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diff --git a/44026.txt b/44026.txt deleted file mode 100644 index cbccc71..0000000 --- a/44026.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11392 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Riding for Ladies, by Mrs. Power O'Donoghue - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Riding for Ladies - With Hints on the Stable - -Author: Mrs. Power O'Donoghue - -Illustrator: A. Chantrey Corbould - -Release Date: October 24, 2013 [EBook #44026] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIDING FOR LADIES *** - - - - -Produced by Julia Miller, Jennifer Linklater, and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - -RIDING FOR LADIES. - -[Illustration: - -_LAFAYETTE, PHOTO: DUBLIN._ - -[Author's Signature] - -W. THACKER & CO. LONDON.] - - - - - _THE COMMON SENSE OF RIDING._ - - - RIDING FOR LADIES - - _WITH HINTS ON THE STABLE_. - - BY - MRS. POWER O'DONOGHUE, - - AUTHOR OF - "LADIES ON HORSEBACK," "A BEGGAR ON HORSEBACK," ETC. - - _ILLUSTRATED BY A. CHANTREY CORBOULD._ - - LONDON: - W. THACKER & CO., 87, NEWGATE STREET - CALCUTTA: THACKER, SPINK, & CO. - BOMBAY: THACKER & CO. LIMITED. - 1887. - - LONDON: - PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, - STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS. - - - TO MY FRIEND - LADY GLOVER, - WIDOW OF THE LATE SIR JOHN HAWLEY GLOVER, R.N., G.C.M.G., - GOVERNOR OF NEWFOUNDLAND. - - _A SMALL TOKEN OF SYMPATHY, AFFECTION, - AND ESTEEM._ - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAP. PAGE - - INTRODUCTION xi - - I.--OUGHT CHILDREN TO RIDE 1 - - II.--FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN 11 - - III.--FIRST HINTS TO A LEARNER 24 - - IV.--SELECTING A MOUNT 32 - - V.--THE LADY'S DRESS ON HORSEBACK 43 - - VI.--THE LADY'S DRESS ON HORSEBACK--(_continued_) 54 - - VII.--BITTING 63 - - VIII.--SADDLING 81 - - IX.--"LEARNING TO RIDE"--HOW TO SIT, TO WALK, - TO CANTER, AND TO TROT 92 - - X.--REINS, VOICE, AND WHIP 105 - - XI.--RIDING ON THE ROAD 122 - - XII.--PACES, VICES, AND FAULTS 135 - - XIII.--A LESSON IN LEAPING 146 - - XIV.--MANAGING REFUSERS 158 - - XV.--FALLING 166 - - XVI.--HUNTING OUTFIT CONSIDERED 179 - - XVII.--ECONOMY IN RIDING DRESS 188 - - XVIII.--HACKS AND HUNTERS 203 - - XIX.--IN THE HUNTING-FIELD 217 - - XX.--SHOEING 231 - - XXI.--FEEDING 241 - - XXII.--STABLING 250 - - XXIII.--DOCTORING 262 - - XXIV.--BREEDING 280 - - XXV.--TRAINING 292 - - XXVI.--A BUDGET OF "TIPS" 307 - - INDEX 339 - -[Illustration] - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -The work to which these few lines are meant to form a preface does not -aspire to the dignity of containing anything resembling an exhaustive -treatise on each, or any of the numerous minor subjects connected with -the principal one of Equitation. It is simply a collection of useful -and practical hints on matters that pertain to the horse and his -management--no study of things abstruse being brought into requisition, -or any complicated theories put forward for guidance. The instructions -given are of the plainest and easiest description, and are the result -of an experience which has in some instances been rather dearly bought; -the experiments described have been duly tested, the recipes tried, the -systems explored, and the rules set forth rigidly investigated before -being recommended. - -The unexpected success which attended the publication of "Ladies on -Horseback" induced the Messrs. Ingram, proprietors of the _Lady's -Pictorial_, to commission me, some little time ago, to write for them -a set of articles of a prepared in part from very rough sketches made -by my own hand, I think I shall have said enough to form a suitable -"preliminary canter" to this volume, and may prepare to go up to the -starting-point, and begin my race. - -N. P. O'D. - -[Illustration: ASSISTING HIM. - -_See p. 175._] - - - - -A HORSE'S PETITION TO HIS OWNER. - - - Going up hill, Whip me not. - Going down hill, Hurry me not. - On level road, Spare me not. - Of hay and corn, Rob me not. - Of pure water, Stint me not. - Of fresh air, Deprive me not. - To damp bed, Subject me not. - With brush and sponge, Neglect me not. - Home from grass, Physic me not. - Tired or hot, Wash me not. - Sick or cold, Chill me not. - With bit and reins, Jerk me not. - When you are vexed, Strike me not. - When old and grey, Despise me not. - When past my labour, Work me not. - When sick and dying, Leave me not. - And, when dead-- - - FORGET ME NOT. - - - - -RIDING FOR LADIES. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -OUGHT CHILDREN TO RIDE? - -[Illustration] - - -The "Common Sense of Riding," which formed the title under which these -writings were first furnished to the public in the columns of a London -journal, supplied a fitting heading for the articles at the time, very -little concerning stable or general horse management being appended to -the instructions offered to equestrians. The expediency of adding to -the work formed a necessity for altering the title; but the original -one, if used here, would set forth precisely the manner in which I am -about to deal with the subject that I have taken in hand. - -To discard preamble, and plunge at once _in medias res_, is usually the -wisest and most common-sense manner of coming at and coping with the -difficulties surrounding crotchety questions: and surely one of the -foremost in the category of such is the often-heard inquiry, "How shall -I best learn to ride?" - -To offer instruction on any subject to persons who fancy they have no -need of it, is at all times mere waste of time and trouble. My remarks, -therefore--embracing, as it is meant they shall, a variety of matters -especially interesting to ladies--will be addressed throughout to those -only who really feel their need of friendly counsel, who are _anxious_ -to learn, and are willing to benefit by such hints and instructions as -my varied experiences of horses and horse-management enable me to give -them. - -Before entering fully upon my pleasant task, I would say that although -many men, and very many youths, may learn a useful lesson or two from -matters upon which I shall touch, or possibly deal with in detail, my -observations will be directed chiefly to _ladies_, my desire being to -take each separately, as it were, into my confidence, and speak to her -less as teacher to pupil than as friend to friend. - -It seems to me that to adopt the homely pronouns "you" and "I" will -be more convenient and concise than adhering to the stereotyped and -old-fashioned terms "the reader," and "the author"--modes of expression -which are as a rule unnecessarily formal, and most uncomfortably cold. -When, therefore, I begin my subject, I shall suppose that you are a -novice, with but a very shadowy idea of the subject on which you wish -to be enlightened; but when I say "novice," I do not necessarily mean -a child. Indeed, I hope that you are not one, for it is widely known -that I object very strongly to children riding, my reasons for doing so -being founded on the surest and most common-sense principles. The point -is one which has of late years led me into discussions with very many -high-class authorities on equitation, but I have never for a moment -swerved from my fixed opinions, and many of my keenest opponents have, -from time to time, ranged themselves on my side. - -It is indeed a matter of surprise to me that anybody possessed of even -moderate reasoning capacity can advocate infantile equestrianism. The -two arguments which defenders of it make their strong points, namely, -that it is "splendid exercise," and that it imparts a courage which is -beneficial in after life, can, while admitted, be counterbalanced by -so many genuine drawbacks and objections, that their boasted efficacy -runs considerable risk of being regarded as a thing of nought. Before, -however, dealing with the _con's_ of the case, let us take up the -_pro's_ in rotation. It is splendid exercise. Granted; but rolling hoop -is quite as good, while ball-playing, tennis, badminton, and every -other game that sets the blood in motion and calls the muscles into -active play, may be styled equally beneficial. All the advantages which -are derivable from exercise--and they are many--can be had without -riding; this is an admitted fact; and, being so, it serves to sweep -away suppositious inferences respecting the superiority of _equine_ -practice, or training, over that of any other sort. So much for the -oft-quoted plea of "exercise." - -With regard to the question of courage, it cannot be denied that a -certain and useful amount of _confidence_ is imparted to all young -persons who participate largely in pursuits which have a smack of -daring or danger about them. Watch, for example, the peasant girls who -inhabit the country districts of Ireland. They climb steep mountains, -descend jagged cliffs, run barefooted along sharp ledges and high -rugged walls, without thought of danger, or trace of fear. And why? -Because from childhood they have been accustomed to it. It goes, then, -without saying that early practice does impart an amount of bravado, -which may in later life be found useful on occasion; but, having -acknowledged this, I feel that I have done my entire duty towards -the advocates of a system to which I strongly object, and I shall, -therefore, proceed, in all fairness, to demolish their theories by a -clear and simple setting forth of the evils which are, in my opinion, -attendant upon early equestrian pursuits. - -Few persons will be found to dispute the fact that a child on -horseback, especially a girl, runs at least as many risks as a grown -person. She may at any moment be jerked off, run away with, overpowered -by the strength or temper of her mount, cannoned against by awkward -or reckless riders, or subjected to the unpleasantness of discovering -that the animal she herself is riding is given to slipping, stumbling, -falling completely under her, or behaving in some unseemly manner that -is entirely beyond her powers to check or control. To these dangers and -discomforts--as well as to many others with which equestrians, old and -young, are uncomfortably familiar--she is at all times liable to be -exposed, and, this being an admitted truth, I ask whether it can for -a moment be asserted that a child is as capable as an adult of coping -with such risks? The answer _must_ be "No." The perils are the same for -both--while the weaker side is absolutely unable to grapple with them -when they arise. I speak from experience, and strive to teach from it -also. Having been largely associated with juvenile riders, especially -in country parts of England, the knowledge which I have picked up from -_their_ absolute want of it has proved most fitting and serviceable -to me when offering hints and instructions to others of similar age. -Five years ago I had the unhappiness of seeing a pretty child who was -riding with me seriously hurt, through her horse falling under her -while traversing an extremely rutty road. He made what is called a -double stumble, and had her hands possessed the cunning, or her arms -the strength, to have pulled him together after he had made the first -blunder, he would undoubtedly not have gone down; but he was a slovenly -animal,--one that wanted "collecting" and keeping well in hand: two -things of which my tender little companion knew nothing whatever; nor -was she capable of putting them in practice, even had it been otherwise. - -About the same time I saw another bright-eyed little maiden run away -with over the "breezy downs." Her horse, fresh and frolicsome, started -with mine at a light canter, and for awhile we kept nicely together; -but presently--after a quarter of a mile or so--her mount began to romp -with his head, and finally breaking into a gallop, made off at terrific -speed, lashing the damp turf from beneath his flying hoofs, and laying -back his wicked ears until they rested flat upon his neck. I knew that -the youngster he was carrying had abundance of pluck, even without any -very distinct knowledge of the art of riding, so I shouted to her with -all my might to sit close and leave him his head (we were going up hill -at the time), and to give him the whip when he tired, which I knew he -very soon would do, with a long, heavy incline in front of him. I might -as well have spoken to the wind. Terror, and consciousness of her own -ignorance robbed the child of her wits: she gripped the pommel with her -right hand, tugged at the reins with her left, and, after swaying about -in a manner that makes me sick to think of, finally fell off, and was -picked up bruised and bleeding, and so entirely unnerved as to render -it a matter of extreme difficulty to persuade her ever to ride again. -As for the horse, he was not personally any the worse of his escapade, -but, having conquered his rider, he was ever afterwards rightfully -considered an unsafe animal for a lady to mount. - -I have seen children over and over again subjected to the most fearful -risks through riding horses that were too much for them. It is so -easy for a girl to be overpowered,--and, once she is so, good-bye for -ever to all or any pleasure in riding the animal who has been her -conqueror. He will always remember his victory, and presume upon it. - -Horses are not simpletons; their wisdom, on the contrary, is -astonishing. Allow them to vanquish you once, and they will pursue -their advantage to their lives' end. - -There are other reasons, also, on which I ground my objections to -children riding. Little girls are exceedingly apt to grow crooked. It -is all sheer nonsense to say "they will not if they _sit straight_," -inasmuch as young riders never do, as a rule, fall into the desired -method; or, if for awhile it is a thing accomplished, they very -speedily fall out of it again, when fatigue overpowers them, or the -groom has shortened their stirrup-leather too much, or when a large -amount of pressure upon it during a long ride has stretched it to an -uncomfortable length. It is the merest sophistry to argue that such -things _ought_ not to occur, seeing that they do, and are in fact -happening every day around us. One child out of five hundred may, -perhaps, be an habitual straight-sitter, but to counterbalance her -perfection in this particular, the remaining 499 will be either hanging -to one side or the other (usually the near, or left side), or sitting -square enough, it may be, yet with the right shoulder thrust forward -and upward, thus sowing the seeds of a deformity which in ten years' -time, when the little one of eight shall have grown into a belle of -eighteen, will have become an incurable disfigurement, one which all -the arts of the most skilful _modiste_ cannot by any possibility cover, -or the most seraphic charms of face and manner serve to put out of -sight. - -The frame of a child, even the most robust, is too weakly and -delicate--too liable to grow "out of form"--to render equestrian -exercise a fitting pursuit for persons of tender age. Nature has -not ruled that her frail handiwork shall be roughly or unfairly -strained, and when it is, the penalty is certain to follow, in -disarranged system, weakened or injured muscular development, misplaced -shoulder-blades, undue tension of the tendons of the left leg--or -contraction of them, which is worse--accompanied by an unnatural -languor and a constant craving for permission "to go and lie down," -which, in so many cases, children are observed to manifest. - -The absurd assertion that no girl can excel as a horsewoman unless -she begins to practise the art when a child has been so often and -substantially refuted that to attempt further contradiction of it -would be merely to entail loss of time. Suffice it to say that some of -the finest equestrians the world has ever produced have been entirely -ignorant of riding until after their arrival at womanhood, or, at all -events, until childish days had been left far in the rear. Of these a -foreign Empress is a noteworthy example, while many others, whose names -in park and hunting-field are familiar as household words, might go to -swell the list. - -"Well, but really"--I fancy I hear some unconvinced matron saying--"I -cannot see that my children are anything the worse for riding every -day. I myself rode when I was their age, and it never seemed to do me -any harm." Granted, madam; but question yourself, whether you have a -right, because _you_ have had the good fortune to escape the evils -usually consequent upon a prejudicial system, to encourage your -offspring to go in the way of contracting them. As well might you boast -of having escaped contagion during an attendance on a fever patient, -and then (presuming on your own lucky chance) thrust your children -deliberately into an infected house. No; if you are a wise parent, or -guardian, advocate early instruction in pianoforte-playing and its -study, also in drawing, painting, and such branches of education as -will expand and benefit the understanding, without unduly straining -the yet undeveloped resources of the body; encourage likewise such -exercises as are of a healthful and suitable nature--but compel the -young folks of whom you have charge to leave riding alone, at all -events until the fourteenth year has been well got over: because, -just as in singing the vocal organs are weak, and the voice apt to -alter and break about that period (which is the case with girls as -with boys, although very many fail to know or believe it), so, in like -manner, the frame of a young girl is delicate and unstrung, and is -absolutely _incapable_ of enduring strain or fatigue without incurring -consequences which, even if not made much account of at the time, will -most likely in after life cause themselves to be dismally felt. - -About fifteen, or from that to twenty, is an excellent time for a -girl to learn to ride--by which I mean that she ought not to attempt -it before the first-mentioned age while the last will not be one -whit too late. Boys may begin whenever they choose; their position -on horseback obviates the possibility of growing shoulder-crooked, -while custom which enables them to ride with a leg on each side of -the saddle, equalises their seat, and fairly distributes the amount -of _stress_ which pressure on the stirrups entails upon both nether -limbs. Moreover, they are infinitely stronger, even from babyhood--can -bear any amount of knocking about, and so far from being injured by an -occasional spill or two, are immensely benefited by making moderate -acquaintance with mother earth. It is not so with girls, and around -them all my sympathies entwine. - -[Illustration: CONQUERED HIS RIDER.] - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN. - - -It is a rare thing to take up a cookery book in which the reader is -not solemnly warned against the evils attendant upon frying chops and -steaks in the pan, the deterrent paragraph usually winding up with: -"Nevertheless, for the benefit of those who will not be brought to -acknowledge the superiority of the gridiron as a cooking utensil, we -append a few instructions." It is as though the writer of the volume -meant solemnly to say, "I have told you how to avoid the horrors of -dyspepsia; but, if you _will_ go in for them, I may as well show you -the least objectionable way of doing it." - -On this principle, or something bearing a close resemblance to it, I -have, as in duty bound, made known my objections to girls of immature -age being permitted to indulge in equestrian exercise; and having -eased my conscience by doing so, I shall lay down a few rules for the -guidance of those who pay no heed to friendly warnings, but prefer -taking their own way, and who, in short, _will_ have the pan, in -preference to the gridiron. - -First, then, I will surmise that the child to be instructed is at -least five years old. There are, I am aware, mothers of families -who actually put their infant children into panniers, because they -"look pretty" in them, and send them out on ponies for an hour's -jolting, with their poor little heads bobbing pitifully about, and -brain and spine alike suffering from the so-called exercise. There -are fathers, too, who think that their boys ought to ride before they -are well capable of walking, and who in consequence of this belief -clap them on to wide-backed, rough-actioned animals, regardless of the -dangers to which, by so doing, they are exposing the feeble frames of -their hapless offspring. To aid such persons by offering any sort of -instruction as a help to their objectionable practices would be like -assisting at a murder, or showing a torturer how to get on with his -work. - -I was choosing some articles at the establishment of a fashionable -saddler a short time ago, when the proprietor stepped forward and -requested me to look at an instrument (I can call it by no other name) -which he had just completed to order. It was a child's saddle, with -a contrivance not unlike a brazier, arising from the centre of it, -well furnished with padding and straps. This unique appliance was, -it appeared, the invention of the father of the unfortunate infant -for whose benefit it had been manufactured, and his pride in its -appearance, and in his own cleverness, was quite unbounded. Determined -that his son, aged three, should begin his lessons in horsemanship at -that early period of life, and resolved to secure him from tumbling -off (the only thing in the shape of danger to which he gave a moment's -thought), he conceived the idea of buckling the infant into the -"brazier," which was meant to come right up under the armpits, and by -this means avert all possibility of a fall. It had apparently never -struck this intelligent inventor of curiosities that the _pony_ might -fall as well as the boy, and that if it did, the little rider could -scarcely fail to be seriously if not fatally injured, owing to the -impossibility of his falling clear of the prostrate animal. - -If a child of tender years _must_ ride, by order of an ill-judging -parent or caretaker, let it do so upon a safety-pad, fitted with a -well-stuffed back, in order to prevent that of the child from becoming -fatigued by remaining too long unsupported. - -The pad-pony should be a light, elastic walker, and of necessity -perfectly docile and quiet. He must, of course, be led: his paces -being properly regulated, and his head kept quite straight. A good -contrivance for this--and indeed for leading any description of -horse--is a stout bamboo cane, fitted with a swivel snaphook. - -The pad-pony should be ridden with a mild snaffle bridle, with loops -somewhat large--and I am a great advocate for _flap-reins_: by which I -mean a straight but not over-tightened band, extending from the flap of -the saddle to the loop or ring of the bit, on either side--an admirable -contrivance, which keeps the pony's head in position, and also serves -as a check against restiveness or starting. The girths should be broad -and strong, and not too slack, and the pad should be made without a -tree, and be composed of some soft roughened material, ornamented or -not--according to fancy, and the outlay to be involved in the matter. - -The advantage of having a strap in front is apparent for a very young -child. It should, however, be used _only_ when the pony is led, and -when he cannot therefore possibly make off or fall down. In such -case, and such only, it may be approved, inasmuch as it imparts a -certain amount of confidence to an infant learner, and is likewise of -assistance in ensuring an upright seat; but I should like to see it -discontinued after the first few lessons, and the back of the pad also -removed when a trifle more experience has been gained. - -[Illustration: PONY WITH FLAP-REINS.] - -About eight years old is the very earliest age at which a girl should, -under any circumstances, be permitted to ride on a side-saddle, or -to mount the back of an unled animal. I prefer a small horse to a -pony for the initiatory lessons, as being generally better paced and -better broken. The child should not at first be allowed to touch the -bridle at all. She should sit perfectly square and erect, her figure -well balanced, her shoulders thrown back, and her arms folded upon -her breast, while an attendant walks alongside her horse and keeps -his paces evenly regulated. This is the correct method of teaching a -child how to ride _from balance_,--an accomplishment most desirable -for every class of rider. The ordinary fashion of putting a little one -up, and giving her the reins to hold on by, is about as efficient a -plan of instruction as teaching the same child to play the piano by ear -only--thus ignoring the very first principles of the art--or running-up -a building without laying a foundation-stone. Circus-children, the -most beautiful balance-riders in the world, are taught to ride at -first without ever touching the reins; and nothing else that could be -suggested would ever be capable of giving the same firmness of seat. - -If the learner be a boy, he should be taught his first lessons without -stirrups; but I would not deny the assistance of such support to a -little girl, as her position on the saddle would otherwise entail much -extra fatigue upon the left leg. Be it understood, however, that the -stirrup should be taken away after the first few lessons, and the child -be instructed to ride for at least an hour a day without any such aid; -otherwise she will trust to it, when riding, for the remainder of her -life, and to ride _from_ the stirrup is one of the most objectionable -practices into which a young person can possibly fall. - -When a firm and even seat has been obtained, without the help of reins -or stirrup, the former (of the very lightest description, and _single_) -may be entrusted to the little learner's hands, but the flap-reins must -not by any means be discarded. - -[Illustration: YOUNG CHILD'S SADDLE.] - -When the child is perfectly at home on her horse, and has learned to -treat his mouth with the utmost gentleness, and not on any account -to pull at the bridle, a canter may be indulged in, by the attendant -attaching a long rein to a cavesson and urging the horse to a gentle -pace, making him lead _always_ with the right leg, and pulling him up -directly he changes to the left. The child should be most carefully -watched during the exercise, and any tendency to hang over on one side -or the other, or to lift one shoulder, or poke the neck, be at once -checked. - -The saddle should be level-seated--covered with buckskin, for a -beginner--and should have no off-pommel. This latter appendage is -happily almost obsolete, except with the most old-fashioned saddles, -and is entirely unnecessary, as well as unsightly, for it affords no -additional safety to the rider, and youthful learners are especially -apt to lay hold upon it in any imaginary danger--an excessively bad -practice to acquire. - -As the term "level seat" applied to side saddles may not be generally -understood, I will give a few words of explanation:--The ordinary -side saddle, being made with the arch of the tree raised to clear the -withers, is necessarily much higher in front than behind, and as a -consequence the knee is thrown up in a cramped and fatiguing position; -it is difficult thus to keep the figure erect, an aching back ensues -to the rider, and frequently torture to the horse. The level-seated -saddle has the steel front-part cut quite away over the withers, and -replaced by a pad of soft leather, giving that horizontal shape from -front to rear so much desired, yet so seldom found. These saddles were -introduced and perfected by Messrs. Nicholls and Co., of 2, Jermyn -Street, London, who have carefully studied the comfort of both horse -and rider, and assisted by the experience and suggestions of that -well-known authority, Mr. Wilson of Albington Manor, late master of the -Vale of White Horse Hounds, have produced really admirable side saddles. - -Trotting must be taught when the pupil has been perfected in the -canter. It is not an easy thing either to teach or learn, but I shall -come at the principles of it by-and-by. Trotting should be practised -on soft, springy ground, never on a road, and the horse on which the -lessons are taken should be very light of action, and of _even paces_. -Otherwise, the punishment to the learner will be great, and the -teacher's difficulties equally trying. - -Little girls learning to ride should be dressed in neat skirts, just -long enough to cover the feet; loose-fitting jackets--(jerseys are -excellent)--hair left flowing, never fastened up; and soft hats or -caps, _well_ secured under the chin, in such a manner as to prevent -the possibility of their coming off. Whips should not on any account -be allowed until some degree of proficiency has been attained, and the -proper use of them should then be strictly pointed out, and as strictly -adhered to. With this matter I shall likewise hereafter deal, as also -with the question of spurs--articles which, I may here observe, should -never, under _any_ pretext whatever, be granted for children's use. - -A child should be taught to mount her horse with ease when assisted, -as also the expediency of being able to do so without any help at -all: this latter by simply letting down the stirrup-leather--taking -it up, of course, to the required length, or rather shortness, when -seated securely on the saddle. She should likewise practice dismounting -without assistance. No active child should ever think of requiring a -helping hand. To lift the right leg deftly over the up-crutch, take -the left foot from the stirrup, gather the skirt well together with -the right hand--making certain that no portion of it is in any way -caught upon the pommels--and then to jump lightly down, is the proper -method of dismounting. To be lifted--except for very young pupils--is -extremely babyish. - -How long a child should be permitted to ride at a stretch is a question -very often asked me, and one to which I find some difficulty in giving -a satisfactory reply. Some children are strong, and can both endure -and enjoy an amount of exercise that would knock a delicate child -completely up. Again, some are passionately fond of the art, while -others care but little about it, and (as is well known) the things -that one likes are seldom liable to cause fatigue, except when carried -beyond the ordinary limits of moderation. - -The counsel I would give is this: Watch carefully for any sign of -lassitude, or display of weariness on the part of the pupil, and stop -the riding as soon as such appears. What I mean to convey is, that if -a child complains of feeling tired during her lesson, she should at -once be permitted to dismount; or if after, say, an hour's ride on the -road she is conscious of fatigue, the time should on the next occasion -be shortened to three-quarters, or even to half, and subsequently -increased, according as the pupil gains experience and strength. - -Nothing should be left undone to inspire confidence in the breast of a -child-rider. Her mount should be the gentlest, her teacher the kindest, -all her appliances (saddle, &c.) new, comfortable, and reliable. -Girths that are apt to break, for instance, give a child uncomfortable -impressions,--and early ideas or opinions on _any_ subject are certain -to influence the entire of the later life. Be it remembered, however, -that although everything should be done to make the youthful learner -feel at ease, while striving at the same time to impart proficiency, -no approach to self-conceit, or desire to "show off," should be for an -instant encouraged. Modesty of demeanour is quite as charming out of -doors as within. The child who pays attention to her seat, her hands, -her horse--in short, to what she is doing--will make a better and more -reliable horsewoman (even though she may be awkward at first) than will -she who looks about for admiration, while neglecting the principles -on which she has been taught. It is like the plodding student and -the flippant-tongued. One will answer every question with tolerable -smartness, out of the shallow depths of a superficial knowledge, while -the other, though missing, may nevertheless be engaged in laying up a -store of learning, which will in after life stand her in good stead. - -[Illustration: "PLEADER" AND HIS MISTRESS. - -_page 21._] - -Now, a word specially addressed to children, and I shall close my -chapter. Be uniformly kind to animals, especially to the horses that -carry you. Let humanity be a portion of your religion. Discipline, -properly exercised, is just and right, and is as far removed from -_cruelty_ as is light from darkness, or bitter from sweet; but, hand -in hand with it, _gentleness_ should ever go. A hasty temper will -induce cutting with the whip, dragging with the bridle, kicking or -rasping with the heel, and uttering rough words, which, although not -thoroughly understood by the animal, yet carry a tone with them which -has a meaning for him of no pleasurable sort. On the other hand, a -child of cold and dogged disposition will take its turn out of the -willing slave at its command, and think no more about it than if it -were a mere machine. This is pitiably wrong. You, _as_ a child, ought -to teach your horses to love you. You _can_ do so, and it is well worth -the time employed in the pursuit. I need not tell you how to do it: -instinct will teach you. There are a thousand little ways and means, -all of which you can try. For instance, always pet your horse in his -stall, and when saddled for your use; make much of him when you are on -his back, patting his neck, and stroking him gently with your hand, -speaking soothingly to him all the while. Accustom him to the sound -of your voice; give him scraps of bread, sugar, apple, or carrot when -you dismount, or while he waits for you at the door; and when you do -this, allow him to take the morsel quietly off the palm of your hand, -not showing any fear; he will not bite you, if he is fit to be your -pet. You should never offer him a bit between your fingers, or pull -your hand away before he has taken the morsel up. This will, or at -least _may_, induce him to snap: just as it would provoke a dog to do, -if tantalised. You can feed him, too, if you like, when seated on his -back; there is nothing more charming than sympathy between the human -and the brute creation. Horse and rider should be on the best of terms, -and all will then go right. - -In a former work of mine on equitation, I made repeated mention of -a hunter I once possessed, called "Pleader." I gave him that name -because his sire was "The Lawyer," a very famous horse. "Pleader" and -his mistress were on the most affectionate terms--brother and sister -we were, that horse and I; certainly no two ever loved one another -better--and this despite the fact that I had given him many a good -whipping, for I trained him myself, and he was a rare hard one to bring -to his manners; but he knew quite as well as I did that it was for his -good, and so he loved me none the less. I rode him subsequently to -hounds for three seasons, without ever giving him so much as a warning -touch. When we fell together--and how often we did!--he waited for me -to get up; and when he was the first on his legs, although trembling -with excitement to scurry away with the rest, he would stand patiently -for me to remount him. That horse's training was not thrown away. He -carried me in the first flight through two long and trying runs, the -very day previous to that on which I met the accident that deprived -me of the power of ever riding him again, and he is now carrying in -similar splendid style a noble and popular master of hounds, the Earl -of Eglinton and Winton, gaining honourable mention in the _Field_ and -other sporting papers. I sold him to a good master and a good home, and -when he shall have finished his work (if I am spared to see it) he has -been promised to me again, that the last of his days may be spent in -quiet happy idleness, and that the hands that trained him may lay him -to his rest. - -I have spoken thus of "Pleader," not altogether because I love him so -dearly, as to encourage my young readers to make much of the animals -that carry them, and to establish a bond of _mutual sympathy_, which is -as beautiful as it is good. The greatest horsewoman in the world, Her -Imperial Majesty the Empress of Austria, frequently feeds her horses -with bread or biscuit while seated upon their backs. She is one of the -rare few who seem to grasp the meaning of that peculiar "sympathy" -of which I have spoken, and which is indeed so very difficult to -understand. - - "There are mysteries deep that we cannot unravel, - And bonds of affinity ever unguess'd, - While the Road to RESEARCH is a hard one to travel, - And many's the query, and weary the quest. - There are circuits of THOUGHT, growing fainter and wider, - Like circles in water when pebbles are thrown, - _And the links that exist 'twixt the horse and his rider, - Our shallow philosophy never has known._" - -[Illustration: "THE PONY MIGHT FALL AS WELL AS THE BOY."] - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -FIRST HINTS TO A LEARNER. - - -Having already pointed out my objections to children's riding, and -appended a chapter of instructions for the benefit of those whose -prejudices in favour of it will not be overruled, I shall in the -present one assume that you, my reader, are not a child in years, -although you may be one in experience. Surmising, then, that I am -addressing a young lady of sixteen, or thereabouts--although the fact -of your being much older will not in any way tell against you--the -first point for consideration will be, whether you are resident in town -or country. If the former, or that you even come up for a temporary -visit now and again, the wisest counsel that I can give you will -be to place yourself under the care of the very best riding-master -within reach of you, being careful to select one according to reliable -recommendation, for some are as incompetent as others are the reverse. -I shall not occupy space or provoke jealousies by naming any in -particular, but shall here take occasion to say, that readers desirous -of receiving private hints or information on any subject strictly -connected with horses, riding, or stable-management, can receive such -by addressing their inquiries to me, care of my publishers, by whom -all communications will be at once sent forward. This plan I have -found to work very well upon former occasions, a few rules being of -necessity laid down. For example: ask all questions as briefly as -possible; write clearly; do not cross your letters; and wait patiently -for answers, accepting the assurance that no unnecessary delay will be -made. - -Having, then, advised you, if a city belle, to secure the services of a -competent riding-master (though it shall be my aim by-and-by to teach -you how to ride very well without one), I would follow up this counsel -by saying, when you do so, leave yourself entirely in his hands, and do -precisely what he tells you. This is not by any means an unnecessary -admonition, for at least one-half the awkward riders whose deficiencies -pain our critical eyes in the Row and elsewhere, have learned in -good schools, but have been too wilful, or too conceited, to give up -their own entirely erroneous ideas on certain subjects connected with -equitation, and, as a consequence, failure--not to say fiasco--has of -course followed. - -It is precisely the same with regard to every other art. The pupil -should submit her own opinions to those of her teacher. If he is not -competent to instruct her, why go to him at all? And, on the other -hand, if he is, why not follow his advice? - -To illustrate my meaning: I rode with a girl, one day, to a meet of -hounds at Courtown Gate--starting from Kilcock Station, to which point -we had railed our horses from Dublin, and trotting the two miles, -or thereabouts, at a brisk pace, for we were a trifle behind time. -From the moment that we settled in our saddles, until we saw the -tails of the "beauties" in full wag at the entrance to Capt. Davis's -demesne, that girl never for an instant removed her left hand from -her thigh--(pardon plain speaking; it was neither on her hip nor her -knee that she placed it when we started), the fingers pointing in the -direction of the up-pommel, causing, of course, the elbow to be shot -out entirely from the side, the joint turning outwards in singularly -ugly fashion. Should any of my readers have a desire to picture to -themselves this position, with more clearness than words--or lack of -them--have enabled me to depict it, they have only to seat themselves -for a moment upon a make-believe horse, and adopt the pose which I have -just described. I wish they _would_ do it; it would be an excellent -future warning. As I had a tolerably close acquaintance with the -young lady--who had, I was aware, been taught by a really first-rate -master--I ventured upon asking her whether the peculiarity on which she -seemed to pride herself had met with his approval? - -"Oh, dear, no!" she replied. "Old _Prosey_ liked me to put both hands -to the bridle, or if only one, the left; but I like this style myself; -it's so _chic_!" - -I was not her teacher, nor did she inquire my opinion,--in fact she -would in all probability have dubbed _me_ "Old Prosey" also, had -I offered one; so I wisely kept silent--and no doubt my companion -believed that I was admiring her original attitude very much, for she -rather intensified it as we proceeded, and took care to canter _in -advance_ of me, whenever we came to a patch of grass by the roadside, -as though to give me full opportunity for feasting my eyes upon her -figure. - -Ah me! How often have I seen the same thing since that well-remembered -day; seen it--been sorry for it--and yet smiled to myself because of -the vanity and the folly. Would that we all--each one of us--could "see -ourselves as others see us!" but, unfortunately, we never can. - -To return, however, to the subject-matter in hand. - -Should it happen that you are chiefly resident in the country, or that -you enjoy the luxury of complete immunity from city life for even a -portion of the year, defer riding until that time of times comes round, -and then _teach yourself_, by simply following a trustworthy code of -instructions laid down by some reliable authority. - -This may sound as though I had, after all, but little real faith -in riding-masters. It is certainly not so meant. I would not for a -passing moment cast the smallest slur upon a painstaking and often -much-maligned body of men, many of whom are capable of bringing a pupil -forward in an almost marvellous manner, by the excellence of their -method, and that ready observance of so-called "trifles," in other -words, a quick eye, and rapid detection of anything that is amiss, -which are the riding-master's most valuable attributes. Nevertheless, -despite the good opinion in which I hold many instructors of the -art, I am a very strong believer in the efficacy of self-help, and -just as a novice at skating will, in spite of many sore falls and -painful bruises, acquire skill if left to himself, long in advance -of his brother-learner who is trusting to somebody to bring him -along (being pretty certain to come down with a run whenever that -"somebody" considers it expedient to let go), so, in like manner, I -shall be ready to back my pupil, although I may never have seen her, -to hold her position across country, in the park, by lane, street, or -roadway, against the city demoiselle, who in a fashionable school has -been taught to ride upon a carpet of tan, and who would be as much at -sea in a crowded thoroughfare, or endeavouring to cross an intricate -hunting-country, as an inexperienced vocalist would be if called upon -to interpret the difficulties of Wagner or Bach. - -Let me here especially impress upon you that, if you value your -prospects as a future good rider, you should not suffer anything to -induce you to accept the services as instructor of John the coachman, -or James the groom. It is lamentable to see the manner in which parents -and guardians of the present day give up the teaching of their charges -to this class of persons, not one of whom has any more idea of how a -lady ought to manage a horse, than of instructing her in the etiquette -of the dinner-table, or the intricacies of the valse. On the evils of -the system, I need not now enlarge; they ought to be apparent to even -the most obtuse; suffice it to say, that fathers and mothers who permit -their daughters to be taught by studgrooms ought not to wonder when -these personages impart another and different style of knowledge to the -pupils whom they have been unwisely privileged to instruct. - -To provide yourself with a suitable horse will be the first thing -necessary. It is a cruel injustice to a pupil for a master to expect -her to learn upon any chance animal that may happen to come in her -way. Never attempt such a thing. Respect your rights, and exercise -your privilege by selecting an appropriate mount. If it is not within -your power to do so at the time, put off your practice until it is. I -cannot sufficiently urge upon you the importance of this advice. It -is the very direst mistake for a beginner to attempt to learn upon -an indifferent animal. Bear in mind that first impressions are never -forgotten, that you will take all your future ideas of riding from -the sensations which you derive from your elementary practice of the -art, and, believe me, if you make your opening venture upon the back -of a happy-go-lucky beast, one who is sometimes well-conducted, but -oftener not, or who shies, or goes upon his shoulders, or indulges in -cross-legged movements, or throws up his head, or bores (which is a -still more objectionable habit), or if you are called upon to gain your -first experience upon a rough trotter, or a loose galloper, who, to use -a stable term, goes "slummucking" all over the place, you will care but -little for riding during the remainder of your life. The discomforts -which such things entail will dwell unpleasantly in your memory, and -in fact create an ineffaceable impression; so much so, that even if, -later on, you happen to be suitably mounted, a long time will have to -elapse before those early impressions can be eradicated, or induced to -fade even partially away, and a still longer one will go by before you -can acquire that _confidence_ which is one of the first and chiefest -necessities of a good and easy rider. - -While on this subject, I may say that a timid horsewoman will never be -a successful one. She may just as well give up the pursuit at once, -for her rides will always be a punishment to her. With some, timidity -is a natural weakness which cannot be got over, but with the majority -it is the result of early impressions--an uncomfortable, unfading -recollection of having learnt upon an unsuitable mount. - -To illustrate what I say: most children are fond of driving, because -they have never associated the pastime with other than pleasurable -sensations. Neither risk nor discomfort is, as a rule, connected with -the simple carriage exercise to which so many young persons are from -babyhood accustomed; but, give a child his first experience of it by -driving him in an open phaeton, behind a shying, kicking, or backing -horse--one that winds up a long list of vagaries by spilling the -vehicle and its occupants into an unpleasant dyke, and if that child -does not carry his primary impressions through many a long course of -after drives, I am a less sapient observer of human nature than I am -generally accredited with being. - -A lady's horse, to be suitable, should be perfect in temper and -training. Beauty may be dispensed with, decided acquisition though -it undoubtedly is, but disposition and education may not. They are -absolute necessities which cannot be done without, although a really -_skilled_ horsewoman may, without undue risk, ride any animal that is -fit for a man to ride, provided he be not fidgetty in mounting, or a -decidedly hard-mouthed puller: two points with which I shall have to -deal by-and-by. - -[Illustration: AN "ORIGINAL" ATTITUDE.] - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -SELECTING A MOUNT. - - -The purchase of a saddle horse requires a grave amount of -consideration, especially as ignorant persons are apt to think that -"anything will do for a beginner." Every second person to whom you -make known your requirement will be ready to put you in the way of -securing "the nicest little horse in the world." Gentlemen friends from -every quarter will have something cut and dried for you to invest in; -amateur dealers will persecute you; professionals will harry your life -out; John, the coachman, will make himself odious by recommending some -highly undesirable animal and stolidly determining to see no virtue in -any other. You won't know at first what his object can possibly be, but -by-and-by you will find out that he and the owner of the property have -come to an agreement concerning a certain little "tip" to be made over -to John, in the event of his inducing you to become the possessor of -the decided acquisition in horseflesh on which his own affections are -set; and then, when you decline to be victimised, John will assume a -stony appearance, and obstinately refuse to be interested in any other -purchase. - -You should be slow to select a horse, with a view to buying him, -unless you can command the aid of a competent and disinterested judge. -Do not take the _onus_ upon yourself, for I grieve to say there is not -any species of trade in which there is so much dishonesty and such a -terrible amount of deception. If, however, you should happen to be -thrown altogether upon your own resources, act thus (or get some one -to do it for you): Go to the most respectable of the trade; it is your -best safeguard. In former times, men like Scott and Anderson were so -far above suspicion that the veriest tyro was safe in their hands. -There are others of the present day of whom the same may be said. Find -out one of them, tell him to what price you can go, and see _the best_ -that he can give you for it. If he happens to have what pleases you in -price and appearance, get the animal examined by a reliable veterinary -surgeon, and ask for a trial. Buy nothing without it. If refused, rest -assured that something is amiss. Dealers and grooms, even the honestest -of them, have ways of their own for pulling horses together, and making -them step up and show themselves: ay, and for covering their defects, -too, of which ladies, as a rule, know nothing at all. Therefore, when -you fix upon an animal, get him _ridden_ by a friend on whose judgment -you can rely,--not in a hurried manner, in the dealer's yard, but -for an hour or so upon the road--and also for a turn upon grass. A -correct opinion can then, but not otherwise, be formed concerning his -paces, and the amount of training and discipline to which he has been -subjected. - -A lady's horse should, as I have said, possess perfect manners. If he -romps with his head, pulls heavily against the hand, leans weightily -upon the bit, crosses his legs, goes clumsily upon his shoulders, or, -in short, renders his rider in any way uncomfortable or unsafe, he is -as unsuitable for you as though he were addicted to some actual vice. -To be brief, he is not fitted for his office. - -If, on the contrary, he can be ridden upon grass with a common snaffle -and a single rein--not pulling, and going well up to his bridle--the -making of his mouth has at least been properly attended to; he is fit -to be a lady's horse. I do not consider that any animal is so who -requires a curb; but the subject of bitting is of too great importance -to be merely touched upon here. I shall give some practical advice -about it in a future chapter. - -In the event of your purchasing a horse from a friend, adopt precisely -the same rules as though buying him from a dealer, unless the animal -be one with whom you are perfectly well acquainted. In such a case -his price will be the only question; but if there is nothing amiss -with him, and your friend is a person of honesty and good sense, -he will freely grant you both a trial and an opinion, and will be -rather pleased than otherwise that you should demand them, as the -responsibility of the sale will then be lifted from his shoulders. - -In selecting a horse, discard anything that is too large. A lady who -is not a welter-weight does not require a weight-carrier, nor does she -look well upon one either. See that he has good fore-legs, and has not -any tendency to being what is termed "over at the knees," for if he -has an inclination that way he will be very likely to come down, and a -sure-footed horse is positively essential to the comfort and safety of -a lady rider. Bent knees denote a weakness of the muscles and tendons -of the back of the leg, and are therefore to be reckoned as fatal to -a roadster, although, strange to say, they are not thought nearly so -objectionable in a racer, his price being in some instances not very -materially lessened by them. This is owing to the fact that in the -gallop they do not tell against an animal, while in the trot they do, -very materially. "Diamond," who was, some years ago, the winner of many -important races, was so marred in appearance by this defect, that when -standing still he always looked ready to topple over upon his knees; -yet sportsmen know what a brilliant cross-country performer he was, -and what a price Joe Anderson--dear old man! still living, and hearty, -though deaf as any post--gave for him after his win at La Marche. - -I have not the objection that most persons have to a hollow-backed -horse, especially when designed to carry a lady's saddle. It is -infinitely preferable to anything approaching a roach-back, and animals -distinguished by it are, strange to say, generally possessed of a -variety of excellent points--extreme good temper and docility being -among the most prominent. An unduly marked sinking of the spine is -certainly not to be desired, but an animal who has what grooms term "a -touch of a dip," need not on any account be rejected for it. - -A wise purchaser will always make a careful examination of the angles -of the lips. A decided hardness about them, although an unfavourable -symptom, need not condemn the animal; it may have been occasioned by -abuse of the bit, or by the use of an improper one. A cicatrix on the -mouth is a defect, as showing that the true skin has been removed from -its place, and if a decided induration, or anything like a lump can be -felt in the vicinity of it, evidence is afforded that the animal is a -puller. He ought not to be purchased for a lady's use. - -[Illustration: A NATURAL AND AN UPRIGHT PASTERN.] - -A good foot is an indispensable adjunct. I am not in favour of over -long, or excessively sloping pasterns, although they are preferable to -those that are either too much shortened, or unduly _upright_. Where -the latter defect exists, it indicates, in my opinion, a thickening -and rigidity of the flexor muscles, and produces an unsafe method of -planting the feet, particularly in walking. A light, supple pliant -pastern is a great beauty. I have often watched a thoroughbred racer -trotting over turf. The fetlock actually _tips the ground_, or seems to -do so, at every step, and if elasticity and slenderness of this portion -of a horse's anatomy were to be regarded as indications of weakness, -very few finely-bred animals would ever pass the post at all. - -[Illustration: HOOFS.] - -Strong _high_ hoofs, with broad, firm, well-shaped heels, are most -desirable; though I know that in saying this I am challenging a large -array of contrary opinions. I have heard many persons found their -liking for low hoofs on the ground that an excess of horny substance -checks expansion, and pinches the internal substance. This is, with -all due respect, a fallacy. The hoof _cannot_ press upon or injure the -internal portion of the foot, any more than a well-developed skull -can bruise or hamper the healthy brain which it has been created to -protect. I cannot believe in the excellence of short, straight hoofs, -with narrow heels, nor can I forego my opinion, although once or twice -I have had to fight for it, that the best bred and safest horses have -their feet standing close together, with the toes pointing _forwards_, -in preference to a tendency to point either outwardly or in. The leg -should be straight and firm, the knee-joint flat and broad, the shin -hard, the forearm lengthy, and the limbs large and well-developed -where they emerge from, or rather join, the trunk. The thorax should -be wide; a narrow one is invariably accompanied by low withers (a -great defect), and by upright shoulders, which is another. As it is, -moreover, sacred to the purposes of respiration and circulation, its -proper dimensions should be regarded as an all-important point. - -A nice horse, in colour, for a lady to ride is a dark chestnut or -bay. Browns and blacks are generally serviceable also, but greys and -roans are objectionable, owing to the hairs coming off upon the habit. -About fifteen-two is a good height for a horse which is to carry -a rider of average proportions. He should have well-set _sloping_ -shoulders--oblique pasterns--clean, shapely legs--firm feet--and long, -easy, _swinging_ action, which is vastly better and more comfortable -than that chin-knocking motion which lovers of what is showy run after -and affect. The lady's horse should carry his head handsomely, being -neither a star-gazer nor a borer, and his back should be somewhat -longer than might be thought altogether desirable in a horse intended -for a man to ride, in order to give ample room for the side-saddle. -He should have a moderately high forehand, be firm and flexible in -all his movements, and be at least 20 lb. above the weight he is -meant to carry; by which I mean that if you are, say, 8-1/2 st., or -from that to 9 st., and that your saddle and appurtenances (including -your riding gear) weigh 2 st. extra, or a trifle over, you should -select for your use an animal well up to 13 st. or thereabouts. To -overweight a horse is both cruel and unwise, especially when a lady is -the aggressor--which sounds strange, as female equestrians generally -ride with tolerably light hands, and rarely stop out for any great -length of time together, except on particular occasions. Nevertheless, -their position on horseback, sitting far back and in a side attitude, -entails a good deal of additional fatigue upon an animal; nor has -the lady's horse the advantage (a great one) which pertains to that -of a man--namely, being eased now and again by the rider standing in -the stirrups when galloping, or jumping off for a moment or two when -opportunity offers. - -[Illustration] - -I have always thought it a pity that ladies do not select their saddle -horses with a view to their being somewhat in keeping with their own -style of appearance. It would be an immense advantage if they did. -A slender, willowy figure will always look best on a light-limbed -animal--one of spirit and breeding, full of quality, and as nearly as -possible thoroughbred--whereas a rider of more matronly build should -select an animal of medium height, with broad, strong back, powerful -quarters, big, healthy hocks, and stoutly-built forelegs. She will look -infinitely better on him, and be more safely carried, than if mounted -upon a slender weed. - -So much for appearance. Now a brief word about other matters. - -Do not buy a horse that is not a good walker, however perfect he may -seem to be in other respects. I have always attached great importance -to an animal's walking powers. It is a pace more generally adopted than -any other when out for a pleasure ride, and if you really want to enjoy -this last-named recreation, have nothing to do with an indifferent -walker, though he be offered you for a song. - -About four and a half miles an hour is a good walking pace--excellent, -indeed, when _leaving_ stable. The horse that accomplishes it will -generally walk at the rate of five miles an hour when coming home. A -good walker will neither stumble, drop, shuffle, nor break. Everybody -knows what the first and third mentioned of these defects signify. -"Dropping" is a most uncomfortable fault: a sort of inclination to -_duck downwards_ in front, or indeed more generally with the hinder -part of the body. Few young horses that are not overweighted are apt to -do it, and when they do, it is a sign of weakness of the muscles; they -are unsafe to ride. "Breaking" is an inclination to get into a canter, -or trot, and is one of the symptoms of defective training. I like to -see a horse walk steadily down hill, with head well up, and feet firmly -planted. It is an excellent test. - -"Brushing" is a dangerous drawback, and so is "cutting." The first -means striking one ankle against the other: the second is hitting the -shoe against the other leg--a practice which involves considerable -wounding and bleeding. Fast trotters frequently do it--therefore, if -selecting one, look out for its signs. A horse that cuts or brushes -with the _fore_-legs is thoroughly unfit for saddle use: he may come -down like a shot at any moment. - -The training of a lady's horse should render him steady in every -respect: perfectly quiet to mount, light mouthed, and ready to obey the -smallest touch of the rein, without showing skittishness. An animal -that bounces about when his mouth is felt, or whilst waiting to be -mounted, is anything but a treasure to possess. He should not be a -puller, though ridden in any description of bridle--nor should his -action when trotting be rough or _jerky_. If this latter be not looked -to, his rider will constantly suffer from undue fatigue. - -That a lady's horse should be sound and healthy is nothing short of -a necessity--nor ought he to have any glaring defects, or blemishes, -visible about his person--although a single one, if it be trifling--the -result, say, of a former wound, blister, or scar--need not cause him to -be rejected; in fact, it often happens that some excellent animals can -be had quite cheap at the end of a hard hunting season, because they -have got a little bit knocked about, although in many cases it does not -tell against them in the smallest degree. - -Very many persons--Irish at all events--will remember the beautiful -"Adonis" who created so marked a sensation in the parade of -prize-takers before the Lord-Lieutenant at one of the last of the -Dublin Horse Shows, that was held in the grounds of the Royal Dublin -Society in Kildare Street. He had a conspicuous blemish on the right -side of his chest, the result of a car-shaft that had been driven -through his body only five months previous to the show; yet his -patching up had been almost perfect, and he commanded an excellent -price, though nothing at all to be compared with the sums I had been -offered for him before the accident occurred. This carries out what I -have said respecting the chances of being sometimes able to secure a -good animal, even a prize-winner, at a comparatively low figure, owing -to some outward blemish, which, although slightly disfiguring, is not -in any way prejudicial to the health, action, or general appearance of -the intended purchase--or to his real value, when considered from a -"useful purpose" point of view. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE LADY'S DRESS ON HORSEBACK. - - -I think I shall make this a chapter upon Dress. Not that the subject -ought, perhaps, rightfully to come in just here, without first -introducing some more details about the horse--but I know it to be a -popular one with ladies, and it will make a pleasing variety from drier -matter, which can be made to hold over very well until by-and-by. - -In the days of Gottfried and the fair Maid of Ghent, ladies rode -upon long-tailed palfreys, attired in embroidered robes of velvet or -brocade. A century later we find them wearing cloth manufactured into -riding gear, but fashioned so extraordinarily as to set us marvelling -how on earth they ever bore the weight, or kept their skirt-tails -even moderately clean. So far down as the first half of the present -century trailing habits were worn, and about that period we find many -allusions to the absurd custom, which would seem to convey something -like admiration of it. For example, Charlotte Bronte, describing the -return of a riding-party in 'Jane Eyre,' says, "Her purple riding-habit -almost swept the ground;" a very questionable grace, in my opinion, and -a highly dangerous one. - -Even in the present day our risible faculties are sometimes excited -by the sight of some countrified equestrian, clad in the old-fashioned -attire of our mothers' or grandmothers' epoch--skirt six feet long, and -quite four yards in width; bodice with long basque, neck completely -open, displaying a huge expanse of shirt, finished off below the chin -with a red bow, or a blue one, or a green, as the case may be; sleeves -of enormous dimensions, both wide and long, and braiding enough to set -up a regiment of Hussars. There was a girl in the park last season who -wore a habit such as I have described, with the addition of soiled -white kid gloves, and an extraordinarily tall hat, with a very narrow -straight leaf, and evidently much too large to fit her head, for -it went bobbing over her eyes at every step of her ungainly steed. -Thousands of laughing glances were directed towards her, but she never -minded, and only seemed pleased; possibly she thought they were signs -of admiration--and her pleasant, healthy face was aglow with delighted -satisfaction. - -What a pity, I thought, that she had not the benefit of that -inestimable looking-glass, a friend's eye. Somebody ought to have told -her what an exhibition she was, yet evidently nobody did; so ready are -we to ridicule others, without offering help. - -A learner's first costume may be as primitive as her knowledge of the -art--yet certain particulars concerning it ought not to be overlooked, -and while considering them I shall adopt my former unceremonious mode -of address, and speak as friend to friend. - -To begin, then, with your head. Leave your hair floating, perfectly -loose--untrammelled by so much as a ribbon. The object of this is -that you may not have any temptation to remove your hands from the -position in which the master has placed them, or anything to divert -your mind from the subject with which it is engaged. Were you to take -your riding lessons with hair plaited neatly up in a coil, you would -probably become conscious, after a round or two of jolting, that a -tail was sticking uncomfortably out at one side, while a cold hair-pin -would perhaps make you shudder by sliding down your back. Then, if your -hand was not immediately lifted to rectify it, the tail would rapidly -increase in length and volume, and a perfect _rain_ of hair-pins -would begin to descend upon your shoulders. This is precisely what a -riding-master dreads and detests--for fingers and attention are alike -employed to rectify the damage, which cannot be done in a hurry, but -takes a long time,--and so discomfort reigns paramount until the lesson -is over. - -_Always_, while a learner, ride with your hair unbound, and wear a -soft hat or cap upon your head, fastened securely with an elastic -beneath the chin. This latter does not look pretty, but that need not -matter very much; there will not be many to see it, and even were it -otherwise, the sensible among them would applaud your foresight, and -commend you for providing against the discomforts attendant on a hat -that would go rolling off with every motion of the horse you were -riding. - -Your jacket should be more than easy-fitting: it should be -loose--allowing the figure full play, and giving special liberty to -the arms, which should never be hampered in any way. - -The shape of it need not trouble you; beauty and fashion can be -dispensed with till by-and-by. Your skirt should be wide and short; the -make of it will not matter;--as in the case of the jacket, let "cut" -give place to comfort. Do not wear a hard stiff collar, or anything -that would irritate or distract your mind. Never wear petticoats -on horseback, even from the first. To do so is a grave mistake. I -advocate the purchase of proper riding trousers, to be worn from -the very beginning, and they, of course, obviate the necessity for -any such garment. I have heard persons speak in favour of flannel -combinations, made to fit quite loose, and must confess that, having -never tried them, I am not in a position to condemn, but my prejudices -are certainly not in favour of them. If not fitted with elastic below -the knees, they would most assuredly ruck up and make their wearer -miserable; and if so supplied, the legs of them would turn round and -round until the backs were almost twisted to the front, a state of -things terribly uncomfortable, and one that could not be remedied -without getting off. If, however, there is a decided predilection in -favour of these extremely undesirable garments, the twisting process -may in great measure be obviated by attaching a piece of good firm -elastic, long enough to pass under the sole of the foot, to each side -of the leg of the combinations. This answers the purpose of a man's -trouser strap, but must, if adopted by a lady, be worn under the -boot. It is, I must say, surprising to me that the combination, or -knickerbocker garment, should ever have received the notice of juvenile -riders, inasmuch as it leaves the leg, from the knee down, entirely -uncovered, save by the stocking, except when long boots are worn; and -we all know that the limbs of a learner are far more tender and liable -to abrasion than are those which have become saddle-hardened and inured -to rubs. - -Boots should be well-fitting, broad-soled, and made without buttons, -bows, or anything that could possibly catch in the stirrup, or require -disentanglement when about to dismount. High heels should _never_ be -worn. - -Gloves are of little consequence, provided that they are soft and -large. Of the two I like to see beginners ride without them, except -when the weather is cold. A good strong woollen or cloth pair will then -be found preferable to any kind of leather. - -A whip you will not require, therefore I need not speak of it; neither -will you have any need of a spur. - - * * * * * - -Having thus disposed of your requirements as a learner, we come to -consider your more advanced costume, and I shall find need to speak -of every requisite for park, road, and country riding--reserving the -hunting outfit for the last. - -If you are a moderate rider, three hats will be sufficient for you; a -silk one, which I prefer low-crowned; a jerry, or melon-shaped; and a -soft felt. These should be all of the finest quality; in fact, I may -here take occasion to warn you against cheap or indifferent articles of -riding apparel; they are, in all instances, by far the dearest in the -end. For my own part I really look with horror upon low-priced articles -of clothing--not from any snobbishness, far from it, but because I have -always found them wear so badly, look so unsightly after short service, -and adapt themselves so indifferently to the wearer, that a perfect -abhorrence of all so-called "bargains" has been the not unnatural -result. - -You should have at least two riding-habits--one of heavy, the other -of light material. Wolmershausen and Co., of Curzon-street, Mayfair, -are constantly showing a variety of beautiful stuffs, suitable for -all places, in town and country, and for all weathers likewise. They -are the introducers of the famous "Curzon Red," in reality a dark -claret-colour of most charming hue, fine texture, and durable quality, -being perfectly impervious to the effects of rain or sun. - -I am frequently asked for advice respecting the newest fashion in the -cut of riding habits--the form or shape of the bodice, and so forth. -The very best I can give is to go to a good maker, and leave the matter -entirely in his hands, not hindering him by the setting forth of any -ideas of your own. If he be a master tailor he will know his business, -and will not relish interference. Should you, however, be called upon -to give directions to a provincial or country workman of doubtful -capacity, send for a good pattern of a skirt, and then get your tailor -to cut it out in coarse, rough calico, and to tack it lightly together. -Finally, let him adjust it to your shape _when on horseback_, making -quite certain that the fit of it shall be perfect before attempting -to cut it out in cloth. By this simple process you and he will be -spared much disappointment, and you will be saved unnecessary expense. -A well-cut habit-skirt should fit without wrinkle or fold; it should -be barely long enough to cover the left foot; there should not be a -particle of superfluous cloth about it; the end of the hem should form -a line as nearly as possible horizontal; and the circumference _inside_ -the hem should certainly not exceed two and a-half yards, even for the -most matronly rider. - -I adhere to the belief that no habit-skirt can be properly adjusted -unless the maker of it can have the advantage of adapting it to -the figure of the intended wearer while she sits on horseback. All -fashionable tailors have model or block horses, on which they mount -their customers, and by no other plan can a perfect fit be secured. -It must be borne in mind that the better shaped a habit-skirt is for -riding the more unsightly it looks when seen on a standing figure, or -when held in the hand; in fact, it is then a seemingly hideous and -"all wrong" thing, full of irregularities, and apparently without form -and void--whereas, when viewed in the saddle, it adapts itself to the -figure of the wearer, and falls into perfectly correct and shapely -lines. - -All modern habit-bodices are made entirely without perceptible basque, -having merely the coat-tail at the back. Some are made to open at the -throat, and these look smart with a white or pale buff scarf tie. -Others, again, are slightly opened at the waist, or very much so at the -breast, displaying fancy waistcoats of various kinds and patterns, -some of them quite startling in colour and design. The fashion is, in -my opinion, not one to follow. The nicest shaped bodice for a lady is -one made closely buttoned up, almost to the throat, showing merely a -small linen collar above the braid or neck-band, with the addition of a -neat tie of no conspicuous colour. The bodice itself should be entirely -free from ornament of any sort whatever. - -I think it a good plan, although some tailors reject it, to have two -large strong hooks attached to the back of the bodice, with eyes of -corresponding size affixed in proper position to the band of the skirt. -When these are fastened there can be no danger of getting "out of gear." - -Bodices which open much at the throat are very apt to give colds and -coughs to the wearers of them. There is an old saying that pride feels -no pain, and certainly ladies who fancy their own appearance in this -particular style of garment are unfortunately only too apt to forget, -or overlook, its tendency to admit the chill blasts and treacherous -breezes which frequently make havoc with the most delicate portion of -the frame. Nobody could condemn the practice of muffling up the throat -more heartily than I do myself, but to leave the chest exposed to harsh -wintry winds--as I frequently see done--with only a trifle of silk or -muslin to serve as a protector, seems to me to be positively suicidal. -I therefore recommend that when open bodices are worn in chilly -weather, a fold of chamois, or warm soft flannel, should be placed -across the chest. - -A habit-bodice should fit closely, without crease or wrinkle, but ought -not to be by any means tight; if it be so, all comfort in riding will -be destroyed. I am confidently of opinion that half the ladies who -canter their horses in the park and never attempt to trot them, only -adopt the fashion because they themselves are too tightly laced to -effect the rise in the saddle. This system of compression is a great -mistake. If ladies could only be induced to believe it, it certainly -adds nothing to their charms, for Nature will not allow herself to be -put out of sight, and the figure that is crushed in at the centre by -unduly tightened corsets must bulge out above or below them--sometimes -both--in a manner that is by no means pleasant to contemplate. Putting -aside, therefore, all questions connected with hygienic principles, the -fashion of squeezing the waist is not one to be recommended. - -I believe that a great many ladies who are not by any means naturally -stout or clumsy, are made to appear so by wearing cheap and ill-fitting -corsets; while, on the other hand, figures that are inclined to -_embonpoint_ can, with the assistance of a judicious and capable -stay-maker, be invested with an appearance of grace and slimness -that is not by nature their own. To expect a habit-cutter to fit a -bodice over a seven-and-sixpenny corset, with two long bones, bald and -unsoftened, sticking up at the top of the back, hip-pieces too wide, -and front steels long and obtrusive, is as great a piece of injustice -as to expect an artist to paint a picture with broken brushes, or a -cook to furnish a banquet without the proper materials. - -I cannot refrain from dwelling a little upon this subject, because it -seems to me that ladies are very often--without meaning it, perhaps--a -trifle unjust, not to say tyrannical, blaming their tailors, and even -speaking against them in influential quarters, for faults in fitting, -which are in reality entirely attributable to their own obstinacy -(combined, perhaps, with a little bit of parsimony), in neglecting the -advice given them: namely, to purchase well-made corsets from an artist -in that particular branch of industry. To lay a good foundation is at -all times, howsoever applied, an excellent rule, and the corset is the -foundation on which the habit-bodice must, as it were, be _built_. -Your figure may be ever so charming in all its outlines and details, -but if that which helps to mould it is in reality only calculated to -disfigure, the effect cannot be otherwise than unsatisfactory and bad. - -Habit-sleeves ought not to be too long. To end within two inches of -the hand is the correct thing, the space to be filled up by a spotless -linen cuff. Ample room should be given at the elbows, and at the -setting-in of the sleeves,--otherwise there will be discomfort, and a -continual tendency to run up. - -The system of shotting habits at the hem has happily entirely gone -out. According to the present rule of skirt cutting, it certainly -is not required, but for fair equestrians who are unduly nervous -about exposing even the smallest portion of understanding, a good -plan is to have a band of broad elastic affixed to the inside of the -skirt, in such a position as to enable the toe of the right foot to -be thrust through it, while a similar band does duty for the left. -These appliances cannot be properly arranged by even the most skilful -tailor, unless the wearer of the habit is ready to seat herself on -horseback, or on a block horse, for his benefit and assistance. The -necessity for this is obvious, as the precise position of the bands, -or loops, must be regulated by the rider's length of limb, otherwise -they may be altogether wrongly placed, and, when used, have only the -unsatisfactory effect of dragging the skirt completely out of form. -Some authorities have censured me for advocating this plan at any cost, -declaring it to be highly dangerous in case of a fall. I should like -to know how it is so, seeing that it does not involve the possibility -of dragging, or place a lady in any sort of peril. The theory is about -as sensible as others of the kind, which ignorant persons--or men who -attempt to write for ladies--not unfrequently lay down. For riders who -are, nevertheless, apprehensive of danger from this source, reassurance -may be found by using Nicoll's patent safety-band for the right foot -opening with a spring--so that, in the event of a fall, the rider is -not kept in a cramped position upon the ground, but can at once make an -effort to regain her feet, without trouble to herself or damage to her -garments. - -Ladies who ride much in the country, especially in summer weather, -will derive comfort from the possession of a gingham habit, or one of -very lightest dust-coloured summer cloth. I have had one of the latter -myself, and it wore splendidly--bearing a couple of washings into the -bargain when disfigured by dust on which a shower of rain had fallen. -I would have it borne in mind, however, that cheap though the material -may be, it _must_ be tailor-made, otherwise it will not be fit to wear. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE LADY'S DRESS ON HORSEBACK (_continued_). - - -No amateur manufacture can possibly look well on horseback. The effect -is like that which is produced when men play cricket or tennis in -home-made flannels, or go to fancy balls, or private theatricals in -costumes manufactured by their wives. Please do not imagine that nobody -ever does such things. To think so would be indeed a fallacy--but the -effect is not a bit more ludicrous than that of amateur tailoring, -especially when a back view of the latter is obtained. - -[Illustration: AMATEUR MANUFACTURE.] - -Riding trousers come next for mention. Many ladies prefer them to -breeches, and when worn, they should be made of chamois, with cloth -to match the habit extending from the foot to about midway between -the knee and the hip. Chamois, if of good quality, is soft, elastic, -serviceable, and most pleasant for wear, and side buttons are -preferable to an opening in front. Small, firm, well-adjusted straps -should be affixed to the ends of the legs, to prevent the possibility -of rucking up--an indescribably uncomfortable sensation. These straps -may be made of leather, though many prefer elastic. I do not think it -matters much which of the two is used for ordinary riding, but if the -latter, it should be quite an inch in breadth, and should have a slit -worked in it, button-hole fashion, at each end (leaving a good piece -of the stuff beyond the slit), and by this means be made to fasten to -two buttons, stitched very firmly, one on either side of the hem of -the leg--on the inside, of course. By adopting this arrangement the -straps can be readily changed--a great advantage, for elastic soon gets -worn out; and if you are a wise and methodical manager you will have a -second pair of straps always ready at hand, to provide for unexpected -contingencies. No lady who rides much can possibly do without at least -two pairs of riding-trousers: a pair for each habit being in fact -the correct thing. I think it will be a boon for ladies to know that -Messrs. Tautz have introduced an acceptable novelty in ladies' riding -and hunting _breeches_, a really beautiful and durable article made -of deer-skin--soft as velvet, and elastic as a glove. Perfection in -fit is secured through the medium of a lady "fitter," who is specially -relegated to the department, and it is a point in favour of these -breeches that they can be worn quite as readily and comfortably with -leggings or gaiters as with the more sporting "tops." - -The reference to these latter re-introduces the subject of boots: one -on which I have already lightly touched. Never wear them tight--adopt -the very plainest fashion--and let the soles be moderately thick. If -you prefer Wellingtons--which many do--have your trousers cut away at -the instep and buttoned close at the ankle, with a small strap to pass -under the foot when in its stocking; or have the boots drawn over the -trousers, _a la militaire_, so that you can get into both at the same -time. Captain Horace Hayes pointed out to me the utility of this plan, -and I have found it answer excellently for myself--but it is not every -lady who can be brought to see the wisdom of wearing boots large enough -to admit of it. - -If a spur be required, select a Sewarrow; but I am against the -indiscriminate use of such an appliance, and always maintain that if a -lady is riding a properly broken horse she can have no possible need -of a spur for ordinary road or park riding. When hunting, it is, in my -opinion, an absolutely necessary adjunct, as also when training young -or vicious horses--but such employment is altogether distinct from -quiet, everyday exercise, and requires, in fact, an entirely different -equipment, of which the spur forms only a part. - -Stockings for riding should always, even in summer, be of a heavier -and warmer description than those worn when walking, or in the house. -I would have you remember, also, that to garter them will have a -tendency to make your feet cold--a thing by no means pleasant or -desirable,--therefore use suspenders to keep them up. - -Corsets have already been discussed. Never, if at all inclined to -stoutness, use what is called a riding-belt, or stay; in other words, -an abbreviated and thoroughly unsatisfying contrivance, neither high -enough nor sufficiently strong to serve as a support for the figure. -It is only excessively slight and naturally erect women who can at all -indulge in the wearing of such flimsy articles. - -Web drawers of very light texture, such as are worn by men, will be -found agreeable for wear, and being so close-fitting I have never found -them move, or cause any discomfort. - -Chemises should be made barely long enough to meet the saddle, or if -worn a shade longer they should be fashioned in the form of _trunks_, -extending about midway down the thighs. Nothing that can possibly ruck -up should ever be worn. I like to see chemises made in the form of a -man's shirt, so far as neck, breast, and sleeves are concerned--but -collars and cuffs should be movable, and all appliances complete -for rendering an immediate change of these articles a matter of no -difficulty whatever. - -Ladies who do not adopt the shirt-like form of chemise frequently -complain of the difficulty of keeping their cuffs in right position. -The best way to do this is to attach a little loop of single-cord -_round_ elastic to the inside of the habit-sleeve, and place a small -firm button on the back of the cuff, around which the elastic can be -fastened with perfectly satisfactory results. - -Pins should never be employed for any purpose, except about the head. -This sounds strange, but I shall come to it by-and-by. Ribbons ought -not to be used as ties, especially gaudy ones--nor ought _anything_ -coloured (including veils and flowers) ever be worn by a lady rider who -desires to lay claim to the possession of even ordinary good taste. -In this I am strongly opposed to the opinions of "Vielle Moustache" -and other well-known authorities; but every man, and of course every -woman, has a full and just right to his and her own views upon all such -matters, and when we put them in print for the benefit of others, it -is with the object of directing and advising by the reasonableness of -them, rather than of _coercing_ by their weight or power. - -Gloves should be of doeskin--or strong, fine quality leather. They -should be double-stitched in every part, have at least two buttons, and -be amply large, in order to allow full play for the fingers and the -muscles of the hand, as likewise to admit of circulation going freely -forward--for extremities soon become chilled if cramped up in coverings -in which they cannot be easily and freely moved about. I do not like -white gloves, or yet black; a nice dark shade of tan looks well--and -some black stitching on the backs is a decided improvement. - -No ornaments ought to be worn when riding. A small stud should fasten -the collar: never a brooch; ear-rings and bangles should be left -at home; a watch-chain should not be seen crossing the breast of a -habit-bodice, nor should a handkerchief ever be worn protruding from -the front of the bosom. This latter custom is simply an abomination, -which no rider of good taste would ever dream of adopting. Some, I -know, regard it as _chic_: a principle that makes them also keep their -elbows out from their sides--but with the vagaries of such persons I -have happily little to do, and certainly have very little sympathy. - -Veils should be of black net, cut just deep enough to cover the tip -of the nose, without reaching below the nostrils, and they ought to -be sufficiently long to twist into the form of a knot at the back of -the hat, where they should be secured with two short steel pins. Those -which have round shiny black heads are the best, being easily seized -upon, even by gloved fingers, when the hand is put back for the purpose -of removing them. - -You will observe that I have said the veil should be _twisted_, not -actually knotted, at the back of the leaf of the hat--for when it is -the latter, there is always difficulty in undoing it, and frequently -the hat itself has to come off before the veil can be successfully got -rid of. Dust-veils, of grey or black gauze, are extremely useful in the -country, but ought not to be worn in town--nor should any description -of _white_ veil ever be seen on a lady's riding-hat, even though she be -exercising in the wilds of Connemara, or in a district as lonely as the -deserts of the East. - -Whips are of many sorts and patterns. Select the plainest among those -of good description, and on no account carry one that has a tassel -appended. Never use a hunting-crop except when going out with hounds, -and do not despise a neat little switch if riding in the heart of the -country. - -I think I have but one more point to notice before concluding this -portion of my subject. Be certain that your hair is always most -securely put up before setting out to ride; unless, indeed, you are a -juvenile, and wear it loose. Make sure also that your hat is so well -fastened that it cannot, by any possibility, come off, either by the -influence of a high wind, or the sudden action of your horse. A good -deal must, of course, depend upon the manner in which you arrange -your coiffure. If your locks are abundant--sufficient to make into a -stout coil at the back of your head--an elastic loop to pass under it -will be found an advantage. Should your hair, however, happen to be -light-coloured, this will look badly, and I therefore recommend a plan -which I have myself found very effectual. Procure two steel pins such -as I have recommended for veil-fasteners--only much longer; pass them -through the leaf of the hat, about three inches apart; then weave them -securely in and out, in a transverse direction, through the roll or -plait of your hair, keeping the points of them turned well outward. No -danger can possibly accrue from this system of pinning, if properly -performed, even though you may be unfortunate enough to fall upon your -head any number of times in the day. - -For girls who wear their hair flowing free, I cannot recommend any -really perfectly safe method of securing a hat, except by an elastic -passed beneath the chin. It is not a pretty way, certainly, but -juveniles need not care much about that. - -You will find a warm winter jacket a great comfort in chilly weather. -It ought to be tailor-made, and lined with satin, to ensure its being -easily slipped on and off over the habit bodice. A little braiding will -be a great set-off to this, and a trimming of any good dark fur will -also enhance its appearance. I like astracan myself. The Empress of -Austria, when hunting in Cheshire in 1881, wore a lovely over-jacket of -dark blue cloth, trimmed with a deep bordering of astracan, with collar -and cuffs of the same becoming fur. Large frog buttons, with double -loops of twisted braid, extended down the front. The corners were -rounded, and the shoulders ever so slightly raised at the setting in. -When she took it off one day at luncheon time, I saw that it was lined -with very glossy purple satin, through which ran a tiny yellow stripe. -Nothing could have been prettier or more becoming. - -A rain-proof cape, or jacket, will be likewise essential. If you get -the former, attach an elastic the circumference of your waist to the -inside of it at the extreme back--hem the ends of this, and stitch a -hook on one and an eye on the other, to enable them to fasten in front. -This will prevent the wind from getting underneath the cape, and you -can ride quite comfortably, even in squally weather, by bringing the -ends of the elastic _over the fronts_ of the cape before securing them -around your waist. - -If you ride much in winter time, when wet days are of frequent -occurrence, you will find a couple of pairs of celluloid cuffs, with -collars to match, extremely useful. They are universally known, and -are now very cheap. All india-rubber houses keep them, and they can -be had, I believe, in every size. Being impervious to wet, they -are an improvement upon even the best starched linen (which they -strongly resemble in appearance), seeing that the latter gets limp and -wretched-looking after even a trifling shower. - -I think I have now entered into all particulars respecting your -ordinary riding gear. That for hunting will occupy a chapter later on. -Bear in mind that the more plainly you are dressed, the quieter your -appearance, and the less obtrusive your style, the more ladylike you -will appear, and consequently the more to be commended and admired. It -is only horsebreakers and women of inferior social standing who seek to -attract attention by conspicuous action and costume. A lady shows best -that she is one by neither doing nor wearing anything that is in the -smallest degree calculated to provoke remark. - -I have really often thought that the reason why many ladies look so -much better in their riding-habits than in ordinary walking attire, is -that there is so much less opportunity, when so dressed, for wearing -what is unbecoming, or for conforming to silly fashions which only -serve to distort and destroy all the beauties of the human form divine. -On horseback we are spared the unsightlinesses of dress improvers, -high heels, and high shoulders! The natural outline of the figure is -revealed to us, and with it we can find but little fault. "God made man -in His own image," said a country preacher to whom I listened a short -time since, "but woman makes an image of herself!" - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -BITTING. - - -Having now provided yourself with a suitable mount for road and park -purposes, and likewise a supply of riding apparel sufficient to answer -all purposes until you come to hunt, it will be necessary for you to -turn your attention to the interesting subjects of bitting, saddling, -and general turning out. These things ought of necessity to precede the -actual _riding_--for you certainly cannot mount your steed until he has -been saddled and bridled, and to know how to accomplish this yourself -is in the highest degree important. - -In the present day, when equestrianism is not only a popular amusement -but amounts almost to a craze, it is astonishing to find the amount -of ignorance that prevails among riders upon subjects with which they -ought to be at least tolerably well acquainted, before laying claim -to the terms "horsemen" and "horsewomen." In no department that I can -think of, or name, is this lamentable want of knowledge so clearly -displayed as in the important one of bitting. That ladies are not, as -a rule, very conversant with the subject is scarcely to be wondered -at, for most lady-riders give no thought to anything on earth save -the pleasure of the motion, and the fit of their habits and gloves. -They have undergone a certain description of superficial training, -which just enables them to know how to sit, and how to hold the reins -between their fingers, but the real pleasure of being thoroughly _en -rapport_ with their mount--knowing what bit he will go best in, and -feeling conscious that he is not enduring torture from being wrongly -bridled or saddled--are things altogether denied them. It is precisely -the same principle on which ladies execute showy pieces on the piano, -without at the same time having the smallest knowledge of the theory -of music, or any idea of why it is that pressure upon the pedals is -capable of altering the sound. It is a sorry fact, but a certain one, -that nine-tenths of the ladies who ride in the Row--pulling equally, -as they often do, upon both reins--would stare at you in helpless -amazement, or blush "celestial rosy red," if asked to describe the -difference in action between the curb bit and the snaffle. They do not -know. Nobody has ever told them, because it has never occurred to them -to ask. They are simply aware that there are two leathers, attached -by some unknown means to the horse's head, and that they are supposed -to hold these nicely between their fingers, and look as charming as -they can; but what the leathers are for, or why there _are_ two of -them, or yet, why some other ladies of their acquaintance ride with -a single rein while they have been given a double one, are things of -which they have not the very faintest notion. Lip-straps, cheek-pieces, -throat-lashes, ports, cannons, &c., terms with which even moderately -skilled horsewomen are familiar--have never been so much as heard of, -or even inquired about. The existence of this species of ignorance -among lady-riders is not hearsay. I speak from practical knowledge, -having proved it upon many different occasions. "Pooh, nonsense; what -do _I_ care about your old leathers!" laughed a merry-hearted Cork -girl to whom I was once striving to explain some necessary matters; -"I just hold on, and let the beast carry me--and what more on earth -do I want?" And away she went, helter-skelter, after the hounds, as -she spoke--holding on, true enough, to both reins, with a good firm -grip; and the beast _did_ carry her, to some purpose too, up to a big -drain--and finding his mouth unfairly dealt with in the taking-off, -landed her deftly into it, and ungallantly galloped away. - -With men--those who ride, I mean--ignorance concerning bitting ought -never to exist, yet I have been fairly astounded at finding out how -very little many of them know about the matter. An officer, who was -considered a good man to hounds, and who owned a couple of racers to -boot, looked actually quite puzzled when it was observed to him one -day that he was riding his hunter in a very severe bit (a saw-mouth -bridoon, attached to a snaffle), and said, "By George, I don't know. I -suppose my confounded servant put some queer thing or another on him, -for the beggar won't go a yard!" He had actually mounted his horse and -set out for a day's hunting without so much as casting a _glance_ at -the animal's head. Nor was his by any means an isolated case. - -Now a practical word or two about some of the bridles most generally -in use--beginning with the common, smooth-jointed snaffle, which has -ever been my favourite bit. This, when sufficiently wide and large, -forms an absolutely perfect bridle, and its action is extremely simple, -restraining the horse by pressure on the bars of the mouth when his -head is carried more or less perpendicularly, and on the corners when -the head is lifted or lowered. Owing to the centre of the mouthpiece -being jointed, there is very little pressure on the tongue, which is -one of the many points in favour of this admirable bridle. - -[Illustration: COMMON SNAFFLE.] - -The common snaffle must not in any wise be confounded with the -ringed-snaffle which has a noseband attached to the inner rings, kept -in place by pieces of leather stitched round them and brought under -the ends of the cheeks. It may be _made_ to act severely by drawing -one pair of reins tight and sharp, thus causing all the pressure to -concentrate upon the horse's nose--and is then called a Newmarket -snaffle. - -I append sketches of a common jointed snaffle, the easiest and -nicest bit that a thoroughly-trained horse can possibly go in, -and also a double-ringed one, such as I have just described. The -latter is frequently used by men when breaking young horses in Irish -hunting-fields, and is very useful when servants have to be entrusted -with the handling of animals, for, severe though it may be made, it -cannot spoil a horse's mouth so easily as can any description of curb. - -[Illustration: RINGED SNAFFLE.] - -There is not among the whole range of bits any so mild or suitable to -a learner as the common snaffle. Captain Horace Hayes, writing to me -on the subject, says: "The more imperfect the rider, the greater the -necessity for using a snaffle bridle; but this," he adds, "goes without -saying. Persons are at times found to express such mad ideas about -horses and bitting that to reply to them is only to encourage their -folly." - -A big smooth bridoon (with or without horns), and a solid Portmouth bit -and curb, will be found a capital hunting bridle. It has always been -a favourite with me for horses that do not want to get their tongues -over the bit, and where this objectionable habit does not exist, the -common-jointed snaffle or Pelham will be found very nice also. In -using it, however, you must see that the headstall is long enough for -the pressure to lie on the bars of the horse's mouth. This should -always be looked to by the rider. If it has a tendency to crumple the -lips at the corners, it is wrong, and partakes of the nature of a gag. - -[Illustration: JOINTED PELHAM.] - -The Pelham bridle finds _many_ advocates: Major Whyte Melville liked -it, for instance,--and for showing off paces (if this alone be -desired), I approve of the _Hanoverian_ Pelham, but not particularly -for anything else. The Newmarket snaffle is a capital bit for pullers, -and the American snaffle with india-rubber mouthpiece is a pleasant -bridle, largely used in the States for trotting purposes. The Segundo, -formerly a great favourite, is a very powerful controller--while -the Melton mouth-bit is deservedly a prime favourite with many -riders. The Liverpool is greatly used for harness, and seems to have -quite superseded the old Buxton, the bottom bar of which made it -uncomfortably liable to catch on the pole-end or shaft. - -[Illustration: SEGUNDO.] - -[Illustration: MELTON BIT AND BRIDOON.] - -I dislike seeing a gag employed, and consider it altogether -unnecessary, except for a buck-jumper, or an animal who determinately -"bores" his head in a downward position; nor am I at all in favour of -the _twisted_ snaffle, which is a very severe bit, and does not answer -any purpose, so far as I have ever been able to make out, that the -chain-snaffle cannot be made to fulfil; for if severity be required, -it can be obtained by twisting the chain before putting it into the -horse's mouth. I hate to see it, however, and never would permit its -use in my own stables, except in the case of some animal that was -known to be of an unusually fractious, or, I might say, _evil_ temper. -Severity in bitting is, in my opinion, very rarely necessary; and -taking into account the cruelty of it, I dislike it excessively, and -always cry it down. - -[Illustration: LIVERPOOL.--FOR HARNESS ONLY.] - -[Illustration: CAMBRIDGE BIT.] - -I saw a man in Cheshire, when the Empress of Austria was hunting -there, riding in a terrible bridle. He had a strong, wiry _rope-bit_ -attached to the horns of an ordinary snaffle--and it must have been -frightfully severe, for the horse's mouth was bleeding at both corners. -I remarked to the Kaiserin that it was no wonder she was anxious to -get away from that part of the country, if her sensitive eyes were -often thus shocked. She looked at the man--at the horse--at the man -again--and then said one word--"BRUTE!" It was certainly expressive, -and concise,--and she spoke it in right sound English too, which I -thought a very good thing. - -The ordinary term "bit and bridoon" means simply a curb and a snaffle. -The latter has been already explained. The common curb is merely a -mouthpiece attached to two cheeks, and is curved in the centre, forming -what is called a "port," while a chain is attached to the cheeks in -such a way that when the curb-reins are drawn tight, the chain presses -upon the _chin_ of the horse, and so restrains him. - -There is much variety in the shape of curbs, a Chifney being the -strongest, and therefore the most capable of misuse in unpractised -hands. A really good double bridle for ordinary riding is a Dwyer -curb (which has very short cheeks), and a common smooth snaffle. The -Cambridge bit is also very generally esteemed. - -For hunting purposes, I like the _snaffle_ bridle to have half horns -only, as being less likely to be drawn in a scurry through the horse's -mouth, taking the curb along with it. I have seen this happen once or -twice, with very unpleasant results. - -[Illustration: HALF-HORNED HUNTING SNAFFLE.] - -To say that an animal is "hard-mouthed" is a very general expression; -but the notion that he is so constantly arises from his being -improperly bitted. Something or another is thrust into his mouth that -does not go near fitting it, and as a consequence has no more effect in -either checking or guiding him than if it were tied to his tail. When a -horse is badly bitted, and controlled at the same time by incompetent -hands, the double evil is almost too great to be endured; but when a -proper bit is applied, there is far less suffering and inconvenience on -the part of the animal, even though subjected to the hands of a very -unlearned master. Timid riders ought to know, and remember, that as a -horse is governed by his mouth--just as a ship is by her rudder--it -will be wise to devote especial attention to that quarter, in order to -avert the danger that may otherwise ensue. A skilful and experienced -hand at the bridle will always prove the best means of success, and -ensure the greatest amount of safety; but, where this does not exist, -the natural or acquired defect may in great measure be counterbalanced -by the application of a suitable bit. - -Persons have positively laughed at me when I have spoken of having a -horse's mouth measured--and yet there are three interior measurements -which ought to be carefully made before fitting an animal with a -bit: these are, the width of the mouth, taking the measurement from -the chin-groove--the exact width of the channel in which the tongue -rests--and the height of the bars of the mouth, by which I mean from -the surface of them to the _undermost_ point of the chin-groove. If -a bit with a port is to be used, the horse's tongue ought also to be -measured. - -It often happens that from improper bitting horses acquire an ugly -trick of working their tongues over the mouthpiece. I had two that did -it, but cured them by riding them for awhile with a snaffle only, and -then carefully fitting them as described with suitable bits. - -Correct bitting will ensure complete control, or ought to do so, -without inflicting pain. Anything that involves suffering ought to be -discarded--although I do not wish it to be understood that I object -to such pain in bitting as will compel an unbroken horse to drop his -head to the correct position, or yield to the hands that are training -him. Remember, however, that a curb unduly tightened, or a bit that is -too severe, will often make a horse poke out his chin--and you must -not then drag at him, but rather give him ease. When an animal has a -bit forced into his mouth that he feels will not suit him, he tries -to tell his master so by all the means that lie within his power. He -exhibits restlessness when the bridle is put on: gapes, mouths, flings -his head about, and carries it (when urged into motion) either on one -side, or unduly high or low. There is by nature very little so called -"vice" in horses. Comparatively few of them are _born_ unruly, but many -are made so by improper treatment on the part of those in whose charge -they are at times unfortunately placed. - -There should be one established law in bitting: never use _any_ bridle -that your horse after a trial will not face. Were this advice attended -to there would be fewer accidents, and far fewer unsightly exhibitions -of danger and discomfort than we are at present accustomed to see. A -well-placed bit will just clear the tusks in a horse's mouth, and in -that of a mare will lie one-inch above the corner teeth. A considerate -rider will always look to these things himself before mounting; will -see, for instance, that the throat-lash is not drawn too tight, and -that the pressure of the bit lies _exactly_ on the bars of the mouth. -These bars are formed much like the _tibia_, or human shin-bone, the -minor edge being sharper and more salient than the outer, where it -rounds off. Their shape varies in different horses. In hard-mouthed -animals they are round, low, and furnished abundantly with fleshy -substance; in a tender mouth they are very lean and sharp; and in what -may be styled a good mouth, they are moderately so, without exhibiting -too great an inclination to either of the first-named conditions. - -I like to see a good _wide_ mouthpiece used; it is a vast deal better -to have it too wide than too narrow, and I give you the advice in case -you do not go on the principle of measurements, which some ridicule. -Let your mouthpiece be at all events not less than five inches inside -(and even this will be found narrow for many horses), with cheeks -rather short, and set _outwardly_. If a port is used it will be much -better to have it opening laterally, from two to two and a-half inches. - -The unsightly habit of lolling out the tongue arises from the pressure -to which it is, or has been, subjected, by the whimsical shapes of -many of the mouthpieces in general use, the ports of which, instead -of being fashioned according to the form of the tongue and mouth, -are so constructed that the first-named is either pinched severely -in the hollow, or pressed between the cannons of the mouthpiece and -the bars of the mouth. The horse, then, in order to relieve himself -from the torture, either hangs out his tongue, or draws it up above -the mouthpiece: an action which compels him to open his mouth in -an unsightly manner. This latter defect is likewise frequently -attributable to the extreme height of the ports of some mouthpieces; -these act, most improperly, on the palate, and when the reins are -pulled, cause such excessive agony that the sufferer gapes, in order to -ease his pain. - -[Illustration: MOUTH OF TORTURED HORSE.] - -It is a common error to suppose that the power of the bit lies in the -mouthpiece, according to its form, and that a high port (one that bears -upon the palate) affords control over the animal thus bitted. The real -power lies in the branches, according to their proportions, and not by -any means in the size or shape of the port, which latter ought to have -the effect of an axis gravitating on the bars of the mouth, in order -that by its influence the branches may act on these only, and not on -either the palate or the tongue. - -[Illustration: ANTI-REARING BIT.] - -No lady's horse worth calling one will ever require a rearing-bit, but -such things are useful on occasions, and a gentleman told me some time -ago that he obviated an uncomfortable habit which one of his horses had -contracted, of throwing up his head, by using a round ring bit with -reins attached, in place of a snaffle. I have never tried it myself, -therefore cannot vouch for the general efficacy of the experiment; -but it may be very good. Men do not _mean_ to be cruel to horses when -bitting them improperly, but they are so nevertheless--to a terrible -degree. An animal shows signs of uneasiness, and it is at once set -down to "temper," and punished accordingly. Temper may at times no -doubt have something to do with intractability, but so it has--very -often--with ourselves, and what better means can be adopted to calm -the irritability of man or his slave than patience, kindness, and an -entire absence of all desire to _fight_? - -I do not much care for nosebands; they seem to me to interfere with -the proper action of the bridle, by preventing the headstall from -going forward, and also the cheek of the bit. The only really useful -noseband is one that is detached from the bridle-cheeks and has a -separate crown-strap. This, when worn low on the nose, is effective in -preventing a horse opening his mouth widely, and thus displacing the -bit from the bars. Martingales I simply abhor, for hunting purposes, -although I have heard some good authorities advocate the use of the -_standing_ martingale, even when crossing country. I think it is only -allowable in case of a confirmed "star-gazer," who goes at his fences -with his head in the air, instead of looking straight before him when -he jumps. A _running_ martingale might be found useful with some horses -for park or road riding, inasmuch as it can be made effectual for -keeping the head of a flippant or unsteady goer properly in place. When -made use of for this purpose it should be adjusted in such a way as to -allow the pull of the reins to be _directly_ in line with the top of -the withers, and should be lengthened for a horse who holds his head -already sufficiently low. - -I have seen Irish horsebreakers in the country improvise a martingale, -by putting the reins underneath the horse's neck, and then passing them -through two rings, kept together by a strap. It answered pretty well -for rough riding, but I cannot recommend the innovation. - -Martingales of all sorts and descriptions are, as a rule, undesirable, -except when the rings attached to the reins of them are so small that -they cannot by any possibility slip over those of the bit, and this -will necessitate the stitching of the reins--for buckles will not do. -Stops will otherwise be essential: made of leather, for safety. - -I cannot help believing that bitting is generally _much_ too severely -carried out. The most cruel curbs are used by ignorant persons, whereas -there are really very few horses who cannot be done much more with by -dropping the curb rein altogether, and riding on the snaffle only. -Ladies pull and work their horses' mouths, and then wonder that the -horses pull them in return. It is a great mistake. Hundreds of animals -are made thoroughly unruly by undue use of the curb, and so much evil -have I seen accrue from it, that I strongly recommend all young riders -to _try_ riding with the snaffle only, and to keep the curb rein -hanging loosely over the little finger, so that it may in an instant be -taken up if necessity demands, which I am confident, however, will not -very often be the case. - -Some time ago I rode a mare for a friend who was very desirous of -ascertaining whether the animal was a fit one to carry a lady with -safety. I don't believe she meant to imperil my safety in any way, in -order to secure her own. I simply offered to try the mare, and the -proposal was accepted. Terrible things had been said of the animal's -want of training, evil temper, and so forth, and the groom who brought -her to me was evidently extremely nervous. He told me, the very first -thing, that the mare had never in her life done any saddle work, -except with "a desperately wild young gentleman," who had _bitted -her severely_, and yet found her most difficult to manage. Therein -lay the secret, I thought to myself; but I said nothing, and the -maligned quadruped and I started on our trial, the groom most earnestly -imploring me to keep a firm hold of the curb. I found that she hung -desperately upon her bridle, kept her head between her knees with a -strong, determined, heavy pull--a dead one, in fact--upon the bit, and -went along with a rough, jerky action, which had me very soon tired -out. The Editor of the _Sporting and Dramatic News_ had volunteered -to accompany me, in order to see the trial, and when we got into the -Row and set our horses going, the brute nearly dragged my arms out in -her canter. The tug she had upon the bridle was quite terrific, and, -evidently prepared for a fight, she laid back her ears and shook her -wicked head angrily. I rode her from Palace Gate to the Corner in this -manner--not pulling one ounce against her, and yielding very slightly -to her in her stride. By the time we turned she had given up fighting, -and I was enabled for the first time to speak to my companion. I then -dropped the curb, and rode her entirely upon the snaffle. The effect -was magical; she at once lifted her head, ceased pulling altogether, -and went along in a pleasant, joyous canter--going well up to her -bridle, but not attempting any liberties whatever. In less than an -hour's time I was riding her with one hand, petting and making much of -her with the other--an attention which, as a pleasing novelty, she -evidently much appreciated. Finding her slightly intractable during the -ride homeward, I once more lightly took up the curb. It maddened her in -a moment. She turned wildly round, twisted about with a rotatory motion -most bewildering and unpleasant, ran me against a cart, and behaved -altogether so outrageously that it required my very utmost skill, -confidence, and temper to restore her equanimity, and steer her safely -to our destination. On dismounting I observed to the groom who had come -to fetch her, that considering the amount of excitement through which -she had passed, it was wonderful that she had not sweated. His answer -was that she was always fed upon _cooked food_ (a pet theory of mine, -to which I shall devote a chapter by-and-by), and added that the horse -which he himself was riding--a remarkably fine four-year-old--derived -its chief sustenance from _boiled barley_. - -I shall now close my chapter upon bitting. That it has been a horribly -dry one I cannot hope to find contradicted, but I felt that its -instructions ought to come in just where I have introduced them, and -they will be better understood, no doubt, when the pupil shall have -learned thoroughly how to ride. No lady's education can be called -anything like complete (with regard to equine matters) until she -perfectly understands the _principles_ of bitting, and can, moreover, -saddle and bridle her own horses without the aid of a groom. I shall -give instructions concerning these matters in another chapter. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -SADDLING. - - -The choice of a lady's side-saddle is a most important matter, and -ought not to be treated in any other light; yet with multitudes of -equestrians it seems to be regarded as almost a thing of nought. "Look -out for a second-hand saddle for me, there's a dear!" writes a country -lady to a town friend; "I am actually going to ride!" And away goes -the town lady on a search through alley and slum, and comes home the -triumphant purchaser of an awful instrument, which gives a sore back -to the bearer of it in no time at all, and is then sent to be stuffed, -coming back to its owner all the worse for the process, owing to the -fact that the stuffing has, in the first instance, been entirely over -done. Articles of this description never give any satisfaction, and -would be dear if purchased at half-a-crown. Economise as you will in -other directions--put up with cheap hats, habits, boots, and gloves, -if you cannot really afford any better,--for, odious though they be, -they can prove injurious to yourself alone,--but let your saddle be -of the best. Go to a first-class maker; get measured as accurately as -a man does for a pair of hunting breeches--tell him that you need the -_best_ materials and very best workmanship--and if he knows his art he -will require no further directions. It is almost superfluous to repeat -that a well-made side-saddle should be level-seated, and should have -no perceptible dip, or sinking, from front to cantle. It ought to be -amply long for the rider, and the points of the tree should fit close -to the horse's sides behind the shoulder-blades. I object to stitching, -on either near or off side, as being unworkmanlike; but an unpractised -rider may have the seat of her saddle covered with buckskin, which will -afford her a more secure grip than she can obtain from the ordinary -slippery leather. The gullet-plate should either be dispensed with -altogether (as mentioned in a former chapter), or be sufficiently -arched to prevent its pressing on the horse's withers. I prefer the -former plan, and have found it answer admirably. The up-pommel should -be barely high enough to afford a secure catch for the right leg. When -higher than this it sticks up like a horn beneath the habit, and is -extremely disfiguring. - -The leaping-head should be movable. I do not mean that it should merely -turn round and round, or bend downwards with a hinge, but it ought to -be capable of being placed higher or lower, according as the rider may -desire. This can be accomplished by having two, or even three, holes -made for it within varied distances of one another: a plan which will -be found of especial benefit in cases where a saddle is purchased -with a view to more than one lady making use of it--and a tired rider -will frequently find it a great boon. Of course, in such case, the -leaping-head must be a screw one, a thing to which I know many ladies -object on the ground that it gets out of order. It really ought not -to do so,--nor does it, except when entrusted altogether to a groom, -who keeps unscrewing it every day as if for mere pastime. It should -not be touched at all, except when necessary for cleaning purposes, -or to lubricate it with a little oil, and it will be well then to do -it yourself, unless your servant happens to be an exceptionally good -and trustworthy one, or that you are too grand in your ideas to put -your hand to anything in the shape of work. I hope, however, that I -am not writing for any such silly person. You should never be above -looking after _everything_ connected with your own riding gear. It -will not lessen your dignity one whit: rather the contrary--for your -servants will then see that you are not a simpleton, and will respect -you accordingly. The lady who shudders at a duster, and wonders where -puddings grow, is in reality not an atom more to be despised than -is the foolish-minded equestrian who thinks it is inelegant to know -anything about the conduct or management of her own stable. I like to -see a woman able and willing to put her hand to everything that comes -in her way, without feeling in the least lowered by it. One of the most -perfectly ladylike women whom I have ever met, on one occasion groomed -and fed her own hunter, when the stableman who had charge of him was -found tipsy, on her return one wintry evening from a long day with the -hounds; and she did it, too, before ever removing her habit. Sense and -humanity combined. - -I may add, before passing to another portion of my subject, that where -a screw-pommel is used it will be found a wise plan to have it made -with the thread of the screw _reversed_; by which I mean that the -pommel should turn from left to right, in place of the ordinary way. By -this arrangement the left knee pressing against it serves to fix it all -the more firmly, instead of, as is usual, misplacing it. - -I am often asked what ought to be the weight of a side-saddle, and what -the size. Much must of course depend upon the dimensions of the rider. -About eighteen pounds is, or ought to be, the average weight of an -ordinary saddle, although my own were much lighter. I do not, however, -see that there is very much to be gained by riding in too light a -saddle. A few pounds one way or the other can make little difference -(except in racing) to a good horse, and light saddles are sometimes apt -to give sore backs. - -With regard to size, I consider that a lady of moderate height--say -five feet three, or thereabouts--ought not to purchase a saddle _less_ -than nineteen inches long. Any good maker will, however, give the -proper proportions. - -The stirrup-leather of a lady's saddle is generally attached to it by -an iron ring, but I greatly prefer the spring-bar attachment, same -as is used with men's saddles. Many ladies say that it is apt, with -pressure, to come away, and if this be the case, a greater objection -could scarcely be urged against it, but, for my own part, I have never -found it do so. - -Peat & Co., of Piccadilly, have brought out and patented a really -first-class article in this line, namely, Born's saddle-bar, a -contrivance which instantly releases the foot in case of a rider being -either thrown or dragged. I can confidently recommend it. - -A very simple way, which some like, is to have the stirrup stitched -to a single leather, which is then passed through a ring, and drawn -downwards to within an inch or two of the end of the flap. It is next -passed round the horse's belly, and buckled to a single tongue on the -other side. This keeps the flaps of the saddle close, and the rider is -enabled by it to shorten or lengthen her stirrup from the off side--an -advantage not to be overlooked. - -Girths are of various kinds. Some are in favour of the elastic webbing; -others like the Fitzwilliam, which is a very excellent kind, and -thoroughly to be depended on for general work. For myself, I strongly -advocate the plaited girths, made of either hide, horsehair, or cord. -Being open-work they admit plenty of air, and are calculated to prevent -chafing. - -I do not, as a rule, care for saddle-cloths, but no doubt they preserve -the inside of a saddle very much. If used at all they ought to be very -thin. To save a sore back, a sheepskin is best A leather saddle-cloth -will keep pliant if in constant use, but if laid by for a while it -should be moistened with a little oil. Cod-liver will be found the most -efficient for the purpose. - -I am not in favour of _any_ of the so-called safety stirrups. Nicholl's -patent is the best of them; but I cannot help regarding them all as -danger-traps, having twice nearly lost my life through using them. I -therefore strongly recommend all lady riders to adopt a perfectly -plain stirrup, such as is used by men, only of course smaller. A neat -little racing stirrup served me faithfully for years, and I cannot -advocate any other. Safety stirrups are perpetually getting out of -order, and my experience of even the best of them is that they are -liable to catch the foot and confine it in a dangerous manner, which -the plain stirrup never does. - -To ride with a slipper, even for a very young beginner, is strongly to -be condemned. To allow children to use it is simply to train them to -ride _from_ it--thus sowing the seeds of a most pernicious practice. -It feels so snug and comfortable under the foot that there is an -irresistible desire to rest and dwell upon it: an evil of which I shall -hereafter have occasion to speak. - -Having now said all that I consider useful concerning saddles and -bridles, I think it will be expedient to give a few instructions about -putting them on; for, as I have already said, a lady or gentleman who -cannot do this without the aid of a servant has yet (no matter how -accomplished in every other way) something very important to learn. - -To bridle a horse, go quietly up to him, holding the headstall in your -hand. Make much of him for a moment or two before putting it on: not at -all because you think that he is going to fight against it--no lady's -horse would be guilty of doing such a thing--but because it is a nice -and right habit, and one to be put in practice upon every reasonable -occasion. The way in which unthinking grooms drag poor horses' heads -about, and _force_ heavy bits into their quiet, unresisting mouths, -is enough to make a humane heart feel grieved and angry together. -Gentleness is, however, a woman's attribute, and the kindness with -which most women usually regard animals is one of their most loveable -traits. - -When the headstall has been nicely fitted, take a glance over it, and -note that the forehead-band is loose enough, and that the throat-lash -will admit at least two of your fingers between it and the skin. Fit -the snaffle-rein next, by the buckles, and see that it falls about half -an inch below the angle of the mouth. If you are in the habit of riding -with a curb, adjust it very carefully, observing the rule laid down -in my chapter on bitting, of resting the mouth-piece on _the bars_ of -the mouth, just above the chin-groove. I know it occasionally happens -that some irregularity about the teeth renders this a difficult thing -to do, and where such is the case the bit must of course be slightly -moved, but it ought to be placed only just as much above the obstacle -as will be necessary to clear it. You must next hook the curb, taking -the off side first, and leaving a link in reserve. Then come to the -near side, and leave it length enough to afford two links--making -sure also that it lies quite flat on the chin-groove, and has not the -smallest tendency to rise upwards at the draw of the reins. Ascertain -above all things that the chain is sufficiently slack, and that it does -not inconvenience the horse. A good test will be for you to insert the -first and second fingers of your left hand between it and the animal's -chin: slipping them in, so that the palm of your hand shall go beneath -the under lip of the horse, and the back portion of your two fingers be -exposed to the pressure of the chain; then draw the reins quietly with -your right hand, and if you feel an unpleasant pinching, slacken the -chain a link, and try again until you have it right. I said in my last -chapter that the action of the mouth-piece on the bars of the mouth -was entirely controlled by the branches, which also regulate that of -the curb-chain, both on chin and bars. The pressure which it effects -on these constrains the horse to obey the will of his rider. Now, when -the curb-chain is left to hang in too loose a fashion, the pressure -cannot be effected at all, and the branches go backwards, because they -meet with no resistance from the curb-chain: and thus the action of the -cannons on the bars of the mouth is altogether defeated. - -Saddling comes next to be spoken about. Place the saddle clear of the -play of the shoulders, if meant for hunting; when the adjustment is for -ordinary riding, an inch or two further back will do. It is a common -error to place the saddle out of position, in order to make it appear -as if the horse bridled better, or had a finer shoulder than he really -has; but it is a very wrong thing to practice constantly, and can only -deceive the most inexperienced judge's eye. - -If you want a horse to go particularly fast for a short distance, you -may adjust the saddle so that it shall be as far forward as possible -without interfering with his action: as the chief office of the hinder -part of an animal is to propel weight, while that of the fore part is -to bear it up. - -When the saddle has been nicely placed, take up the first girth, and -then the hinder one, drawing both well back from the horse's elbows, -so that they shall neither chafe nor inconvenience him in his action. -Do not girth him up too tightly at first, especially if he has been -recently fed; nor must you on the other hand leave him too much space -for the air to make way through, taking into account that some horses -are terrible rogues, and will actually swell themselves out ever so -much when they feel the girths tightening upon them, which shows that -they are more sensible than many who ride them, inasmuch as they object -to being too tightly laced. I had an arrant rogue once, who used to -present the appearance of a drowned pup whenever I came to girth him -up, and would gradually collapse inward, like an indiarubber ball with -a hole in it, whenever he thought he had me sufficiently gammoned. That -horse's face would have won a fortune for him as a type of injured -innocence when I let him see one day in a practical manner that I was -up to his tricks; but we continued excellent chums, nevertheless, and -as it was to a male friend I subsequently sold him (who would, of -course, clap a leg each side of him, and so distribute the weight), I -said nothing about his little dodges, but laughed to myself when, a few -days later, I saw the dear old man (his owner) riding his wily purchase -in the Row, with girths so slack that he could have put both feet into -them, stirrups and all, without much inconvenience, and my cunning -friend trotting demurely along under him, with the most lamb-like -countenance in the world. - -It is almost unnecessary to say that while tight girthing is for every -reason to be avoided, it will not do at all to leave the girths of a -lady's saddle too loose. When they are so, the uneven distribution of -weight which a side position necessarily entails will be sure to draw -the saddle on one side, or perhaps even cause it to turn: in which case -the consequences will be both dangerous and unpleasant. - -I think it an excellent plan to lead a horse about by the bridle for a -minute or two after girthing, and then try again whether he is tight -enough, by inserting a hand between the girths and the belly, and -seeing whether they need any further looking after. - -I must not omit to say that if you are using a saddle-cloth or -sheepskin, you should, before finally girthing up, draw the front part -of it well forward on the withers, in order that the gullet-plate of -the saddle (if that article happens to be made with one) may not press -upon them. - -The last thing for you to do before mounting will be to pass your -forefinger under the girths at each side of the horse's body, and -smooth away any wrinkles that the action of girthing may have caused in -his skin. - -It will not be amiss here to say that many ladies have asked me for an -opinion concerning the advisability of riding occasionally on the left -or off side of the horse. I cannot see any objection whatever to it for -ordinary riding, although I cannot advocate it for hunting; and where -young girls find it expedient to ride a good deal, I should be apt to -recommend it highly, as a means of preventing their growing awry. The -saddle necessary for it is a somewhat awkward-looking article to those -unaccustomed to view such things, but it may be satisfactory to know -that the Princess of Wales rarely uses any other kind. - -[Illustration: LEARNER, ON OFF-SIDE.] - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -LEARNING TO RIDE. - -HOW TO SIT--TO WALK--TO CANTER--AND TO TROT. - - -Being now provided with a fully-caparisoned mount, it is time that -you should begin in good earnest to learn to ride; therefore to this -pleasant task we will apply ourselves, reserving the interesting -subjects of shoeing, feeding, stabling, &c., for future consideration. - -To mount well must first be studied, and practised: the latter -assiduously, no matter how great the drudgery may be. It is certainly -disheartening to a learner to feel that one of the most trying portions -of her equine education is after all the only one that involves a very -serious drawback, namely, that of requiring assistance that cannot well -be done without; yet, so it is--and the difficulty is one which must -be considered and met. A lady may saddle and bridle her own horse, may -give him the finishing touches herself, and canter away, independently, -when once she is on his back--but to get there she must, as a rule, -seek for assistance from some source or another, and _animated_ -sources (by which I mean men) are generally painfully inefficient. It -certainly is what is expressively termed "hard lines" on a practised -equestrian to be made an exhibition of at door or covert-side by some -inexpert individual, who either sends her clean over the saddle by the -superfluous energy of his action, or leaves her to hang fire midway -while he stoops to pick up his hat, which he manages to lose through -stupidly poking his head forward at the moment at which she is making -her spring. I know exactly what it is, and the mortification that it -entails. Many of us are, unfortunately, familiar with the feeling -that we have done precisely the right thing ourselves, but that some -officious and horribly incompetent assistant--or would-be such--has -frustrated our efforts, and left us a laughing-stock in the centre of -a crowd. It is just like going up to a piano in full possession of all -the difficulties that may mark the song selected to be sung, and being -compelled to undergo the torments inflicted by a bad accompanist, who -handicaps the singer by his own utter unfitness for his task. Half -the people present are not able to discern whether it is the voice or -the piano that is at fault; they only know that the performance is a -failure, and speak of it afterwards as such. So it is with mounting for -a ride. Say that there are a hundred persons present at a lawn meet, -and you emerge from the house to mount your horse, with the result that -you are kept struggling for an awful moment or two betwixt the ground -and the saddle by some blushing booby who has offered to put you up, -and who will neither do so properly nor suffer you to jump quite down. -At least two-thirds of the onlookers will be ready to say the fault -is yours. My advice, therefore, is, never leave yourself open to an -unpleasantness of this description; select your assistant cavalier, -just as you have a right to accept or reject a partner for a dance--and -if nobody in whom you have confidence happens to be present, have -recourse to the groom's assistance, if you are quite certain that he -knows how to render it, and, if not, lead your horse to a low wall, -should such a thing be near enough, or take him, at all events, out of -sight of the crowd, and utilise _any_ sort of stepping-stone to reach -his back, rather than incur the ridicule or unjust remarks of the more -fortunate among your sex. - -It is, of course, in some cases, quite possible for a lady to let -down her stirrup and mount by it, unassisted--drawing it up again to -the required length when seated on her saddle. To little girls riding -ponies I have already recommended this plan; but for grown equestrians -it is far more frequently impracticable than otherwise. A lady rider -may be of diminutive stature, and may yet be called upon to mount a -very tall horse; or her stirrup may not be an easily movable one (say, -for instance, that she is accepting a ride upon a borrowed mount, with -trappings entirely unlike her own), or her habit-bodice, despite all -warnings, may not be loose enough about the waist to enable her to make -the long stretch up to the pommel which unassisted mounting always -requires. Therefore, writers who say that a lady can at _all_ times be -entirely independent of extraneous assistance prove to a certainty that -they have not studied the subject. - -The orthodox method of mounting is as follows: Take the reins and whip -in your right hand and lay the fingers of it firmly upon the top of -the up-pommel--grasping it, in fact; then, with your left hand, gather -your skirt away from your left foot, and place this latter in the hand -of your assistant, bending your knee as you do so. When you feel that -his palm is firmly supporting the sole of your foot, take your left -hand from your habit-skirt and place it on his left shoulder--he being -in a slightly stooping position at the time. Then give him the signal: -any pre-arranged word will do--"Ready!" "Go ahead!" "Now!" or, in -short, anything you may choose to fix. As you say the word, straighten -your knee, and make a slight spring upward, your cavalier at the same -instant raising himself to an erect position, without letting his hand -drop in the very smallest degree. By this arrangement you will reach -your saddle with comfort and expertness. It will, as already mentioned, -require some patient practice, for, like many other accomplishments, -it looks wonderfully simple and easy--until you come to try it. In -the event of having to mount by a wall, a big stone, a horse-bucket, -or other article--any one of which you may be glad at some time or -another to make use of on emergency--steady yourself well upon your -stepping-stone, whatever it may be, gather the reins in your _left_ -hand, laying it firmly upon the up-pommel or on the horse's mane, place -your foot in the stirrup, taking care that it is well freed from the -habit-skirt, then seize the cantle firmly with your right hand, and -jump into the saddle. If your skirt is properly cut, you will have no -difficulty in arranging it comfortably over your right knee when the -latter has been placed in position, and you should then lift yourself -slightly, and smooth the seat of the skirt from right to left with your -left hand, first transferring the reins and whip to your right, in -order to enable you to do so. - -You should be extremely careful, if wearing a spur, to keep your left -heel _well_ away from the horse's side when mounting: otherwise, the -consequences may be very disastrous. I once saw a lady thrown heavily -upon her face by a sudden start of her horse, through her spur having -struck him in the flank just as she reached the saddle, before she had -time to secure the support of the pommels. - -Be cautious, also, not to touch your horse, when mounting, with your -whip. If you do so he will assuredly start, and may give you an ugly -fall. It is for this reason that I advocate the custom of ladies -when mounting retaining the whip in their right hand and placing it, -together with the reins, on the up-pommel of the saddle, in place -of, as many do, handing it to their assistant cavalier. A man, when -he gets a lady's whip to hold, naturally tucks it away under his -arm, where a nervous horse keeps looking askance at it, and is often -rendered fidgetty by seeing it, even when it does not actually touch -him--although it very often does. I append two sketches, one showing -the correct position of the hand with whip and reins upon the pommel -when just about to mount, the other demonstrating the precise attitude -in which a lady ought to seat herself upon the saddle. - -If properly placed, and sitting erect and even, your seat ought to -be as secure as that of a man, or even more so, although you may have -to depend (which no doubt you will) upon the girths for safety, and -also to submit to the disadvantage of not having a leg on each side of -your horse to guide him or urge him to his paces. A clever rider will, -however, make her whip-handle serve her in great measure for this. - -[Illustration: MOUNTING.] - -Be careful, when seated, to keep the toe of the right foot from -pointing outward, and the left heel from going back--and look right -between your horse's ears, to ensure sitting straight. - -[Illustration: SEATED.] - -When you have once obtained a correct idea of position, you should -seek to acquire what is termed "a good seat"--in other words, an easy -confidence, which will add grace to your pose. I am now surmising -that you are teaching yourself--say, in a large field, or private -school--and that you have not anybody with you, save, perhaps, some -male friend or relative, who may be capable of assisting you if -required--without, however, being able to instruct. I cannot for a -moment advise you to go out _alone_ for the purpose of learning, no -matter how high-couraged you may be. Always enlist the services of a -suitable companion, or attendant, but remember that if the latter is a -servant--even though his service may be of many years' standing--you -are not on any account to permit him to give you so much as the very -smallest hint on any subject connected with equitation. Coachmen know -nothing at all about riding; and grooms, as a rule, very little: a -fact that is every day testified by their heavy hands and awkward -gait on horseback. Laying all this aside, however, there can be no -doubt that whatever hints servants may be capable of imparting to boy -pupils, they are the very worst possible instructors for girls, while -pretending very often to be the best. I attribute one-half the faults -in style which shock our eyes in park, street, and hunting-field, to -the pernicious teachings of "John the groom"; therefore, the moment -that such persons attempt to open their lips to you, except when spoken -to, shut them up at once, in a manner which (without any rudeness) will -show that you desire them to keep silent except when addressed. - -As soon as you are secure upon your saddle, and have learned to feel -at home there, get your horse walked about with the reins looped over -his neck. Do not touch them at all at first, or trouble yourself -about carrying a whip, but rather devote your energies and attention -to acquiring an _even balance_, and learning the proper grip of the -pommels--without which you never can ride well. Do not lean heavily -upon the stirrup, or force yourself to undue muscular action; nor -will it be in all cases wise to thrust the left foot "home," as it is -called,--better ride from the ball of it. Further reference to this -point will be found in the concluding chapter. - -Ascertain before starting that your stirrup-leather is precisely the -right length, in order that you may not be induced to lean to the left -side owing to its being too long, or have your knee uncomfortably -thrust up on account of its shortness. You should sit erect and square, -with chest forward and shoulders well back, yet without any appearance -of stiffness or rigidity of position. Be as firm as a rock _below_ the -waist, but light and flexible as a reed above it. On these two rules -all the beauty, and indeed the safety, of equestrianism depend. - -You must practice hard to attain a good, _steady_ seat, for it will not -come to you by magic. On the contrary, you will find yourself at one -moment sitting as stiff as a poker, with your chin thrust forward in -the air--and then, when you catch yourself thus, and strive to rectify -it by assuming a sudden limpness, you will discover that your lower -limbs have grown limp also, in sympathy with the rest of your body, and -are hanging so loosely that a touch will send you out of the saddle. -Again, you will discover that the toe of your right foot has a dreadful -tendency to turn outward from the ankle, while that of the left turns -down, and shows the sole of your boot to those in the rear of you. - -All these things will be seemingly against you for a long time after -you have begun to have your horse led about: a process which must -be done first by hand and then with a leading-stick, while you sit -perfectly erect, with your arms crossed upon your bosom, or your hands -lying easily (fingers laid together) in your lap, just below the waist. -Avoid, above all things, sitting too much to the left; it will not -only induce you to lean too hard upon the stirrup, a thing which you -ought not to do at all, but will be pretty certain to give your horse a -tender back from the very beginning. - -When you find that you can sit quite straight and steady while your -mount carries you at a walking pace, you may have him led by a -lunging-rein, and cantered slowly in a circle to the right, or in -a figure of 8. Never on any account grip the pommels, or clutch at -the mane, no matter how frightened you may be. A little start will -not upset you, nor will a sudden playful movement have the power -to send you off, provided that you are sitting "square," with your -right leg well pressed over the up-pommel, and your left against the -leaping-head, while your whole attention is given to your seat, and to -nothing else whatever. This is the true secret of learning to ride from -balance, and once it is yours, nothing can unseat you, so long as your -mount remains upon his legs. - -Cantering is not a difficult motion by any means. When attempting it -your attendant should make your horse lead with the off fore-leg, -although, should it be your intention to ride occasionally on the left -side of the saddle, you must accustom him to lead now and again with -the near. Sit well back, and when your mount moves in a circle, lean -just sufficiently to the right to enable you to see his feet. - -When you are at home in the canter you must commence to practice the -trot, which will be to you the beginning of sorrows. Do not at first -make any effort at rising in your saddle, but sit very close, and -prepare to bear the unpleasantness of the bumping--for it must be borne -for awhile--until you have become accustomed to the motion. As you -will of course have your hair flowing loosely, and a wide easy-fitting -jacket on, you will suffer fewer discomforts than if differently -apparelled. - -To rise in the saddle, you must keep the left heel well down, and -move the leg as little as possible. To sway it like a pendulum will -not help you one bit. Keep your hands perfectly steady--your arms to -your sides--your left foot slightly pressing the stirrup as the horse -throws out his near fore leg, while you lift yourself very slightly at -the precise instant that his other leg is advanced. It will take you a -long while to accomplish this. Over and over again you will sigh with -disappointment, and say involuntarily, "I cannot do it!" But you can, -and will in time, if you will only persevere. Few things that are worth -learning can be acquired in a hurry; a young robust girl, with plenty -of courage and go about her, will often learn how to "stick on" in an -incredibly short space of time--but will look supremely ridiculous -notwithstanding, both then and later; to acquire the _niceties_ of -riding, however, and become an adept at them, is a degree of perfection -to which comparatively few ladies ever attain. The accomplishment of -rising and falling nicely in the saddle, in time to the trot of the -horse, can only be acquired by constant practice; I do not believe -that the fact of having a master riding alongside of you, and saying -"one, two," "one, two," until you are half demented, will ever teach -it, although steady perseverance on your own part may, and will. - -[Illustration: "THE RIGHT AND THE WRONG OF IT." - -_page 103._] - -There are three things that I want you particularly to avoid. First, an -ugly churning movement, which is hideous to look at and distressing to -the horse; second, a disposition to ride with your elbows extended, or -your left hand on hip or thigh, or placed at the back of your waist; -and third, a habit of stooping forward in the trot and hanging over -to the near side, a fault which is extremely usual with lady riders. -I give an illustration of this unsightly position, by way of warning; -supplemented by one of a figure seated correctly upon the saddle, while -her horse is trotting at the rate of eight or nine miles an hour. - -As soon as you are perfectly mistress of the art of riding gracefully -from balance, and can walk, canter, and trot, both fast and slowly, -without any assistance save that which your grip of the pommels and -_slight_ help from the stirrup combine to afford you, the latter -adjunct may be discarded altogether for awhile, and you may ride for -an hour or so every day without it. You will not take very long to -practice this; indeed, the only inconvenience arising from it, at all -worth considering, will be a certain tired feeling in the left leg, -as though the limb wanted dreadfully to have something to support -it--but, believe me, a very few days of steady practice will enable -you to dispense with stirrup aid altogether, and not to feel at all -incommoded by doing so. In a week's time at furthest you will be able -to ride quite as easily without the stirrup as with it--and surely, -even were it to involve a month's hard labour, the result would prove -ample remuneration. If you mean to be a huntress, there will assuredly -be days when your hardly-earned accomplishment will stand you in good -stead, for never yet was there a straight-going lady who did not at -some time or another break a stirrup leather, or lose one, or find -herself in some way or another deprived, through accident, of the -support to which so many horsewomen unfortunately trust. It often -happens, too, that the misfortune occurs at a provokingly long distance -from home, and miles away, perhaps, from any place where repairs can be -executed; therefore, the advantage (in this respect alone) of learning -to ride without a stirrup must be at once apparent: to say nothing -of the great benefits derivable from having taught yourself complete -independence of any _support_ from it--a thing which always ensures an -erect and perfect seat. - -[Illustration: FAULTS IN STYLE.] - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -REINS, VOICE, AND WHIP. - - -When you have decided to your own satisfaction that you are mistress of -the art of riding from balance--can trot and canter in circles, and in -a figure of 8, without reins or stirrup, with waist pliant and nicely -hollowed, and shoulders well thrown back--you may, with advantage, take -up the reins and learn the uses of them. - -Learners, to whom I have endeavoured to expound this theory of -teaching, have asked me once or twice whether there was not some less -difficult way by which they might be taught; and I have no doubt that -many among my lady readers are longing to ask me the same question. -Certainly there is; in fact there are several ways which will be found -very much less difficult than the one that I am striving to teach. -Hosts of riding-masters will engage to perfect you (or very nearly so) -in six lessons--will put you on a horse, give you a stirrup and a stout -pair of reins, and adjure you volubly to "hold on," taking very little -further trouble about you; and if you are a plucky, intelligent girl -you _will_ hold on, and will canter and trot too, in a sort of way, -within the specified time,--and your instructor will take your money -with a smile, and allow you to go out into the park and make a show of -yourself, until some really kind disinterested friend warns you that -things are entirely wrong, and persuades you to go and unlearn all that -has already been taught you. - -There are just two ways of doing everything in this world--the right -and the wrong, and the latter is always, unfortunately, very much the -easier of the two, although so much the more unsatisfying in the end. -I am quite willing to acknowledge that some very nice horsewomen have -learned all that they know of riding without ever having gone through -one-half the labour which I have set forth as necessary; but those -four little words, "all that they know," contain the whole meaning of -the matter. I am willing to allow, also, that there are prodigies in -the world--at riding as at everything else--who can look nice, and go -straight, and seemingly do nothing amiss, and who yet have never been -taught to ride at all; but these are uncommon creatures, quite beyond -the study of books on horsemanship, or on anything else. They form, in -fact, the exceptions to the rule, that ladies who have learned to ride -in the ordinary way and from ordinary teachers, do _not_ ride well, or -correctly; and that even in cases where their appearance on horseback -is fairly satisfactory, and their park riding quite as good as many -others, the efforts made by them at cross-country riding are miserable, -and dangerous to a degree. Balance-riders can alone negotiate a -difficult country with safety. Hundreds of ladies get serious falls -every season over the difficult doubles of our trying Ward country and -the ragged fences of old Kildare, which they would never get had they -in the first instance been properly taught. Therefore, being desirous, -as I truly am, that all my lady readers shall excel at an art which is -so well worth studying, I have laid down the best practical directions -for their instruction, in the hope that they may accept and profit by -them; and I promise fearlessly that by so doing they will be in the -first flight when others are on the roadside, and in the saddle when -those who trust for safety to rein and stirrup are exploring the slimy -depths of some uncomfortable ditch. - -[Illustration: WALL JUMPING. - -_page 108._] - -Having now arrived at the question of holding the reins, we shall -consider their uses and abuses from a common-sense point of view. You -are not to regard them in any degree as a means of preserving your own -equilibrium--this I have already taught you. To ride from a horse's -head is one of the gravest faults of which an equestrian can be guilty; -nor must you depend altogether upon the bridle for the management of -your mount, this is a very general error, and one that I want you -strictly to avoid. Horses are controlled by three things: the reins, -the voice, and the legs--and a lady rider must make her whip-handle -serve her for the management and guidance of her mount on the off side, -where a man has the advantage of having his right leg to assist him in -the office. Of this more anon, for I mean to touch lightly upon the -three controlling powers. - -First, the reins. Teachers of the _haute ecole_ style of riding may -possibly have told you wonders about military horsemanship, and how the -movements of an animal may be regulated by certain subtle touches of -the thumb or little finger. I must candidly say that I don't believe -a word of their efficacy for general-purpose riding. I do not think -that a learner could ever be brought to understand such theories from -printed rules, or to profit by them if understood. Put a girl, for -instance, on a high-mettled hunter, loop the reins over the fingers of -her left hand only--as fashionable riding-masters do in schools--give -her the whip, pointed upwards (another general symptom of defective -teaching) in her right hand, and then send her out, not over the -smooth grass fields and through the convenient gates of beautiful -Leicestershire, where, a few years ago, a whole day's hunting might be -had without having to jump a single fence, but away over the rugged -plough and trying ridge-and-furrow which take the wind out of our Irish -hunters. The high stone walls of Galway hunting-fields are excellent -tests of skill; so also are the five-barred gates of Meath and Carlow, -and the yawning chasms--sixteen feet wide and twenty deep--at which -we in this hapless yet lovely old country have to steady our horses -when coming up, and support them when over, or else lie gasping at the -bottom, with broken ribs and damaged noses, and dreadful saddle-pommels -making havoc with our frames at every struggle of our engulfed and -terrified steeds. Send, I say, a _haute ecole_ rider out over Irish -hunting-grounds, and see what good she can accomplish with the little -finger of her left hand! Such teaching is a mere tirade of ornamental -nonsense, for which, I believe, no pupil would in the end feel at all -obliged. - -[Illustration: REINS: TWO HANDS.] - -I approve of taking the reins in both hands from the very beginning. -It is a sensible method: one which all colt-breakers adopt, and they -are not bad judges of such matters. Ladies, however, rarely adopt the -practice; it is not allowed in many of the most approved schools--but, -in my opinion, "Put both hands to your bridle" is excellent premonitory -advice. Begin by riding with a bridoon, or snaffle rein, only. Let your -fingers lie above it--not underneath,--the thumbs pointing toward one -another, at a distance of about three or four inches apart, the off -leather resting between the third and little fingers of the right hand, -while the slack of the near passes between the first finger and the -thumb. The illustration will show you what I mean, and demonstrate how -by this rule both hands have equal command upon the bridle. - -[Illustration: SHORTENING REINS.] - -[Illustration: AT A FENCE.] - -To shorten your reins quickly: let go the slack of the _off_ one with -the left hand, and slip it forward on the _near_ leather, until you -have judged (rapidly, of course) of the correct length; then take the -off one between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand, and you -establish a _cross-rein_, the right hand quitting its hold _instantly_, -and taking up its original position. I append an illustration of my -meaning, and strongly advise a little practice of it, which can be -readily managed even in the house, by utilising tape or ribbon reins -attached to the back of a chair. The method thus described is an -admirable one for shortening a single bridle when coming up, say, to a -fence at which a horse may require some holding; and I likewise append -a little sketch of how the bridle ought to hang, and the hands be -held, when going over. - -When you want to ride leisurely, in park or on road, with the reins -in one hand only--a thing at times not at all to be deprecated--draw -the near rein between the third and little fingers of your left hand, -and bring it out between the first and thumb, while the off one is -made to cross it in the palm of the hand, thus:-- - -[Illustration: REINS IN ONE HAND--FIRST POSITION.] - -Then turn the hand with the knuckles _upward_, as here represented, - -[Illustration: REINS IN ONE HAND--SECOND POSITION.] - -and a correct position will be ensured. - -You should avoid working the fingers about when riding, as doing so is -very apt to shift the bit in the horse's mouth. Your hand may go back -and forth with a "give-and-take" movement, but not from side to side on -any account. - -[Illustration: REINS FIRMLY IN BOTH HANDS.] - -The best method of riding with double reins can, I think, be most -effectually shown by illustration. This represents the reins held -firmly, though not tightly, in both hands; while that on the next page -shows an easy style of going--one that is nice to adopt when proceeding -at a walking pace. When trotting, the reins may be dropped by the right -hand, which should then be lowered to the level of the saddle--the whip -pointing _downwards_. - -If you wish to ride with one rein only, though with a double bridle, -hold the snaffle rein in your left hand in the manner already -described, and loop the curb over your little finger, in order that it -may be readily taken up when required. - -[Illustration: WALKING PACE.] - -I may here say that, despite the directions which I have taken pains -to give on the subject of holding reins I adhere to the belief that so -long as they are held flat and smooth, there need not really be any -_fixed rule_ about the handling of them. If elbows, shoulders, and -wrists are in proper position, it matters comparatively little how -fingers may be held--and beginners are, as a rule, a great deal too -much worried and puzzled about a matter which generally simplifies -itself according as a knowledge of more important things is acquired. -At the same time, there is with this, as with everything else, a right -and a wrong side to the subject; and in order to avoid the wrong, it -will perhaps be as well to adopt the orthodox right method from the -very beginning. There is, however, nothing at all wrong in occasionally -moving the reins about and changing them from one hand to the other. -All good riders do it, and it is vastly better than adopting the stiff, -set style which would-be fine riders sometimes affect: namely, placing -the hands in one position when setting out, and scarcely ever altering -them from it. A good horsewoman will sedulously avoid everything -that is stiff or ungraceful, and will move about in her saddle with -as much pliant ease as though seated at home in an easy chair. The -unsightly rigidity observable about the figures and demeanour of some -lady-riders--especially those whose "teaching" has been too finely -drawn--is certainly not a thing to be copied or admired. - -Having now discussed the subject of reins, we come to consider the -"Voice" as a means of controlling and managing the horse. - -I have always considered the effect and power of the voice as second -only in usefulness to those of the bridle. Horses are intelligent and -sensitive beyond what most persons can be induced to think or believe. -I know to a certainty that they not only listen to, and are influenced -by, every sound that issues from their riders' lips, but absolutely -gather his meaning and desires from the various inflexions of his -voice. I know that they love their masters and mistresses, and look to -them for teaching, just as dependent children ask you what it is that -you wish them to do. There is something inexpressibly beautiful in -this loving intelligence on the part of animals--this sympathy between -horse and rider, which, in a former chapter, I strove to say something -about. Horses are in reality the very noblest of God's created -things--excepting, of course, man _as he ought to be_. They have, so -far as their endowments permit, all the attributes that go to make the -human character lovable and good, supplemented by a rare fidelity, -such as is unhappily seldom met with among those who are fashioned -in the Creator's own image. I have read, and been told a great deal, -about horses that were "obstinate brutes," and "wicked devils," and -"outrageous beasts," and everything else that was hateful and bad--and -have listened with a bursting and indignant heart to accounts of -thrashings, and starvings, and spurrings, and mouth-burnings, and other -wickednesses, which have made me feel how infinitely superior was the -so-called brute creation to that which it is made to serve. I confess -that it has not been my lot to come across any specimens of this -much-talked-of vicious sort, excepting in one or two rare instances, -where I knew that vice had been engendered by bad and cruel treatment. -I have no doubt that horses, like human beings, are sometimes born -with evil natures--_sometimes_, but not very often. I have not met -with any of them, and the few with whom I have ever had trouble have -invariably been those whom wanton cruelty or rank injustice had in the -first instance spoilt. There are very few horses indeed--even the most -unruly--that cannot be tamed, or made amenable and obedient, by the -hands and _voice_ of a kind and judicious trainer, and for this sort of -work women are especially fitted. I mean, of course, women of courage -and mind; not such as would scream at sight of a spider, or go into -fits if a mouse chanced to cross the floor. A woman's voice carries -great power along with it, and the touch of her light firm hands can -effect things at which a man's would utterly fail. Gentleness goes ever -in advance of force, and leading is preferable to driving. Even if you -have to scold, or whip, there is a way of doing both that is temperate -and wise, and that will never create ill-will between you and your -horse. Fight an animal, and he will fight you in return; coax him by -the gentleness of your action and the sound of your voice, and he will -be pretty certain to yield. It is just the difference between "lead" -and "drive." Such, at least, has been my experience. - -I saw a horse some time ago in the west of Ireland, caged like a wild -beast, and fed with a pitchfork through the bars of his door. Nobody -would go near him, he bore such a bad name, and the appellation his -groom bestowed upon him--"A tattherin' divil!"--was certainly more -expressive than refined. I offered to buy him; his owner said I might -have him for nothing; but I gave what I thought fair, and took the -horse home. The creature was wild from savage treatment. He had known -nothing but blows and threats, and angry epithets: things that he had -learned to understand only too well, and was, seemingly ever expectant -of, and waiting for. I taught him something different--and how?--by -the simple power of my voice. It is not a particularly musical one, by -any means, except in the ears of animals, but to one of these it has -never yet uttered an angry word,--and the horse came to know it, and -to listen for it, and to neigh at the sound of it, and by-and-by we -got to understand one another quite well, and the great, big, foolish -old head, all defaced and disfigured as it was by hard knocks and bad -usage, used to rest lovingly upon my shoulder, while I stroked the ears -that in former days had so often been laid back in angry vindictiveness -against a harsh and cruel task-master. "He'll take the nose off your -face some day, the treacherous brute!" an ex-attendant upon my new pet -once said to me. But, needless to say, it was a libel: my nose is still -intact. The horse learned to love me, and to caress and obey from that -feeling. I believe he would have died for me. When I hunted him he -jumped the biggest places at a word from my lips. Without whip, curb, -or spur I rode him for many a day, over the difficult Ward country, -and he never once played me a shabby trick. Poor fellow! He had not a -particle of beauty about him; indeed, I think he was ridiculously ugly, -in all save prejudiced eyes; but he had an honest heart, one that would -have broken rather than have grieved or disobeyed his owner; and when -I had to shoot him (he broke his back, leaping a drain with a friend -to whom I had unfortunately lent him for a day's schooling), he turned -such an eye upon me as I cannot to this day think of without a lump in -my throat that is very seldom there. - -The voice, as an instigator and soother, is alike powerful with the -horse, if we only know how to use it; and being so, it is a pity -that it should ever be employed for any other purpose than that -which is good. Teach your horse from the beginning to know the sound -of your voice--the various tones which signify approval, warning, -encouragement, and reproof--and by them you can teach him to obey you, -just as you can with the reins. - -I do not altogether approve of speaking to strange horses when mounted -upon them. Were I, for instance, to borrow a hunter for a day's outing, -I don't think I should be inclined to talk much to him; I should fear -that he might not understand me, and that mischief might consequently -ensue. I have, in fact, seen men get tremendous falls in the hunting -field through shouting at hired mounts, just when they were rising at -their fences--frightening the animals out of their wits by so doing, -and throwing them completely off their balance. - -With your own horses, however, it ought to be quite a different thing. -You should so accustom them to the sound of your voice that, no matter -how it may be raised, it shall have no startling effect upon them. An -intelligent animal will soon come to know and judge of your meaning by -the tone in which you speak to him, and will learn his own name, too, -marvellously quickly, if frequently called by it, a thing that will be -a great aid to you in training him. He will very soon also comprehend -the meaning of such terms, as "Trot," "Canter," "Stand," "Walk," and so -forth, and will ere long obey every mandate that comes directly and -firmly from your lips. - -"Hi, over!" is, for instance, a capital incentive for making a horse -fly his fences without hanging at them,--but you must never trade upon -an animal's intelligence for the purpose of fooling him, or showing -off. I once knew a man who boasted that by simply saying "go!" he could -make his mare jump fifteen feet of an ordinary field, and he tried it -twice or thrice for the benefit of unbelieving acquaintances; but, when -next he took the animal out to hunt, and raced her at a brook, with the -hitherto magic word screamed loudly in her ear, it proved to be a very -decided case of "go," and "go in" also, for she just planted her toes -on the brink of it, and, stopping short, sent her over-confident rider -head foremost into the water. - -The use of the whip as a means of managing a horse is, unfortunately, -too often entirely misunderstood: to hurt, frighten, or coerce with -it being seemingly the chief object with many riders. Allowing that -all three may at times be necessary--as in the case of vicious horses, -for instance--ladies will very rarely find it to be the case, their -mounts being, generally speaking, of a gentle and docile type. Leaving, -therefore, the abuses of the whip on one side, its uses in the hands of -a competent horsewoman are usually reduced to the part which it may be -made to fill in helping her to guide her mount on the off side--just -as a man's second leg assists him in doing--and, in like manner, to -press him up to his work. This can, of course, be best accomplished by -the aid of a stout hunting-crop, carried handle uppermost, as a rule: -although there are times when to shift the position of the whip, and -press the heaviest part against the horse's flank, will be found very -effectual, particularly when negotiating ugly trappy fences, or turning -sharp corners at a brisk trot. For example, when, in the latter case, -the turn is to the right, the rider's body should be bent slightly to -the off side of her mount, and her leg be pressed lightly but firmly -against his flank on the near side. This preserves an even balance, and -will often save a fast flippant trotter from coming right down. When -the turn is to the left, the body should be inclined a little that way, -while the whip handle is judiciously pressed against the off side, thus -preventing the animal's quarters from swinging too suddenly round. - -I may here take occasion to say that corners ought never to be turned -without both hands being put to the bridle, and a support given to -both sides of the horse; if to the right, the leg the strongest--if -to the left, the whip. When the pace is very quick, and the turn is -a decidedly sharp one, the horse's hind legs will need to be brought -under him all the quicker, for which reason the body of the rider must -sway _well_ with his motion, while the necessary support is, at the -same time, given on either side. - -I shall conclude my observations about the uses of the whip by -saying--use it as little as you can to punish, and as much as you -can to aid. Above all things, _never take it up in anger_, nor for a -moment forget that the creature on whom the stroke is about to fall is -sensitive to its lightest touch, and is fully capable of being ruled -without severity. - -The same remarks apply also to the spur--the abuses of which are even -more general and lamentable than are those of the whip. - -[Illustration: THE HORSE LEARNED TO LOVE ME.] - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -RIDING ON THE ROAD. - - -I have hitherto been surmising that your rides have been upon your -own horse: one specially purchased for you, and perfectly trained -for a lady's use. If such a state of things could always be ensured, -equestrianism would be a safe and delightful pastime for the gentler -sex--but, unfortunately, it cannot be so. Ladies who are much in the -saddle are called upon often to ride a variety of horses, and under -such circumstances their position is an awkward one, if unaccustomed to -manage any save thoroughly-trained and well-mannered animals. To have -none other for one's own use is at all times advisable, so far as it -can be done, but occasions may arise when you will have to prove your -claim to a higher title than that of merely a "nice" or "ladylike" -rider. Say, for instance, that you are stopping at a country house, -your invitation to which has not been extended to your horse, or yet -to your groom, and that there are riding parties every day, which -you are invited to join, your host sometimes supplying you with a -mount, and a neighbour occasionally offering to lend you one, it is -scarcely probable that, having a different animal to carry you every -time you go out, you can hope to escape discovering the uncomfortable -effects which pernicious training, or subsequent injudicious handling, -invariably bring about. To be prepared for these--not to be taken -aback by them--to be ready to face every emergency, and overcome every -difficulty in the way of equitation--is the true meaning of the word -"horsewoman." It shall be my office, then, in this chapter to endeavour -to tell you as concisely as possible how to act (in all cases of -ordinary road-riding), when called upon to control horses with whose -ways you are not altogether familiar. - -In the first place, when your mount is led to the door, be ready in -time to go out and inspect him. This you can readily do while the -laggards of the party are preparing for their ride. In using the term -"inspect," I do not mean that you are to assume a confident, boastful -air, or proceed to make an ostentatious examination, as though nobody -knew anything about horse business save yourself. This would only make -you appear ridiculous, and be calculated to incur dislike. You should -go quietly to your horse's head, and while affecting to be engaged in -caressing him, run a hasty eye over the following points: that the -saddle is quite clear of the play of the shoulders, and yet not too -far back; that the girths are tight enough, and the surcingle not too -loose, although decidedly easier than the girths; that the headstall is -sufficiently long, and in every way easy-fitting--the curb-chain the -correct length--the lip-strap on--the martingale (if a standing one) of -easy length, and if a running, so arranged that the pull of the reins -shall be in the proper place--namely, at the top of the withers. If you -find nothing to correct, you may account yourself fortunate; if, on the -contrary, you perceive that anything is amiss or out of place, signify -the same quietly to the groom, and then go indoors, or turn aside, -while he rectifies it. There is something positively unkind in standing -staring at a servant while he attends to matters which you have pointed -out to him for correction. Ten to one, if you do so, he will grow -confused beneath your scrutiny, and will leave his task imperfectly -accomplished. Consideration for others ought at all times to be a part -of your religion. Give no unnecessary trouble; do as much for yourself -as you possibly can; never speak harshly to even the humblest; strive -to put everybody at ease; look away from an embarrassed person until he -has recovered his composure; and if you detect a failure or shortcoming -in a servant's work, tell him gently about it--quietly, and without -impatience--and it will probably be rectified very much sooner than if -you scolded or stormed. For my own part, I have no liking for grooms -at all, and regard most of them as the veriest eye servers; but I know -there are times when they are unjustly blamed. In this matter I once -got a useful lesson at an English country house. My horse was brought -to the door without a lip-strap, and with things in general so very -indifferently turned out that, being in a hurry, I got provoked, and -began to say more than my custom usually was. The groom, whose eyes -were cast down, looked pitifully at me as he answered, "Forgive me -to-day, ma'am, please. My little child died this morning!" And the -great tears rolled down the poor fellow's cheeks, and I felt grieved -for having spoken impatiently to him when his heart was so sore. It was -a lesson not to be forgotten, for there are times with ourselves when -sickness or trouble prevents us from attending properly to our tasks; -and servants are liable to similar weaknesses. - -It will be well, when you are seated comfortably in your saddle -and have felt your horse's mouth a little, to inquire of your -host (should the animal belong to him) whether or not he has any -peculiarities, or "little tricks," for which it may be as well you -should be prepared. You will be almost certain to hear "No," for it -is a strange coincidence that men are quite as infatuated about their -equine possessions as women are about their children, and will never -on any account be induced to believe that such a thing as a fault can -possibly exist in the nature or training of any of their stud. At the -same time, it can be no harm to _ask_, and then, if the owner can be -reluctantly brought to acknowledge that he "wants a bit of rousing," -you may prepare yourself for the discomforts of riding a slug, or, if -the animal is allowed to be "a trifle skittish," you can ask for an -ounce or two of diachylon, or the same quantity of birdlime, to stick -yourself well in the saddle! - -Joking apart, it is really an unwise thing to be too foolhardy about -riding strange horses. The most courageous equestrian in the world -ought not to fancy herself above asking, in a pleasant off-hand way, -for some information concerning the character of her casual mount; -in fact, the more accomplished the rider, the more necessary it may -be to do so, for there are many owners of horses who know very little -themselves about riding, or of the perils attendant upon supplying -ladies with unsuitable mounts--and the consequence is, that if there -happens to be in the stable a creature whom that Irish groom, already -mentioned, would call a "tattherin' divil," he is quietly told off on a -hunting day, or otherwise, for the use of the lady or gentleman who may -be esteemed the most capable of managing him. - -A Hungerton farmer--one of a big class--once volunteered to lend me a -magnificent high-flyer to negotiate the big thorn fences with the Quorn -pack. I was foolish enough to accept, without asking anything about the -animal, except whether he could jump; and when I tell you that between -Beeby and Scraptoft he gave me two falls, that he knocked down a boy on -a pony, and damaged a wrecker to the extent of a couple of sovereigns, -besides bringing me home without a hat, and with my face well stuck -over with thorns and a general need of surgical assistance all about -me, it will be readily imagined that the "high-flyer" was not exactly -an eligible beast for a lady to ride. But his owner only stood in the -doorway laughing from ear to ear when he saw me, and uttered a great -"guffaw" on hearing the recital of his property's misdeeds. "Glory -be to Christmas! I thought you could ride anything!" was all that he -said, fairly doubled in two with merriment at the sight of my forlorn -appearance,--and I answered crossly enough, that had I been as wise -when setting out as I was on returning, I would have seen that the -animal was differently bitted, and have clothed myself in sackcloth--to -say nothing of ashes--instead of in the best hunting-gear of which I -was possessed. "Well, you never asked me a word about him," his owner -said, still in a roar, "or I'd have told you that he was a rum one when -once he got going!" and as I had nothing to say in reply to this, I -took myself and my rags upstairs out of sight, and spent the next day -in bed, with a leech to my eye, and plasters all over my body. - -To return to the subject of road-riding. - -Always strive to make your horse start from the door at a walk. If he -is properly trained he will step nicely out, nodding his head as he -goes; but no matter how quiet he may appear, it will not be well to -leave him an entirely loose rein. You should keep a light but firm -hold upon the bridle, so as to be ready at a second's warning to bring -restraining pressure to bear upon his mouth. - -If you want a horse to walk fast, ride him with the snaffle only; but -when in the park, or desirous of showing off, you will best bring out -his action by a light use of the curb. If he is a very highly-mettled -animal, and anxious to get off on first setting out, do not irritate -him by keeping him back with too tight a rein. Allow him to trot away -pretty freely at the beginning, and after awhile he will be almost -certain to settle down and walk collectedly for you with a slack -bridle. To hold a horse in, and then whip or spur him to make him -walk, is but to turn his courage to vice. My counsel is, leave him -his head, and when he attempts to break--namely, to get into a trot -or canter--at a time when it is your wish that he should walk, pull -him gently up and make him begin again. By adopting this method, and -preserving as strict a command over your own temper as over the reins, -you will soon teach almost any horse to walk correctly. - -I believe that in no other pace can there be found such true experience -of the meaning of "light hands." This admirable attribute--which, it -must be confessed, is generally confined to women--signifies absolute -control over an animal with scarcely any display of force--a sort -of elastic touch, by which accomplished riders convey their meaning -to their mounts through the almost imperceptible action of the bit, -acted upon by the reins held lightly with the fingers. This is a poor -explanation, but it will do to serve as a guide, until experience shall -have taught you far better than printed instructions ever can. - -I would have you remember that although a very perfect walker may be -permitted to go forward for a good space with a loose rein, he should -never, _if tired_, be allowed to do so, for even one moment. Hold him -with a firm, even hand, keeping a judicious watch upon the bridle, and -drawing his head rather _downward_ and _toward his chest_. By this -means he will be constrained to bring his hind legs well and regularly -under him. - -Young riders are often exceedingly incautious when taking beaten horses -home after a hunt, desiring to affect the seemingly careless seat and -equally unstudied handling of the reins which are the prerogatives of -finished horsewomen. These, having complete confidence in themselves, -can afford a certain show of _nonchalance_, but it will not do for -students to follow their "carelessness," until their own claim to both -"hands" and "seat" shall have become perfectly ensured. - -You must, when walking, keep your horse collected: by which I mean that -he is to be kept well on his haunches, and prevented from crossing his -legs. Let him pick his own steps if going over rutty or uneven ground; -move with him as he moves, turn as he turns, so as to be, as it were, -a portion of him, and, when going round a corner, do not pull his head -any further in that direction than will just enable you to see his eye. - -Having thus considered the subject of instructing an imperfectly-broken -horse to walk well upon the road--in such a manner as shall gain for -him the reputation of being a good roadster, or covert hack--we will -now say a few words about trotting. When you want an animal to change -from a walk to a trot, signify your wish to him by a light movement -of the bridle in his mouth, a pressure of your leg and whip-handle, -and an indication of your meaning by a slight rising in the stirrup. -When he begins to go, keep him thoroughly well collected, but not on -any account too tightly reined in. Timid equestrians do themselves -and their mounts great injustice by fancying that a tight grip of the -bridle, and consequent shortening of the horse's head, is in any way -calculated to ensure their safety. It is exactly the contrary way. -Allow somebody to rein back your own head and neck, and then attempt -to walk down an unknown staircase, or go in and out among obstacles -that you cannot see. Ten to one you will make a blunder, and come -down; whereas, had you been left your head, your progress would in -all probability have been perfectly easy and safe. I hope I shall -succeed in making my meaning distinctly understood in this matter, -because it really is a most important one. I just want to illustrate -the difference between permitting an animal to go all abroad (or what -Tom Cannon calls "slummucking")--and reining him in so very tightly -that he cannot see where he is expected to plant his feet. On your -complete knowledge of this essential subject, one-half, if not more, of -your success as a horsewoman must inevitably depend, and in my anxiety -that you should grasp the meaning of it, I may, perhaps, be found -fault with for referring to it too often, or for speaking of it in too -homely a fashion. This is, I am aware, an age of false refinement: -one in which a writer has to grapple with extraordinary difficulties, -being stigmatised as "coarse" when he ventures to set forth home and -useful truths, and "vulgar" when he writes humorously or introduces a -spice of fun. Now, it is not my way to care in the least whether or -not such terms are applied to me by outsiders (my friends can judge -for themselves)--but I would a good deal rather any day be a "vulgar" -_practical_ writer, doing some good in my generation, than a "refined" -useless one, and I think it necessary to make reference to the matter -in this place, because I have a great deal yet to say on subjects -connected with the one on which I am writing, and if I am to dress up -my sentences in flowers and satin ribbons, instead of suffering the -plain meaning of them to appear, I may go on writing for many months to -come, and yet fail to make myself properly understood in the end. - -You must bear in mind that the trot is the horse's natural pace, and -that when not overpressed he will go further and with less fatigue -to himself when _regulated_ to it, than at either a canter or -gallop. At the same time, he must not on any account be urged beyond -the limit of his powers, for such a course is not only cruel, but -dangerous--inasmuch as an animal going a hard pace cannot, if he makes -a mistake, recover his balance as rapidly as if proceeding at the even -rate of eight, or from that to ten miles an hour. I consider the latter -excellent going indeed; too fast, in fact, unless the remainder of your -party happen to be as well mounted as yourself--for nothing on earth is -more indicative of bad taste than riding perpetually in front of those -who are in company with you. - -I am not, as a rule, at all in favour of allowing a horse to break from -a trot to a canter, or from one pace of any kind to another, but there -are times--when going long distances, for instance--at which a humane -rider will permit her mount to do so by way of rest and change, rather -than keep him perpetually going at precisely the same pace, in order to -gain for him the name of an exceptionally fine trotter. - -Your rise and fall in the saddle should be light, graceful, straight, -easy, and accurately in time with the movements of your horse's -forelegs. By attending to this rule when riding on the road, you will -save yourself and your mount a great deal of unnecessary fatigue. - -If you find, when trotting, that your horse is going in an -uncomfortable, one-sided manner, giving now and again a strange sort of -cow kick, you may be confident that the saddle is hurting him. In such -a case dismount at once, and if at all close to home, put the bridle -over your arm and lead him the rest of the journey. Should it happen, -however, when you are a long distance away, you must only take him very -quietly indeed, until you are near enough to walk the remainder of the -way yourself. - -It is on just such emergencies that the practice, which I have so -staunchly recommended, of wearing comfortable easy-fitting boots, comes -most usefully in. I have seen ladies remain seated upon the backs of -most palpably suffering horses, simply because they were absolutely -incapable of walking even half a mile in the boots which they had -donned for riding. - -Never allow your horse to get into a jog-trot when in company with a -riding party, or in the park--but remember that it is a most valuable -pace at which to bring home a tired hunter. A very light easy canter, -wherever the road is soft, or where there is sufficient grass by the -side of it to take the jar off his feet, or else what is known as the -"jog," will be the most humane way of getting him safely to his stable. - -Many lady riders imagine that cantering is a safer as well as a -pleasanter pace at which to travel, than trotting (whether fast or -slow) can ever be. This is really a great mistake; trotting is the -safest pace at which a horse can go, provided that he is sound-footed. -I shall strive to explain the reason in a few words. When cantering, -the off fore and off hind leg are advanced together, leaving the others -in the rear; thus the diagonal legs of the two pairs are not set down -simultaneously. If you listen to a perfectly sound horse trotting on -a road, you will hear four even beats; but in the canter it may be -only two or three, according as the animal's weight is adjusted. When -trotting he makes his diagonal legs serve him turn about, so that when -one pair is going forward, the other is sustaining his weight in an -equal, or perfectly _even_ manner; not in a one-sided way, as is the -case in the canter. A sound-footed horse, trotting at a regular pace, -always has two diagonal supports under him, and two coming to their -assistance, for which very reason fast trotting is a dangerous pace -when a leg or foot happens to be unsound, or when a slovenly motion is -indulged in. - -A horse trotting quickly should never be pulled up in a hurry. You -should bring him to a slow trot by shortening the reins, and then to a -walk by sitting down in the saddle, and talking to him in a language -that he will very readily learn to comprehend. - -In reining a horse back, you must keep in mind the fact that he cannot -move at all if you drag him so _suddenly_ backward that he gets both -hind-legs under him together. It is a revolting and heartrending -sight to see the way in which draymen beat unfortunate horses about -the breasts and bellies by way of punishment for not backing heavy -loads far enough, when, in reality, the wretched animals are in such -position that they cannot by any possibility move their extended -hind-legs. I saw a cruel instance of this in Liverpool a few months -ago: a carter savagely beating his horse, a crowd of persons looking -on, and one or two among them abusing the man in no measured terms; -yet not one had the sense to tell him that if he would only lead the -horse quietly _forward_, even a step or two, and _then_ back him, doing -the same thing every time that he came to a stop, the desired object -would very soon be attained--which it was, as soon as the proper method -had been tried. This is just the principle of reining back. The horse -must be collected, and brought _square_ on his legs every time that he -resists, and be again brought under the influence of the bridle, for -backing purposes, when he has come to an even stand. - -I fancy it will be almost superfluous to tell you to observe strictly -the rules of the road--namely, to keep to the left, except when you -have to pass anything going your way, in which case you must get by on -the right of it. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -PACES, VICES, AND FAULTS. - - -Cantering is a very nice pace for park or road riding, when the ground -is soft, and not cut up by stones. A trained horse will start from -a walk to a canter at a very slight indication from his rider, but -surmising (as in the last chapter) that you have accepted the loan of a -somewhat unmannerly or not sufficiently educated mount, you must induce -him to canter by collecting him well on his haunches (from which the -motion is in reality performed), touching him with the whip on the off -side, and drawing his head gently round to the near until he makes a -start. When he does so, balance yourself in time to his movement, and -use the bridle lightly, with a very slight give-and-take motion of -your hands. Do not allow him to get into a gallop; but, at the same -time, remember that it will be cruel to keep him cantering too long, -especially unless you permit him to change his leg, for which purpose -you must pull him quietly up, and reverse the movement by which, in the -first instance, you have urged him to go off. A slow, handsome canter, -collected and dignified, looks extremely well no doubt in the park, but -it is terribly trying to a horse when kept up too long; in fact, a -smart, stirring gallop will not distress him nearly so much. - -When cantering keep your knees firmly pressed against the pommels--sit -close to the saddle, like a part of your horse--and throw your -shoulders well back. - -The very nice pace called a hand-gallop may be indulged in by -slackening the rein a little, and encouraging your mount by voice or -bridle to go a trifle faster. The hand-gallop never distresses a horse, -even a broken-winded one; it is a joyous, exhilarating motion, in which -both steed and rider find pleasure. Conversation need not be stopped by -it, or even interrupted for a moment, and it will be found a delightful -pace at which to go to covert in the morning, or to travel on to the -next one, when "blank" has been called at the first. - -The hand-gallop is only pastime--mere play, without any peril--but -the gallop proper, to which I now come to allude, is a very serious -business indeed for a young rider to take in hand. If your horse is -a trained one, you have only to sit down close when he gallops, and -hold the reins firmly in both hands: your seat secure, your body as -motionless as you can make it, your elbows like hinges, your hands low -on the withers, keeping your horse's head straight and steady, while -you give-and-take with his every stride, and on no account, or under -any circumstances whatever, keep a dead pull on his mouth. - -I shall surmise, however, as before (for the purpose of instructing -you) that your steed is not by any means perfect, and that he will -probably give you a good deal of trouble before you have quite done -with him. He will not be likely to have all the vices, or even one-half -of those for which I am about to prepare you, but you will probably -meet with them in one form or another at different periods of your -career as a horsewoman: therefore a few words about such matters will -not, I think, be amiss. - -If called upon to ride a puller, get his head up, and then drop your -hands a little to him, to see whether he will yield to your will. If he -fails to do so, catch the reins short, draw back your foot, give him -one good pull, and then another: in short, a succession of them--but -yield to him always between whiles, and speak to him in a quiet, -soothing manner. Do not attempt to fight him, or he may run away with -you, and that is nasty for a lady. If you think that he has the bit -between his teeth, you may saw at it from side to side until you get -him to release it. - -Boring is a very unpleasant vice, if I may call it one. Few horses -have it naturally, and I attribute it in most cases to an undue use of -the curb. I have found that the best method of treating it is to take -up the cheek-pieces of the headstall. If a horse bores to one side -(a most unsightly habit), attach the throat-latch to the ring of the -snaffle-bridle by a small strap on the side opposite to that on which -the head is bent. This is generally effectual, because it brings the -mouthpiece to bear upon the gum. - -A kicker is not a pleasant mount for a lady, and the powers which some -animals possess in this especial line are simply astonishing. As a rule -you will perceive, either by the laying back of your horse's ears, or -a queer wriggle of his body, that he is going to do something that -will stamp him as a villain, and if these indications are accompanied -by a backward turning of a very whitened eye, look out at once for your -life! Many horses will, however, give no warning of any kind, and they -of course are the most dangerous sort. Thoroughbreds are quite dreadful -in this particular. They will kick when going a brisk gallop. I have -twice had my hat _lashed_ by the tails of high kickers--and the most -stunning fall I ever got in my life was through being caught napping -by one of these volatile gentlemen, who pretended to be going up to -his bridle in the most collected manner possible (when exercising one -day in frosty weather, in a wood), and suddenly shot me off like an -arrow from a bow!--so high, too, that to this day I am ready to swear I -saw the tops of the bare elms, while the force of my contact with the -ground, when at length I came down upon it, gave me concussion of the -spine, from which I suffered for several succeeding months. - -A horse that kicks must be ridden in a severe bit, except in cases -where it is only an ebullition of spirits. Where this is the case, ride -him hard, and get it out of him; when it amounts to an actual vice, you -must keep him partially in order by using a bit such as I seriously -decry for other forms of misdemeanor, and when he begins his unpleasant -pranks get his head _well_ up, so that he can't force it between his -knees, and bend him round until you compel him to turn. By doing this a -few times he will probably leave off kicking. - -To ride a kicker in the hunting-field is highly injudicious and -unfair. Some excellent hunters, however, though not by any means -confirmed kickers, will lash out dangerously when riders are crowded -together at a gap, and this is about the very worst time at which a -horse can possibly misconduct himself. When riding one of this sort, -you must be content to pay the penalty of his vagaries by isolating -yourself from the rest of the field--a disadvantage, of course, for -all riders naturally make for the best places at which to get out; and -if, in spite of this, you are pressed upon by others, you must put -your hand to the back of your waist, the fingers turning outwards, and -motion slightly with them, in order that those in the rear of you may -know that they are in peril. - -Buck-jumping is another most unpleasant vice, although happily not a -very common one in this country. I have only come across one horse who -possessed it. He belonged to a Meath farmer, and I bought him for a -song on account of his failing. He got me off five times the first day -that I attempted to ride him, and so delighted was he with himself when -he succeeded in gaining the odd number, that he actually kept bucking -about, like a playful goat, all around me--squealing and romping, and -flourishing his horrid heels at me--while I lay exhausted upon the -ground, too much bruised to be able to get up without help. After this -I put a gag-snaffle on him, pulled the reins sharply when he attempted -to get his head down, and then, when he lowered it in spite of me, let -the leathers slip through my fingers on to his neck, leaned back as far -as ever I could (still, however, keeping hold of the reins), and the -moment I was able to get a pull at him, turned him round and round -from one side to the other, until both he and I were pretty tired of -the work. All things considered, I cannot conscientiously recommend a -buck-jumper for a lady's use. - -Rearing is a very dangerous vice for a horsewoman to have to contend -against, owing to the side position which she occupies in the saddle. -If ever you are unlucky enough to have to mount a rearer, do not touch -him with a curb at all; ride him on the snaffle only, and when he -attempts to rise up with you, lean well forward and clutch his mane -firmly with your hands, holding the bridle very loosely all the while, -and touching him sharply with your heel. Do not on any account lay your -whip upon him, be it ever so lightly. I myself have found the butt end -of such an article, brought down briskly between the ears of a rearer, -a very efficient mode of bringing him to his senses,--but please bear -in mind that I do not either advocate or recommend it: in fact, rather -than do so, I should prefer to warn you _against_ it, for once, when, -flushed with my own success, I chanced to say something in favour of -the system, my temerity brought thirty-two letters down upon me (most -of them from horrified old gentlemen who declared that their daughters -were practising on the carriage horses!), and the columns of more than -one sporting paper were inundated for a month or two with an inane -correspondence. - -I have found a rearing bit most useful at times; but, if taken aback -when riding without one, it will be well to follow the practice of -holding on to the mane with one hand, say the left, while with the -right the reins are pulled in a downward direction, bringing the -horse's head round ever so little, in order if possible to make him -change his leg. The fact is, there are vicious rearers whom nothing -will cure--cunning ones who know enough never to tumble back upon you, -and are sufficiently amenable in other ways to encourage the hope -that something may be made of them--playful ones who transgress more -from skittishness than vice--and timid ones who, having suffered from -too severe bitting, throw themselves upward as soon as they feel the -touch of the bridle upon their mouths. An accomplished horsewoman will -soon distinguish the differences which mark these various offenders, -and will act with coolness and judgment, according as her training -may point out to her. I believe that to be perfectly cool on all -occasions, never to be flurried, or taken unawares, and above all -things never to lose temper, no matter how trying the circumstances, -will best ensure successful equestrianism, both for men and women. -To expect to ride without encountering difficulties and worries, as -well as risks and dangers, is only to look for something that cannot -possibly be attained. Ride, of course, you may--if to sit calmly on -a slug's back, and walk him round a grass field, or along a country -road, can be called riding--but the term, in the sense in which I apply -it, means something very different indeed. It is replete with dangers -and anxieties of all sorts, but surely it is worth them. Many a time, -when I have come in fagged, heated, and dirty, after battling with a -young beginner--or ragged and weary after a hard day's hunting through -bush and briar, it has been said to me, "Surely the pleasure, such as -it is, cannot repay you for the toil." Utter nonsense, of course! Is -_any_ trouble, or any loss, for an instant remembered in the joyous -burst of music with which hounds rattle their fox out of covert, or the -delight of feeling a hitherto intractable youngster bending at length -submissively to one's will? - -Often and often now, when sitting alone in my quiet study, or watching -the active pleasures from which I am wholly debarred, I feel how truly -I have "had my day"--a most happy one--and how willingly I would go -through the same sufferings, if consequent upon the same joys. _Tempora -mutantur._ Even so, let it pass. - -Shying cannot properly be called a vice, though many consider it one. -I think it generally proceeds from defective vision, and where this -is the case the animal may be led quietly up to the object of his -aversion, and shown that it is nothing very dreadful after all. Shying -at a bicycle or road-engine is so extremely natural that the rider--so -far from showing any anger against his mount--ought to soothe and quiet -him by every means in his power. A young, fresh horse will shy at a -bird, a piece of paper--anything--but a clever equestrian should never -be discomposed by such trifles. A steady seat ought to be sufficient -security against all possible disaster. - -Stumbling is a very unpleasant weakness, though not a vice. Being -too heavily shod is often a cause of it, and this of course can be -remedied; but there is little chance of effecting any good when the -fault proceeds from defective muscular action, or from malformation -of the feet. Neither can it be cured when it arises from the shoulders -being too straight, or the forelegs shaky. A bad, cramped trotter -without any proper knee action, is extremely likely to stumble and -come down, and all that a rider can possibly do with such a one is to -keep him well collected--I do not mean reined in, but going properly -up to his bridle--and to make him bring his hind legs under him, at -whatever pace he may be going. I greatly dislike the habit, common -among ignorant riders and drivers, of _striking_ a horse when he -stumbles: it cannot then effect any good, and is calculated to give him -an unpleasant habit of prancing about whenever the mishap occurs. - -Disquietude in mounting is a very serious fault. Some horses plunge -and dance in a highly dangerous manner--the result of nervousness, or -of having at some time or another been frightened by some mischance. -When this is the case the horse ought to be held for a moment or two by -the snaffle rein _only_, quite close to the cheek, and be spoken to at -the same time in a soothing manner. He should never on any account be -scolded, and by-and-by, when he quiets down a little, the groom should -stand at his head, and hold the snaffle-reins firmly but lightly in -both hands. If you perceive that he (the attendant) is not thoroughly -master of his business, it will be yours to see that he does not by any -movement bring the curb into action, or pinch the horse's jaw. - -Running away is a desperate vice for a lady to have to grapple with, -and my own experiences of it warn me to put others on their guard. If -a horse is _known_ to be a runaway, never be induced to trust yourself -upon his back. He will do it again at some time or another, even though -his first offence may have almost passed out of mind, and it will be -better that you should give him a wide berth. I must candidly say, -however, that I would rather, for my own safety, ride ten practised -runaways--what are called old hands at it--than one mad, frightened -horse that had lost his wits from some real cause of alarm. - -The best advice that I can give in either case is this: Do not keep a -dead pull upon the reins, because that will not be a particle of use; -in fact, by doing so you will only be supporting his head, and giving -him stamina to go faster. Try by _a succession_ of strong jerks and -pulls to prevent him getting fully into his stride, for once he does -so you may bid good-bye to any chance of stopping him until he has -run himself clean out. A horse that is not a confirmed runaway may be -checked by sawing his mouth hard with the snaffle, but my advice is, -do not try to stop him at all, if you have fair going ground before -you, or that you can possibly breast him up any sort of incline. In -such case, let him go--sit close down in your saddle--and when you -feel him slacken, take up your whip in earnest, and give it him within -an inch of his life. This _latter_ advice, however, only applies to -"rogues"--animals who habitually run away and endanger their riders. To -whip a really startled horse would be both cruel and unwise; nor is it -ever judicious to do so in cases where the going is not both fair and -_open_ in front of you. If run away with in park or street, you must -endeavour to keep clear of trees and vehicles, and strive to get your -horse stopped as best you can. Happily, such catastrophes do not very -often occur. - -I am against the theory that a rider ought in all instances to stick -to a runaway horse. As a _rule_ it is better to do so, but there are -decidedly a few exceptions. A pet idea of my own is to bring him down, -in whatever way it can best be done; but I do not for a moment want to -persuade others to do this. One man's meat is another man's poison; -and on this principle a plan which is, or has been, successful in my -own hands might prove a dangerous failure in another's. I once stopped -a maddened horse that had made away with me at Melton, by letting him -have his head for about a furlong, or something less, and then giving -him one stupendous tug with the reins. The sudden jerk to his mouth -caused him to cross his legs, and he came down a "thundering cropper," -giving me one, of course, also; but riding, as I always did, in a plain -racing stirrup, without having my foot thrust "home," I got clear off, -and escaped without any more serious injury than a very severe shaking. -The sensation was not a nice one, I confess, and the peril was great; -but, on the whole, I should prefer it again to enacting Mazeppa, or -something like it, on the back of a wild steed, who would probably not -stop until he had landed his rider at that fatal bourne from whence no -traveller returns. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -A LESSON IN LEAPING. - - -Surmising that you are now as perfect as possible in park and road -riding, you must qualify yourself as a huntress by learning to jump -every kind of obstacle that will be likely to come in your way. -Indeed, it is advisable for every rider, even though destined to spend -a lifetime without ever hearing the music of the hounds, to acquire -practice in leaping, as a means of improving the seat and securing -immunity from possible danger and inconvenience. I mean to convey, that -to a lady equestrian who knows nothing of sitting over a jump, a long -ride in the country will be likely to prove somewhat embarrassing, -seeing that newly-cut ditches and small sheep-hurdles are frequently to -be met with, and where some members of the party jump them and others -hang back, the difference of opinion will not tell in favour of the -laggards. To be ready for _all_ emergencies is the rule of good riding, -and even if country difficulties have not to be encountered, there -may be times--probably will be--when an animal will bounce suddenly -forwards, or bound into the air from very exuberance of spirits, and -if his rider has not learned to sit over a fence it will be ten to -one against her keeping her position in the saddle. An unprepared -or untaught rider is always thrown forward by a horse's leap, and -the object to be gained by teaching is to be able to offer suitable -resistance to this--and to do so, no matter how sudden or unexpected -the movement may be. - -Some excellent authorities assert that a lady's first leaping lessons -ought always to be in a school. I object to the word "always" in -this instance, and should like to substitute "generally." Without in -the very least depreciating the excellence of school teaching--for -it sometimes _is_ excellent, though oftener the reverse--I have -nevertheless undertaken to teach "riding without a master," and with -this object in view I shall offer a few hints upon the subject in a -simple, common-sense fashion, which I hope may prove profitable to -those who wish to learn. - -I think it an excellent plan, if in the country, to begin by practising -over fallen trees--or if a place can be found where two or three of -these have been felled together and are lying at short distances -from one another, so much the better. Such a spot affords capital -schooling-ground. Small ditches too, and cuttings, are very nice--and -so are little streams that don't call for much exertion on the part -of the rider to enable her to get over them. If, however, your -surroundings are not such as will admit of your practising over natural -obstacles of an easy nature, have one or two artificial ones erected, -in the shape of small hurdles, interwoven with gorse or some such -matter, but strive to avoid taking your first leaps over a bar--a thing -at which many horses are apt to go "slovenly," owing to the fact that -they see the daylight underneath, and have sense to know quite well -that they are only being humbugged. - -When you have acquired a certain amount of confidence over such -trifling obstacles as I have mentioned, it will be well for you to -enlist the services of a good rider, and ask him to pilot you over a -few easy fences, and to show you the way through a gap or two, with -perhaps a small ditch on the off or landing side. You must avoid being -too ambitious, or over-confident, if you happen, fortunately, to get on -well at first. The horse on which you practice should be a steady, easy -jumper, neither too flippant nor at all apt to refuse, and you should -ride him without a spur, until such time as you are qualified to take -him into the hunting-field. - -When going straight at a leap, sit firmly in the centre of your saddle, -your head well up, your eyes looking right between your horse's ears, -the snaffle reins in both hands, with just a slight feeling upon your -mount's mouth, without _any_ attempt at holding him back or clinging -by the bridle to secure your own safety. Never on any account contract -the habit of clutching short at the reins, or at any part of the -saddle, in order to help you in preserving your balance--nor should -you throw up your hands, which must in all instances be kept low and -steady. When approaching a leap, bend your body slightly backwards from -the waist up, at the same time keeping your seat firmly in the middle -of the saddle, that you may not be disconcerted by the action of the -loin-muscles of the horse. The degree to which this "leaning back" -is to be carried must of course depend altogether upon the size and -nature of the leap to be accomplished; for example, at a big-drop, or -down-jump, a good rider will almost touch the horse's croup, but you -must never lose sight of the fact that it is the _shoulders_ that are -to be bent flexibly backwards (returning to an upright position on -landing), and not any part of the body that lies below the waist. - -The two great secrets of leaping are, to sit like a centaur while your -waist and shoulders adapt themselves pliantly to the movements of your -horse--and never to interfere with his mouth. Plenty of headroom has -always been my cry; I believe that where it is attended to there is -very rarely an accident. Horses, even those that are not very highly -trained, are marvellously clever, and will generally put their feet in -the right places if allowed to see where they _are_ to put them, but a -rider might just as well blindfold a horse at once--tie a thick bandage -across his eyes--and then expect him to fence safely, as draw the reins -so tight when he is rising that even if not absolutely thrown down by -the action, he is prevented from seeing where he is expected to land. -A horse cannot possibly do his work well or generously when compelled -to carry his rider with his mouth--nor can a rider derive the pleasure -that he is seeking while sitting altogether wrongly in the saddle. - -It is quite beautiful to see the way in which young horses fence -when their mouths are not interfered with. I have often taken a raw -youngster out over a trappy country, with only leading reins on him, or -long ropes, and have jumped alongside of him over the little ditches, -transported with delight at the manner in which he gathered his -haunches under him, and the clever way in which, on landing, he planted -his feet. It is really charming to watch them, and most sad to think -and know that by-and-by, when some professedly fine, but in reality -totally ignorant rider gets upon their backs, every second fence or so -will witness a cropper, and the young, fleet-limbed, spirited creatures -will be beaten, and pulled at, and called "brutes," and sworn at too, -as though it were not the clumsy hands at their mouths that were in -reality bringing them to grief. - -Good hunters are, times out of number, thrown down by their riders. -A lady, for instance, borrows a mount for a day, and hears from his -owner (who perhaps knows very little indeed about horsemanship) that -he's a "capital goer, but wants a little _lifting_ at his fences." I -have heard that idiotic expression made use of hundreds, nay, thousands -of times. Well, out she goes; the animal, fresh and buoyant, starts -away at a nailing pace, and when not interfered with goes skying over -obstacles from which others are turning away,--but the half-frightened -rider on his back has that word "lifting" imprinted upon her sensitive -brain, and the moment the horse takes off at the first big fence, up go -her hands with a sudden haul at the bridle, and the animal, surprised -and thrown off his balance by the action, lands unevenly, if he lands -at all, and very likely gives her a severe fall. - -[Illustration: "HI, OVER! MY BEAUTY." - -_page 150._] - -There is not one on earth who is more against permitting any -"slummucking," or romping, or going "abroad," than I am myself; to keep -a horse well collected has always been my teaching; leave him his head -when coming up to a fence; let him stretch his neck to see what it -is; keep a light, _very_ light, feeling upon the snaffle when he makes -his effort; and, as he lands, but _not_ till then, give him a gentle -support with _both_ hands--especially if the jump is a very big one, -in order that he may not "peck." Bear in mind, however, that if you -attempt this support too soon--when he is in the air, for instance, -or in fact until he needs it--you will undoubtedly throw him down. -Practice will teach you all these things far better than anything else, -but a careful study of them should not on any account be despised. - -Horses do not as a rule like schooling. I believe they abhor it; there -is not any kind of excitement about it--no emulation, no company, -nothing, in short, to keep up the "go,"--therefore I maintain that -more falls are to be had when practising in this way (owing to the -fact that animals will not jump so generously as when actually going -the pace), than are ever to be met with in the hunting-field. Still, -it must occasionally be done, especially where young hunters are to -be kept in practice--and I strongly advise you to undertake the doing -of it yourself, rather than entrust your favourites to a heavy-handed -groom, who will rattle the lives half out of them, and cram them at -their fences in a manner calculated to spoil them utterly for your own -subsequent use. - -Never believe anybody who tells you that the best equestrians sit -forward when their horses jump, and backward when they land. Such is -really not the case at all. In some instances they may have begun by -doing so--taught probably by a military riding-master to think it the -proper thing--but one or two sounding knocks upon the nose or in -the middle of the forehead, received through inability to regulate -the precise time for the two distinct movements, have taught them to -discard the theory as nonsensical, which it most certainly is. - -I believe a great deal in having _confidence_, and in the power of -imparting the same feeling to your horse; also, in keeping both him -and yourself in perfect good temper. Ride him with judgment, and he -will soon learn to understand exactly what it is that you want of him. -Never take him too fast at wide ditches, or at fences that necessitate -a _rise_; in all such instances suffer him to measure his stride;--give -him time--don't hustle him--(an unwise and horrid habit), let him -gather his hind legs well under him, and on no account hold him hard -on the curb. Remember, likewise, that you must _always_ leave him -sufficient length of rein to enable him to extend his neck. - -I am against going over fast, even at water, unless the place is a -formidably wide one. I think that undue haste _must_ prevent a horse -from measuring his stride, and that this is the reason why animals -so frequently take-off too soon, and consequently either over-jump -themselves, or land short. They have done it with myself, many times, -in the early days of my riding career; there is scarcely a branch of -the Lara in which I have not been ducked, and surely _experientia -docet_. Moreover, a horse cannot possibly last in anything like a fast -run, unless he is kept collected. A sprawler very soon comes to the -end of his tether, while fair-and-easy goes far in the day. This is -particularly the case where ridge and furrow, or marshy ground, have -to be traversed. - -You should accustom your horse to do small places slowly; blind fences -and ugly _trappy_ obstacles must be negotiated with deliberation, for -the very worst falls are got through hustling animals at such things as -these. - -You should never take your horse's attention for a moment from his -work. A bad rider comes "fighting up" to a fence: spurring, striking, -and jagging at his horse's mouth--and somehow the good riders are not -sorry when the fretted animal jerks his tormentor off, and gallops away -without him. A mind at ease and undisturbed is absolutely essential -to a fencer; to strike or spur him at a critical moment will probably -throw him out of his stride, and may be the means also of throwing the -rider out of the saddle. - -There are certain varieties of jumps which it will be well to consider -in detail, especially as beginners are apt to think that if they -succeed with tolerable credit in getting over a few small cuttings in -the country, they are fully qualified to take foremost place in the -ranks of fair Dianas. - -In timber-jumping, to begin with, you must remember that a horse quite -fresh from his stable will naturally be able to accomplish much more -than when half pumped out; and as a fall over timber is much nastier -for a lady than almost any other description of casualty, I strongly -advise you not to urge an animal that has jumped, say, four feet of -timber with you at the first go off, to do more than three, or three -and a-half, at the second. The reason is simply this: to accomplish -timber safely a horse _must_ rise _well_ at it; this he cannot do if -at all pumped out, and the consequence is that he hits it with his -knees, or chest, and gives himself and his rider a terrific fall. There -are fences that may be taken at a swing, others that can be scrambled -over, and others again that must be negotiated deliberately, requiring -more coolness than courage to accomplish the doing of them safely--but -timber _must_ be got over in thoroughly hunter-like fashion, or a -terrific crash will be the result. High stiff rails, or gates, have -more perils for riders than any other obstacle that can be met with in -the hunting-field, not even excepting walls; for many hunters will go -collectedly and steadily at these latter, when a four or five-barred -gate, with the daylight showing through and letting them see what is on -the other side will be either refused, or done in decidedly slovenly -fashion, in which case the latter state is infinitely worse than the -first. - -In taking an up-jump, throw your head and shoulders well back, so that -you may escape being struck in the face, and leave your horse unlimited -headroom, for the danger of a leap of this description is, that the -animal may not get his quarters sufficiently under him to land safely -on his legs, and may in consequence be in danger of going back: in such -case, if he is in the slightest degree trammelled about the mouth, he -will be unable to stretch his neck or make the necessary struggle to -recover himself. - -Many ladies have a horror of going over water, the dread of immersion -being no doubt the paramount cause of it; but I have always thought -that a good wide brook, or a narrow branch of a river, was about the -safest of all obstacles to encounter. In saying this, I of course -mean where the banks are sound, for if either the taking-off or -landing-ground happens to be marshy or rotten, there is nothing more -conducive to a ducking. - -[Illustration: BROOK JUMPING. - -_page 155._] - -Horses do not, as a rule, enjoy jumping water; some blood ones don't -object to it, but most animals hate it, and will refuse if they can, -especially where they have at any time had what is called "a cold -bath." Should you ever happen to be riding a horse who, on seeing -water, gradually shortens his stride, and "shuts up" as he approaches -it, do not try to get him over, for you may be certain that he will not -have it. All very fine, it may be, to talk about not allowing yourself -to be conquered, but the strongest effort in the world won't make a -horse jump water safely when he once refuses it, and it will not be -pleasant to stand cudgelling him upon the bank, while he plants his -toes in the sedges every time that you bring him back to it, with an -air as though he were saying, "You may keep me here till doomsday, but -over it I _won't_ go, unless you hire a skiff to carry me." - -A good water-jumper, going skimming along, ought to clear eighteen or -twenty feet: even five-and-twenty not being over-much accounted of -(with Irish horses, at all events) where the banks are sound; yet, as -a rule, a brimming brook of fourteen feet will generally stop at least -half a large field. There are two reasons for this: firstly, if the -water is visible from a distance, horses slacken, and riders funk; and -secondly, if it runs between banks, they gallop up to look at it, and -then, all is lost. - -The better bred a horse is, the better water-jumper he will assuredly -be. Coarse-bred horses who are clever enough at ordinary fences, will -almost always go clumsily at water, if they can be got to go at it -at all; the reason being that clean-bred horses are the only really -good _stayers_, and as deep or wide water is seldom met with at the -beginning of a run, they alone have the stamina to carry them safely -over, after galloping perhaps a stiff line of country for thirty -minutes or so, with scarcely any check. When jumping water, give your -horse a very long rein, and don't touch him with the curb. Steady him -when coming up to it, and again on landing, in order that he may get -safely away on the other side, and not either peck or sprawl. - -If you have to jump a thorn fence, and that it is leaning _towards_ -you, be sure there is something ugly on the other side, and go at -it with sufficient determination to give your horse the necessary -impetus for a safe get-over. If, on the other hand, the ditch is on the -taking-off side, and that the hedge leans away from you, take him very -steadily and deliberately--letting him see exactly what he has to do. - -Finally, if the horse that you are riding happens to be old, or -what is called "dickey," namely, shaky on the forelegs, be careful -about jumping him when the ground is hard. This applies likewise to -tender-footed animals. I have ridden horses in February who travelled -delightfully over soft slushy ground, and fenced splendidly when up -to their fetlocks in mud,--yet, when March came round, and lands were -dry and hard, they stood still and shivered at the sight of even an -ordinary sheep-hurdle or small scoured drain. To force a horse to jump, -under such circumstances is inhuman and unwise. - -[Illustration: SET LIKE A CENTAUR--PLENTY OF HEADROOM.] - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -MANAGING REFUSERS. - - -Riding refusers is unprofitable work for ladies, yet nothing seems -to be more general in every hunting-field. I firmly believe that -men ground their well-known objections to ladies hunting chiefly on -this very thing,--nor is it altogether to be wondered at. What, for -instance, can be more annoying to a well-mounted straight-going hunter -than to have a lady get in front of him at a fence--the only negotiable -spot in it, perhaps--and keep him and a number of others back, though -hounds are running in the next field, while she whips, and kicks, and -jags the mouth of a horse that is determined not to have it? Of course -the rule in all such cases is that the rider of the refuser shall at -once pull off and suffer the rest of the field to go by; but ladies -never seem to remember that it applies to them, or ought at least -to do so, quite as much as to their brethren or pilots, and so they -resolutely hold the place, dragging first with one rein and then the -other, and shouting "_Go_ on" with great apparent bravery, while the -horse dances and sidles, and shows every tooth in his head, owing to -the continued drag upon his mouth, and disgusted horsemen turn away -with very naughty expressions scarce checked upon their lips, and -gallop off to seek some other means of getting over. - -I have seen this sort of thing scores of times, and have felt angry -and sorry about it together--angry at witnessing the punishment to -the horse, as well as at being kept back myself when I wanted to get -forward, and sorry for the ignorance, and occasionally the _temper_, -which was the cause of it all. - -Most riders--ladies especially--seem to have a firmly-rooted conviction -that horses only refuse from vice, and consequently they form an -idea that to whip it out of them will be the very best method of -procedure that they can possibly adopt. A more ignorant theory could -not by any possibility be acted upon. Unskilled riders, or those who -are unpossessed of sufficient bodily strength to pull their horses -well together when coming up to a fence (so as to make the animals -shorten their stride and collect themselves before reaching it), will -frequently meet with refusals; whereas, an accomplished horsewoman, -even though labouring under the disadvantage of being mounted upon -a vastly inferior animal, will be carried safely over, without any -attempt to baulk. The truth is, a horse that is ridden either wildly or -carelessly at his fences will be almost certain to refuse them, because -he feels instinctively that he cannot take the jump with safety, or -knows perhaps that, owing to the non-regulation of his speed, he will -be _compelled_ to take-off too soon, or not soon enough. This is -one reason for refusing. Horses do not like endangering themselves; -they are often more methodical, more cool-headed--shall I say more -sensible?--than their riders; and where an animal feels that he cannot -jump a place with safety to himself, he will generally decline having -anything to do with it at all. There are, of course, some big, bold, -fearless hearts--just as there are among riders--that will go for -everything, houses included, should such happen to come in their way, -and give no thought at all to consequences; but they are not always -the best sort for ladies to ride. Something cool and collected will be -found much better. - -Allowing, then, that timidity--or, more properly speaking lack of -_confidence_--is the primary cause of refusals, we have to consider it -in juxtaposition with another, which will be far more difficult to deal -with--namely, obstinacy, or sulk. - -I know quite well that when readers arrive at this point they will at -once want to be told how they are to distinguish between the two. I -did, when I found that from time to time I had to contend against both -evils. Well, I am about to tell you all that I know of it. - -When you are coming up to something which you know quite well your -horse can easily accomplish, and you nevertheless feel him give a sort -of wriggle under you, while at the same time he begins to stiffen -himself and drop out of his stride, you may know that he means roguery, -and consequently be prepared for his sticking his toes in the ground -when he gets up to it, and assuming a stony aspect, as though he -were indifferent to consequences, and would be quite willing to stop -there for a week, or even a fortnight, without grumbling, provided -that you were obliging enough to carry him his water and corn with -tolerable regularity. If, on the contrary, he gallops boldly up to the -obstacle, throws his head forward, pulls it suddenly back, shivers -slightly, and at once commences a _retrograde_ movement, while signs -of sweating break out upon his skin, you may be certain that he is -refusing from timidity and not from vice. He lacks confidence in his -powers, for some reason or another, unknown perhaps to you, but of -which he himself is perfectly cognisant. He may have weak hocks, and be -afraid to venture upon propelling himself, for fear of falling short. -The hind quarters--hind legs, in fact--are the real _propellers_, the -front ones being chiefly serviceable as supports: and if a horse feels -that he cannot depend upon himself behind, he will naturally hesitate -about rising to a leap. Watch, for example, a dog when recovering from -a fit of sickness. He may, perhaps, be very anxious to get upon some -particular chair, couch, or window cushion, which in the days of his -robust health was a perfectly easy jump for him--yet now he is so weak -on his hind legs that, although a strong desire to take the leap is -palpably present with him, timidity nevertheless keeps him standing -looking at it, and moving uneasily about in front of it; crouching at -one instant as though prepared to make his spring, and the next rising -upwards with a sort of whine, as though he gave it hopelessly up. It -is just because he is timid about propelling himself. The goal cannot -be reached by a mere extension of the body, or by any action of the -forelegs, and the hinder ones are, owing to their weakness, absolutely -unable to accomplish their natural work. - -It is precisely so with the horse. Where hocks or hind-quarters are -in a condition that deprives him of proper propelling power, he will -certainly hesitate about exercising or bringing them into muscular -play; nor can we rightfully offer him either chastisement or blame. - -Again, an animal's hesitation about taking a jump may arise from a -terror of experiencing painful concussion on landing. Corns will -cause this, so will splints, or injured or tender ligaments of any -description. It is often the case that when a horse baulks at a fence -his rider is able to remember that he jumped the preceding one only -half generously, and landed perhaps very gingerly after his effort. -Where this is the case the animal should never be pressed. To compel -him to take a leap for which he shows unwillingness may entail a -bad fall for both him and his rider: the former being, under all -circumstances, a good deal the more to be pitied. - -When a horse refuses from timidity, and you yet have reason to know -that there is nothing whatever wrong with him, take him back a bit from -the fence, and send him at it again, sitting well down in your saddle, -and catching a determined hold of his head, with the hands held low and -the reins well apart. Speak encouragingly to him at the same time, and -press him up with your leg on the near side, and the handle of your -hunting-crop on the other; but do not on any account cut or spur him, -unless you know him to be a rogue--in which case give him plenty of it, -in a wise and temperate way; but never enter into a determined warfare -with him unless you are absolutely certain that you can come off the -victor. - -My experience is that once a horse _resolutely_ baulks, with a fixed -determination to continue to do so, no man on earth--and certainly no -woman--can by any possibility conquer him while on his back. Under such -circumstances it will be better to strive to accomplish the desired -purpose in some other way; either get off, if you are in a suitable -place for it, and that your reins and whip are long enough, and by so -doing _make_ him have it, or--which will be better--take him to another -part of the same fence, and don't _begin_ by fighting him, but rather -leave it to his honour to carry you generously over, and ten to one he -will. I greatly disapprove of punishing a horse severely at one spot; -it is highly calculated to give him a thorough hatred of jumping, and -to spoil his temper also in a way that may not easily be remedied. -Moreover, it is cowardly in the extreme, for the battle is almost -entirely one-sided. Were the dumb combatant able to whip and spur and -swear in return, the rider would have a very small chance of abusing -him for any length of time together; but it is because the creature is -ignorant of his own strength and power that he submits himself a slave -to man's too cruel rule. - -Now, another hint or two before proceeding to a different subject. - -Horses will sometimes refuse through feeling themselves "out of -hand," or being ridden timorously by inexperienced riders. Where this -is likely to be the case, such a bridle as a Pelham, for instance, -ought not to be employed, but rather a good powerful _double_ bridle, -the curb of which may be used when galloping, and the pressure of it -released for that of the snaffle when just coming up to a fence. - -I have seen horses, many times, refuse through their riders having -the horrid practice of throwing up the right arm just at the critical -moment of rising: by way, I suppose, of affecting a hard-riding air, -or perhaps of obtaining some imaginary balance of the body. The habit -is a most hateful one, and frequently causes a horse to "rush," in -cases where he is too bold to baulk or absolutely to refuse. It is also -extremely apt to make him swerve, owing to the fact that the pressure -is retained on one side of his mouth only, in place of being preserved -evenly upon both. - -I may say in conclusion that that capital sportsman, Captain Horace -Hayes, once told me of somebody, who, by a very clever expedient, -cured a horse of refusing water-jumping. The animal, it appears, used -always to baulk at water, and then, when pressed, jump right into -the middle of it with a terrific splash. One day a happy thought -struck his owner, and he at once proceeded to put it in practice. An -artificial water-jump was by his direction constructed upon his own -lands, and at the bottom of it, quite sunk from view by weighting, he -placed a quantity of thorny bushes. When the affair was satisfactorily -completed, he had the horse led quietly out, got upon his back, and -rode him boldly at the obstacle. The animal tried to stop as usual, -and ended (as usual also) by jumping slap into the middle; but on this -notable occasion, he scrambled out with astonishing celerity, and ever -afterwards fairly _flew_ every water-jump that he happened to come -across. The thorns, easily picked out, did him no harm in the world, -while the lesson was productive of an immensity of good. - -[Illustration: MEANING ROGUERY.] - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -FALLING. - - -To be able to fall well is an art in itself--but it is one at which, -unfortunately, very few ladies excel; therefore, not to fall at all -will in their case be much better than to do so in even the most -artistic fashion. - -At the same time to dispense with falls must in a measure mean to -dispense with riding also--that is, with riding straight to hounds; and -as this latter enjoyment is, to a keen sportswoman, the very greatest -pleasure that earth can possibly afford, I cannot wish to see any of my -readers deprived of it, and have therefore determined to devote this -chapter to the subject of various kinds of falls--the circumstances -under which they generally happen, the way to avoid meeting them, and -the best method of escaping being injured by them when they chance to -occur. - -To escape falls will to many ladies be the most interesting portion of -my subject; therefore, we will consider it first. - -To begin, then: you should decline riding any save the most perfect -horses. A rusher, refuser, runaway, or anything else associated with -the vices which have already been treated of, should be at once put -beyond the pale of your favour; nothing short of positive perfection -should ever tempt you to mount. Secondly, you must never on any -account be in a hurry, nor allow others to hustle you. Though hounds -may be in full cry within a field of you, and only a single small -fence dividing, you must take your time, deliberately, and without -flurry. Thirdly, you must never under any circumstances make for the -fastest _route_, nor jump a big place to get on terms with the pack; -on the contrary, you must let the hard-riding fraternity go by on all -occasions, and then, warned by their mishaps, calmly pick your own -places, and get through gaps and gates as best you can. Fourthly, you -must watch the very first signs of tiring that are visible in your -horse, and on perceiving them give in at once, and either ride or rail -him quietly home. Fifthly, you must be decidedly wealthy, to allow of -your purchasing marvels that can never by any chance contrive to put a -foot astray. Sixthly, you must be a first-class judge of horseflesh, to -enable you to find out such unheard-of acquisitions: and seventhly, you -must possess a calmness of temperament very rarely to be met with among -horsewomen--coupled with a wisdom to which that of Solomon, or Minerva, -was a mere bagatelle. - -I fancy, having got thus far, that I hear some lady asking rather -disconsolately _why_ I thus jest about serious matters, and whether it -is really not possible, except on the conditions I have named, for an -equestrian to ride to hounds without receiving falls,--and I at once -answer that, according to my ideas of straight riding, it certainly is -not. Whenever I hear a lady boast that she can ride two, three, or four -days a week without ever getting a tumble, I at once surmise that she -must be a very mild goer indeed; that she never rides hard except on -exceptional days, when a country with which she is perfectly familiar -happens to be traversed, and that the click of her horse's hoofs is -heard far oftener upon the roads than is the thunder of them on the -broad fields, where bullfinch and yawning chasm offer difficulties with -which the "cautious ones" do not care to meddle. - -There is no denying the fact that if you mean to harden your heart and -go straight, not stopping to take mental measurements of any obstacle -that you may chance to encounter, falls will assuredly be your portion, -and probably a good many of them, too; for you must remember that no -matter how perfect may be your skill in the saddle, or how admirable -the training of your steed, such things cannot afford you complete -immunity from danger, so long as the hunting-field is flooded (which -it unfortunately is) with ignorant horsemen, mounted on all kinds of -animals--rough-riders, who care little about jostling and cannoning, -provided that they themselves succeed in getting foremost places--and -children, chiefly young boys, whose parents indulge them with mounts -(no matter of what sort, provided they have four legs to carry them) -during the long Christmas vacation, and who, with the fearlessness of -ignorance, dash hither and thither, without any regard whatever for -their own safety, much less for that of others. - -One of the very worst falls I ever got in my life was caused by a -schoolboy on a pony. The little chap burst wildly through a hedge close -to Notley Abbey, where I happened to be waiting quietly, in hopes that -the fox might break that way--and, cannoning right against me, caught -my horse on the quarters, and turned him a complete somersault, burying -me beneath his weight. Fortunately there were not many out, for it was -a Chilton day, and the weather was very boisterous; had things been -otherwise I could not have escaped being ridden over, for the game -broke at the precise instant of my fall, and the field, such as it was, -came streaming right over the fatal fence. On another occasion, when -down at the bottom of a deep drain, a horsebreaker on a colossal mount -tumbled crash on top of me, and neither of us looked handsome when -dragged out--nor for a good many days after. - -It is, therefore, manifest that however valuable skill and good -horseflesh may undoubtedly be, we are largely dependent upon others for -our safety, or its reverse, when we go to hunt, and as Carlyle's theory -of "mostly fools" is never in any place so clearly set forth as in the -hunting-field, it will be well not to go thither with an over-confident -feeling respecting our own powers, but rather to adopt the pithy prayer -of the old Hobb's Hill huntsman, "From all bad riders and wild horses, -good Lord deliver us!" - -I would have you bear in mind that it will be a grand help to you upon -all occasions to keep cool, to avoid flurry and fuss, and above all -things to steer clear of "funk," which is as bad as panic, or a trifle -worse. It is the least flurried riders who always come off the best, -in two senses of the word,--therefore, while falls are not by any -means to be made light of, they should be taken as coolly as possible, -nor should demonstration of any sort ever be made over them. I saw -a lady get two falls one day with Sir Bache Cunard's pack at Holt -Wood, and although her face was a sorry sight when turning homewards -after the last one, she made infinitely less fuss about it than did -an irrepressible damsel who had merely scraped her cheek against a -thorn-bush. - -You should never jump off at once when a horse bungles, but keep steady -in the middle of your saddle and give him plenty of rein. Time enough -for a _man_ to show his quickness when his knee touches the ground, -and for a lady in a similar predicament the best course will be to sit -still, deal him out unlimited rope, grip his mane firmly--leaving his -_mouth_ alone--and ten to one he will recover himself. Of course I am -speaking now of the plan to be pursued in case of a slow fall: one that -is preceded by a scramble--in fact, a "bungle" as I have chosen to call -it. When an animal comes down a weighty cropper, there is seldom much -time for reflection, or choice of action either; the great point then -is to come off as best you can. - -To roll clear of the horse is the secret in most heavy falls, and this -can only be done where the foot is absolutely free from the stirrup, -and the habit from the pommels of the saddle. For this reason I again -most strongly advocate the use of a plain racing-stirrup for ladies -in the hunting-field, as it has not any sort of machinery that can -_possibly_ get out of order, and is therefore independent of the -variable attentions bestowed upon such matters by unthinking grooms. -A good plain stirrup, made large enough to release the foot, even -if thrust "home," is the safest and best in which an equestrian can -ever ride. I approve (as already stated) of the spring-bar attachment, -and think that every lady before setting out to hunt ought to _see -for herself_ that the spring is open. I know that this theory is not -a popular one among horsewomen, as they think it is apt to entail -the loss of a stirrup in a quick run; but this is an error, for the -stirrup-leather will seldom or never come away if properly treated (by -which I mean not leant upon)--except in case of strong pressure being -brought to bear upon it, as, for instance, in the event of a fall. An -accomplished horsewoman will never ride from the stirrup, but will use -it merely as a support for the foot, and will be altogether independent -of it, even if entirely taken away. - -With untrained riders it is, of course, different, and to their -churning motion in the saddle, and heavy hang upon the stirrup-leather, -one half the sore backs and other sufferings to which ladies' horses -are liable, are altogether attributable. - -A habit-skirt, if properly constructed, cannot possibly catch upon the -pommels when the wearer receives a fall. I have already given suitable -instructions concerning the cut of habits, and would here take occasion -to say that a marvellously improved plan, introduced by Thomas & Sons, -of South Molton Street, has been lately shown me. It consists of -cutting the skirt with one seam less than usual, and making it without -any hem around the bottom. Of this latter I greatly approve. It has -frequently happened that a skirt, when caught on the pommel, has torn -downwards as far as the hem, and been there arrested, owing to the -resistance offered by the strength of the doubled cloth. Where the hem -is done away with, this danger ceases to exist, and the skirt looks if -anything better than those that are finished in the ordinary way. I -strongly recommend the innovation. - -The most dangerous fall that a lady can get is one into a deep ditch, -or drain, with her horse on top of her; the least dangerous is when he -comes down with her on the flat, and gives her a chance to roll clear -of him. The best course to pursue in the first instance is to remain -perfectly quiet, provided the horse does so also, until rescued. If -your head happens to get under water, or that you are in any physical -suffering entailed by the position in which you are placed, it will of -course be incumbent upon you to endeavour to extricate yourself from -it, but even in so awful a moment you should strive to remember that a -prostrate horse will be far less likely to injure you than a struggling -one, and that if you begin to move, or to pull his head about (as I -have seen some frightened ladies do), he will probably make violent -efforts to get upon his feet, and may hurt you very severely before -help arrives. - -If the place is very deep, and narrow at the bottom, and that you are -partially under the horse, strive for your life to keep his head down, -in order that he may not attempt to rise, and so trample you in his -endeavours. He cannot get up so long as you can prevent his lifting his -head; therefore, if you can contrive to throw a leg across it, or an -arm, or any other portion of your body, do so, but never drag at the -rein when in such a position. Strive if possible, however, to retain a -light hold of it, in order that, in the event of the animal managing to -regain his feet without mischief, he may not get altogether away from -you. Coolness and courage will be the best companions upon so trying an -occasion. - -When a thoroughly practised horsewoman gets a fall of this description, -it is generally through riding a beaten horse at a place that is too -big for his exhausted powers to carry him safely over--an error into -which almost all enthusiastic riders are apt to be led; or it may -occur through the landing-ground being rotten, or broken away. When -this latter is the case, the horse's hind legs slip from beneath him, -and he hangs for a dreadful moment, half-in, half-out of the ravine, -beating a frantic tattoo with his fore-feet upon the brink, while the -hinder ones struggle to find something that may serve as an assistance -against the otherwise inevitable going back. A moment like this is -supremely dreadful for both horse and rider. The latter, if a man, may -swing himself off in the twinkling of an eye, and jump on to the bank, -keeping a hold of the bridle all the while, and by it may assist his -mount to regain _terra firma_ when he is safely landed there himself; I -have seen it done by smart horsemen over and over again,--but no lady -that ever entered a hunting-field can possibly do it without a hand -being stretched from the bank to assist her. - -I recall instances, and think of them with horror, of finding myself -hanging over an abyss--for such it always seems to an excited -fancy--watching my horse's forelegs striving to plant themselves, -feeling the struggling quarters seeking some help from below, seeing -the scarlet nostril laid level with the earth, the eager neck -outstretched, the panting muscles brought strongly into play--hearing -the anxious snort, dealing out abundant rein, and uttering words of -encouragement in the vain hope that the horse may succeed in righting -himself--conscious, nevertheless, that he is sinking lower and lower, -seeing then a friendly hand outstretched to assist me, feeling the -welcome grip of it, clutching strongly at it as it drags me to the -bank, knowing that I have never let go the bridle during that terrible -moment of suspense, making use of it then to draw my brave horse to a -place of safety, looking down with a shudder into the chasm from which -we have both escaped, and finally, with a laugh, and a _Laus_ also, -jumping merrily into the saddle again, and scurrying away in the hope -of picking up the hounds. - -But there came an instance of misadventure which ended less -happily--when there was no strong hand to rescue or help--when the -awful backward crash occurred only too surely, and oblivion followed, -to be succeeded in time by a consciousness that for ever and ever -the sight of happy hunting-fields, and the sound of huntsman's horn -and hounds' joyful opening-out were gone away, to be known no more -on earth. Such things are sad awakenings from sweet fitful dreams. -I pray that all my young readers may be spared them; and with more -than one fate to warn, I urge that discretion may at all times usurp -the place of valour or ambition, and that no feat may be _attempted_ -which will be likely to involve dire, if not fatal results. Better be a -live dog than a dead lion; and a few who are now disabled would rather -have their bodies intact to-day, than have ever known the uncertain -pleasures that are attendant upon being Kings and Queens of an hour. -I do not say that it is so with myself. A short life and a merry one -is much more suited to my elastic temperament; but there are others, -young, beautiful women, whose feet have only touched the threshold of -life's loveliest and brightest doorway, who are nevertheless looking -back--with tears. - -To resume, however. The second description of fall on which I have -touched: namely, one on the flat, is only dangerous according as the -horse may or may not attempt to roll when down. If he falls fairly on -his knees and nose, you may manage (as I have explained) to retain -your seat in the saddle, and may even assist him to get upon his legs; -many fine horsewomen do it: but if you try the experiment you must not -forget to sit _well_ back, not only in order to take the weight off -his shoulders, but to save yourself from getting knocked in the face. -If you watch the movements of a fallen animal, you will perceive that -at the instant that he steadies himself on his knees when rising, he -instinctively _flings up his head_, a motion absolutely necessary for -the restoration of his balance; if at such a moment you happen to be -leaning forward in the saddle, you will be certain to receive severe -punishment, and perhaps be disabled for the remainder of the day. - -If, in falling, the horse turns over upon his side, you cannot do -any better than strive to get clear of him; but do not on any account -let go the rein if you can possibly help it. So long as you can keep -hold of it you will not only prevent your mount from getting away over -the country, but will save yourself from possible contact with his -heels, for it stands to reason that he cannot have both his back and -fore-quarters turned to you at one and the same time, and if you have -a hold of his head he certainly cannot twist himself round to kick at -you. I know quite well that there is an ignorant idea abroad relative -to the danger of holding on to the bridle of a fallen horse. "Let him -go! let him go!" shrieks the multitude, when any mishap is witnessed; -and the poor, unlearned, frightened rider follows the foolish advice, -and away goes the steed, with reins and stirrups flying--lashing out, -perhaps, in his exuberance at finding himself free--and is perhaps not -brought back until the wearied owner has had to relinquish all hope of -catching up the hunt, and been compelled also to walk some miles of the -road homewards. - -No, never if you can help it, relinquish your hold of the bridle when -you and your horse are together making the acquaintance of mother -earth, but remember the rule, "a long rein," even when not upon his -back. - -Should a horse peck with you, a very nasty kind of fall, I tell you -candidly that you will be almost certain to come off over his head, -unless you are sitting glued to your saddle and very far back indeed; -but, as this is a sort of tumble which does not often happen, except -when riding a deep drop, or crossing something very wide, you may -prepare yourself for possible contingencies when going at the jump -by allowing your body, from the waist upwards, to lie back almost to -the croup, while you deal out unlimited rein, and keep your seat as -firmly as any rock. In this way you cannot possibly be pulled over -the animal's head, and by leaving him plenty of bridle you will still -further stave off the probability of mischance. - -When a horse falls with you into water, stick to him if you possibly -can, and clutch firmly by his mane, while leaving him the entire length -of the bridle. If you happen to come right off, keep alongside of -him as well as you are able, retaining a light hold of the rein, and -assisting yourself by the saddle, the stirrup, or any other thing that -may present itself, provided it does not in any respect hamper his -movements or interfere with his mouth. I strongly advocate keeping the -bridle in your hand if you can possibly manage it, but you should not -on any account make use of it as a means of support. To do so will be -to drag your horse's head under water, a thing involving very serious -results. So long as you leave an animal abundant room to stretch his -neck he will not drown, even in the deepest river, and if you keep a -cool head, and assist yourself by the saddle until you can lay hold of -some side bushes, or until assistance shall arrive, neither will you, -however near it you may fancy yourself to be. - -When a horse falls with you into a ditch and immediately regains his -footing without unseating you, do not allow him to essay getting out at -the same spot at which he bungled, for probably the bank may be rotten, -or broken away by the hoofs of other horses, and may thus occasion him -to go back again. You should rather urge him forward a little distance, -in whichever direction his head is turned, and as soon as your eye -detects a sound spot in the bank, collect him for his effort, throw him -the reins, and sit well back while he struggles up the side. I do not -mean that you are to _hang_ back, this will only impede him, but keep -your head well away from him, or his may strike you a blow that will -take you a long time to forget. - -Do not neglect, however, in the event of walking a horse along a -ditch which is skirted by thorn or hedge, to look out for protruding -brambles, and push them aside with your hand as you go forward, lest -your face suffer. On no account neglect this precaution. - -The instructions given in the present chapter will be found especially -applicable to ladies who are fond of cutting out a line of country for -themselves, or whose pilots may either have got lost in the fray, or -may not be sufficiently quick in turning to the rescue to prove of any -immediate assistance in case of need. - -In a forthcoming chapter on "hunting," I shall have something to say on -each of these subjects. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -HUNTING OUTFIT CONSIDERED. - - -It is time that we should now consider the additions and alterations -which will be necessary for your wardrobe before it can be pronounced a -complete one for a lady who intends to hunt. - -A very great deal must, of course, depend upon whether you mean to be -an inveterate huntress, or only to enjoy the pleasures of an occasional -day out. Following the hounds thrice a week, and sometimes oftener, -I have found the following outfit sufficient: two silk hats, two -jerry ditto, and two soft felt; two Melton cloth riding habits; one -thoroughly rainproof ditto; one ordinary cloth, for mild days, such as -are to be met with even in winter time; two pairs of hunting breeches; -six chemises; six pairs of web drawers; six web vests; two corsets; -two pairs of Wellingtons; six pairs of fine wool stockings; six pairs -of silk ditto; one Latchford spur; three pairs of strong leather -gloves; one hunting crop, with long lash attached; three net veils; one -celluloid collar, with cuffs to match; six linen collars and cuffs; two -woollen neck-mufflers; two silk ditto; one rainproof cape or jacket; -one warm, lined jacket, to fit over habit-bodice; and one Newmarket -overcoat, to wear when driving to and from covert. - -It will be only necessary to notice a few of these articles in detail, -having already given advice concerning most of them. To begin, then, -with stockings. Wear woollen ones if you want to have your feet always -dry and comfortable, with a pair of silk drawn over. Nobody who has -not tried this plan can possibly realise the warmth and comfort of -it--especially when the outer stocking is of _spun_ silk; a material in -itself almost as warm as wool. If the sensation of wearing wool next -the skin is objected to, the silk may be worn underneath. As a rule, -however, it is only cheap wool stockings that "tickle"; the finer kinds -seldom do, and I cannot recommend the "cheap and nasty" in any article -of riding gear, no matter how comparatively unimportant it may seem to -be. - -Your breeches for hunting should be especially well-made; large enough -in the seat not to burst in case of a fall, and long enough in the -thigh not in any way to hamper the knees. Nothing save a garment of -this description can be worn with top boots, nor will anything else do -so well for hunting, or be half so comfortable. They should be carried -below the calf of the leg, in order to check the tendency to work up, -and ought to have the last four or five inches made of silk, or better -still, good serviceable satin, by which I certainly do _not_ mean the -abomination known as cotton-back, which in reality gives no wear at -all. This arrangement will prevent the top of the boot (a Wellington, -of course), from being overcrowded or bulky, and is in fact, for many -reasons, a desirable one. The legs of the breeches should button from -the knee down--four buttons being ample to allow--and the fastening of -the right leg should be on the inside, while that of the left is on the -outside, in order to prevent rubs. These breeches, if made of cloth, -should be lined with chamois; but I prefer deer-skin to any other kind. - -With regard to securing perfection in the fit of them--a thing -indispensable where comfort is desired--it will not be at all necessary -to submit to a tailor's measurements. Very few ladies indeed would -like to do so, and it is pleasant to know that nothing of the kind -is required. Application to any _first-class_ house will bring back -the necessary directions, simply given, for self-measurement, and by -paying attention to these and forwarding the precise particulars, a -perfect fit will be ensured. In saying this, I would draw attention -to the words printed in italics, for there is no other article of -ladies' riding apparel which can be, and so frequently is, utterly -and completely ruined by incompetent cutters. I have heard ladies say -that they made their own hunting-breeches and found them answer very -well. No doubt they may do so, by ripping up an old tailor-made pair, -and proceeding to cut out exactly by them; but that they can succeed -in the first instance without a pattern to go by, I cannot bring -myself to believe, any more than I can credit the expediency of home -millinery and dressmaking, except when attempted by unusually clever -and competent hands. - -I do not like riding _trousers_ for hunting, although many are wedded -to a firm belief in them. If adopted, they must, of absolute necessity, -be the exact colour of the habit, must be made long enough to allow -even fuller freedom to the knees than in ordinary riding, and be -fastened beneath the arch of the foot with a _leather_ strap (always -leather for hunting purposes), although elastic is in some respects -not to be despised, inasmuch as it yields easily with pressure, and is -consequently not altogether undesirable when the trousers have been -made too short in the legs. It very soon wears out, however, as stated -in a former chapter, requires constant renewing, and is unpleasantly -apt to give way when least expected to behave badly--very often on -hunting days, or when a long distance from home--and then good-bye to -everything save extreme discomfort, for the trouser-leg will assuredly -ruck up, and a good many lady riders--and, indeed, gentlemen also--have -a disagreeable knowledge of what that means. - -I now come to speak again of boots, a subject on which I have -already given some advice. The so-called fashionable boot--an awful -invention, utterly misshapen, with toe narrow and pointed, and long -heel protruding like a spike from almost the centre of the sole--must -be altogether discarded. It is to be hoped that this will not go hard -with sensible girls, or women. Nobody can ride with comfort who is -not prepared to lay aside _all_ cherished prejudices in favour of -cramped feet, hour-glass waists, and gloves that are two sizes too -small for the hands they are meant to protect. I do not believe that -anybody really admires a stuffed doll on horseback. The elegance of -the figure depends upon its flexibility, and a supple foot is in its -own way quite as much to be commended. If the boots are too tight, -the feet will be cold; nothing on earth conduces so largely to that -oft-complained-of evil as wearing boots that are disproportionately -small and close-fitting. The foot should be able to move freely within -its covering, even though clad in the double stocking which I have so -confidently recommended. A broad sole, wide toe, and flat broad heel, -placed properly back, as far as the natural heel, are the requisites -for a comfortable riding-boot. - -I have already drawn attention to the fact that a considerable distance -has sometimes to be walked in boots that have been made, ostensibly, -for riding in alone. For example, a horse may get away from his rider -after a fall, and leave her to walk across several fields--over very -rough ground perhaps--ay, and to climb fences, and get through rutty -gaps too, before arriving at a point at which he can be brought up for -her to remount him; while, in addition to all this, a gentle-hearted -equestrian will often of her own accord like to get off, when taking -a tired horse home to his stable, and will walk alongside of him with -the bridle thrown over her arm, a piece of humanity which eases her own -limbs as well as his. To have comfortable pliant boots, and everything -else proportionately easy-fitting, will be found both healthy and wise. -In short, a lady dressed for riding ought to be able _when_ dressed to -take down or put up her hair, draw off her boots and put them on again, -and walk a mile or two _with_ them on, if required, without feeling any -desire whatever to remove them after the exercise. This--if it will -only be believed--can be accomplished without any unsightly clumsiness, -or necessity for making feet or figure look in the least degree larger -than if tortured and compressed into unnatural proportions. Well-made -clothing, composed of pliant materials and properly put on, will never -impart an appearance of bulk, even if worn sufficiently easy-fitting -to be slipped on and off at a moment's notice; while ill-cut garments, -unnaturally strained and tightened, will make figure and extremities -look absolutely larger than they really are. Who, for instance, that -has ever seen a No. 6 glove stretched upon a hand that ought to take -at least four sizes larger has ever been deceived into believing that -there was not something painfully amiss? Straining seams, fingers only -half drawn on, and ominous gaps, yawning and wide, where the first -buttons ought to fasten, attest the "vanity of vanities" against which -we have been warned. With boots and corsets it is just the same,--and -yet, despite the uncontrovertible evidence brought to bear upon the -matter, ladies still persist in destroying the symmetry of their -appearance, undermining their health, and leaving themselves exposed -to disparaging observations, rather than give up the follies into -which an undue desire to appear "slim" have by degrees drawn them. -After all, when we come to consider the subject, is it really worth -while to undergo suffering and inconvenience in order that one or two -persons may, perhaps, say, "That girl has small feet"; or "What a -slender waist that lady has?" Ten to one the utterers of such remarks -never think a second time about them, but turn away to make their -comments upon the next person who chances to come in their path--and -for this trifling gratification, distress and pain are borne, and the -seeds of inward disease are in some instances suffered to take root. If -anything that I can say, in this or future chapters, shall have even a -trifling influence in deterring my sisters from destroying the natural -attributes which a wise Creator has apportioned to them, I shall deem -myself happy in having written it, and feel that my efforts have not -been altogether in vain. - -The Newmarket coat, for going to covert, is, I think, the only article -of which I have not now fully spoken. The nicest of these are made of -dark strong melton, or beaver cloth--the latter wears splendidly--and -are lined all through with _good_ satin, being well quilted about the -bodice to keep out the cold. Some ladies affect the coachmen's garment, -a drab coat, with double capes, but I have a strong objection to it -myself. The collar should be made pretty deep, so as to be capable of -turning up about the neck in wet or chilly weather, and the skirts -should come quite down to the feet. It is almost superfluous to say -that an overcoat of this description should be cut so as to fit very -easily over the habit, nor need I add that the task of fitting should -be entrusted to none save a really first-class tailor. - -Ladies have frequently inquired of me, by letter and otherwise, what -ought to be the price of various articles of riding apparel. Indeed, -to judge by the number of communications which have from time to time -reached me, a great and stirring interest appears to be centred in the -matter, and the fact that I at times delay answering the multitude of -writers who ask questions and beg for immediate replies is not really -attributable to any discourtesy, but is rather the result of over-work, -coupled with a sense of difficulty in detailing the average cost of a -variety of articles which are manufactured in every quality--good, bad, -and indifferent--the cheapest, or lowest priced, being in all cases the -dearest in the end. A thoroughly good article will look respectable -to the very last bit, while a cheap one can never be made to do so at -all. I can, for my own part, see no virtue in the so-called "bargains" -in which many ladies are so curiously fond of investing. I use the -word "curiously" advisedly, for to me it is most strange how sensible -practical women, who on most subjects have their wits well about them, -are nevertheless afflicted with a positive craze for bargain-hunting, -and are willing to bear any amount of pushing and trampling upon, in -slummy shops with "Selling off" emblazoned in large letters all over -the windows, for the very doubtful satisfaction of carrying home some -three or four pairs of half-soiled gloves at one shilling per pair, or -a few yards of mildewed ribbon at something very much too dear for it. - -The _average_ cost of riding gear, every article being of the best and -finest description, may be thus set down. Silk hats, from L1 1_s._ -each; jerry ditto, 14_s._; soft felt, 12_s._ 6_d._; melton riding -habits, L12 12_s._ each; rainproof ditto, L10 10_s._; ordinary cloth, -L10 10_s._; summer cloth, L8 8_s._; gingham or holland, L5 5_s._; -riding breeches, L4 4_s._ per pair; buckskin, L6 6_s._ to L8 8_s._; -trousers (chamois lined), from L2 2_s._ to L3 3_s._ Chemises, 8_s._ -each. Web drawers (silk), L1 10_s._ per pair; (cotton), 7_s._ 6_d._; -vests (silk), L1 1_s._ each; (cotton), 5_s._ Corsets (satin), L4 4_s._; -sateen (red), L2 10_s._; sateen (white), L2 2_s._ Wellington boots, L3 -3_s._ per pair. Wool stockings, 3_s._ 6_d._; pure silk, ditto, 16_s._; -spun silk, 6_s._ 6_d._ Latchford spur (plated), L1 1_s._; japanned, -9_s._ 6_d._ Gloves, 5_s._ 6_d._ per pair. Celluloid collar and cuffs, -4_s._ Rainproof jacket, L2 2_s._ Cape, L1. Warm over-jacket, with -braiding, L6 6_s._ Newmarket covert-coat, from L10 to L12. It would be -impossible to lay down any rule for the price of whips, as much must -necessarily depend upon the mounting; but I have always thought that -with them, as with all other articles of riding apparel, the plainer -they are the better. A good hunting-whip with long lash attached -averages from L1 10_s._ upwards. - -Every article that I have named may be had at a very much lower price; -in fact for half (or even less) the ordinary cost that I have set down, -but the question of course remains, "Are cheap things, as a rule, worth -purchasing?" - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -ECONOMY IN RIDING DRESS. - - -To economise well is a great art, and unfortunately very few persons -understand it. The public mind wavers as a rule between two views -of the matter--excessive parsimony, or continual hunting after -cheap things. When I say "cheap," I mean low-priced; for brummagem -articles, no matter of what description, are always the very reverse of -_cheap_. "I have got such a bargain," says one dear friend to another, -displaying some trumpery thing which would have been dear at half the -price given for it; and away goes the friend and invests in a similar -treasure, only to regret her want of wisdom when too late to retract. - -The true secrets of economising are: first never to buy anything that -you do not absolutely require; second, to purchase every article of the -very best description; and third, to take care of your things when you -have got them. These three rules will go far if attended to, but, like -the Siamese twins, separate them and they will die. A word, then, about -each--taking them in rotation as named. - -Buy nothing that you do not want. It is a general weakness with ladies -to infringe this rule. They are fond of shopping, and shopmen know it, -and pander to the familiar infirmity--not only detaining them twice -as long as is necessary at every counter, but showing them an endless -variety of articles, by way of tempting them to buy. The artifice -succeeds only too often, and the consequences are a lightened purse, -and an unnecessarily burdened wardrobe. - -To have too large a stock of clothes is in every way a mistake. They -become old-fashioned before they are half worn out; they encourage and -engender moths; they form a cumbrous baggage if compelled to move; -and they are a source of embarrassment and trouble if taken away -with one on visits--seeing that in this age a lady rarely enjoys the -luxury of a wardrobe in her bedroom, except in her own house. Most -of us consider such a commodity a necessity when at home, but when -we go visiting it is a luxury absolutely denied us. I do not mean to -say that there is not an imposing piece of furniture so styled in the -sleeping apartment allotted to us; there almost always is; it looks -quite magnificent, generally, with its shining panels and tempting -mirrored centre--but, alas, it is a delusion and a snare! We find that -the doors are immovable: they are locked; the hostess has it filled -with her own fineries, and has either forgotten to remove them, or has -said to herself that it would be too great a trouble to do so: the -visitor can manage very well without it--has she not got her imperials, -and the bed-rail--and the drawers of the toilet-table to keep her -brushes and things in, and what more can she reasonably want? To say -that this is not the way in good houses is both foolish and untrue; for -it is so in the very best. It may be the fault of my lady's maid, or -housekeeper--probably it is, in many instances--but it is my lady's -fault in a great measure also, inasmuch as she has neither seen to the -comforts of her guest, nor made inquiries concerning them. However -this may be, or with whomsoever the fault may lie, the wardrobe is -a sealed book, into which we are not permitted to peer, and so we -cast our despairing eyes around us for some substitute, and brighten -as we perceive a tempting-looking chest of drawers; but it likewise -is a deception, for it is found to contain articles of children's -clothing folded away in the top receptacles, while the lower ones have -toilet linen in them, and the big deep one at the bottom contains a -bolster doubled in two, like a huge sausage put away to keep. This -being the case, we shake a dismal head, and proceed to lay out our -neat habit-skirts and other things on the bed-rail, and on the backs -of the chairs; and by-and-by, when we return to our room to dress for -dinner, we find that a remorseful hostess, or a conscience-stricken -maid, has unlocked one of the mighty doors of the mysterious "sealed -book," and has graciously crammed three or four satin gowns on to one -of the back pegs, leaving the front ones free to hold whatever we may -be pleased to hang upon them. Sometimes even this small boon is not -vouchsafed, and we run the tether of our visit with only chair-backs to -depend upon for hanging purposes, and with the cheerful consciousness -that all the maids in the establishment have tried on and admired -themselves in every single article belonging to us for which we have -been unable to find room in our trunks. I once caught a smart abigail -in an English house pirouetting before the cheval-glass, dressed in -my riding-breeches, and grinning delightedly, with a hand on each side -of her waist. By way of punishment, I made her divest herself of the -trifles in my presence, and by so doing found that she had augmented -the evil by making an entirely wrong use of one of my silk vests--while -as an end to all bitterness, she had actually fitted on my stockings -and boots. - -It being then an established fact that a superabundance of clothing -is both an encumbrance and an extravagance which leads to waste, -I think I have succeeded in proving that the first on my list of -theories--namely, to buy nothing that is not absolutely required--is -at least worthy of consideration. Of course, there is no rule that -has not an exception, and there may be times--although they come but -rarely--when there will be a perceptible advantage in purchasing -clothing in advance: for example, when one is obliged to go for a -lengthened period to some out-of-the-way place where things are -absolutely not obtainable. In such, or similar cases, the regulation -practice may be broken through, although even then it will be better, -if possible, to secure the services of a friend who will purchase and -send them out according as they are required. - -The second point on which I have given advice--namely, to buy none -save the best articles--is one upon which I must resolutely hold by -my opinion, despite the fact that my expression of it in a sporting -journal in which, some time ago, I quoted a list of probable prices, -called down upon me such a vortex of letters--some of inquiry, others -upon the extravagance of my ideas--that I fairly sat down under the -shower in a state of bewilderment, and felt that the only way in which -I could reply to such a multitude, or at all hope to satisfy them, -was to select the first opportunity of writing a disquisition on -economy--the present venture being the result. - -I have, as stated, been repeatedly and anxiously pressed to say what I -thought the price of sundry articles of riding-gear ought to be, and -as the subject was a difficult one to propound, have thought it best -to give the amount usually paid for goods of first-class description, -leaving it, of course, to the intelligence of the reader to surmise -(even when not plainly stated) that prices vary according to quality, -and acknowledging that it is quite possible for a lady to furnish -herself with a complete hunting outfit at a very much lower scale of -charges than that which I cited in my last. It is just a question of -how long she expects her things to wear, and how well she expects them -to look when the first gloss (always an arrant deceiver) has worn -off them. Low-priced articles never stand the test; they may look -fairly well to the eye when first put on, but time and weather place -a stamp upon them with which the owner cannot but feel disappointed. -Take a few examples. It seems to many a great extravagance to give -a seemingly high price for a riding-hat, when at half the shops in -town a fairly good-looking one can be bought for half the money. -Quite true. But place the two hats side by side together after a -hard season's continual wear and tear, and see whether the Lincoln -and Bennet or Madame White will not be bravely holding its own, when -the other is only fit for the dustman's cart. In like manner, you may -purchase a riding habit for five guineas,--I have seen them made to -order scores of times at that price--but I have never _yet_ seen one -of such articles able to hold up its head after immersion in a muddy -stream, while very many of them could not even stand a heavy shower -of rain without showing spots or "cockles," or both. Then, again, you -can get a Newmarket covert coat for L3--not at all a bad-looking one -either--quite a jaunty article, in fact; a neat plaid if you like it, -and gorgeous big buttons if your fancy happens to turn that way,--but -just think of the seams that are all machine-stitched, ready to act -shabbily by you at the most inconvenient moments, and of the uncertain -nature of the material, which is dreadfully wont to wear "tender" -in highly important places: under the arms, for instance, and where -the collar fastens in front; and of the awful moments which you will -have to endure, tugging hard at it, or getting somebody else to do -so, in order to work it off; and think of the still more painful and -embarrassing ordeal that awaits you in endeavouring to draw it over -your habit-bodice, to which it seems to cling as provokingly as though -birdlime had been scattered over both,--all because it has not any -nice, smooth, slippery satin lining to make it slide easily over the -garment that it is meant to cover. Even if perchance your persuasions -have induced the maker of the wonderful thing to augment its -monetary value by the insertion of a satin lining in the bodice, you -perceive with horror, after an incredibly short period of time, that -the silk facing has completely worn off it, and that long stretches -of discoloured cotton threads are intersecting the fabric in every -inconvenient direction. - -With boots and gloves it is just the same; you can get them very cheap. -I have seen capital-looking boots in shop windows ticketed eight -shillings per pair, and gloves 1_s._ 6-1/2_d._ (always a ha'penny, when -it is not three farthings), and I have no doubt that plenty of people -buy them--they must do so, or such things would not be so numerous; but -an important query remains behind: namely, how long can these articles -be made to last--even such of them as look moderately decent at the -first go-off? - -There are, however, without doubt, very many ways in which small -economies may be justifiably practised, with results by no means -discreditable to the appearance of even the most dashing equestrian. -If, then, you want to appear at all times fairly well turned out, and -yet cannot command sufficient capital from your dress allowance to -enable you to extend your custom to first-class houses, you can take a -"tip" or two from the following hints:-- - -Look carefully over the columns of the various leading journals which -contain an "exchange and mart," and you will be almost certain to see -some advertisements of riding habits made by high-class makers and only -worn a few times--occasionally never worn at all, and only parted with -because the owner has been compelled to give up riding, or is going -away. If the size of the waist seems to suit you, answer without delay, -and if, when sent on approval, you find that the cut and quality are -good, close at once with the bargain, and get such alterations effected -in the article as may happen to be required. I have known one or two -ladies with very moderate dress allowances who secured really excellent -riding habits in this way,--but, of course, everything will depend upon -the maker; a high-class house rarely or never turns out an indifferent -cloth, and the cut is certain to be good. - -Again, you may be able to borrow a pair of well-made riding trousers -from some intimate lady friend, and if you are smart and can make a -couple of pairs for your own use by the pattern lent you, it will be a -great saving of expense. Breeches will be more difficult to accomplish -successfully: in fact, I regard the cutting of them by amateurs as -very nearly impossible, so perhaps they had better not be attempted: -but, with proper self-measurements and a good pattern before you, -I can see no reason why comfortable riding-trousers should not be -creditably turned out. When making these, cut the linings for the -different parts the exact size of the various pieces, and take care to -tack piece and lining together before running up the whole. If this is -not done you will experience great difficulty in adjusting the linings -when the garment has been put together--indeed, you will probably -fail completely, for it is a most difficult thing to do, and the plan -I have named is a very good one, although the seams cannot (when it -is adopted) look quite as neat on the inside as if a tailor had had -the doing of the job. If you want to avoid the trouble of arranging -linings at all, procure some strong soft chamois leather, make your -trousers of it, and cover them from a short distance above the knee -with cloth similar in colour to that of which your habit is composed. -Use silk thread for seam-sewing--strong, and of the best quality--and -when putting on the buttons wind the thread round and round the stems -after you have stitched them firmly to the garment, so as to form a -sort of artificial shank; then fasten off very securely upon the wrong -or inner side. - -If your resources are extremely limited, do not buy silk hats at all. -Low-priced ones are mere delusions, and it will be better for you to -invest the amount usually given for second-rate articles--say from -12_s._ to 15_s._--in a good, serviceable felt, or billycock, which will -stand a large amount of ordinary knocking about. - -By wearing riding trousers instead of breeches you can dispense with -Wellingtons, and be content with ordinary boots; anything that you can -walk comfortably in will do, but remember I do not believe that any -woman has ever yet been able conscientiously to say that she walked -"comfortably," or indeed otherwise than miserably, in narrow-waisted, -high-heeled boots, with toes an inch wide (or something less) at the -tip. A street or two may be traversed in such articles without actual -pain, or any perceptible show of inconvenience, but a walk of five -miles will probably necessitate the services of a chiropodist, while -half the distance will show a decidedly altered gait. - -The third item of advice which I have given you, namely to take good -care of your things when you have them, is one to which you will do -well to take heed. Negligence concerning the guardianship of one's -wearing apparel generally proceeds from one of two causes: either from -a natural carelessness of disposition, which leads to all sorts of -shiftless and untidy ways; or to a foolish desire--if among wealthy or -showy people--to affect an air of indifference concerning _cost_. I -have seen examples of both these dispositions; a girl who just stepped -out of her riding-gear, and left it there behind her, habit wet and -muddy, hat spotted with rain, veil never folded, boots flung anywhere, -whip and gloves in different corners, sometimes in different rooms, -or on the hall table, to be certainly missing when next wanted to be -used: a sort of girl who kept jam-pots in her press, and matches in her -work-box, and who _rooted_ for everything she wanted, precisely as a -dog does when burying a bone. - -On the whole, however, I am not quite certain whether she is not -preferable to one of the vainer sort, who strides over sharp stones, -and plunges in and out of muddy pools when there is any distance to be -walked, rather than have it supposed that she is picking her way in -order to save her boots; who eats bread-and-butter without removing -her gloves, for reasons of a similar sort; and who puts on a smile of -unconcern when her hostess's lap-dog makes a meal off her whip-lash, or -mistakes the handle of it for a bone. - -Few things are more to be avoided than a studied carefulness about -matters of costume--when others are by,--the practice, for instance, -of tucking up a mantle rather than sitting upon it--of smoothing -the back of the skirt before taking a seat--of guarding the hands -from contact with any object that may possibly impart a soil to the -gloves--and so forth, all of which are signs of lack of breeding, -and are, as a rule, peculiar to persons unaccustomed to mix in -society,--but the opposite extreme is quite as little to be admired. -The best bred are those who appear wholly unconscious of having -anything on that is worth fussing about: just as the best _dressed_ -are invariably those upon whose costume no onlooker would ever pass a -remark. - -To have a set place for everything is economy of both time and -substance: you will then know precisely where to look and where to -find. You should have neat trees made for your boots, and insist -upon the regular use of them being observed. Brush your riding-habit -carefully yourself, unless you have a maid who can be trusted to do it -properly: namely, in a downward direction always, and never from hand -to hand. Should it be wet, hang it in a cool, dry place, but not close -to a fire--and place a stick across the skirt on the inside, in order -to aid the drying process. Do not attempt to brush off mud spots until -the cloth is perfectly dry. - -Stretch your gloves upon block hands, made the size and shape of your -own, and if they have been wet, be all the more careful about doing -so. Make a frequent inspection of the stitching of them, and mend with -a fine needle and silk any portions that may have given way, or seem -likely to do so. Look to the buttons also, in order that you may not be -inconvenienced at unexpected times. - -If you wear a silk riding-hat, never be induced to allow an iron to -touch it, except when wielded by a professional hand. You can renew it -yourself by wiping it very lightly with a sponge just dipped in warm -water, going carefully round and round, always the one way. When the -hat is dry, brush it gently with a very soft brush, and finish with a -silk handkerchief. - -A black veil that has become discoloured by dust may be restored by -dipping it a few times in cold water, shaking the wet from it, and -stretching it neatly out upon a rail or line to dry. It will not -require any ironing if nicely picked out with the fingers. Another -way is to put the veil, when damp, between two soft cloths--old lawn -handkerchiefs will do--and pat it smoothly out with the hands, leaving -it then to dry without hanging. - -Your celluloid collar and cuffs will wash beautifully in your basin, -and will require no making-up, beyond a light wiping with the towel -on which you dry your hands. The material is a marvellous invention, -introduced by our friends across the silver streak, and is invaluable -to equestrians in wet weather, as it never becomes limp after rain: a -great improvement upon linen in this respect, as in many others also. - -To conclude my list of economies: If you cannot afford the price of -silk drawers and vests, fine cotton ones in summer, and merino in -winter, will make good substitutes; but silk is not an extravagance in -the long run--it wears so well and feels so delicious next the skin. -Silk underclothing of all kinds is a great luxury, and considering the -benefits that arise from the use of it, I question much whether ladies -of even very moderate incomes will, at the end of twelve months, find -themselves any the poorer for investing in it. - -If silk stockings are thought too dear for wearing under or over cotton -ones--and certainly they are an expensive item of dress--fine cotton -ones will do very well; but there are few ladies who do not possess a -supply of silk for dinner and evening wear--and these, when old, or -deficient in colour and freshness, will serve the purpose quite as well -as new ones. - -While on the subject of "colour" it will not be amiss to give a hint or -two about the proper method of washing silk and woollen underclothing. -Silk stockings, vests, chemises, pocket-handkerchiefs, and so forth, -ought to be washed as follows:--Mix six tablespoonfuls of bran with -four quarts of water, put it to boil, and stir while boiling. When -ready, pour into a tub, place the articles in it, and move them lightly -about with a stick until the water is cool enough to bear the hand; -then wash rapidly in the usual way, but without using soap. Rinse in -three or four waters, hang out to drain in a bright, dry atmosphere, -and iron while damp, placing a piece of fine muslin between the iron -and the article on which it is used. This receipt will be found to -answer admirably also for white flannels or woollens. For coloured -ones the water must be in a lukewarm state. Neither silk nor woollen -garments should ever be wrung. - -On the subject of corsets I have from time to time received a vast -number of letters, most of them wailing over my well-known abhorrence -of cheap goods. Surely the matter is one of which ladies ought to be -able to judge for themselves. I did not know that it was possible -to obtain a really good corset, made specially for one's-self, of -best materials, and by a superior artist, for less money than I am -accustomed to quote,--nor do I believe that it is. At the same time, -corsets (like everything else) will be found ready manufactured in -various qualities, and at different rates of charge. I have seen -windows full of them in London, and even at expensive Eastbourne and -Bournemouth, ticketed 1_s._ 11-1/2_d._! After this, who need complain -of prices? The papers teem with advertisements of "ready-made corsets" -of all patterns and descriptions, and I have heard many persons say -that they have found them answer perfectly well. This being the case, I -cannot see why the articles should not be given a trial, or why ladies -of limited resources, and with figures easily fitted, should pay two -or three guineas for a corset, when "perfect treasures," or, at all -events, something that will suit quite well (and that will not go to -pieces all at once), can by all accounts be had for less than an eighth -of the sum. - -I once went to a famous London oculist, to consult him about the right -sort of glasses to be used for extreme short-sightedness, and was quite -prepared for his prescribing some rather costly affairs; but, to my -surprise, he said, very pleasantly, "Just go to an optician and suit -_yourself_. Don't mind what _he_ says; select something that you can -see well through, and that does not in any way distress your sight, or -cause your eyes to feel _on the strain_. Years ago," he added, "I found -that I wanted glasses myself, and coming across an old man sitting at -the corner of a street with a tray of them before him, I chose a pair -_for a shilling_, and I'm wearing them now." - -On this excellent principle I advise corset-buyers to act. Purchase -what _suits_ you, and if your means are limited, do not trouble about -any particular maker, or price. - -To wind up, never be ashamed to exercise a reasonable and honest -economy. There are really very few among us who do not require to -practice it, especially during these difficult times--and there is not -anything to blush for in the fact. It is a very false shame indeed -which induces us to launch out into extravagances that we can ill -afford, rather than say candidly, "I must content myself with something -cheaper." Believe me, there is more shame in owing an honest tradesman -five shillings, than in wearing cheap corsets, cotton stockings, and -mended gloves--in place of the better or costlier ones which that same -five shillings would have helped to buy. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -HACKS AND HUNTERS. - - -I am wonderfully fond of a good hack, and very wroth at times that -ladies will persist in mistaking the meaning of the term, and in -thinking that it signifies something that is meant to be abused. They -take this idea, I have no doubt, from expressions associated with their -childhood: hacking out their clothes, for instance,--in other words, -abusing them. "Don't throw it away, it will do very well for a hack," -meaning for very hard usage on second or third-rate occasions. Such -a thing as a _valuable_ hack, one not on any account to be subjected -to rough treatment, they have never believed in, or, indeed, thought -about at all. I was once bemoaning the loss of a favourite of this -description to a lady acquaintance, and although she pretended to -sympathise with me, I heard her, when I turned my back, say, "What a -fuss over a thing that had _come_ to being a hack! Not worth fourpence, -most likely." - -Now, it is for ladies who do not know much about hacks, yet who want -to learn, that I am writing this chapter. The subject is a very useful -one, and might be readily enlarged upon, but I shall be as concise as -possible. - -Hacks in the olden days were capable of immense hardship; the -distances they travelled, the weights they carried, the amount of -endurance they displayed, would be deemed marvellous in the present -century, and cruel if put to the test. Such animals--and they are very -rare--are only now to be met with in the stables of stirring farmers -of the wealthy class, who go over their lands before breakfast, and -overlook hundreds of acres on the backs of these useful creatures. -Occasionally, too, they are to be found with country doctors, -well-to-do parsons, and others whose daily work cannot be accomplished -on animals less enduring or strong; but the ordinary seeker looks for -them almost in vain. - -A good hack is a most trustworthy companion. His rider may drop the -reins to him on the very worst roads, and yet feel certain that he will -put his feet in precisely the right places, and make no mistakes. His -fore-feet are always well formed, and whatever the pace may be they -fall straight, and flat, and even upon the ground. His action when -trotting is from the shoulders, his fore-legs working strictly from -them, and just sufficiently bent to enable the rider to see his knees -as they are raised, but not to see under them. Chin-knocking action -may do for a park hack, but not for a roadster; indeed, I don't admire -it myself in any class of horse, but in a covert-hack it is decidedly -objectionable. The wonder of my life is how so many extraordinary -goers, such as one sees throughout every hunting season, contrive to -jig along, or jog, or pound, as the case may be, without coming down -like logs upon the ground; but they do: just as drunken men, though -staggering, manage to get home without a fall. - -The paces of a thoroughly good hack are characterised by perfect -regularity and ease; his shoulders are well set, sloping, and strong; -his feet well formed, his back somewhat short, his loins muscular, and -his hips wide. The shoulders at the withers are thick and firm--their -tops well back--and a good long space between the pommel of the saddle -and the termination of the mane. - -Fore-leg action of the proper sort is an actual necessity in a hack -intended for a lady to ride, because the safety of the rider is -dependent upon it; but in selecting such an animal look to his hind-leg -action as well. If the hock joints do not, when moving, seem _pliable_, -and as though they were bent with perfect ease, bringing his hind -legs _well_ forward, reject him at once, no matter how good his front -action, or how perfect his forehand may appear. - -[Illustration: HOCK--BENT.] - -[Illustration: HOCK--TOO FAR BACK.] - -Good hocks are clear, sharp, and well-defined in their outline, with -bones large and prominent, denoting a similar condition of the muscles. -When too much bent there is generally a liability to sprain, and when -placed very far back there is, as a rule, an absence of propelling -power. I like to see hocks in such a position as shows that they are -right under the centre of gravity. This always enables a horse to -propel himself with confidence, and to bring his hind-legs properly -under him in the trot--at which pace they should be carried as far -forward as they can well be, without hitting the fore-feet. An animal -that sticks his hind toes in the ground, and walks gingerly, as though -his hocks had not any joints, will never be safe or pleasant to ride. -If he possesses strength and evenness of hind-leg action, his paces -will always be agreeable. Good shoulder action and far-reaching hind -legs will ensure delightful ease and pleasure to the rider. Racehorses, -when trotting over turf, carry their hind feet far before the front -ones--and outside them too, as I have proved by footprints--although -some persons have flatly contradicted me about the matter. - -[Illustration: HOCK--GOOD POSITION.] - -I do not think that a covert hack ought to exceed fifteen hands in -height. He should walk with ease and freedom, trot ten miles an hour, -and canter fifteen, without any trouble, or blowing, or other symptoms -of distress. Of course he cannot do this if his lungs are not as -sound as bells, and his legs and feet perfectly healthy. I may say, -however, that exhibitions of _pace_ are perfectly unnecessary; nobody -really needs to gallop full tilt to covert--but light easy action, -and reliable powers of endurance, ought not to be lightly esteemed. -Beauty may be altogether dispensed with in the covert hack--although it -is generally so coveted that buyers will often ignore many important -defects on account of it. I don't approve of this. I have seen most -excellent hacks who had coarse heads, blemished bodies, rat tails, and -other undeniably ugly attributes--but what mattered it, so long as they -had perfections of a more important kind? Such animals are not wanted -for show, as are their more gaudy brethren the park hacks. - -I like to see the ribs of all riding-horses long in front of the -girths, and short behind them. This keeps the saddle in the proper -place, which it is hard to do (without the aid of the old-fashioned -crupper) where the ribs in front are short. - -The race of genuine covert hacks is, I am sorry to say, apparently -fast dying out. Go, for instance, to any ordinary meet of hounds in -almost any hunting country--you will see votaries of the chase arriving -in every variety of vehicle: in phaetons, dogcarts, waggonettes, on -drags and in broughams, on the backs of horses that they mean to hunt, -on "general utility" animals, on fine park hacks, brought out to be -admired and then cantered home again along the roadside grasses, or -hand-galloped through the fields where convenient gates abound--but the -number of real covert hacks will be very small indeed. I suppose the -reason is, that in this troublous age, few (in Ireland at all events) -can afford to indulge in luxuries, and a good hack _is_ one, in the -very fullest sense of the term. - -I do not believe, although many do, that it spoils a saddle horse to -put him in harness. Were I rich enough to possess a number of hunters, -I should drive them in a four-horse drag during the summer months, and -I believe it would do them an immensity of good. A covert hack of the -useful sort makes an excellent trapper, or one of a pair in a brougham -or waggonette--nor does he lose any of his saddle qualities by being so -made use of. - -I may here say that, for country or covert riding, I do not at all -approve of the ordinary half-bred cobs, which so many sportsmen, and -some sporting ladies also, are prone to affect. No doubt they are -strong: it is their only recommendation; but even this very strength is -in one way an objection to them, for it is in many instances derived -from a close connection with cart-horse blood, and on this account they -very soon tire when trotting, and begin to step short, which occasions -them to trip, and very often to come down. Besides, it is almost a -matter of course that their shoulders are straight, and their fore-feet -carried too far under them. In every way, therefore, I object to these -animals for saddle use--especially where ladies are concerned. - -Scarce as riding horses of endurance are in this country, there is -no doubt whatever that we have the breed, and that it only requires -careful cultivation--by which I mean _select_--in distant Colonies, -where our road and rail luxuries are not, for love or money, to be -obtained. In Southern Africa and distant Australia this has been -proved, as also in the crosses of our horses with Continental ones, in -Italy, Germany, and Spain. - -I now come to speak about hunters. In choosing these, do not go in -for outward beauty of form, for it will not stand you in any stead. -I am compelled to impress this upon ladies--especially very young -ones--because they usually select their horses (as they do their -husbands!) for appearance more than for genuine worth. It is such a -perfectly natural weakness that nobody can be blamed for it. Everybody -likes "something to look at," but there is more than this to be desired -in many respects. I remember either reading somewhere, or hearing -somebody say, that a hunter that combined high courage with so fine a -temper that he would stand while his owner opened gates or remounted -him after a fall--one that liked his trade, cried "Ha, ha!" at the -sound of the huntsman's horn, went generously at his fences as if he -relished them, picked his places sensibly, had a good constitution, -drank his gruel freely after the day's work was over, would stand two -ordinary days a week, and three good ones along with them in the course -of a fortnight--was a treasure, even though he might have an ugly head, -a ridiculous tail, an unfashionable colour, corns at times, and many -skin-deep blemishes. In addition to all this, I may add that if he is a -fairly good hack, and can trot or jog his ten or twelve miles home to -his stable after a hardish day, he is simply an invaluable acquisition, -especially to those who love sport, yet have not the good fortune to -possess a sporting income. - -It is rarely, however, that one is lucky enough to meet with so -entirely desirable an animal, and _when_ found he certainly ought to be -prized. - -The essential points for a hunter are these: a good constitution, so -that he may bear hardships and hard knocks; good powers of endurance, -to enable him to stand long and tiresome days, and frequently to travel -lengthy distances homewards; good shoulders, and strong healthy legs -and feet. Further good points are, a back powerful enough to bear any -weight that he is meant to carry; hind quarters with propelling powers -to land him safely over his fences; a good chest, with lungs inside of -it sufficiently sound to allow of his galloping without showing signs -of distress; and good eyes to enable him to see where he is going. - -[Illustration: STRAIGHT FORE LEGS.] - -[Illustration: VERY DEFECTIVE.] - -Straight fore-legs, such as are shown in the illustration, are an -absolutely essential quality--and they should emerge from the trunk -with plenty of firm muscle as well as good fleshy substance. Legs that -are too close together, or too far apart, are alike defective, and -ought not to be overlooked. - -[Illustration: TOO FAR APART.] - -A hunter for a lady's use need not, as a rule, be over fifteen hands -in height, or about 15.2 for a man of ordinary stature. Of course -top-weights of either sex must have something proportionately big to -carry them, but my experience is that clever hunters of 15.2 or 3 can -negotiate even the biggest country with safety, and I believe there are -a greater number of perfect fencers of that height than can be found -among those above it. Small horses, whether hunters or steeplechasers, -have distinguished themselves brilliantly from time to time all over -the world, yet the rage for tall ones is very great. About ten years -ago, at the Islington Horse Show, there were forty hunters (out of -100 entries) that were over 16 hands high, and they were among the -very first sold, some of them to extremely diminutive purchasers. I -was speaking about this a year or two ago to a dealer, and asking him -his opinion respecting the cause, when he made me laugh by answering, -"Well, you see, big horses makes big fences look a trifle smaller, and -that's something to them as rides." - -I have always considered it a good plan to select a hunter, with due -regard to the country in which his purchaser intends to hunt. For -example, if hilly, or composed of wide grass lands, or plough, good -breeding will be decidedly essential, because with it good staying -powers will be combined; if trappy, or difficult, requiring constant -pulling up at fences and careful getting over, extreme cleverness will -be far more valuable than blood. Even a broken-winded horse will, if -cautious and clever, be more useful over such a country, than a flyer -or very flippant jumper--because he can catch his wind between his -efforts, and will not be likely to exhibit distress. - -If you cannot count upon a horse's pedigree, when looking for a blood -one, you can generally judge him by his haunch. I think it an excellent -test of breeding. A well-bred haunch and handsomely carried tail, -impart a dignity of appearance which is unmistakable, and they are -certainly far in advance of the rounded quarter and drooping caudal -appendage which my sketch on the succeeding page represent. - -Still further commendable points in a hunter are _long_ shoulders, high -withers, broad hips, and loose flanks: this latter in order (as I have -heard it expressed) that he may "dash" his haunches under him at the -big jumps. He should have good shoulder action, but it matters little -(as I have said) about that of the knees. - -[Illustration: WELL-BRED HAUNCH.] - -[Illustration: ILL-BRED HAUNCH.] - -A hunter is thought to be in his prime at six years old, and if this -be the case, every hunter in the kingdom--especially those with which -dealers have anything to do--must be just arrived at that happy -meridian, for surely no one has ever yet inquired the age of such an -animal without being told that he was "just six year old," or "rising" -it. I have known some admirable hunters, however, who had passed the -familiar landmark by four years or upwards; and in the west of Ireland -I saw one, and rode him too, who was said to be eighteen years old, and -certainly a finer fencer it has rarely been my lot to handle. - -I do not, however, as a rule, recommend young horsewomen to purchase -aged hunters. I have generally found them to be too crafty and clever, -calculating their distances _too_ finely, and leaving themselves -nothing at all to spare. Better mount a young rider on a young, -generous goer, who will give himself a couple of feet or more over the -mark. - -Never judge of a hunter from seeing him jump in cold blood, because -many animals that will perform calmly and collectedly over a -schooling-ground, become so tremendously excited in the hunting-field -that they are altogether beyond the powers of a lady to control. I need -not say that horses of this class are not only unpleasant, but are -highly dangerous mounts. - -I always advise ladies who have invested in anything that they find -disappointing--either a rusher, refuser, plunger, or anything else--to -entrust him at once to thoroughly competent hands to break him of the -vice. I believe largely in horse-dealing farmers of the straight-riding -sort. A horse given up to one of these will be exercised about the -lands through the summer months, taught to get slowly through gaps and -over difficult fences, made to stand quietly to be mounted, and ridden -temperately but with determination when hounds begin to run. - -A hunter that pulls should never be made use of by a lady, but for my -own riding I have always preferred an animal that gave me something to -do to hold him, to one that stuck his head in the air and refused to -take hold of his bridle. I don't know anything that renders a lady -more helpless in a quick run than a horse that is too light-mouthed, -and that flings his head up every time he feels the action of the bit. -I would not take a present of such a one for my own use. - -It is an excellent plan for ladies to train their hunters to follow -them when on foot. Suppose that in the course of a run you happen to -come to some awfully cranky place: cramped, difficult, and highly -dangerous to ride, you may find it pleasant and advisable to get off -and scramble it, and your steed will follow you beautifully if you -have him trained. It is quite easy to do it; accustom him to the tone -of your voice, and if in the country take him out on summer evenings -with a leading-rein and a pocketful of carrots. You will not have much -difficulty after a while, and it is quite worth the trouble, even if -you are disposed to think it such, which I never did. - -There used long ago to be certain counties celebrated for good hunters. -Ireland was, and is, _justly_ famous, both for breeding and training -youngsters of a style fit for any hunting-field: but posts, telegraphs, -and telephones have placed us far more on a level than we used to be, -and I don't believe that there is now anything like the advantage -enjoyed by our fathers and grandfathers in purchasing direct from a -breeder. - -I may wind up by saying that no horse is worthy of being called a -hunter that cannot be turned in a very small circle, that jumps with -his hind-legs stretched out behind him, or that won't at all events -_attempt_ any fence at which his owner may wish to turn him. - -[Illustration: "COME ALONG, OLD MAN!" - -_page 216._] - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -IN THE HUNTING-FIELD. - - -A very tempting title truly, but before we can get there we must say -a word about the preparation for it, and also about the journey to be -taken to reach the desired goal. - -To prepare, therefore, you should look first to your horse; you must -get him into good hard-fed condition some time before the opening -of the season, and either exercise him regularly yourself, or get -somebody to do it for you. The subject of feeding I hope to discuss -in a forthcoming chapter--as also that of shoeing, which is extremely -important. I may here say, however, that my system of feeding hunters -is in many points so widely different to that of others that I shall -not undertake to advocate it openly, but shall merely state that I have -found it answer most admirably in my own stable, and that many private -friends to whom I have recommended it have endorsed my opinion of its -excellence. The only portion of it to which I shall in this chapter -refer, is concerning the _times_ at which I think the meals ought to -be given. I advise that hunters be accustomed all the year round to -do without a heavy midday meal: this practice to be adhered to during -the summer months, as well as in winter; in fact, whether the animal -is doing work or not. A good substantial feed at 7 A.M., and another -twelve hours later, with one _of hay only_ (but plenty of it, and of -the best) at noon, is all the food that need be given. Horses fed thus -do not, on even very long days, miss anything except their midday -repast, whereas, if accustomed to a solid feed of corn in the middle of -the day, the vacuum created by the want of it must certainly tell upon -the animals, and render them in a great degree unfitted for their tasks. - -Let your horse, then, be fed as I have directed, and you will -(confidently speaking) find him quite able and ready for the long days -which are so trying to horses that are not in condition, as well as to -many that are. - -Look to his shoeing a day or two before you want to use him, and when -I say "look," I mean for you to do it yourself, and not merely inquire -of the servant whether it has been done, unless, indeed, he is one of -those treasures who are as rarely to be met with as the proverbial -four-leaved shamrock, or the horse that is a day over six years old. -Grooms will not, as a rule, trouble themselves much about the shoeing -department, except at the most inconvenient times; when they don't -want you to go out, for instance, it is quite surprising how quickly -they contrive to discover that the horse must go to the forge. I know -all their little tricks perfectly well, and the length of time, too, -that they generally find it necessary to be absent when that forge -business is declared to be a necessity that cannot be done without; -therefore, it will be well to look to it _always_ yourself, a good bit -in advance, in order that you may not in any wise be taken unprepared. - -Give a glance over your hunting-gear also, lest anything should be -astray. It is not at the last moment that such things ought ever -to be looked to. See that your gloves are in good order, and your -riding-breeches perfectly whole--for, remember, there is a great and -constant strain on this particular garment, and it will in consequence -stand in frequent need of repairs. Make certain also that your skirt -is neatly brushed, your hat in perfection, and your whip and spur in -perfect readiness for use. - -Having made these preparations, you must turn your thoughts from -necessaries to possible contingencies, and hold yourself in readiness -for such. Procure a small, tidy valise, and in it place a complete -change of warm clothing. You can dispense with fashionable and costly -articles, and put in merely such things as will prove convenient in -the possible event of your being either dyked, or subjected to such -a wetting from above as would render it unsafe for you to proceed -homewards in your riding-habit. Of course, I am now surmising that you -either drive or rail to the hunt, and return the same way. - -If you ride a hack to covert, or jog your hunter at an easy pace, you -will not only find it impossible to carry a change of clothing, but you -will not have any need of such, because nobody ever catches cold, even -from wet clothes, so long as motion and circulation are kept up; but -if you have a long drive homewards after a hard and exciting day, or a -journey (even a short one) to perform by rail, I strongly advocate the -carrying of the valise. It will not prove a source of the least trouble -to you. You can leave it either in your vehicle or at the railway -station, and it is an inconceivable comfort to be able to get into a -dry suit when every stitch that you have on is clinging to your body, -heavy with wet and mud. I advise the labelling of the valise in plain -letters, if it is to be left in any waiting-room. To attend to this -may prevent a good deal of possible confusion. Many ladies think it a -trouble, I know, to carry such things about with them--just as men, -when they go out walking, consider it "a nuisance" to carry an umbrella -or an overcoat, even on the most uncertain and showery days--paying the -penalty, of course, in drenched garments, rheumatism, and catarrh. The -"trouble" in the first instance is very small; in the second it may be -serious. - -Having then made all square and ready, we have next to consider in what -way you intend to proceed to covert. If by rail or vehicle, and that -you happen to have friends of an obliging sort living close to the -proposed meet, you may perhaps find them willing to give accommodation -to your mount for the preceding night. If so it will be very pleasant, -both for you and your horse, as the animal will be as fresh as a daisy -to carry you--a cheery thing for both parties. You must, however, -remember that you will be under a very decided compliment--one which -many may not desire to incur--to the friend who shows you this favour, -inasmuch as putting up a horse signifies either putting up a servant -also, or sending a groom to meet the animal at the station; at all -events it entails extra stable duties, and these must be considered and -paid for. - -Supposing that you do not send your horse anywhere the night before, -see to it that he gets off betimes in the morning, and, if going -by road, give your servant directions to take him to some quiet -corner or laneway close to the meet, and to wait for you there until -you come. I regard this as a very much better plan than having him -led _direct_ to the meet, and mounting him there in presence of an -assembled crowd. Ladies who like a little bit of show generally prefer -the latter way--but for true comfort, opportunity for overlooking -the general turning-out of your horse, lengthening or shortening -of stirrup-leathers, folding your muffling tidily away (instead of -flinging it anywhere or anyhow into the vehicle), giving your groom -directions where to meet you at the close of the day, and so forth, -commend me to the former. - -If a hunter is to be railed, let him go to the station well clothed, -and send extra things along with him for coming home. Winter evenings -are usually chilly, if not downright cold, and are very frequently damp -as well; if, then, a heated animal, with every pore open from exercise -and excitement, is called upon, unprepared, to encounter these combined -atmospheric influences, coughs, catarrhs, rheumatic affections, and -sometimes the more serious evils of inflamed or congested lungs, are -certain to be the results. - -Rise early yourself on a hunting morning; have a cold bath, if of a -robust temperament--if not, tepid. Eat a moderate breakfast of white -fish, cutlet, or steak, accompanied by dry toast or biscuit, and -partake of very little liquid. Fill your flask with cold tea: it is -more invigorating than either brandy or wine; and provide a small -sandwich, or a biscuit or two, to put in the pocket of your saddle. -This will be provision enough for the commissariat department. - -If you have the luxury of riding a good hack to covert, and that the -distance is not very far--say, from five to eight miles--you will be -certain to enjoy it, and it will put you in fettle for the more serious -business of the day. This again, like the bath, means if you are -strong and hardy: in short, inured to long rides, and not by any means -easily fatigued. If it be not so with you, it will be better to make -arrangements to go by rail, or drive. - -Some ladies ride their hunters quite long distances to meets, but as -a rule they are not among the straight-going sort, being satisfied -with seeing the first draw and the burst away over a good line of -country, where the two or three preliminary fences are not such as -to occasion many serious mishaps. I do not think that any lady who -rides even moderately straight ought to hack her hunter for a longer -distance than five or six miles of a good fair road, and the best way -to take him will be at a brisk walk, alternated pretty frequently with -a steady jog-trot, or a hand-gallop on the grass at the side. I do not -at all object to a hunter being allowed to drink a little water before -starting on his journey, although I know that very many disagree with -me on the point; nor do I object to his having a few mouthfuls in the -intervals of hunting; it will refresh him excessively, just as a -small goblet of water would refresh _you_, although a large one might -overload your stomach, or give you a chill. - -On arriving at the meet, keep as quiet and as much in the background -as you possibly can. It is better taste by far than to push forward in -ever so small a degree. Do not trouble yourself with thinking about -your own appearance, be it what it may; in all probability nobody will -be minding you at all. If you are perfectly well turned-out, feel -happy in the consciousness that you are so, but _shun display_; if -indifferently, console yourself with the reflection that each man and -woman present is occupied in admiring him or herself, and has neither -time nor desire to admire you, or the reverse. - -Do not expect that august personage, "the master," to shake hands with -you, even if acquainted, or to stop and talk. Salute him as he goes by, -but nothing further. - -Do not worry the huntsman with questions about the proposed draws, or -anything else. If you know him, salute him, and say a word or two, if -you like, about his hounds, but never expect him to answer you; his -mind is on other matters bent. - -Do not indulge in loud talking, or conspicuous laughter, which will be -certain to render you remarkable and bring many eyes upon you. A quiet, -ladylike demeanour will always ensure admirers. - -When the order is given to go, and the huntsman moves off in front -with his hounds, contrive to keep as close to him as you can, without -an appearance of "push." This for the obvious reason that a fox is -very often found the moment (or nearly so) that hounds are thrown -into covert, and if you are on the spot, you may get well away with -the pack; whereas, at the end of a long cavalcade, on a narrow and -difficult roadway, it will be ten to one against your doing anything -better than hunting a stern chase for the remainder of the run. - -It has for long been a vexed question whether or not the hunting-field -is a suitable place for ladies, and I am certainly not going to discuss -it _in extenso_, especially in a necessarily limited space. One or two -things concerning it I may, however, be permitted to say. - -Firstly, that timid ladies, those mounted on badly broken horses, and -others (a large community) who push for first place while in reality -only fitted to take third (in company with wheezy old gentlemen on fat -cobs, farmers on green colts, and the numerous company of confessed -road-riders), are a very _decided nuisance_ in the field; and, -secondly, that ladies who possess courage (by which I do not mean the -effrontery of ignorance and vanity combined), who are thoroughly well -mounted, and who never get in anybody's way, are, in my opinion, a -charming addition to the delightful pleasures of the chase. If, then, -you want to be considered an acquisition, be contented--especially if -a beginner--to take second place: that is, not to force a way among -the hard-riding lot, or expose yourself to the numerous perils which -really first-flight men and women go out prepared to encounter--ay, and -usually manage to get through safely, too, if not interfered with or -endangered by second and third-class riders. By-and-by, when you have -gained the knowledge and experience which getting up from the ranks -will assuredly bring you, there will be an extra pleasure in finding -yourself not only holding first place in the most difficult runs, but -in knowing that you are _qualified_ to hold it, and are justified in -declining to yield it up to others who may not have won their spurs. - -If, however, you desire to render yourself thoroughly obnoxious to -everybody, you can set about it in this way. Select for your mount -something that is both fidgetty and showy, yet utterly "incapable." -Whenever you attempt a fence keep your horse at it, whether you have -any chance of getting over or not, to the exclusion of half the field. -When you get on fair ground, gallop madly forward and override the -hounds, if you chance by a "fluke" to get near enough to them to do -so. When there is a check, and the pack fails in hitting off the scent -at once, slash at the nearest of them with your hunting-whip, and tell -the animal playfully that it is "a naughty dog not to hunt better." -Always make a point of crowding at gaps and gateways, when hounds and -field are struggling to get through. Never fail to effect an intimate -acquaintance with the master, and be sure to call the huntsman, when -speaking of him, "Bill Simmonds" or "Jim Brown," although "Simmonds" -or "Brown" may be quite enough for other people. Always follow this -last-mentioned functionary into covert, and speak to him all the -time that he is anxiously watching his hounds. Should you happen to -view the fox away, swell out your lungs for a good bellow of _Tally -ho-oooo!_ and gallop full tilt at him before ever a single hound has -left covert, which wise proceeding will be certain to turn him back, -and gain for you the blessings of all genuine lovers of sport. Finally, -when the game at length breaks fair, rush away in advance of everybody -else, with your chin to the sky, and your elbows flapping like the -sails of a windmill; and when you have half-killed your ill-conditioned -steed, and frightened the wits out of a score or two of old squires -who have long ago lost their nerves (together with their appreciation -of such "hard riding" as yours), then pull off, and dose everybody -with whom you are acquainted, for the next week or two, with glowing -accounts of the wonders that you performed on the opening day with the -Dashshire hounds, and the merits, beauties, and achievments of the -exquisite animal that carried you so brilliantly through the first run -of the season. By adopting this mode of proceeding you will be certain -to gain a host of admirers in the field, and will do much toward -disabusing the public mind of the idea (very deeply implanted in it) -that the hunting-field is not a place in which ladies ought to seek for -sport. - -Now, in conclusion, allow me in all seriousness to lay down a few -maxims for your instruction. Never go to hunt without a good pilot. -Young lovers are very nice for this purpose, although not always the -safest. I recommend sharp _old_ foxhunters, who know the country, and -who will give you a judicious lead. If you cannot secure a trustworthy -leader, dispense altogether with the services of one, and cut out -a line for yourself, _provided_ that you are mounted on a really -first-class animal, one well up to your weight, and endowed with an -infallible knowledge of where to put his feet. Keep the hounds in -sight if you can, or, at any rate, within hearing, and ride rather -wide of them, to right or left; never in their actual wake. Keep your -horse well in hand all through, that he may not sprawl. Be quick -at turning. Avoid, so far as is possible, deep heavy lands; and if -traversing plough, keep along the headlands rather than pump your steed -by galloping over ridge and furrow, as others frequently do. When -obliged to get through gaps and gates put extra steam on when coming -up to them, in order to be first; and if there is a crowd, hold your -horse hard, and touch him lightly with your spur, that he may keep up -his mettle and be ready to bound into full speed the instant you get -clear of the ruck. If riding a young hot-blooded hunter, it will as a -rule be safer for you to put him at a very big jump than to trust him -in a crowded gangway. While riding hard, never so much as glance at -the remainder of the field. Keep your eyes for your horse and for the -_leading_ hounds, so as to keep exactly with them, and check _the very -instant_ that they do. - -Never distress your mount by taking unnecessary jumps. Don't be a bit -ashamed to make use of a convenient gate if you can get along with -equal quickness that way; it will save your horse, and will enable you -to hold your place much longer in the run; but, at the same time, never -shirk a practicable jump when you want to go straight. - -If riding a kicker, give warning to those in the rear of you to keep -out of the way. Never jump over a fallen horseman; select another part -of the fence to effect your leap. Do not continue to ride a beaten -animal; pull off the moment that he hangs out signals of distress. When -called upon to cross a ford, do so very cautiously, and if your horse -makes a kind of _forward plunge_, and an attempt at swimming, throw him -the reins at once or he will roll over. Do not on any account interfere -with his mouth at such a time. Keep your left foot stuck well forward, -or, better still, lift the leg right over the leaping-head, that it -may not be struck by the horse's hind foot--and at the same time take -a firm grip of the up-pommel and the off-side of the saddle, to avoid -being unseated when he makes his second plunge, which he will do the -moment that he recovers his footing. - -If the first run of the day be a good one, rest satisfied with it, and -do not attempt another, unless you have a second horse out. If your -mount should chance to lose a shoe, especially a fore one, make at once -for the nearest forge. If one of the hind feet has sustained the loss, -you may continue the run, provided the going is over soft ground--but -when a fore shoe happens to go, pull off without a moment's delay. I -have always thought it an admirable plan to _carry_ a shoe, or slipper, -slung on (in its neat leather case) cavalry-wise, to the saddle. This, -in case of accident, obviates the necessity of waiting at the forge -while the smith manufactures one--and of course on arrival at home it -can readily be changed for a more durable foot-protector. I have even -known some sage old sportsmen carry in their pockets a little American -hammer and nail-box in one, and do their own shoeing when they found -themselves in difficulties and at a distance from professional aid. - -Dismount when there is a check, if only for an instant; and, when there -is time, shift your saddle an inch back or forward, the first for -preference. This will prove a great refreshment to your mount. - -Be uniformly kind and courteous to everybody. If you chance to -distinguish yourself by good riding, or good fortune, make no fuss -about it, or look for adulation. Always carry a yard or two of twine, a -pick, and a few shillings along with you; there may be uses for all. - -When riding home, if you _do_ ride, grasp the first opportunity of -getting your horse some warm gruel, and take him through a shallow ford -or pond to wash the mud from his legs and belly. When you get him to -his stable do not allow him to be tormented by elaborate grooming; see -that he is given an abundance of straw to roll in, and a good bucket -of linseed tea to drink; have his ears dried by pulling them, bandage -his legs with flannel, and give him an abundance of _fresh air_, which -is of far more consequence to an exhausted hunter than either food or -water. I greatly disapprove of admitting draughts, especially thorough -ones--but it is a dire mistake to cram a horse into a close stable, -with every chink stopped up, and then put a huge quantity of hay and -oats before him. Bad air and improper feeding soon do their work. Some -valuable animal is taken ill, a farrier is sent for, he tries bleeding -to stop the terrific action of the heart, and before morning the horse -is dead. - -I shall have something useful to say on this and kindred subjects in my -chapter on "Doctoring," later on. - -[Illustration: THOROUGHLY OBNOXIOUS.] - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -SHOEING. - - -There are three points concerning this important subject on which -I should like to thoroughly convince my readers. Firstly, that the -theory, sometimes put forward, of dispensing with shoes for horses -that are intended to work in paved cities and over rough roads, is a -fallacious one; secondly, that the shoeing done at ordinary forges -is practically all wrong; and, thirdly, that there is nothing at all -derogatory in going down one's-self to the blacksmith's, in company -with the animal to be shod, and not only giving directions about the -way in which it will be most advisable to do it, but standing by to -make certain that it is actually done. Common errors among smiths -are these; cutting down the frog until it cannot possibly come in -contact with the ground; paring the sole, until it is either bedewed -with blood, or so thin that the effort to walk on it causes the horse -to wince; opening the "bars" which join the frog to the outer wall -of the foot; putting on unnecessarily heavy shoes; having a strong -predilection in favour of calkins; rasping down the wall of the foot -to fit the shoe, instead of making the shoe to fit the foot; and -removing too much of the heel horn. These faults proceed, as a rule, -more from ignorance than obstinacy, and it would therefore be a good -and wise thing if every farrier were to be made thoroughly acquainted -with the anatomy of the horse's foot and leg: he would then perceive -what dire mischief he was in reality doing while pursuing the ordinary -stereotyped course which his father and grandfather probably followed -before him. - -To look at this list of errors in review. First of all, the frog -should never be interfered with; to pare it with a knife is ruinous; -it _ought_ to touch the ground instead of being prevented from doing -so: nature intended that it should. It retains the hoof in proper -shape at the heels, prevents the tendency to slip, and in fact acts -as the natural buffer of the foot, giving it strength, security, and -elasticity, while its toughness enables it to travel over the roughest -country without shrinking or pain. It wards off concussion, being -surrounded by lateral cartilages which may be described as yielding -sidewalls, and is the contrivance supplied by nature for preserving the -superimposed structures from injury or passing hurt. Cutting into the -frog is, I am most firmly convinced, one of the chief causes of thrush, -and nothing can more clearly prove this than the fact that diseased and -wasted frogs, and thrushes of long and obstinate standing, have been -known to become completely cured by the adoption of a proper system -of shoeing--one that brought the frog not only near the ground, but -actually on it. - -Navicular disease, that terror of every horse-owner, is without doubt -largely induced by improper shoeing, coupled with the pernicious -practice which I am now condemning, of cutting away the frog. This -valuable india-rubber-like substance should be jealously guarded, and -most carefully preserved from injury or waste; a knife ought no more -be allowed to touch it than permitted to penetrate the horse's eye; -perhaps even with greater care ought it to be preserved, for whereas -some excellent goers have but one eye to see with, an animal on three -legs is of but little use to anybody, except the knacker, into whose -hands he is pretty certain soon to fall. - -Second on the list of evils comes the paring away of the sole of -the foot, and so general is this most unwise operation, that grooms -absolutely prepare for it the night before their charges go to the -forge, by stopping their feet with cow-dung, or some other horrible -dirt. The practice is a cruel, useless, and highly deleterious one, -which owners of horses ought not in anywise to encourage or permit. - -Third, is the hideous habit of opening up the heels: which means making -a deep incision into the wall of the foot _at_ the heel, just where -it is bent inward to form the bars. Nothing could possibly be more -injurious or injudicious than this detestable operation. It weakens -the wall of the foot, and occasions what all horse-fanciers strive to -guard against, the evil of contracted heels. The frog, sole, and bars -have each a separate and most important duty to perform, and are, if -unwisely interfered with, rendered absolutely incapable of contributing -to the carrying out of Nature's exemplary plan. - -Fourth, is the custom of putting on shoes that are too clumsy, -weighty, and thick. A thin, light shoe is in every respect preferable, -the lightness of the metal ensuring a firm foothold, while it likewise -brings the foot-proper in closer proximity to the ground. - -Fifth, is the strong fancy for calkins,--things which I as strongly -decry, except for heavy draught horses, and for those accustomed to -trust to their assistance for backing weighty loads. Even where such -appendages are acknowledged to be necessary, a toe-piece should be -likewise added to the shoe and the forepart slightly thickened, in -order to ensure an evenness and steadiness of footing, together with -the keeping of the foot in its own natural position. A horse mounted -upon calkins without the addition of the toe-piece must feel quite as -uncomfortable as a vain belle when mounted upon a pair of tapering high -heels. - -Another way of preventing injury in the form of contractions from -calkins is, to have the shoes forged of even thickness from heel -to toe, and then to remove a portion of metal from underneath the -quarters. A horse's real weight is on his toes and heels: nature shows -this by weakening the hoofs at the quarters, and the law of mechanics -illustrates that if the extremities of any powerful substance are -equally and adequately sustained, the absolute _body_ which forms as it -were a bridge over the space, may be trusted without support. - -Sixth, is a terrible evil: namely, employing the rasp to the outer wall -of the foot, in order to bring it down to the size of a shoe that is -too small for it. This cruelty is generally perpetrated by farriers -who consider themselves too hurried, but are in reality too lazy, to -undertake the forging of a properly fitting shoe, and so they lay hands -on one that happens to be lying by them, and having affixed it, proceed -to cut down the foot to its level. The wretchedness of the animal, -when set to walk upon this torturing protector, is precisely like that -which we should suffer were our feet to be crushed into boots or shoes -that were ever so many sizes too small for them. By this cruel practice -the horn of the foot is seriously injured, and months elapse before it -resumes its normal shape and condition. - -[Illustration: FOOT MADE TO FIT SHOE.] - -[Illustration: SHOE MADE TO FIT FOOT.] - -Removing too much of the heel-horn is the seventh evil with which we -have to deal. This is a very usual practice, and is strongly calculated -to make a temporary cripple of the horse so operated upon. It ought -to be remembered that the ground face of the hoof should be even, and -justly proportioned from toe to heel, and that the sides of it ought -to be of equal depth. There is at times, indeed very often, an excess -of horny growth about the toe, but it is impossible to lay down any -precise rule with reference to the angle to which the hoof ought to be -brought: a competent eye will, however, judge of it, and will be able -to decide whether it is in conformity with the natural formation and -bearing of the limb. - -[Illustration: LOW HEEL.] - -[Illustration: HIGH HEEL.] - -I have a great fancy for tips--otherwise half-shoes, nailed to the -toes only, and leaving both quarters free. I have known one or two -young horses shod in this way who have travelled quite safely, and -shown wonderfully healthy feet. For racers I particularly approve of -them, and for young light-weight hunters, especially when running in -a grass country. I am aware that there is a prejudice against them, -except for animals that are for awhile thrown up, but it is an entirely -ignorant one, and ought to be discarded. The late Duke of Wellington -was especially fond of tips, and for a long while rode his horses -with no other kind of foot-covering. He was at length, however, -induced to give it up, as he suffered torment from persons perpetually -informing him that his hack had cast a shoe. I have from time to time -been shown an immense variety of _india-rubber_ shoes, together with -other novel kinds too numerous to mention, and to all of them have -found some grave faults. Lyons has, however, lately produced a new -specimen, which has been experimented with upon French horses in a -manner somewhat successful. It is made entirely of sheep's horn, and is -said to be particularly adapted to such animals as are known not to be -steady-footed when going over pavements. It is, moreover, excessively -light and very durable--two excellent qualities--and although at -present somewhat more expensive than the ordinary shoe, it will no -doubt come down in price when the novelty wears off, and will in all -probability replace the present style before the world is many years -older. For horses employed in towns it must be peculiarly valuable, as -it is said to be an effectual check against slipping. - -[Illustration: FOOT WITH TIP.] - -Before closing the present chapter, I should like to warn horse-owners -still further against the ordinary uses of the smith's drawing-knife, -rasp, and heated iron, all of which are, as I have said, most -lamentably abused. By the first, especially, numerous "accidents" are -made to occur. The sole of the foot being all pared away and exposed -close to the earth, induces it to assume a harshness of texture totally -opposed to its natural qualities, which are soft and yielding--and this -change of structure is a fruitful source of corns. The outer portion -of the sole rests upon the web of the shoe; the coffin-bone descends, -and not meeting with any yielding substance to play upon, the flesh is -pressed between the inferior surface of the bone and the upper surface -of the shoe, causing malignant corns. - -Again, the _educated_ smith, in order to give what he terms "a better -hold," drives the fastening nails into the black or outer substance of -the wall of the foot; whereas the untutored Arab preserves his horses' -feet by permitting the walls to descend about half-an-inch below the -sole, and then driving the nails through this portion of the hoof. By -so doing, he averts the evil consequences of inserting iron into the -brittle substance, and secures at the same time the resistance and -tough qualities of the complex covering of the foot. While the English -smith is labouring to give a tight hold, he is in reality involving -three distinct perils--firstly, pricking the sensitive foot, should -the nail chance to turn a little bit on one side--a thing which very -often happens; secondly, driving a nail too fine, or, in other words, -too near the white horn--the consequence of which is that it, the -nail, turns _inward_ when the horse is worked, causing lameness to -ensue; and, thirdly, to avoid these evils, he points his nails so far -outward that the outer crust cracks, splits, and chips away, in time -occasioning a difficulty about finding any place at all capable of -affording holding properties for the necessary nails. - -[Illustration: FOOT WITH FRACTURED HORN.] - -[Illustration: SHOE HANGING PENDULOUS.] - -It is owing to this evil that riders are so frequently inconvenienced -by their horses' shoes becoming partially detached from their feet. -The weakest portion of the chipped hoof yields first, the remaining -fastenings follow, the shoe wags, the nails lose their hold--with, -perhaps, the exception of one or two,--when the foot is raised its -covering hangs pendulous from it, and when again put down some nail -still remaining in the shoe pierces the plantar surface of the foot, -or, perhaps, even penetrates the coffin-bone, and prolonged lameness -follows. "This may be, and no doubt is, all very true," I fancy I -can hear some reader say; "but what on earth am I to do? I cannot -shoe my horses myself, and smiths are so intolerably conceited." -Just so; they certainly are, and I can entirely sympathise with you; -horse-owners are _terribly_ dependent upon them, ladies in particular. -But I should advise you to do what I myself have found effectual, -namely, take your horses either to a thoroughly _competent_ farrier -(there are, happily, such to be found), or, what I think better still, -to a complete duffer!--one who knows very little about his trade, and -who, being aware of his deficiencies, will be humble enough to accept -your directions, and also willing to act upon them and thankful for -being afforded an opportunity of doing so. I have heard that railway -companies seek for fools to act as pointsmen; by all means, then, look -out for an idiotic smith! - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -FEEDING. - - -As already stated, I give my own ideas and opinions on this subject, -without any desire to thrust them forward, or the least expectation -of seeing them generally adopted. Old prejudices are hard to get rid -of; grooms are self-willed, obstinate, and ignorant to a degree, and -masters are too yielding, or too indolent to interfere. I therefore -regard it as probable that on many persons the advice contained in this -chapter will be thrown away, while on others--those who are willing -to break new ground--it will, I venture to say, have the salutary -effect of producing improvements in the stable, and increasing the -weight of the purse. By good management, which is the true secret of -all economy, a man, or woman, may keep a pair of horses for the same -yearly outlay that his or her less provident neighbour will expend on -keeping one--while the credit of the stable will be quite as well, if -not better, maintained. - -I am most strongly in favour of cooked food, and opposed to the giving -of raw oats in any shape or form. The absurd theory that this system -of feeding is calculated to make horses "soft," is about as sensible -as that which avers (or would do so) that a man fed upon cooked rice -and well-boiled potatoes, would be less capable of doing a good day's -work than if compelled to eat the same materials raw. Animals possessed -of even the very best digestions lose a great portion of the nutriment -of their food when given in the ordinary way--a large quantity of the -oats passing through their bodies quite as whole and unbroken as when -swallowed; whereas every grain of the cooked food is assimilated with -the blood, and goes to nourish the system,--consequently, nothing is -lost. - -A chief reason for the prejudice against cooked food is that it gives -trouble, and is a "bother" to prepare. This is always the groom's -excuse; everything is a trouble to him, except thrusting a measure of -hard dry corn, accompanied by a bucket of water, at stated intervals -before his charge, and receiving his wages--at stated intervals -also--for so doing. Were he to understand, when being hired, that -to cook the food would form as much a portion of his business as -to groom and bed the horses, there would probably be very little -grumbling--especially when every convenient appliance would be found -ready to his hand; but the difficulty always lies with the old and -knowing ones--men who have been accustomed all their lives to do things -their own way, and have things just as they pleased. These, as a rule, -resent every innovation, and are only to be dealt with by persons as -knowing and determined as themselves. - -Another source of objection is the idea that it will require some -special apparatus--some costly, difficult, complicated contrivance for -carrying out the proposed plan. There never was a greater mistake -made. In my next chapter, which will be entirely devoted to the -subject of stabling, I shall endeavour to show that the only apparatus -necessary is an exceedingly simple one,--certainly not by any means of -either a costly or extravagant nature. - -To feed a horse four times a day, on any kind of food, is in my opinion -unnecessary; unless, indeed, he be an extremely delicate feeder, in -which case "little and often" should be the rule; but I maintain that -if fed but thrice he ought to be given as good a proportion as is -_ordinarily_ divided into four. I like to see a hard-working horse able -to eat his five quarterns of mixed oats and beans, varied with a good -mash once or twice a week, and always on a Saturday night. At the same -time I am entirely against placing an excess of food in the manger at -one time; it is much better to give an animal just what he will finish, -than that he should not leave his manger perfectly clean. - -Corn ought to be boiled until every grain is swollen to nearly double -its normal size, and is capable of being bruised between the fingers; -it should then be turned out on big trays and left to cool. To suffer -it to grow quite cold is not only unnecessary, but is scarcely even -advisable; tepid food is much easier of digestion, both in the human -stomach and in that of the horse, than food that has become chilled. -Cold substances when swallowed, must rise to a temperature of nearly -100 deg. before the process of digestion can go healthily forward, and that -the food should be a step or two on the road to this degree of warmth -will materially assist the sanitary laws of animal nature. There is -not, at the same time, the very smallest necessity for administering -warm food at all periods when nourishment is given; on the contrary, -a change of diet will be found very beneficial, and summer feeding -ought to differ from that of winter, both in quantity and temperature. -In saying this, however, I do not for a moment mean to convey that -hunters, even when not in use, should ever be allowed to drop out of -condition. I don't believe they should, unless completely invalided -and not likely to be able to do any work during the ensuing season. I -think they ought to be fed with a proportion of oats, though somewhat -less than in winter time, and be kept in _regular_ exercise every day. -I have already said that I approve of driving hunters in harness during -the off season, and having seen it tested, I can speak for the efficacy -of it. - -I have often been asked whether a horse ought to be given the same -quantity of boiled food as of unboiled; in other words, if the process -of cooking occasions the food to swell to twice its natural size, and -so to fill, say, two measures in place of one, ought the two measures -to be given to the horse? My answer is, certainly, if the animal is a -voracious feeder, and is able to make a complete clearance of all that -is in his manger, even after getting the two measures,--but I do not -believe that one horse out of a hundred will be capable of doing so, -or will show the least inclination to make use of so large a bulk of -food. My experience has been, that about three-fourths of the quantity -of cooked food is all that a horse will or can possibly eat, and even -this amount is unusual--a trifle more than half being the customary -thing with horses who would otherwise get through the full quantity of -raw material,--and herein lies the saving, for the satisfying bulk of -the food taken at a meal is largely increased by cooking, while every -particle of it goes to the nourishment of the animal's frame: a thing -which is certainly not the case when the substance is partaken of in -its raw state. - -The water in which corn has been boiled ought never by any means to -be thrown away; it sometimes is, by careless or ignorant grooms, but -the pity and wastefulness are very great, for it is most admirable and -nourishing for drinking purposes, as well as for other stable uses. - -To secure the purchase of good oats, buy them by measurement, and not -by weight. An excellent sample will weigh from 30 to 36 pounds to the -bushel--a prime one ought to weigh from 45 to 48--and this, be it -observed, will, when denuded of the chaff, yield scarcely more than 35 -of pure grain. It is great nonsense to talk about the advisability of -purchasing black, golden, or white oats; all three may be very good or -very bad of their kind, and it is in reality only the chaff that is -coloured, the kernel of each being of one tint. Sound oats ought to -be dry, and very hard; they should _chip_ asunder when crushed--not -have anything of a torn appearance--and should be perfectly scentless. -The less bearded they are the better. I strongly object to kiln-dried -oats for horses, although many sellers resort to the practice by way -of expelling moisture from new grain. I conceive it to be a thoroughly -unwholesome process, taking into account the fact that sulphur is -frequently employed in it--a thing calculated to produce the most -terrible belly-ache, spasms, and gripes. If the presence of sulphur is -suspected, a sample of the oats may be rubbed hastily between the palms -of the hands, and the peculiar odour will at once betray itself. - -Beans are not much employed in Ireland as horse-food, but in England -they are very generally used. Egyptian beans are the best; they -are usually mild, sweet, and tender. Peas are excellent--so are -potatoes--and tares possess so many virtues that it is a wonder the use -of them is so generally confined to farm teams. Carrots are very good -when not given too freely. I approve of them highly for aged horses, -but should be cautious about dealing them out too profusely to young -blood ones. I like to see them given whole, or chopped so fine that -the horse cannot run the risk of choking himself by swallowing them in -lumps. This applies to almost all species of roots when given raw. For -delicate feeders carrots are especially valuable; they give a peculiar -relish to bran and other substances, and cause such to be eagerly -taken, even when rejected before. - -Now a word about hay. Upland hay is the best. It may be known by -the following marks: a perfectly _clean_ look, a bright colour, a -distinctness of fibre, an absence of dust, a pleasant fresh smell, a -decided crispness, a scarcity of weeds, and the presence of seeds in -the stems. Delicacy and cleanliness are its characteristics, and it -is in every way immeasurably superior to lowland hay, which is tawny, -limp, strong smelling, and "woolly" to the touch. - -New hay of any kind is objectionable for feeding purposes, but I -consider that the year's growth is quite fit and wholesome in November. - -Clover hay--that is, first-crop clover--is excellent for mixing with -upland; it is largely interspersed with grass, the stems are fine, and -the leaves untinged by blackness, the flowers, though dried and faded, -are abundant throughout it, and retain much of their original colour. -Second-crop clover is not nearly so desirable; it may be known by a -coarse, strong flavour when put in the mouth, by the big stems, the -dingy appearance, and the noticeable blackness of the leaves. - -I do not approve of giving too much hay of any kind to horses; a -superabundance is apt to make them pot-bellied, and unfit for hard -work. Hunters, however, that get nothing else for their mid-day meal, -ought, when in the stable, to be fed with sufficient quantity to make -up for the absence of more substantial food. - -Ready-cut chaff ought never to be purchased; all sorts of things find -their way into it, just as is said to be the case with cheap sausages! - -Boiled barley is excellent food for horses. I have seen some splendid -youngsters that were fed on nothing else, save the trifling addition of -a very small portion of upland hay. - -Gruel, if given, should be as carefully prepared as though made for -the human subject; the neglect of this caution is the cause of so many -grooms thrusting heavy feeds before exhausted horses, and averring that -the animals "will not drink gruel." No wonder that they reject it, when -the stuff so-named is merely a bucketful of hot water with a handful -or two of oatmeal stirred into it. My experience of horses has not been -a small one, and I can candidly say that I have never yet seen even -the most wearied or delicate animal reject a properly prepared mess of -gruel. - -To make a good mash, allow at least a quartern of oats and a pint of -linseed--these to be boiled for three hours or upwards, and then mixed -with as much bran as will make it of a proper damp consistency, but not -a wet slop, or yet a dry poultice. It should be given rather warm, and -a little salt is an excellent addition. A delicate or ailing animal -that will not eat his mash may often be tempted by putting a little -treacle or sugar into it. - -A horse's supply of water ought never to be limited. On this I shall -touch in my next chapter, in conjunction with stable appliances and -drinking-troughs. To drink plentifully is a symptom of good health. -Very cold water is not advisable for horses; a handful of hay will -take the chill off, or a little meal thrown in. Nitre should never -_under any_ pretext be added to the drink. Soft water is the best for -stable uses; if this cannot be conveniently procured, hard water may be -considerably softened by boiling, with the addition of about half an -ounce of carbonate of soda to every pailful of liquid. - -I strongly advocate _variety_ of feeding for horses. My own hunters -were trained to eat and relish almost everything--except, perhaps, -codfish, on which the Newfoundlanders bring up their horses wonderfully -well! Mine were given turnips, peas, potatoes (both boiled and raw), -apples, pears, parsnips, patent horse biscuits, great armfuls of -cowslips and fresh soil, bread, and oatcake--in short, more things than -I can possibly enumerate. They were great pets, and I loved to take -little dainties out to them--a few nice ripe plums, with the stones -removed, a handful of sugar, a crisp biscuit or two, or a juicy apple -or pear. Such joy, such whinnying, such turning of beautiful heads, -such licking of grateful lips, such playful searchings for more, and -brightening of lustrous eyes, and such romps together in the clean, -fresh, crisp straw, with mutual kissings, and rubbings, and fondlings -of all sorts. My heart is sad when I think of them--even though I know -that they are made much of and are well cared in other homes--and -though so many joys are spared to me in mine. - -In conclusion, let me advise all who are determined to maintain a -prejudice against cooked food, or whose limited stable accommodation -may not admit of the erection of even the most simple contrivance for -cooking it, to procure a corn-crusher and _see that it is made good use -of_. To purchase such an article, and then allow it to stand idle in -the stable is a course of procedure somewhat similar to that adopted by -Lever's West-countryman, who bought himself a new coat, and said it was -"a fine thing to sit lookin' at on a Sunday morning." - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -STABLING. - - -I think it highly probable that horse-owners who read this chapter -will be already supplied with stabling, be it such as it may, and I -think it equally probable that whereas some will be ready to compare -their premises with those that I shall advocate, and be anxious to -effect such improvements as I shall venture to suggest, others will -turn scoffingly away from my hints, with the declaration that they have -kept horses all their lives, and have pulled along very well indeed -without any of the new-fangled nonsense of the present day. Of course -it is not for such persons that I care to write, or want to do so; on -the contrary, I prefer to address my remarks to those who desire to -learn. By setting forth the exact principles on which a stable should, -according to my ideas, be built and managed, I shall be affording -information to such as shall either be desirous of building anew, or -of effecting a series of alterations in premises discovered to be -faulty--although hitherto perhaps considered complete. - -To begin then. If choice of situation can be had, select that which -will admit of draining, and shelter from cold winds. The aspect should -be southern, and the soil dry. A stable ought never to be built in a -hollow, or near a marsh, nor ought the foundation to be sunk in clay. -These things generate damp, and where this evil exists we may expect -to find coughs, farcy, glanders, bad eyes, and a thousand attendant -misfortunes. If the foundation of a stable cannot be of chalk or -well-drained gravel, the proper plan will be to excavate, put in -superior drains, and fill up the area to be occupied with concrete. The -surface drainage may be connected with the underground, if desired, or -may be quite distinct from it. Surface drains, if not constructed in a -manner that will admit of their being cleaned out from day to day, had -best be dispensed with, and open channels substituted, leading _to the -outside_ of the stable. - -Walls should be composed of bricks, glazed on the inside, as such do -not hold any dirt. Posts should be of oak, in preference to iron--and -of the same stout material divisions of stalls and boxes should be -made. If expense is not an object, however, brick will be better still -for the construction of these. - -The roof of a four-horse stable should be at least ten feet high, and -that of a six-horse twelve to fourteen, which will be ample. When too -lofty, a cold atmosphere prevails; when too low there is need for very -large ventilators, which create a current, not always either safe or -pleasant. - -I do not at all approve of paved flooring, although it is so general. -Roughened asphalte is the best; or a most perfect floor may be made by -laying a concrete foundation, made up with gas-tar, some three or four -inches thick, with stable clinkers set and bedded in it, and the whole -grounded in with Portland cement. - -I am a great advocate for box stalls, and would never allow an animal -of mine to be tied up by the head. It is a barbarous and cruel -practice, leading to all kinds of evils, both visible and concealed. -A box should be _at least_ twelve feet by fourteen, and I prefer it -much larger. If it be of brick, it ought to be lined with wood, and -this again with zinc in all places that the horse can use his teeth -upon. Projections of every kind should be avoided, as they are apt -to be injurious when the occupant moves rapidly, or rolls to refresh -himself. In a stalled stable a box may be made by converting the end -stall into one. This can readily be done by having a gate that can be -hung on the stall-post and fastened against the wall. A screen, hung -on rollers from a top bar, is better than a door for closing up a -box-stall. It never gets out of order, nor can any horse--even the most -ingenious--succeed in opening it when once it is let down. - -Where stalls are used they ought to be at least ten feet in length, and -six and a-half or seven in width. The flooring of stalls should never -slant to any perceptible degree. When it does there is a continual -strain upon the back sinews and flexor muscles of the horse, and this -he strives to relieve by moving backwards, and resting his hind toes in -the gutter,--a practice which grooms call a vice. - -A stable door ought not to be less than eight feet high; this will -enable a horseman to ride out when mounted. It should be quite five -feet wide, and divided into two parts, upper and lower, in order -that the former may be conveniently opened in warm weather. It should -likewise be free of any fastening that projects in even an apparently -trifling degree. - -Good ventilation is an absolute necessity in a stable; but in saying -this I do not mean that it should be overdone. Up to the year 1788 the -subject was but little thought of, and ever since that period there -has been a constant outcry against "hot" stables. Such, no doubt, -are highly dangerous, but so are cold ones; and many persons insist -upon confounding _hot_ with _foul_, whereas the terms need have no -connection whatever with one another. In cases of sickness it may be -necessary to keep a horse in a warm stable, but no ailment that ever -was heard of can possibly be benefited by being nursed in a foul or -vitiated atmosphere. There is a great deal of talk about temperature -with regard to stables, but very little indeed concerning purity: a -matter which ought really to engage far more attention. - -To ventilate a stable properly there ought to be apertures for taking -away the foul air, and further apertures for admitting a fresh -supply--and these must be placed high up, near the roof; otherwise they -will tend to make the stable unduly cold. - -When air is exhaled from a horse's lungs it is both lighter and warmer -than that which surrounds it, consequently it ascends to the highest -part of the building, and if permitted to escape there it can do no -harm. If, however, there is no aperture so high up, it remains at -the top until it grows cold, and then descends, to be breathed and -rebreathed by the animal over and over again. I cannot get persons to -believe this, or even to understand it. The rooms that they themselves -occupy are at times positive hotbeds of unwholesomeness--every window -shut tight, doors likewise shut and often heavily curtained, while -sandbags are employed in various directions to exclude every breath of -fresh air. Such persons sleep all night long in a vitiated atmosphere, -and think that they are doing wonders if, in the event of the morning -being excessively bright and fine, they open a little bit of the window -_from the bottom_. To tell them that this is injurious would have no -effect whatever; it is comfortable, feels warm, at least--and what -matter about the rest? "New-fangled notions: nothing else"--and so on, -and so forth. - -Impure air in stables is one of the evils to be _most_ guarded against. -There may be openings large enough to admit a certain quantity of fresh -air, but they are of little use unless there are others also for the -purpose of letting out that which has been already breathed, before it -has had time to grow cool. - -The best windows by far, both for lighting and ventilating, are -ordinary _sash-windows_, well constructed, and reaching quite to the -ceiling. These should be made to open readily at top and bottom, and -should be fitted with cords and pulleys of the very best description. I -know, of course, all the modern appliances off by heart, and am quite -ready to admit the excellence of some of them--indeed, many--but for -general all-round usefulness I prefer the kind that I have advocated. -Sash-windows are capable of affording a splendid current of air: when -the horses are out, for instance, or when the weather is tremendously -hot--and they can be made available for the same purpose even when the -occupants of the stalls and boxes are in their places without creating -a dangerous draught, for the air can be directed ceilingwards by means -of screens or wire blinds. - -Another advantage that sash-windows possess over other kinds is that -there is nothing about them to get out of order, except the cords--and -these can, of course, be quite readily renewed; in fact, most handy -stablemen are capable of effecting such simple repairs without having -to enlist the services of outsiders at all. - -I like to see windows glazed with rough plate; it is extremely strong -and durable, and is in every way to be commended before the 18-inch -glass, which is both frail and shabby. Blinds ought to be fitted to the -windows, or outside shutters employed, in order to keep out the heat -and glare in summer time. - -Stables should be well lighted. I do not at all approve of the -half-and-half system of lighting which generally prevails, and I -strongly _condemn_ the darkness which is too often to be found in them. -I cannot be made to believe that horses, children, flowers, or anything -else, can possibly thrive and be healthy in the dark. Abundance of -light and air is my maxim, and I smile to myself when I see persons -blinking disconsolately in the sunlight, and wondering where the -"draughts" are coming from. Those accustomed to live in hot-houses -call every breath of air a _draught_, and because it is the fashion (a -most pernicious and objectionable one) to darken up dwelling-houses -until every ray of God's beautiful sunshine and sweet glad light is -entirely excluded, they think that to enter a room where all the blinds -are up, and where sunshafts are darting in through pleasantly opened -windows, is something too awful to be endured. In like manner, grooms -will, when allowed, shut out every ray of light from the houses in -which their charges spend the long hours of their captivity, and will -tell you--if you have the patience to listen to such nonsense--that -"horses thrive better in the dark." Do not believe a word of it. Just -watch a horse brought suddenly out of a dark stable, in daylight, into -the yard; look closely at his eyes, how the pupils instantly contract, -and the lids rise and fall, with a rapid pained movement, not to be -mistaken. The animal cannot see a single yard before him, and when he -stumbles, or halts, or steps gingerly, the groom has harsh names and -cruel punishments ready for him at command, provided always that the -master or mistress does not happen to be by. You should _insist_ upon -having a plentiful supply of light and air for your horses, for by -so doing, although "death cannot ultimately be defeated, life may be -prolonged." - -I do not disapprove, as some do, of having the hay loft directly over -the stable, but I greatly object to the common method of dispensing the -contents of it through a trap-door in the roof. It is a most pernicious -practice, allowing draughts to penetrate right down upon the horses' -heads, and filling their eyes and nostrils with hay-seeds and dust. -Naturally when an animal knows that it is feeding-time, and sees the -opening of the trap, its head is uplifted to catch the first morsel, -and, as a consequence, its sensitive organs suffer at once. Moreover, -there have been times when the fork, carried in the hand of a careless -stableman, has slipped from him through the opening, and inflicted -serious injury upon the occupant of the stall below. - -When the hayloft is over the stable the floor of it should be of brick -or concrete; if of wood, there will always be a difficulty about -excluding vermin, which are the pests of every ill-managed stable. - -The outer yard should be partially roofed, but where this is not the -case there ought to be an adjacent room with a paved or asphalted -floor, for purposes of clipping, singeing, &c., none of which -operations ought ever to be performed in a stable or box. - -For night lighting I approve of gas, when available; and if in the -country, of lamps fixed with staples. Provision should be made for an -abundant supply of water, arranged according to the source from whence -it is most readily derivable; and to the ordinary stable apparatus, a -long water-hose, together with a number of fire buckets, ought to be -added. - -The rack, manger, and drinking-trough should be level to the horses' -knees--the bottoms of them to reach almost to the level of the ground. -This arrangement enables animals to eat and drink as nature intended -that they should. The manger, which should be lined with zinc, ought -to be fitted with a footguard; it is an excellent preventive against -waste of food while eating. - -I look with abhorrence upon the ordinary water-pot with chain and plug. -It soils the water if not kept most scrupulously clean, and frets the -horse besides. I approve of those that move upon a pivot, thus enabling -the refuse liquid to be at once turned out, and the pot itself kept -perfectly sweet and clean. - -For bedding I do not think that anything is better than prime wheaten -straw, properly shaken down and evened, to secure the comfort of the -horse when he stretches or rolls. To leave it in lumps is both wasteful -and cruel, for when it is so an animal cannot rest upon it for more -than a very short period of time. He becomes restless and disquieted, -he fidgets about, just as we do when we have the misfortune to be put -to sleep on a hard, lumpy, uncomfortable bed,--and by-and-by he stands -up, fretted, and declines to stretch himself any more. Thus his rest is -disturbed and broken, and he is unfitted for his work next day. - -Straw must of course be frequently changed, according as it becomes -littered, broken up, or damp. It is sometimes left open to the inroads -of dogs and poultry, a thing that ought to be guarded against for -various reasons, among which may be counted the liability of vermin, -which very soon find their way to the horse. - -The best place for a granary is over a shed or coach-house. It ought to -be a cool, airy apartment, with concrete floor, and walls lined with -glazed brick. In small establishments the corn chest supplies the place -of one. This, if used, ought never to be kept in the stable, owing to -the chances so frequently occurring of its being left open by mistake, -and horses breaking loose and gorging themselves almost to death. It -should be placed in a loft, with a tube or shaft attached to bring the -corn to the place where it is required. - -Every stable ought to be provided with a copper, or boiler, for heating -water and cooking food. This, both in town and country, should be -considered an indispensable appendage. It is a great advantage, as well -as a saving, to have the boiler made of malleable iron, which will -stand every kind of hard usage without sustaining injury. It should -be placed in a room that will afford space for all kinds of cooking -implements, coolers, pails, &c., and a supply of coals as well. The -entrance to this should be sufficiently wide to admit a good-sized -wheelbarrow, or a cooler on wheels, and there should be a good lock to -fasten the door. The furniture ought to include a couple of iron ladles -for mixing or measuring the food, and a water-pipe with a stopcock -running into the boiler. - -The stable "cupboard," or press, must not be overlooked. It is a -receptacle intended to hold working implements--such as combs, brushes -of all kinds, sponges, scissors, chamois leathers, or "shammies," as -servants call them for shortness--and a variety of other matters. -The groom should have a key for this, and the master or mistress -will do well to have another, in order that he or she may inspect it -occasionally, and ascertain that it is not put to any improper use. - -A groom's bedroom is a decidedly necessary addition to a -stable,--horses so frequently become ill in the night, or fall to -kicking, or get halter-cast when tied up, or contrive to break loose -and go wandering about the stable,--in fact, so many things, that this -special chamber ought never to be left unprovided, or untenanted. I -speak now of establishments where a number of horses are kept; where -there is only one, or perhaps two, and that they are properly seen -to the last thing at night, there will not, as a rule, be any actual -necessity for a groom to sleep on the premises. - -A common appendage to many country stables is a water-pond. It is -usually made to serve for washing and watering the horses, washing the -carriage, bathing the fowls, and drowning supernumerary pups, kittens, -and stray cats. I strongly recommend its removal--or at all events, the -removal of any servant who leads a horse to drink at it, fetches water -from it for feeding purposes, or drags any vehicle through it for the -ready disposal of the mud upon the wheels. - -Harness and saddle rooms should be entirely distinct from stables. -They should contain stoves or fireplaces, and should be perfectly -dry, lightsome, and well aired. There should be an abundant supply -of racks for whips, &c., brackets for saddles, pegs for bridles, a -good wide shelf for miscellaneous articles, and a lock-up press for -horse-clothing, leg bandages, and other matters of a like description. - -A cat about a stable is a decided acquisition; therefore secure a -respectable grimalkin of steady, sober habits, and give her the run -of the place. She and the horses will be fast friends in a very short -space of time; she will get her own living, with the addition of a -trifle of milk now and again, and will ask no warmer bed in winter than -the sleek back of one of her equine companions. - -[Illustration: FAST FRIENDS.] - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -DOCTORING. - - -In all cases where a horse falls sick, or meets with an accident, the -proper course to pursue is to send at once for a thoroughly competent -veterinary surgeon. To delay about doing so may be to lose a valuable -animal, or at all events to involve a much longer attendance than would -otherwise have been necessary, and therefore the mistaken effort at -economy which tardiness generally represents, will, in nine cases out -or ten, be entirely defeated. - -There may be times, however--in country districts, for instance--when -to send for a surgeon will involve a very long and wearisome delay, and -when to keep an ailing or injured animal altogether without assistance -or relief until his arrival, may be productive of most serious results; -it will, therefore, be apparent that, although a little knowledge is -in many instances esteemed "a dangerous thing," it is certainly not -so with regard to the subject which we have now in hand. For my own -part, my knowledge of horse-doctoring is decidedly limited, and my -surgical education still more incomplete, yet there have been occasions -on which I was able to prescribe for horses, both my own and others', -with perfect success, and to keep pain and sickness at all events at -bay, until the arrival of a qualified V.S. To sit down and do nothing, -or to cry and moan over some injured favourite, is a very feeble and -ineffectual mode of action; far better be up and doing: provided always -that you know _what_ to do, and do it in the right way. - -Now, as I do not (as stated) pretend for a moment to be a skilled -doctor, I shall content myself with giving a few recipes (the results -of my own experience), for the treatment of ordinary well-known and -common equine ailments--touching lightly upon other matters that seem -to bear upon the subject on which I have undertaken to give advice. - -Firstly, then, I strongly object to physicking, and think it ought -to be avoided when possible. Long ago it was a sort of stable craze, -resorted to indiscriminately, whether needed or not. To subject a whole -stud of horses to a severe "physic" every Saturday night was as common -under our forefathers' _regime_ as to eat dinner or drink a quart of -sack. Happily, the practice is in great measure exploded, although it -is still far too general, especially in country stables. To dose with -aloes was formerly the groom's chief delight; nothing else satisfied -him, and the results were often unsatisfactory in the extreme. Even -still he loves physicking so very much, that to adopt the oft-followed -course of purchasing horse-balls and leaving them in the stable-press, -is a very unwise one indeed, for the fingers of the groom positively -itch to administer them, and one will certainly be smuggled down the -animal's throat at some entirely wrong period if his care-taker be -allowed to have them at command. To keep a few properly compounded -balls on the premises, or, in other words, "at hand," is an exceedingly -wise precaution, but in keeping them I should do so under lock and key. -I have scores of times saved poor horses from the abominable punishment -of having nauseous physic thrust down their throats, by simply treating -them with continued soft mashes--five, or even six a day, given in -small quantities at a time--and so great is my faith in this treatment, -that, except in extreme cases, where feverish and other symptoms are -present and render physic absolutely indispensable, I would never -permit any contrary system to be adopted. For merely relaxing purposes -it is far before all others. - -When a ball must be given, have nothing to do with the horrible -contrivance known as a twitch, nor yet with a balling-iron, which is -another aversion. The use of this latter frequently causes the operator -to sustain a broken or injured arm, for the horse throws up his head, -and the holder of the iron is fairly lifted from the ground, and, as a -rule, sustains some hurt to the limb. Even the improved contrivance, -with the aperture at the side, which is decidedly an advance upon -the old-fashioned round orifice, is open to a variety of objections; -moreover, this method of administering medicine subjects the groom, or -operating surgeon, to extreme risk from kicks from the fore-feet. A -startled horse almost invariably rears up, and hits out madly with his -fores--a blow from one of which is not by any means soon forgotten. I -have seen a ball most skilfully given by coaxing and encouraging the -horse in the first instance, taking plenty of time to bring him on -terms of familiarity--then drawing his tongue gently to the right side -of his mouth, into which the right hand _with the ball held between the -first and second fingers_, was inserted, and the physic quietly pushed -down. - -It must not be supposed, however, that the operator's work is over -the moment that he has withdrawn his hand; horses have a marvellous -facility for bringing up medicine, and will do so three and four, -and even five times in succession, but rarely, I think, if properly -administered. It is a good plan to close the animal's mouth at once, -and hold it so with the left hand, while the right gently rubs the -throat and manipulates the upper lip. A ball can be seen, if watched -for, travelling downward along the gullet, and once it is thus viewed -the task of physicking may be considered complete. - -[Illustration: HOLDING HORSE'S JAWS.] - -It ought not, however, to be given in a hard state. If kept made up it -must be re-made and softened. A drachm each of saltpetre, ginger, and -Barbadoes aloes will form a mild aperient, when made into a mass with a -little soft soap. If a stronger one is desired, the quantities may be -doubled. - -I object most strongly to giving medicine by a drink. To do so almost -necessitates the use of the twitch, for the ghastly performance cannot -be got through at one effort. Were a whole bottleful of stuff to be -poured down the throat at once, the animal would either cough it up or -be choked. It is generally therefore divided into several portions, -and the wretched patient is made to undergo the torment of taking the -liquid abomination in a succession of doses. - -It is always best, when about to physic a horse, to banish all -extraneous aid from the stable. A number of persons standing about, -officious assistants crowding the limited space, and would-be advisers -pressing their unwelcome aid, are things which only tend to embarrass -and confuse the operator, and render the horse so fidgetty that to do -anything with him, or for him, becomes a hopeless task. Not more than -one person ought ever be permitted to be present, and not _even_ one if -his assistance can possibly be dispensed with. - -It is a bad thing to allow a horse to drink cold water after he has -been physicked; as warm as he can be induced to have it will be the -proper thing. - -I feel that I ought, before passing to another portion of my subject, -to repeat my warning concerning _undue_ physicking. A tendency to -inflammation is repeatedly developed by it, and its evils are in every -way both many and great. It should be borne in mind that well-made -bran-mashes are the safest and most effectual of all laxatives, and -that any desired condition of the bowels may be induced by regulating -the number and frequency of them. When not too often repeated they -act mildly, without inducing any of that bodily discomfort or -constitutional weakness which throws the animal out of condition, and -renders complete rest an absolute necessity for recovery. - -Blistering is a very common recipe for a variety of ills. About -once in every score of cases in which it is tried the result proves -that the experiment was justifiable--yet, it cannot be denied that -there are times at which the remedy may in every way be suited to -the disease. Blisters are, however, far too powerfully compounded; -instead of being so severe as to take off hair and skin together, -they ought to be diluted with quite three times their bulk of either -soap-solution or bland oil. To fire an animal and then blister him -is a piece of barbarity which no educated or feeling person would -ever permit. Fancy searing the legs of a timid creature with a fiery -iron, and then setting a man with a coarse rough hand to rub into the -raw and quivering flesh the fearful blistering substances which are -unfortunately in only too common use. No wonder that the sufferer moans -in its agonies, and paws the earth, and sweats and shivers from the -extremity of its torture; and after all, if people will only believe -it, the treatment is (for _any and every_ evil) most palpably wrong. -Simultaneous firing and blistering cannot effect good, except in the -opinion of ignorant grooms and farriers; therefore, such unspeakable -cruelty ought never to be permitted. - -It should be remembered, when blistering, that the action of the remedy -depends more on the amount of friction employed in applying the agent, -than on the bulk of vesicatory stuff employed. Brisk rubbing will be -highly beneficial, but roughness may well be dispensed with--and -adjacent tender places should be previously covered with a layer of -simple cerate, which will be a wise as well as a merciful precaution. -A little at a time, also, of the blistering fluid should be rubbed on; -if there is too much it is apt to run upon parts that may be injured -by its agency. A blistered horse should be as mercifully cared, and as -gently treated during healing time, as a human patient. How earnestly -do I wish that I could impress this upon persons who, without really -meaning to be cruel, are so, through carelessness, or lack of striving -_not_ to be. - -Bleeding is another matter concerning which horse-owners ought to be -cautious about placing too much confidence in grooms. If the blood-can -is made to contain two gallons--which most of them are--the groom will, -ten to one, drain the animal to fill it, or very nearly so, whereas -the loss of a quart of blood would probably be quite enough for him to -sustain. Horses are very generally bled after coming in from grass, -when they look fat and full-bellied; but I do not consider it a wise -proceeding. As a rule, it is far better not to bleed at all without -the advice of a competent V.S., and few of the better educated of the -profession will be found very often advocating it. - -When a horse must be bled, see that his eyes are efficiently bandaged, -in order that he may not start when the wound is about to be given. -Make use of a fleam in place of a lancet; it is better and more -effectual, for it does not inflict a cut of unnecessary dimensions, as -the lancet (if at all unskilfully handled) occasionally does. When the -proper quantity of blood has been extracted, remove the pressure, and -as soon as the flow ceases, prepare to pin up. This is rather a nice -operation, but I have seen a lady perform it quite as well as any V.S. -The wound should be left open until the lips of it become sticky; then -all hairs must be most carefully removed, the sides of the incision -brought together with the greatest nicety, and closed by a twisted -suture, a thing which I have made successfully in the following way: -first running a pin through the integument at each side of the wound, -and then twisting a strong silk thread round its either extremity, -after the fashion of the figure 8 turned on its side--thus, [figure 8]. -I have stopped the bleeding from a wound received in the hunting-field -by extemporising this kind of suture, and using a hair pulled from the -horse's tail, in place of a silk thread. - -When the wound has so far united as to justify the removal of the pin, -the patient should be so placed that he cannot rub the part, and should -be fed on nourishing and readily-digested food. - -Slings form an excellent support for a horse that is not meant to lie -down. The apparatus consists of a broad canvas belt that goes under -the belly, extending from the points of the elbows backwards; there is -a supporting shaft at each extremity, to which the suspending ropes -(carried from either roof or stall posts) are attached; a breast-strap -and breeching keep the belt in its place. The horse is not really -suspended at all. When he is disposed to rest his legs, he has only -to bend them, and the belt receives his weight: when tired of its -support he again stands on his feet. The breeching for this should be -very strong and broad, and the belt well stuffed, and stitched like a -mattress. - -Fomentations are usually not half carried out by grooms. If, say, a -leg is to be fomented, a _pailful_ of thoroughly hot water ought to be -employed, and the horse's foot put down into it; the water should then -be laved through a large sponge, as high as the shoulder, and allowed -to run down over the entire limb. This process should be carried on for -at least half an hour, renewing the water as quickly as it cools. If a -poultice or bandage is to be applied after the fomentation, it should -be done immediately, before the leg has time to grow cold. - -Poultices should be large, moist, and warm, and ought never to be tied -too tightly on the affected part. A good poultice will not need to be -changed for twenty-four hours. - -Having thus described a few appliances for remedying sickness and -wounds, I proceed to say a word or two about the commoner forms of -ailments--such, for instance, as are most calculated to need amateur -doctoring, and to bring the foregoing remedies into requisition. - -By far the greater number of stable sicknesses are brought about by a -persistent giving of indigestible food, while the remainder are, as a -rule, due to exposure, cold, and chills. Indigestion can only be cured -by careful dieting, and by giving water (if that liquid is, as is -customary, administered at stated intervals) _before_ instead of after -each meal. By this method the gastric juices are given fair play, which -by any other can not be the case. - -Ordinary cold, which shows itself precisely as in the human subject, -should be treated by clothing the body, bandaging the legs, suspending -corn diet, and giving warm mashes, with occasionally a little nitre -(half-an-ounce will be sufficient) introduced. If sore throat exists, a -mustard poultice ought to be applied. By attending early to this common -complaint, the evils attendant upon chronic cough may be averted. - -Inflamed and congested lungs, bronchitis, and other dangerous chest -maladies should be at once treated by a surgeon; but pending his -arrival, a good deal of danger may be staved off by applying strong -mustard poultices, keeping up the surface circulation, and admitting -plenty of pure air. - -I regard ringbone, glanders, roaring, and whistling, as altogether -incurable, although the second is the only one that will prevent a -horse from working, the other three being merely partial disablements. -A glandered animal should at once be separated from his fellows, and, -as a precautionary measure, destroyed. - -In case of worms, a dose of about four drachms of areca nut, prepared -with a grater, should be given every alternate day, mixed well through -a soft and tempting mash. If this is not found sufficiently powerful it -may be increased, and a pint of linseed oil given to the patient. All -"worm medicines" should be banished from the stable. - -Diarrhoea may be speedily arrested by giving bicarbonate of potash in -small half-ounce doses. - -Where colic occurs there is often great internal suffering. A pint -of warm gruel should be at once prepared, and in it put an ounce of -tincture of opium and oil of turpentine, together with double that -quantity of nitric ether. The horse should be walked about as much as -possible, and his attention distracted from his pain. If the attack -continues obstinate, the dose must be repeated. - -Inflammation of the gums, or bars of the mouth, commonly called -lampass, is a very general ailment, and when horses are suffering from -it they will not eat. I have never tried any treatment except a gentle -aperient and a mash diet, except in one or two extreme cases where a -lance was applied. The old remedies of a hot iron or an iron nail were -mere symbols of cruel barbarism. - -Navicular disease cannot be cured, but it may be mitigated by -blistering the coronet; and a horse affected by it may be made to go -sound for awhile by dividing the sensitive nerves that supply the feet: -an operation for which the services of a skilled V.S. will be, of -course, imperative. - -Foot-fever is another ailment that ought not to be trifled with. Before -the arrival of the surgeon, get the shoes taken off, the feet put into -warm poultices, and administer a purgative medicine. - -Thrush is both common and curable, if taken at once. It will be -necessary to remove the ragged bony particles, and treat the foot daily -with an astringent dressing, having the horse at the same time so shod -that the frog will, when exercising, be brought quite close to the -ground. - -The presence of a corn is indicated by lameness, and a red spot in the -horn, close to the heel. In most cases relief may be obtained by paring -away the horn, and affixing a shoe that will effect no pressure upon -the tender portion of the foot. A horse with corns will be immensely -benefited and relieved by working him with india-rubber soles, as by -their use the pressure is taken off the heels. - -Swollen legs, a very common ailment, will, in most instances, speedily -yield to the following treatment: Complete immunity from hard work, -regular and gentle exercise, constant bathing with tepid water in which -salt has been dissolved, and careful bandaging with flannel. - -Splint is very general with young horses just put to work. I have -seen it effectually cured on its first appearance by giving the -horse complete rest, applying cold water bandages, and utilising a -three-quarter shoe on the inner portion of the foot--a course of -treatment which certainly lessens the concussion. If obstinate, the -periosteum must be divided over the newly-formed deposit, and if -this fails a blister will have to be resorted to, or--as a very last -resource--firing the affected part. If this operation is skilfully -performed _with a pointed iron_, very little blemish will ensue. It -ought to be borne in mind, however, that a splint when once formed into -bone cannot possibly be removed, although a horse that has _good sound_ -legs and even action need not by any means be rejected on account of it. - -Farcy is not an uncommon ailment among horses. It is notified by a -puffy swelling covered over with little yellowish ulcers of an ugly -sort; but, if properly looked after, it will as a rule yield speedily -to judicious treatment. The ulcers should be opened gently with a large -needle or lance, and dressed with an ointment composed of biniodide of -mercury and lard. A horse thus affected ought to have plenty of walking -exercise, with liberal feeding, and an abundance of fresh cool air. -Tonics, both vegetable and mineral, will be found of great service. - -Mud-fever is consequent upon wet, hardship, and improper grooming. -I never allowed my horses' legs to be washed after a journey, and -although the uninitiated will stare at this, and self-sufficient grooms -be found to rail against it, I advise a trial of my plan. When a -horse comes in, the dirt should be removed from his legs by scraping, -rubbing, and strong, rapid _wisping_, which will very soon leave them -ready for the finishing brush. If the horse has white legs, they may -be sponged next morning, and dried with a towel. This is a pleasant -operation to lovers of horses, and a beautiful cleanliness is the -result. Where there is mud-fever the horse should not be worked. A -little aperient medicine may be given, and a linament applied, composed -of liquor plumbi and olive oil--or petroleum-jelly, or "veterinary -vaseline," may be tried. - -Despite the aptitude which many horses have to cracked heels, I -never had a case of them in my own stable, and this immunity I -attribute almost entirely to the rigidity with which my orders against -leg-washing were carried out. Strong vigorous hand-rubbing, and -perfectly dry woollen bandages when not at work, were my preventive -measures, and whenever my neighbours had a case of them we doctored -by applying oatmeal poultices until all inflammatory symptoms had -subsided, and then dressed the sore parts with an ointment composed of -alum and lard, with a good admixture of zinc. - -Saddle-galls are terribly common evils. I pointed out the causes of -them in a former chapter. Ladies' horses are the chief sufferers, and -therefore every lady ought to be able to attend to her own animals, -should they chance to become affected. The moment that a tender spot -is noticed, the horse's work should at once be stopped, and the part -well bathed with _cold_ salt and water. A little fuller's earth may -then be applied. It is a great mistake, and a general one, to begin -by fomenting with hot water; such a practice only makes the skin -peculiarly delicate and sensitive to future hurt. Where there is -abrasion, the part should be well cleansed, bathed with zinc lotion, -and smeared abundantly with zinc ointment until it heals. For collar -and harness galls the same treatment will be found effectual, and the -stuffing or padding of the articles that have caused the injury should -be looked to without delay. - -Almost all hunting ladies know by troublesome experience what an -overreach is. I once possessed a hunter whose hind action was so -extravagant that he was constantly hitting the fleshy heels of his fore -feet, but after a while I found a remedy, or rather a preventive, by -having the toes of the hind shoes set back, and rounded. My treatment -for the overreach was to bathe and cleanse the wound, take away any -adherent broken horn, and lay on a piece of cotton wool steeped in -sulphate of zinc, taking care that the torn portions of the integument -were pressed nicely into proper place, and the whole secured with a -bandage. - -Wounds of all sorts should be most carefully washed, bathed, and the -edges brought tenderly together. When a horse gets staked in the -hunting-field, the rider ought at once to dismount, remove the glove -from his right hand, and probe the depth of the wound with his index -finger. If not deep, there will be no danger, provided it be attended -to at once; but to prosecute a run on an injured animal is a piece of -cruelty, happily very rarely witnessed. I strongly advise, however, -that a horse so hurt should be ridden or led quietly home, if within -possible distance, rather than that he should be removed to an adjacent -stable until sent for, which is a usual practice, meant to be merciful, -but in reality extremely the reverse, as the animal stiffens on its -injury, and suffers intensely in the transit. - -In cases of laceration of the wall of the belly and protrusion of a -portion of the intestines, the best thing to do will be to remove the -saddle without a _second's_ delay, press the exposed gut very gently -back into its proper place, bring the edges of the wound together -with an improvised suture (such as I have previously described), and -bandage the whole tightly up. The horse must not be moved until proper -assistance shall have arrived for the requisite conveyal to his stable, -where he should be kept in a standing position, with plenty of air -about him, complete quietude and an allowance of very soft food. -Should there be inflammation about the wound, the application of warm -wet rags will serve to allay it. - -Injuries to the knees from falling are among the commonest ailments of -the stable. Sometimes the skin only is injured, while at others the -deeper structures are involved, and cases occasionally occur in which -the bones are absolutely laid bare. The treatment in all instances -should commence by the most careful cleansing, with warm fomentations -for half an hour or more, and should then proceed as follows: for -skin-deep injuries, tincture of myrrh after frequent daily bathings -will prove an excellent dressing: for those of a deeper nature, the -same treatment, only intensified, and at night a soft pad of cotton -wool steeped with sulphate of zinc and secured with a bandage; when -bones or tendons are involved, the joint-oil--a white-of-egg-like -substance--will be discharged, and when this occurs the horse's fate -is sealed: he is absolutely valueless, and may be destroyed at once, -unless he can be made of use for stud purposes. In ordinary cases of -broken knees, if there is suppuration or proud flesh, a weak solution -(about a twelfth part in water) of bichloride of mercury will be found -useful, and in all cases the patient must be prevented from lying down. -He should be walked gently about at intervals throughout the day, and -be fed on nourishing food of a succulent nature. - -When a horse has to undergo any painful operation, a merciful owner -will always chloroform him. The best way to do this is to wind a very -long towel, or bandage, about his jaws, and form a kind of tunnel with -the ends; through this the arm should be passed, the hand holding a -sponge steeped in chloroform, which should be held steadily within four -inches of the nostrils, and only removed to transfer the sponge to the -other hand in the event of the first becoming tired. - -When the friend who has carried us has to be destroyed, the kindest -and easiest way to do it will be to open a vein and blow in a little -air with an instrument made for the purpose--a sharp lance, or rather -needle, hollowed in the centre, and with an air-chamber attached. Death -is then absolutely instantaneous. If shooting is to be resorted to, the -weapon should be placed right behind the ear, in a slightly slanting -direction, the muzzle pointing for the brain. Shooting in the centre -of the forehead is frequently mere butchery. In all instances of so -sad a nature the eyes of the victim ought to be gently bandaged, and -the whole matter conducted as silently and in the presence of as few -persons as possible. - -Melancholy as is the destruction of an animal we have loved, and who -has loved and served us in return, it is infinitely less so than -selling a worn-out or injured creature to servitude, which generally -means hardship and a hard and miserable death. Such barter can bring -no blessing. The eternal God of pity sends us these noblest of His -creatures with the intention that they should serve us, yet not as -slaves, and knowing that they must perish, yet not willing that they -should do so by any unrighteous or cruel means. At our hands will their -blood, I believe, be required; and if the faith is a peculiar one, and -not deemed worthy of general acceptance, it may at least be regarded -without ridicule and passed by without contempt. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -BREEDING. - - -This is essentially an age of ladies on horseback. They are to be -met with everywhere, and at all seasons: in city, suburb, park, and -country, and with the advance of equestrian pursuits comes likewise a -desire on the part of those who take pleasure in them to be made in -some degree acquainted with the interesting subjects of breeding and -training young horses. So at least I judge from a number of letters -recently addressed to me, both at my own house and at the office of the -_Sporting and Dramatic News_, requiring information upon matters which -a few years ago were very little thought of by ladies, and certainly -commanded no amount of attention from them. - -With a view to answering the many questions asked me, I propose to -offer a few brief hints on the best and most profitable method of -breeding good and useful racers and hunters--appending a chapter -on a system of training, which, having tried it myself with quite -satisfactory results, I can confidently recommend to ladies, as coming -entirely within scope of the resources ordinarily afforded them, both -by nature and surroundings. - -Horse-breeding is a pleasant recreation for those whose tastes, means, -and residential qualifications enable them to carry it on, and at the -same time conduce to its success. Living in the country, for example, -in a house surrounded by good grass lands, a more delightful species of -pastime, or one of a more engrossing kind, can scarcely be sought for -or imagined, while the practical question of making money of it may be -met with the assurance that it can be done. - -At the present crisis it is especially advisable that attention should -be given to horse-breeding, as it is a matter to which, when times are -bad and land-culture unprofitable, lady farmeresses and others may -turn their thoughts with greater chance of profit than when sheep, -cattle, and every description of farm produce brought more grist to the -agriculturist's mill. Land rent is low, fodder cheap and plentiful, -and labour easily obtained. Some years ago, when seasons were good, -and farmers could sell their stock at a fair profit, horse-culture -might not under ordinary circumstances have been found to pay; but -it is entirely different now, and never perhaps was there a period -at which good horses, especially high-class hunters, were in more -substantial demand than at present. I know some persons, particularly -in Ireland, who are ready to cry "No" to this statement, but the most -substantial proof of its truthfulness lies in the fact that at sales, -as well as at the autumn horse-shows, almost everything that is good is -speedily bought up at fairly remunerative prices, while only those who -demand excessive rates for second and third-rate animals carry their -stock home with them, and grumble at the blindness of buyers and the -ticklishness of the times. - -Without going into any unnecessary preliminaries, I may continue my -subject and say, that it will be well, when selecting a mare to breed -from with a view to the production of high-class hunters, to choose -one if possible that has herself been a good performer to hounds,--but -remember that this is not an indispensable quality, although it may -be, and is, an important one. The breeding of the animal chosen to -represent maternity ought to be a point much dwelt upon; it cannot -indeed be over estimated--as coarse-bred mares are, even when well -mated, certain to perpetuate unsatisfying stock. I am of opinion -that compactness of form, robustness of frame, and capability of -endurance, fatigue, and exertion, are far before actual beauty in the -brood mare. I like to see short stout legs, thick and bulging in the -upper portion, denoting plenty of strength and muscle--good, fleshy, -_sloping_ shoulders, a deep chest, high withers, a strong well-ribbed -frame, big broad loins, hips wide apart, substantial quarters, a high -arched crest, a good sound mouth, nostrils wide and healthy, and, most -important of all, a sound and well-formed foot. This last point should -be rigorously observed, for my experience has taught me that no outward -defect is more surely hereditary than small, narrow, ill-shapen, or -unhealthy feet. - -The same precautions may in great degree be applied to the sire--and -as he is supposed to supply the locomotive power to his progeny, an -animal should be chosen that has good hunter-like action, and not one -whose paces are like those of a racer or park horse. His height will -not be of much consequence, provided that the mare be of suitable size, -but his general form ought to be most carefully weighed. A good sound -constitution on the part of both mare and sire will be of the utmost -importance in breeding, and for this reason I prefer young strong mares -for stud purposes. - -It is with many a very vexed question whether or not a filly is -improved by having a foal. I maintain, even against much contradiction, -that she decidedly is; and I have met with a good many sound judges -who have agreed with me, while on the other hand some old-fashioned -horse-fanciers have told me that they would not have anything whatever -to say to a "widow." I believe that the system of keeping a flock of -idle brood mares has contributed largely towards the impoverishing of -many a promising horse-breeding company, and a few who have had the -sense to see the folly of such a course have bred with much advantage -from fillies, without ever suffering a particle of loss by it. A young -robust three-year-old--one that has been "gentled" and taught to jump -in long reins _without_ being ridden--will prove a capital speculation -as a matron, and will at four have produced a foal which need not -detain her from her training beyond the weaning time. - -Wealthy horse-owners, who wish to go in for breeding racers, ought -to keep their best and most promising foals entirely for breeding -purposes; and I believe that such a speculation would answer admirably -as a means of making money, and would in time astonish the world of -the turf with a show of youngsters that would bid fair to sweep the -land. Well-nurtured animals--those that had never been subjected to any -sort of training--would be certain to bring forth finer and healthier -specimens of horseflesh than aged quadrupeds, who were only put to the -stud because they had met with accident, or had broken down. I cannot, -for my own part, believe in such animals perpetuating a valuable -or healthy stock; and experience has amply proved that it is only -after long periods of repose--during which the waste and exhaustion -consequent upon training and running have become mitigated, if not -absolutely cured--that racing mares and sires attain celebrity through -the progeny that they produce. - -Turfites might pick up many a good and paying thing, if breeders would -only relinquish some of their standing prejudices, and be induced to -set apart a certain number of untrained animals for stud purposes, -selecting the best of the foals produced by them, and keeping these -apart until their sixth year; by so doing, they would generate a -company of clippers that would make fortunes for their purchasers, -and fairly open the eyes of the racing world. Strange to say, the -system finds but little acceptance--a fact shown by the bad, weedy, -and mis-shapen lots that are sent out to contest many of our leading -races. More of them break down in the training than ever actually go -to the post; and, even among the starters, how few are found in the -run home really contesting the race. The horseflesh of the country -has degenerated under the pursuance of a wrong system; and yet, it -is asserted that racing is kept up to improve the national breed of -chasers throughout the land. How far it succeeds in its so-called -purpose, the public markets daily testify. Wretched blood stock is -everywhere to be found, and when not absolutely what could be called -wretched, it is at all events decidedly poor. A number of the foals -born never return the first expenses of their existence, much less of -their education. Their worthlessness is soon discovered, and after -awhile they are to be met with in riding-schools and job stables, -between the shafts of cabs and carts, and engaged in a variety of other -work for which they were never meant--their very fitness for such -demeaning labour proving at once their utter lack of value for higher -callings, and testifying the hollow ignorance of those who, from blind -prejudice, or some other inexplicable cause, tend to perpetuate this -pitiable waste and degradation. - -So-called "blood stock" is fast contaminating the pure native breed -of the country. There is, every season, a glut of worthless bloods; -the refuse of the stud farm is sold away to the highest bidder, and he -in his turn seeks to make temporary profit out of it, with the result -of impoverishing and deteriorating such chances of good things as he -may happen to have among his stock. Thus it goes on from one year to -another, and looks, by its continuance, as though it were meant to go -on to the very end of time. - -My advice to would-be breeders of _racers_ is, to discard as sires and -matrons all animals that have been trained for the turf; carefully -select those of good blood, pedigree, and qualifications; reserve -the best of their progeny, when brought forth, and breed from these -again, ere ever they are allowed to pass into a trainer's hands. In -this way, and in this alone, will strength, stamina, courage, speed, -endurance--all that is most necessary in a racer--be absolutely ensured. - -To turn back to the subject of breeding a good class of hunters--a -matter which I hope will interest ladies, for whom I write--I have -already given my ideas respecting the best sort of mares to select -for the purpose; and I may add that an animal during the period of -gestation ought not to be by any means kept and fed in idleness. Gentle -regular exercise, and plenty of it, will be good and healthful for a -mare that is in foal. Her prospects of maternity dating from May, she -can with advantage be lightly worked about a farm, or in any other -way--_provided that she has been accustomed to it_--until Christmas; -and even when actual work is suspended, daily exercise should be -carefully continued. - -Dry uplands, and grassy ground of a hilly nature, are excellent -pasturage for brood mares, who should be kept perfectly cool, and -free from excitement of all kinds. An abundance of fresh water should -be allowed them--as much indeed as they care to drink--together with -a _varied_ supply of light nourishing food of a cooling nature. The -shelter-shed ought to open to the south, the entrance to it being wide, -and the flooring hard and very dry. - -[Illustration: PREPARING THE STABLE. - -_page 287._] - -The mare should be left quite to herself when foaling, except in -extreme cases, which fortunately very rarely occur. It will, of course, -be necessary to see that she does not make her way to any dangerous -place--such as an ugly ditch, or cutting--a thing very commonly -attempted in the country--but otherwise she ought not to be subjected -to any kind of interference. This, I should observe, applies as a -matter of course to strong healthy animals, such as are accustomed to -pasturing out in almost every sort of weather; in other cases, it will -be well to have a box at hand, thickly littered over, and lined about -the walls with piled-up trusses of straw. - -If you are the mare's owner, and that she knows you and is comforted -by the sound of your voice, keep close by her, and banish all others -to a distance when her sufferings begin. These will most likely be -short, but severe, and she will not in all probability bear them very -patiently. Lead her quietly into the box that you have prepared; and -on no account permit any fuss or excitement, or any _peeping_, to -take place about her. In cases where much heaving of the flanks has -occurred, I have seen small doses of sulphuric ether and cold water--an -ounce of the former to three pints of the latter, well blended--given -with seeming advantage; but I do not undertake to advocate _any_ -physicking whatever at so excessively trying a period, preferring -for my own part to leave Nature to herself, except where danger is -anticipated: in which case it will be best to send at once for the most -skilled assistance possible. - -As soon as matters are safely over, leave parent and offspring to -themselves, ensuring for them the utmost quietude, as well as perfect -freedom from even the very slightest noise. All that the mare will -stand in need of at the conclusion of her troubles will be a pail of -warm gruel, with a dash of old ale, or a little brandy introduced--the -latter only in case of great exhaustion. The foal will require no -care, except from its parent. Should the natural nourishment prove -unprolific, the young one may be supplied with cow's milk that has been -skimmed, sweetened, and slightly warmed. An infant's feeding-bottle -will serve admirably for purposes of nutrition, or if such be not -available, a hand may be dipped in the milk, and the tops of a couple -of fingers lifted up. The hungry foal will very soon seize upon them; -but it is, in my opinion, better not to feed at all, except in cases -where the youngster shows signs of evident weakness, or that the mother -is unable to fulfil her natural functions. - -I always advocate holding up the feeding-pail when nourishment is -supplied to the parent. It gives confidence, allays suspicion, and -helps to tame the little one, which, after a while, will venture to -pick from the hand. - -The nursing-stable should be airy and well ventilated, without being -subject to draughts, and the feeding for the matron should consist -of moist mashes, composed of bran and scalded oats, varied with an -abundance of cooling vegetable food, and a constant supply of fresh -soft water. - -Four days after foaling the mare may be put to light exercise: it will -do both her and her colt a vast deal more good than being idle, and -the little youngster (owing to the constant proximity of his dam's -attendant) will soon grow quite tame. His timidity will vanish, he will -suffer himself to be handled and caressed, will pick food out of his -mother's manger, and will, when October comes round, and he has to be -weaned, be as docile and full of confidence as any animal in the stable. - -[Illustration: FRATERNIZING.] - -When that special time arrives, give him (if possible) a companion of -his own age to bear him company: because he must be separated from his -dam, for the benefit of both--and he will pine if not provided with -society. If one of his own species be not conveniently obtainable, -procure a young calf, and let the two youngsters fraternize together; -they will soon be the best possible friends, and the colt will thus -keep up his condition and not waste, as he certainly will if left to -pine alone. - -Turn him, after weaning, into a good piece of pasture land, and feed -him twice a day with oatmeal-porridge mixed with a quart or three pints -of good sweet milk. The cost of this is more than doubly repaid by the -increased strength and power that it affords: such feeding being far -in advance of the customary crushed beans, oats, hay, chaff, and other -strong meat (totally unfit for babes) which grooms find such delight in -giving. - -Hunting colts should be kept during their first three summers on good -rich grass land, and be provided with a suitable shelter, to which they -can retire when the sun is overpowering, or the weather severe. In the -winter time they should have warm boxes to rest in at night, but had -better be kept out of doors during the day, for air and exercise. Where -this treatment is adopted, there will seldom be roarers in the stable. - -Excellent feeding for youngsters that are meant for hunting purposes -is sliced mangel or swede turnips mixed with hay that has been cut -into long chaff. Crushed maize added to the roots is also very good; -and oats, peas, and beans may be given to ensure variety. Carrots -are, I think, far before all other vegetable diet, where the soil is -favourable to the growing of a good crop; but, where they are scarce, -mangel will make an excellent substitute. Feeding on roots alone is not -advisable, even for a short period, seeing that such are composed of -20 per cent of water, and if not mixed with a proper quantity of grain -or chaff, are apt to produce a variety of ailments which may be found -troublesome to cure. - -I like to see a colt, even when a yearling, handled nicely and lightly, -and dressed every day of his life by the attendant who has the feeding -of him. Such a course fits him for breaking-time, and prepares him in -great measure for what he has to go through in his training. - -I am an advocate for paying close and vigilant attention to the feet, -from the very beginning. I like to see toes nicely shaped by judicious -paring, and, if disposed to chip or splinter, provided with suitable -tips. - -[Illustration: GOOD FORM.] - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -TRAINING. - - -The pleasures of instructing a young unbroken colt are so many and -great, that my sole wonder is how owners of such animals can so often -make up their minds to the demands of the professional breaker: an -individual who, in many cases, deals harshly, and in many more with a -lack of judgment which is as deplorable as it is common. - -To enter minutely into the subject of breaking is not by any means my -intention. Volumes might be written about it, and yet the difficulty -which many persons experience in learning from books, might not even -then be overcome. There are as many different ways of training a horse -as there are of training an infant, and I cannot at all agree with the -professedly wise ones who say that only one way can be correct. I have -found a variety of methods answer almost equally well, and I may (in -some instances) say, almost equally _badly_, also--because everything -must depend upon the nature and disposition of the animal that is to be -experimented upon. - -Some children are naturally timid, shy, nervous, and retiring, and -cannot be taught at all except by gentle encouragement--a sort of -continual leading onward, without any attempt to drive--while others -are so sullen, obstinate, and ill-conditioned, that gentleness seems -thrown away upon them, and nothing save fear and force are capable of -accomplishing any good. So it is, precisely, with horses; but, just as -instances of dogged obstinacy and evil disposition are happily rare -among children of well-bred parents, so in like manner have I found -it to be with colts that have come of a good stock. I may here take -occasion to say, however, that even with the most viciously disposed -animals, such as future experience proved to be incapable of anything -either good or generous, I invariably commenced with--and persevered -in--the very gentlest treatment, discarding all force, ignoring the -uses of whip and spur, and seeking to subdue by the mildest and most -kindly methods, until compelled to adopt severer ones by the hopelessly -unimpressionable and intractable nature of some among my misguided -charges. Having, then, found so wide a difference of temper and -disposition to exist in the various animals with which I had to do, I -long ago came to the conclusion that to lay down any fixed laws for -training was mere fallacy and nonsense; the system that works admirably -with one may prove a dead failure with another, and taking this into -account I cannot, I think, do better in a chapter like the present, -than state the plan on which I always began to work, and which, as a -rule, I found to succeed, better than any other. - -Advising you by my own experience, I should say never, when you can -help it, submit young animals to a so-called professional breaker, but -rather take them in hand yourself, and make up your mind to three -things: first, to bring all the patience of which you are possessed -to bear upon your task, to enable you to govern by gentleness and -forbearance, and not by tyranny and wrath; second, that a colt must be -so handled and trained that he shall never find out his own strength -or power; and third, that you must give the pupil every opportunity of -seeing, smelling, feeling, and hearing things that will at first be -strange to him, remembering that it is by the exercise of these senses -that horses form their judgment of surrounding objects. - -I greatly object to the system of lungeing young horses in a circle, -or ring. The evils of it are sufficiently manifested in mill-horses; -but even these are suffered to _walk_ their rounds, whereas the breaker -compels the youngster to trot, and even to canter when going in a -comparatively narrow circle. Injury to the sight is the very commonest -result of the practice, and even if it does not show immediately, or -at the time, it certainly will later on. To travel round and round at -a quick rate in an ordinary ring, forces blood to a young animal's -brain, and the faster and more excited the pace the more certain will -be the result. The optic nerves may be said to originate from the -sensorium--being, in fact, a continuation of the brain proper--and -whenever the nervous centre is congested, the _sight_ is the first -sense that becomes impaired. There are other evils also connected with -the system into which I need not go; suffice it to say that I regard it -as a highly objectionable one. - -[Illustration: MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE YOUNGSTERS. - -_page 294._] - -The tuition of a colt may be begun when he is three months old, -provided that he has been "gentled" almost from its birth. This can be -done by frequently passing the hands over his body and down his limbs, -dressing his mane and tail, pulling and stroking his ears, speaking -caressingly to him, and in short winning his confidence by uniform -manifestations of kindness and good will. - -The earliest trappings should be a small bridle and surcingle made -of very soft wash-leather, or calico--the intention being merely to -indicate the maturer harness that is destined to succeed. Later on, -when a cavesson is adopted, it must be most carefully fitted to the -colt's head. The noseband is not to be too high, lest it be deprived of -power--or yet low enough to rest on the soft cartilages of the nose, -for fear of impeding respiration and causing pain to the animal by -any jerk that it may chance to receive. It must also fit sufficiently -accurately not to turn round when the rein is drawn tight. - -The first regular bit employed should be made of india-rubber, and -this may be immediately followed by a very smooth plain snaffle, with -players, or a "Rarey" bit, with wooden roller, which is very mild and -nice for a beginner. - -When you first adjust the mouthpiece do not rein the colt's head up -to any point beyond that at which he _naturally holds it_: no matter -whether that be high or low. Give him his preliminary lessons in an -enclosed place--a big barn or riding-school will be best, if you happen -to be near one. Accustom your pupil to the sight of _everything_ -with which he is destined to make subsequent acquaintance: the -mounting-block, saddle, stirrups, and so forth; and remember that you -cannot talk to him too much, or give him too frequent handling. - -[Illustration: RAREY SNAFFLE.] - -Forbid the presence of other animals while you are acting as -instructor, as also of any object, human or otherwise, that will be -likely to distract your pupil's attention. Stand and walk on his _left_ -side, keeping pretty well back from him--and deal him out plenty of -rein, or strap--just letting him feel the weight of your hand when -he attempts to run from you, but not on any account drawing him in. -By degrees you can shorten the rein, and when he has learned to let -you walk alongside of him without running back or showing timidity, -begin to teach him to lead: not by pulling him after you, or hunting -him forward, but by bringing him very _very_ gently round in a -half-circle--a plan which will oblige him to shift his foot and bend -his neck to your guidance. Take him both to right and left in this way, -encouraging and caressing him when he obeys you, and he will learn his -lesson in a wonderfully short space of time. - -As soon as you find that he leads well in an enclosed place, take him -out into an extremely quiet paddock, not allowing anybody to come near -you while you do it. A good method will be to grasp the reins, close to -the jaw with your left hand, while your right catches the mane, and by -this means lead him gently out for an open-air spell of instruction. -Then proceed as when under cover, and repeat the lesson every day. - -At eighteen months old a colt that has been bred on your own land -ought to have gone through _all_ the preliminaries of his education, -and at that age the dumb-jockey may be brought into use with a pair of -imitation legs and light little stirrups to hang on either side. Reins -formed partially of india-rubber should be passed through the terrets -and fastened to the bit, and these must not be drawn _by any means -tight_, lest the colt be induced to bear upon them--or lest he rear, -and fall backwards. - -A quarter of an hour is the longest period that a lesson of this -description ought to occupy, and the pupil's mouth should be well -wetted both before and after. If terror is excited, the utmost -encouragement should be given, and no harshness be for even an instant -resorted to. - -These lessons may be continued, with slight variation, until the young -animal shall have entered his third year, at which epoch a very light -rider may be mounted on him, with rigid instructions not to interfere -in any way with the bridle, except as a means of guiding. In fact, to -prevent the possibility of his doing so to any mischievous degree, the -india-rubber reins may with advantage be continued; but the best way of -all will be to back the animal yourself: always provided that you are a -sufficiently light weight for the purpose. - -When the saddle is first placed in position, the extremest gentleness -must be observed. Allow him, beforehand, to look at it, smell it, in -short satisfy himself about it, and then proceed to rub it softly down -his neck, pausing if he shows fear, and slipping it gradually backwards -until you quietly lift it into its place. When it is fairly on his -back, you should lift it again, and again replace it, and keep moving -it gently about in order to give him confidence, and when you have -induced him to stand quite still, fasten it with a _racing surcingle_ -instead of an ordinary girth, as it is more readily adjusted, and need -not be drawn so tight. - -To mount him successfully, place him so that the mounting-block shall -be just behind his shoulder; ascend the block with the utmost coolness -and quietness, and while standing on it proceed to pet your pupil, -stroking him, talking to him, and "gentling" him as though he were a -timid child. If he shows signs of alarm, go no further for a while, but -wait quietly--no matter how long it may be--even deferring the lesson -to another day, until he shall have gained complete confidence in your -instructions. Half the horses that refuse to stand to be mounted have -been rendered rider-shy (if I may coin a word) by scolding, and harsh -treatment shown them in their early training. No attempt should be -made at mounting a colt until he has become perfectly reconciled to his -trainer's standing over him, and also to the pressure of a hand on the -saddle, and a foot passed in and out through the stirrup. To facilitate -his standing quiet, place his head to a wall,--or, if he must be held, -entrust the task to a steady quiet man, who will stand straight in -front of him, fondling his nose and ears, and who will when necessary -lay hold of the _cheeks_ of the bridle, _above_ the bit, but never of -the bit itself, nor yet of the reins. - -Do not, when mounted, touch the animal with your heel to start him, -or attempt to meddle with his mouth in any hurried way. Speak to him -coaxingly, and draw one rein very gently, in order to make him shift -his leg and move--then walk him quietly about, repeating the lessons -in turning, stopping, and backing, which you have already given him -on foot If he shows restiveness, or an inclination to fight, slip off -_at once_, and proceed with the old method of instruction--because -you must not attempt to battle with him until you are quite certain -that you can conquer. This is one of the most important principles in -correct training, and one which, I regret to say, is most shamefully -overlooked. "I won't let him conquer me," says the ignorant breaker, -when the timid creature stands still and shivers, and refuses to do -what it has not yet learned to comprehend. Greater nonsense could not -possibly be spoken. There can be _no_ victory, for either horse or -man, until there has first been a battle, and if the man is wise he -will not begin one, lest he should fail to prove himself the master, -and the horse ever after refuse to obey his hand. Severity in training -is merely an ebullition of the breaker's temper, and there is no -necessity for such when dealing with a creature that is really anxious -to learn and obey. Gentle indications will, in all save extreme cases, -accomplish tenfold more than brute force. Such, at all events, is my -conclusion, after very close and practical study of the subject in hand. - -Leaping ought not, as a rule, to be taught until the animal has -attained its fourth year, nor ought the pupil to be mounted during the -lessons for the first three or four months that are devoted to them. -To lead in long reins, turning the colt in a nice quiet paddock that -has a low hedge or gorsed hurdle across the middle of it, will be the -proper method, and, as all young animals are imitative, it will be -a great advantage to have an old skilled horse taken over the jump -several times in easy fashion, in view of the youthful learner. I have -made youngsters jump brilliantly over hurdles that were raised by -degrees a great deal above their original height, by simply standing -on the off side of them with a measure of corn in my hand, and shaking -it temptingly, calling out cheerily at the same time, and always -plentifully rewarding my pupils when the boundary had been cleared. - -This sort of teaching is only pleasant excitement for the colt; it -is not task-work; it injures neither structures nor temper, and is -unattended by either accident or risk. The training of horses, both -racers and hunters, as at present conducted, is conducive of many -evils, as is proved amply by the fact that one-half the animals that -come fresh from the trainers' hands are debilitated by the wrong -systems pursued, and are far less capable of enduring exertion than -before they were taken in hand. The physicking, the brow-beating, -the harshness, scolding, and fighting, are one and all tremendously -pernicious and wrong. The vast majority of horses will, if properly -treated, accept their duties without force; and even the most viciously -inclined may be conquered, or at least subdued, without any approach to -brutality. - -I may cite one case as a sample of many: an animal I once bought for -a song, and subsequently would not have sold for any money that could -have been offered. By telling you of the method by which I contrived -to cure him of his bad name, you may be guided how to act should any -similar occasion chance to arise in your own stable. - -[Illustration: STRAP FOR OFF FORE-LEG.] - -[Illustration: STRAP FOR NEAR FORE-LEG.] - -By the aid of a powerful dose of physic--administered with extreme -difficulty, I confess, by a strong and resolute man--and aided by a -few light whiffs of chloroform, we succeeded in getting the horse so -sick and stupid that he suffered himself to be handled almost without -opposition. In fact, I could go up to his head, and stroke and fondle -it as though he had been the quietest animal alive. We then littered -a lofty shed with quite a foot deep of dung and straw (tan would, -however, have been better for the purpose), and having led him into -it we put on him a single-rein bridle, with a wooden gag-bit,--this -latter because he presently showed an inclination to bite. We then tied -up the reins quite close to the withers, put a breaking surcingle -on him, passed a soft strap round the near pastern joint, lifted up -the foot as though we were about to shoe him, and passing the strap -round over the fore-arm, buckled it firmly, but in such a way as not -to hurt the horse. I gentled him, as much as he would allow me, about -the head, while my assistant worked, and we then led him about the -shed for twenty minutes or more, on three legs, by which time he was -tired, but seemingly too dull to be much irritated. The next operation -was to place a second strap around the off fore-leg, draw it pretty -tight, and pass the long end of it through one of the rings sewn on -to the belly part of the surcingle. My helper then put a big strong -glove on his right hand, caught a firm hold of the strap, and when the -horse lifted his leg in an endeavour to hop, drew it gradually close, -and brought him gently upon his knees. Our object was to make him -lie down, for I never would countenance--under _any_ pretence, or -for any operation--the forcible casting of a horse with which I had -anything whatever to do. Finding that he was sullen and would not move, -I came to the near side of him, and drew his head gradually towards -me by one rein, speaking soothingly to him all the while; I then bade -my assistant go to his off side and bear against it, just behind the -shoulder, with a steady, even, close pressure--and after about twelve -minutes' patient waiting, I had the joy of seeing him lie quietly down -upon the litter. So far my plan of subduing by gentleness had succeeded. - -[Illustration: TAMING THE SHREW. - -_page 302._] - -The moment that he was fairly down I made his hind legs quite fast, -and then began my plan of taming. I gently stroked every one of his -limbs separately, rubbed his trembling head, pulled and fondled his -ears, unbuckled the bit for an instant and gave him _from my hand_ -sliced carrots, lettuce, and I think an apple or two. He was in a -wretched state, poor beast! for want of care and grooming, so I got a -nice brush, and went caressingly over every part of his body with it, -talking to him as though he had been a frightened child. After an hour -or so we took off the straps, drew out his fore-legs, and encouraged -him to get up. He seemed very dazed when he did so, but was seemingly -quite subdued--and having given him a feed, we left him alone for the -night.[A] - - Footnote A: The celebrated Mr. Rarey has been accredited with the - invention of this system, or something very nearly approaching it; - but so far back as half-a-century ago, Mr. Allen McDonogh, one of - the best and greatest of riders, trainers, and authorities, tried - it with success in his own training-stables, and subsequently (some - five or six years ago) taught it to me at Athgarvan Lodge, Curragh. - -The next day we had another and worse scene to go through; the evil -spirit was not altogether gone out of the horse, as events very soon -showed us. We had to resort to the same strapping-up process, and when -he was on his knees he actually fought with us till he turned over; -but I encouraged him to get up again (in the same cramped position, of -course), and to make a second fight--treating him with steady firmness, -and never giving in for a moment, but striving all the time to quiet -him and make him lie down. He did so at length--from sheer exhaustion, -I believe--for his obstinacy and violence had lasted over an hour, -and I and my patience were alike almost worn out. When he was down I -scraped the sweat from him with a scraper, gave him water and lettuce, -went over every inch of his body with a wisp, and made my assistant -pretend to shoe him, by lifting each of his feet and tapping them -gently with a hammer. Finally I showed him a saddle and bridle, laid -them under his nose, and stroked him with them--and ended by actually -putting them on him with scarcely any difficulty at all. Then I shut -myself alone with him in the shed, and fed, petted, and talked to him -unceasingly for upwards of an hour, until all the untractableness had -seemingly gone out of his disposition. His poor wild, bloodshot eyes -grew calm and placid, and he actually rubbed his nose at last against -my hand. I am certain that I shall be accounted a terrible fool, but I -believe I wept for joy--and the best of it all was that I had gained my -victory without the horse having any suspicion that he was conquered. -If I had thrashed him into subjection--allowing that such a thing were -possible--he might have obeyed me for awhile, although hating me--but -by dint of never using a particle of harshness, and granting him _his -own time_ to make concessions, I am firmly convinced that he considered -himself the better animal of the two, and was magnanimous enough to -obey me from chivalrous motives, while believing that he need not do so -at all. - -After that day I had not any trouble with my charge, and in less than a -week I was riding him about the place with only an ordinary bridle. He -subsequently manifested an extraordinary affection for me, and whether -the system that I pursued with regard to his taming was or was not one -of which ordinary horse-owners will be found to approve, I can only say -that it succeeded to perfection, and that I have seen it tried twice or -thrice since, on my recommendation, with excellent results; but I never -advise the adoption of it, except in cases such as I have described, -where an animal has been rendered vicious by extreme bad treatment, or -has inherited a disposition for sullenness and obstinacy which cannot -otherwise be brought under control. - -Before bringing this chapter to a close, I would wish to add that -a colt in his fifth year may be ridden once or twice a week with -harriers, or once with foxhounds, if the meet be very near his -stable--but he must never on any account be _pressed_, or run to the -end of his tether, for it is an absolute fact that if a young animal is -once suffered to find out for himself that he is beaten, he will never -_while he lives_ get to the close of a long or trying run. This may, by -some, be regarded as a fallacy, but many practical authorities will, I -think, endorse what I say. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -A BUDGET OF "TIPS". - - -MOUTHS AND MOUTH-PIECES.--The shape, delicacy, or toughness of a -horse's tongue does not in the least contribute towards making his -mouth either tender or harsh; but a difficulty is thrown in the way -of bitting when the tongue is broad in form, because in such case -it covers the bars of the mouth, and so prevents the mouth-piece -from acting properly upon them. The tongue is endowed with immense -susceptibility to pain or pressure, and any undue compression of it -causes intense suffering and fretting, and entirely obviates the -action of the bridle. I consider that rollers, olives, twists, and all -such devices, are not only useless encumbrances, but are instruments -of destruction as well. The severity or mildness of a mouth-piece is -regulated by the thickness of that portion of the cannons which acts -upon the bars of the mouth. The curb-chain ought to sit exactly on the -beard, or chin, of the horse. If he is tender-mouthed, it should be -left very slack. - - -COUNTRY RIDING-SUITS FOR MEN.--If you want to ride in luxury in the -country, get measured for a knickerbocker garment, with continuations -in the form of breeches, fitting perfectly below the knee. This most -sensible novelty can be worn with or without leggings, so that if -desired for rough usage on the moors, the additions can be dispensed -with, or added if wanted for saddle use. - - -HUNTING BREASTPLATES are approved by many keen sportsmen. I give a -sketch of one. - -[Illustration] - - -HUSTLING HORSES.--Never hustle a horse at a gap, or in a crowd, or on -any account cram him at his fences. Give him time. He has, as Major -Whyte Melville used to say, "to carry the bigger fool of the two, and -to think for both." - - -BRUSHING.--For a horse that "brushes" procure a leathern boot, the -colour of the foot, made of prepared horse-skin, having the hair -left on, and laced up the leg. On, or just over the seat of injury, a -concave piece of stout leather should be let into the covering, and -the hollow thus formed (which acts as a protector) should be filled up -with a small pad of lint, previously saturated with zinc lotion. This -serves to cure the sore, and also prevents a recurrence of it. I append -a sketch. - -[Illustration] - - -SAWMOUTH BRIDOON.--This is a terribly severe bit, and one which no -good judge of training would permit to be used among his horses. It is -calculated to destroy rather than to instruct. The illustration shows -the nature of it. - -[Illustration] - - -TO SHOE a nervous or vicious horse, or a young sensitive colt, take -him to a skilled farrier--one who has a good temper in addition to -his other endowments--and while he is working, take up your stand at -the animal's head, _at the same side_ as that on which the farrier is -engaged. Hold the bridle loosely in your hands, dispense with blinkers, -and let the horse see what is going on. You can manage this by allowing -him to turn his head when he tries to do so. Do not permit any third -person to come in the way during the operation. It is a good plan to -stand a horse that is to be shod _close by a wall_. If the smith be -unfortunately a duffer at his work, instruct him to smooth the leg -downwards from the shoulder or thigh, as the case may be, lifting -it up and putting it down again, if the horse seems frightened, and -even going away for a moment, and again returning, in order that -confidence may become fully established. The safest and surest method -of overcoming irritability or nervousness is to exercise a quiet -kindness, combined with a cool firmness of purpose; and to accomplish -this end, one, or at most two, persons, will be infinitely better -than a number. The adjoining sketch shows a horse under treatment on -principles of which I do not profess to approve, although I am willing -to acknowledge that there are cases in which actual vice can only be -overcome by severity and brute force. The custom here depicted of -casting an intractable animal for the purpose of getting him shod is -common enough in almost all cavalry stables, and is seldom accompanied -by any cruelty, save on rare occasions, when the attendant who carries -the whip makes use of it to practical purpose--a thing net often called -for. When a horse is to be shod thus, the ground about him is -usually covered with sacks, to break the force of his fall; but these -the artist has not thought it necessary to depict. - -[Illustration: CASTING A VICIOUS HORSE IN A CAVALRY STABLE. - -_page 310._] - - -BROKEN-WINDED horses require regular work, and regular feeding. A -generous diet, composed of oats, beans, and barley, will be very good -for them; and in place of hay give about six pounds of wheaten straw -every alternate day, with carrots very frequently. - - -VETERINARY QUACKS.--No man has a right to be called a veterinary -surgeon who has not a diploma. A pretender may assume the name--often -does, in fact--but quackery soon expires. - - -WHEN A HORSE CLEARS HIS NOSTRILS immediately on being pulled up, it is -a sign that he has wind enough to go both further and faster in his -next gallop. When a minute elapses the pace may still be increased -though not much; but when two minutes go over without the expected -snort, it is a proof that the exercise has been a little too hard for -the animal's condition. Remember, when exercising a young one, that you -must not take too much out of him. Frequent protrusion of the muzzle is -a sign that distress is at hand, and a settled thrusting forward of it -shows that the horse is at very nearly all that he can do. - - -RESTLESSNESS in horses--or temper, as many call it--is more frequently -noticeable in summer than in winter time, and is caused by the -troublesome flies which stick all over the animals' bodies. These -creatures torment some tender-skinned horses almost to madness; and -when a stamp is given, ears put back, or a leg lifted as if in pain, -immediate search ought to be made for the occasion of it. Horses at -pasture can, as a rule, defend themselves with their teeth, feet, -and tails: that is, when the latter appendages are left them; but -in this country, so eminently the seat of wisdom and freedom, the -effective instrument is invariably removed, and Nature most unfairly -handicapped,--as if the sorrows of servitude are not sufficiently great -and numerous without augmenting them by caprice. - - -BALES are simple bars of wood, used largely in cavalry stables to -separate the horse-stalls. They are furnished at each end with iron -links, by means of which they are suspended to hooks fastened at the -head and heel-posts. Sometimes they are made of iron, but well-seasoned -oak is quite sufficiently strong for the purpose. The usual dimensions -are eight feet long, and four inches in diameter, and they are placed -at a distance of about three feet from the ground. The top part may be -a fixture; but one end or the other ought to be so arranged that in -case of a horse getting partially under it when lying down, it will -move readily upwards, according as the animal pushes it in his rise. I -have a strong objection to bales, because they admit of horses biting -and injuring one another, and are in other ways undesirable; but that -they are cheaper than travises, I am, of course, prepared to allow. It -is, however, almost their sole claim to notice. - - -AN IDLE GROOM is generally an eye-server. The wisp is oftener in his -hand than the brush. When a horse does not _look_ amiss on being -brought to the door, and yet that his skin leaves a dirty whitish stain -on the fingers when they are pressed into it, the fact is proved beyond -all doubt. Thin-skinned horses will not stand a curry-comb; nor is it -necessary to use one where good strong brushes are supplied, and _made -a proper use of_. - - -THE CURRY-COMB, when employed at all, should describe a sweeping -movement--never a rubbing one--and the utmost gentleness should always -accompany the using of it. - - -WHEN THE PROPER GROOMING of a horse is neglected, he suffers in -consequence. Lice, for instance, are never seen in animals that are -even moderately well taken care of; but when once these pests appear, -the spread of them is amazingly rapid. Nothing but care and cleanliness -will eradicate them. Make a strong lather of black soap, wash well with -it, then again with clean water, and finally anoint the patches where -the lice are with a little mercurial ointment. If they have spread over -the surface of the body, make a strong decoction of tobacco, and smear -liberally with a sponge. The same treatment will do for dogs. - - -TO REMOVE THE SOFT COATING OF HAIRS that grows on the inside of a -horse's ears is not only unnecessary, but is absolutely cruel. It has -been furnished to the animal as a protection against dust, flies, and -dirt; and when taken away, the ears are left exposed to the influence -of the three combined. All appearance of untidiness may be done away -with by holding the ear in the left hand with the edges of it nicely -evened, and then clipping lightly along them with a sharp scissors. -I would never on any account permit nose-hairs to be clipped, or -otherwise removed. Horses are immensely sensitive to any interference -with them, and for sundry reasons they ought not to be meddled with. - - -A HORSE THAT IS CAST UNDER THE MANGER cannot possibly rise until he is -drawn backwards by an attendant. Every time that he attempts to get -up he strikes his head, and is thus brought forcibly down again. In a -properly-constructed stable such a thing could not, however, occur. - - -OLD-FASHIONED MANGERS ought to be boarded in, so that no hollow may -exist under them. - - -FILLING HORSES' FEET.--I am totally against this system, but, when -those who are partial to it are bent upon carrying it out, they should -see that it is done with fresh moss, soft and very damp, pressed well -into the feet, and tucked away on the inside of the shoes. - - -THE SEMI-MILITARY AND TRAVELLING saddle is made to fit any horse, and -is in great request among officers serving abroad. Peat & Co., of -Piccadilly, have patented it, and the sealed pattern is at the War -Office. - - -BITING THE COLLAR-ROPE.--If you want to see a horse do this, leave him -a rope about two or three feet too long; shut him up in a close stable, -and give him nothing to do. It is not a vice, but rather one of the -many signs of weariness and idleness in which dumb animals indulge. I -append a sketch of a rope-biter. - -[Illustration] - - -A HORSEMAN'S SKILL in the management of his bridle-hand consists in the -discretion with which he makes the bit be felt. It ought never to be -used too severely, and its effects should be moderated by the mildness -and pliability of the hand. - - -WHEN BOILING GRAIN of any kind, give it plenty of water, and keep it -constantly stirred. If you neglect this necessary precaution, it will -stick to the bottom of the boiler, and the burned part will acquire a -nasty nauseous taste. According as the water evaporates, add a fresh -supply. Never let the liquor boil over; it is a great waste to do so, -as it contains a large amount of nutriment. Oats will need more boiling -than beans; these latter more than barley, carrots and turnips more -than potatoes. Four measures of oats, boiled and bursting, will fill -seven measures; four of beans, something over eight and a half; while -four of barley will fill quite ten. I have proved all these statistics -in my own stable. - - -FALSE QUARTER is a defect of the outer wall of the foot. I give a -sketch of the only possible relief for it. - -[Illustration] - - -RICK IN THE BACK will necessitate the throwing up of the sufferer for -at least six months. He must be placed in a roomy stall, the hair over -the seat of injury be carefully removed, and the place kept moist -with cloths dipped in a lotion composed of tincture of arnica two -ounces, and water one pint. Soft nourishing food must be given, but no -medicine on any account whatever--the restoration to finish with liquid -blistering of a judicious kind. - - -THE SAFEST ARRANGEMENT FOR SIDE SADDLES, to avoid risk of being hung -up, or dragged after a fall, is that adopted with "the level seat -saddle," by Messrs. Nicholls of Jermyn Street. They have patented a -bar for the stirrup leather, extremely simple in construction, and -which will instantly disconnect it, should a rider have the misfortune -to get her foot caught when falling over the off-side of the saddle. -An elastic safety-band, stretched across the heads, will, when a fall -occurs, prevent the habit catching on the saddle,--and the unpleasant -predicament of a horse galloping about, with his rider suspended by the -skirt, head downwards (as witnessed sometimes in the hunting-field), -will be avoided. - - -TAKE A PISTOL with you on all occasions when going to hunt, and in -case of hopeless injury occurring to your mount, make use of it, with -all the quietness and celerity you can command. Horses, when left to -themselves, rarely meet with mishaps; it is, therefore, only fair that -their riders should protect them against unnecessary torture. - - -LADIES' SPURS.--I have pleasure in appending sketches of the only three -of these--that I know of--that are manufactured for ladies' use. The -Sewarrow is, I think excellent. Lady equestrians frequently use a -small pair of hunting spurs of the shape worn by men--the right one -having a knob in place of a rowel. These are used with Hessian boots, -and look well when dismounted. The spike of the spur is in all cases -made amply long to fulfil its purpose; to wear one of immoderate length -would necessitate having it made specially, and could not effect any -good. I like "box" spurs myself, and have always worn them; but there -is nothing objectionable in the strap, and it has the advantage of -being readily adjusted to any sort of boot, whereas boots fitted with -box spurs are generally costly articles. - -[Illustration: WITH ROWEL GUARD.] - -[Illustration: SEWARROW.] - -[Illustration: BOX-SPUR.] - - -CRIB-BITING may be prevented by removing all woodwork from the vicinity -of the horse, and if he persists in gnawing his stable-partitions, -smear them well with aloes, and he will soon desist. - -[Illustration] - - -"DISHING" is a common expression among horsey people. It signifies -throwing out the forelegs in a kind of side manner, which looks badly -in the trot. I have seen some very good horses do it, but it would -certainly be called defective action. To "dish" with one foreleg only -is a very frequent thing. - - -BANDAGING.--When a horse's legs have to be bandaged, it is a good plan -to coil the bandages completely round the pastern, close to the hoofs, -winding them around the legs in spiral form (each coil overlapping the -other) until the legs are bound up to the knees or hocks, where the -bandages are secured. The pressure must be equal, and not too tight. -The strings should admit a finger after being tied. I have never found -a horse so treated attempt to lie down, and it is far less irksome to -an animal than being tied up by the head. - - -HABIT-CUTTING is now perfection at most of the high-class London -houses. Bodices are exquisitely made--some with stand-up collars, -others slightly lapelled, to show a portion of habit-shirt or tie. The -backs are cut with long seams, and the buttons placed low, so that even -a naturally short-waisted figure appears the contrary, being lengthened -and improved. The shaping in front is excellent. The skirts are so -artistically cut and seamed that they fit at the back as closely as a -man's hunting breeches, while the shaping at the knee is supplemented -by a most artistic and novel arrangement underneath, a sort of hollow, -into which the up-pommel fits completely, thus obviating the necessity -of having folds of cloth lying between the right leg and the saddle. -These skirts, held back by the hand when the wearer is dismounted, look -neat, and are of convenient walking length. - - -WALL-LICKING.--If a horse shows a tendency to this, leave a lump of -chalk in his manger. A piece of rock-salt left there as well will never -be amiss. - - -SIGNS OF MEGRIM.--When a horse suddenly throws up his head, and holds -it in the air and on one side, be assured he has a megrim, and will -be in danger of falling if driven further without a stop. Pull up at -once, and if cold water can be had anywhere within reach of you, dash a -bucket of it over his head and neck. - - -BENUMBED LEG.--When, for taming purposes, a horse's leg is strapped up -for any length of time, it becomes benumbed, and ought, when let down, -to be rubbed vigorously before the animal is allowed to walk upon it If -this is not done he will probably fall. - - -HINTS FOR AMATEUR JOCKEYS.--The moment you know that you are beaten in -a race, pull up. You can gain nothing by flogging your horse to the -finish. If going well and gamely, let him alone; if not, catch him with -both hands, and give him two or three kicks with the spurs, I never -advocate waiting, unless the mount is a very game one. Jump off with -the lead, and hold it as long as you can. - - -AGE SYMPTOMS.--A horse that has passed his fourth year has four -incisors in each jaw, all fully grown. - - -A SEATED SHOE signifies a regular, or ordinary, shoe, which has only as -much upper surface left as will admit of the crust resting upon it. - - -HIRING HORSES.--Windsor, Cheltenham, and Oxford are about the best -places I know of for jobbing light-weight hunters. When an animal is -found to suit, it ought to be at once secured for the season. Horses -can be had at Barnstaple for Exmoor. Oxford is within reach of five -packs of fox-hounds. Capital hunting quarters can be had there, and -excellent horses--cheap too, in vacation time, as there is not any one -to ride them. - - -DEFECTIVE VISION.--A horse that has any defect in his sight should be -at once rejected by the buyer. It is the only safe way in dealing, -unless the desire is to buy a blind animal at a blind price. There is -generally a plausible reason given for every suspicious appearance, -whether it be a sightless eye or a pair of broken knees. - - -BLINKERS.--I greatly disapprove of these for breaking. Let the colt or -horse see what you are doing. In this I am aware that many disagree -with me, but I usually hold to my opinions, as I do not form them in a -hurry. - - -AMATEUR BLACKSMITHS.--If you want to be independent of the forge when -frost sets in, you can do it in this way. As soon as the hunting season -has fairly begun, have your horse's shoes made with square holes -punched at the extremities and at the toes. Have these fitted with -slightly tapering plugs of steel, with sharp projecting points. The -plugs should be about two inches in length, and must be made to fit the -holes both accurately and tightly, but not to go quite through the shoe -to the foot. When frost appears, and you want to go out, insert the -plugs _yourself_ in the holes, tap them slightly on the points with a -hammer, and when the horse puts his weight on them it will drive them -"home." The plugs will last for three or four days, and are both cheap -and easily renewed. When you require to take them out, another quiet -tap or two (delivered a little at the side) will start them, owing to -the taper on the part that fits into the shoe. - - -"HOT FITTING."--I entirely approve of this, when properly conducted. -It would need a very lengthy application of a hot shoe to affect the -hoof to any depth--quite four minutes to cause a marked increase of -temperature in the upper part of the foot--while, in reality, the hot -shoe is not usually applied for more than three or four seconds. - - -TEMPERATURE OF STABLES.--The average temperature of a stable should -be about 48 deg. F. Never clip until the whole of the winter coat -has appeared--then do it once for the entire season. Leaving the -saddle-place unclipped will be more likely to provoke galls than to -prevent them. - - -SUPPLY OF HAY.--Six pounds of hay _per diem_ is quite sufficient for a -horse, when plenty of other food is given. Too much hay is a mistake. - - -QUARTERN.--Everybody knows that this weighs 2-1/2 lbs. - - -STABLE FORKS.--Do away with steel, and use wooden ones. - - -SHOES.--A set ought to last four weeks, unless the work be constant and -the going very hard. - - -HUNTING SCARLET.--Do not don red in the hunting field until your -"salad" days are over. It is a remarkable colour, and of late many -excellent sportsmen have discarded it altogether. This may, perhaps, be -owing to the fact that ladies are putting it on! Two fair Dianas who -ride very straight with the Meath hounds adopted scarlet last season, -and doubtless many more will ere long follow suit. It is not to be -admired, in my opinion, and can scarcely fail to remind the beholder of -things usually associated with street-organs and itinerant grinders of -these instruments! - - -"UNKNOWING" ONES.--Ignorance concerning horsey subjects is quite -common among ladies who are otherwise well educated, and, indeed, -highly informed. Mrs. Beecher Stowe relates of herself, in her 'Sunny -Memories,' that when dining one day with Earl Russell she spoke -of hunting as "a vestige of the savage state," when, to her great -astonishment, she saw laughter on all the men's faces. No wonder. Fox -hunting, or rather riding to hounds is an art not yet a century old. -Two of our most popular authoresses--I might, perhaps, say the two -most popular--make such egregious mistakes on the subjects of hunting, -racing and betting, that men laugh, and women who know, say, "What a -pity it is!" - - -HUNTING CENTRES.--A young Londoner cannot do better than try his hand -with the Surrey Foxhounds, or with one of the Kentish packs. The hills -of Surrey afford good hunting ground, despite the flints, and the -superfluity of coverts. - - -WHEN A HORSE IS COLLAR-SHY, or nervous about the adjustment of the -crupper, have the latter made to unbuckle, and procure a collar that -opens at the top. This is, of course, in case of being unable to -reassure the animal by kindness. Put beating and scolding entirely -aside; they have probably led to the evils that have to be cured. - - -THE FOOT "HOME" IN THE STIRRUP was for long a favourite theory of -mine, and one which I myself practised--especially when travelling -long distances, or going the pace,--but then, I always rode in a -plain little racing stirrup, made sufficiently wide to enable the -foot to work easily in it, so that there was no possibility of its -"sticking," or proving otherwise dangerous. Finding, however, that, -despite repeated warnings, ladies would persist in adopting the various -forms of so-called safety-stirrups, in which the foot was absolutely -embedded, the stuffing over the instep helping to tighten the hold, -I thought it safest and most conscientious to discard my theory -altogether and advocate riding from the ball of the foot. To keep -perpetually saying, "Do as I do," partakes rather of the egotistical -and self-sufficient, even where one may fairly add, "And no harm will -ensue,"--but if, added to this, there is apparently a strong desire -on the part of those spoken to to have their own way, it is surely -wise to offer them such directions as will best obviate the chances of -mishap. Here, for instance, is an example of my meaning: Suppose that -I am in the habit of reading in bed, using a safety-lamp for doing so, -and I discover that it is a practice in my household and elsewhere -for others to read by the light of a half-burnt candle, insecurely -fastened into its socket in the candlestick, and laid perhaps upon the -pillow,--will it not be better and safer for me to decry altogether the -practice of night reading, than to keep perpetually urging (without -hope of success) that safety-lamps ought in all cases to be adopted? - - -WHEN A CARRIAGE IS KEPT COVERED in a coach-house, the cover ought to be -constantly aired. - - -NEVER PERMIT WATER TO DRY of itself on a vehicle, or it will certainly -leave stains. - - -APRONS, HEADS, etc., that are composed of enamelled leather, should -be washed with soap and water, and rubbed well with linseed oil--the -former being constantly unfolded, and the latter kept fully stretched. - - -MOTHS can be prevented from settling in the linings of vehicles by -mixing camphor and turpentine in a saucer, and placing it inside, with -all the windows drawn up. The evaporation of the mixture will serve the -purpose well. - - -BOLTS AND CLIPS of vehicles should be constantly looked to, and -tightened if loose; and all repairs should be done at _once_, nothing -being allowed to lie over. - - -HORSE-COLLARS should be so made that the weight attached to the traces -shall be distributed over the surface of the shoulders when pulling, -not concentrated on one point, or, almost as bad, perpetually rubbing -up and down. A collar cannot be considered fitted, simply because it -appears all right when the horse is standing still. Set him going at -a good pace, and then judge of it. If he be a high-crested animal, -he will probably need a collar quite two inches longer than seemed -necessary when he stood at ease. If the traces are attached too low -to the hames, they will draw the collar away from the upper part of -the shoulder. This can only be remedied by shifting the point of the -draught, till a proper bearing has been obtained. - - -BENCRAFT HAMES.--There is sometimes immense difficulty in fitting -horses that are peculiarly shaped with collars that will not gall them; -in such cases the above may be tried, as by using them the draught can -be shifted to suit the shoulders or the height of the wheels. They have -an awkward appearance, but nevertheless serve their purpose admirably. - - -SHAFT-TUGS should be of a length to suspend the shafts at exactly -the correct height, by which I mean the centre of the swell of the -pad-flaps, measured both ways. When the shafts are much bent, the -tugs must be shorter than if ordinarily straight. The traces must be -of proper length, otherwise the correct horizontal position of the -shaft-tugs cannot possibly be maintained. When too short the motion -of the horse forces tugs and pad forward, thus drawing the crupper -uncomfortably tight--and when too long, the vehicle is drawn by the -tugs instead of by the traces. It is rare to sit behind a horse that -one can pronounce properly harnessed in every particular. - - -A KICKING-STRAP will be worse than useless--it will chafe and -irritate--unless properly put on. A strap that is either too light or -the reverse, or that passes in a direct line from shaft to shaft, had -better not be used at all. It ought to be just loose enough, nothing -more, to allow of the horse travelling without feeling chafed by it, -and should be fastened at least two inches behind the hip-bones, as a -loin-strap would be. - - -FITTING THE BIT TO THE HORSE'S MOUTH.--This, as I have already stated, -is an advisable plan. A Buxton or Liverpool bit is commonly employed -in harness, but if a horse has a light mouth, he may travel well in -a snaffle. Buxton bits are made without ports. Experience will tell -whether the reins ought to be buckled to the cheek or to the bars. In -my opinion, almost all horses go well in properly _fitting_ bits. I -altogether disapprove of the enormous affairs with cheeks eleven inches -long, and weighing quite two pounds, which ignorance sometimes makes -use of. I believe that comparatively few animals require bits of larger -dimensions than one and three-quarter inches for the upper cheek, and -three and a-half for the lower. This latter ought _never_ to be more -than double the length of the upper portion. Even when the reins are -fastened to a ring below the cheek, the weight of the projecting arm -will effect the leverage of the entire affair. - - -HORSES ADDICTED TO RUNNING AWAY frequently lay hold of the cheek of -the bit; it is a fault in large measure cultivated by using bits that -are too broad for the mouth. To avoid it, the cheeks might be bent -backwards, after the Wimbush pattern. - - -CORRECT BITTING gives control in harness without inflicting pain. -Any suffering that cannot be got rid of by the horse dropping his -head to the right position, is barbarous cruelty, however it may be -glossed over or concealed. Half the horses that one sees in London and -elsewhere, poking their chins in an unnatural manner, are made to do -so by the use of powerful bits and severe curb-chains--yet ignorance -cannot be brought to see it, although the evils of it are frequently -and earnestly set forth. - - -BLINKERS are generally considered indispensable adjuncts to harness. -Why, I do not know. - - -BEARING-REINS are only tolerable when the snaffle bit is suffered to -hang well below the corners of the mouth, and when the reins themselves -are of such a length that the instant the horse lifts his head and sets -off, they become amply slack. I cannot at all see why they should be -thought an absolute necessity for draught purposes, when not used in -the saddle. There are, of course, cases in which they are advisable; -when, for instance, extremely nervous or badly-broken animals are of -necessity driven through crowded thoroughfares; but otherwise I cannot -believe that they are either necessary or ornamental. - - -FASHIONABLE COACHMEN concoct an instrument of torture by drawing up -the gag-bit until the horse's mouth is dragged back quite two inches: -a curb much too long and very much too wide being next added, and -strained up to the last extremity of tightness. The cruelty of ordinary -bearing-reins is unspeakably great, and to the use of them may be -attributed the loss of sight in many fine young horses--undue pressure -on the glands that lie just under the angles of the jaws being the -fruitful cause of this melancholy evil. - - -NAGGING at a horse's mouth when driving him is a most objectionable -practice, and one that is, unfortunately, too generally indulged in. -If an animal appears sluggish, the driver finds it easier to rouse -him temporarily by means of chucking at his mouth, than by either a -suitable use of the whip, or an investigation into the general state -of his health: a low or disordered condition of which is far more -frequently the cause of sluggishness than the "roguishness," of which -helpless animals are often wrongfully accused. - - -IN DRIVING A PAIR the arrangement of the coupling-reins is a matter -of vast importance; for, should one horse be naturally faster in pace -than his fellow, the whole comfort of the drive will depend upon -being able to regulate the two animals to the same rate of going. -To do this the coupling-rein of the fast horse must be shortened by -bringing the buckle closer to the driver's hands, so that a pull -will act on him before checking in any degree the speed of the other -horse. Coupling-reins should come to within six inches of the driver's -fingers. I have seen a pair of runaways stopped in a short time by -laying a firm hold upon the two _inside_ reins, and dropping the outer -ones. - - -CANTERING IN HARNESS is a very common fault, and can only be -stopped by pulling up and starting afresh at a trot. A canterer in -double harness may be controlled by putting on him a pair of single -harness-reins, as well as the double ones. - - -TANDEM.--I am not an admirer of tandem, but it is a good way of -exercising saddle-horses in the summer time, and keeping them in -condition. They should be always placed as leaders. Steady, powerful -harness horses will be best to use as wheelers, the comfort and safety -of the driver being dependent upon their paces and behaviour. A leader -should be full of courage, and go always in the collar and up to -the bit. An improvement that I have been told of for tandem-harness -is to have three bars fastened to the shafts: an effectual means of -preventing the leader from stepping over the traces. - - -POSITION WHEN DRIVING.--I strongly object to the standing position--as -though merely leaning against the box-seat of the vehicle--which -many gentlemen-drivers adopt. I believe that such an attitude _must_ -leave the driver almost powerless to assist or resist his horses. The -position when driving should be firm, upright, and decided; the elbows -hanging at ease, close to the hips, but not laid against them; the arms -nicely rounded, and the hands held at a moderate distance from the -body. Nothing can be worse than seeing the arms of the driver dragged -forward by the action of the horses that he is meant to control; nor -can anything be much more objectionable than flinging up the wrists -when coming to a stop, instead of shortening the reins by passing the -right hand quietly in front of the left. - - -REALLY FIRST-CLASS DRIVERS rarely trust to holding the reins in one -hand only, even in single harness; or, if they seem to do so, the -right hand is ever ready to be laid upon the off or right hand rein, -while the forefinger falls naturally upon the near one; by this means -a gentle pressure can be exercised either by it or by the exterior -angle of the hand which rests upon the off leather. A good coachman -will always at starting take the reins in both hands; and animals ought -to be trained to start slowly and collectedly--not with anything that -resembles a jerk. The "show" in which some drivers delight to indulge, -both at starting and when the horses are at rest, by first flicking -them with the whip and then pulling them sharply up, cannot be too -strongly deprecated. - - -THE WHIP, although esteemed a necessary adjunct to driving apparatus, -should be used as sparingly as possible--more, in fact, as an -instructor, than as a means of inflicting punishment. There is nothing -nicer in driving than seeing the whip in rest, and the horses, fearless -of its severities, going gaily up to their bridles, restrained by a -master hand. - - -TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE A TEAM is not considered a great feat by many -men, or, indeed, by some women, in these latter days; but of course -there is driving and driving--both of different sorts. I approve of -studying under a first-class wagoner, and being guided _entirely_ by -him. To be a good four-in-hand driver requires courage, coolness -temper, decision, quickness, strength and clearness of sight, flexible -hands, and good staying power in the arms and back. I have seen but -one woman in my life who was able to drive a team of full-sized horses -in best English style; and I can only recall the names of seven or -eight men who could do so. Hundreds, of course, attempt it, and satisfy -themselves that they are doing splendidly; whereas, the contrary is, -as a rule, the case. Team-driving is not suitable work for ladies. -The mere exertion of holding four free-going horses for even an hour -at a stretch is so great that, unless the muscles of the arms have -been strengthened by sculling, practising with dumb-bells, or other -gymnastic exercises, the driver will be thoroughly done up, and at the -mercy of any mischance that may occur, before half the journey has been -got over. A strong, firm-handed, full-muscled man, with a cool nerve, -a quick eye, and his heart in the work he is engaged at, will make the -best driver of a dashing four-in-hand. The "golden youth" who stand -bolt upright against sloping cushions, curling and uncurling their -whips, touching up leaders that need no touching, or letting them get -out of hand--and double-thonging steady-working wheelers, are simply -objects to laugh at, or to pity, or both. - - -TO WIELD THE WHIP in a workman-like manner may be practised without -horses, by sitting at ease on an elevation, with a good instructor -close at hand. There are correct uses for every part of it, down to the -very point: a proper position for the stick, and proper ways of using -it at various lengths--all of which have to be learned; and nobody can -be called a coachman who is not intimately familiar with them--so much -so that he can carry his whip without apparently thinking about it, and -hold it, use it, and curl it, as if by a kind of instinct--precisely as -all these ought to be done. - - -A TEAM SHOULD BE TRAINED TO STAND perfectly still until the driver -gives the word to go. A restless, uneasy, shuffling, while the apron -is being adjusted, the whip taken up, and the reins gathered, is both -unsightly and unpleasant. - - -THE WHEELERS in a four-in-hand coach ought to start it and turn it -round, without the leaders ever feeling the traces; and they ought to -stop the vehicle with the traces of the leaders resting quite slack. - - -A GOOD DRIVER will have his leaders so in hand at the start that when -they move they will be out of the collars, and entirely clear of the -splinter-bars. - - -PRACTICE should be on level ground, and on roads devoid of traffic. -None save really first-class drivers ought ever attempt to pilot a -coach through a crowded thoroughfare. Plenty of novices do it, and -delude themselves with the notion that they are driving beautifully, -when in reality they are only clearing the road--for, as a rule, people -leave a passage for a four-horsed coach, chiefly I fancy through fear -of being run down by it if they don't speedily get out of its way. - - -DRIVING A TEAM is, on the whole, very far from child's play, and it -needs a smart wagoner to know and carry out all the nice points of -the art: how, for instance, to make the wheelers work, when to put on -the drags, when to run down without them, how to regulate the pace, -especially when descending a steep decline, how to go nicely and -collectedly over the tops of all hills, whether great or small, with -numerous other minor matters, which study and practice can alone teach. - - -FOURTEEN MILES AN HOUR is a tremendously fast pace for leaders to -trot. Such a rate of going would necessitate that the wheelers should -gallop. Speed is, I always think, far less necessary than stamina in a -four-in-hand team. A well made up quartett, of which every horse has -two good ends, ought to travel from London to Epsom at a fair steady -pace, and come back in the evening in spanking style. - - -A TEAM THAT WILL TROT briskly up the hill to the Star and Garter at -Richmond at the rate of, say, eight miles an hour without the whip, may -be pronounced a real good thing. - - -IF FOUR HORSES cannot be matched in height, I advocate conceding the -difference to the wheelers. Age will not matter very much--nor will -colour--for merely useful work; but go and action are all important. - - -A GOOD AND HUMANE DRIVER always looks to the condition of each horse -separately, when halting after a long drive. An oatmeal drink with the -chill taken off, and an abundance of water splashed about the legs, -prove great refreshers. Exhausted horses are immensely benefited by -getting a scrape down, together with a "pick-me-up" of warm ale. - - -AN UPPER JAW BIT, and an Over Draw Check will teach a youngster (when -training for harness) almost as much sense as he will learn by two -months' handling. The apparatus sobers him--stops that peculiar, -one-sided, _twisting_ kind of kick, or "lurch," which beginners when -fresh are wont to indulge in--and, in short, teaches him to trot his -level best, without the aid of a kicking-strap. It is called the -"Carleton" Check--I presume from its inventor's name--and consists of a -very small bar snaffle, not much thicker than an ordinary lead pencil, -with a loose ring at either end. Straps, about half an inch wide, are -buckled to these rings, and are connected above the horse's nostrils -by a narrow upper noseband: on the same principle as an ordinary -chin-strap. This little noseband is necessary to keep the bit called -an "upper jaw bit" in its place: namely, _under_ the _upper_ jaw, just -as the regular bit is _upon_ the _under_ jaw. The little mouthpiece is -very slightly curved--a mere segment of a circle--and from it the two -straps run up the horse's nose, and are joined together on his forehead -to prevent them chafing his eyes. They are then continued between the -ears, and along the mane, to the water hook. At the spot where they -pass the headpiece they run through two square loops, in which are -"rolls," or rollers, to allow the straps free play. They are joined at -the ends, and are made to hook over the water hook, after which a tiny -contrivance is slipped _on_ the hook, which renders it impossible for -the horse (let him fling his head about as he chooses) to throw the -rein off the hook. The hand, however, can release it in a flash--and -the whole affair is a perfect marvel of neatness and ingenuity. Its -good effects are, to raise the head, extend the neck, and give free -play to the lungs. It likewise lengthens the gait, steadies the horse, -prevents breaking, obviates "hitching" behind, takes the pull off the -driver's hands, and brings out a horse's trot, if he has any at all in -him. The evils are, that it spoils a handsome erect carriage, lowers -the crest, and makes the animal poke his nose in an unsightly manner. -In short, it is invaluable for training a road horse, or trotter, but -the habitual use of it is undesirable and even cruel, for a horse -cannot possibly bend while he has it on. So rigid are its effects, -and so impossible is it for an animal to lower his head while wearing -it, that I am of opinion it would put an effectual "stopper" upon the -tricks of the most confirmed buck-jumper living, if connecting-straps -were just passed, say, underneath the saddle, and attached firmly to -the crupper. This is merely an idea,--but I should like to see it -tested in a practical way. - - -THE KEMBLE JACKSON is another kind of bit employed very largely in the -States, especially in Kentucky, which is a very horsey district,--one -of the most so, indeed, in America. The Jackson can be used with or -without an upper jaw bit, and has the reins of the check to run through -loops directly _under_ the ears--where some tandem lines go. This has -the effect of giving a lofty carriage to the head, without making the -horse poke his nose as the Carleton does. No noseband is employed with -it, and the wearer can hold his head in handsome position--which is an -immense advantage with a carriage horse, in which up-headedness is an -essential attribute. It is in some points quite before the Carleton, -which latter (if constantly used) imparts absolute rigidity to the -muscles of the neck, and intensifies the evil known as "_ewe_"-neck; -but for helping the trot, and teaching sense to a youngster, the -Carleton beats anything that I have ever seen. - -[Illustration] - - - - -INDEX. - - - Abrasion, 275 - - Accidents to children, 6 - - Adjusting mouthpiece, 74, 87 - - Administering ball, 265 - - Adonis (hunter), 42 - - Age at which to begin to ride, 10 - - Age of hunters, 214 - - Age symptoms, 321 - - Ailments, 271 - - Aloes, 263 - - Amateur blacksmiths, 322 - - Amateur jockeys, 321 - - Amateur tailors, 54 - - Anecdote of boy on pony, 168 - - Anti-rearing bit, 76 - - Appliances for young equestrians, 70 - - Apron (carriage), 326 - - Aspect of stables, 250 - - Attitude when driving, 331 - - - Balance riding, 15, 101 - - Bales, 312 - - Balling-irons, 264 - - Ball mixture, 266 - - Balls, 263 - - Bandages, 270 - - Bandaging, 320 - - Bandaging eyes, 269 - - Bargains, 188 - - Bars of the mouth, 74 - - Baulking, 163 - - Beans, 246 - - Bearing-reins, 329 - - Bedding, 258 - - Bencraft hames, 327 - - Bit and bridoon, 71 - - Bitting, 63, 328, 329, 336, 337 - - Bleeding, 268 - - Blemishes, 41 - - Blinds, 255 - - Blinkers, 322, 329 - - Blistering, 267 - - Blood can, 268 - - Blood stock, 285 - - Bodices, 50 - - Boiled barley, 247 - - Boiler, 259 - - Boiling corn, 243 - - Boiling grain, 316 - - Bolts (carriage), 326 - - Boot for horse, 309 - - Boots (for riders), 47, 56, 182 - - Boring, 137 - - Box stalls, 252 - - Breakfast (hunting), 221 - - Breaking (alteration of pace), 128, 131 - - Breaking in, 293 - - Breaking intractable horse, 301 - - Breastplates (hunting), 308 - - Breeches, 55, 180 - - Breeding, 280 - - Breeding centres, 216 - - Bridle hand, 315 - - Bridles, 66 - - Bridling, 86 - - Broken knees, 277 - - Broken wind, 311 - - Bronchitis, 271 - - Brood Mares, 282 - - Brushing, 308 - - Buck jumping, 139 - - Bungling, 170 - - Buxton bit, 328 - - - Calkins, 234 - - Cambridge bit, 71 - - Cantering, 101, 132, 135 - - Cantering in harness, 330 - - Carefulness, 198 - - Carriage covering, 326 - - Carrying shoe, 228 - - Cast under manger, 314 - - Cats, 260 - - Celluloid, 61, 199 - - Chaff, 247 - - Chifney bit, 71 - - Children mounting, 18 - - Children riding, 5 - - Chilled water, 248 - - Chloroform, 278 - - Clearing nostrils, 311 - - Clips (carriage), 326 - - Clover hay, 247 - - Cobs, 209 - - Colds, 271 - - Colic, 272 - - Collar shy, 325 - - Collars, 326 - - Confidence, 152 - - Congested lungs, 271 - - Consideration for servants, 124 - - Contrast in articles, 192 - - Cooked food, 241 - - Cooking apparatus, 259 - - Coolness in danger, 141 - - Cork girl, 65 - - Corns, 238, 273 - - Corn chest, 258 - - Corsets, 201 - - Costume for hunting, 180 - - Costume for road and park, 44 - - Costume for young learner, 18 - - Country riding suits, 307 - - Coupling reins, 330 - - Courtesy, 229 - - Covert coats, 185 - - Covert hack, 204 - - Cow kick, 132 - - Cracked heels, 274 - - Crib-biting, 319 - - Cupboard (stable), 259 - - Curb chain (adjusting), 87 - - Curry-comb, 313 - - Cutting out a single line, 227 - - Cutting out riding trousers, 195 - - - Defective vision, 322 - - Demeanour at meet, 223 - - Destroying animals, 278 - - Diamond (racer), 35 - - Diarrhoea, 272 - - Diet for foal, 290 - - Dishing, 319 - - Dispensing with stirrup, 15, 103 - - Disquietude in mounting, 143 - - Ditch and drain falls, 172 - - Docking, 311 - - Doctoring, 262 - - Doors, 252 - - Down jumping, 149 - - Draught, 256 - - Drinks (physic), 266 - - Dropping, 40 - - Dumb jockey, 297 - - Dwyer curb, 71 - - - Ear hairs, 313 - - Economics, 188 - - Educated smiths, 238 - - Elbows, 103 - - Empress in Cheshire, 70 - - Escaping falls, 166 - - Exercising youngsters, 311 - - Experience with mare in field, 119 - - Experiment with a mare, 78 - - - Fallen trees, 147 - - Falling, 166 - - Falling on the flat, 175 - - False economies, 194 - - False quarter, 316 - - False refinement, 130 - - False teaching, 151 - - Farcy, 274 - - Fashionable coachmen, 329 - - Feeding, 217, 241 - - Feeding pail, 288 - - Fencing, 149 - - Filling feet, 314 - - Fire buckets, 257 - - Firing, 273 - - First class drivers, 332 - - Flap reins, 13 - - Fleam, 269 - - Flies, 311 - - Flooring, 251 - - Fluid physicking, 266 - - Foal bands, 53 - - Foal feeding, 288 - - Foot fever, 272 - - Foot "home," 100, 325 - - Foaling, 286 - - Foaling-box, 287 - - Fomentations, 270 - - Ford crossing, 22 - - Fore-legs, 211 - - Fractured hoof, 239 - - Friction, 268 - - - Gag-bits, 68, 69 - - Galloping, 136 - - Gaping, 75 - - Getting teams together, 334 - - Girthing, 90 - - Girths, 85 - - Glanders, 271 - - Glazing, 255 - - Gloves, 47, 258 - - Going at a leap, 148 - - Going fast at water, 152 - - Granary, 258 - - Grooming, 313 - - Groom's excuses, 242 - - Groom's bedroom, 260 - - Gruel, 247 - - - Habit-cutting, 320 - - Hacks, 203 - - Half horned hunting snaffle, 72 - - Hames, 326 - - Hand galloping, 136 - - Hands, 108, 128 - - Hanoverian Pelham, 68 - - Hat fasteners, 60 - - Hats, 47, 186, 199 - - Harness rooms, 260 - - Haunches, 213 - - Hay, 246 - - Hayloft, 256 - - Heel horn (removing), 235 - - Heel opening, 233 - - Heels, 236 - - Height of hunter, 212 - - Helpers, 266 - - Hiring horses, 321 - - Hocks, 205 - - Holding the reins, 107 - - Hollow back, 35 - - Hoofs, 37 - - Horse balls, 264 - - Hot fitting, 323 - - Hunters, 203, 209 - - Hunters in harness, 208, 244 - - Hunting, 217 - - Hunting breastplate, 308 - - Hunting centres, 324 - - Hunting colts, 290 - - Hunting outfit, 179 - - Hunting scarlet, 323 - - Hustling, 308 - - - Idle grooms, 313 - - Ignorant officer, 65 - - Immersion, 177 - - Impure air, 254 - - Incidents with Quorn hounds, 126 - - Indiarubber reins, 297 - - Indiarubber shoes, 237 - - Indiarubber soles, 273 - - Indigestion, 271 - - Inflamed gums, 272 - - Inquiring peculiarities, 125 - - Inspecting mounts, 123 - - Instructing youngsters, 296 - - Irish peasants, 4 - - - Joe Anderson, 35 - - Jog trot, 232 - - Joint oil, 277 - - Judging hunters, 215 - - Jumping off a bungler, 170 - - Jumping youngsters, 300 - - - Keeping hold of bridle when down, 176 - - Kemble Jackson mouthpiece, 337 - - Kickers in hunting-field, 228 - - Kicking, 137 - - Kicking-strap, 327 - - Knee injuries, 277 - - - Laceration, 276 - - Ladies' horses described, 35-42 - - Lampass, 272 - - Laxatives, 267 - - Leaders, 331, 334 - - Leaping, 146 - - Learners' riding costume, 44 - - Leg-straps, 302 - - Leg-washing, 274 - - Level feeding, 257 - - Level-seated saddles, 17 - - Lever's West-countryman, 249 - - Lice, 313 - - "Lifting" at fences, 150 - - Light hands, 128 - - Lighting (stables), 255 - - "Little tricks," 125 - - Liverpool bit, 69 - - Lolling out the tongue, 75 - - Losing shoes, 228 - - Lungeing, 294 - - - Maddened horse, 145 - - Mangers, 257, 314 - - Martingales, 77, 78 - - Mashes, 248 - - Matching horses, 335 - - Measurements of food, 244 - - Measurements of mouths, 73 - - Measuring boiled grain, 315 - - Megrim, 321 - - Melton mouthpiece, 68 - - "Mostly fools," 169 - - Moths, 326 - - Mounting, 93-96 - - Mounting youngsters, 298 - - Mouthpieces, 307 - - Mouths, 307 - - Mud-fever, 274 - - - Nagging, 330 - - Navicular disease, 272 - - Negligence in caring clothes, 197 - - Newfoundland feeding, 248 - - Newmarket coats, 185 - - Nicholl's patent stirrup, 85, 317 - - Night lighting, 257 - - Nosebands, 77 - - Numbed legs, 321 - - Nursing stables, 288 - - - Oats, 245 - - Obnoxious equestrians, 225 - - Oculist, 201 - - Offside riding, 90 - - Opening veins, 278 - - Operations, 278 - - Outfit for park and road riding, 47 - - Overdraw draw check, 336 - - Overlooking mount, 123 - - Over-reach, 275 - - - Pad-pony, 13 - - Paces, 135 - - Pair, driving, 330 - - Pasturage for brood mares, 286 - - Patent bar, 317 - - Pecking, 176 - - Peculiarities, 125 - - Pelham bit, 68 - - Pendulous shoe, 240 - - Pests of the hunting-field, 168 - - Pets, 249 - - Physicking, 263 - - Pick-me-ups, 336 - - Pilots, 226 - - Pinning up, 269 - - Pistol, 318 - - Pleader (hunter), 22 - - Plugs (steel), 322 - - Points, 210 - - Poking the chin, 73 - - Ports, 71 - - Position on horseback, 97 - - Posts, 251 - - Poultices, 270 - - Preparation for hunting, 217 - - Pressing youngsters, 306 - - Price list, 187 - - Probing, 276 - - Projections, 252 - - Propellers, 161 - - Pullers, 137 - - Pulling up, 133 - - Purchasing horses, 33 - - - Quartern, 323 - - - Racehorse trotting, 206 - - Racing, 298 - - Railing hunters, 221 - - Rainproof garments, 61 - - Rarey bit, 295 - - Rasping hoofs, 234 - - Rearing, 140 - - Rearing bit, 76 - - Refusers, 158, 164 - - Reining back, 133 - - Reins, their uses, 107, 114 - - Restlessness, 311 - - Rick in the back, 316 - - Riding-habits, 48 - - Riding hats, etc., 199 - - Riding masters, 27 - - Riding to Courtown, 25 - - Riding to covert, 222 - - Ringbone, 271 - - Rising in saddle, 102 - - Road riding, 122 - - Roaring, 271 - - Roguery, 160 - - Rolling clear, 170 - - Roofing, 251 - - Ropebiting, 315 - - Rules of the field, 272 - - Rules of the road, 134 - - Running away, 143, 328 - - - Saddle-bar (Born's), 84 - - Saddle-cloths, 85 - - Saddle fitting, 84 - - Saddle-galls, 275 - - Saddle measurements, 84 - - Saddling, 80, 88 - - Saddling youngsters, 298 - - Safety pad, 13 - - Safety stirrups, 85 - - Salt in manger, 320 - - Sash windows, 254 - - Sawmouth bridoon, 309 - - Schooling, 151 - - School teaching, 147 - - Screw leaping head, 84 - - Seated shoe, 321 - - Secrets of leaping, 149 - - Segundo bit, 68 - - Self-teaching, 275 - - Selecting a mount, 29, 32 - - Sending by road, 221 - - Servants, teaching, 28, 99 - - Setting off, 127 - - Sewarrow, 56, 317 - - Shaft-tugs, 327 - - Sheep's horn shoes, 237 - - Shifting saddle, 229 - - Shoeing, 231 - - Shoeing nervous horse, 309 - - Shoes (to last), 323 - - Shooting, 278 - - "Show" in driving, 332 - - Shying, 142 - - Silk under clothing, 199 - - Sires, 282 - - Situation (of stable), 250 - - Skirt without hem, 199 - - Slings, 269 - - Sluggish, 329 - - "Slummucking," 150 - - Smiths, 238 - - Snaffles, 66, 67 - - Soft mashes, 264 - - Sole paring, 233 - - Sore throat, 271 - - Speed for team, 335 - - Splint, 273 - - Spurs, 317, 318 - - Spurs, their uses, 121, 140 - - Stable forks, 323 - - Stabling, 256 - - Staking, 276 - - Stall measurements, 252 - - Stalls, 252 - - Stanhope bit, 68 - - Starting youngsters, 244 - - Stirrups, 85 - - Stockings, 180 - - Stumbling, 142 - - Straw, 258 - - Suitability of hunting-field for ladies, 224 - - Supply of hay, 323 - - Surface drains, 251 - - Sutures, 269 - - Swollen legs, 273 - - - Taking tired horses home, 128 - - Taming, 303 - - Tandem, 331 - - Team driving, 332, 335 - - Team practice, 334 - - Team standing, 334 - - Temperature of food, 243 - - Temperature of stables, 253, 323 - - Thorn-fencing, 156 - - Three-quarter shoe, 273 - - Throwing up the arm, 164 - - Thrush, 273 - - Tidiness, 198 - - Timber jumping, 153 - - Timidity, 160 - - Timidity in riding, 30 - - Tips (shoes), 236 - - Toepieces, 234 - - Tongue over the mouthpiece, 73 - - Training, 292 - - Training hunters to follow, 216 - - Trap-door, 256 - - Trappings for colt, 295 - - Trappy jumping, 154 - - Trappy obstacles, 153 - - Travelling saddle, 314 - - Treatment after hunting, 229 - - Treatment after physic, 266 - - Treatment of tired hunters, 229 - - Trotting, 129 - - Trousers, 54, 182 - - Turning corners, 120 - - Twitch, 264 - - - Underclothing, 57 - - Unknowing ones, 324 - - Up-jumping, 154 - - Upland hay, 246 - - Upper jaw bit, 336 - - Uses of the whip, 119 - - - Valise (to carry), 220 - - Variety in feeding, 248 - - Vegetable diet, 246 - - Veils, 59 - - Ventilation, 253 - - Veterinary quacks, 311 - - Vices, 137 - - Vicious horses, 115 - - Voice, 114 - - - Walking paces, 127 - - Wall-licking, 321 - - Walls, 248, 251 - - Washing silk articles, 200 - - Waste in stables, 245 - - Water for hunters, 222 - - Water-jumping, 155 - - Water ponds, 260 - - Water pots, 258 - - Water stains, 326 - - Weaning, 289 - - Weighty shoes, 234 - - Wheelers, 330, 334 - - Whips, 59 - - Whistling, 271 - - Width of mouthpiece, 75 - - Wielding whip, 333 - - Windows, 254 - - Wisdom in riding, 227 - - Wisping, 274 - - Worms, 271 - - Wounds, 276 - - - Yards, 257 - - Yearlings, 291 - - Youngsters in leading reins, 149 - - - LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, - STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS. - - - - -_ADVERTISEMENTS._ - - -WM. SCOTT & CO., LADIES' TAILORS, - -37, DUKE STREET, ST. JAMES'S, LONDON. - -[Illustration] - -WM. SCOTT & CO., - -HABIT MAKERS TO THE AUTHORESS. - -(_For Specimen see Frontispiece._) - -SOLE MAKERS OF THE ROYAL MEATH HABIT. - -37, DUKE STREET, St. JAMES'S, LONDON, - -And at SACKVILLE STREET, DUBLIN. - - - - -BEST QUALITY, HAND-SEWN BOOTS AND SHOES, - -At 30 per cent. less than West End prices. - -ESTAB. 1839. N. THIERRY. ESTAB. 1839. - -[Illustration: Ladies' Riding-Boots, All Patent Leather, =52s.=] - -[Illustration: Ladies' Riding-Boots, All Patent Leather, =50s.=] - -The Largest Stock and Largest Sale in England of - -LADIES' RIDING BOOTS. - -EVERY DESCRIPTION OF BOOTS AND SHOES MADE TO ORDER IN A FEW DAYS. - -SPECIAL LASTS KEPT FOR EVERY CUSTOMER. - - London, - 70, REGENT STREET, QUADRANT, W. - 48, GRESHAM ST., & 131, FENCHURCH ST., E.C. - MANCHESTER, 2, St. Ann's Square. LIVERPOOL, 5, Bold Street. - -_ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES POST FREE._ - -PRICES OF A FEW ARTICLES, LADIES' DEPARTMENT. - -BOOTS. - - Button or Lace 16/6 - Do. do. Polish, Louis XV. Heels, 21/- - Do. Alpine or Tourist, 23/- to 25/- - -SHOES. - - Oxford Tie Morocco, 10/6; Glace, 12/6 - Do. do. Glace Kid, Louis XV. Heels, 17/6 - Patent Dress Court Shoes 7/6 - -A LARGE STOCK of Children's Boots and Shoes, very durable and -comfortable, at Moderate Prices, and - -EVERY VARIETY OF GENTLEMEN'S RIDING, SHOOTING, WALKING, AND DRESS BOOTS -AND SHOES. - -AN OLD BOOT IS SUFFICIENT GUIDE FOR SIZE TO ENSURE A GOOD FIT. - -PLEASE NOTE!--70, Quadrant, Regent Street, as there is another house -same name in the street. - - - - -"_The most noted firm of Ladies' Tailors in the world, and be it said -the most original._"--COURT JOURNAL. - -[Illustration] - -By Special Appointments to - -Her Majesty the Queen. - -H.R.H. the Princess of Wales. - -H.R. and I.H. the Duchess of Edinburgh. - -H.R.H. the Princess Louise. - -H.R.H. the Princess Mary of Teck. - -By Special Appointments to - -H.I.M. the Empress of Russia. - -H.M. the Queen of Denmark. - -H.M. the Queen of Portugal. - -H.R.H. the Duchess of Connaught. - -H.R.H. the Princess Beatrice. - - - - -REDFERN, - -LADIES' TAILOR, - -26, CONDUIT STREET, LONDON, W. - -RIDING HABITS, - -WITH ALL THE LATEST IMPROVEMENTS. - -For HUNTING. - -For THE ROW. - -Their new Safety Skirt, cut on an entirely new principle, combines with -elegance the greatest comfort and security to the wearer. - - "Habits are still worn short * * * REDFERN has introduced a novelty - which, while giving greater freedom to the pommel knee and rendering - the risk of the habit catching much less than usual, fits to a - nicety."--_Daily News_, Nov. 23rd, 1882. - -SPECIALITIES IN COVERT & DRIVING COATS. - -Branches--COWES (I.W.), PARIS, and NEW YORK. - -_To Ladies living in the country and abroad_, Messrs. REDFERN _forward -Patterns of the newest materials for habits, &c. post free on -application, and guarantee a perfect fit without a personal interview._ - - - - -HENRY PEAT & CO., - -SADDLERS AND HARNESS MAKERS, - -By Appointment to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, - -173, PICCADILLY, LONDON. - -SADDLERY OF EVERY DESCRIPTION - -FOR - -INDIA, AMERICA, AND THE COLONIES. - - - - -JAMES MCMILLAN, - -HUNTING BOOT MAKER, - -104, JERMYN STREET, PICCADILLY, S.W. - -LADIES' - -'ECONOMICAL,' 'PARK,' 'CROSS COUNTRY,' 'TROPICAL,' 'NEWMARKET,' - -AND ALL KINDS OF - -RIDING BOOTS. - - - - -HOARE & SONS, - -Specialite Habit Makers & Ladies' Tailors, - -252 & 253, HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON. - -ESTABLISHED 1847. - -[Illustration] - - "Ladies looking for high-class Tailoring at _reasonable_ charges - for Cash payment would do well to give this old-established House a - visit." - - "Evidently, only the most careful and experienced Foremen Tailors and - best Workmanship obtainable are employed." - -Habits for Park or Country, from 5 to 8 Guineas. - -Specialite "PRINCESS" Habit, as worn by H.I.M. the Empress of Austria. - -HOARE & SONS' own Registered Shape, from 6 to 9 Guineas. - -Walking or Travelling Gowns, 4 to 8 Guineas. - -Ulsters, from 3 Guineas. Covert Coats, from 2-1/2 Guineas. - -Specialite for Travelling--Lady's Ocean Coat (regd.), with Removable -Cape and Hood, from 4 Guineas. - -COUNTRY ORDERS. - -Ladies can now be fitted as perfectly as if in Town by the assistance -of a Pattern Bodice (which can be sent by post), and a few measures -taken by our Registered System, thereby avoiding trouble and delay. -This department is under the personal supervision of a member of the -Firm, and has proved most successful in every instance. - -_Patterns, Estimates, and Illustrations of the Newest Fashions Post -Free._ - - - - -IF YOU DESIRE REALLY WELL-POLISHED BOOTS, USE - - E. BROWN & SON'S ROYAL MELTONIAN BLACKING. It renders them - beautifully soft, durable, and waterproof, while its lustre equals - the most brilliant patent leather. - - E. BROWN & SON'S NONPAREIL DE GUICHE PARISIAN POLISH for Dress Boots - and Shoes, is more elastic and less difficult in its use than any - other. - - E. BROWN & SON'S WATERPROOF VARNISH, for Hunting, Shooting, and - Fishing Boots, is strongly recommended to all Sportsmen. - - E. BROWN & SON'S BROWN TOP-BOOT FLUID, POLISH, and POWDERS of all - Colours. - - E. BROWN & SON'S MELTONIAN CREAM, for Renovating all kinds of Patent - Leather, Furniture, &c. - - E. BROWN & SON'S ROYAL KID REVIVER for all kinds of Black Kid, - Leather, &c. - - E. BROWN & SON'S WATERPROOF HARNESS POLISH is far superior to all - others! it requires neither Oil nor Dye. - -MANUFACTORY: - -7, GARRICK STREET, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON, W.C. - -And at 26, Rue Bergere, Paris. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -E. BROWN & SON, - -Purveyors to Her Majesty, - -WERE AWARDED THE PRIZE MEDAL, 1862. - -_Retail Everywhere. Telephone, 3765._ - - - - -RICHARD T. MARTIN, - -LADIES' TAILOR AND COSTUMIER, - -TO THE - -NOBILITY AND GENTRY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, - -85 & 86 GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN. - -_CELEBRATED FOR_ - -TRAVELLING AND WALKING COSTUMES, - -GOWNS, COATS, DOLMANS, - -AND - -RIDING HABITS. - -_A large Assortment of all the leading Home and Foreign Materials -always in Stock. An Inspection Solicited._ - - - - -ALFRED MANNING, - -ROBES, MODES, NOUVEAUTES, - -TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF WALES, - -AND - -THE IRISH COURT, - -102 and 103, GRAFTON STREET, - -DUBLIN. - - - - -MR. JOHN FREEMAN, F.R.C.V.S., - -Veterinary Infirmary, - -32, DAWSON STREET, - -DUBLIN, - -AND - -GEORGE'S STREET, - -_KINGSTOWN_. - - - - -T. H. FIELDER, - -78, GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN, - -_Late of LONDON, PARIS and NEW YORK_, - -LADIES' TAILOR, - -NOTED FOR - -MANTLES, FURS, - -WALKING, TRAVELLING, TENNIS, AND YACHTING GOWNS, - -JACKETS, COATS, AND ULSTERS. - -COSTUMES FROM STOCK AND TO ORDER. - -LADIES TAILOR TO HER EXCELLENCY COUNTESS OF ABERDEEN, COUNTESS OF -CARNARVON, - -AND THE - -NOBILITY AND GENTRY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. - -_Ladies living at a distance can rely on a PERFECT FIT by sending a -Bodice for size._ - -THE BEST MATERIALS, THOROUGHLY SHRUNK. - -Full Sets of Patterns and Designs Post Free. - -RIDING HABITS TO ORDER, FITTED IN THE SADDLE. - -Perfection of Cut and Style. Accurate Fit Guaranteed. - -_MODERATE PRICES. Discount 5 per Cent. for Cash._ - -All Garments produced under the Personal Supervision of - -T. H. FIELDER, - -78, GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN. - - - - -_W. THACKER & CO., LONDON._ - -_THACKER, SPINK & CO., CALCUTTA._ - - -"Splendidly Illustrated Record of Sport."--GRAPHIC. - -In Demy 4to. Thirty Plates and Map, L2 2_s._ - -LARGE GAME SHOOTING - -IN THIBET AND THE NORTH-WEST. - -BY COLONEL ALEXANDER A. KINLOCH. - -[Illustration] - - "Colonel Kinloch, who has killed most kinds of Indian game, small - and great, relates incidents of his varied sporting experiences in - chapters, which are each descriptive of a different animal. The - photogravures of the heads of many of the animals, from the grand - gauer, popularly miscalled the bison, downwards, are extremely clever - and spirited."--_Times._ - - - - -[Illustration] - -STERNDALE'S - -MAMMALIA OF INDIA. - -ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ILLUSTRATIONS. 18_s._ 0_d._ - -[Illustration] - - -In Imperial 16mo. Uniform with "Riding," "Hindu Mythology," and "Riding -for Ladies." 18_s._ 0_d._ - -A NATURAL HISTORY - -OF THE - -MAMMALIA OF INDIA. - -BY R. A. STERNDALE, F.R.G.S., F.Z.S., &c. - -AUTHOR OF "SEONEE," "THE DENIZENS OF THE JUNGLE," "THE AFGHAN KNIFE," -ETC. - -WITH 170 ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR AND OTHERS. - -[Illustration] - - "The notices of each animal are, as a rule, short, though on some - of the larger mammals--the lion, tiger, pard, boar, &c.--ample and - interesting details are given, including occasional anecdotes of - adventure."--_The Times._ - - "Has contrived to hit a happy mean between the stiff scientific - treatise and the bosh of what maybe called anecdotal zoology."--_The - Daily News._ - - "The very model of what a popular natural history should - be."--_Knowledge._ - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration: DENIZENS OF THE JUNGLES. - -(_Reduced from Original._) - -BY R. A. STERNDALE, F.R.G.S., F.Z.S., ETC.] - - -Oblong Imperial 4to. 16_s._ - -DENIZENS OF THE JUNGLES: - -A Series of Sketches of Wild Animals, - -_ILLUSTRATING THEIR FORMS AND NATURAL ATTITUDES_. - -WITH LETTERPRESS DESCRIPTION OF EACH PLATE. - -BY R. A. STERNDALE, F.R.G.S., F.Z.S., - -AUTHOR OF "NATURAL HISTORY OF THE MAMMALIA OF INDIA," "SEONEE," ETC. - - I.--Denizens of the Jungles. Aborigines--Deer--Monkeys. - - II.--"On the Watch." Tiger. - - III.--"Not so Fast Asleep as he Looks." Panther--Monkeys. - - IV.--"Waiting for Father." Black Bears of the Plains. - - V.--"Rival Monarchs." Tiger and Elephant. - - VI.--"Hors de Combat." Indian Wild Boar and Tiger. - - VII.--"A Race for Life." Blue Bull and Wild Dogs. - - VIII.--"Meaning Mischief." The Gaur--Indian Bison. - - IX.--"More than His Match." Buffalo and Rhinoceros. - - X.--"A Critical Moment." Spotted Deer and Leopard. - - XI.--"Hard Hit." The Sambur. - - XII.--"Mountain Monarchs." Marco Polo's Sheep. - - "The plates are admirably executed by photo-lithography from the - author's originals, every line and touch being faithfully preserved. - It is a volume which will be eagerly studied on many a table. Mr. - Sterndale has many an amusing and exciting anecdote to add to the - general interest of the work."--_Broad Arrow._ - - "The Volume is well got up and the Drawings are spirited and - natural."--_Illustrated London News._ - - - - -[Illustration] - -LAYS OF IND. By ALIPH CHEEM. - -COMIC, SATIRICAL, AND DESCRIPTIVE. - -Poems Illustrative of Anglo-Indian Life. - -_Seventh Edition. Enlarged. Cloth, gilt._ 10_s._ 6_d._ - - "This is a remarkably bright little book. 'Aliph Cheem,' supposed to - be the _nom-de-plume_ of an officer in the 18th Hussars, is, after - his fashion, an Indian Bon Gaultier. In a few of the poems the jokes, - turning on local names and customs, are somewhat esoteric; but, taken - throughout, the verses are characterised by high animal spirits, - great cleverness, and most excellent fooling."--_The World._ - - "Highly amusing ballads and songs, which have already in a former - edition warmed the hearts and cheered the lonely hours of many an - Anglo-Indian, the pictures being chiefly those of Indian life. There - is no mistaking the humour, and at times, indeed, the fun is both - 'fast and furious.' Many portions remind us of the 'Bab Ballads.' - One can readily imagine the merriment created round the camp fire - by the recitation of 'The Two Thumpers,' which is irresistibly - droll."--_Liverpool Mercury._ - - "One of the most superb little presentation books we have ever - seen."--_Indian Mail._ - - "The 'Lays' are not only Anglo-Indian in origin, but out-and-out - Anglo-Indian in subject and colour. To one who knows something of - life at an Indian 'station' they will be especially amusing. Their - exuberant fun at the same time may well attract the attention of the - ill-defined individual known as 'the general reader.'"--_Scotsman._ - - - - -Uniform with "Lays of Ind," "Riding," &c. 10_s._ 6_d._ - -[Illustration] - -HINDU MYTHOLOGY: - -VEDIC AND PURANIC. - -BY - -REV. W. J. WILKINS, - -OF THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, CALCUTTA. - -_Illustrated by very numerous Engravings from Drawings by Native -Artists._ - -REVIEWS. - - "His aim has been to give a faithful account of the Hindoo deities - such as an intelligent native would himself give, and he has - endeavoured, in order to achieve his purpose, to keep his mind free - from prejudice or theological bias. To help to completeness he has - included a number of drawings of the principal deities, executed - by native artists. The author has attempted a work of no little - ambition, and has succeeded in his attempt, the volume being one of - great interest and usefulness; and not the less so because he has - strictly refrained from diluting his facts with comments of his own. - It has numerous illustrations."--_Home News._ - - "Mr. Wilkins has done his work well, with an honest desire to state - facts apart from all theological prepossession, and his volume is - likely to be a useful book of reference."--_Guardian._ - - "In Mr. Wilkins' book we have an illustrated manual, the study of - which will lay a solid foundation for more advanced knowledge, while - it will furnish those who may have the desire, without having the - time or opportunity to go further into the subject, with a really - extensive stock of accurate information."--_Indian Daily News._ - - - - -In Imperial 16mo., uniform with "Lays of Ind," "Riding," "Riding for -Ladies," &c. 8_s._ 6_d._ - -THE - -TRIBES ON MY FRONTIER: - -An Indian Naturalist's Foreign Policy. - -BY EHA. - -WITH FIFTY ILLUSTRATIONS BY F. C. MACRAE. - -[Illustration: TIFFIN.] - -This remarkably clever work most graphically and humorously describes -the surroundings of a Mofussil bungalow. The twenty chapters embrace -a year's experiences, and provide endless sources of amusement and -suggestion. The numerous able illustrations add very greatly to the -interest of the volume, which will find a place on every table. - -_THE CHAPTERS ARE_-- - - I. A Durbar. - II. The Rats. - III. The Mosquitos. - IV. The Lizards. - V. The Ants. - VI. The Crows. - VII. The Bats. - VIII. Bees, Wasps, et hoc genus omne. - IX. The Spiders. - X. The Butterfly: Hunting Him. - XI. The Butterfly: Contemplating Him. - XII. The Frogs. - XIII. The Bugs. - XIV. The Birds of the Garden. - XV. The Birds at the Mango Tope. - XVI. The Birds at the Tank. - XVII. The Poultry Yard. - XVIII. The White Ants. - XIX. The Hypodermatikosyringophoroi. - XX. Etcetera. - - "Always amusing and never dull."--_Field._ - - "Full of accurate and unfamiliar observation."--_Saturday Review._ - - "Has the advantage of needing no preliminary knowledge of Natural - History for its enjoyment."--_Westminster Review._ - - - - -_Imperial 16mo._ 18_s._ 0_d._ - -Uniform with "Lays of Ind," "Hindu Mythology," "Riding," "Natural -History of the Mammalia of India," &c. - -A POPULAR HANDBOOK - -OF - -INDIAN FERNS. - -BY COLONEL R. H. BEDDOME, - -AUTHOR OF "THE FERNS OF BRITISH INDIA," "THE FERNS OF SOUTHERN INDIA." - -[Illustration] - - "It is the first special book of portable size and moderate price - which has been devoted to Indian Ferns, and is in every way deserving - of the extensive circulation it is sure to obtain."--_Nature_, June - 14th, 1883. - - "I have just seen a new work on Indian Ferns which will prove vastly - interesting, not only to the Indian people, but to the botanists of - this country."--_Indian Daily News._ - - "'The Ferns of India.' This is a good book, being of a useful and - trustworthy character. The species are familiarly described, and most - of them illustrated by small figures."--_Gardeners' Chronicle._ - - "Those interested in botany will do well to procure a new work on - the 'Ferns of British India.' The work will prove a first-class - text-book."--_Free Press._ - -_THREE HUNDRED ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR._ - - - - -Uniform with "RIDING FOR LADIES." - -_Second Edition. Revised and Enlarged. Imperial 16mo. 10s. 6d._ - -RIDING: - -ON THE FLAT AND ACROSS COUNTRY. - -A Guide to Practical Horsemanship. - -BY CAPT. M. H. HAYES. - -_PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED BY STURGESS._ - -[Illustration] - - _Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News._--"The book is one that no - man who has ever sat in a saddle can fail to read with interest." - - _The Field._--"The general directions are in most cases in accordance - with our own opinions; and Mr. Hayes has supplemented his own - experience of race-riding by resorting to Tom Cannon, Fordham, and - other well-known jockeys for illustration. 'The Guide' is, on the - whole, thoroughly reliable; and both the illustrations and the - printing do credit to the publishers." - - _The Sporting Life._--"It has, however, been reserved for Captain - Hayes to write what in our opinion will be generally accepted as the - most comprehensive, enlightened, and 'all round' work on riding, - bringing to bear as he does not only his own great experience, but - the advice and practice of many of the best recognised horsemen of - the period." - - - - -In Imperial 16mo. Illustrated. 8_s._ 6_d._ - -INDIAN - -RACING REMINISCENCES: - -BEING - -_ENTERTAINING NARRATIVES AND ANECDOTES OF MEN, HORSES, AND SPORT. -ILLUSTRATED WITH TWENTY-TWO PORTRAITS AND A NUMBER OF SMALLER -ENGRAVINGS._ - -BY CAPT. M. HORACE HAYES. - -AUTHOR OF "RIDING ON THE FLAT AND ACROSS COUNTRY," "VETERINARY NOTES -FOR HORSE OWNERS," "TRAINING AND HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA," ETC. - -[Illustration] - - "The book is full of racy anecdote.... He is well known as - an authority on everything connected with the horse and - horse-racing."--_Bell's Life_. - - "All sportsmen who can appreciate a book on racing, written in a - chatty style and full of anecdote, will like Captain Hayes' latest - work."--_Field_. - - "The book is valuable from the fact that many hints on the treatment - of horses are included."--_Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News_. - - "Many a racing anecdote and many a curious character our readers will - find in the book, which is very well got up, embellished with many - portraits."--_Baily's Magazine_. - - - - -Second Edition, in Crown 8vo, Illustrated. 10_s._ 6_d._ - -VETERINARY NOTES FOR HORSE-OWNERS. - -_AN EVERY-DAY HORSE BOOK._ - -BY CAPT. M. HORACE HAYES. - -[Illustration] - -OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. - - _Saturday Review._--"The work is written in a clear and practical - way." - - _The Field._--"Of the many popular veterinary books which have come - under our notice, this is certainly one of the most scientific and - reliable. The author tells us, in the preface to the first edition, - that any merit which the book may possess is to be ascribed to the - teaching of the Principal and Professors of the New Veterinary - College at Edinburgh, where he studied. It is much to be desired that - every student would make so much use of his opportunities as Capt. - Hayes has done. - - "Some notice is accorded to nearly all the diseases which are common - to horses in this country, and the writer takes advantage of his - Indian experiences to touch upon several maladies of horses in that - country, where veterinary surgeons are few and far between. The - description of symptoms and the directions for the application of - remedies are given in perfectly plain terms, which the tyro will - find no difficulty in comprehending; and, for the purpose of further - smoothing his path, a chapter is given on veterinary medicines, their - actions, uses, and doses. This information will be most acceptable to - the majority of horse-owners, and may be invaluable on an emergency - when no advice better than that of the village cow doctor can be - obtained." - - - - -Crown 8vo. 7_s._ 6_d._ - -A - -TEA PLANTER'S LIFE IN ASSAM - -BY GEORGE M. BARKER. - -_WITH SEVENTY-FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR._ - -[Illustration: NAGA WOMAN.] - -This book aims at conveying to all interested in India and the Tea -industry an entertaining and useful account of the topographical -features of Assam; the strange surroundings--human and animal--of the -European Resident; the trying Climate; the Daily Life of the planter; -and general details of the formation and working of Tea Gardens. - -The illustrations, by the Author, add greatly to the interest of the -work. - -[Illustration: ASSAMESE.] - - "Mr. Barker has supplied us with a very good and readable - description, accompanied by numerous illustrations drawn by himself. - What may be called the business parts of the book are of most - value."--_Contemporary Review._ - - "Cheery, well-written little book."--_Graphic._ - - "A very interesting and amusing book, artistically illustrated from - sketches drawn by the Author."--_Mark Lane Express._ - - - - -Fourth Edition, Crown 8vo. (_in preparation_). - -A - -MANUAL OF GARDENING - -FOR - -BENGAL AND UPPER INDIA. - -BY THOMAS A. C. FIRMINGER, M.A. - -THOROUGHLY REVISED AND BROUGHT DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME BY - -J. H. JACKSON, - -_Editor of "The Indian Agriculturist."_ - -PART I. - -OPERATIONS OF GARDENING. - - Chap. I.--Climate--Soils--Manures. - - Chap. II.--Laying-out a Garden--Lawns--Hedges--Hoeing - and Digging--Drainage--Conservatories--Betel - Houses--Decorations--Implements--Shades--Labels--Vermin--Weeds. - - Chap. III.--Seeds--Seed Sowing--Pot - Culture--Planting--Cuttings--Layers--Gootee--Grafting and - Inarching--Budding--Pruning and Root Pruning--Conveyance. - - Chap. IV.--Calendar of Operations. - -[Illustration] - -PART II. - -GARDEN PLANTS. - - 1. Culinary Vegetables. - - 2. Dessert Fruits. - - 3. Edible Nuts. - - 4. Ornamental Annuals. - - 5. Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, and Herbaceous Perennials. - - - - -Crown 8vo. 7_s._ 6_d._ - -MANUAL OF - -AGRICULTURE FOR INDIA. - -BY LIEUT. F. POGSON. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -1. Origin and Character of Soils.--2. Ploughing and Preparing for -Seed.--3. Manures and Composts.--4. Wheat Cultivation.--5. Barley.--6. -Oats.--7. Rye.--8. Rice.--9. Maize.--10. Sugar-producing Sorghums.--11. -Common Sorghums.--12. Sugarcane.--13. Oil Seed.--14. Field Pea -Crops.--15. Dall or Pulse.--16. Root Crops.--17. Cold Spice.--18. -Fodder.--19. Water-Nut.--20. Ground-Nut.--21. Rush-Nut or Chufas.--22. -Cotton.--23. Tobacco.--24. Mensuration.--Appendix. - -REVIEWS. - - "POGSON'S AGRICULTURE. - - "The work seems to us both in thoroughness of execution and in - clearness of arrangement entirely to fulfil all the hopes that - have been formed of it. We cannot doubt that the Government will - heartily take up this most valuable book, and circulate it both in - the original and vernacular translations throughout the length and - breadth of the land; nor should a moment be lost, for it represents - one of the most important and most promising lines on which we can - meet that terrible Malthusian difficulty."--_Allen's Indian Mail._ - - "A work of extreme practical value."--_Home News._ - - "Mr. Pogson's advice may be profitably followed by both native and - European agriculturists, for it is eminently practical and devoid of - empiricism. His little volume embodies the teaching of a large and - varied experience, and deserves to be warmly supported."--_Madras - Mail._ - - - - -Complete in One Volume, 10_s._; Interleaved, 11_s._ - -A TEXT BOOK - -OF - -INDIAN BOTANY: - -_MORPHOLOGICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL, and SYSTEMATIC._ - -BY W. H. GREGG, - -LECTURER ON BOTANY, HUGHLI COLLEGE. - -WITH =240= ILLUSTRATIONS. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - -Crown 8vo. 4_s._ 6_d._ - -The Indian Cookery Book. - -[Illustration] - -A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK TO THE KITCHEN IN INDIA: - -ADAPTED TO THE THREE PRESIDENCIES. - -_Containing Original and Approved Recipes in every department of Indian -Cookery; Recipes for Summer Beverages and Home-made Liqueurs; Medicinal -and other Recipes; together with a variety of things worth knowing._ - -BY A THIRTY-FIVE YEARS' RESIDENT. - - - - -Third Edition, Revised. - -Training and Horse Management in India. - -BY CAPTAIN M. HORACE HAYES, - -Author of "Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners," "Riding," &c. Third -Edition. Crown 8vo. 8_s._ 6_d._ - - "No better guide could be placed in the hands of either amateur - horseman or veterinary surgeon."--_The Veterinary Journal._ - - "A useful guide in regard to horses anywhere.... Concise, practical, - and portable."--_Saturday Review._ - - - - -Prepared for the use of the Survey Department of India, and published -under the authority of the Government of India. - -Royal 8vo. 30_s._ 0_d._ - -[Illustration] - -A Manual of Surveying for India: - -_DETAILING THE MODE OF OPERATIONS ON THE TRIGONOMETRICAL, -TOPOGRAPHICAL, AND REVENUE_ - -SURVEYS OF INDIA. - -COMPILED BY - -SIR H. L. THUILLIER, K.C.S.I., ROYAL ARTILLERY, - -AND - -LIEUT.-COL. R. SMYTH, late BENGAL ARTILLERY. - -[Illustration] - - - - -One Vol. Small 8vo. 5_s._ 0_d._ - -TALES FROM INDIAN HISTORY: - -BEING THE - -Annals of India retold in Narratives. - -BY J. TALBOYS WHEELER. - -Forms a complete History of India from the earliest period to the -present day, drawn up as a series of "Narratives" for general reading -in schools and families. So far it will resemble the history of -Scotland as told in Sir Walter Scott's "Tales of a Grandfather," -omitting all details and disquisitions which are sufficiently given -in the author's larger histories of India, and seeking to tell the -progress of events in the most simple and attractive manner. - -Reviews of Wheeler's 'Tales from Indian History.' - - "While the work has been written for them (natives), it has also - been written for the people of England, who will find in the volume, - perhaps for the first time, the history of our great dependency made - extremely attractive reading. Mr. Wheeler's narrative is written in - a most graceful style; indeed, he is master of the English language. - He does not confine himself to the mere dry details of history, - but tells the adventures of Indian heroes and heroines in legends - of love and war; describes the village communities of India, their - organization and self-government; delineates the results of caste, - infant marriage, and other Hindoo institutions and usages as seen in - the family and social life of the people in villages and towns, as - well as in courts and palaces.... The work also contains valuable - observations on the foreign relations of the Indian Empire with - Persia, Russia, Turkey, and China. Altogether this is a work of rare - merit."--_Broad Arrow._ - - "In going through an interesting book, the reader will be furnished - with a good general notion of Indian history, and learn besides - something about Indian modes of life."--_Queen._ - - "Will absorb the attention of all who delight in thrilling records of - adventure and daring. It is no mere compilation, but an earnest and - brightly-written book."--_Daily Chronicle._ - - "This little volume contains a history of India in the form of tales - and narratives, intended by the author for the people of India as - well as for those of the British Isles."--_Army and Navy Gazette._ - - "No young reader who revolts at the ordinary history presented to him - in his school books will hesitate to take up this. No one can read a - volume such as this without being deeply interested."--_Scotsman._ - - - - -ENTIRELY RE-WRITTEN. Eighth Edition. Crown 8vo. 10_s._ 6_d._ - -THE - -MANAGEMENT AND MEDICAL TREATMENT - -OF - -CHILDREN IN INDIA. - -BY EDWARD A. BIRCH, M.D., - -_Surgeon-Major Bengal Establishment_. - -Second Edition; being the Eighth Edition of GOODEVE'S "Hints on the -Management of Children in India." - - _Dr. Goodeve._--"I have no hesitation in saying that the present - edition is for many reasons superior to its predecessors. It is - written very carefully, and with much knowledge and experience on the - author's part, whilst it possesses the great advantage of bringing up - the subject to the present level of Medical Science." - - _The Medical Times and Gazette_, in an article upon this work - and Moore's "Family Medicine for India," says:--"New editions of - these two well-known works have recently appeared. They are both - intended to supply in some measure the medical wants of our numerous - countrymen in India, who may be either far from professional - help in emergencies of sickness or of accident, or destitute of - medical advice regarding the proper management of their own health, - and especially that of their children, in the trying climate of - Hindostan. Although we are, as a rule, very much opposed to popular - medical instruction, believing that the result is most frequently - a minimum of serviceable knowledge along with a vast preponderance - of what is but partial, misleading, and dangerous, yet the peculiar - circumstances of many of our countrymen in India, together with the - special and insidious dangers of its varying climate, fully justify - the publication of a few trustworthy popular works to warn the unwary - new-comer, before it be too late, of the dangers he has to encounter, - and to give judicious counsel to solitary individuals and families - who cannot enjoy the advantages of personal professional advice. - Moreover, the two works before us are in themselves probably about - the best examples of medical works written for non-professional - readers. The style of each is simple, and as free as possible from - technical expressions. The modes of treatment recommended are - generally those most likely to yield good results in the hands - of laymen; and throughout each volume the important fact is kept - constantly before the mind of the reader, that the volume he is using - is but a poor substitute for personal professional advice, for which - it must be discarded whenever there is the opportunity. Written with - such objects, and in such a spirit, these volumes cannot fail to be - of the greatest service; and that they are appreciated is shown by - the rapid appearance of successive editions, the second mentioned and - elder treatise having now reached the seventh edition. We would add, - that although they are specially written for lay readers, there are - few young medical officers proceeding to India who would not receive - several useful hints from these unpretentious volumes. But it is to - parents or to the guardians of European children in India that they - must be of pre-eminent service." - - - - -_Published Annually, in Thick Royal 8vo., Price L1 16s._ - -THACKER'S - -INDIAN DIRECTORY - -EMBRACING - -The whole of India and Burmah. - -THE "TIMES." - - "The fact that this work, originally known as the 'Directory of - Bengal,' has now reached its 24th annual issue, is sufficient - to recommend it to all those who are brought into contact, in a - military, civil, or commercial sense, with the civilization and - intelligence of our Eastern dependencies. No longer confined to the - narrow limits of Bengal, Messrs. Thacker furnish us with complete - and detailed information respecting not only Calcutta, but also the - citizens of Bombay and Madras. The parts which relate to the yearly - almanac, public holidays, stamps, telegraphs, and customs are pretty - much one and the same; but in most other matters we have before us - separate and distinct information as to the various departments of - Government and the arrangements of commerce, education, charitable - societies and hospitals, clubs, railways, and companies. There - is also a separate Army list, we note, for each of the three - Presidencies. The alphabetical list of residents, comprising as it - does a full record of all those of our countrymen who have taken up - their permanent abodes in any of the Indian Presidencies, will be - found of the greatest use to those in England who have lost all clue - to their relatives and friends in the far East and wish to discover - their whereabouts."--Aug. 28, 1886. - -THE CALCUTTA "ENGLISHMAN." - - "Before everything, the volume before us is in reality what it - professes to be--a Directory for India. Besides an enormous mass of - information of the purely Directory kind, which must have taken a - world of labour to collect and collate, the volume comprises complete - Army Lists for Bengal, Madras, and Bombay, including the Volunteers; - lists of officers in the various Government Departments; lists of - the Tea, Indigo, Coffee, and other estates in the country; and - much valuable information regarding the Telegraphs, Postal Rules, - Law Courts, Charities, and a host of other subjects. Nothing more - strikingly represents the change that has come over India in recent - years than this great Directory." - -THE "MANCHESTER GUARDIAN." - - "The Directory now includes every district and principal town in - British and Foreign India, every Native State, and in fact aims - at being a directory to the whole of India. It contains separate - classified and street directories of each of the cities of Calcutta, - Bombay, and Madras, a remarkably comprehensive and detailed Mofussil - Directory, and a vast amount of general information relating to - India, its Government, commerce, postal arrangements, festivals, - and official establishments.... The expansion of the work will be - welcomed as a response to the growing requirements of commerce with - India." - - - - -_ADVERTISEMENTS._ - - -ALEXANDER SCOTT, - -RIDING-HABIT - -MAKER, - -15, SOUTH MOLTON ST., GROSVENOR SQUARE, W. - -SPECIALITY--SAFETY SKIRTS. - - - - -_NEW WORKS BY CAPTAIN HAYES; IN THE PRESS._ - -IN DEMY 8vo. - -SOUNDNESS AND AGE OF HORSES. - -With One Hundred and Seventy Illustrations. - -A Complete Guide to all those features which require attention when -purchasing Horses, distinguishing mere defects from the symptoms of -unsoundness, with explicit instructions how to conduct an examination -of the various parts. - -CHAPTERS. - - I.--Soundness. - II.--Defects which are Absolute Unsoundness. - III.--Defects which are not necessarily Unsoundness. - IV.--Method of Examination. - V.--How to Handle a Horse. - VI.--Examination of the Mouth. - VII.--Examination of the Eyes. - VIII.--Examination of the Head, Neck, and Trunk. - IX.--Examination of the Limbs. - X.--Lameness. - -OBLONG 4TO. - -THE POINTS OF THE HORSE. - -_A FAMILIAR TREATISE ON EQUINE CONFORMATION._ - -ILLUSTRATED BY J. H. OSWALD BROWN. - -Describing the Points in which the perfection of each class of Horses -consists; illustrated by very numerous reproductions of Photographs of -Living Typical Animals, forming an invaluable Guide to Owners of Horses. - - - - -HENRY HEATH, - -105, 107, & 109, OXFORD ST., W. - -_ONLY ONE ADDRESS_ - -"THE MANUFACTORY." OVER AGAINST NEWMAN ST. - -Established in the Reign of King George the Fourth. - - "Henry Heath, of 105, 107, and 109, Oxford Street, has a very - sensible invention in the shape of a soft-banded hat for riding. The - painful sensation experienced from the pressure of the usual hard hat - is quite obviated in the hat manufactured by Henry Heath."--Vide _The - Queen_. - - "The Hunting Hats made by this Firm deserve commendation."--Vide _The - Queen_, Nov. 21, 1885. - -Prices 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d., 16s., 18s. 6d., &c. - -In all Colours, to match Habit. - -NEW SHOW ROOMS FOR LADIES' HATS. - - "One of the chief features of Mr. Henry Heath's manufactory, at - 105-107-109, Oxford Street, is that hats are exactly fitted to the - heads of the customer. This is ensured by a very ingenious patented - invention in the shape of a soft metal band, which takes the form as - well as the size of the head." - -_Post-free upon application._ - -[Illustration: HENRY HEATH - -(Registered.) - -THE MELTON.] - -[Illustration: Lady's Tropical Hat - -No. 150. - -Henry Heath - -Prices 21s., 25s., &c.] - - - - -THOMAS & SONS' RIDING HABITS - -[Illustration] - -AS RECOMMENDED BY - -Mrs. POWER O'DONOGHUE, the most modern authority on female equitation, -are cut on the most improved Safety Principle, and are unsurpassed for -Fit, Style, and Durability. - -A List of their Reasonable Charges will be sent on application. - -The Latest Novelties in Tailor-Made Costumes, Coats, and Jackets. - -Thomas & Sons, Tailors and Habit Makers, - -48, SOUTH MOLTON STREET, NEW BOND ST., W. - - - - - * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's Notes. - -Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equals -signs=. Variant spelling, punctuation, and inconsistent hyphenation -have been preserved as printed; simple typographical errors have been -corrected. The following list shows the changed text below the original -text. - - Table of Contents: - Introduction ix - Introduction xi - - Page xi: - INTRODUCTION. - INTRODUCTION - - Page 45: - subject with which it is engaged. - subject with which it is engaged - - Page 60: - in a tranverse direction - in a transverse direction - - Page 155: - there in nothing more conducive - there is nothing more conducive - - Page 160: - for ladies fo ride - for ladies to ride - - Illustration 216-f (full-page): - "COME ALONG, OLD MAN!' - "COME ALONG, OLD MAN!" - - Page 245: - An excellant sample - An excellent sample - - Page 283: - most carefully weighed. - most carefully weighed - - Page 292: - shy, nervous, and rething - shy, nervous, and retiring - - Page 351: - Specialite Habit Makers - Specialite Habit Makers - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Riding for Ladies, by Mrs. Power O'Donoghue - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIDING FOR LADIES *** - -***** This file should be named 44026.txt or 44026.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/0/2/44026/ - -Produced by Julia Miller, Jennifer Linklater, and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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