benefiting her sex by +enabling them to ride with more ease and freedom. To this saddle there +was added, about 1830, a third pommel, the invention of which is due to +the late M. Pellier, Sr., an eminent riding teacher in Paris, France. +This three-pommeled saddle is now called the =English saddle=, and is +the one generally used by the best lady riders of the present day. + +This so-called "English saddle" was promptly appreciated, and wherever +introduced soon supplanted the old-fashioned one with only two pommels. +(Fig. 7.) + +[Illustration: Fig. 7.--English Saddle. + +1, second pommel; 2, third pommel; 3, shield; 4, saddle-flap; 5, cantle; +6, stirrup-leather; 7, stirrup; 8, girths; 9, platform.] + +A lady who has once ridden one of these three-pommeled saddles will +never care to use any other kind. It renders horseback riding almost +perfectly safe, for, if the rider has learned to use it properly, it +will be nearly impossible for a horse to throw her. It gives her a much +firmer seat even than that of a gentleman in his saddle, and at the same +time, if rightly used, does not interfere with that easy grace so +essential to good riding. In many of our large cities where this saddle +is employed twenty lady riders may now be seen in the park or on the +road where formerly there was one; and this is wholly due to the sense +of security it gives, especially to a timid rider, a feeling never +attainable in the two-pommeled saddle, where the seat is maintained +chiefly by the balance, or by using the reins as a means of support. + +By sitting erect, taking a firm hold upon the second pommel with the +right knee, and pressing the left knee up against the third pommel, a +perfectly secure seat is obtained, from which the rider cannot be +shaken, provided the saddle is well girthed and the horse does not fall, +while her hands are left free to manage the reins, a very important +point where the horse is spirited or restless. To insure the greatest +safety and comfort for both horse and rider, it is very important that +the saddle should be accurately constructed. If possible, it should be +made especially for the horse that is to carry it, so that it may suit +his particular shape. If it does not fit him well, it will be likely to +turn, or may gall his back severely, and make him for a long time unfit +for service. It may even, in time, give rise to fistulous withers, will +certainly make the horse restless and uneasy on the road, and the pain +he suffers will interfere with the ease and harmony of his gaits. Many a +horse has been rendered unfit for a lady's use solely because the saddle +did not fit well. + +The under surface of the arch of the saddle-tree, in front, should never +come in contact with the animal's withers, nor should the points of the +saddle-tree be so tightly fitted as to interfere with the movements of +his shoulders. On the other hand, they should not be so far apart as to +allow the central furrowed line of the under surface of the saddle (the +chamber) to rest upon the animal's back. The saddle should be so fitted +and padded that this central chamber will lie directly over the spinal +column of the horse without touching it, while the padded surfaces, just +below the chamber, should rest closely on the sides of the back, and be +supported at as many points as is possible without making the animal +uncomfortable. + +When a horse has very high withers, a breast-plate, similar to that +employed in military service, may be used, to prevent the saddle from +slipping backwards. This contrivance consists of a piece of leather +passing round the neck like a collar, to the lowest part of which is +fastened a strap that passes between the fore-legs of the horse and is +attached to the saddle girth. Two other straps, one on each side, +connect the upper part of the collar piece with the upper part of the +saddle. The under strap should never be very loose, for should the +saddle slip back and this strap not be tight enough to hold down the +collar piece, the latter will be pulled up by the upper straps so as to +press against the windpipe of the horse and choke him. Should the horse +have low withers and a round, barrel-like body, false pannels or padded +pieces may be used; but an animal of this shape is not suitable for a +lady, for it will be almost impossible to keep the saddle from turning, +no matter how carefully it may be girthed. + +A sufficiently spacious seat or platform to the saddle is much more +comfortable for both horse and rider than a narrow one. It gives the +rider a firmer seat, and does not bring so much strain upon the girths. +This platform should also be made as nearly level as possible, and be +covered with quilted buckskin. Leather, now so often used for this +purpose, becomes after a time so slippery that it is difficult to retain +one's seat, and the pommels when covered with it are apt to chafe the +limbs severely. + +To secure a thoroughly comfortable saddle it is necessary that not only +the horse, but also the rider, should be measured for it; for a saddle +suitable for a slender person could hardly be used with any comfort by a +stout one, and it is almost as bad to have a saddle too large as too +small. Care must be taken to have sufficient length from the front of +the second pommel to the cantle. In the ready-made saddles this distance +is usually too short, and the rider is obliged to sit upon the back edge +of the seat, thereby injuring both herself and her horse. It is much +better to err in the other direction and have the seat too long rather +than too short. The third pommel should be so placed that it will just +span the knee when the stirrup-leather is of the right length. It should +be rather short, slightly curved, and blunt. If it be too long and have +too much of a curve, it will, in the English trot, interfere with the +free action of the rider's left leg, and if the horse should fall, it +would be almost impossible for her to disengage her leg and free herself +in time to escape injury. The third pommel must be so placed as not to +interfere with the position of the right leg when this is placed around +the second pommel with the right heel drawn backwards. To get the proper +proportions for her saddle, the lady must, when seated, take her measure +from the under side of the knee joint to the lower extremity of her +back, and also--to secure the proper width for the seat--from thigh to +thigh. If these two measurements are given to the saddle-maker he will, +if he understands his business, be able to construct the saddle +properly. + +The saddle recommended by the author, one which she has used for several +years, and still continues to use, is represented in Fig. 7. The third +pommel of this saddle is of medium size, and instead of being close to +the second one is placed a short distance below it, thus enabling the +rider to use a longer stirrup than she otherwise could; for if the two +pommels be very close together, the rider will be obliged to use a very +short stirrup in order to make this third pommel of any use. The +disadvantage of a short stirrup is that, in a long ride, it is apt to +occasion cramp in the left leg. It also interferes with an easy and +steady position in the saddle. But with a stirrup of the right length, +and the arrangement of the pommels such as we have described, a +steadiness is given to the left leg that can never be obtained with the +old-fashioned two-pommeled saddle. + +The third pommel must be screwed securely into the saddle-tree, and once +fixed in its proper place, should not again be moved, as if frequently +turned it will soon get loose, and the rider will not be able to rely +upon its assistance to retain her balance. It should be screwed into +place inversely, that is, instead of being turned to the right it must +be turned to the left, so that the pressure of the knee may make it +firmer and more secure, instead of loosening it, as would be the case if +it were screwed to the right. This pommel should be well padded, so that +the knee may not be bruised by it. + +The second pommel should also be well padded, and should always be +curved slightly so as to suit the form of the right leg. It must not be +so high as to render it difficult, in mounting and dismounting, to pass +the right knee over it. The off-pommel, since the English saddle has +come into vogue, has almost disappeared, being reduced to a mere vestige +of its former size. This is a great improvement to the rider's +appearance, as she now no longer has that confined, cribbed-up look +which the high pommeled saddle of twenty years ago gave her. + +The distance between the off-pommel and the second one should be adapted +to the size of the rider's leg, being wide enough to allow the leg to +rest easily between the two; but no wider than this, as too much space +will be apt to lead her to sit sideways upon the saddle. + +A saddle should be well padded, but not so much so as to lift the rider +too high above the horse's back. The shield in front should not press +upon the neck of the horse, but should barely touch it. The saddle flaps +must be well strapped down, for if they stand out stiffly, the correct +position of the stirrup leg will be interfered with. A side-saddle +should never be too light in weight, for this will make the back of the +horse sore, especially if he be ridden by a heavy woman. + +The tacks or nails in the under part of the saddle should be firmly +driven in, as they may otherwise become loose and either injure the +horse, or make him nervous and uneasy. To avoid trouble of this kind, +some people advocate the use of false pannels, which are fastened to the +saddle-tree by rods or loops, and can be removed and replaced at will. +It is said that by using them, the same saddle can be made to fit +different horses. The author has no personal knowledge of this +invention, but it has been strongly recommended to her by several +excellent horsemen. A felt or flannel saddle cloth, of the same color as +the rider's habit, should always be placed under the saddle, as it helps +to protect the horse's back, as well as to prevent the saddle from +getting soiled. + +Every finished side-saddle has three girths. Two of these are made of +felt cloth, or strong webbing, and are designed to fasten it firmly upon +the horse's back. The third one, made of leather, is intended to keep +the flaps down. There should always be, on each side, three straps +fastened to the saddle-tree under the leather flaps; upon two of these +the girths are to be buckled, while the third is an extra one, to be +used as a substitute in case of any accident to either of the others. +Between the outside leather flaps and the horse's body there should be +an under flap of flannel or cloth, which should be well padded on the +side next the horse, because, when tightly girthed, the girth-buckles +press directly upon the outside of this flap, and if its padding be +thin, or worn, the animal will suffer great pain. This is a cause of +restlessness which is seldom noticed, and many a horse has been thought +to be bad tempered when he was only wild with pain from the pressure of +the girth-buckles against his side. + +[Illustration: Fig. 8.--Stokes' mode of girthing the saddle.] + +The credit of introducing a new method of tightening girths belongs, so +far as we know, to Mr. Stokes, formerly a riding-teacher in Cincinnati. +This method enables one to girth the horse tightly, without using so +much muscular effort as is usually required, so that by its means, a +lady can, if she wish, saddle her own horse. (Fig. 8.) + +The following is a description of Mr. Stokes' manner of girthing: At the +end of each of the leather girth straps, which hang down between the +flaps on the off-side of the saddle, is fastened a strong iron buckle +without any tongue, but with a thin steel roller or revolving cylinder +on its lower edge. On the near side of the saddle the girths are +strapped in the usual manner, but, on the _outer_ end of each cloth +girth there is, in addition to an ordinary buckle, with a roller on the +upper side of it, a long strap, which is fastened to the under side of +the girth, the buckle being on the upper side. This strap, when the +saddle is girthed, is passed up through the tongueless buckle, moving +easily over the steel roller, and is then brought down to the buckle +with tongue on the end of the girth, and there fastened in the usual +manner. + +The slipper stirrup, when first introduced, was a great favorite, for in +addition to furnishing an excellent support, it was believed that it +would release the foot instantly should the rider be thrown. This latter +merit, however, it was found that it did not possess, as many severe +accidents occurred where this stirrup was used, especially with the +two-pommeled saddle. Instead of releasing the rider in these cases, as +it was supposed it would, the stirrup tilted up and held her foot so +firmly grasped that she was dragged some distance before she could be +released. This stirrup, therefore, gradually fell into disfavor, and is +now no longer used by the best riders. + +[Illustration: Fig. 9.--Victoria stirrup.] + +There are, at the present time, three kinds of stirrups which are +favorites among finished riders. The first is called the "Victoria" +because it is the one used by the Queen of England. (Fig. 9.) In this +stirrup the platform on which the foot rests is broad and comfortable, +and is slightly roughened to prevent the foot from slipping. A +spring-bar attachment (Fig. 10) is placed at the top of the +stirrup-leather under the saddle-flap, and at the end of this bar there +is a spring, so that, if the rider be thrown, the stirrup-leather +becomes instantly detached from the saddle. + +[Illustration: Fig. 10.--Spring-bar for stirrup leather.] + +The second variety of stirrup, known as "Lennan's safety stirrup," has +all the merit of the preceding one. If kept well oiled and free from +mud, it will release the foot at once, when an accident occurs. It may, +if desired, be accompanied by the spring-bar attachment, and thus +rendered doubly secure. (Fig. 11.) Some people, however, dislike the +spring-bar attachment, and prefer to rely entirely upon the spring of +the stirrup to release the foot. + +[Illustration: Fig. 11.--Lennan's safety stirrup.] + +The third stirrup, called "Latchford's safety stirrup," consists of a +stirrup within a stirrup, and is so arranged that, when a rider is +thrown, the inner stirrup springs open and releases the foot. (Fig. 12.) +Either of these stirrups can be procured in London, England, or from the +best saddle-makers in this country. + +[Illustration: Fig. 12.--Latchford's safety stirrup.] + +A =stirrup-iron= should never be made of cast metal, but invariably of +the best wrought steel: it should be adapted to the size of the rider's +foot, and should, if possible, have an instep pad at the top, while the +bottom platform, upon which the foot rests, should be broad, and +roughened on its upper surface. + +The =stirrup-leather= should be of the very best material, and should +have neither fissures nor cracks in any part of it. It is very important +to examine this leather frequently, and see that it is neither wearing +thin, nor breaking at its upper part at the bar, nor at the lower part +where it is fastened to the stirrup. + +A novel arrangement of the stirrup-leather, by means of the so-called +"balance-strap," has of late years been used by some riders. The stirrup +is, in this case, fastened to the balance-strap, which consists of a +single strap passing up through the ring-bar, and then brought down to +within two or three inches of the lower edge of the saddle-flap; here it +is passed through a slit in the flap, then carried under the horse to +the other side and buckled to another strap, which is fastened, for this +purpose, just below the off-pommel. By this arrangement the saddle-flaps +on both sides are held down, and the rider, without dismounting, can +change the length of her stirrup by merely tightening or loosening this +strap. Although highly recommended by some riders, this balance strap +has one objectionable feature, which is that, as the measurement of the +horse's girth is not constant during a long ride, it will be necessary +to tighten the strap frequently in order to keep the stirrup of the +proper length. The old way of fastening is much better, for too much +complication in the saddle and bridle is apt to annoy and confuse the +rider, especially if a novice. The =golden rule= in riding on horseback +is to have everything accurate, simple, safe, and made of the very best +material that can be procured. + +The =bridle= should be neatly and plainly made, with no large rosettes +at the sides, nor highly colored bands across the forehead. The reins +and the head-piece should never be made of rounded straps, but always +of flat ones, and should be of the best and strongest leather, +especially the reins. These should be carefully examined from time to +time, in order to be sure that there are no imperfections in them. Any +roughness or hardness is an indication of defectiveness, and may be +detected by dexterously passing the fingers to and fro over the flat +surfaces, which should be smooth, soft, and flexible. There can hardly +be too much care taken about this matter, for the snapping of a rein +always alarms a horse; and, feeling himself free from all control, he +will be almost certain to run away, while the rider, if she has no other +reins, will be powerless to protect herself, or to check him in his +purpose. + +=Martingales= are rarely used by riders, as they are troublesome, and +can very well be dispensed with, unless the horse has the disagreeable +trick of raising his head suddenly, from time to time, when a martingale +will become necessary in order to correct this fault. The French +martingale is the best. This consists of a single strap, fastened either +to the under part of a nose-band at its centre under the jaw, or by +branches to each side of the snaffle-bit at the corners of the horse's +mouth and then carried between the fore-legs and fastened to the girth. +When the horse raises his head too high this strap pulls upon the +nose-band, compresses his nostrils, interferes with his breathing, and +causes him to lower his head promptly. The horse should not be too much +confined by the martingale, for the object is simply to prevent him from +lifting his head too high, and all other ordinary movements should be +left free. + +[Illustration: Fig. 13.--Chifney bit.] + +Among the many =bits= which have been used, that known as the "Pelham" +has been highly praised, although, at the present time, it is almost, if +not entirely, out of use. It might, however, from the severity of its +curb prove of service in controlling a hard-mouthed horse, although such +a one should never be ridden by a lady. The Chifney bit is another very +severe one, and is very useful in managing a horse that pulls hard. But +if the animal have a tender mouth, this bit should be used with great +caution, and not at all by an inexperienced rider. (Fig. 13.) + +The bit known as the "snaffle," when made plain and not twisted, is the +mildest of all bits, and some horses will move readily only when this +is used, the curb instantly rousing their temper. Others, again, do best +with a combination of the curb and the snaffle, and although the former +may seldom require to be used, its mere presence in the mouth of the +horse will prove a sufficient check to prevent him from running away. +Most horses, however, especially those ridden by ladies, require a light +use of the curb to bring them to their best gait. + +[Illustration: Fig. 14.--The Combination Bit. + +_a_, _a_, rings fastened on each side to small bar, at right angles to +and directed backward of the cheek; _b_, _b_, rings for the curb-reins.] + +The bit used and recommended by many, but not by the author, is a curb +so arranged as to form a combination bit in one piece. It consists of a +curb (Fig. 14), to each side of which, at the angles of the horse's +mouth, a ring is attached, and to each of these rings is fastened a +rein. This gives a second pair of reins and converts the curb into a +kind of snaffle. In this way it answers the purpose of both curb and +snaffle without crowding the horse's mouth with two separate bits. + +If two bits should be used--the curb and bridoon--instead of the above +combination bit, the bridoon should be placed in the horse's mouth in +such a way as not to interfere with the action of the curb; it must, +therefore, be neither too thick nor too long, and so fitted into the +angles of the mouth as to neither wrinkle nor draw back the lips. + +The bit should always be made of the best steel, be well rounded, and +perfectly smooth. Above all it should be accurately fitted to the +horse's mouth: if it be too narrow it will compress his lips against the +bars of his mouth, and the pain thereby occasioned will render him very +restive. The mouth-piece should be just long enough to have the cheeks +of the bit fit closely to the outer surface of the lips without +compressing them, and must not be so long as to become displaced +obliquely when a rein is pulled. + +[Illustration: Fig. 15.--Dwyer's Curb-Bit. + +1, 1, upper bars or cheeks; 2, 2, lower bars; 3, the port; 4, 4, the +canons; 5, curb-chain; 6, curb-hook; 7, lip strap and ring; 8, 8, rein +rings; 9, 9, head stall rings.] + +According to Major Dwyer, who is a high authority on the subject of +bits,--and whose little work should be carefully studied by all +bit-makers,--it seems to be the general rule to have the lower bar or +cheek of the curb-bit twice as long as the upper one; but, as there is +no standard measure for the upper one the other is frequently made too +long. Major Dwyer states that the mouth-piece, for any horse of ordinary +size, should be one and three fourths inches for the upper bar, and +three and a half inches for the lower one. This makes five and one +fourth inches for the entire length of the two bars, from the point at +which the curb-hook acts above to that where the lower ring acts below. +(Fig. 15.) For ordinary ponies the upper bar may be one and a half +inches, and the lower one three, making a total length of four and a +half inches. + +Every lady rider should know that the longer the lower bar, the thinner +the mouth-piece, and the higher the "port," the more severe and painful +will be the action of the bit upon the horse's mouth. For a horse of +ordinary size, the width of the port should be one and one third inches; +for a pony, one inch. The height will vary according to the degree of +severity required. + +The curb-chain, for a horse that has a chin-groove of medium size, +should be about four fifths of an inch wide, as a chain that is rather +broad and flat is less painful for the horse than a thin, sharp one. If +the chin-groove be very narrow, a curb-chain of less width will have to +be used, and should be covered with cloth; or, instead of a chain, a +narrow strap of leather may be used, which should be kept soft and +pliable. The proper length for the curb-chain, not including the +curb-hooks, is about one fourth more than the width of the animal's +mouth. The hooks should be exactly alike, and about an inch and a +quarter long. + +Some horses are very expert in the trick of catching the cheek of the +bit between their teeth. To remedy this vice a lip-strap may be used; +but it will be found much better to have each cheek or bar bent into the +form of the letter S, remembering, however, that the measurement of the +length, referred to above, must in the case of curved bars be made in a +straight line. Sometimes the upper bar of the curb-bit will, on account +of the peculiar form of the horse's head, press against and gall his +cheeks. When this is noticed, most people change the bit, and get one +with a longer mouth-piece; but where the mouth-piece is of the same +length as the width of the mouth, the proper remedy for this difficulty +will be to have the upper bar bent out enough to free the cheeks from +its pressure. + +The curb-bit once made and properly adjusted to the head-stall, the next +step will be to =fit it accurately= to the horse's mouth. Every rider +should thoroughly understand not only how to do this, but also how to +place the saddle correctly upon the horse. Upon these points nearly all +grooms require instruction, and very few gentlemen, even, know how to +arrange a side-saddle so as to have it comfortable for both horse and +rider. Moreover, should the lady be riding alone, as frequently happens +in the country, and meet with any accident to saddle or bridle, or need +to have either adjusted, she would, without knowledge on these subjects, +be completely helpless, whereas with it she could promptly remedy the +difficulty. + +[Illustration: Fig. 16.--The Bit adjusted. + +1, 1, snaffle-rein; 2, 2, curb-rein.] + +In order to adjust the bit permanently to the head-stall, so that +afterwards the horse can always be properly bridled, one must proceed +as follows: having first fitted the head-stall to the horse's head by +means of the upper buckles, the bit must then be adjusted, by means of +the lower ones, in such a manner that the canons of the mouth-piece +will rest on the bars of the horse's mouth, exactly opposite the +chin-groove. (Fig. 16.) Should the tusks of the horse be irregularly +placed, the mouth-piece must be adjusted a little higher than the +projecting tusks, so as to just avoid touching them. The curb-chain +may now be hooked into the ring of the upper bar on the off-side, +leaving one link loose, after which the other hook must be fastened to +the ring of the bar on the near-side, leaving two links loose. Care +should be taken to have the curb-chain rest with its flat surface +against the chin-groove in such a way that it will have no tendency to +rise up when the reins are pulled upon. The curb-chain should never be +tight; there must always be room enough between it and the chin to +insert the first and second fingers of the right hand flatwise; and, +while the fingers are thus placed, if the reins are drawn up, it will +be easy to ascertain whether the chain pinches. If, when the reins are +tightened, the bit stands stiff and immovable, it will show that the +chain is too short and needs to be lengthened a link or two. If the +horse gently yields his head to the tightening of the reins, without +suddenly drawing back, or thrusting out his nose as the tension is +increased, it will prove that the bit is correctly placed. But if the +lower bars of the bit can be drawn back quite a distance before the +horse will yield to the pull of the reins, then the chain is too long, +and should be shortened. "Lightness, accuracy, easy motion, a total +absence of stiffness, constraint, or painful action, are the +characteristics of good bitting; and if these be attained, ready +obedience to the rider's hand will be the result."--_F. Dwyer._ + +When the bit has once been correctly adjusted to the head-stall and to +the horse's mouth, there will be little difficulty in bridling him upon +any subsequent occasion. Thus: standing at the left of the horse's head, +the head-stall, held by its upper part in the right hand, should be +lifted up in front of the horse's head, while the left hand, holding the +bit by its mouth-piece, should put this between the animal's lips, press +it against his teeth, and into his mouth, which he will generally open +a little in order to admit it. As soon as this has been accomplished, +the upper part of the head-stall must be promptly raised so as to bring +its upper strap or band across the forehead, while at the same time the +horse's ears are passed between the forehead band and the strap which +forms the upper part of the head-stall. + +During these manoeuvres, the curb-chain must be passed under the chin, +so as to rest against the chin-groove, and care be taken to keep the +fingers of the left hand out of the horse's mouth while the mouth-piece +is being put in. The bit and head-stall having been properly arranged, +the whole should be secured by buckling the throat-strap loosely on the +left side. If this strap be buckled tightly, the horse will be unable to +bend his neck properly. The mouth-piece of the bit should be washed, +dried, and then rubbed with fresh olive or cotton-seed oil, each time +after use, to preserve it from rust. + +Neither a rusted bit nor a very cold one should ever be put into a +horse's mouth. In frosty winter weather the bit should always be warmed. +Many a valuable horse has had his mouth seriously injured by having an +icy cold mouth-piece put into it, to say nothing of the pain and +suffering it must invariably occasion. + +In order to produce a neat and pleasing appearance, there should be no +unsightly ends or straps left dangling from the loops of the head-stall. +They should be so snugly fitted into their places that they cannot work +out of their loops. + +The forehead band should never be too tight for the horse's comfort, and +the small rosettes that lie over his temples should be well oiled +underneath and kept soft. + +A side-saddle may be made accurately according to all recognized rules, +and yet lose nearly all its good effects by being improperly put on; the +rider will be made uncomfortable, the horse's back will be injured, and +the saddle will eventually have its padding so compressed in the wrong +direction that it will be impossible to put it on in the right way. + +Every lady rider should know as well how to have her saddle properly +adjusted as how to sit her horse or manage the reins. On a well-formed +horse, with rather high withers and sloping shoulders, the centre of the +saddle should be placed over the middle of the back, and be so arranged +that the front part of the saddle-tree shall be a very short distance +back of the horse's shoulder-blade, for if allowed to rest upon the +shoulder-blade it will interfere very much with the action of the +shoulder muscles. It is a common fault of grooms to place the saddle a +little sideways, and too far forward on the withers. The well-taught +rider can, however, easily decide whether the saddle is in the right +position: standing on the off-side of the horse, she must pass her right +hand under the arch of the saddle-tree, which should be directly over +the withers, and see whether it sits perfectly even, bearing no more to +one side than to the other; then stepping behind the horse, but at a +safe distance from his heels, she can see whether the long central +furrow of the under surface of the saddle-seat from front to rear +(chamber) is in a direct line with the animal's backbone, and forms an +open space over it. If these conditions are fulfilled, the saddle is +properly adjusted. If the horse have rather straight shoulders, together +with a plump, round body, the saddle will require to be placed rather +farther forward, but with the chamber still in a line with the backbone. +On some horses of this shape, the saddle, to be held securely, will need +to be set so far forward that the girths will have to pass close to the +fore-legs. A horse of this description is not suitable for the +side-saddle, but as ladies in the country and in the far West are +sometimes obliged to ride such, it is very important for their safety +to know how these ill-formed animals should be saddled, because should +the saddle be put too far back on such horses, it will be sure to turn. + +It not infrequently happens that after the saddle has been placed in the +correct position, it becomes slightly displaced while being fastened. To +avoid this, it should always be girthed on the off-side, and great care +be taken, when fastening the girths, especially the first one, that the +saddle be not jerked over to the left; and that in pulling upon the +short strap on the off-side, to which the girth is to be buckled, the +saddle be not forced to the right. + +When girthing the saddle, the lady may place her left hand on the middle +of the seat and hold it steady while she arranges the first girth, and +with her right hand draws it as tightly as she can, without using +violent exertion, or making any sudden jerk; she will then be able, with +both hands, to tighten the girth as much as is necessary, doing this +with an even, regular pull, so that the saddle will not be moved out of +place. Before fastening the other girths, she should step behind the +horse and assure herself that the chamber is in a line with the horse's +backbone, as before described. If it is not, she must loosen the girth, +and, after straightening the saddle, proceed as before. The girth to be +first fastened is the one nearest the horse's fore-legs; the second +girth is the one back of the first, and should be placed evenly over the +first one and fastened equally tight; the third is the leather girth +which is intended to keep down the saddle-flaps; this must be placed +evenly over the other two, but it is not essential to have it drawn so +tight as they, but just enough so to hold the flaps. Most horses have a +trick, when they are being girthed, of expanding their sides and +abdomen, for the purpose of securing a loose girthing; and girths that +seem almost too tight when they are first buckled are often found to be +too loose after the rider has mounted. Too tight a girth is injurious to +the horse, but too loose a one may cause the saddle to turn. A round, +plump horse with low withers will need tighter girthing than a better +shaped one. The lady rider should study the shape of her horse, and use +her own judgment as to how tight the girths should be drawn, making due +allowance for the trick alluded to above. If there is any second person +present while the saddle is being arranged, matters may be facilitated +if this person will hold the saddle firmly by the off-pommel while the +girthing is being done. + +The author has been thus particular in describing the bit and saddle +with their proper arrangement, as well as the girthing of the horse, +because so few lady riders bestow any attention upon these very +important matters; and yet, if one desires to ride safely and well, a +knowledge of them is positively necessary. Grooms cannot always be +depended upon, and, indeed, seldom know much about the side-saddle; +there is an adage which is applicable to many of them: "Too much must +not be expected from the head of him who labors only with his hands." In +the instructions given by gentlemen writers, useful as they may be in +many respects, there is usually a good deal of practical information +omitted which a lady rider ought to know, but the necessity of which it +is perhaps impossible for a gentleman fully to appreciate or understand; +this knowledge the lady will have to gain either from her own experience +or from one of her own sex who has studied the subject carefully. + +In preparing for horseback riding, nothing should be omitted that can +give greater security to the rider, or protect her more completely from +accident of any sort. Every article should be of the very best material, +so that a breakage or casualty of any kind may be only a remote +possibility. The knowledge that everything is right, and firmly and +properly placed, creates a confidence which adds greatly to the pleasure +of the ride. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING. + + "'Stand, Bayard, stand!'--the steed obeyed, + With arching neck and bending head, + And glancing eye and quivering ear, + As if he loved _her voice_ to hear." + + _Lady of the Lake._ + + +A novice in riding always experiences in a greater or less degree a +sense of trepidation and embarrassment when, for the first time, a horse +duly caparisoned for a lady rider is put before her, and she is expected +to seat herself in the saddle. If she be a timid person, the apparent +difficulty of this feat occasions a dismay which the good-natured +champing of the bit and impatient head shakings of the horse do not tend +to diminish. If, however, she be accustomed to horses as pets, and +understand their ways, she will be much less apprehensive about mounting +than the lady who has only observed them at a distance and is entirely +ignorant of their nature. The author has known ladies, after their +horses had been brought to the door, to send them back to the stable +because courage failed them when it became necessary to trust +themselves on the back of an animal of which they knew nothing. To +overcome this timidity the lady must become better acquainted with her +horse, and, to do so, should visit him occasionally in his stable, feed +him with choice morsels, and lead him about the yard from time to time. +By these means a mutual friendship and confidence will be created, and +the lady will gradually gain enough courage to place herself in the +saddle. + +The first attempt at mounting should be made from a =high horse-block= +with some one to hold the head of the horse and keep him still. Turning +her right side somewhat toward the horse's left, and slightly raising +the skirt of her riding habit, the lady should spring from her left foot +towards the saddle, at the same time raising her right leg so that it +will pass directly over the second and third pommels. This accomplished, +the left foot may be placed in the stirrup. + +Another method of mounting from a rather high horse-block, when the +pommels are high, is for the lady to face the horse's left side, and, +seizing the off-pommel with the right hand and the second one with the +left, to spring towards the saddle from her left foot, and seat herself +sidewise. She can then turn her body so as to face the horse's head, +place her right leg over the second pommel,--adjusting her skirt at the +same time,--and slip her left foot into the stirrup and her left knee +under the third pommel. + +Should the =horse-block be low= and the lady short, she will be obliged +to mount somewhat after a man's fashion, thus: Placing her left foot in +the stirrup, and grasping the second pommel with her left hand, she +should spring from her right foot, and, as she rises, grasp the +off-pommel with her right hand; by means of this spring, aided by the +pommels and stirrup, she can seat herself sideways in the saddle, +turning her body for this purpose just before gaining the seat. In the +absence of a horse-block, from which to mount, the assistance of a chair +or stool should never be resorted to unless there is some one to hold it +firm and steady. + +When the rider is obliged to =mount= without assistance and =from the +ground=, if the balance-strap, before referred to, be used with her +stirrup, she can let this strap down far enough to enable her to put her +foot in the stirrup easily, and to use it as a sort of stepping-stone by +means of which, and a spring from her right foot, she can reach the +saddle sideways. In doing this she must grasp the second pommel firmly +with her left hand, in which she also should hold her whip and the +reins; on rising she must aid herself by grasping with the right hand +the off-pommel as soon as she can reach it. When she is seated, the +stirrup can be adjusted from the off-side by means of the balance-strap. + +If, however, she uses the old-fashioned stirrup-leather, and there is no +assistance of any kind at hand, neither horse-block, chair, nor stool, +not even a fence or steep bank from which to mount,--a situation in +which a rider might possibly be placed,--then reaching the saddle +becomes a very puzzling affair, unless the lady be so active that she +can spring from the ground to her saddle. To try the plan of lengthening +the stirrup-leather will be dangerous, because, in order to readjust it +after mounting, she will have to sit on the back part of the saddle, +bend over the horse's left side, and pull up the stirrup-leather in +order to shorten and buckle it; while in this position, if the horse +should start, she would probably be thrown instantly. Her safest course +would be to lead the horse until a place is found where she can mount. +If she should have to use a fence for this purpose let her be sure that +the posts are firmly fixed in the ground, and that the boards are +neither loose nor easily broken. + +When mounting, the whip and reins should be held in the left hand, the +former with the point down, so that it may not hit the horse, and the +latter grasped just tightly enough to feel the horse's mouth without +pulling on it. In order to arrange the folds of the riding skirt after +mounting, the reins and whip must be transferred to the right hand; +then, resting this hand upon the off-pommel, the rider should raise +herself free from the saddle by straightening her left knee and standing +on the stirrup, also aiding herself by means of the right hand on the +pommel. While thus standing she can quickly arrange the skirt with her +left hand. + +None of the methods of mounting just described--with the exception of +the first one--are at all graceful, and they should never be used except +in case of absolute necessity. The most graceful way for a lady to reach +the saddle, and the one that is taught in the best riding schools, is by +the =assistance of a gentleman=. The rider's education will not be +complete until she has learned this method of mounting, which, when +accomplished easily and gracefully, is delightful to witness. It should +be learned after the preliminary lessons at the horse-block have been +taken. In using this simple manner of reaching the saddle, the rider +will have three distinct points of support, namely, the shoulder of the +gentleman who assists her, the united palms of his hands, and her own +hold upon the pommel. + +[Illustration: Fig. 17.--Lady ready to mount her horse.] + +The stirrup having been placed across the shield of the saddle in front +of the pommels, the lady, holding the reins and the whip with its point +down in her right hand,--which must rest upon the second pommel,--should +stand with her right side toward the horse's left, about four or five +inches from it, her left shoulder being slightly turned back. Then, +taking a firm hold upon the second pommel with her right hand, she +should with the left lift her riding skirt enough to enable her to place +her left foot fairly and squarely into the gentleman's palms, which +should be clasped firmly together. This done, she should drop the skirt, +place her left hand upon his right shoulder, bend her knee, or give the +word "ready," as a signal, and at once spring from her right foot up and +a little towards the horse. The gentleman, at the same moment, must +raise his hands, and move them toward the horse. The lady must, when +rising, press or bear lightly upon his shoulder, and also keep a firm +hold upon the second pommel, which she must not relinquish until she is +seated. If correctly performed, this manoeuvre will place the rider in +the saddle sideways. The gentleman should then remove the stirrup from +the front of the saddle, while the lady transfers the reins to her left +hand, passes her right knee over the second pommel and her left under +the third. She will then be ready to have her foot placed in the +stirrup. (Fig. 17.) + +It will, however, be found very difficult to mount in this manner, +gracefully, unless the gentleman who assists thoroughly understands his +duties; should he be awkward about helping her, the lady will find it +much better to depend upon the horse-block. If, for instance, he should +raise his hands too high, or with too much energy, when she makes her +spring, he may push her too far over, or even--if she should loosen her +grasp of the second pommel,--cause her to fall from the off-side of the +horse. This is a dangerous accident, and almost certain to occasion +severe injuries. On the other hand, if he does not use energy enough, or +neglects to carry his hands toward the body of the horse as the lady +rises, she may not reach the saddle at all, and will he apt to fall to +the ground on the left side of the horse, especially if she relinquishes +her hold on the second pommel. The gentleman must also be careful not to +let his foot rest on the lady's skirt, as this will pull her back, and +perhaps tear the dress, as she makes her spring. + +In assisting a lady to mount, the =gentleman= should first arrange the +snaffle-reins evenly and of the proper length, and place them in her +right hand, leaving the curb-reins to lie loosely on the neck of the +horse. Then, after putting the stirrup out of the way, as described +above, he should take a position facing her, with his left shoulder +toward the left shoulder of the horse. Clasping his hands together with +the palms turned up, he should stoop sufficiently to enable her to put +her left foot upon them, and, in raising them as she springs, he must +gradually assume the erect posture. When the lady is seated, he should +return the stirrup to its proper position and place her foot in it, +after first, with his left hand, adjusting her skirt so that it will +fall evenly; he should then place the curb-reins in her left hand, with +the others. No gentleman is a finished equestrian, nor a desirable +companion for a lady on horseback, who does not know how to assist her +dexterously and gracefully to mount and dismount. + +A lady who is not very nimble in her movements, or who is very heavy, +should be extremely careful in mounting not to accept assistance from a +gentleman who is not strong enough to support her weight easily and +firmly. It will be much better for her to use a horse-block or something +of the kind. But if she does accept the aid of a gentleman, the +following changes in the methods described above have been recommended: +instead of facing her, he should stand close to her side, with his face +turned in the same direction as hers: she should then place her left +foot in his united hands, and in order to do so must pass her left leg +between his right arm and his body. He will thus be enabled to support +and lift her with greater ease, and, as she rises, her left leg will +readily escape from under his right arm, and she will be able to seat +herself sideways in the saddle, as by the former method. During this +manoeuvre she must sustain herself by the second pommel, as in the +preceding instance. + +If a horse is restless and uneasy when being mounted, he should be held +by a third person, who must stand in front of his head and take a firm +hold of the curb-bit on each side, but without touching the reins, which +should always be held and managed by the rider only. It is _always_ a +better plan, when mounting, to have the horse held, although a +well-trained horse will stand quietly without such control. + +Mounting is a part of the rider's education which should be carefully +studied and practiced, for when properly and gracefully accomplished it +is the very poetry of motion, and will enable her to display more +pliancy and lightness than she can even in the ball-room. There is +another branch of the rider's education which also requires careful +study, as it is rarely accomplished satisfactorily, and is apt to +occasion as much embarrassment and dismay to a beginner as mounting. +This is =dismounting=. To alight from a horse easily and well, without +disarranging the dress, and without being awkwardly precipitated into +the arms of the gentleman who assists, is by no means an easy task, and +very few lady riders accomplish it with skill and address. + +When assisting his companion from the saddle, the gentleman should stand +about a foot from her with his face toward the horse, while she, after +taking her foot from the stirrup and disengaging her right leg from the +pommel, must turn her body so as to face him. After putting the stirrup +over the shield of the saddle, as in mounting, he should then extend his +hands so as to support her by the elbows, while she rests a hand upon +each of his shoulders. Then, by giving a gentle spring, she will glide +lightly to the ground, he meanwhile supporting her with his hands, and, +as she descends, bending his body, and moving his right side slightly +backward. She can also assist him to lessen the shock as she touches the +ground by bending her knees a little, as if courtesying. + +Another way of assisting the lady, especially if she be rather stout and +not very active, is for the gentleman to clasp her waist with both +hands, instead of holding her by the elbows. He should, in this case, +stand as far from her as he can while still supporting her, and, as she +descends, should make a step backward with his right foot, and turn a +little away from the horse, which should be held by a third person, in +the manner described before, in mounting. + +[Illustration: Fig. 18.--Lady ready to dismount.] + +Another, and more graceful way of dismounting is the following: The +gentleman, standing about a foot from his companion and directly facing +her, takes in his left hand her bridle,--as near as he can to the +horse's mouth, that he may hold him as firmly and securely as +possible,--the lady now drops the reins on the horse's neck, disengages +her foot from the stirrup, and her leg from the second pommel, and then +seats herself sideways in the saddle, so as to face her assistant, who +now places the stirrup on the front of the saddle with his right hand; +he then offers his right shoulder to the lady for her support. She, +after gathering up in her left hand a few folds of her riding skirt, in +order to have her feet free when she alights, places upon his shoulder +the hand which holds the skirt, and with the other, in which she holds +her whip point downward, grasps the second pommel and springs lightly +from the saddle, the gentleman bending over a little as she descends. On +reaching the ground, she should, as before described, bend her knees +slightly to lessen the shock of the descent. (Fig. 18.) + +In all these modes of dismounting, the lady, before attempting to +alight, should be sure that her skirt is quite free from the pommels, +especially from the second one, and that it is so adjusted that it will +not be trodden upon when she reaches the ground, but will fall evenly +about her, without being in any way disarranged. + +It happens not infrequently that a lady is obliged to dismount without +=any one to assist her=, and in this case she should ride up to a +horse-block so as to bring the left side of her horse close to it, let +the curb reins fall upon his neck, retaining, however, the whip and +snaffle-reins in her left hand, and then, removing her foot from the +stirrup and her right leg from the pommel, she should seat herself a +little sideways upon the saddle. Now, with a slight turn of her +shoulders to the right, she should place her left hand--still holding +the whip and reins--upon the second pommel, and her right hand upon the +off one, and thus alight sideways with her face toward the horse's head. +In effecting this manoeuvre, she must be careful to retain her hold upon +the snaffle-reins and also upon the second pommel until she is safe upon +the horse-block; she must also remember the caution given before, in +regard to having her skirts free from the pommels. + +To =dismount upon the ground=, or upon a very low horse-block, =without= +assistance, is a difficult feat to execute gracefully, but some young +ladies in the country, who are active and light, accomplish it so easily +and quickly that they do not appear awkward. The manner in which this is +to be done is nearly the same as that just explained, the only +difference being, that the gliding down must be effected quickly and +lightly, and the rider, as she passes down, must release her hold upon +the off-pommel, but retain that upon the second, also taking care to +have the reins quite loose. This mode of alighting is, however, entirely +out of place except in the country, where assistance cannot always be +had readily, or in cases where the lady is obliged to dismount very +quickly. + +If the lady rider, after carefully studying these different methods of +mounting and dismounting with assistance, will select the one she thinks +suits her best, and then practice it a few times with her gentleman +escort, she will soon find herself able to perform with ease these +apparently difficult feats, and will have no need of resorting to a +horse-block, nor to some secluded spot, where she can mount or dismount +unobserved. A lady once told the author that the pleasure of her daily +ride was at one time almost spoiled by the knowledge that she must mount +and dismount in front of a hotel, the piazza of which was always crowded +with observers, for, not having been properly taught to execute these +manoeuvres, she was rather awkward at them. She, however, placed herself +under correct tuition, and soon overcame the difficulty. She can now +execute these movements with such grace and elegance as to fascinate +gentlemen, and excite the envy of rival belles who are still obliged to +seek the aid of a horse-block. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE SEAT ON HORSEBACK. + + "Bounded the fiery steed in air, + The rider sat erect and fair, + Then like a bolt from steel cross-bow + Forth launched, along the plain they go." + + _Lady of the Lake._ + + +A correct seat is very seldom attained by the self-taught lady rider, +for her attitude on the horse is so artificial that she cannot, like the +gentleman rider, whose seat is more easy and natural, fall directly into +the proper position. Competent instruction alone can enable her to gain +the safe and easy posture which will give the least possible fatigue to +herself and to her horse. It is true that a natural rider, or she who +professes to ride instinctively, may to-day accidentally assume the +proper position in the saddle, but, as she has no rule by which to guide +herself, and is entirely unacquainted with the "whys and wherefores" of +a correct seat, she will to-morrow assume the incorrect position, so +natural to a self-taught rider, and the pleasant ride of to-day will be +followed by a rough and unpleasant one to-morrow. On the one occasion, +the poor horse will receive much praise for his easy motion, and on the +next be highly censured for the roughness of his gait, for the lady will +not suspect that the real difficulty lies in her own ignorance of a +correct attitude, and in her bad management of the poor beast. + +Upon the position of the upper part of the body depends not only grace +and pliancy, and that harmony between horse and rider which is so highly +desirable and, indeed, necessary, but also the ability to manage the +reins properly; for, if the rider be not well balanced, her hands will +be unsteady, and seldom in the right position for controlling the +animal. + +But the proper position of the body above the saddle depends upon the +correct arrangement of the lower limbs; if they are not in the right +position, the rider will lean too far forward, or too far back, or too +much to one side or the other. She will also lose all firmness of seat, +and, consequently, all safety in riding. This faulty position of the +lower limbs has been, and still is, the occasion of much incorrect +riding, but is a point which is seldom regarded by the gentleman +teacher. He, indeed, cannot possibly know how the legs are arranged, +when they are covered by the riding skirt, and probably seldom gives +the subject any thought; yet he wonders, after carefully watching and +correcting the position of the body, why his pupil does not retain the +erect position as directed. A lady teacher of experience is, therefore, +much to be preferred to a gentleman, unless the lady pupil is willing to +wear, while taking her lessons, trousers similar to those worn during +calisthenic exercises. + +It sometimes happens that a lady, even after being carefully instructed +how to sit in the saddle, and when she seems to understand what is +necessary, will yet present a very erect but stiff appearance, as if she +were made of cast-iron, or some other unyielding material. This may be +due to nervousness, fear, tight-lacing, or affectation. Practice in +riding, loose corsets, and less affectation, will soon remedy this +stiffness. + +Another faulty position is one which may be termed "the dead weight +seat," which is only possible when riding on an English saddle. It +consists in sitting or bearing chiefly upon the left side of the saddle, +the right leg firmly grasping the second pommel, and the left leg +squeezed tightly between the stirrup and the third pommel, as if held in +a vise. In this position the rider will be fastened to her horse as +closely as if she were a package of merchandise strapped upon the back +of a pack-horse. She will appear indolent and inanimate, besides riding +heavily, and thus distressing and discouraging her horse; for a +well-trained horse will always prefer to keep in unison with the +movements of his rider, but will find it impossible to do so, when she +adopts this constrained, unyielding seat. The rider will also be made +miserable, for the constant effort to keep steady by a continuous +pressure of the left knee against the third pommel will not only prove +wearisome, but will be apt to bruise her knee, as well as strain the +muscles of the upper part of the leg, and the next day she will feel +very stiff and lame. In addition to which it will be impossible for her +to rise in the English trot, or to move her body to the right in the +gallop or canter when the horse leads with his left leg. Moreover, +should the lady who thus hangs upon the pommel be rather heavy, her +horse's back will be sure to receive more or less injury, no matter how +well the saddle may be made and padded. + +Although the second pommel should be firmly grasped by the right knee, +and the left knee be strongly pressed up against the third one, when the +horse is unruly or trying to unseat his rider, these supports should not +be habitually employed, but kept for critical situations, and even then +the body must be kept erect, yet flexible. A rider who depends entirely +upon the pommels to enable her to keep her seat is a bad rider, who will +soon acquire all kinds of awkward and ridiculous positions, and expose +herself to much severe criticism. + +The opposite of the "dead-weight seat" is what may be termed the +"wabbling seat." This is seen where the old-fashioned saddle is used; +the rider, instead of sitting firm and erect, bounds up and down like a +rubber ball tossed by an unseen hand. This can be remedied by the +substitution of the English saddle, whose third pommel, when used +judiciously and aided by a proper balance of the body, will give the +required firmness of seat, which should be neither too rigid nor too +yielding. + +[Illustration: Fig. 19.--Correct Seat for a Lady. Back View.] + +=The correct seat=, universally adopted by finished riders, is the +following: The lady should seat herself exactly on the centre of the +saddle, with her body erect, and her backbone in a direct line with that +of the horse, at a right angle with it. A spectator can readily tell +whether the rider is in the centre of the saddle by observing whether +the space between the buttons on the hind flaps of her riding-jacket +corresponds with the backbone of the horse, and also with the chamber of +the saddle. (Fig. 19.) Or the lady can herself decide the question by +placing her fingers between these two buttons, and then carrying the +former in a straight line directly down to the chamber of the saddle; if +these coincide, and if she has placed herself far enough back on the +saddle to be able to grasp the second pommel comfortably with her right +knee, while the left one is just spanned by the third pommel, then she +is in a position to ride with ease to herself and horse, for she now +sits upon that part of the animal which is the centre of motion in his +forward movement, and in this position can keep in unison with the +cadence of his various gaits. Again, her weight being exactly upon the +centre of motion, she can with difficulty be unseated or shaken off by +the most violent efforts of the horse, for, whether he springs suddenly +forward, or sideways, or whirls around, the rider is in a position at +once to anticipate his movement, to keep a firm seat, and quickly to +gain her balance. + +When the horse advances straight forward, the rider--sitting with head +erect and her body so placed that its entire front is directed toward +the horse's head, or, in other words, that _a straight line drawn from +one hip to the other would form a right angle with one drawn along the +centre of the horse's head and neck_--must throw her shoulders somewhat +back, so as to expand her chest, taking care, however, to keep the +shoulders in line, and not to elevate one more than the other. There +should also be, at the back of the waist, a slight inward bend which +will throw the front of the waist a little forward. The arms, from the +shoulders to the elbows, must hang perpendicularly, and the elbows be +held loosely but steadily and in an easy manner, near the rider's sides, +and not be allowed to flap up and down with every movement. The hands +must be held low and about three or four inches from the body. The +bearing of the head, the backward throw of the shoulders, and the curve +at the waist, are exactly like those assumed by a finished waltzer, and +if the reader is herself a dancer, or will notice the carriage of a good +dancer gliding around the ball-room, she can readily understand the +attitude required for a correct seat in the saddle. + +The right knee should grasp the second pommel firmly, but not hang upon +it in order to help the rider keep her seat and balance. The right leg, +from the hip to the knee, must be kept as steady as possible, because +from a woman's position in the saddle, the movements of her horse tend +to throw her toward his left side, and she must guard against this by +bearing slightly toward his right. From the knee to the foot, the right +leg must be in contact with the fore-flap of the saddle, the heel being +inclined backward a little. + +The left knee should be placed just below the third pommel, so that this +will span it lightly, close enough to assist in preserving a firm seat, +yet not so close as to interfere with the action of the leg in the +English trot. From the knee to the foot this left leg must be held in a +straight line perpendicular to the ground, and the knee be lightly +pressed against the side-flap of the saddle. The ball of the foot must +be placed evenly in the stirrup, the heel being a little lower than the +toes, which should be pointed toward the shoulder of the horse. (Fig. +20.) + +[Illustration: Fig. 20.--Correct seat for a lady. Side view. + +1, third pommel; 2, second pommel.] + +If the rider will seat herself in the saddle in the manner just +described, she will find that she has a very firm seat, from which she +cannot easily be displaced; but in order to appear graceful she must be +flexible, and adapt herself readily to the motions of her horse. The +shoulders, for example, although thrown back, must not be rigid, and the +body, while erect, must be supple; the head be upright and free, and, in +the leap, or when circling in the gallop, the body must be pliant, +yielding and bending with the movements of the horse, but always +resuming afterward the easy erect position. But it must be borne in mind +that the above directions in regard to carriage apply to the times when +the horse is moving, and need not be observed in full rigor at other +times. When, for instance, the horse is standing, the rider may assume a +more easy posture, collecting herself and steed simultaneously when she +wishes him to move. + +The novice in riding should never be allowed to touch rein or whip until +she has acquired a good seat, and a correct balance. During her first +lessons, some one should ride by her side and lead her horse, while she, +folding her hands in front of her waist, should give all her attention +to gaining a correct seat; or, she may practice circling to the right by +means of the lunge line, which will prove excellent training, and will +teach her to bear toward the off or right side, for it has already been +stated that the motion in the side-saddle has a tendency to impel the +rider toward the left, and this tendency must always be guarded against +by bearing the body a little to the right. Circling to the right, when +riding in the track of the riding-school, is also a useful exercise for +this purpose, but as riding-schools are not always to be had +conveniently, the lunge line will be found very useful, many riders, +indeed, considering it even better than riding in the ring, as it keeps +the horse well up to his gait. + +During a few of the first lessons, that the rider may not fall from the +saddle, the stirrup-leather may be somewhat shortened, but as soon as an +idea of the proper balance has been acquired and the reins and whip are +placed in her hands, the stirrup must be lengthened, as this secures a +firmer and more easy seat. This leather will be of the correct length +when, by a little pressure on it with her foot, and a simultaneous +straightening of her knee, the rider can spring upward about four or +five inches from the saddle; but it must never be so long as to render +the third pommel nearly, if not quite, useless. + +It is better to have the first lessons in riding rather short, so that +the pupil may become gradually accustomed to the exercise. As soon as +she begins to feel at all fatigued, she should at once dismount, and not +try to ride again until the tired feeling is wholly gone. These +intervals of fatigue will gradually become less and less frequent, until +at last the rider will find herself so strong and vigorous that riding +will no longer require any fatiguing effort. In the case of an active, +healthy woman, accustomed to exercise of various kinds, these short +preliminary lessons may not be necessary; her muscles will be already so +well developed that she will not be easily fatigued by exercise of any +kind. But for a lady who has always been physically inactive, these +short lessons at first are absolutely necessary. The general system of +such a person has become enfeebled, her muscles are weak and flabby, and +any sudden or long continued exercise would tend to produce very +injurious results, so that riding, unless begun very gradually, would +probably do her more harm than good. + +But after reading all the directions just given about riding, the reader +may ask what need there is of so much study and circumspection to enable +a woman to mount a horse and ride him, when hundreds of ladies ride +every day, and enjoy doing so, without knowing anything about the make +of the saddle, or the position they ought to take when seated in it. + +Although it seems almost a pity to disturb the serenity and +self-complacency of ignorance, we shall be obliged, in justice to those +who really wish to understand the principles of good horsewomanship, to +point out some of the mistakes of those who think that riding is an +accomplishment which can be acquired without instruction and study. + +It is not too sweeping an assertion to state that, of one hundred ladies +who attempt a display of what they consider their _excellent_ +horsewomanship in our streets and parks, ninety-five are very imperfect +riders; and the five who do ride well have only learned to do so by +means of careful study and competent instruction. They have fully +appreciated the fact that nature never ushered them into the world +finished riders, any more than accomplished grammarians or Latin +scholars, and that although one may possess a natural aptitude for an +accomplishment, application, study, and practice are positively +necessary to enable her to attain any degree of perfection in it. Yet +the idea unfortunately prevails very largely in this country that women +require very little instruction to become good riders, and the results +of this belief are apparent in the ninety-five faulty riders already +referred to. + +Let us now watch some of the fair Americans whom the first balmy day of +spring has tempted out for a horseback ride, and notice the faulty +positions in which they have contrived to seat themselves in their +saddles. With regard to their beauty, elegance of form, and style of +dress, nothing more could be desired; but, alas! the same cannot be said +of their manner of riding. + +[Illustration: Fig. 21.--Crooked Position in Saddle. Miss X.] + +Take Miss X. and Mrs. Y., for examples. These ladies have the reputation +of being fine and fearless horsewomen, and certainly do ride with that +dash and confidence which long practice in the saddle is sure to give, +but we regret to say that we can bestow no further praise upon them. +Miss X. has taken a position that is almost universal with American +horsewomen, and is exactly the one which a rider nearly always assumes +when seated sideways on a horse without a saddle. Instead of sitting +squarely, with the entire front of her body facing in the direction +toward which the horse is going, she sits crosswise. It will be seen by +looking at Fig. 21, that the central vertical line of her back, instead +of being directly in the centre of the saddle, is placed toward the +right corner of it, and that her shoulders are out of line, the left one +being thrown back, and the right one advanced forward. This position +makes it impossible for her to keep in unison with her horse when he is +moving straight forward at an easy pace. When he changes his gait to a +canter the rider will, for a short distance, appear to be more in +harmony with him, because he is now turning himself slightly to the left +and leading with his right fore-leg, a position which is more in unison +with that of his rider. But, after a short time, the horse gets tired of +this canter, turns to the right, and leads with his left fore-leg. This +change entirely destroys the apparent harmony which had before existed +between the two. + +The lady, knowing nothing about the position of a horse when galloping +or cantering, is ignorant of the fact that he always turns a little to +the right or left according to the leg with which he leads, and that she +ought to place her body in a corresponding position. She has but one +position in the saddle,--the crooked one already described,--and this +she maintains immovably through all the changes of her horse's gaits. + +[Illustration: Fig. 22.--Crooked Position in Saddle. Mrs. Y.] + +Let us now turn to Mrs. Y., who is even a more faulty rider than her +companion. She has likewise taken a crosswise position in the saddle; +but having given a peculiar twist to her body so that, by turning her +right shoulder backward, she can look to the right, she seems to imagine +that by these means she has placed herself squarely upon the saddle. +(Fig. 22.) As she is riding a racking horse and seated on a two-pommeled +saddle, she holds the reins firmly in her left hand and by a steady pull +on them she balances herself and keeps her horse up to his gait. But +this steady pull will soon ruin the tenderness and sensitiveness of any +horse's mouth, and this is the reason why racking horses generally have +very hard mouths, many of them requiring to be well held up or supported +in their rack by the reins. As this pulling upon the reins also gives +considerable support to the rider, many ladies prefer a racking horse. +Now notice Mrs. Y., who is attempting to turn her hard-mouthed +racker. Instead of doing this by an almost imperceptible movement of the +hand, her left hand and arm can be distinctly seen to move, and to +fairly pull the animal around. Her right hand--probably acting in +sympathy with the left, so tightly clasped over the reins--holds the +whip as if it were in a vise intended to crush it. In odd contrast with +the rigidly held hands is the body with its utter lack of firmness. + +It can be seen at a glance why the lady will only ride an easy racker, +for it is well known that on a good racker or pacer the body of a rider +in a faulty position is not jolted so much as in other gaits. For this +reason also the rack and pace are the favorite gaits of most American +horsewomen. + +Nearly every lady who rides has an ambition to be considered a finished +horsewoman, but this she can never be until she is able to ride properly +the trot and gallop, can keep herself in unison with her horse, whether +he leads with the left or right fore-leg, and has hands that will "give +and take" with the horse's movements and bring him up to his best gait. +From this point of view, Miss X. and Mrs. Y., then, are by no means the +"splendid riders" that their friends suppose them, but having all the +confidence of ignorance they ride fast and boldly and with a certain +_abandon_ that is pleasing; but by those who understand what good riding +is, they must always be regarded as very faulty riders. + +[Illustration: Fig. 23.--Incorrect position of legs and feet. Side +view.] + +Another common fault, against which we have already warned the reader, +is that of riding with too short a stirrup-leather, thus pressing the +left knee up against the third pommel, carrying the left heel backward +and slightly upward, and dropping the toes of the left foot more or +less down toward the ground, while those of the right are raised and +pointed toward the horse's head. (Fig. 23.) Although the lower limbs are +concealed by the skirt, it can easily be told whether they are in the +position just described, from the effect produced upon the upper part of +the body, which then leans too far forward and too much to the right +(Fig. 24); while the rider, in her efforts to balance herself, inclines +her shoulders to the left. This is a very awkward as well as a very +dangerous attitude, because, by thrusting her leg backwards, the action +of spurring is imitated, and, if the horse is very high-spirited, this +may cause him to become restive, or even to run away. Should the leg, +moreover, as is very apt to be the case, be firmly and steadily pressed +against the animal's side, he may suddenly pirouette or turn around to +the right, especially if he has been accustomed to carrying gentlemen as +well as ladies. This short stirrup-leather and improper use of the third +pommel should be carefully avoided. + +[Illustration: Fig. 24.--Incorrect Position when Legs and Feet are +wrongly placed.] + +The use of too long a stirrup-leather is apt to be the mistake of those +who ride upon the old-fashioned saddle, but is a fault which has become +much less common since the English saddle has been more generally used. +The objection to too long a stirrup-leather is that, when the foot is +pressed upon it, the leg at the same time is straightened, and extends +down so far as to cause the rider to sit too much to the left of the +saddle. As the pressure and weight are thus thrown wholly upon the left +side, the saddle is very likely to turn, and if this faulty position be +persisted in, it will be certain to injure the horse's back and may give +rise to fistulous withers. + +Besides looking very awkward and inelegant, when stooping forward in the +saddle and rounding the back without the slightest curve inwardly, the +rider will also run great risk, if her horse stumbles or makes any +sudden movement, of being unseated, or at least thrown violently against +the front of the saddle, as it is almost impossible for her, under such +circumstances, to adapt herself to the change in his motion quickly +enough to preserve her equilibrium. In all violent movements of the +horse, except rearing, the body must be inclined backward, so as to keep +the balance. When he is moving briskly in his ordinary gaits, the body +must be kept erect; and when he is turning a corner rapidly, it should +be inclined backward somewhat, and toward the inner bend of the horse's +body; or, in other words, toward the centre of the circle, of which the +turn forms a segment. + +Here come two ladies who have evidently received very limited +instructions in the art of riding. Notice how the head of one is thrust +forward, while the other, though holding her head erect allows it to be +jerked about with every motion of her horse. It shakes slowly when the +animal is walking, but as he quickens his pace to a canter, it rocks +with his motion, and, during his fast pace, the poor head moves so +rapidly as to make one fear that the neck may become dislocated, while +the arms dance about simultaneously with the movements of the head in a +way that reminds one of the toy dancing-jacks, pulled by an unseen hand +for the amusement of children. The head should, in riding, be kept firm +and erect, without stiffness, the chin being drawn in slightly, and not +protruding high in the air, because the latter gives one a supercilious +look. The head and shoulders should adapt themselves, in their +direction, to the movements of the head and fore-legs of the horse, and +the arms should be held as steady as possible. + +But here come several ladies who have taken lessons at the riding-school +and may, therefore, reasonably be expected to be finished riders; but +such, alas! is not the case. They have been trying "to walk before they +could creep," or, in other words, their lessons in riding have been +conducted too hastily. They have begun to try a canter or a rapid gallop +before they knew how to sit correctly upon their horses, or even to +manage them properly in a walk. This desire to make too rapid progress +is more frequently the fault of the pupil than of the riding teacher. +Most teachers have an ambition to make finished riders of their pupils, +and take much pride in doing so, especially as such a result adds +greatly to the prestige of their school. This ambition is often +defeated, however, by the impatience of the pupils, who are not +satisfied to learn slowly and well, but overrule the teacher's +objections and undertake to gallop before they have acquired even the +first principles of horsewomanship. Moreover, many of these ladies never +take any road lessons, so highly important to all who would become +thoroughly accomplished in this art; nor do they remain long enough +under instruction in the school, but seem to think that a few short +lessons are enough to make them finished riders. They often refuse to +learn the English trot, although this is a very important accomplishment +for the beginner, as it enables her to gain a correct idea of the +balance. Or, if they do attempt to learn it, they insist upon circling +only to the right, as this is easier than going the other way. + +Again, many pupils will insist upon riding the same favorite horse, +instead of leaving the selection to the judgment of the teacher, who is +well aware that it is much better for the lady's progress that she +should ride a variety of horses with different gaits. He is often driven +to his wit's end when two or three ladies who patronize his school, and +whom it is an honor to have as pupils, express a desire to ride the same +horse on the same occasion. Should he favor one more than the others, +the latter will become highly offended, and the poor man in his +perplexity is often obliged to resort to some subterfuge to pacify them. + +It is not difficult, then, to understand why some ladies, although they +have taken lessons at a riding-school, are, nevertheless, not finished +riders, their faults being due, not to the instruction but to their own +lack of judgment or inattention. It is true that occasionally the +teacher, although he may be an excellent instructor for gentlemen, is +not so good a one for ladies, or he may become careless, believing that +if he gives them well-trained horses to ride very little else is +required of him. Or, again, he may think, as many foreigners do, that +very few American ladies know how a woman should ride, and are satisfied +with being half taught. + +It cannot be too strongly impressed upon riding teachers that in every +riding-school where ladies are to be taught there should be at least one +lady assistant. A gentleman can give all the necessary instructions +about the management of the horse and the handling of the reins better +than most ladies; but, in giving the idea of a correct seat and the +proper disposal of the limbs, the presence of a lady assistant becomes +necessary; in these matters she can instruct her own sex much better +than a man can. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +TO HOLD THE REINS, AND MANAGE THE HORSE. + + "What a wild thought of triumph, that this girlish hand + Such a steed in the might of his strength may command! + What a glorious creature! Ah! glance at him now, + As I check him awhile on this green hillock's brow; + How he tosses his mane, with a shrill, joyous neigh, + And paws the firm earth in his proud, stately play!" + + GRACE GREENWOOD. + + +The position of the rider in the saddle has a decided influence upon the +horse's mouth, rendering his movements regular or irregular, according +to the correctness and firmness of the seat; for, if the rider be +unsteady or vacillating in the saddle, this will exert an influence upon +the hand, rendering it correspondingly unstable, and will thereby cause +the horse's movements to be variable. And should she endeavor to remedy +this unsteadiness of hand and seat by supporting herself upon the reins, +the horse will defend himself against such rigid traction by making +counter-traction upon the reins, thrusting his head forward, throwing +himself heavily upon his fore-legs, thus forcing the hands of the rider, +and compelling her to support the weight of his neck and shoulders. On +the contrary, if she be firm in her seat, and not in the least dependent +upon the reins, her hand will be light, and the animal will yield a +ready obedience and advance in his best pace. The preceding remarks +explain why a horse will go lightly with one rider and heavily with +another. + +A lady should have a thorough knowledge of the management of her horse, +and of the means by which she may command him in every degree of speed, +and under all circumstances; without this knowledge she can never become +a safe and accomplished horsewoman. A gentleman may guide and control +his horse, and obtain obedience from a restive one, by a firm, strong +hand, and by his courage and determined will; but as a rule, a lady +cannot depend upon these methods; she will have to rely entirely upon +the thorough training of her horse, a properly arranged bit, her firm, +yet delicate touch, and her skill in handling the reins. The +well-trained hand of a woman is always energetic enough to obtain the +mastery of her horse, without having to resort to feats of strength and +acrobatic movements; and a _lady_ should never seek to gain prestige by +riding restless or vicious horses, in order that she may display her +skill in conquering them; though every rider should be thoroughly +taught how to control her steed in cases of emergency. + +When one sees how little skill most lady riders exhibit in managing the +reins, it seems almost miraculous that so few accidents occur to them, +and is indeed a positive proof of the excellent temper of their horses. +From some mysterious cause, most horses will bear more awkwardness and +absurdity in the handling of the reins by a woman than by a man, and +will good-naturedly submit to the indifferent riding of the gentle being +in the side-saddle, while the same character of riding and treatment +from a man would arouse every feeling of defense and rebellion. The +probable cause of this difference of action on the part of the horse is, +that a lady rider, with all her ignorance of seat and rein, will talk +kindly to and pet her steed, and will rarely lose her temper, no matter +in what eccentricities he may indulge, and her gentleness causes the +animal to remain gentle. + +On the contrary, when a man throws his weight upon the reins, jerking +and pulling upon them, his horse, seeking to defend himself against such +rough measures, arouses the temper of his rider, and this anger is soon +communicated to the animal, which then becomes obstinate and +rebellious; moreover, a man will often whip and spur for some trivial +offense in instances where a woman would simply speak to her horse, or +take no notice. Hence, the ignorant horsewoman often rides in safety +under circumstances in which the ignorant horseman, who has resorted to +violent measures, meets with an accident. + +Although a horse may submit to an awkward rider and carry her with +safety, still she will have no power to make him move in his best and +most regular manner, and there will exist no intelligence or harmony +between the two. Yet this same horse, when mounted by a lady who +understands the =management of the reins=, will be all animation and +happiness. There will soon be established a tacit understanding between +the two, and the graceful curvetings and prancings of the steed will +manifest his pride and joy in carrying and obeying a gentle woman, who +manages the reins with spirit and resolution, and yet does not, with the +cruelty of ignorance or indifference, convert them into instruments of +torture. + +The =reins= should not be employed until a firm, steady position upon +the saddle has been acquired, and then, for first lessons, the snaffle +only should be used, =a rein in each hand=. It will be better to have +the reins marked at equal distances from the bit, either by sewing +colored thread across each, or otherwise; this will be useful because, +with the novice, the reins will imperceptibly slip through her hands, or +one rein will become longer than the other, and the markings will enable +her to notice these displacements, and promptly to remedy them. By +holding the snaffle-reins separately, in first lessons, the pupil will +be aided in assuming a square position upon the saddle, and will +likewise be prevented from throwing back her right shoulder, out of line +with the left, a common fault with beginners, especially when the reins +are held only in the left hand. This rein-hold is very simple; the right +rein of the snaffle must be held in the right hand, and the left rein in +the left. + +[Illustration: Fig. 25.--Snaffle-reins; one in each hand.] + +The hands being closed, but not too tightly, must be held with their +backs toward the horse's head, and each rein, as it ascends from the +bit, must be passed between the third and fourth fingers of its +appropriate hand, carried across the inner surface of the third, second, +and first fingers, and then be drawn over the outside (or side next to +the thumb) of the first finger, against which it must be held by firm +pressure of the thumb. The thumbs must be held opposite each other and +uppermost, the finger-nails toward the body, and the back of the wrists +must be rounded a little outwardly, so as to make a slight bend of the +closed hand toward the body. The little fingers must be held down and +nearly in a horizontal line with the tips of the elbows; and the hands +be kept as low as possible, without resting upon the knees, and be about +four inches distant from the body, and from four to six inches apart. +(Fig. 25.) + +This arrangement of hands and reins may be termed the "original +position" when a snaffle-rein is held in each hand, of which all the +others are variations. In this position,--the reins being held just +short enough to feel the horse's mouth,--if the hands be now slightly +relaxed by turning the nails and thumbs toward the body, the latter +being, at the same time, inclined a little forward, the horse will be +enabled to advance freely, and, as soon as he =moves onward=, the +original position of the hands must be gently resumed. It is proper to +remark here, that when using the snaffle-reins only, the curb-bit should +always be in the horse's mouth, its reins being tied and allowed to rest +upon his neck, although the pupil must not be allowed to meddle with it. +The presence of the curb in the horse's mouth, although not used, has a +restraining influence, especially with an animal accustomed to it. + +=To turn the horse to the right=, the right rein must be shortened so as +to be felt at the right side of his mouth; to effect this, the little +finger of the right hand must, by a turn of the wrist, be moved in +toward the body and sufficiently toward the left, with the nails up and +the knuckles down, while, in order to aid the horse, the rider will +simultaneously turn her face and shoulders slightly to the right. The +animal having made the turn, the hand must gently return to the original +position, and the body again face to the front. + +=To turn the horse to the left=, the left rein must be shortened, by a +turn of the left wrist, carrying the little finger of the left hand +toward the body and to the right, nails upward, etc., while the pupil +will slightly turn her face and shoulders to the left. The turn having +been effected, the original position must be resumed, the pupil, in all +these cases, taking great care that the markings on her reins are even +and in the correct position. + +=To stop the horse=, both reins must be shortened evenly; this must be +accomplished by a turn of both wrists that will bring the little fingers +toward the body with the finger-nails uppermost, the body of the pupil +being, at the same time, slightly inclined backward. Now, by bending the +wrists to a still greater degree, and bringing the hands in closer to +the body, which must be inclined a little forward, and nearly in contact +with each other, thus throwing more strength upon the reins, the horse +will be compelled =to back=. To make him =move on again=, the hands and +body must resume the original position, and the hands must be relaxed, +etc., as stated above. + +When the pupil becomes more advanced, and can command her horse, in all +his gaits, with the reins separate, one in each hand, she will then be +prepared for lessons in handling =both reins with the left hand= only, +still employing the snaffle, as her touch may not be delicate enough for +the curb. + +[Illustration: Fig. 26.--Snaffle-reins; both in the left hand.] + +For this purpose, the reins being held for the time being in the right +hand, the left, having its back toward the horse's head, will seize them +as follows: its little finger must be passed directly between the two +reins, the left rein being on the outer side of this finger and the +right one on its right side, between it and the third finger. This done, +the reins must be drawn up nearly even to the marks upon them,[4] so as +just to feel the animal's mouth, noticing that these marks are nearly on +a line with each other, while that portion of the reins lying within the +hand must be carried across its palm to the index finger, to a point +between its first and second joints, against which point, being placed +evenly with one overlying the other, they are to be firmly held by +pressure of the thumb; the right hand may now quit its hold upon the +reins. (Fig. 26.) + + Footnote 4: It is stated in this paragraph that the _marks on the + reins_ should be "nearly even," or "nearly on a line with each other," + because, in its passage under the little finger, across the hand, and + on the outside of the right rein, the left one will be shortened so + that its marking will be about half an inch nearer the bit than that + of the right one; consequently, in order to make the pressure upon the + horse's mouth even, the right rein will have to be shortened to the + extent named. + +The reins having been properly placed in the left hand according to the +directions just given, this hand, being closed, but not too tightly, +must be held at a distance of about three inches from the front part of +the waist, with the wrist slightly rounded, the nails toward the body, +the back of the hand toward the horse's head, and the little finger down +and a little nearer the body than the others. The under surface of the +bridle arm and hand, from the tip of the elbow to the first joint of the +little finger, should be held nearly in a horizontal line. The elbow +must be held somewhat close to the side but not in contact with it, and +should be kept steady. Care must be taken, when the reins are held in +the left hand, that the right shoulder be not thrown back, nor the left +one elevated, faulty positions common to beginners when not otherwise +instructed. The right arm should be allowed to hang easily and steadily +at the side, the whip being lightly held in it, with its point downward. +When the snaffle-reins are held in the left hand as described, we may +term this the "original position," of which all the others are +variations. + +In order that the horse may =move onward=, the left hand, holding the +reins as just described, should be relaxed by turning the thumb downward +and toward the body until the back of the hand is up and the +finger-nails down; at the same time, the pupil should slightly incline +her body forward, being careful not to round the shoulders,--aiding the +movement by the voice, or, if necessary, by a gentle tap of the whip. +The horse having started onward, the original position must be gently +resumed. + +In order to =turn the horse to the right=, the left wrist must be turned +so as to bring the nails down and the knuckles up,--the thumb being +toward the body,--at the same time carrying the little finger slightly +to the left, and drawing the reins a little upward. This movement will +effect the necessary shortening of the right rein, without allowing any +looseness of the left one. The turn having been accomplished, the hand +must resume the original position. It must not be forgotten, that while +making this turn the face and shoulders must be turned somewhat to the +right, or in the direction in which the horse is moving. + +=To turn to the left=, the bridle-hand being in the original position, +its wrist must be turned so as to carry the finger-nails up, and the +knuckles down, simultaneously moving the little finger toward the right +and pressing it against the left rein, both reins being drawn slightly +upward. This manoeuvre shortens the left rein, without relaxing the +right. In this turn the movements of the horse should be aided by the +rider's face and shoulders being turned a little to the left. The turn +having been made, the original position must be resumed. + +The horse =may be stopped= by simply turning the wrist so as to carry +the finger-nails up, the knuckles down, and the little finger toward the +body, which must be slightly inclined backward. Now, by bracing the +muscles of the hand, bending the wrist and carrying the hand farther in +toward the waist, at the same time advancing the body, the animal will +be made =to back=; though, in backing a horse, it will be better to +employ both hands. After having stopped, or backed the horse, to make +him =move onward=, a course should be pursued, with both reins in the +bridle-hand, similar to that described for the same purpose when a rein +is held in each hand. + +=To change the snaffle-reins from the left to the right hand=, as is +sometimes necessary in order to adjust the skirt, to relieve the left +hand, etc., the following course must be pursued, whether the horse be +in rapid or slow motion: While the left hand must retain its position +and gentle pressure of the reins upon the horse's mouth, the right must +be carried to and over the left hand, its forefinger be passed between +the two reins, so that the left rein will be on the left side of this +finger, and the right on its right side, between the first and second +fingers; both reins must now be carried to the right, across the palm, +to the little finger; the hand must then be firmly closed, and the thumb +be pressed against the left rein, holding it in contact with the index +finger,--the left hand now gives up the reins. In this change, while the +right hand is being carried over to the left, this latter must be held +stationary, as any movement of it to meet the right hand may cause the +animal to turn or swerve from his course, and will at the same time +interfere with his gait. + +=To return the reins to the left hand=, the following course must be +pursued: While the right hand must remain steady and sustain the gait of +the horse, the left must be carried to and over it, insert its little +finger between the two reins, so that the left one will be on the left +or outer side of this finger, and the right one on its right side, +between it and the third finger; then the reins must be drawn through +the left hand, and be arranged and held in this hand in the same manner +as explained when describing the original position of both snaffle-reins +in the bridle-hand. + +These various changes must be made quickly and expertly, without +altering the degree of pressure or pull upon the horse's mouth. The +novice will find it greatly to her advantage to learn the management of +the reins before mounting the horse, and can do so by fastening the +bit-end of the reins to some stationary object, and then practicing the +different changes, until she can perform all these manoeuvres without +looking at her hands or the reins. + +When both the reins are held in the left hand, the rider has not so much +command over her horse as when they are held one in each hand. For this +reason, unless her steed be exceptionally well-trained and obedient, it +will be better, when in a crowded thoroughfare, where quick turns have +to be made, to hold a rein in each hand, and this will become absolutely +necessary if the animal be hard mouthed or unruly. + +When the horse is in motion and the reins are held in the left hand, +their =separation= may be quickly effected by carrying the right hand +to and over the left, the latter retaining its steadiness all the time, +and then passing the first three fingers of the right hand between the +two reins, so that they may readily close upon the right rein; the thumb +will then keep this rein firm by pressing it against the first joint of +the index finger. The position of the hands and reins will then, after a +movement of the left little finger to place the rein between it and the +third, be the same as described for the original position where a +snaffle-rein is held in each hand. + +Should the reins become too long when held separately, they can readily +=be shortened= by returning the right rein to the bridle-hand, placing +it directly over the left rein between the third and little finger, and +then, by means of the right hand, drawing the loose rein or reins +through the bridle-hand to the proper length, after which the right rein +may again be taken in the right hand, as already described. + +When the reins are held in one hand, they can be =shortened or +lengthened= by simply seizing them at their free, disengaged ends with +the right hand, and while this holds them and sustains the horse, the +left hand must be slipped along the reins, up or down, as may be +required, but without changing their arrangement. + +Another way of holding the reins in the bridle-hand is to pass the right +rein to the right of, and underneath, the index finger, and then carry +it across the palm, so as to escape beyond the little finger; while the +left rein must be passed to the left of the little finger (or between it +and the third finger), and then be carried across the palm to escape +beyond the index finger. The author cannot recommend this manner of +holding the reins to ladies who desire to become accomplished and +graceful riders, because the movements of the hands and arms, when +turning, or managing the horse, are much more conspicuous; and there is +not that delicate correspondence with the animal's mouth that can be +obtained by the other methods described. + +After the pupil has become expert in riding with the snaffle, she will +be ready for the =double bridle=, or the =curb-bit and bridoon=. The +double bridle must be =held in the left hand= in the following manner: +The _bridoon_ or _snaffle-reins_ are first to be taken up, evenly, by +the right hand and then the second finger of the left hand be passed +between these reins (the left rein being between the second and third +fingers, and the right rein between the first and second), the back of +the hand being directed somewhat upward, with the knuckles toward the +horse's head; the reins should then be pulled up by the right hand just +enough to feel the horse's mouth, and carried across the palm to the +index finger, where they should be held in position by firm pressure +with the thumb. + +[Illustration: Fig. 27.--Double bridle: all reins in the bridle-hand. + +1, upper reins, snaffle; 2, lower reins, curb.] + +The _curb-reins_ are now to be taken evenly by the right hand, and then +the little finger of the left hand be passed between the two reins, the +left rein being upon the left or outer side of the little finger, and +the right rein between the little and third fingers; both curb-reins +should next be drawn upward by the right hand until they are nearly the +length of the snaffle, and carried across the palm, one rein overlying +the other, to the index finger, between its first and second joints, and +between the snaffle-reins and the thumb, at which point all the reins +must be firmly held by pressure of the thumb against them; the right +hand will now remove its hold. (Fig. 27.) The above manoeuvring of the +reins will give the "original position" for the double bridle in the +left hand. All these reins should be of nearly equal length, the snaffle +being slightly the shortest, so that, while riding with the latter, the +curb may be ready for instant use; this may be brought into play by +simply turning the wrist so as to carry the little finger up and toward +the waist. And the full power of the curb may be brought into action by +turning the wrist so as to carry the knuckles down and the nails up, at +the same time drawing the little finger toward the waist. + +=To shorten or lengthen both the curb and snaffle reins evenly= without +abandoning the horse to himself for a moment, or without ceasing to keep +up his action, the following method may be pursued: The loose, +disengaged ends of all the reins that extend beyond the index finger of +the left hand must be taken between the thumb and forefinger of the +right hand, care being taken during this manoeuvre to keep up the +support to the horse with this hand; the grasp of the left hand upon the +reins must now be sufficiently relaxed to allow this hand to slide along +the reins downward to shorten them, or upward to lengthen them; this +must be effected without deranging their adjustment; when the proper +range has been obtained, remove the right hand. + +=To shorten the curb and lengthen the snaffle-reins=: The loose, +disengaged ends of all the reins must be held in the same manner as +stated in the preceding paragraph, between the thumb and index finger of +the right hand, not omitting to keep up a support to the horse; the +grasp of the left hand must now be slightly relaxed, and this hand be +slid up along all the reins, which movement will lengthen them in the +left hand. The grasp of the right hand upon the snaffle-reins must now +be relaxed, and the left hand be slid down along the curb-reins, +carrying the snaffle-reins with it, until the proper range or distance +has been attained, when the right hand may be removed. While these +changes are being made, the right hand must sustain the horse by the +curb-reins until the left has obtained a firm hold upon all. + +=To shorten the snaffle and lengthen the curb reins=, a course similar +to the one just preceding must be pursued, except that in this case the +right hand must retain the snaffle-reins, and support the horse by them, +while the left hand, in sliding down, will carry those of the curb. In +all these changes of the various reins, it must be remembered that after +each change has been effected the reins must be held in place by firm +pressure of the thumb, as already described. + +When =either of the reins= held in the left hand =becomes loose=, it +may be tightened, by carrying the right hand to and over the left one, +seizing the loose rein by its disengaged end that hangs loosely from the +left index finger, and drawing it up as far as is necessary. While this +is being done, the left hand must not be removed from its position, and +should continue to keep up a steady pressure upon the horse's mouth. + +In requiring the horse =to stop=, =to back=, =to turn=, or =to advance=, +the management of the double bridle-reins will be exactly the same as +stated in the directions given when holding the snaffle-reins in the +left hand. + +When both =the curb and the snaffle reins= are held in the bridle-hand, +they may be =changed to the right hand=, when this is desired, as +follows: The right hand must be carried to the left; the second finger +of the right hand must be placed between the snaffle-reins (already +separated by the second finger of the left hand); and the little finger +of the right hand between the curb-reins (already separated by the +little finger of the left hand); this done, the thumb and fingers of the +right hand must be closed upon the reins, which must, at the same time, +be released by the left hand. + +=To restore these reins to the left hand=, the pupil must proceed as +follows: Carrying the left hand to the right, the second finger of the +left hand must be placed between the snaffle-reins, and the little +finger of this hand between the curb-reins; this having been done, the +thumb and fingers must be closed upon all the reins, while the right +hand releases its hold. These several changes can be made whether the +horse be moving slowly or rapidly, care being taken to effect them so +quietly that the horse will not be abandoned to himself from want of +support, nor interrupted in the rhythm of his gait. + +If when riding with the double bridle in the bridle-hand, very quick +turns have to be made, or when the horse will not yield readily to the +movements of the bridle-hand, it will become necessary to =separate the +reins= by taking that of the right snaffle in the right hand; this can +be quickly effected by carrying the right hand to and over the left, and +seizing the right snaffle-rein with the first three fingers of the right +hand; this rein will pass between the third and little fingers and +across the palm, so that the loose, disengaged end will escape from +between the thumb and forefinger. + +[Illustration: Fig. 28.--Double bridle; a snaffle and a curb rein in +each hand. + +1, 1, snaffle-reins; 2, 2, curb-reins.] + +In America, most lady riders prefer to guide the horse with the +bridle-hand only; in doing this, although they may appear more careless +and graceful, they certainly lose much command over the animal. The +method at present employed by the best European horsewomen, who _seldom +ride with the reins in the left hand alone_, is as follows: The little +finger of the right hand is to be passed between the right curb and +snaffle reins in such a way that the curb-rein will be on the outer side +of this finger, and the snaffle between it and the third finger; both +reins must then be carried across the palm, and be firmly held by the +thumb against the forefinger. The little finger of the left hand is also +to be passed between the left snaffle and curb reins, in a similar +manner to that just described, and the reins must be held firm by the +thumb and forefinger of this hand. (Fig. 28.) This arrangement may be +termed the "original position" for a curb and snaffle rein in each hand. + +When the reins are thus separated, the action upon the horse's mouth +will be much more powerful than when they are all placed in the +bridle-hand. They should be held nearly even, the snaffle being +somewhat shorter than the curb, so that the hold or pressure upon the +animal's mouth may be made by the former; but should it be required on +any occasion to employ the curb, this can be brought into instant use by +a slight turn of the wrists, that will carry the little fingers up and +toward the rider's waist. To _stop_, to _back_, to _turn_, or to +_advance_, the reins must be managed in the same way as when one +snaffle-rein alone is held in each hand. In all these various ways of +holding the double bridle, the snaffle-reins should, as they pass upward +from the bit, always be placed above those of the curb; indeed, it would +be rather awkward to hold them otherwise. + +As already stated, when the object for which any change of hands and +reins has been made is effected, the hands should always resume the +original position, as explained for the snaffle-reins when one is held +in each hand,--thus, hands four inches from the body, four inches apart, +etc. The arms and elbows must be kept as steady as possible, all +movements of the reins being made with the wrists and fingers, unless +the horse be hard mouthed or badly trained, when the arms will have to +be employed and more force will be required. But a horse of this kind +should never be ridden by a woman; and the directions herein given will +be found amply sufficient to control a well-trained, properly-bitted +animal. + +The preceding directions relative to holding and managing the reins may +appear very tedious and exceedingly complicated. But if the pupil, +commencing with the snaffle-reins, one in each hand, will carefully +study and practice each method in succession, she will soon find that +all these apparently difficult manoeuvres are very simple when put into +practice, and can be readily learned in half a dozen lessons. When she +has once fully mastered them, she will be astonished to find how little +management, when it is of the right kind and based upon correct +principles, will be required to make her steed move in an easy and +pleasant manner. + +After the rein-hold has been acquired, and the pupil properly seated in +the saddle, she will, if the reins are held steady, observe with each +step of the horse as he advances in the canter or gallop, a slight tug +or pull upon the reins. This pull will also be simultaneously felt by +the horse's mouth, between which and the rider's hand or hands there +will be what may be termed a =correspondence=. This correspondence gives +a _support_ to the horse, provided the rider, while maintaining an equal +degree of tension upon the reins, will "=give and take=," or, in other +words, will allow the movements of the bridle-hand to concur with those +of this tug or pull. A _dead pull_ may be made by bracing the muscles of +the hand, tightly closing the fingers upon the reins, and holding the +hand immovable; but this should never be done, except to convey some +imperative command to the horse, or when he attempts to gain the +ascendency. This kind of pull will interfere with the natural movements +of the horse's head, making him move in a confined, irregular manner, +and will oblige him to _force the rider's hand_ or _hands_; that is, in +order to relieve himself from this restraint, he will give a sudden +downward jerk of his head, which may take the reins from her hands, +unless she be upon her guard; or else he will move heavily upon his +fore-legs, and make his rider support the weight of his head and neck. + +Should the curb be used instead of the snaffle, the result may be still +worse; because when the curb-reins are pulled upon, the port or arched +part of the bit will come in contact with the roof of the animal's +mouth, and will press upon it to a degree corresponding to the power +used upon the reins, while the curb-chain will be forced against the +lower jaw, and if this continual pressure or dead pull be kept up the +animal will experience considerable pain. To relieve himself, he will +suddenly throw his head either up or down and may even rear. In the +latter case, if his rider does not instantly relax her hand, he will be +apt to fall backward, which is one of the most serious accidents that +can happen when riding. If this rigid pull upon the curb be continued, +the horse will be certain, ultimately, to become hard mouthed, if not +vicious. This is a reason why so many riders, though having the double +bridle-reins, use only the snaffle, and allow the curb-reins to hang +quite loosely, being afraid to employ them, as experience has taught +them that this rigid hold upon the reins will be instantly resented by +the horse. Hence the curb-reins appear to be attached to the head-gear +of their horses more as an article of ornament than of utility. + +In order that a lady's horse may move lightly and well upon his +haunches, the curb will have to be employed occasionally to _collect_ +and _restrain_ him; and when it is managed properly, he will advance in +better style than when the snaffle alone is used. The snaffle will +answer a better purpose when employed to guide the horse in turning +completely around, or in movements to the right or to the left; while +the curb will answer during a straightforward motion to keep the animal +well up to his action and to bring out his best gait, as well as to +collect and restrain him. + +An easy "give and take" feeling can be effected by slightly loosening or +opening the fingers of the bridle-hand or hands as the horse springs +forward; as the hand feels the pull upon the reins, it must yield to +this sensation, and will thus allow the animal liberty in his spring or +advance movements. Then, as the action of the horse lessens or recedes, +the reins will be felt to slacken, when the fingers should be closed, +which will tighten the reins, support the animal, and keep him under +control. This "give and take" movement should occur alternately and +simultaneously with the cadence of each step of the steed, and should be +effected without any backward or forward movements of the arm or arms, +which must be held steady,--except in a rapid gallop, in which case both +the hand and arm will, to a certain extent, have to move to and fro. In +the "give and take" movement the reins should not be allowed to slip in +the slightest degree, nor to be jerked from the rider's hand by any +sudden motion of the horse's head; on the contrary, they should always +be held firm between the thumb and the first and second joints of the +index finger, the _other fingers alone_ performing the alternate action +of loosening and tightening the reins. + +The reader will be better enabled to understand this explanation if she +will take a piece of elastic, pass it around her right hand, which will +correspond to the horse's mouth, and then hold the two ends in her left +hand, exactly in the manner explained for holding the double +bridle-reins in one hand. Now, by making tension on the elastic (or +reins) with the left hand, so that the right (or supposed horse's mouth) +can just feel this pressure, a _correspondence_ will be formed between +these two hands (or bridle-hand and supposed horse's mouth) through +which the slightest movement of the left hand, or of its second, third, +or fourth fingers, will be immediately felt by the right hand; then, +while holding the elastic (or reins) firmly, by pressure, between the +thumb and index finger, by alternately opening and closing the fingers +of the left hand, she will observe that when her fingers are closed +there will be quite a tension upon the elastic and consequently upon the +right hand, and when they are slightly opened this will become flaccid. +The relaxation and contraction of the hand constitutes the "give and +take" movement, which causes the horse to move easily, pleasantly, and +with perfect freedom, while at the same time he is kept in entire +obedience to his rider. Indeed, this movement is _the grand secret of +good riding and correct management of the horse, and there can be no +good riding without it_. + +With this movement there should always be a certain support or pull upon +the horse's mouth,--firmer or lighter according to the sensitiveness of +his mouth, as some animals are harder mouthed than others, and +consequently require a firmer support;--this tension or pressure should +be rather light in the walk and canter, firmer in the trot, and very +light in the hand gallop. In the rapid gallop, the horse requires +considerable support. + +In all cases of _restiveness_, except in rearing, raising the +bridle-hands will give more command over the horse, as it will cause him +to keep up his head, and thus while lessening the power of the animal +will at the same time add to that of the rider. On the contrary, should +the horse lower his head, and the bridle-hands be held low, the power of +the animal will be augmented and he can bid defiance to his rider, +unless she can raise his head. She will have to do this in a gentle but +firm manner, soliciting, as it were, the desired elevation of his head +by raising her hands and quickly relaxing and contracting the fingers, +but being careful to keep the reins in place between the thumb and index +finger of each hand; she will thus gradually oblige him to raise his +neck with his chin drawn in, so that control over his mouth may be +regained. + +Should he resist this method, the reins must be momentarily slackened, +and then a decided jerk or pull be given them in an upward direction; +this will cause a sharp twinge in his mouth, and make him raise his +head. In these manoeuvres the curb-bit should be used, and as the animal +raises his head the rider should gently relax the reins, and also be on +her guard lest he rear. In some instances a decided "sawing" of his +mouth with the snaffle--that is, sharply pulling upon one rein and then +upon the other, and in rather quick succession--will cause him to raise +his head and neck. + +When a horse is obedient, all changes in the degree of pressure upon his +mouth should be made gradually, because, if a sudden transition be made +from a firm hand to a relaxed one, he will be abruptly deprived of the +support upon which he has been depending and may be thrown forward on +his shoulders. Again, to pass precipitately from a slack rein to a tight +one will give a violent shock to his mouth, cause him to displace his +head, and destroy the harmony of his movements. As a means of +punishment, some riders jerk suddenly, repeatedly, and violently upon +the reins; this "jagging on the reins" is a great mistake, and will be +likely to result in more harm to the rider than to the horse, as the +latter may suddenly rear, or else have a bad temper aroused that will be +difficult to overcome. + +When riding on the road there will be times when the horse will require +more liberty of the reins, as, for instance, when his head or neck +becomes uncomfortable from being kept too long in one position, when he +has an attack of cough, when he wants to dislodge a troublesome fly, +etc. In giving this liberty when occasion requires, the reins must not +be allowed to slip through the hands, but the arms should be gradually +advanced, without, however, inclining the body forward. + +The movements of the body must correspond with those of the horse and of +the rider's hands; thus, when the animal is moving regularly and +straight forward, the hands, or bridle-hand, being held firm and steady +immediately in front of the waist, the body must then be seated +squarely, with its front part to the front, so that the rider can look +directly between the ears of her steed. When the animal turns +completely around to the right or to the left, the shoulders and head of +the rider must also turn a little toward the direction taken by the +horse, while the hand must be slightly carried in an opposite direction. +When turning a corner, the entire body from the hips upward must incline +toward the centre of the circle of which the turn forms an arc, or, in +other words, the body must incline toward the direction taken by the +horse, and the degree of this inclination must be proportioned to the +bend of the horse's body, and to the rapidity of his pace while turning. + +When the horse advances, and the hands are relaxed, the body must +momentarily lean slightly forward without rounding the shoulders; this +will aid the horse in commencing his forward movement. In stopping him, +the rider's body must be inclined slightly backward as the hands rein +him in. All these movements should be made gradually, and never +abruptly. + +When a horse stumbles, or plunges from viciousness or high spirits, the +rider's body must be inclined backward, as this will enable her to +maintain her balance more effectually as well as to throw more weight +upon the reins. On the contrary, when he rears the bridle-hand must be +instantly advanced or relaxed, the body at the same time being inclined +well forward, which will throw the rider's weight upon the animal's +shoulders and fore-legs, and cause him to lower his fore-feet to the +ground. + +A horse is said to be =united= or =collected= when he moves easily in a +regular, stylish manner, well on his haunches, with head and neck in +proper position, his rider exercising perfect control over him by gentle +pressure upon his mouth, and keeping up the regular movements of the +animal by a quiet and dexterous "give and take" action of her hands. + +He is =disunited= when he moves in an irregular manner, or heavily upon +his fore-legs, occasioning the rider to support the weight of his neck +and shoulders; also, when the reins are too slack and exercise no +pressure upon his mouth, in which case, having no aid or support from +his rider's hand, he will move carelessly, or exactly as he pleases. + +In _collecting a horse_, the aid of the whip and the left leg will +frequently be required, as the rider's hand alone may not be sufficient. +In such a case, the left leg must be lightly pressed against his left +side and the whip at the same time be pressed against his right side; +these in conjunction with the action of the bridle-hand,[5] as +heretofore explained, will collect him and bring him up to his bridle +with his haunches well under him,--the proper position for starting. As +soon as he moves there should be only a light pressure on his mouth. In +order to perform the above feat effectively, the whip must not be too +limber and must always be held with its lash downward. This simultaneous +pressure of the whip and left leg has the same effect in collecting the +horse as that of the horseman's right and left legs. Should the horse +flag in his movements or move heavily upon his fore-legs, a repetition +of this pressure of the leg and whip, in conjunction with the proper +movements of the bridle-hand, will bring him well on his haunches and +lighten his action. + + Footnote 5: The bridle-hand being in the _original position_ for the + double bridle, the curb should be brought into action by a turn of the + wrist, which will carry the little finger in toward the waist; and + this, in conjunction with the leg and whip, will collect the horse. + +The horse is always animated by mild taps of the whip, light pressure of +the hand upon the curb, a clacking of the tongue, or an urging tone of +his mistress's voice. He is soothed and rendered confident by mild and +encouraging tones of voice, by the rider's sitting easily, by a gentle +hold upon the reins, and by caressing pats upon his neck and shoulders. + +In the directions given in this chapter, necessarily involving more or +less repetition, the author has endeavored to be as clear, +comprehensible, and simple as possible. And the rider will find it of +much greater advantage to have these instructions printed, than to be +required to learn them orally, as she can read and re-read them at +pleasure and have them thoroughly committed to memory before mounting +her horse. And, although it has required many pages to present these +instructions to the reader, she will find that their application will +prove very simple, and will also be agreeably surprised to observe the +great control she will have over the feelings and movements of her steed +through their agency. Horses are generally very sagacious, and appear to +recognize promptly any timidity, awkwardness, or ignorance on the part +of their riders, and, according to their temper or disposition, will +take advantage of such recognition, either by advancing carelessly or by +manifesting trickiness or viciousness. The best trained horse always +requires to be kept under command, but by kind treatment and correct +management. The horse, when ridden by a finished horsewoman, knows that +although allowed to move with a light rein he is under the control of a +masterly hand that will aid him in his efforts to please, but will +instantly bring him into submission if he does not yield entire +obedience. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE WALK. + + "And do you not love at evening's hour, + By the light of the sinking sun, + To wend your way o'er the widening moor, + Where the silvery mists their mystery pour, + While the stars come one by one? + Over the heath by the mountain's side, + Pensive and sweet is the evening's ride." + + E. PAXTON HOOD. + + +In walking, the horse moves nearly simultaneously the two legs that are +diagonally opposite to each other, first one pair, and then the other. +Thus, the right fore and the left hind leg make one step nearly at the +same time, and when these have touched the ground, the left fore and the +right hind leg are raised and advanced in a similar manner, and so on in +succession. In this manner as one pair of legs moves onward the other +pair sustains the weight of the animal; and of the two legs that act +together the fore one is raised from as well as placed upon the ground +slightly previous to the hind one. This is the reason why a horse which +walks well and in a regular manner will nearly or quite cover the +foot-marks of his fore-feet with those of his hind ones. If the +hind-foot should fall short of covering the track of the fore one, the +animal will not be a good walker; if, on the contrary, it should pass +somewhat beyond the mark of the fore-foot, it will indicate him to be a +fast walker, although he may overreach. + +In both the walk and the trot, when the horse is moving regularly, a +quick ear can detect four distinct beats or tappings of the feet; when +these beats mark equal time and sound exactly alike for each footstep, +it may be inferred that the horse is a good walker as well as a good +trotter, and that all his legs are sound. But if one beat be lighter +than the others, it may be assumed that there is some disease in the +foot or leg that produces this beat. Horse-dealers will often endeavor +to disguise this defect by adopting means to disable the animal +temporarily in his healthy leg, as the treads will then be made more +nearly alike, though the slight shade of difference thus effected can be +readily detected by a quick, experienced ear. These hoof-beats are best +heard when made on a hard road. + +A horse that is a good walker will move with a quick step, his hind-legs +well under him, his foot-taps marking regular time, and his feet +measuring exact distances, while he will lift his feet just high enough +to escape obstructions on the road, thrusting each foot well forward, +and placing it lightly, though firmly and squarely, upon the ground. He +will advance in a straight line, vacillating neither to the right nor +left, and should be able to accomplish at least from four to four and a +half miles per hour. + +The walk of a lady's horse is almost always neglected, and as a good +walk is a sure foundation for perfection in all other gaits, a lady +should positively insist that her steed be thoroughly trained in this +particular; especially if she be large and majestic looking, because the +walk will then become her specialty. A stout woman does not ride to the +best advantage at a rapid gait, but upon a horse that has the walk in +perfection she presents an imposing, queen-like appearance. If her +steed, however, be allowed to saunter along in a careless, listless +manner, all the charm will be destroyed, and the _tout ensemble_ will +present by no means a pleasing picture. + +The beginner in riding should learn to sit and manage her horse in a +walk, and should never attempt to ride a faster gait until she can +collect her steed, make him advance, turn him to the right and to the +left, and rein him back; this last movement is a very important one, +with which few teachers strive to make their pupils thoroughly +acquainted. Reining back will not only bring the horse under better +command, but, with a lady's horse, a short reining back from time to +time will improve his style of motion in his various gaits; besides +which, the rider may on some occasion be placed in a situation in which, +for her own safety, she will be compelled to move her horse backward. + +[Illustration: Fig. 29.--The Walk.] + +=To begin the walk=: The pupil, having placed herself in the saddle, +must not allow her horse to move until she is quite prepared, her skirt +adjusted, and the whip and reins properly arranged in her hands. Then, +drawing gently upon the curb and snaffle reins, a little more upon the +former than upon the latter, and at the same time gently pressing +against the animal's side with her left leg, and against his right side +with the whip, as heretofore explained, she will thus _collect her +horse_, and start him upon the walk. As soon as he has begun to move +forward, the pressure of the leg and whip must cease, and the hand or +hands must be held steady on the snaffle, the curb no longer being +required, unless the animal flags in his movements. The hold upon the +snaffle must be only tense enough to enable the rider to feel the +beat of the horse's action as he places each foot upon the ground, and +to give him a slight support and keep up an even action. Should this +support be too heavy, his step will be shortened, and he will be unable +to move freely; should it be insufficient, he will carry his head low, +will not raise his feet high enough to escape stumbling, will knock his +toes against every inequality of the ground, and both he and his rider +will present an indolent and listless aspect. Her attitude should be +easy and erect, but she should yield herself slightly to the movements +of the horse although without showing any lack of steadiness. (Fig. 29.) + +Should the horse be too much animated by the reins and whip at the +commencement of the walk, he may enter upon a jog trot, or an amble, in +which case he must be checked by gradually reining him in until he has +settled into a walk. Should he, on the contrary, not be sufficiently +animated, he will not exert himself and will move in an irregular and +indolent manner; in this case, he must be made to raise his head by a +slight pull upon the curb-reins, as already explained, and be again +collected and animated by the aid of the leg and whip. + +A short, abrupt =turn in the walk= should never be made, if it can +possibly be avoided; it is only in case of emergency that it should be +attempted, and even then it is more or less dangerous, because, as the +horse moves his legs diagonally in the walk, he may, when abruptly +turned, place one leg in the way of the other, be thrown off his +balance, and fall. When turning a horse completely around, it should +always be done in a deliberate manner. This rule should never be +forgotten, especially by a novice. + +During her first lessons in the walk, the pupil, in attempting to turn +her horse to the right, to the left, or completely around, must move him +very slowly, pressing her whip and left leg against his sides, and +keeping him well-balanced by proper support upon _both_ snaffle-reins. +In making a =turn to the right=, with a snaffle-rein in each hand, the +left hand must not abandon the horse, but retain a steady pressure upon +his mouth, while the tension upon the right rein must be increased by +moving the right hand and its little finger up and toward the body, at +the same time holding this hand a little lower than the left one. The +tension upon the right rein should be nearly double that made upon the +left, and should be kept up until the turn has been completed. In the +turn to the right, the left leg should make a little stronger pressure +than that made by the whip, to prevent the animal from throwing his +croup too far to the left; and in making the turn to the left, the whip +should press more strongly than the leg, in order to prevent the croup +from being carried too far to the right. + +In attempting =to turn= completely around =to the left=, the same +manoeuvring, though in an opposite direction, will be required; the +above directions for the two hands being simply reversed. + +Should the horse fail to turn in a regular manner, or refuse to obey the +reins readily, he must be collected, and brought up to the bridle in the +manner already described. This will cause him to raise his head and +place himself in a position to move in the required manner, and when +this is done the rider must slacken the tension upon the curb, and turn +him with the snaffle-rein. + +In making these turns, care must be taken to have ample space, and it +must not be forgotten, that while increasing the tension upon the rein +required to direct the turn, the other should not be slackened or +abandoned, but should continue to give support to the horse, though in a +less degree; and also that this tension upon the reins is much more +important when making a partial or complete turn, than when the animal +is moving forward in a straight line. For, if the reins be slackened, +and the horse left to himself, he will turn in an awkward manner, may +get one leg in the way of the other, and perhaps stumble or fall, +especially if the ground be slippery, or rough and uneven. + +It is a habit with many lady riders, as well as with multitudes of +horsemen, to make the turn by carrying the bridle-hand in the direction +of the turn, thus pressing the outward rein, or the one opposite to the +direction of the turn, against the horse's neck,--the inward rein being +completely slackened. This is a very dangerous fault and one that +instantly betrays ignorance of correct horsemanship, because the animal +is thus left without any support at a time when it is most needed. If a +rider has any regard for her own safety, she will remember this very +important rule, namely, _to support the horse on both reins when making +a turn_. + +When all the reins are held in the bridle-hand and a turn is to be made +to the left, the fault is sometimes committed of carrying the right hand +over to assist the left by pulling upon the left rein; this is +frequently done by ladies who have not been properly instructed, and +gives them an awkward appearance. When riding with the double bridle in +the bridle-hand, if the movements of the horse be controlled by this +hand and wrist, as explained in the preceding chapter, the turn to the +right or to the left can be effected without abandoning the horse by +relaxing one of the reins, and also without the assistance of the other +hand. These manoeuvres, accomplished easily and gracefully, indicate the +well-instructed and correct bridle-hand, the well-trained horse, and the +accomplished horsewoman, who will appear to manage her steed more by +mental influence than by any perceptible movements of her hands. + +=To stop in the walk=, in a correct and regular manner, is a sure +criterion of a good horsewoman, one that has her steed under complete +control, for this stop renders him more obedient, and tends to collect +him and to bring his haunches into a pliant condition. To accomplish +this stop properly, the rider must brace her arms firmly against her +sides,--being careful not to let her elbows protrude backward,--throw +her shoulders back, hold both reins evenly and firmly, and tighten the +tension upon them by turning the hand and little fingers up and carrying +them toward the waist, at the same time not omitting to press gently +against the horse's sides with the leg and whip. All this should be +accomplished by one simultaneous movement, and the degree of tension +made on the reins should be in proportion to the sensitiveness of the +horse's mouth. + +If the left leg and whip be not employed in making the stop, the horse +when brought to a stand may throw his weight upon his shoulders and +fore-legs,--which he should never be allowed to do, as it will destroy +the pleasing effect of the stop, and cause him to become disunited. The +animal should be so nicely balanced upon his haunches when he stops, +that, with a little more liberty of rein, he can readily move forward in +a united and collected manner. The reins must not be abruptly jerked, +but be drawn upon, as stated before, in a gradual and equal manner. +After the stop is completed, the reins may be so far relaxed as to +enable the horse to again advance, should it be required. The stop +should always be made when the animal is advancing straight forward, and +never, if it can possibly be avoided, when making a turn or going around +a corner. + +If, when attempting to stop the horse, he should _toss up his head_, the +bridle-hand must be kept low and firm, and the right hand be pressed +against his neck until his head is lowered, when the rein-hold may be +relaxed. In such a case, the rider must be on her guard, as a horse +which stops in this manner may rear, when she must immediately yield the +reins. + +The stop, especially in rapid gaits and when effected suddenly, is very +trying to the horse; it should therefore be made only when necessary, +and never to display the rider's superior command and excellent +horsewomanship; many horses, particularly those having weak loins, have +been caused much suffering and have had their dispositions completely +ruined by a too frequent and injudicious practice of the stop. + +In reining back or =backing in the walk=, the horse bends his haunches +and places one of his hind-legs under his body, upon which to rest and +balance himself; this enables him to collect force to impel his croup +backward. To favor this movement, the horse must be collected, brought +to stand square and even on his fore-legs, and then be reined backward +by a firm, steady, and equal pull upon both the right and left +snaffle-reins.[6] The hands should be held low and directly in front of +the body, with the knuckles down, and the little fingers turned up and +carried toward the body. During this whole movement care must be taken +not to elevate the hands. The body of the rider must bend somewhat +forward, with the waist drawn in, but without any rounding of the +shoulders, while the leg and the whip must make gentle pressure against +the horse's sides, so as to "bring him up to the bridle," and prevent +his deviating from the line in which it is desired to back him. The +backing must never be made by one continuous pull; but as soon as the +movement is commenced, the hands and body of the rider must yield so +that the horse may regain his balance, after which he may again be urged +backward. These actions should occur alternately, so that with every +step backward the rider will yield her hands, and immediately draw them +back again, continuing these movements until the horse has backed as far +as desired. If, instead of this course, a steady pull be made, the horse +may lose his balance and fall, or may be compelled to rear. + + Footnote 6: If the horse be tender in the mouth the snaffle-reins had + better be used in backing; if not, the curb. + +When reining the horse back the body must never be inclined backward, as +is necessary when stopping the horse; on the contrary, it must always be +inclined somewhat forward, as this will enable the hands to manage the +reins more effectively, will give the horse more freedom to recede, and, +should he rear, will place the rider in the proper balance. Should the +rider unfortunately incline her body backward, and the horse rear, she +would probably be unseated, and should she pull upon the reins in order +to sustain herself and keep her seat, the animal would be drawn +backward, and probably fall upon her. + +In backing, the pull upon the reins must never be made suddenly, but +always gradually, the hand rather soliciting than compelling. When the +reins are suddenly pulled upon, the horse is very apt to get his +hind-legs too far forward under him, in which case it is impossible for +him to move backward. + +In reining the horse directly backward, should his croup move out of +line to the right, the pressure of the whip must be increased, or gentle +taps be given with it upon his right side back of the saddle-flap, the +hand at the same time increasing the tension upon the right rein. The +taps of the whip must be very light, lest the animal turn too much to +the left. + +Should the croup swerve to the left, the rider must press her left leg +against her horse's side, or give light taps with her left heel upon his +side, turning the point of the toe out, moving the leg a little back, +and slightly separating the knee from the side of the saddle, in order +to give these taps; at the same time she must increase the tension upon +the left rein until the horse is brought into line. + +When it is desired to rein back, but with an inclination to the right, a +slight extra bearing or pull must be made upon the left rein, without +relaxing the steady tension upon the right one. A pressure with the whip +upon the right side of the horse must at the same time be kept up, in +order that he may not carry his croup too far to the right. + +In reining back with an inclination to the left, the pull upon the right +rein must be slightly increased, still keeping a steady feeling upon the +left one; then, by a constant pressure with the left leg upon the +horse's side, he will be prevented from carrying his croup too far to +the left. Reining back teaches the horse to move lightly, and improves +the style of his different gaits, but its effect is very severe upon +him, hence its practice should not be too frequent, and always of short +duration. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE TROT, THE AMBLE, THE PACE, THE RACK. + + "We ride and ride. High on the hills + The fir-trees stretch into the sky; + The birches, which the deep calm stills, + Quiver again as we speed by." + + OWEN INNSLY. + + +In the trot, the horse moves his legs in the same diagonal manner as in +the walk, the only difference being that in the trot they are moved more +rapidly. When trotting regularly and evenly, the right fore-foot and the +left hind-foot strike the ground nearly simultaneously, and then the +left fore-foot and the right hind-foot do the same; and so on +alternately, two legs being diagonally upon the ground at about the same +moment, while two legs are raised in the air. + +The strokes of the hoofs upon the ground are called "beats," and are +loud and quick, harmonizing with the animal's rapidity of motion and +length of step. The trot is the safest gait for a rider if the horse be +free from any defect in his limbs, as he will be less apt to stumble; +it is also less tiresome for the animal, because while two legs are +diagonally off the ground, the other two support the weight of his body, +and thus one pair alternately and quickly relieves the other. + +There are three varieties of trot, namely, the jog trot, the flying or +racing trot, and the true or even trot. In the _jog trot_ each foot is +placed nearly in the same track it occupied before it was raised, though +somewhat in advance of it, and it remains upon the ground a longer time +than when raised in the air, thus rendering the gait almost as slow as +the walk. If the horse be young and spirited, he will prefer this gait +to that of the walk, and, if permitted, will naturally adopt it. This +should be guarded against, and under no circumstances should he be +allowed to break into a jog trot; because, however accomplished the +rider may be, she will find it a very unpleasant and excessively +fatiguing gait, and one which will make her look very awkward. This +variety of trot, however, occasions less injury to the horse's feet and +legs than any other gait, and, on this account, it is preferred by most +farmers. + +In the _racing_ or _flying trot_, the horse is allowed to step out +without the least constraint, the legs being extended as far as +possible, and moving straight forward, while the animal spiritedly +enters into the occasion and gives out his full power. In this trot all +the legs are moved very rapidly, and the hind ones with more force than +the fore-legs, in order that the horse's body may, with each bound, be +propelled as far forward as possible. Between the two successive bounds +all four legs are momentarily off the ground. Very springy fetlocks tend +to diminish speed in the flying trot, and hence, not having such elastic +fetlocks, a good trotting racer is rough in his action and an +undesirable saddle-horse. + +In the _true_ or _even trot_, the action of the horse is regular, all +his limbs moving in an even manner, his feet measuring exact distances, +his hoof-beats being in equal time of _one, two, three, four_, and his +feet, when moving rapidly, touching the ground only for an instant. +There are two ways in which this trot may be ridden: one is to sit +closely to the saddle, moving as little as possible, and making no +effort to avoid the roughness of the gait. This is the method practiced +by the cavalry of this country, as well as by the armies in Europe, and +is called the "cavalry" or "French trot." + +The other method is to relieve the joltings by rising in the saddle in +time with the horse's step. This is called the "English trot," and is +the favorite gait of the European and the American civilian horsemen. It +is only during the last few years that this trot has been gradually +coming into favor with American horsewomen, although the ladies of +England, and of nearly all continental Europe, have for a long time +ridden this gait as well as the canter and hand gallop, having found +that by alternating the latter gaits with the trot they could ride +greater distances upon hard roads, and with much less fatigue to +themselves and their steeds. The English trot does not wear out the +horse so quickly as the gallop and canter; indeed, it has been generally +found that the horse's trot improves as he grows older, many horses +having become better trotters at their tenth or twelfth year than at an +earlier age. The trot in which the hoof-beats are in time of only _one, +two_, is very difficult to ride. + +In America, many persons condemn the English trot for lady riders, which +is hardly to be wondered at when one observes the various awkward and +grotesque attitudes that are assumed, even by many gentlemen, when +attempting to rise in the saddle. As for the ladies who have undertaken +this innovation, their appearance on horseback, from want of proper +training or from lack of attention to given rules, has, with but few +exceptions, been simply ridiculous. Even with correct teaching and +proper application, some ladies, although they acquire the English trot, +and do not make caricatures of themselves while employing it, yet do not +appear to such advantage as when in the canter or hand gallop. This is +also the case with European ladies, who differ very much in their power +to make this gait appear graceful. A small, slightly built person, +having a short measurement from the hip to the knee, can, when correctly +taught, ride this trot with much ease and grace. A tall woman will have +to lean too far forward with each rising movement of her steed, as her +length of limb will not permit a short rise; she will therefore appear +to much less advantage in this gait; while a stout built person will +look rather heavy in the rise from the saddle. + +However, whether a lady is likely to present an elegant appearance or +not when riding the English trot, she must, if she desires to become an +accomplished horsewoman, learn to ride this particular gait, as it will +enable her to gain a correct seat, to keep a better and more perfect +balance, and to become more thorough in the other gaits. From a hygienic +point of view, it will prove beneficial, and will preserve both rider +and horse from excessive fatigue when traveling long distances. Under +certain circumstances, it will also enable a lady to ride a man's horse, +which will be very apt to have this trot in perfection, and but little +knowledge of, or training in, any other gaits. In the country a regular +and sure trotting horse may often be readily obtained, while it will be +much more difficult to procure one with a light, easy canter or gallop. +This trot, when well cadenced and in perfect time, is very captivating, +as the rider escapes all jolting, and feels more as if she were flying +through the air than riding upon a horse. + +There is, however, one objection to the English trot to which attention +should be directed; namely, if the lady ride on a two-pommeled saddle, +and the horse happens to shy, or to turn around suddenly, while she is +in the act of rising, she is very likely to be unseated or thrown from +her horse. With the three-pommeled saddle, however, this accident will +be much less liable to occur, but the lady should always be on her guard +when riding this trot, especially if her steed be nervous; and to avoid +an accident of the kind just named, she should keep her left knee +directly under the third pommel, but without pressing up against it +enough to interfere with the rising motion, or just so close, that in +pressing upon the stirrup and straightening her knee she can rise about +four inches from the saddle; the distance between the upper surface of +the knee and the under surface of the pommel will then be about one and +a half, or two inches. If, in the rise, she does not find herself +embarrassed by the third pommel, she may know that the stirrup-leather +is of the correct length for this trot. The more rapid and regular the +trot, the easier and shorter will be the rise, and the less noticeable +the movements of the rider, because, when trotting fast, the rise will +be effected with but very little effort on her part, and will be almost +entirely due to the rapid action of the horse. To rise when trotting +slowly, will be neither easy nor pleasant for the rider, and in this +gait she will not appear to much advantage. + +In the =French= or =cavalry trot=, the body should be inclined a little +backward, being kept as firm as possible but without stiffness, while at +the same time the rider should sit as closely to the saddle as she can, +with the left knee directly under the third pommel, not using force to +press up against it, but simply holding it there to sustain the limb and +to assist in keeping it as firm and steady as possible during the +roughness of this gait--while the reins should be held a little firmer +than for the walk. This trot should never be ridden by ladies after +their first lessons in riding, unless the horse moves so easily in it +that his rider is not jolted in the least. To trot so softly that no +shock will be experienced by the rider as the horse's feet touch the +ground will require a thorough-bred of rare formation. + +Before the invention of the three-pommeled saddle the French trot was +always employed in the best riding-schools, a beginner being required to +practice it for a long time, in order to acquire the proper firmness in +the saddle; but since the invention of the third pommel the cavalry trot +has been almost entirely dispensed with, as this pommel at once gives a +firmness of seat that could be obtained on an old-fashioned two-pommeled +saddle only after taking many fatiguing lessons in the French trot. It +was this fatigue that caused so many persons to condemn horseback riding +for ladies, and it also proved a cause of discouragement to the pupils +in the riding-school, frequently giving rise to a decided dislike for +horseback exercise. But since the employment of the third pommel, it is +only necessary for the pupil to take two or three lessons in the +French trot, just enough to enable her to understand the movement, after +which she may proceed to rise in the English style. However, a knowledge +of the cavalry trot will be found useful, as a horse, when reined in +from a gallop or canter, will often trot a short distance before +stopping; and if the rider understands this trot, she will be able to +sit close to the saddle, and not appear awkward by jolting helplessly +about. + +[Illustration: Fig. 30.--The Trot.] + +Of all the styles of riding, there is none so difficult to describe or +to learn as the =English trot=. We will make an effort, however, to +render it comprehensible to the reader. Considerable study and practice +will be required to learn it perfectly, but when once learned it will +indicate the thoroughly accomplished horsewoman. (Fig. 30.) + +To commence the English trot, the rider must collect her horse, as for +the walk, and then, as he advances, keep a firm, even tension upon the +_snaffle-reins_, because, in this trot, the animal will rely wholly upon +his rider to support him and hold him to the pace, without the "give and +take" movements of the hands required in the other gaits. It is not +meant by this that a dead pull is to be made, but that the support must +be firm and steady, with a proper correspondence between the +bridle-hand and the horse's mouth. The elbows must be held steady and +lightly near the rider's sides, but not close against them. As the horse +extends his trot, an unpleasant roughness or jolting will be +experienced, which will give an upward impetus to the rider's body; the +moment she is conscious of this impetus, she must allow herself to be +raised from her horse in regular time with his step or hoof-beats. In +this trot, the horse will always have a leading foot, either the right +or left, and the foot he leads with is the one to which the rider must +rise,--rising when the leading foot is lifted, and touching the saddle +when this foot touches the ground. Most riders do this instinctively, as +it were, rising and falling with the leading foot. + +In _this rise_ the action of the horse alone will give the impetus; no +effort must be made by the lady, _except_ to press slightly, or rather +to sustain herself gently upon the stirrup, and keep her knee and instep +yielding and flexible with the rise. Care must be taken not to allow the +leg to swing forward and backward. The rise should be made as straight +upward as possible, the upper part of the body inclining forward no more +than is necessary to effect the rise with ease. The back must be kept +well curved, and the shoulders square to the front of the horse, +without lifting them up, or rounding them in rising. + +The =leading foot of the horse= is that fore-foot or leg with which he +commences his advance in the gait; it will always be carried somewhat +beyond its fellow, while, at the same time, that side of the animal's +body which corresponds with the leading foot will be a little more +advanced toward this foot, though almost imperceptibly so. Every rider +should be taught to know with which foot her horse leads. + +When a horse trots evenly and quickly, and with rather a short step, the +rise in the saddle will be barely perceptible; but when he trots slowly +and with a long step, the rise will have to be higher, in order that the +rider may keep time with the slowness and length of his step. In this +gait a tall woman will be very apt to prefer a long step to a short one. + +In making the rise, the rider must never assist herself by pulling upon +the reins, which should be held firm and low to give support _to the +horse alone_, not allowing them to slip in the least from between the +thumb and forefinger that should hold them steady. + +_The descent_ of the body to the saddle must be effected as gently as +possible. The right knee should be pressed against the second pommel, +and the left foot lean lightly upon the stirrup, the left foot and +instep being kept yielding and flexible with the descent, and the body +and right leg bearing[7] a little to the right. The descent should be +made just in time to catch the next impetus of the horse's movement, so +that the saddle will be hardly touched before the rider's body will +again be thrown upward to make the rise. + + Footnote 7: By "bearing to the right" is not meant an inclination of + the body to this side, but a resistance sufficient to keep the body + from inclining toward the left. As hereafter stated, trotting in a + circle to the _right_ will be found an excellent exercise to teach one + this bearing. + +It presents a very comical and inelegant appearance for a rider, whether +man or woman, when attempting the rising trot, to elevate and protrude +the shoulders, curve the back out so as to round it, lean forward toward +the horse's ears, with elbows sticking out from the rider's sides and +flopping like the wings of a restless bird, while the body is bobbing up +and down like a dancing-jack, out of all time with the movements of the +animal. One reason why some persons are so awkward in the rise is that +they sit too far back upon the saddle. This obliges them to sustain +themselves upon the stirrup obliquely, thus causing them to lean too +far forward in order to accomplish the rise more easily. Another cause +of awkwardness in the rising trot is an improperly constructed saddle. +The seat or platform should be as nearly level as a properly made saddle +will permit. When the front part or arch is much higher than the seat, +it will be difficult to use the second pommel as a point of support for +the right knee, which support is highly essential during the descent, in +this trot. It is a common thing to see riders exaggerate the rise by +pressing hard upon the stirrup and supporting themselves by the reins, +thus rising higher than necessary, and coming down with a heavy thump +upon the saddle; to which equestrian gymnastics they give the name of +"English trot." + +When rising and descending in the English trot, the left leg, from knee +to instep, must be held perpendicular and steady; the foot, from toe to +heel, must rest horizontally in the stirrup, and in a line with the +horse's side. The foot should not be allowed to turn out, nor the leg to +swing backward and forward: if the foot be pointed out, this will tend +to carry the body and leg too much toward the left, on the rise; and, if +the leg be allowed to swing, it will cause the rider to lose the rhythm +of the trot. Again, the stirrup must not be too strongly pressed upon, +as this will throw all the rider's weight upon the left side, and may +cause the saddle to turn. On making the rise, great care must be taken +not to advance the left shoulder, nor to turn the body to the left; many +riders do these things with the idea that they will enable them to rise +with more ease. But this is an error, for such movements will not only +occasion fatigue, but will also render the rein-hold unsteady, and the +action of the foot and knee uncertain. The body and shoulders must +always be square to the front when the horse is trotting straight +forward, the body remaining as erect as the action of the horse will +allow. + +=To stop= a well-trained horse =in this gait=, it will simply be +necessary for the rider to cease rising, sit down to the saddle, and +gradually loosen the reins. Many horses, however, are trained to make +the stop in the usual way, by having the reins tightened. The advance +and the turns are to be conducted in the same manner as that described +for the walk. + +In the English trot, the horse must be kept well up to his gait; should +he appear to move heavily or disunitedly the reins must be gradually +shortened, and the animal be collected. Should he step short, in a +constrained manner, the reins must be gradually lengthened, to give him +more freedom. If he break into a gallop when it is desired that he +should trot, he must be gradually reined in to a walk, and then be +started again upon a trot, and this course must be repeated until he +obeys, stopping him every time he attempts to gallop, and then starting +the trot anew. If he trot too rapidly, he must be checked, by bracing +the bridle-hand and increasing the pull upon the reins. If the trot be +too slow, the hand must relax the reins a little, and the horse be +animated by the voice, and by gentle taps with the whip. To regulate the +trot, to keep it smooth and harmonious, to rein in the horse gently +without rendering him unsteady, and then gradually to yield the hand so +that he may move forward again in a regular manner, are very difficult +points for beginners to accomplish while still keeping up the proper +support upon the bit, and will require study and considerable practice. + +A horse should never be urged into a more rapid trot than he can execute +in an even, regular manner; if compelled to exceed this, he will break +into a rough gallop, or into such an irregular trot as will render it +impossible for the rider to time the rise. + +An accomplished horsewoman, when trotting her horse, will make no +observable effort, and there will be perfect harmony between her steed +and herself. When the English trot is ridden in this manner, the person +who can condemn it must, indeed, be extremely fastidious. However, it +must be acknowledged that it will require the lithe, charming figure of +a young lady to exhibit its best points, and to execute it in its most +pleasing and graceful style. The very tall, the inactive, or the stout +lady may ride this gait with ease to herself and horse, and when +properly taught will not render herself awkward or ridiculous, but she +can never ride it with the willowy grace of the slender woman of medium +size. + +=Trotting in a circle= may be practiced in a riding-school, or upon a +level, open space or ground, having a circular track about seventy-five +or eighty feet in diameter. It is very excellent practice, especially in +teaching the rider to rise in unison with the horse's trot, whether he +leads with the right or left leg. For first lessons, the pupil must +commence by circling to the right, as this is the easiest to learn, and +will teach her to bear toward the right side of the horse. It is very +essential that in first lessons she should do this; because in the +English trot she will have to guard carefully against inclining to the +left in the rise and descent, a fault common to all beginners who are +not better instructed. + +In circling, the horse will always incline toward the centre of the +circle, with which inclination the rider's body must correspond, by +leaning in the same direction; if this precaution should be neglected +and the horse be trotting rapidly, the rider will lose her balance, and +fall off on the side opposite to that of the inclination. The distance +she should lean to the right or to the left must be in proportion to the +size of the circle that is being passed over, and also to the inward +bearing of the horse's body. Should the circle be small and the gait +rapid, the inclination of the rider's body will have to be considerable +to enable her to maintain her seat and keep in unison with the horse. If +the circle be large, say eighty feet in diameter, the inclination will +be slight. + +In order to _circle to the right_, when holding a curb and a snaffle +rein in each hand, the pupil must collect her horse by the aid of curb, +leg, and whip, as already explained, and start him forward on the +snaffle, holding the right rein a little lower than the left, and +drawing it enough to enable her to see plainly the corner of his right +eye; the reins must be held steadily, no sudden jerks being given to +them, as these will cause the horse to move irregularly and swerve +about. Should his croup be turned too much to the right, the pressure of +the whip will bring it to the left; if it be turned too much to the +left, the pressure of the left leg will bring it to the right. + +In _circling to the left_, the horse will incline his body to the left, +toward the centre of the circle. It is not very easy to learn to circle +to the left, but when once learned, it will be found no more difficult +than circling to the right, provided the animal has been properly +trained and made supple, so as to lead with either leg. Horses that have +been trained to lead with the right leg only will, when required to +change and lead with the left, move in a confined, inflexible, and +irregular manner, so that it will be impossible to time the rise from +the saddle. In riding in the circle to the left, the directions for +circling to the right must be reversed, the rider leaning to the _left_, +pulling the _left_ rein a little tighter, etc. Great care must be taken, +however, not to lean too much toward the left in making the rise. The +degree of inclination should not in this case be so great as the +corresponding inclination when circling to the right, for if it is the +rider will throw her weight too much upon the stirrup side, and may +cause the saddle to turn. + +In practicing riding in a circle, it will be found very advantageous to +vary the size of the circle, first riding in a large one, then gradually +contracting it, and again enlarging it; or the rider, while practicing +upon a large circle, may make a cross-cut toward the centre of this +circle, so as to enter upon another one of smaller diameter, and, after +riding for a short time in the smaller circle, she may again pass out to +resume her ride upon the larger one. These changes from large to narrow +circles form excellent practice for pupils, but should always, if +possible, be performed under competent instruction. + +The first lessons in trotting in a circle should always be of short +duration, and the pupil required to ride slowly, the speed being +gradually increased as she gains knowledge and confidence. The moment +she experiences fatigue she should dismount, and rest, before resuming +the lesson. + +=In the amble= the horse's movements very strongly resemble those of the +camel, two legs on one side moving together alternately with the two +legs of the other side. Thus one side of the animal supports the weight +of his body, while the other side moves forward, and so on in +alternation. This is an artificial gait, and one to which the horse must +usually be trained; though some horses whose ancestors have been forced +to travel in this gait, have themselves been known to amble without any +training. In the feudal ages it was the favorite pace for a lady's +palfrey, but at the present day it is no longer countenanced by good +taste. + +=The pace=, however, which is so well liked by many ladies in this +country, is a kind of amble, although the steps taken are longer. A good +pacer can frequently travel faster than most horses can in the trot. +When the steed moves easily and willingly, the pace is very pleasant for +short rides, but for long journeys, unless the animal can change his +gait to a hand gallop or a canter, it will become very unpleasant and +tiresome. Many pacers are almost as rough in their movements as the +ordinary trotter; and although they do not jolt the rider up and down +upon the saddle, yet they jerk her body in such a manner as successively +and alternately to throw one side forward and the other slightly back +with each and every step, rendering a ride for any distance very +fatiguing. + +=The rack=, at one time so much liked, has become almost obsolete. This +is a peculiar gait, not easily described, in which the horse appears to +trot with one pair of legs and amble with the other, the gait being so +mixed up between an amble and a defective trot as to render it almost a +nondescript. When racking, the horse will appear constrained and +uncomfortable, and will strongly bear upon the rider's hand; some +animals so much so, as completely to weary the bridle-hand and arm in a +ride of only an hour or two. This constant bearing of the horse's head +upon the reins soon renders him hard mouthed, and, consequently, not +easily and promptly managed. The rack soon wears out a horse, besides +spoiling him for other gaits, and so injures his feet and legs that a +racker will rarely be suitable for the saddle after his eighth year. It +is an acquired step, much disliked by the horse, which has always to be +forced into it by being urged forward against the restraint of a +curb-bit; and he will, whenever an opportunity presents, break into a +rough trot or canter, so that the rider has to be constantly on the +watch, and compel him to keep in the rack against his will. And although +the motion does not jolt much, the aspect of the horse and rider is not +as easy and graceful as in the canter and hand gallop, there being an +appearance of unwillingness and restraint that is by no means pleasing. +The directions for the French trot will answer for both the pace and the +rack, except that in the latter the traction upon the reins must be +greater. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE CANTER. + + "When troubled in spirit, when weary of life, + When I faint 'neath its burdens, and shrink from its strife, + When its fruits, turned to ashes, are mocking my taste, + And its fairest scene seems but a desolate waste, + Then come ye not near me, my sad heart to cheer + With friendship's soft accents or sympathy's tear. + No pity I ask, and no counsel I need, + But bring me, oh, bring me my gallant young steed, + With his high arched neck, and his nostril spread wide, + His eye full of fire, and his step full of pride! + As I spring to his back, as I seize the strong rein, + The strength to my spirit returneth again! + The bonds are all broken that fettered my mind, + And my cares borne away on the wings of the wind; + My pride lifts its head, for a season bowed down, + And the queen in my nature now puts on her crown!" + + GRACE GREENWOOD. + + +In the gallop, the horse always has a leading foot or leg. In _leading +with the right fore-foot_, he will raise the left one from the ground, +and then the right will immediately follow, but will be advanced +somewhat beyond the left one; and this is the reason why, in this case, +the right side is called the "leading side." In the descent of the +fore-feet, the left one will touch the ground first, making the first +beat, and will be immediately followed by the leading or right +fore-foot which will make the second beat. The hind-legs are moved in a +similar way, the left hind-foot making the third beat, and the right one +the fourth. These beats vary in accordance with the adjustment of the +horse's weight, but when he gallops true and regular, as in the canter, +the hoof-beats distinctly mark _one_, _two_, _three_, _four_. In the +rapid gallop the hoof-beats sound in the time of _one-two_, or +_one-two-three_. + +In _leading with the left foot_, the left side of the horse will be +advanced slightly and the left leg be carried somewhat beyond the right, +the action being just the reverse of that above described when leading +with the right leg. In this case the left side is termed the "leading +side." The hoof-beats of horses in the trot and gallop have been +admirably rendered by Bellini, in the opera of "Somnambula," just +previous to the entrance of Rudolfo upon the stage. There are three +kinds of gallop, namely, the _rapid_ or _racing_, the _hand gallop_, and +the _canter_. + +=The canter= is a slow form of galloping, which the horse performs by +throwing his weight chiefly upon his hind-legs, the fore ones being used +more as supports than as propellers. Horses will be found to vary in +their modes of cantering, so much so as to render it almost impossible +to describe them accurately. Small horses and ponies have a way of +cantering with a loose rein, and without throwing much weight upon their +haunches, moving their feet rapidly, and giving pattering hoof-beats. +Most ponies on the Western prairies canter in this manner, and it is +said to be a very easy gait for a horseman though very unpleasant, from +its joltings, for a lady. + +Another canter is what might be termed the "canter of a livery-stable +horse." This appears to be partly a run and partly a canter, a +peculiarity which is due to the fact that one or more of the animal's +feet are unsound, and he adopts this singular movement for the purpose +of obtaining relief. The little street gamins in London recognize the +sound of this canter at once, and will yell out, in time with the +horse's hoof-beats, "three pence, two pence," in sarcastic derision of +the lady's hired horse and the unhappy condition of his feet. + +In the true canter, which alone is suitable for a lady, the carriage of +the horse is grand and elegant. In this gait, the animal has his +hind-legs well under his body, all his limbs move regularly, his neck +has a graceful curve, and responds to the slightest touch of the +rider's hand upon the reins. A horse that moves in this manner is one +for display; his grand action will emphasize the grace of a finished +rider, and the appearance of the _tout ensemble_ will be the extreme of +elegance and well-bred ease. + +Horses intended for ladies' use are generally trained to lead in the +canter with the right or off fore-foot. Most lady riders, whose lessons +in riding have been limited, sit crosswise upon their saddles. This +position, without their being aware of it, places them more in unison +with the horse's movements, and thereby renders the canter with this +lead the easiest gait for them. But if a horse be constantly required to +canter with this lead he will soon become unsound in his left hind-leg, +because in leading with the right fore-foot he throws the greater part +of his weight upon his left hind-leg, and thus makes it perform double +duty. For this reason the majority of ladies' horses, when the canter is +their principal gait, will be found to suffer from strained muscles, +tendons, and articulations. + +A finished rider will from time to time relieve her horse by changing +the lead to the left leg, or else she will change the canter to a trot. +Should her horse decidedly refuse to lead with the foot required, +whether right or left, it may be inferred that he is unsound in that leg +or foot; in which case he should be favored, and permitted to make his +own lead, while the canter should frequently be changed to a walk. + +[Illustration: Fig. 31.--Entering upon the Canter with the Right Leg +leading.] + +To =commence the canter=, the horse must be brought to a walk, or to a +stand, then be placed on his haunches, and collected by means of the +curb, left leg, and whip; and then the bridle-hand must be raised, while +the second, third, and fourth fingers are moved to and fro, so as to +give gentle pulls upon the curb-reins, thus soliciting the animal to +raise his fore-feet. In performing these manoeuvres, the rider must be +careful to direct the leg with which she desires her horse to lead. This +may be done as follows: If she desires to have the =right leg lead=, the +tension upon the left curb-rein must, _just before_ the animal rises to +take his first step, be increased enough to make him incline his head so +far to the left that the rider can see his left nostril, while, +simultaneously, her left leg must press against his side. By these +means, the horse will be prompted to place himself obliquely, with his +head rather to the left, and his croup to the right. + +The rider, if seated exactly in the centre of her saddle, must take a +position corresponding to that of the horse, by throwing her right hip +and shoulder somewhat forward, her face looking toward the animal's +head, while her body is held erect with the shoulders gracefully +inclined backward, and the hollow of the back well curved inward. Any +stiffness or rigidity of the body must be guarded against in these +movements and positions. The rider must hold herself in a pliant manner, +and yield to the motions of the horse. The left leg must be held steady, +the knee being placed directly underneath the third pommel, and care +must be taken not to press upon the stirrup, as this will tend to raise +the body from the saddle, and convey its weight almost wholly to the +left side. + +The hands must be held somewhat elevated and steady, and, as the horse +advances, the tension on the reins must be even, so that the fingers can +feel every cadence of his step, and give and take with his movements. +Unlike the trot, in which the horse must be supported by the snaffle, +the canter will require the curb to sustain and keep up his action. +After the animal has started in the canter with the right leg leading, +should he incline too much to the left, the tension upon the right rein +must be increased, so as to turn his head more to the right and bring +him to the proper inclination for the lead of the right leg. This +correction must be effected gradually and lightly, so as not to disturb +the gait, or cause him to change his leading leg. This canter with the +right leg leading is very easy to learn, and will not require much +practice to master. + +However, should the horse fail to obey these indications of the left +rein and leg, and start off in a false and disunited manner, as +explained under "the turn in the canter," another course should be +pursued, namely: the tension upon the right or off curb-rein must be +increased so as to bring the animal's nose to the right, as if he were +going to turn to the right on a curve, while at the same time the left +leg must be pressed against his side in order to have him carry his +croup slightly to the right. Now he must be made to lift his fore-feet +by increased tension on both curb reins, and then be urged forward. As +he advances, the hands should be extended a little to give him more +freedom in the spring forward, and he will then naturally lead with the +right side advanced. When once started in this gait, the rider must +equalize the tension upon the reins, having placed herself in the +saddle, in the manner explained for the canter. To have him lead with +the left leg, a similar but reversed course must be pursued, using +pressure with the whip, instead of the leg, to make him place his croup +to the left. + +To canter with the =left leg leading= will be found more difficult to +acquire, and will demand more study and practice. The horse, having been +collected, must then be inclined obliquely to the right. To accomplish +this, the rider must increase the tension of the right curb-rein, and +press her whip against the animal's right side, which will urge his head +to the right and his croup to the left. In order that the position of +the rider's body may correspond with that of the horse, her left hip and +shoulder must be slightly advanced, in precedence of her right hip and +shoulder. It will be observed that the manoeuvring in this lead is +similar to that in which the right leg leads, except that the +_direction_ of the positions, of the management of the reins, and of the +horse's bearing during the canter is simply reversed; in either lead, +however, the tension or bearing upon the reins, as the horse advances in +the canter, must be equal. + +It may be proper to state here that, as the amount of tension needed +upon the reins when cantering varies considerably with different horses, +some needing only the lightest touch, the rider will, consequently, have +to ascertain for herself how much will be suitable for her horse. Some +horses, after having fairly started in the canter, will bend their necks +so as to carry their chin closer to the throat, while others again will +extend the neck so as to carry the chin forward. In the first instance, +the reins will have to be shortened in order to give the animal the +proper support in the gait, as well as to keep up the correspondence +between his mouth and the bridle-hand; in the latter they will require +to be lengthened, to give him more freedom in his movement. Should the +reins be held too short, or the rider's hand be heavy and unyielding, +the horse will be confined in his canter; should the reins be held too +long, he will canter carelessly, and will either move heavily upon his +fore-legs, or break into an irregular trot. + +A rider may by attending to the following directions readily determine +whether her horse be leading with the leg she desires, and also whether +he be advancing in a true and united manner: If he be moving regularly +and easily, with a light play upon the reins in harmony with the give +and take movements of the hand, his head being slightly inclined in a +direction opposite to that of the leading leg, and his action being +smooth and pleasant to the rider, he will, as a rule, be cantering +correctly. But if he be moving roughly and unevenly, giving the rider a +sensation of jolting, if his head is inclined toward the same side as +that of the leading leg, and he does not yield prompt obedience to the +reins, then he is not cantering properly, and should be immediately +stopped, again collected, and started anew. If necessary this course +should be repeated until he advances regularly and unitedly. + +Some horses, after having fairly entered upon the canter, will change +the leading leg, and will even keep changing from one to the other, at +short intervals. This is a bad habit, and one that will never be +attempted by a well-trained animal, unless his rider does not understand +how to support him correctly and to keep him leading with the required +leg. A horse should never be allowed to change his leading leg except at +the will of his rider; and should he do so, he should be chidden and +stopped instantly, and then started anew. + +If the rider when trotting rapidly wishes to change to a canter, she +must first moderate the trot to a walk, because the horse will otherwise +be apt to break from the trot into a rapid gallop. Should he insist upon +trotting, when it is desired that he should canter, he must be stopped, +collected with the curb-bit, as heretofore described in the directions +for commencing the canter, and started anew. This course must be +repeated every time he disobeys, and be continued until he is made to +canter. + +It may be remarked here that, in the canter, whenever the horse moves +irregularly, advances heavily upon his fore-legs, thus endeavoring to +force his rider's hand, or when he fails to yield ready obedience, he +should always be stopped, collected, and started anew,--repeating this +course, if necessary, several times in succession. Should the animal, +however, persist in his disobedience, pull upon the reins, and get his +head down, his rider must, as he moves on, gently yield the +bridle-reins, and each time he pulls upon them she must gradually, but +firmly, increase the tension upon them, by drawing them in toward her +waist. This counter-traction must be continued until the horse yields to +the bridle and canters properly. When he pulls upon the reins his rider +in advancing her hands to yield the reins should be careful to keep her +body erect, and not allow it to be pulled forward. + +=The turn in the canter.= In turning to _the right_, if the horse is +leading with the inward leg, or the one toward the centre of the circle +of which the distance to be turned forms an arc, in the present +instance the right fore-leg which is followed by the right hind-leg, he +is said to be true and united, and will be able to make the turn safely. +Should the turn be made toward _the left_, the horse leading with his +inward or left fore-leg, followed by the left hind-leg, he will likewise +be true and united. + +On the contrary, the animal will be disunited when, in cantering to the +right, he leads with the right fore-leg followed by the left hind-leg, +or when he leads with the left fore-leg followed by the right hind-leg. +In either case, from want of equilibrium in action and motion, a very +slight obstruction may make him fall. + +In turning toward the left, in a canter, the horse will be disunited if +he leads with the left fore-leg followed by the right hind-leg, or if he +leads with the right fore-leg followed by the left hind-leg, as in the +preceding instance, he will be liable to fall. A horse is said to go +false when, in turning to the right, in the canter, he leads with both +left legs, or advances his left side beyond his right; also, when in +cantering to the left he leads with both right legs or advances his +right side beyond his left; in either of these false movements he will +be very liable to fall. + +When it is desired to =turn to the right=, in the canter, the horse +must be kept well up to the bridle, so as to place his haunches forward +and well under him, thus keeping him light on his fore-legs, and +preventing his bearing too heavily upon his shoulders; and, while the +inward rein is being tightened in order to make the turn, the outward +one must continue to support the horse, being just loose enough to allow +him to incline his head and neck toward the inner side of the turn. +Pressure from the left leg of the rider will keep the animal from +inclining his haunches too much to the left, during the turn. Should the +steed be turned merely by means of the inward rein, without being kept +well up to the bridle, and without either leg or whip being used upon +his outer side, he will turn heavily upon his forehand, and will be +obliged to change to the outward leg in order to support himself. This +will cause him, after the turn has been accomplished, to advance in a +disunited way in the canter. + +When it is desired to =turn to the left=, the instructions in the +preceding paragraph may be pursued, the directions, however, being +reversed and pressure with the whip being employed instead of that with +the leg. + +Sudden, sharp turns, are always dangerous, however sure-footed the horse +may be, and especial care should be taken not to turn quickly to the +right when the left fore-leg leads, nor to the left when the right +fore-leg leads, as in either case the animal will almost certainly be +thrown off his balance. In turning a "sharp corner," especially when the +rider cannot see what she is liable to encounter, it will be better for +her to make the turn at a walk, and keep her own side of the road, the +right. + +=The stop in the canter.= In bringing the horse to a stand, in the +canter, he should be well placed on his haunches by gradually increasing +the pull upon the curb-reins just as his fore-feet are descending toward +the ground; the hind-feet being then well under the horse will complete +the stop. The rider must guard against leaning forward, as this will not +only prevent the horse from executing the stop in proper form, but +should he suddenly come to a stand, it will throw her still farther +forward, and the reins will become relaxed. Now, while she is thus +leaning forward, should the animal suddenly raise his head, the two +heads will be very likely to come into unpleasant contact; or should the +horse stumble, his liability to fall will be increased, because the +rider will not be in a proper position to support him, and will increase +the weight upon his shoulders, by being so far forward. + +Many ladies not only lean forward while effecting the stop, but also +draw the bridle-hand to the left, and carry the bridle-arm back so that +the elbow projects behind and beyond the body, while at the same time +they elevate the shoulder on this side. This is an extremely awkward +manner of bringing a horse to a stand. The stop should be made in the +same manner as that described in the walk, that is, by gradually drawing +the bridle-hand toward the waist, etc. + +Nearly all horses, unless exceptionally well trained, will trot a short +distance before coming to a stand in the canter or gallop, and it is +here that a knowledge of the French or cavalry trot will prove +essential, because the rider will then comprehend the motion, and will +sit closely to the saddle until the horse stops. In all cases, the horse +should be brought to a stand in a regular, collected manner, so that +with a little more liberty of rein he can promptly reënter upon the +canter, should this be desired. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE HAND GALLOP.--THE FLYING GALLOP. + + "Now we're off like the winds to the plains whence they came; + And the rapture of motion is thrilling my frame! + On, on speeds my courser, scarce printing the sod, + Scarce crushing a daisy to mark where he trod! + On, on like a deer, when the hound's early bay + Awakes the wild echoes, away, and away! + Still faster, still farther, he leaps at my cheer, + Till the rush of the startled air whirs in my ear! + Now 'long a clear rivulet lieth his track,-- + See his glancing hoofs tossing the white pebbles back! + Now a glen dark as midnight--what matter?--we'll down + Though shadows are round us, and rocks o'er us frown; + The thick branches shake as we're hurrying through, + And deck us with spangles of silvery dew!" + + GRACE GREENWOOD. + + +The hand gallop is an intermediate gait between the canter and the +flying gallop. Its motion, though rather rapid, is smooth, easy, and +very agreeable for both rider and steed. Nearly all horses, especially +spirited ones, prefer this movement to any other; the bronchos on the +plains of the far West will keep up this long, easy lope or hand gallop +for miles, without changing their gait, or requiring their riders to +draw rein, and without any apparent fatigue. This pace is likewise a +favorite one with riding parties, as the motion is so smooth that +conversation can be kept up without difficulty. If the animal's +movements are light, supple, and elegant, the lady rider presents a very +graceful appearance when riding this gait, as the reactions in it are +very mild; it is the gait _par excellence_, for a country ride. + +On a breezy summer morning, there is nothing more exhilarating than a +ride at a hand gallop, on a willing, spirited horse; it brightens the +spirits, braces the nerves, refreshes the brain, and enables one to +realize that "life is worth living." + + "I tell thee, O stranger, that unto me + The plunge of a fiery steed + Is a noble thought,--to the brave and free + It is music, and breath, and majesty,-- + 'Tis the life of a noble deed; + And the heart and the mind are in spirit allied + In the charm of a morning's glorious ride." + +Let all gloomy, dyspeptic invalids try the cheering effects of a hand +gallop, that they may catch a glimpse of the sunlight that is always +behind even the darkest cloud of despondency. + +When the horse is advancing in a collected canter, if the rider will +animate him a little more by gentle taps with the whip, and then as he +springs forward give him more liberty of the curb-rein, he will enter +upon a =hand gallop=. In this gait he will lead either with the left or +the right foot, but the oblique position of his body will be very +slight. The management of the reins, the turns to the right or to the +left, the stop, and the position of the rider's body, must, in this gait +be the same as in the canter, except that the body need not be quite so +erect, and the touch upon the reins must be very light, barely +appreciable. + +If riding a spirited horse, the lady must be upon her guard, lest he +increase his speed and enter into a flying or racing gallop. Any horse +is liable to do this when he has not been properly exercised, especially +if he is with other horses, when a spirit of rivalry is aroused, and he +sometimes becomes almost unmanageable from excitement. Many +livery-stable horses, although quiet enough in the city, will, when +ridden upon country roads, especially in the spring, require all the +skill of their riders to keep them under control. The change from the +stone and brick of the city or town to the odor of the fresh grass and +the sight of green fields has an exhilarating effect upon them, and +makes them almost delirious with gladness, so that they act like +anything but sensible, quiet, well-worked horses. + +When her horse manifests any such disposition, the rider must retain her +presence of mind, and not permit any nervousness or excitement on her +part to increase that of her horse. She must keep him well under the +control of the curb-bit, and not allow him to increase his speed; when +he endeavors to do so, she must sit erect, and every time his fore-feet +touch the ground she must tighten the curb-reins, by drawing them +gradually but firmly toward her waist. She will thus check the animal's +desire to increase his speed, by compelling him to rest upon her hand at +short intervals until he can be brought under command and again made +obedient. Care must be taken not to make this strong pull upon the +animal's mouth constant, as this will be more apt to increase than to +lessen his speed, and will also prevent her from turning him readily +should she encounter any object upon the road. + +Should the horse, however, continue to disobey the commands of his +rider, and persist in his efforts to increase his speed, she must then +lean well back, and "saw his mouth" with the snaffle-reins, that is, she +must pull first one of these reins and then the other in rapid +succession; this may cause him to swerve out of a straight course, but +if he has a snaffle-bit separate from the curb this sawing will +generally have the desired effect, and stop him. + +If the horse should get his head down and manifest a disposition to +change the full gallop into a runaway, the rider must, as she values her +own safety, keep her body well inclined backward, for some horses, when +excited, will, while their riders are endeavoring to check or control +them, kick up as they gallop along, and the rider, unless she is +prepared for such movements, will be in danger of being thrown. In such +a case every effort must be made to raise the horse's head. To do this, +the rider must slacken the curb-reins for a moment, and then suddenly +give them a strong, decided jerk upward; this will cause a severe shock +to the horse's mouth, and make him raise his head and stop suddenly, a +movement that may throw her toward or upon the front of the saddle with +considerable force, unless she guard herself against such an accident by +leaning well back. + +Should the horse, when galloping at full speed, turn a corner in spite +of the efforts of his rider, she must keep a steady pull upon the outer +curb-rein, and lean well back and in toward the centre of the curve +which the horse is describing in his turn. All this must be done +quickly, or she will lose her balance and fall off upon the outer side. + +During all these violent efforts of the horse the rider must keep a +firm, steady seat, pressing her left knee up strongly against the third +pommel, and at the same time holding the second clasped firmly by the +bend of her right knee. If she recollects to do all this, there will be +little cause for alarm, as it will then be very difficult for her horse +to unseat her. The combined balance and grip of limbs will give her a +firmer seat than it is possible for a man to acquire in his saddle. + +[Illustration: Fig. 32.--The Flying Gallop.] + +=In the flying or racing gallop= the horse manifests the utmost +capabilities of his speed, his body at every push of his hind-legs being +raised from the ground so quickly that he will appear as if almost +flying through the air; hence the name "flying gallop." In this gait it +is unimportant with which leg the horse leads, provided the advance of +the hind-leg on the same side as that of the leading one be made +correspondingly. It is advisable that every lady rider should learn to +sit the flying gallop, as she will then be better able to maintain her +seat, and to manage her horse should she ever have the misfortune to be +run away with. (Fig. 32.) + +Many ladies, when riding in the country, enjoy a short exhilarating +flying gallop; and for their benefit a few instructions are here given +that will enable them to indulge their _penchant_ for rapid riding, +without danger to themselves, or injury to their horses. Before the lady +attempts rapid riding, however, she must be thoroughly trained in all +the other gaits of the animal, must possess strong, healthy nerves, and +must have sufficient muscular power in her arms to hold and manage her +horse, and to stop him whenever occasion requires; she must also have +fitted to his mouth a curb-bit which possesses sufficient power to +control him and to bring him to a stand, when this is desired. Above +all, her horse must be sure-footed, and free from any and every defect +that might occasion stumbling. + +Every point having been carefully attended to, and the lady being ready +for the ride, she must sit firmly upon the centre of the saddle, +grasping the second and third pommels, as described above. She must be +careful not to press strongly upon the stirrup, as this will tend to +raise her body from the saddle. From the hips down the body and limbs +must be held as immovable as possible. The body, below the waist, must +by its own weight, aided by the clasp of the right and left legs upon +their respective pommels, secure a firm seat upon the saddle. From the +waist up the body must be pliable, the shoulders being well back, and +the back curved in, so that the rider may keep her balance, and control +the horse's action. The reins must be held separately, in the manner +described for holding the double bridle-reins in both hands. The animal +must be ridden and supported by the snaffle-reins, the curb being held +ready to check him instantly should he endeavor to obtain the mastery. +The hands must be held low, and about six or eight inches apart, and the +rider's body must lean back somewhat. + +Leaning forward is a favorite trick of the horse-jockey when riding a +race, as it is supposed to assist the horse, and also enable the rider +to raise himself on the stirrups; but as lady riders are not +horse-jockeys, and are not supposed to ride for a wager, but simply for +the enjoyment of an exhilarating exercise, it will not be at all +necessary for them to assume this stooping posture. Many of the best +horsemen, when riding at full gallop in the hunting field, or on the +road, prefer to incline the body somewhat backward, this having been +found the safest as well as most graceful position for the rider. + +As the horse moves rapidly forward, the rider, while keeping a firm hand +upon the snaffle-reins so as to give full support to the horse, must be +sure with every stride of the animal to "give and take," and this +motion, instead of being limited to the hands and wrists, as in all +other gaits, must in this one embrace the whole of the fore-arms, which, +using the elbows as a hinge, should move as far as is necessary. + +To =stop the horse= in a flying gallop, the curb-reins must be drawn +upward and toward the waist gradually, for should they be pulled upon +suddenly it would be apt to stop him so abruptly that he would either +become overbalanced, or cross his legs, and fall. + +In this gait, the rider should never attempt to turn her horse except +upon a very large circle, because, even when in the proper position, +unless she possesses great muscular power, she will be almost certain to +be thrown off on the outward side by the forcible and vigorous impetus +imparted. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE LEAP.--THE STANDING LEAP.--THE FLYING LEAP. + + "Soft thy skin as silken skein, + Soft as woman's hair thy mane, + Tender are thine eyes and true; + All thy hoofs like ivory shine, + Polished bright; oh, life of mine, + Leap, and rescue Kurroglou!" + + Kyrat, then, the strong and fleet, + Drew together his four white feet, + Paused a moment on the verge, + Measured with his eye the space, + And into the air's embrace + Leaped as leaps the ocean serge. + + LONGFELLOW, _The Leap of Roushan Beg_. + + +A lady rider who has the nerve and confidence to ride a hand gallop, or +a flying gallop, will be ready to learn to leap. Indeed, instruction in +this accomplishment should always be given, as it is of great assistance +in many emergencies. The most gentle horse may become frightened, shy +suddenly to one side, or plunge violently for some reason or other, and +these abrupt movements strongly resemble those of leaping; if, +therefore, the rider understands the leap, she will know better how to +maintain her equilibrium. Or she may meet some obstruction on the road, +as the trunk of a tree felled by a storm; when, instead of being +compelled to return home without finishing her ride, she can leap over +the obstacle. Again, should she at any time be in great haste to reach +her destination she may, by leaping some low gap in a fence, or some +small stream, be able to take one or more short cuts, and thus greatly +lessen the distance she would have had to ride on the road. + +Leaping is by no means difficult to learn. With an English saddle, the +third pommel will prevent the rider from being shaken off by the +violence of the motion, and will thus make leaping entirely safe for a +lady provided the horse be well-trained and sure-footed. Before +venturing upon a leap, three requisites are necessary: first, the horse +must be a good and fearless leaper; second, the rider must have +confidence in herself and steed, because any nervousness on her part +will be apt to cause the animal to leap awkwardly; and third, she must +always be sure of the condition of the ground on the opposite side of +the object over which the leap is to be made--it must neither slope +abruptly down, nor present any thorny bushes, nor be so soft and soggy +that the horse will be apt to sink into it. No risk must be taken in +the leap, except in cases of emergency, when, of course, the rider may +have neither time nor opportunity to select her ground, and be obliged +to leap her steed over the nearest available point. The author once +avoided what might have proved a serious accident to both herself and +horse, by promptly leaping him over a hedge of thorn bushes, upon the +other side of which was a river: this was done in order to avoid +colliding in a narrow road with a frightened, runaway team, which was +quite beyond the control of its driver. + +[Illustration: Fig. 33.--The Standing Leap--Rising.] + +The =standing leap= will prove more difficult to learn than the flying +leap, but, nevertheless, it should be the first one practiced, and when +once acquired, the other will be mere play. A bar twelve feet long, +raised two feet from the ground, will be sufficient for practice in this +exercise; if a lady can manage a leap of this height with expertness and +grace, she will be fully able to bound over a still higher obstacle, +should she desire to do so, and her horse be equal to the occasion. +Before attempting the leap, she must be sure that she is perfectly +secure upon the saddle, with her left knee directly under the third +pommel so as to press it firmly against the latter as the horse rises to +the leap; her left leg, from the knee to the stirrup, must hang +perpendicularly[8] along the side of the horse, the inner surface or +side of the knee lightly pressing against the saddle-flap; her foot must +be well placed in the stirrup; her seat directly in the centre of the +saddle; her body erect and square to the front; her shoulders well back; +and the small of her back curved in. The right leg must firmly grasp the +second pommel as the horse rises, and the right heel be held somewhat +back, and close to the fore-flap of the saddle. The hands must be held +low, and about six inches apart, with a snaffle-rein in each, and the +curb-reins must be so placed that the rider will not unconsciously draw +upon them, but must not hang so loosely as to become caught accidentally +upon any projecting article with which they may come in contact. If all +these points be carefully attended to, just previous to walking the +horse up to the bar, the rider will be in correct position and ready for +the leap, which she will accomplish very quickly, with perfect security, +and with a much firmer seat than that obtained by the most finished +horseman. + + Footnote 8: If the leap be a very high one, the left foot may be + thrust a little more forward to enable the rider to lean back as far + as is necessary. + +The principal movement for which the rider should be prepared in leaping +is that of being thrown forward on the saddle, both when the horse makes +the spring and when his fore-feet touch the ground. In order to avoid +this accident, the rider, keeping a firm seat and grasp upon the +pommels, must incline her shoulders somewhat backward, both when the +horse springs from the ground and also during the descent, the amount of +inclination varying with the height of the leap. The erect position +should be resumed when the hind-legs have again touched the ground. In a +very high leap, the rider's body should be bent so far back during the +descent as to look almost as if in contact with the back of the horse. + +When the points named above have been attended to, the horse must be +collected, with his hind-legs well under him, and then be briskly walked +up to the bar or obstacle to be leaped and placed directly before it, +but not so close that he cannot clear it without striking his knees +against it as he rises,--sufficient room must always be allowed him for +his spring. Now, after receiving a light touch or pull upon the reins to +tell him that his rider is ready, he will raise himself upon his +hind-legs for the leap. As he rises, the rider's body, if properly +seated, as heretofore explained, will naturally assume a sufficient +inclination forward without any effort on her part. While in this +position she must not carry her shoulders forward, but must keep them +well back, with the waist well curved in as when sitting erect. It +should never be forgotten that in the rise during the leap, just +previous to the spring, no efforts whatever must be made by the rider to +support the horse, or to lift him, but instead, she should simply hold +the reins so lightly that his mouth can just be felt, which is called +"giving a free rein." If the reins be allowed to hang too loosely they +may catch upon some object not noticed by the rider, and not only be +wrenched from her hands, but also give the horse's mouth a severe jerk, +or perhaps throw him upon the ground. Too loose a rein would, moreover, +be apt to make it impossible for her to give timely support to the +animal as his fore-feet touched the ground. The leap, it must be borne +in mind, is effected very quickly. (Fig. 33.) + +As the horse springs from his hind-legs to make the leap, the rider must +advance her arms, with her hands held as low as possible so as to give +him a sufficiently free rein to enable him to extend himself; this +position of the arms will also prevent the reins from being forcibly +wrested from her hands by the horse's movements. At the moment of the +spring and the advance of the arms, the rider's body must be inclined +backward, the erect position of the waist and shoulders being, however, +maintained. As the animal's fore-feet touch the ground, the hands must +be gently drawn in toward the waist in order to support him, as such +support will be expected by the horse, and must be continued even after +his hind-legs rest upon the ground, so that the animal will not become +disunited, but will move onward in a collected manner. (Fig. 34.) + +[Illustration: Fig. 34.--The Standing Leap--Descending.] + +Many riding-teachers instruct their pupils to incline the body well +forward as the horse rises, while others require their pupils to lean +well back. The advocates of the former method say that this forward +inclination conforms to the position of the horse at the time, and so +places the weight of the body as to assist the horse in his spring. They +who adopt the other method maintain that if the body be inclined forward +in the rise, it will be almost, if not quite, impossible for the rider, +from the rapidity with which the horse extends himself, to make the +backward inclination in time to enable her to regain her balance +quickly. A happy medium will prove the best. If the rider be seated +correctly at the time the horse rises, her body _will naturally incline +a little forward_, and there will be but little weight upon the horse's +hind-quarters, while, as he springs and extends himself in his leap, she +can promptly adapt herself to his movements and incline her body +backward. + +By leaning back as the horse rises on his hind-legs, the weight of his +rider will be thrown upon his hind-quarters, and she will present an +awkward appearance; while at the same time she will be very apt to +shorten the reins, and thus confine the horse so much that his leap will +become clumsy and dangerous. + +On commencing the leap the rider, as heretofore stated, must never +attempt to raise the horse by the reins; a light, gentle touch or pull +given to them with the fingers, as when starting upon a hand gallop, is +all that will be necessary. The horse must be left free to take the leap +in his own way, using his own instinct or judgment in order that he may +clear his fore feet from the bar or object over which he has to pass. +During the rise, the rider must carefully guard against raising her +hands, and also against jerking or holding back the reins, as either of +these movements will discourage the horse, and, should he be tender +mouthed, he will refuse to leap at all, his own instinct warning him +that it is dangerous to attempt it under such conditions. + +A rather hard mouthed, courageous animal, that has had experience with +awkward riders, will, as he extends himself in the leap, force his +rider's hands by a sudden jerk of his head, so as either to pull the +reins out of her hands, or, should she manage to retain her hold upon +them, to pull her forward upon the saddle. + +Many ladies, in their fear of becoming displaced during the leap, will +unconsciously press their left leg and foot strongly against the side of +the horse, thus causing him to swerve or to refuse to leap. Gentlemen +teachers are apt to be unaware of this pressure, as the leg is hidden +underneath the riding skirt, and not unfrequently they have been puzzled +to comprehend why a well-trained, docile horse should leap very well +with some of their lady pupils, and awkwardly, or not at all, with +others. + +A common error, in attempting to leap, is to sit too far back upon the +saddle, a position that not only prevents the rider from supporting +herself properly by the pommels, but is also likely to occasion her a +severe jar as the horse's feet touch the ground. When in the correct +position, the body is placed as far forward upon the saddle as the +pommels will permit, the waist and shoulders only being inclined +backward, as already described. + +Pressing heavily upon the stirrup is another fault. This not only +destroys the usefulness of the third pommel, but, as has already been +remarked, such pressure will tend to lift the body from the saddle. The +foot should merely be kept light and steady in the stirrup. + +It will be better for a beginner to leap with a snaffle-rein in each +hand. After having thoroughly learned how to make the leap properly, she +may then prefer to hold all the reins in the left hand. In this case, +she must be very careful not to throw up the unoccupied right hand and +arm as the horse passes over the obstacle; for, besides being a very +ungraceful movement, it may lead the horse to suppose that he is about +to be struck with the whip, and so cause him to make the leap +precipitately, and upon reaching the ground to gallop wildly off. + +The rider must hold her head firm, not only for the sake of appearances, +but also to escape biting her tongue and receiving a violent jerk of the +neck, when the horse's feet touch the ground. + +If a horse, just before leaping, be too much confined or collected by an +unnecessary degree of tension upon the reins, especially if he be not +thoroughly trained, he will rise from all four legs almost +simultaneously, and also alight upon them all together. In +horse-jockey's _parlance_ this is termed a "buck-leap." It is an awkward +manner of leaping, and gives a severe shock to the animal beside +fearfully jolting his rider. Again, a horse not well trained in the +leap, or somewhat indolent, may, if not animated and properly collected +just before rising, fail to leap over the obstacle, or in passing over +it may strike it with his hind-feet, for he will attempt the leap in a +loose, straggling manner. An animal that is well trained, and accustomed +to leaping, will take care of himself, and will require very little +assistance from his rider; a light hand upon the reins just before he +rises, a free rein as he extends himself, and support when he touches +the ground being all that is necessary. + +Should the lady be expert in riding, and desire to teach her steed to +leap, she can readily do so by pursuing the following course: Let a bar +about twelve feet in length, and two feet from the ground, be so +arranged that the horse cannot pass around it. If possible, he should be +allowed to see a well-trained horse leap over this bar a number of +times; then taking advantage of a time when her horse is hungry, his +mistress should give him a few oats and, passing over the bar, she +should rattle the oats and call to him, when he will bound over to +obtain them. This course should be followed at each meal, and she should +reward him by feeding, caressing, and praising him every time he leaps +the bar,--the object being to accustom him to leap it without being +whipped or treated harshly. By thus being allowed to take the leap of +his own accord and without assistance, he will gain confidence, and will +not be apt to refuse when his rider is placed upon his back. In the +course of this training, the appearance of the bar should be changed in +various ways, as, for example, by placing different bright colored +articles upon it, such as pieces of carpet, rugs, shawls, etc. If he be +accustomed to leap only over an object that invariably presents the same +appearance, he may refuse to leap one of a different aspect. + +Having thus trained the horse until he has become quite familiar with +the movements of the leap, and does not refuse to pass over the bar, +whatever appearance it may present, he will then be ready for his rider. +For the first few trials the lady should take care to have the bar +consist of some material that can readily be broken, in order to +prevent any accident should the horse, in passing over with her weight +upon his back, strike it with either his fore or hind feet. Once +mounted, she should teach him to clear the bar in a deliberate manner, +not allowing him to rush at it and jump from all four feet at once. She +will have to collect him, cause him to place his hind-legs under him so +that, as he rises, his weight will be thrown upon his haunches, and, as +he leaps over, she must be exceedingly careful not to restrain him in +the least, as any thoughtless act or awkwardness on her part may give +him a great distaste for an exercise which, otherwise, he would have no +reluctance in performing. + +With regard to teaching a young horse to leap, the author is much +gratified to know that her views are sustained by several eminent +equestrians, and among them Mr. E. Mayhew of England, who states that a +horse should never be allowed to leap until he has attained at least his +fifth year, and who in his excellent work, entitled "The Illustrated +Horse Management," etc., remarks: "To place a rider upon an animal's +back and then to expect a bar to be cleared is very like loading a young +lady with a sack of flour, as preparatory to a dancing lesson being +received. This folly is, however, universally practiced; so is that of +teaching the paces, when the quadruped's attention is probably engrossed +by the burden which the spine has to sustain. + +"Leaping is best taught by turning the horse into a small paddock having +a low hedge or hurdle-fence across its centre. A rider should, in sight +of the animal, take an old horse over several times. The groom who +brings the corn at the meal hour then goes to that side where the animal +is not and calls, shaking up the provender all the time his voice +sounds. The boundary will soon be cleared. When half the quantity is +eaten, the man should proceed to the opposite compartment and call +again. If this is done every time the young horse is fed, the fence may +be gradually heightened; after six months of such tuition, a light rider +may be safely placed upon the back. + +"Instruction, thus imparted, neither strains the structures nor tries +the temper. The habit is acquired without those risks which necessarily +attend a novel performance, while a burden oppresses the strength, and +whip or spur distracts the attention. The body is not disabled by the +imposition of a heavy load before its powers are taxed to the uttermost. +The quadruped has all its capabilities unfettered, and, in such a +state, leaping speedily becomes as easy of performance as any other +motion." + +Horses leap in different ways; the best leapers being those which just +glide over the object without touching it,--they appear to measure the +height required for the leap, and, whether the object be high or low, +they skim close to it. Such animals can be trusted, and may be allowed +to leap without urging or hurrying them, for they require very little +assistance from their riders, and do better when left to themselves. +Other horses exaggerate the leap and rise higher than is required; they +make a very fine appearance when leaping, but are apt to light too close +to the opposite side of the bar or obstacle, because they expend all +their energies on height instead of width. The worst leapers are those +which, instead of clearing the bar at a single bound, make two bounds, +as it were, in passing over it: the fore-part of the horse having passed +over, the body will seem to be resting for an appreciable time upon the +fore-legs. + +The =flying leap= can be taken, without stopping, from any gait that is +more rapid than a walk, though commonly taken from the gallop. It is a +very easy leap, being little more than an extended gallop. The rider +takes the same firm, central position upon the saddle as has been +described for the standing leap. In the flying leap the body must be +inclined well back from the start, care being taken not to make any +forward inclination whatever. When the horse has fairly landed, after +the leap, the body must again become erect. The degree of the backward +inclination must be in accordance with the height and width of the leap. +During the whole period of the leap the hands must be kept low and the +reins be freely given to the animal, which must be supported as he lands +on the opposite side. As the horse runs toward the object to be leaped +over, the rider must, when about twelve or fifteen yards from it, +gradually relax the reins, by advancing her bridle hand or hands; and, +if her horse be a willing and good leaper, he may be allowed to select +his own pace, and use his own judgment as to the proper distance from +which to make the spring. + +If the horse be unused to leaping, or be unwilling, the rider must be +upon her guard lest he attempt to defend himself and avoid the leap, +either by suddenly swerving to one side or by stopping before the object +to be leaped and then backing, or rearing. These actions are generally +the result of the horse's want of confidence in his own powers, and +severity will only make matters worse. In a dilemma of this kind, the +rider will have to convert the flying into the standing leap, as +follows:-- + +She must turn her horse and walk him a short distance away from the +object, then, turning him again toward it, she must encourage him to +advance slowly that he may take a good look at it; at the same time she +must have a light and ready hand on the reins, just firm enough to keep +his head steady and maintain control over his neck, so as to prevent him +from swerving to the right or to the left. She should then kindly and +firmly encourage him to make the bound; and by patience and perseverance +in this course he will generally be induced to do so. After he has +obeyed, she must not make him repeat the movement several times in +succession, as if she were triumphing over him, because he might regard +such a process as a sort of challenge, and renew the contest; instead of +such measures, he should be allowed to pass on quietly, no further +attention being given to the matter. By this change from the flying to +the standing leap the horse can be better prevented from shying, and on +the next occasion will be apt to make the flying leap over the object +without swerving. + +The whip or spur should never be employed to make an obstinate or timid +horse leap, as he will ever after associate such objects as those over +which he has been thus urged or forced to leap with fear of punishment, +and his rider will never be sure of him when approaching one of them, +for he will either shy, or else bound over it in such a flurried manner +as will prove dangerous both to himself and his rider. An indolent +horse, that requires to be roused by whip or spur, is not a suitable one +for a lady to ride at a leap. Some horses will refuse to leap when +traveling alone, but will do so spiritedly and excellently when in +company with others of their kind. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +DEFENSES OF THE HORSE.--CRITICAL SITUATIONS. + + "High pampered steeds, ere tamed, the lash disdain, + And proudly foam, impatient of the rein." + + VIRGIL, _Sotheby's Translation_. + + "The startling steed was seized with sudden fright." + + DRYDEN. + + +A lady's horse is generally selected for his gentleness, soundness, good +training, and freedom from vice, and the rider's management of him is +usually so kind and considerate that he is seldom roused to rebellion; +hence, she is rarely called upon to enter into a contention with him. +The docility of a lady's steed is almost proverbial, and when purchasing +a horse the highest recommendation as to his gentleness and safeness is +the assurance that he has "been used to carry a woman." Horse-dealers +are well acquainted with this fact, and attach a high value to it, as a +sure criterion of the animal's kindly nature. No lady rider, however +expert she may be, will, if she be wise and have a regard for her own +safety, ride or endeavor to conquer a really vicious horse; yet there +may be times when even the hitherto most docile animal will suddenly +display that which in Yorkshire dialect is called "mistech;" that is, +there may be unexpectedly developed a restive trait, for which there +seems to be no reason. Even a really good-natured horse may, owing to +high feed and little work, shy, plunge, and kick, in his exuberance of +spirits, and should his rider not know how to control these sudden and +unexpected manifestations, he may gain the ascendency, and she be thrown +from the saddle. That which, on the part of the horse, is intended for +good-humored play, may thus, from want of control, degenerate into +positive viciousness. A skillful rider will manage and endure the +prancings, pawings, and impatience of her steed,--which are frequently +only his method of expressing satisfaction and happiness in carrying his +kind mistress,--and will continue riding and controlling him until he +becomes calm and quiet, and ceases to display his impulsive +sensitiveness. Again, a lady may have occasion to ride a strange horse, +of whose disposition she knows very little. It is, therefore, very +important that every horsewoman should be prepared to meet and to +overcome any eccentric demonstrations on the part of the animal she may +be riding. + +Some horses are constitutionally nervous and timid, always fearful and +upon the lookout, constantly scrutinizing every object around them, and +keeping their riders incessantly on the watch. These horses, though +disagreeable to ride, are seldom dangerous, as they will readily obey +the reins and yield to the hand that has many times proved its +reliability and correctness. + +SHYING.--The position in which a horse places his ears is a sure +indication of his immediate intentions. When he raises his head and +points his ears strongly forward, it is because he sees some object at +the side of the road, or approaching, which renders him uneasy or even +fearful. In such a case, his rider must be prepared for a sudden leap to +one side, a whirl around, or a quick darting from the road. She must not +allow herself to become nervous and jerk or suddenly tighten the reins, +for then the animal will think that she is likewise afraid, and that he +is justified in his own fright. On the contrary, she must maintain her +presence of mind, quietly and calmly take a snaffle-rein in each hand, +draw them just tight enough to feel the horse's mouth, keep his head +high and straight forward, and, as he approaches the object that has +alarmed him, gently turn his head away from it, so that in passing he +can see as little of it as possible; at the same time she should press +her leg or whip against the horse on the side toward which he is likely +to shy,--also speaking to him in a firm and assuring tone of voice, that +he may be led to understand there is nothing to fear. + +In following these directions the rider must be mindful of her balance, +because, notwithstanding all her efforts, the horse may leap out of the +road; she should sit erect, keep a firm hold on both pommels with the +legs, check him as soon as possible, and then bring him again upon the +road. Should he swerve and attempt to rush past the object, his rider +must not try to pull his head toward it, but, holding the reins with +steady hands, must keep him headed straight forward, and, after he has +passed, gradually rein him in. + +Should he make a half turn from the object, he must be turned completely +around, so as to face it, and then be urged forward by the aid of the +left leg and whip, while he is at the same time spoken to in a quiet, +encouraging tone. If the horse have confidence in his rider, and his +fright be not a pretense, he will thus be induced to go by, and on +future occasions will pass by the same object with indifference. +Severity, such as scolding and whipping, will only render him more +fearful, and since he will always regard the object of his fright as +being the cause of his punishment, he will, consequently, the next time +of meeting with it become still more unmanageable. But, having passed it +at first without experiencing any pain, he will gain confidence in the +judgment of his rider, imagine he has made a mistake in being alarmed, +and be satisfied that, after all, there was no occasion for dread. + +A horse should never be caressed, patted, or coaxed, either just before +or just after he has passed any object he dislikes, because he may +misinterpret these acts, and imagine that he has done just right in +shying, and will, therefore, be very apt to repeat the act in order +again to receive the praise of his rider. It will always be better, in +such cases, to ride on as usual, and act as if the matter were of no +consequence. On the other hand, a horse should never be whipped after he +has passed an object that terrifies him. Some riders are afraid to whip +the horse while he is in the act of shying, but will lay on the lash +after he has passed the cause of his dread; this will not only be "a +tardy vengeance that crowns a cowardly act," but will cause the animal +to conclude that he has done wrong in passing by, and on the next +occasion for alarm he will either delay as long as possible in dread of +the remembered whipping, or else will plunge quickly by the object, and, +perhaps, add to the vice of shying that of running away. The course +pursued by some persons of making a horse pass and repass a number of +times in succession an object which has caused him to shy is an +erroneous one, as it gives him a chance for again resisting, and makes +the rider appear vainglorious and pretentious. + +Whether a horse shies from real fright, or from mere pretense or +affectation, the severe use of whip or spur to force him by the object +he is shying at will always do more harm than good. Mildness and +forbearance, combined with firmness, will invariably do much more to +tranquillize him and to render him obedient than severity and harsh +measures. Horsemen who, from actual experience, are well able to advise +say, "Let the horse alone, neither letting him perceive that we are +aware we are advancing toward anything that he dislikes, nor doing more +with him when in the act of shying than is necessary for due restraint +and a steady hand upon the reins." + +When a horse shies from pretense of fright, it is either from +exuberance of spirits, because he has not been sufficiently exercised, +or else because he has detected timidity in his rider, and shies from +pure love of mischief and the desire to amuse himself by augmenting her +fears. Although not intending any real harm, he may manage, to his own +astonishment, to unseat her, and, by thus discovering what he can do, +may become a vicious rogue, and make every strange object an excuse for +a dangerous shy. The only remedy for this affectation and +mischievousness will be a courageous and determined rider on his back, +who will give him more work than he likes; he will then, of his own +accord, soon tire of his tricks. + +When a horse that has had plenty of work and a good rider to manage him +nevertheless continues to shy, it will generally be found that his +vision is defective. If he is a young horse, with very prominent eyes, +the probability is that he is near-sighted; if an old horse, that his +vision--having undergone a change similar to that of a human being who +is advanced in years--is imperfect for near objects, which appear +confused and blurred; in other words, that he is troubled with +long-sightedness, or presbyopia. In these cases the horse becomes +fearful and suspicious, and his quick imagination transforms that which +he cannot distinctly see into something terrifying. Ocular science has +not advanced so far as to have determined a remedy for these visual +difficulties except by the use of glasses; and to place spectacles upon +a horse to improve his sight would be inconvenient as well as decidedly +unique. Animals thus afflicted are unsuited for either saddle or +harness, as they are more dangerous than if they are totally blind, and +the only safe course to pursue when one is compelled to use them will be +the very undesirable one of completely blindfolding them. Many a horse +has been severely punished and condemned for viciousness, when his fault +arose from defective vision. + +Sometimes a horse becomes discontented and uneasy from being always +ridden over the same road; this dull routine is irksome to him, +especially if he be spirited, and he ventures upon some act of +disobedience in order to create variety and excitement. He may commence +by sideling toward other horses or objects on his left, or by suddenly +turning around to the right. In the first case, the rider must instantly +take a snaffle-rein in each hand, and instead of attempting to turn him +from the object, she must rein his head directly toward it, and then +back him from it. By these means, his body will form a concavity on the +side toward the object, thus preventing injury to the rider or horse, +and she will be able to retreat in safety. + +In the second instance, the horse instinctively knows that he is +opposing his strongest side to the weakest one of his rider, and it is +useless to contend with him by pulling upon the left snaffle-rein, as he +will be watching for this very movement and be prepared to resist it. He +should be foiled by having the right rein tightened so as to turn him +completely around and place him in the same position he was in before he +began to turn. He will perceive to his astonishment that he has gained +nothing by his abrupt movement; and as soon as he has reached the +position stated, he should be urged forward by the aid of both leg and +whip. + +This method is usually successful unless the steed be very obstinate; he +may then refuse to advance at all, and may make another turn to the +right, in which case his rider should repeat the course just named, and +oblige him to turn completely around three or four times in succession, +and then while his head is in the right direction, a stroke of the whip +behind the girths should instantly be given in order to compel him to go +forward before he has time to defend himself and make another turn. +Should he again refuse, and succeed in making still another turn, the +tactics of his rider must be changed; taking care not to use her whip, +she must turn him around as before, and then rein him backward in the +direction she desires him to go; she must keep doing this until he +concludes to move onward. Should this course have to be continued for +some time, it will be advisable occasionally to head him in the desired +direction, in order to ascertain whether he will go forward; if he will +not, he must again be turned and backed. A horse can readily be induced +to move backward, when he has determined not to go forward. + +During this contest with the horse, the rider must be careful to retain +her balance, to keep her left knee directly under the third pommel, and +to incline her body quickly to the right as her animal turns. She should +likewise be watchful of surrounding objects, in order to protect herself +and her horse from any dangerous position in which he may be disposed to +place himself. In case she is not a very expert horsewoman, or has +little confidence in her ability to manage the horse, it will be better +to have him led a short distance, and then, if possible, she should +change the road to one he has not been accustomed to travel; this will +divert him, and cause him to forget his contumacy. + +BALKING.--When a horse stops on the road and refuses to move in any +direction, it may be owing to disease (immobility), or to obstinacy. In +either case, it will be better for the rider to make no effort to induce +him to move, but she should quietly and patiently remain in the saddle +until he evinces a disposition to advance, when he should be made to +stand a little longer. If his defense be due to obstinacy, this course +will be a punishment; but should it be due to disease, the detention +will be no disadvantage nor punishment to him, but rather an advantage, +as it will enable him to gain composure. It is rarely, however, that a +horse proves balky, unless as the result of some disease of the brain or +of the heart, rheumatic pain, etc. + +BACKING.--Should a horse commence backing, when on the road, he must +have his head quickly turned toward the direction in which he is +backing. Thus, if he be backing toward a dangerous declivity, he will be +able to see that what he is doing threatens danger to himself, and will +be checked. Then he must be backed some little distance away from the +danger, and in the direction toward which he is desired to go. If, +however, the horse continues to back toward the dangerous place, +notwithstanding the rider's efforts to turn him, the safest course will +be to dismount instantly. Backing is sometimes, if not very frequently, +due to confused vision, rush of blood to the head, pain in the head, +etc. + +GAYETY.--When a horse moves one ear back and forth, or keeps agitating +first one and then the other, at the same time moving his head and neck +up and down, and, perhaps, also champing upon his bit, he is feeling +gay, and his rider must be on her guard, as he may unexpectedly jump. +While keeping a steady hand upon the reins, she must urge him to move +forward at a regular and somewhat rapid gait, for this will be what he +wants in order to work off his superfluous spirits. + +KICKING.--A horse, when defending himself against anything whatever, +will always lay his ears flat upon the back of his head; this is his +attitude and signal for a battle, and he is then ready to kick, bite, +plunge, or rear. When the ears are only momentarily placed back, it may +be from playfulness, but when maintained in this position, he is angry +and vicious, and may make a desperate effort to throw his rider. In the +company of other horses he will attempt to bite or kick at them. As soon +as he is observed to gaze fixedly upon any animals in his vicinity, +while at the same time he puts his ears back, and turns his croup +toward his companions, he is then about to kick, and his rider must +frustrate his intention, as soon as she feels his croup move, by quickly +raising his head and turning it in the direction in which the kick was +to be made. Should he attempt to bite, he must be driven to a proper +distance from the object of his anger, and his attention be diverted by +keeping him moving on. + +A horse will kick when feeling gay, when he is annoyed, when he suffers +pain from any cause, when feeling playful or malevolent toward other +animals, and, sometimes, when he wishes to dislodge his rider. Whenever +her horse manifests an inclination to kick, the rider must endeavor to +keep his head up, because he will then be unable to accomplish much in +the way of raising his hind-legs; but once allowed to get his head down, +he will have everything his own way, and will be able to kick as high as +he pleases. + +Every time the horse attempts to lower his head, he must be punished by +a pull upon the curb-bit strong enough to make him keep his head up. His +mouth must also be sawed upon with the curb, should he succeed in +getting his head down. The rider must remember to lean well back, and +have her left knee well braced against the third pommel, as in this +position it will be almost impossible for him to unseat her by his +kicking. If the kick be made during a stand-still, a sharp, vigorous +stroke of the whip upon the animal's shoulder will be apt to check him; +but if the kick be made while he is on the gallop, a stroke of the whip +will be apt to make him run away. Should kicking be an old vice of the +horse, he must be ridden with a severe curb-bit, that he may be +prevented from getting his head down. + +PLUNGING, BUCKING.--Plunging is a succession of bounds, in which the +four legs of the horse are almost simultaneously raised from the ground, +the animal advancing with each bound. It is frequently an effort made by +the horse to rid himself of something that pains him, as the sting of an +insect, the pinching of the saddle or the girth, etc. All that can be +done in any case of plunging will be to endeavor to keep up the animal's +head, brace one's self firmly in the saddle, and sit the plunges out; +they will rarely amount to more than three or four. When a horse that is +not vicious commences to plunge, it may be due to fear or pain; he +should, therefore, be spoken to kindly, and be soothed. As soon as he is +brought under control, the rider should endeavor to ascertain the cause +of his movements, and, if possible, remove it. + +_Bucking_ is a desperate effort to throw the rider; the horse will +gather his legs under him in as close a group as possible, curve his +back upward like an angry Tabby when she espies Towser, lower his head, +endeavor to burst the saddle-girths by forcibly expanding his abdomen, +and then without making any advance or retreat bound up and down upon +all four legs, which are held as rigid as iron rods. Sometimes he will +produce a see-saw movement by repeatedly and rapidly throwing himself +from his hind to his fore legs. These motions will be kept up as long as +he can hold his breath, which generally becomes exhausted after five or +six bounds; he will then renew his breath and may repeat the bounds. + +When a horse "bucks," the rider must keep her seat the best way she can. +Her body should be held as straight as possible, although the natural +tendency will be to lean forward and to round the shoulders; she should +also take a firm knee-grasp upon both the second and third pommels, keep +a steady hold upon the reins, and be especially on her guard against +allowing her body to be pulled forward as the horse jerks his head down. +Fortunately, very few thorough-bred horses buck violently, their +movement being more of a plunge. The horses of the Russian steppes, and +the bronchos and ponies of our far Western country, are apt to have the +vicious, genuine buck in perfection. + +REARING.--With the young horse, rearing is the last frantic effort to +unseat his rider; an old rogue will sometimes resort to it, having found +his rider timid and much alarmed at the movement. A lady should never +ride a horse that has once reared dangerously, unless the action was +occasioned by the injudicious use of too severe a curb-bit. A horse that +has once reared without provocation will be very apt to do so again. The +danger of this vice is, that the horse may fall backward and upon his +rider. This accident will be especially liable to occur when, in rearing +suddenly and very high, he bends his fore-legs under his body. While he +is in this position, should the rider feel him sinking down upon his +hind-quarters, she must instantly leap from the saddle, at the same time +giving, if possible, a vigorous push to the horse with both hands, as +near his shoulder as she can readily reach without endangering herself. +This is done that he may be made to fall to the right, and the impetus +of the push will also convey her to a safe distance, should he fall to +the left. + +When a horse, after rearing, paws in the air with his fore-feet, he is +then employing them for the same purpose that a tight-rope dancer uses +his balancing pole, namely, to keep his equilibrium. In this case, there +will not be much danger of his falling backward, unless his rider should +pull him over by holding too tight a rein, or by using the reins to aid +her in keeping her balance. + +The first act of the horse, when he intends to rear, will be to free +himself from the influence of the bit, and he will attempt to accomplish +this by bending his neck in so as to slacken the tension on the reins; +at the same time he will come to a stand by a peculiar cringing +movement, which will make his rider feel as if the animal had collapsed, +or were falling to pieces. This "nowhere" feeling will hardly be +realized before the horse will stiffen his hind-legs and neck, and rise +with his fore-feet in the air, bidding defiance to all control. + +Under these circumstances, as the horse rears his rider must quickly +yield the reins and incline her body well forward, firmly supporting +herself by the second and third pommels; as she values her life, she +must not strike her steed nor pull upon the reins, but must patiently +wait until his fore-feet come to the ground, when the time for action +will have arrived. + +Although she may be taken by surprise when the horse first rears, she +can anticipate his second attempt, which will generally be not far off, +by taking a snaffle-rein in each hand, holding her hands low, and the +instant she perceives that he is going to rise, loosening the left rein +and tightening the right, so as to bend his head to the right. He cannot +now complete the rear, because her action will compel him to move a +hind-leg, and he will then be unable to rest his weight upon both +hind-legs, which he must do in order to rear. As a punishment, he should +then be turned around a few times, from right to left; this turning will +also be very apt to prevent him from again rearing. Sometimes a severe +stroke with the whip upon the horse's hind-quarters as his fore-feet are +descending to the ground will prevent the second rear; as he plunges +forward from the whip, the rider must be careful to prevent her body +from being thrown forward by the plunge. + +RUNNING AWAY.--The most dangerous runaway horse is the one that starts +off from excessive fear, as terror will make a horse act as if he were +blind, and he may then rush over a precipice, or violently collide with +some object in his way. Terrified horses have been known almost to dash +out their brains by violent collision with a stone wall, and even to +impale themselves upon an iron fence. The least dangerous runaway steed +is the practiced one, which runs because he has vicious propensities; +for as he knows what he is about, he generally takes good care of +himself, and thus, in a measure, protects his rider, of whose mishaps, +however, he is entirely regardless. Some horses, when urged to do +something that is beyond their ability, or when goaded by pain from any +cause, will run, imagining that by so doing they can escape the evil. +With these, the "bolt" or runaway is more the last furious effort of +despair than real viciousness. A heavy-handed rider may cause a horse to +run away, the horse, taking advantage of the constant pull upon the +reins, is liable to make the hand of his rider a point of support, and +then dash wildly onward. + +When, from restlessness, a horse endeavors to break away, the curb-reins +should be taken, one in each hand, and every time he attempts to run, a +sharp pull should be made upon his mouth by means of these reins; he +will thus be checked and prevented from starting upon a run. Should he +once get fairly started, it will be very difficult to stop him promptly. +In such a case, care should be taken not to make a "dead pull" upon the +reins, but instead, a succession of pulls at short intervals, and these +efforts should be continued until he comes to a stand; should the horse +manifest any disposition to stop, the rider should, as he slackens his +speed, make a continued pull on the reins as if reining him in from the +walk, and this will gradually check him. + +When a horse runs away from fear or pain, nothing will stop him except +the voice of the rider in whom he has confidence, and for whom he +entertains affection. In his terror, he will rely entirely upon her for +aid and support, and if she fail him, the most severe bit will not stop +him. An old offender may sometimes be controlled by a severe bit, or may +be cured of his propensity for running by being placed in the hands of a +good horseman who will allow him to run away, and when the animal wishes +to stop, will then, by means of whip and spur, make him run still +farther, and allow him to stop only when the rider pleases. + +The management of a horse when he attempts to "bolt" has been described +in the chapter on the Hand Gallop. A horse that has once fairly run away +and met with some catastrophe, or that has thrown his rider, will never +be a safe one to ride subsequently. + +UNSTEADINESS WHILE BEING MOUNTED.--It is very annoying, as well as +dangerous, to have a horse moving about unsteadily while the rider is +attempting to mount; this restlessness is sometimes occasioned by his +impatience and eagerness to start, and may then be remedied by having +him held by the bit, with his right side placed against a wall, fence, +or other firm barrier, where he can be kept until the lady has mounted. +The horse must not be allowed to start immediately after the rider has +become seated, but must be restrained until he is perfectly quiet, and +must be chidden every time he commences to prance. A few lessons of this +kind will teach him to stand still while being mounted. + +When the horse from viciousness, or from dislike to carrying a rider, +attempts to evade being mounted, he had better be disposed of; for +should the lady succeed in mounting she will receive but little benefit +from the ride, as the bad temper and unwillingness of her steed will not +only make it unpleasant, but even dangerous for her. + +Sometimes the restiveness of the horse may be the fault of the person +holding him, who, perhaps, either takes too heavy a hold of the +snaffle-rein, thus pressing the sides of the snaffle-bit against the +animal's mouth, and pinching him, or pulls upon the curb-reins, which +should not be touched. Either of these mistakes will cause the horse to +move backward. Not unfrequently a horse will violently plunge and kick +from the pain of some injury in his side or back, which, though not +painful when the rider is seated, becomes so when she bears upon the +stirrup. Such a horse is unsound and not suitable for a side-saddle. + +STUMBLING.--When a horse, not naturally indolent, and having his ears +well placed, allows the latter to project out and to fall loosely on +each side of his head, he is then fatigued, and must be kept well +supported by the bridle, for he may stumble, or even fall. Whenever a +horse is felt to trip or stumble, the rider's body must instantly be +inclined backward, her hands be lifted, and her horse be steadied and +supported by sufficient tension on the reins. Should the tired horse be +walking down a hill, he must always be well balanced by pressure of both +leg and whip; this will keep him light upon his fore-legs, and he will +not be so apt to fall. + +A horse should never be whipped for stumbling, as it is not likely that +he would do so of his own accord, and it would be cruel to punish the +poor animal for what he could not help. It may be the fault of the +blacksmith in not shoeing him properly. + +Should an indolent horse fail to raise his feet sufficiently to escape +tripping, the proper course to pursue will be to keep him collected and +make him move at rather a rapid gait, because, when he is animated, he +will lift his feet more briskly and to better advantage. + +A straight-shouldered horse, when carrying a woman, will be apt to +stumble, to bear upon the reins, and to move heavily on his fore-feet, +and will therefore require an expert horsewoman to keep him moving in +good form. + +When the rider hears a metallic clinking sound at each step of her +horse, it will be an indication that the shoes of his hind-feet are +striking against those of his fore-feet; this is very dangerous, as in +the trot, or gallop, he may "overreach" and strike one of his fore-legs +with one of his hind-shoes in such a manner as to injure himself +severely, or he may catch the toe of a hind-shoe in the heel of a +fore-shoe so that they will become locked together, when the fore-shoe +will have to give way and come off, or a terrific fall will ensue. Some +horses overreach on account of their natural conformation, others only +when fatigued; again, some will be free from this defect when fat, but +will manifest it when they become lean from overwork, deficiency of +food, or other cause. Young horses will occasionally move in this manner +before they are taught their paces, but as soon as they are thoroughly +trained this dangerous annoyance ceases. + +When a horse falls to the ground, or merely falls on his knees, if the +rider be not thrown off by the violence of the shock it will be better +for her to keep to the saddle, as the horse will rise very quickly, and +if she attempts to jump off he may step upon her as he is in the act of +rising, or her habit may catch upon the pommel and add to the peril of +the situation by causing her to be dragged along should the horse move +on, or become frightened and run away. She must not attempt to assist +the horse by pulling upon the bridle, but must allow him to get upon his +feet in his own way. Should she be thrown off as he falls, she must free +her skirt from the saddle as promptly as possible and quickly get away +from him in order to escape being stepped upon as he rises. The fall of +a horse upon his right side is much less dangerous than upon his left, +because in the latter case the rider's left leg may be caught beneath +him, perhaps injured, and she would then be unable to extricate herself +without assistance. + +WHIP AND SPUR.--A lady's whip is employed as a substitute for the right +leg of the horseman in collecting and guiding the horse. For this +reason, it must always be firm, strong, and well-made. It is also used +both to give light taps to the horse in order to increase his speed, and +likewise, when necessary, to chastise him moderately and thus make him +more obedient. If it can possibly be avoided, a lady should never whip +her horse; but when it is required, one quick, sharp stroke, given at +the right time, and with judgment, will subdue him and bring him to his +senses. Deliberately to give stroke after stroke, or to flog him, will +always do more harm than good, for it will make him wild, vicious, and +unmanageable, and the lady will gain nothing by it except the reputation +of being a _virago_. + +When a horse has committed a fault requiring the whip, he knows that the +first stroke given is for this fault, and submits; but he does not +understand why the succeeding blows are given, and resents them +accordingly. An expert rider will rarely whip her horse, and will never +become angry at even the most obstinate resistance on his part, but +will, instead, manage him intelligently, and subdue him in a subtle way +that he cannot comprehend. She will turn his disobedient acts against +himself in a manner that is mysterious to him, and which will make them +appear to him to be the will of his rider. The horse will find himself +foiled at every turn, in a way against which he can present no +permanent defense, and there will be nothing left for him but +submission. + +When a horse fails in his attempts to gain the ascendency, and yields to +her skill and authority, she should be generous and forgiving, and treat +the vanquished one with kindness and consideration, letting him know +that there is no resentment harbored against him. He will quickly +appreciate this forbearance, and it will have a lasting effect. But +while accepting the olive branch, she should not give him his usual pats +and caresses for some little while afterward, as these acts might be +misinterpreted by him as a weakening on the part of his rider, or lead +him to imagine that he has been doing right instead of wrong. + +A lady's horse should never be trained with the spur. The horse that +requires a spur is unsuited for the side-saddle; even the dullest animal +will soon learn that he is spurred only on one side, and will shrink +from the attack by a shy or a jump to the right, knowing there is no +spur on this side. An indifferent rider may place herself in danger by +unconsciously spurring her horse, thus goading him to madness, and to +such a frenzy of despair that the only alternative left for him will be +to unseat his fair rider in order to escape the pain thus unconsciously +inflicted upon him. + +The novice in riding must not be dismayed nor discouraged by all the +instructions in regard to defending one's self against restive and +vicious horses, as she may ride for years, or even for a life-time, and +never be in any serious danger. But a time might possibly come, when she +would suddenly and unexpectedly be called upon to exert herself in order +to exact obedience from her steed, or to extricate herself from a +perilous situation, and then a knowledge of what should be done will be +of great use to her. Being armed at all points, and understanding the +means required for any emergency, she will not depend for safety +altogether upon the caprice or the gentleness of her horse, but chiefly +upon her own knowledge and skill; this will give her a confidence and +sense of security that will greatly add to the pleasure of her ride. + + + + +[Illustration] + +EXPLANATION. + + + 1. The lips. + + 2. Tip of the nose. Figs. 1 and 2 form the muzzle. + + 3. Chanfrin, or face; the parts that correspond to the bones of the + nose, and that extend from the brow to the nostrils. + + 4. The brow, or forehead. + + 5. The eye-pits; cavities more or less deeply situated above the + eyes. + + 6. Forelock; hairs between the ears that fall upon the forehead. + + 7. The ears. + + 8. The lower jaw and channel, or space comprised between the two + lower jaws. Cheek. Jowl. + + 9. The jaws: nether jaws. + + 10. The nostril. + + 11. The throat. + + 12. Region of parotid glands, at the posterior and internal part of + each of the lower-jaw bones. + + 13. The crest. + + 13´. The mane. + + 14. Windpipe and groove of the jugular veins. + + 15. The chest, thorax. + + 16. The withers, or the sharp, projecting part at the inferior + extremity of the crest and of the mane. It is formed by the + projection of the first dorsal vertebra. + + 17. The back, or part upon which the saddle is placed. + + 18. The ribs. + + 19. The passage for the girths. + + 20. The loins. + + 21. The croup; the most elevated part of the posterior extremity of + the body. + + 22. The tail. + + 24. The flank. + + 25. The abdomen. + + 27. The saphena vein. + + 28. The shoulder and arm. + + 28´. The point of the shoulder. + + 29. The elbow. + + 30. The fore-arm. + + 32. The knee. + + 33. The cannon bone, shank. + + 34. The large pastern joint. + + 35. The small pastern joint. + + 36. The coronet. + + 37. The front foot and hoof. + + 38. The fetlock and ergot. The fetlock consists of hairs, and the + ergot of a horny-like substance constantly found at the back and + lower part of the large pastern joints. + + 39. The haunch. + + 40. The thigh, gaskin, or femur. + + 41. The stifle joint. + + 42. The buttock. + + 43. The tibia, or leg proper (lower thigh); a small bone lies behind + it, the _fibula_. + + 44. The hock (curb place). + + 44´. The point of the hock. + + 46. The cannon bone. + + 47. The large pastern joint. + + 48. The fetlock and ergot. + + 49. The small pastern joint. + + 50. The coronet. + + 51. Hind-foot and hoof. + + + + +ADDENDA. + +GOOD RULES TO BE REMEMBERED. + + +(1.) When in company with a gentleman, an accomplished horsewoman will +prefer to have him ride at the right side of her horse, because, being +thoroughly able to control her steed, she will require little or no +assistance from the cavalier. On the contrary, if she be an +inexperienced rider, it will be better for the gentleman to ride at the +left side, because, in this position, his right hand will be free to +render any assistance she may require, and he will also be placed +between her and any approaching object. + +(2.) A finished horseman, when riding at the left side of a lady's +horse, will not allow his spurs to catch in her dress, nor will he +permit his steed to press so closely against this left side as to injure +or interfere with the action of her left foot and leg. + +(3.) In the park, or in any public place, a gentleman should always +approach a lady on the off-side of her horse. + +(4.) When in company with two ladies, a gentleman should ride on the +off-side of them, and never between the two, unless they request it. + +(5.) When obliged to pass or meet a lady who is riding without an +escort, always do so at a moderate gait; this is an act of politeness +and consideration which may prevent her steed from becoming fractious. + +(6.) When passing by a horseman who is leading another horse, never +ride by him on the side of the led animal, for if you do the latter will +be apt to kick or plunge, and become unruly. This precaution is +essential for the safety of the horsewoman, as well as for the better +management of the led horse by the horseman. In a crowded place it will +be better to wait until there is sufficient room to pass without +hindrance. + +(7.) Give assistance to a companion, or other lady rider, when it is +indispensable for her safety, but do not give advice unless directly +requested. And if, when you are riding a fractious horse, assistance be +politely offered, do not decline it. + +(8.) In city, town, or village, always ride at a moderate gait. + +(9.) Be extremely careful never to ask for a friend's horse to ride, but +always wait until the animal is freely offered, and when accepted, do +not follow the advice contained in the horseman's proverb,--"With spurs +of one's own and the horse of a friend, one can go where he pleases." + +(10.) Before setting out for a ride, in company with other lady riders, +the equestrienne, after having mounted, should move a short distance +away from the others, and then keep her horse perfectly quiet and +steady; by this course the neighboring horses will not be apt to become +uneasy and restive while her companions are mounting. + +(11.) Always, when with others, begin the ride at a moderate gait. A +number of horses, fresh from the stable, when assembled together, are +apt, if started on a gallop, to become too highly excited; and it will +always be better to have them start slowly. + +(12.) Should a lady be a better horsewoman than her companions, and be +riding a horse superior to theirs, she should restrain him, and not +allow him to be constantly in advance of the others. It will be more +courteous for her to follow the lead of her companions, and to consult +with them as to the kind and rapidity of gait most agreeable to them. +The preceding rules of politeness and propriety will be readily +understood and appreciated. A lady under no circumstances will forget +her tact and consideration for others. + +(13.) In riding up hill the body should be inclined forward, and the +bridle-hand be advanced, in order to give the horse space to extend his +head and neck, as it is natural for him to do under such circumstances. +In case the ascent be very steep, the rider may support herself by +holding, with her right hand, to her horse's mane, but never to the +off-pommel, because her weight may cause the saddle to slip backward. + +(14.) In riding down hill the body must be inclined more or less +backward, in proportion to the steepness of the hill, and as the horse +lowers his head upon the commencement of the descent, the rider must +advance her bridle-hand just enough barely to feel his mouth. Timid and +awkward riders, on descending a hill, are apt to confine the horse's +head too much, thus keeping it too high, and preventing him from freely +stepping out, as well as from placing his feet firmly upon the ground. +By doing this, they are likely to bring about the very catastrophe they +are trying to avoid, namely, a stumble and a fall. Never ride at a rapid +gait when going down hill. + +(15.) It is always customary to keep to the left when passing by others +on horseback or in vehicles, who are going in the same direction as the +rider; and in passing those who are approaching, to keep to the right. +But, in the latter instance, should anything be present that might cause +the horse to shy, and a declivity, ditch, or other source of danger be +on the right, while none exists on the left, it will then be safer for +the rider to take the left side. + +(16.) When crossing a stream, or when allowing one's horse to drink from +it, a watchful eye should be kept upon him, especially in warm weather, +lest he attempt to take an impromptu bath. If he begins to paw the +water, or bend his knees, the rider must raise his head, give him a +sharp stroke with the whip, and hurry him on. + +(17.) After severe exercise, or when the horse is very warm, he should +neither be fed nor be allowed to drink until a sufficient time has +passed to enable him to become composed, rested, and cool. Many a +valuable steed has been lost because his mistress did not know this +simple, but highly important rule. Again, a horse should never be ridden +at a fast gait just after he has eaten a meal, or taken a good drink; he +should be allowed at least an hour in which to have his meal digested. + +(18.) A horse should never be allowed to drink from a public trough, if +it can possibly be avoided; and when he is permitted to do so, the +trough should first be emptied and then filled anew. Horses often +contract serious diseases from these public drinking-places. + +(19.) When riding over a rough road, the horse's mouth should only be +lightly felt, and he should be allowed to have his own way in selecting +the safest places upon which to step. + +(20.) When it is observed that the horse is moving uneasily, at the same +time violently twitching his tail, or giving a kick outward or under +him, the rider may be certain that something is hurting him, and should +immediately dismount, loosen the saddle-girths, and carefully inspect +the girths, the saddle, and parts touched by them to ascertain whether a +nail be loosened from the saddle, the skin be pinched or abraded, the +hair be pulled upon by the girths, or whether some hard object has +become placed beneath the saddle, etc.; she should also carefully +examine the head-stall and bit, to see that all is right about the +horse's head; after having removed or diminished the irritating cause, +she should carefully readjust both saddle and girths. + +(21.) If, when riding rapidly, it be observed that the horse is +breathing with difficulty and with a strange noise, or that his head and +ears are drooping, the rider should immediately stop him, as he has been +driven too hard, and is on the point of falling. + +(22.) A lady's horse should never be placed in harness, because in order +to pull a load he will be obliged to throw his weight forward, thus +spoiling the lightness of his saddle gaits. + +(23.) When turning a corner the horse should not be drawn around by the +reins; these should merely indicate the desired direction for the turn, +and should never be drawn upon more than will bring that eye of the +animal which is toward the direction of the turn into view of the rider. + +(24.) Should a horse which is usually spirited move languidly, and, +during warm, or moderately cold weather, have his hair stand out and +appear rough, particularly about the head and neck, or should he +frequently cough, it would be better to relinquish the ride, have him +returned to the stable, and a warm bran-mash given to him as quickly as +possible. It may be that he has contracted only a cold that can be +checked by prompt measures. But should he continue to grow worse, a +veterinary surgeon should be speedily summoned. Be very firm and decided +in not permitting the groom to administer his favorite patent medicines, +because such nostrums are as liable to occasion injury to animals as +similar preparations are to human beings. + +(25.) A few observations with regard to shoeing a horse may not be +amiss. It may happen when riding on a country road, that one of the +horse's shoes will come off, and the rider be obliged to resort to the +nearest rural blacksmith to have it replaced. In such case she will +find that some knowledge on her part of the manner in which a shoe +should be fitted to a horse's foot will prove very useful. The +blacksmith should not be permitted to cut the frog (the soft and elastic +substance in the middle of the foot) of the foot, but should leave it +entirely alone, and pare around the margin of the hoof just enough to +adjust the shoe evenly and firmly. Country blacksmiths, as well as many +in cities, are very fond of paring and rasping the horse's hoof, as they +think they can make a neater fit of the shoe by such a course. An +eminent writer on the subject of shoeing states that, except in case of +disease, undue paring and rasping are never indulged in by persons who +understand how to fit a shoe to the horse's feet properly; he also +observes: "This is paring and rasping the horse's foot till it be small +enough to fit the shoe, rather than kindle a fire and forge a new set +which shall just suit the feet of the animal. It may to some readers +seem like a jest, to write seriously about the horse's shoes being too +tight; but it is, indeed, no joke to the quadruped which has to move in +such articles. The walk is strange, as though the poor creature were +trying to progress, but could obtain no bearing for its tread. The legs +are all abroad, and the hoofs no sooner touch the ground than they are +snatched up again. The head is carried high, and the countenance denotes +suffering. It is months before the horse is restored to its normal +condition." + +(26.) There is not the least necessity for stables being the foul +smelling places they so frequently are, for if the hostler and his +assistants perform their duties properly all offensive odors will be +banished. A foul atmosphere in a stable, besides being repulsive to +visitors, is, not unfrequently, the cause of blindness and other +diseases of the horse, who will also carry the odor in his hair and +communicate it to the clothing of his rider as well as to her saddle. +For these reasons, a lady should always positively insist that the +stable as well as the horse should be kept perfectly clean and free from +obnoxious exhalations. Attention to cleanliness, and a free use of +disinfectants will bring about this highly desirable result. + +(27.) After a ride, the saddle should always be aired, and placed where +the sun's rays can fall upon its under surface. After exercise that +causes the horse to perspire freely, the saddle should not be removed +until he has become cool; this will prevent him from having a sore back, +from which he often suffers when this precaution is neglected. + +(28.) When a lady stops in her ride to visit a friend, she should always +attend to her horse herself--be sure that he is properly hitched; that +in warm weather he is fastened in a shady place, and that in cold +weather he is protected, as far as possible, from the cold, as well as +from wind, rain, or snow. It will sometimes happen, especially in the +country, that, instead of being hitched, the horse will be allowed to +remain free, but within some inclosure, that he may nibble the grass; in +this instance, the saddle should always be removed, as otherwise he may +roll upon it. A city horse, when ridden into the country, should not be +allowed to eat grass, from a mistaken idea that it will be a good treat +for him, for, as he is not accustomed to it, it will be very apt to +injure him. + +(29.) After a good seat and attitude in the saddle have been obtained, +more freedom is allowable; should the rider have occasion to speak or to +look aside, she should never move her shoulders, but only her head, and +this momentarily, because it is required that a good lookout in front be +kept up, to discover and avoid obstacles. + +(30.) Delicate persons who desire to derive benefit from horseback +riding in the country should select suitable hours in which to pursue +this exercise. The intense heat of a summer noon should be avoided, as +well as the evening dew, the imperceptible dampness of which will +penetrate the clothing and, perhaps, implant the germ of some serious +malady. Riding upon a country road in the noon heat of a summer day, +where there is little or no shade, will tan and roughen the finest +complexion, will overheat the blood, and will occasion fatigue instead +of pleasure. An hour or two after sunrise or before sunset will be found +the more pleasant and healthful periods of the day for this exercise. +Riding in the country, when enjoyed at proper hours, is a sure +brightener of the complexion, aerates and purifies the blood, and +imparts wonderful tone to the nervous and muscular systems. Yet, in +their great fondness for this exercise, ladies frequently carry it to +excess, making their rides far too long. + +(31.) What to do with the whip, when making a call, has puzzled many a +lady rider. Shall it be left outside, where it may be lost, or shall it +be taken into the parlor, where its belligerent appearance will be +entirely out of place? This much mooted question can soon be settled by +the gentleman who assists the lady to dismount; he will usually +understand what is required, and take charge of it himself. Or, in the +absence of a cavalier, the whip may be handed to the groom who attends +to the horse, or to the porter who waits upon the door. But should no +groom or porter be present, it may be placed in some convenient and +secure spot, as would be done with a valuable umbrella. + +(32.) Before mounting her horse, a lady should always pat his head and +speak kindly to him, and, after the ride, should express her +satisfaction in the same manner. The horse will fully appreciate these +manifestations. Many persons consider a horse a mere living, working +machine, yet it has been satisfactorily ascertained, by those who have +investigated the matter, that this machine has feeling, affection, and a +remarkable memory; that it appreciates favors, has a high sense of +gratitude, and never forgets an injury. + +(33.) The secret of secure and graceful riding is a correctly balanced +seat in the saddle, one perfectly independent of reins or stirrup, and +without exaggerations of any kind, whether the carelessness or +indifference of the instinctive rider, or the affected, pedantic +stiffness of the antiquated _haut école_. While maintaining a free, +easy, yet elegant attitude, the rider should present to the spectator +such an appearance of security and perfect equilibrium that it will seem +as if no conflicting movements of the horse could throw her from the +saddle. Carelessness and indifference cause the rider to look indolent +and slovenly, while an affected, exaggerated stiffness and preciseness +give her a ridiculous appearance, and destroy the pleasing effect of an +otherwise correct seat. + +(34.) Go quickly in the walk, quickly and regularly in the trot, and +gently in the gallop. And bear well in mind the following supplication +of the horse:-- + + "In going up hill, trot me not; + In going down hill, gallop me not; + On level ground, spare me not; + In the stable, forget me not." + +All women are capable of enjoying the healthful exercise of horseback +riding excepting those who may be suffering from disease. Every lady who +has the means, whether young or advanced in years, should learn riding, +for its sociability, healthfulness, and pleasure, without regard to her +bodily conformation. It is folly to deprive one's self of this high +enjoyment and captivating exercise, simply because one is no longer +young, has only an ordinary figure, or because some persons appear to +better advantage in the saddle, and ride with more ease and grace. +According to such reasoning, one might as well cease to exist. If a lady +cannot attain perfection, she can strive to come as near to it as +possible, and if she secures a correct seat in the saddle, and a +suitable horse, she will present a decidedly better appearance than one +who, although having the slender, elegant figure so well adapted to the +saddle, yet rides in a crooked, awkward attitude, or on a rough moving +horse. + +To become a complete horsewoman it is not necessary to begin the +exercise in childhood. The first lessons may be taken in the twelfth +year, though many of our best horsewomen did not begin to practice until +they were eighteen years old, and some not until after they were +married. Riding-teachers state that persons past their first youth who +have never ridden learn much more readily, and become better riders than +those who, though younger, have been riding without instruction, and in +an incorrect manner, and, consequently, have contracted habits very +difficult to eradicate. + +Before closing this part of the work, there is one subject to which the +author would earnestly invite attention. When a lady possesses a horse +which has been long in her service, and been treated with the kindest +and most loving care, and she finds that this faithful servant is +becoming old and stiff, or that, from some accident, he has become +almost useless to her, she should not part with him by selling him, for +the ones to buy him will be those who have no sympathy for a horse and +do not know how to treat him properly, but purchase him for hard and +severe labor; their poverty compelling them to this course, as they +cannot afford to buy any but old and maimed horses of very little value. +To a well-treated and trained animal, the change from caresses to harsh +treatment, from the pleasant task of carrying the light form of his +mistress to the hardest of drudgery, must be acutely felt. The horse +which has been kindly and intelligently managed is one of the most +sensitive of living creatures, and has been known to refuse all feed and +die from starvation, when placed under the charge of a cruel and +ignorant master. + +When the lady finds her favorite steed permanently useless, and cannot +afford him an asylum in which to pass the remainder of his days in rest +and freedom from labor, she should have some merciful hand end the life +that it would be cruel to prolong in the hands of a hard master, simply +for the few dollars that might be obtained for him. To thus destroy the +animal may appear heartless, but, in reality, is an act of mercy; as it +is much better for him to die a quick, painless death, than to be sold +to a life of toil, pain, and cruelty, in which, perhaps, he may pass +mouths, if not years, of a living death. + + * * * * * + +In terminating the present volume, the writer ventures to express the +hope that her appeal to American women to seek health, beauty, and +enjoyment in the saddle will not be passed by with indifference, and +that the lady rider, after a careful perusal and due consideration of +the instructions herein laid down for her benefit, may be awakened to a +spirit of enthusiasm, and an endeavor "to well do that which is worth +doing at all." To gain a knowledge of horsewomanship is by no means a +mysterious matter confined to only a favored few, but is, on the +contrary, within the reach of all. The requirements necessary to manage +the horse are soon learned, but, as is the case with every other +accomplishment, it is practice that makes perfect. Practice alone, +however, without study or instruction, will never produce a finished +rider; and study without practice will rarely accomplish anything. But +when study and practice are judiciously combined, they will enable one +to reach the goal of success, which every earnest rider will strive to +attain. + +In the endeavor to render the instructions and explanations in this work +as clear and comprehensible as possible, many repetitions have +unavoidably occurred; but as the book was more especially designed to +instruct beginners, as well as those self-taught riders who have not had +the advantage of a teacher, it was thought advisable not to leave any +point in doubt, but as far as possible to render each subject +independent of the others, and strongly to impress many essential points +upon the mind of the reader. + +To a majority of my countrywomen, with their natural tact and grace, it +was only deemed necessary to point out their errors in riding; attention +once called to them would, it was believed, undoubtedly lead to their +prompt correction, and these riders would then cease to be victims of +ignorance, constantly upon the verge of danger from incorrect methods of +riding, and soon be able to excel in that most desirable and fascinating +of all womanly accomplishments, secure and graceful horseback riding. + +This has been the principal object of the author, who would not only +have women ride well and elegantly, but with the confidence and +enjoyment that true knowledge always imparts. Having spent so many happy +hours in the saddle herself, she wishes others to experience a similar +happiness, and if a perusal of these unpretending pages will create a +zeal among her countrywomen for this delightful and invigorating +exercise, and enable them to enjoy it in its highest sense, it will +prove a source of much gratification to her, and she will rest satisfied +that her efforts have not been in vain. + + + + +GLOSSARY + +OF TERMS USED IN HORSEMANSHIP. + + +_Aids_: The various methods employed by a rider to command the horse, +and urge him to move forward, backward, etc., and in such gaits as may +be desired. The superior aids are the hands acting through the medium of +the reins; the inferior aids are the leg and whip. See _Effects_. + +_Appui_, Fr. _Support_: The "give and take" movements, by which the +horse is supported in his gait, called "appui of the hand." The +sensation of the pressure of the bit upon the bars of the horse's mouth, +experienced by the rider's hand. _Appui of the Collar_: The slope or +talus presented in front at the union of the crest of the neck with the +shoulders. + +_Attacks_: Methods for urging or inducing the horse to enter upon any +gait or motion required. See _Aids_. + +_Bars_: The upper part of the gums (in a horse) that bears no teeth, and +which is located on each side of the lower jaw. This part lies between +the grinders (back double teeth) and the tusks; or, in mares and in +horses deprived of tusks, between the grinders and the incisors (front +cutting teeth). It is against this part, the bars, that the curb-bit +rests. See _Cheek of the Bit_. + +_Bear to the right_: To keep the right leg, from hip to knee, as +stationary as possible, by downward pressure upon the right side of the +saddle seat, and between the first and second pommels, at the same time +keeping a firm knee-grasp upon the second pommel without hanging upon +it; by this means, the rider guards against inclining to the left, a +movement very apt to be produced by her position in the saddle and the +motion of her horse. The body of the rider must be maintained in an +erect position all the time she is bearing to the right. See _Incline to +the Right_. + +_Boot_: A term sometimes applied to that part of the saddle-girths or +flaps back of the rider's leg, and at which the horse may attempt to +kick; also applied to the inferior portion of the rider's leg. + +_Bridle-hand_: The left hand. When both hands hold the reins they are +called the _bridle-hands_. + +_Bridoon_: The snaffle-bit and rein, when used in connection with the +curb-bit, but acting independently of it. The two bits together in the +horse's mouth are called "the bit and bridoon," or "the curb and +bridoon." + +_Bringing up to the bridle_, also _Kept well up to the bridle_: To place +the horse's head up and in position, so that when proper tension or +pressure is made upon his mouth he will readily obey the reins. Some +horses require stronger pressure than others, as stated under +_Correspondence_. + +_Cannon bone_, also _Shank_: The long bone situated between the knee and +the fetlock joint on the front part of each fore-leg of the horse. + +_Canon_: That part of a bit, on each side, that rests upon the bars of a +horse's mouth when the bit is correctly placed. + +_Cantle_: The somewhat elevated ridge at the back part of the +saddle-seat. + +_Cheek of the Bit_, also _Bars of the Bit_: The external straight or +curved rods (levers) forming the sides of a curb-bit, and which, when +the bit is in the horse's mouth, are applied along the outer sides of +his mouth, the reins being attached to their lower extremities. That +part of these rods situated below the bit in the month is called "the +lower bar," or "cheek," and that portion above the bit, "the upper bar," +or "cheek." + +_Chin-groove_: The transverse furrow in which the curb-chain rests, on +the under surface of a horse's lower jaw, at the back part of the lower +lip. Also called "curb-groove." + +_Collected canter_: A canter in good form. + +_Correspondence_: The degree of rein-tension made by the hand of the +rider upon her horse's mouth, which, when properly established, creates +a correspondence between her hand and the animal's mouth, so that the +slightest movement of the one is immediately felt by the other; in all +cases this correspondence must first be had before any utility can be +obtained from the "give and take" movements. Some horses require a +greater degree of tension for this purpose than others, according to +their training and the range of sensibility of their mouths. + +_Croup_: The hind-quarters of the horse, from and including the loins to +the commencement of the tail. This term is also applied by some to the +upper part of the animal's back, where the haunches and body come in +contact. + +_Curb-bit_, also _Lever-bit_: A bit with a straight or curved lever or +rod attached on each side, designed for the purpose of restraining the +horse. + +_Curb-chain_: A chain attached to the upper bar or cheek of the +curb-bit, and passed along the chin-groove, from one side of the bit to +the other. + +_Curb-hook_: A hook attached to the curb-chain, and designed to fasten +it to the upper bar of the curb-bit; there are two of these hooks, one +on each side of the bit. + +_Decompounded_: Taken to pieces; each act, movement, or part of a whole +or group, by or of itself. + +_Defend_: A horse is said to defend himself when he refuses to obey, or +attempts to bite, kick, etc.; he resists, contends. + +_Defenses_: The resistances made by a horse when required to do +anything, or when he is ignorant of the acts or movements demanded of +him; he becomes alarmed, injured, or malicious, and employs his +defenses. + +_Double bridle_: The reins of the curb-bit and bridoon, when both bits +are placed together in the horse's mouth. + +_Dumb-jockey_: A couple of stout sticks or poles, crossed in the form of +the letter x, and fastened upon the saddle; the reins are attached to +the upper ends of these, and a hat may be placed upon one of them. Used +in training colts. + +_Effects_: Movements made by the hands, often aided by the leg or whip, +which serve to urge the horse forward, backward, to the right, or left; +indications. + +_Equestrian_: A gentleman rider on horseback. + +_Equestrienne_: A lady rider on horseback. + +_Equine_: From _equus_, Lat. A horse; pertaining to a horse. + +_Equitation_: Horseback riding. + +_False pannels_: Pannels are stuffed pads or flaps, attached to and +beneath certain parts of the saddle, in order to prevent these from +injuring the horse; when these stuffed pads can be fastened to, or +removed from the saddle at pleasure, they are termed "false pannels." + +_Fetlock_: The tuft of hair that grows upon the back part of the fetlock +joints of many horses' legs, and which hides the ergot or stub of soft +horn that lies behind and below the pastern joint. + +_Fetlock joint_: The joint between the cannon and the upper pastern bone +of each foot. + +_Force the hands_: The hands are said to be forced when the horse throws +his head downward, pulling upon the reins so as to cause the rider to +support the weight of the animal's head; sometimes this is effected so +suddenly as to jerk the reins out of her hands. + +_Forehand_: All that part of the horse in front of the rider. + +_Get out of condition_: A horse is said to be in "good condition" when +he is well, fresh, and sound; the reverse of this is termed "out of +condition." + +_Girths_: Stout straps or bands passed from one side of the saddle and +underneath the horse's abdomen to the other side, where they are buckled +tight and fast; they are designed to keep the saddle securely upon the +horse's back. + +_Give and take_: The traction and relaxation of the reins made by the +fingers, and which must correspond with the movements of the horse's +head; this action keeps up a correspondence with the horse's mouth, and +at the same time supports him in his gait. + +_Hand_: The height of a horse is usually measured by hands, four inches +being equal to one hand. A rider is said to "have hands" when she knows +how to use her hands correctly in controlling the horse by means of the +reins. + +_Haunches_: When a horse is made to throw his weight chiefly upon his +hind-quarters, he is said to be "well placed on his haunches," and will +then move more lightly upon his fore-legs. The haunch-bones are three in +number, the superior one of which is firmly united to the spinal column +(backbone) near its posterior extremity; the lower one on each side +forms a joint with the thigh bone, passing downward in a more or less +oblique direction. The obliquity of these bones enables the horse to +place the muscles of the part in a position to act with greater +advantage and power, and the degree of this obliquity serves to +distinguish the thorough from the low bred, it being greater in the +former. Wide haunches and broad loins are indications of strength and +speed. + +_Hippic_: Of, belonging to, or relating to the horse. + +_Hock_, also _Tarsus_: The part or joint between the cannon or shank +bone and the lower thigh or gaskin of the hind-leg: it consists of six +bones; the part at this joint that projects backward and somewhat inward +is called the "point of the hock." The hock is an important part of a +horse, as any unhealthy or diseased condition of it will prevent him +from resting on his haunches, and will thereby interfere with his free +action in the canter and gallop. + +_Immobility_: A disease in which the horse becomes unable to move, +probably referable to the nervous system. + +_Incline to the right_, or _to the left_: This differs from "bearing to +the right," which see. It means, to incline the body, from the hips +upward, to the right (or to the left), either when turning or riding in +a circle. + +_In confidence_: A horse is confident, or in confidence, when he +completely surrenders his own will, and implicitly trusts to his rider +without dreaming of resistance. + +_Inward rein_: In turning or circling, the "inward rein," as well as the +"inward leg," is the one on the same side as that toward which the horse +turns, or the one toward the centre of the circle of which the turn +forms an arc. + +_Legs well bent_: See "_Well-bent hind-legs_." + +_Lip-strap_, or _Curb-strap_: Two small straps stitched to the curb-bit, +designed to prevent a horse from taking the cheek of this bit into his +mouth; an unnecessary appendage when the cheek is curved. + +_Lunge-line_: A long strap or cord attached to the nose-band of the +cavesson or head-stall of a horse in training, by means of which the +trainer exercises and instructs him while he is moving around in +circles. + +_Near-side_: The left side. _Near-pommel_: The second pommel, on the +left side of the side-saddle; the second pommel of the old-fashioned +saddle was called the "near-pommel," and the name still attaches to it. +The "third pommel" is variously called the "leaping head" and the +"hunting-horn," and is located on the left side of the saddle and below +the second pommel. + +_Off-side_: The right side. _Off-pommel_: The pommel on the right side +of the saddle. + +_Outward rein_: In turning or circling, the "outward rein," as well as +the "outward leg," is the one opposite to the direction toward which the +horse turns. + +_Overreaching_, also _Forging_, _Clinking_: Is when a horse in moving +forward strikes the heel or back part of a fore-foot with the toe or +front part of the shoe of the hind-foot. When the stride of the +hind-legs is carried so far forward as to strike the coronet or upper +part of the hoof, it is then termed a "tread." + +_Pirouette_: A movement in which a horse turns around without changing +his place, the hind-leg of the side toward which he moves forming the +pivot upon which he supports himself. + +_Port of the bit_: The arched part in the centre of the curb-bit. + +_Resistances_: See _Defenses_. + +_Retroacting_: A horse retroacts when, in his volts, he steps aside, +bearing his croup to the centre,--also when he backs toward an obstacle +and fixedly remains there, against the will of his rider; and also when +he suddenly throws himself upon his hocks at the moment his rider checks +or stops him. + +_Ring-bar of the saddle_: A bar attached beneath the saddle-flap on the +left side and at its upper part, over which the stirrup-leather rolls. + +_Saddle-tree_: The skeleton or solid frame of a saddle, upon which the +pommels, leather, padding, etc., are properly disposed. + +_Snaffle-bit_: Is the mildest bit used in driving a horse: there are two +kinds, the plain snaffle and the twisted, and the latter form may be +made to act very severely. + +_Surcingle_: A wide band of cloth or leather, of sufficient length to +pass around the body of a horse, and employed either to keep a blanket +upon him, or to keep down the flaps of the saddle or the shabrack. + +_Thrown forward upon his shoulders_: A horse is said to be thrown in +this manner when, in moving, he throws his weight chiefly upon his +shoulders and fore-legs instead of upon his hind-quarters; he is then +also said to "go heavy on his fore-legs." + +_Turn upon the shoulders_: A horse is said to "turn upon his shoulders" +when he throws his weight upon his fore-legs during the act of turning; +it is a disunited movement. + +_Tusks_, also _Tushes_: These are the canine teeth, two in each jaw, +which grow between the grinders (back double teeth) and the incisors +(front cutting teeth), being closer to the latter than to the former. +They are frequently missing. Their uses are not well known. + +_Volt_: The movement of a horse while going sidewise in a circle, his +croup being toward the centre. There are several varieties of volt. An +_inverted_ or _reversed volt_ is when the head of the horse is kept +toward the centre of the circle. + +_Well-bent hind-legs_: A horse with straight hind-legs does not possess +good and easy movements; but if these limbs be well bent, he can be well +placed on his haunches, and be easily collected, so that his action will +be true and pleasant. See _Haunches_. + +_Yield the hands_: Is to give the horse more rein by advancing the hands +without allowing the reins to slip. To _give a free rein_ is to allow +the animal all the length of rein he requires without any traction or +opposition. + + + + +INDEX. + + + Addenda, 301. + + Adjusting the bit, 89. + the saddle, 71, 93. + + Affection of the horse, 4, 16. + + Amble, the, 197, 217. + + Appui, 313. + + Arab horse, 16, 23. + + + Backing, 152, 193, 281. + + Balance strap, 81. + + Balking, 281. + + Basque, the riding, 53. + + Bit, 84. + adjusting the, 89. + Chifney, 84. + combination, 85. + curb, 85. + curb, Dwyer's, 86. + curb and bridoon, 85. + curb and bridoon, to hold reins of, 160. + Pelham, 84. + snaffle, 84. + snaffle, to hold reins of the, 152. + + Biting, 283. + + Bolting, 240, 289. + + Boots, riding, 59. + + Box-stalls for horses, 49. + + Bridle, 82. + double, 166. + ladies', 82. + + Bucking, 284. + + + Caligula and his horse, 15. + + Canter, 221. + disunited, 234. + false on the turn in, 234. + from trot to, 232. + stop in, 236. + to commence the, 227. + true, 223, 234. + turn in, 233, 234. + united, 234. + with left leg leading, 230. + with right leg leading, 227. + + Capriciousness of horses, 4. + + Cares for the horse, 4, 44, 47. + + Cavalry trot, 21, 199, 203. + + Changes of pressure on horse's mouth should be gradual, 174, 195. + + Changing the reins, 156. + quickly, 158, 165. + + Character of the horse, 4. + + Circling to the left, in trot, 216. + + Circling to the right, in trot, 215. + + Coiffure, riding, 60. + + Collect the horse, to, 170, 177. + + Collected horse, 177. + + Combination bit, 85. + + Confidence of horse, 5, 16, 317. + + Corns on horse's feet, 32. + + Correct position of limbs, 124. + + Correct seat for a lady, 118. + + Correspondence, 168, 314. + + Corsets injurious for riding, 6. + + Corsets, riding, 60. + + Country jog-trot, 21, 198. + + Critical situations, 271. + + Crossing water on horseback, 304. + + Curb-bit, 85. + Dwyer's, 86. + and bridoon, 85, 160. + and bridoon, reins of, in one hand, 160. + when best to use, 170, 174; note, 178. + + Curb-chain, 87. + + Curry-combing the horse, 45. + + + Dangers in the hand gallop, 240. + + Dangers of turns in flying gallop, 242, 248. + + Dead pull upon the reins, 169. + + Defenses of the horse, 271. + + Differences between high and low bred horses, 23. + + Dismounting, 99, 108. + gentleman's aid in, 109. + without assistance, 111. + + Distinguished equestriennes, 46. + + Disunited canter, 234. + horse, 177. + + Double bridle, management of, 166. + + Drawers, riding, 59. + + + Ears, the language of horses', 25, 273. + + Education of the horse, 35. + + English trot, 21, 200, 207. + + Equestriennes, distinguished, 46. + + Erroneous ideas about riding, 7. + + Exercise of the horse, remarks upon, 50. + + + Fabric for riding-dress, 57. + + Falling down of the horse, 286, 294. + + False on the turn, in canter, 234. + + Faulty position of limbs, 136. + + Fay's training, 38. + + First lessons in riding, 22, 125, 149, 217. + + Flying gallop, 238. + carriage of body in, 246. + holding of reins in, 240. + management of horse in, 239. + stop in the, 248. + turns in, dangers of, 242, 248. + + Flying leap, 249, 267. + + Flying trot, 198. + + Foot-hoop in skirt, 56. + + Foot, the leading, 209. + + Forcing the hands 169, 316. + + Formation of low-bred horse, 24. + + Formation of thoroughbred horse, 24. + + French trot, 21, 199, 203. + + + Gaits for a lady's horse, 20. + + Gallop, the, 238. + + Gallop, flying, dangers of turns in, 242. + flying, to stop in, 248. + flying, turns in, 242, 248. + hand, 238. + + Gauntlets, riding, 64. + + Gayety of the horse, 282. + + Gentleman's aid in dismounting, 109. + + Gentleman's aid in mounting, 103. + + Girthing the saddle, 77, 93. + + Girths, 76, 95. + + Give and take movements, 169, 171, 316. + + Glossary, 313. + + Good riding, tight corsets incompatible with, 6. + + Grooms, 44, 50, 97, 305. + + + Habit, the riding, 52. + + Hair, in riding, 61. + + Hand gallop, 238. + dangers in, 240. + + Hard mouth of horses, 50. + + Hat, the riding, 62. + + Head-dress, 61. + + Health from horseback riding, 3. + + Height of horse for a lady, 19. + + Holding the reins, 145. + in flying gallop, 247. + + Holding the riding skirt, 65. + + Holding the whip, 66. + + Horse, affection of, 4, 16. + cares of the lady for, 4, 44, 47. + character of, 4. + collected, 177. + confidence of, 5, 16, 317. + defenses of, 271. + dismounting the, 99, 108. + disunited, 177. + education of, 35. + exercise of the, 50. + falling down of, 286, 294. + for a city lady, 30, 31. + for a country lady, 37. + gaits of, for a lady's, 20. + height of, for a lady, 19. + livery stable, for a lady, 51. + managing the, 145. + managing, with different reins, 145. + mounting the, 99. + origin of the, 13. + purchase of, 18, 30. + temperaments of the, 22. + the, 13. + the Arab, 16, 23. + the kind of, to select, 18. + the low-bred, 23. + the thoroughbred, 23. + to collect the, 170, 177. + to stop the, 152, 156, 164, 191, 212, 236, 248. + training the, 34. + treatment of the, 35. + united, 177. + unsteadiness of, while being mounted, 290. + whipping the, 295. + + Horseback, positions on, 129, 133, 137. + riding, healthy, 3. + the seat on, 114. + wrong positions on, 115, 128. + + Horses, box stalls for, 49. + corns on feet of, 32. + hard mouth of, 50. + humane training of, 35. + ladies', attentions to, 4, 44, 47. + moderate priced, 31. + mouth, changes of pressure on, should be gradual, 174, 195. + stalls for, 47, 49. + + Horse's head, raising the, 174. + + Humane training of horses, 35. + + Hunting, 10. + + + Introduction, 1. + + + Jacket, the riding, 53. + + Jog-trot, the country, 21, 198. + + + Kicking, 282. + + + Ladies riding in park, observations on, 128. + + Lady, cares of, for her horse, 4, 38, 44. + correct seat for a, 118. + horse for a, 18, 30, 34. + livery-stable horse for a, 51. + + Lady's attention to her horse, 4, 38, 44. + bridle, 82. + horse, what gaits for a, 20. + pantaloons, 58. + saddle, 69, 93. + visiting her stable, 44. + whip, 66. + + Language of horse's ears, 25, 273. + + Latchford's safety stirrup, 80. + + Leading foot, which is the, 209. + + Leap, the, 249. + the flying, 249, 267. + the standing, 249, 253. + + Length and width of saddle, 72, 73. + + Lennan's safety stirrup, 80. + + Lessons with lunge-line, 42, 125. + + Liberty of reins, when to give, 175. + + Limbs, correct position of, 124. + faulty position of, 136. + + Livery-stable horse for a lady, 51. + + Long stirrup-leather, 74, 139. + + Low-bred horse, formation of, 24. + + Lunge-line lessons, 42, 125. + + + Management of the horse in flying gallop, 239. + + Managing the horse with reins, 145. + + Martingales, 83. + + Moderate-priced horses, 31. + + Mounting, 99. + from a high horse-block, 100. + from a low horse-block, 101. + from the ground, 101. + gentleman's aid in, 103. + unsteadiness of horse while, 290. + + Movements of the rider's body, 6. + + + Natural riders, 8, 114, 128. + + Near pommel to saddle, 317. + + + Observations on ladies riding in park, 128. + + Off-pommel to saddle, 75, 317. + + Origin of the horse, 13. + + Original position of snaffle-reins, one in each hand, 150. + + Original position of snaffle-reins, both in one hand, 154. + position of snaffle and curb reins, all in one hand, 161. + position of snaffle and curb reins, one of each in each hand, 166. + + Over-reaching, 293, 317. + + + Pace, the, 21, 197, 218. + + Pantaloons, a lady's, 58. + + Petticoat, the riding, 58. + + Placing the saddle, 71, 93. + + Plunging, 176, 284. + + Pommels to saddle, 69. + use of, 70, 73, 100, 116. + + Position of limbs should be taught by a lady, 144. + + Positions on horseback, 129, 133, 137. + original, of reins, 150, 154, 161, 166. + + Pressure on horse's mouth, changes of, to be gradual, 174, 195. + + Pupil and teacher, 142. + + Purchase of horse, 18, 30. + + + Racing trot, 198. + + Rack, the, 21, 218. + + Raising the horse's head, 174. + + Rearing, 286. + + Rein, to loosen or tighten one, when double bridle is in left hand, 162. + + Reining back in the walk, 184, 193. + + Reins, changing the, 156. + curb and bridoon in one hand, 160. + dead pull upon, 169. + double, one in each hand, 166. + double, to change from left to right hand, 164. + double, to change from right to left hand, 164. + double, to separate, and hold one of each in a hand, 165. + holding the, 145. + snaffle, both in one hand, 152. + snaffle, both in one hand, original position of, 154. + snaffle, both in one hand, to separate, 158. + snaffle, both in one hand, to stop the horse, 156. + snaffle, both in one hand, to turn to the left, 155. + snaffle, both in one hand, to turn to the right, 155. + snaffle, one in each hand, 149. + snaffle, one in each hand, original position of, 150. + snaffle, one in each hand, to stop the horse, 152. + snaffle, one in each hand, to turn to the left, 151. + snaffle, one in each hand, to turn to the right, 151. + to change quickly, 158, 165. + to change snaffle from left to right hand, 156. + to change snaffle from right to left hand, 157. + to hold, in flying gallop, 247. + to return snaffle, to the left hand, 157. + to shorten the curb and lengthen the snaffle, 162. + to shorten the snaffle and lengthen the curb, 163. + to shorten or lengthen the curb and snaffle, 162. + to shorten or lengthen the snaffle, 159. + when to give more liberty of, 175. + + Remarks, on exercise of horse, 50. + on grooms, 44, 50, 97, 305. + on the stable, 44, 47. + on training the horse, 34, 35, 43. + + Restiveness, 173. + + Rider's body, movements of, 6. + figure, style of, 18. + natural, 8. + + Riding basque, 53. + boots, 59 + coiffure, 61. + corsets, 60. + dress, fabric for, 57. + + Riding, does not produce coarseness in rider, 9. + drawers, 59. + erroneous ideas concerning, 7. + first lessons in, 22, 125, 149, 217. + gauntlets, 64. + habit, 52. + habit, shirt, 59. + habit, skirt of, 55. + habit skirt, how to hold, 65. + habit, waist of, 53. + hair in, 61. + hat, 62. + jacket, 53. + pantaloons, 58. + petticoat, 58. + whip, 66, 308. + + Rising in the saddle in English trot, 207. + + Running away, 288. + + Running walk, 20. + + + Saddle-flaps, 76. + + Saddle, girthing the, 77, 93. + lady's, 68, 93. + length of, 72, 73. + off-pommel to, 75. + placing the, 71, 93. + seat to the, 72. + second pommel to, 68, 75. + third pommel to, 68, 73, 74. + to adjust the, 71, 93. + to rise in the, in English trot, 207. + weight of the, 76. + width of the, 73. + + Safety stirrups, 79. + + Seat, correct one for a lady, 118. + on horseback, 114. + to saddle, 72. + + Separation of the reins, 165. + + Shirt, the riding-habit, 59. + + Short stirrup-leather, 74. + + Shying, 273. + + Skirt, foot-loop in, 56. + holding the, 65. + of the riding habit, 55. + + Snaffle-bit, 84, 148. + when best to use, 148, 170. + + Spring-bar attachment to stirrup-leather, 80. + + Spur and whip, 294. + + Stable, ladies visiting the, 44. + + Stalls for horses, 47, 49. + + Standing leap, 249, 253. + + Stirrup, 74, 79. + irons, 81. + leather, 74, 81. + leather, spring-bar attachment to, 80. + leather, too long, 74, 139. + leather, too short, 74, 136. + + Stokes' mode of girthing the saddle, 77. + + Stop in the canter, 236. + the English trot, 212. + the flying gallop, 248. + the walk, 191. + + Stumbling, 176, 292. + + Style of the rider's figure, 18. + + Support, 168, 173, 313. + + + Teacher and pupil, 142. + + Temperaments of the horse, 22. + + The Arab horse, 16, 23. + + The canter, 222. + + The gallop, 238. + + The horse, 13. + + The kind of horse to purchase, 18, 30. + + The leap, 249. + + The low-bred horse, 23. + + The saddle and bridle, 67. + + The seat on horseback, 114. + + The thoroughbred, 23. + + The trot, 197. + + The walk, 181. + + Third pommel, 68-74, 121, 202. + + Thorough and low bred, differences, 23. + + Tight corsets prevent good riding, 6. + + To change reins quickly, 158, 165. + + To collect the horse, 170, 177. + + To hold the riding-skirt, 65. + + To manage the horse with the various reins, 145. + + To rise in the saddle in the English trot, 207. + + Too long stirrup-leather, 74, 139. + + Too short stirrup-leather, 74, 136. + + To turn the horse to the left, 151. + + To turn the horse to the right, 151. + + Training horses, humane, 35. + remarks on, 34, 35, 42. + to stop at the voice, 43. + + Treatment of horse, 34, 35, 42. + + Trot, circling to the left, 216. + circling to the right, 215. + country-jog, 21, 198 + English or rising, 21, 200, 207. + French or cavalry, 21, 199, 203. + the flying, 198. + the true, 199. + to canter from the, 232. + + Trotting in a circle, 214. + + True trot, 199. + + Turns in the canter, 233, 234. + dangers of, in the flying gallop, 242, 248. + in the hand gallop, 240. + in the walk, 187. + + + United canter, 234. + + Unsoundness of horses' feet and legs, 23. + + Unsteadiness of horse while being mounted, 290. + + Use of pommels, 70, 73, 100, 116, 202. + + + Victoria stirrup, 79. + + + Waist of riding habit, 53. + + Walk, reining back in, 184, 193. + running, 20. + stopping in the, 191. + the, 181. + the advance in the, 184. + turning in the, 187. + + Weight of the saddle, 76. + + What gaits to train a lady's horse in, 20. + + When best to use the curb, 170, 174, note 178. + best to use the snaffle, 148, 170. + + When to give more liberty of reins, 175. + + Which is the leading foot, 209. + + Whip, the lady's, 66. + the lady's, how to hold, 66. + + Whipping the horse, 295. + + Whip and spur, 294. + + Why some women do not enjoy riding, 6. + + Width of saddle, 73. + + Wrong positions on horseback, 115, 128. + + + * * * * * + + +Transcriber's Note: + +Punctuation in the text has been standardised, and obvious typographical +errors have been silently corrected. Bold text is surrounded by =equal +signs=. + +Variations in hyphenation, and obsolete or variant spelling have all +been preserved. + +In Table of Illustrations the entry "Chifney Bit" was originally spelled +"Chiffney"; this has been changed to match the spelling in Fig. 13. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The American Horsewoman, by Elizabeth Karr + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40684 *** |