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HOW TO RIDE 
 
 SCHOOL A HORSE 
 
" It requires the study of only a very few pages of this book 
 to convince the reader that the author thoroughly understands 
 his suhieci."—IUudrated Sporting and Dramatic Xeics. 
 
 "Concise, practical directions for riding and training, by 
 which the pupil may become his own master."— ia/irf and 
 Water. 
 
 "A useful and carefully written volume."— Sporting Times. 
 
 "It is sensible and prsLCticdl."— Whitehall Review. 
 
 "We cordially commend this hook."— Indian Daily News. 
 
 " Deals with the subject in a concise, but exhaustive and 
 thoroughly practical, manner."— Scotsman. 
 
HOW TO RIDE 
 
 AND 
 
 SCHOOL A HORSE. 
 
 WITH A SYSTEM OF HORSE GYMNASTICS. 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWAED L. ANDEKSON. 
 
 ^ ^zb3 (Bbiiion, ^tbiztb anir (E^avvtchb. 
 
 " Already a good horseman, he was now initiated into the 
 arts of the manage, which, when carried to perfection, almost 
 realise the fable of the Centaur, the guidance of the horse 
 appearing to proceed from the rider's mere volition, rather 
 than from the use of any external and apparent signal of 
 
 motion."— W A VEKLKY. 
 
 LONDON: 
 W. H. ALLEN & CO. Ltd., 13 Waterloo Place, S.W. 
 
 1892. 
 
 (All Rights Reserved.) 
 

CONTENTS. 
 
 Introduction, . 
 
 How TO Use a Horse, 
 
 The Saddle, . 
 
 Bits and Martingales, 
 
 PAGE 
 
 vii 
 
 xi 
 
 xv 
 
 xvii 
 
 PART I. 
 
 HO IF TO RIDE. 
 
 To Mount, 
 The Seat, 
 The Reins, 
 Horse Gymnastics, 
 Hands and Legs, . 
 The Walk, 
 The Trot, 
 
 1 
 5 
 
 10 
 12 
 
 22 
 38 
 39 
 
VI 
 
 CONTENTS, 
 
 The Gallop, 
 
 Leaping, .... 
 
 Vices, Tricks, and Faults, 
 
 PAGE 
 
 42 
 46 
 60 
 
 PAET II. 
 
 HOW TO SCHOOL A HORSE. 
 
 The Early Education of the Horse, . 
 
 . 59 
 
 Pirouettes, 
 
 . 65 
 
 Traversing, 
 
 . 74 
 
 Changes in the Gallop, 
 
 . 81 
 
 To Stop at the Gallop, .... 
 
 . 85 
 
 To Back, 
 
 . 87 
 
 When Ladies Ride, .... 
 
 . 90 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It is to be regretted that, in this nation 
 of horsemen, riding, as practised in the 
 schools, should have fallen into disuse ; 
 for the manege is the foundation of horse- 
 manship. This neglect is owing, in a 
 great measure, to the prejudice that once 
 prevailed against the formal seat and the 
 unnecessary airs of la haute-ecole. But, 
 in most countries of Europe, school-riding 
 has advanced with the age, and it is now 
 recognised, by the professors of the art, 
 that each man has a seat peculiar to him- 
 
viii INTRODUCTION, 
 
 self, and those movements only are prac- 
 tised that are necessary to give the rider 
 control over his horse under all circum- 
 stances. 
 
 When we see that school-riding, in one 
 form or another, is used in all armies, and 
 indeed wherever the horse must be under 
 command, it is hardly necessary to argue 
 the importance of a knowledge of its laws 
 by all who desire to ride well. And 
 although in the extended gallop of the 
 hunting-field, it is impossible to retain 
 the equilibrium of the manege, the horse 
 will be the more amenable for his school- 
 ing, and the rider will always have the 
 resources of his art. 
 
 I think it is a mistake to place children 
 of tender age upon horseback, for there is 
 nothing to be gained in such a course that 
 
INTRODUCTION. ix 
 
 will compensate for the risk of injuries 
 they may receive. An active man may 
 learn to ride well at any age ; and a bold 
 boy of fourteen, who comprehends the 
 system upon which he is taught, will in 
 six months become a better horseman 
 than the lad who has been riding six 
 years according to his own ideas. It is 
 not given to all men to excel in riding : 
 courage, activity, a perfect temper, and 
 aptitude for the exercise, are requisite for 
 the acquirement of the highest skill. But 
 a knowledge of a proper method will give 
 to every one comparative immunity from 
 the dangers that attend horsemanship. A 
 schooled horse, confiding in his master 
 and obedient to the spur, is not apt to 
 try his powers in rebellion ; and when 
 in hand and properly gathered he will 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 recover from a mistake that might other- 
 wise prove disastrous. 
 
 In these papers I have endeavoured to 
 present a system of riding and training 
 by which the pupil may become his own 
 master. 
 
 For many years I have been schooling 
 horses for my recreation, and I have had 
 advice and instruction from some of the 
 most accomplished horsemen of our day. 
 In particular, I owe my acknowledgments 
 to Mr. Joseph Merklen, formerly one of 
 the French Cavalry Service. From him 
 I learned the method of horse gymnastics, 
 which, together with much that will, I 
 hope, be new to my readers, I now offer 
 for their consideration. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xi- 
 
 BOW TO USE A HORSE. 
 
 The whip and the spur are necessary 
 aids in the education of the horse, and in 
 compelling his obedience after he has been 
 trained. The first should be seldom used, 
 the latter never, to inflict punishment. 
 For instance, if a horse rears, the spurs 
 must be employed to force the action of 
 the hind-quarters, and so to drive him 
 forward ; but having brought about that 
 result, they must not be thrust into him 
 to punish him for rearing. The horse is 
 to be taught that the spur is applied to 
 make him bring certain forces into action,^ 
 and when used with discretion he will 
 respond to it; but unnecessary strokes 
 with the spur will rouse his resentment, 
 and he will stubbornly refuse to obey its 
 
xii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 indications. It serves no good purpose 
 to irritate a horse, as lie will never yield 
 while angry. A contest between horse 
 and rider should always be avoided, for, 
 in addition to the chances that the former 
 will prove the victor, a high-spirited 
 animal may be made incurably vicious, 
 when by milder treatment he could be 
 subdued without endangering his useful- 
 ness. A rebuke in a harsh tone of voice 
 will generally suffice to correct a horse, 
 and he will not know how to resent it. 
 The best way to control the horse is 
 throuG^h firmness and kindness, but 
 timidity is worse than severity in in- 
 ducing vice. 
 
 The young horse soon becomes tract- 
 able, and as long as his temper is un- 
 ruffled he desires to do that which is 
 
INTRODUCTION, xiii 
 
 required of him. Until the spirit of 
 rebellion is awakened, he is as anxious 
 to avoid the perils of battle as his 
 master should be. If upon an occasion 
 he declines to perform some movement 
 that is required of him, let his attention 
 be turned to that which will please him, 
 and his obedience in this will induce his 
 obedience afterwards to the first demand. 
 To give up to him after a battle will 
 confirm his obstinacy, but he will soon 
 forget his unnoticed defiance. Under 
 proper treatment, he will in time yield to 
 the will of his master without dreamingr 
 of resistance. 
 
 The story of Tarleton taming his 
 savage steed with bloody spurs, and the 
 vivid descriptions of the manner in which 
 the Mexican breaks the spirit of the 
 
xiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 mustang, may pass to adorn the pages of 
 a romance, or to heighten the interest of 
 a traveller's tale. But, aside from the 
 cruelty and peril of such methods, there 
 remains the fact that horses so broken 
 submit for the time only, and the struggle 
 is to be repeated more or less often. 
 Except in those rare cases of horses natu- 
 rally vicious, and they are lunatics, fear 
 is the mastering passion of the horse. It 
 is cowardice that drives him to desperate 
 resistance against the sway of his master ; 
 the effort that is successful in ridding 
 him of his tyrant suggests his favourite 
 vice. 
 
 I do not, in these remarks, have refer- 
 ence to those tricks that a horse acquires 
 through the inexperience or the timidity 
 of a rider, for, like all cowards, the horse 
 
INTRODUCTION. xv 
 
 loves to play the bully. As he will 
 seldom take the liberty of practisiDg 
 these upon a resolute man, it is not 
 necessary to point out to his victims 
 what course to pursue. 
 
 If the horse is tauQ;ht to calm his fears 
 at the sound of the voice of man — if he 
 is never ill-treated, in or out of the 
 stable — if he does not perceive timidity 
 upon the part of his masters, and if, with 
 all these conditions, he is given plenty of 
 air and exercise, he will never show vice. 
 
 TRE SADDLE. 
 
 The tree, of the pattern known to the 
 world as the English saddle, should be 
 selected and covered to permit the rider, 
 with his peculiarities of figure, taking an 
 
xiv INTRODUCTION, 
 
 erect position from his buttocks. It must 
 be large enough. A saddle that is too 
 short prohibits a proper seat, but the 
 rider may be comfortable in a saddle 
 that is larger than is absolutely re- 
 quired. 
 
 The panel should be stuflfed to fit the 
 horse when the saddle is placed as far 
 forward as will admit of the free use of 
 the shoulders. 
 
 The stirrups should be roomy, with a 
 broad tread, and of medium weight. The 
 holes of the leathers should be punched to 
 correspond, and numbered. The leathers 
 should be attached to the saddle by a 
 spring-bar ; the bar that works upon a 
 hinge is the best. 
 
INTRODUCTION, xvii 
 
 B1TS> AND MARTINGALES. 
 
 There is no combination-bit that will 
 supply the place of the "curb and 
 snaffle " of the double bridle. The 
 effects of both of these are required in 
 schooliniy and in riding; the horse. And 
 although they are never to be used 
 simultaneously, the action of one must 
 often follow that of the other in a manner 
 that precludes the substitution of a single 
 bit. 
 
 The snaffle should be buckled to the 
 under check-pieces of the bridle, so that 
 it will lie up in the corners of the mouth 
 without pressure. 
 
 The mouth-piece of the curb should be 
 of proper width. It is to rest upon the 
 bars of the mouth ; for which reason the 
 
xviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 port should be of a size to hold the tongue, 
 but it must not be hio^h enoug;h to torture 
 the horse. The check-pieces will be from 
 one inch and a half, to one inch and three 
 quarters in length, from the centre of the 
 mouth -piece to the fastening of the curb- 
 chain hook ; the length of the branches 
 will determine the power of the lever, and 
 must depend upon the force required : 
 they should be from four and one half 
 to five inches lono: for horses that are 
 to be bitted as I recommend. The 
 curb-chain should lie in the groove of 
 the chin, and must be loose enough 
 to allow a play of at least fifteen 
 degrees from the perpendicular before 
 the lever action of the bit begins to 
 operate. 
 
 "When the bits have been fitted, and the 
 
INTRODUCTION. xix 
 
 horse has become accustomed to them, 
 they should not be shifted. 
 
 There is little to be said in favour of 
 martingales. The martingale tends to 
 keep the snaffle in place upon a young 
 or a tender mouthed horse, who throws 
 up his head to a heavy hand ; but its 
 intervention denies that delicate tension 
 on the mouth that we are seeking ; and 
 it will not cure, although it may restrain, 
 the habit that seems to demand its use. 
 The standing martingale, buckled into the 
 bit, is a cruel instrument that may throw 
 the horse. The least objectionable of all 
 the martingales is that attached to a nose- 
 band. But this, to be of any service, 
 confines the head of the horse too much 
 for him to make the necessary efforts to 
 recover from a mistake. None of these 
 
XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 contrivances will prevent a horse rearing, 
 and the last named will answer all the 
 purposes that the others may. 
 
 I believe that every horse is suscep- 
 tible of being taught to carry his head in 
 position, and I shall endeavour to show 
 how this end may be brought about. 
 
HOW TO RIDE 
 
 AND 
 
 SCHOOL A HORSE. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 HOW TO RIDE. 
 
 TO MOUNT. 
 Facing the near side of the horse, stand 
 opposite his girth ; take the reins in the 
 right hand, and with it grasp the pommel 
 of the saddle, shortening the reins until 
 you feel the mouth of the horse. 
 
 Hold the stirrup with the left hand, 
 and insert the left foot ; seize a lock of 
 
2 BOW TO RIDE 
 
 the mane in the left hand, close to the 
 crest of the neck, turning the thumb 
 uppermost. 
 
 Eise in the stirrup, aided by both 
 hands, until the left leg is straightened ; 
 carry over the right leg, and sink into 
 the saddle. 
 
 When the seat is obtained, release the 
 
 holds upon the mane and pommel, and 
 
 pass the reins into the left hand. 
 
 After the left hand has seized the 
 mane the horse cannot prevent the rider 
 
 reaching his seat ; and tlie rider firmly 
 establishes himself before he withdraws 
 the support of either hand. 
 
 There is no ditficultv, for one wlio is 
 not infirm, to mount in this wav, and the 
 only objection that can be made to it, so 
 far as I can see, is that by a '' cow-kick " 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 3 
 
 the man standing at the girth may 
 receive an injury. But this is a rare 
 vice, and a horse that kicks is dangerous 
 to approach, for mounting or for any 
 other purpose ; so that it is hardly worth 
 while to abandon a system that is other- 
 wise excellent, because it does not apply 
 to a very small class of vicious brutes, 
 that should not be used for saddle under 
 any circumstances. 
 
 On the other hand, nearly every horse 
 will paw with a fore-foot, if at all im- 
 patient, and he who stands in front of 
 the shoulder of a horse is not secure from 
 injury. Among the other disadvantages 
 of the generally adopted method, I may 
 mention the following : — 
 
 1. The rider, standing in front of the 
 shoulder of the horse, may be 
 
HOW rO RIDE 
 
 overset by a forward movement ; 
 and this danger is greatly in- 
 creased after the foot is put into 
 the stirrup. 
 
 2. The left hand, entangled and held 
 
 in the hairs of the mane, cannot 
 use the reins. 
 
 3. The drag upon the can tie of the 
 
 saddle must, in all cases, disturb 
 its position, and may cause it to 
 turn. 
 
 4. The risfht arm fastened to the cantle 
 
 of the saddle prevents the right 
 leg passing over the back of the 
 horse. 
 
 5. To pass the right leg over the horse 
 
 the right arm must be removed, 
 thus taking away the principal 
 brace of tlie body at the most 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 5 
 
 critical time, and allowing the 
 body, in case of any movement, 
 to fall backwards towards the 
 shoulder of the horse. 
 G. The absence of a reason for any one 
 motion in the method. 
 
 TRE SEAT. 
 
 Upon the seat depends the security 
 of the rider, not only as regards his 
 remaining upon the horse, but in per- 
 mitting him to use that lightness and 
 delicacy of touch that is required to 
 manage and control the horse. It has 
 often been said that this desired lightness 
 of touch is a rare gift, wholly denied to 
 strono- men. But if a man have a seat 
 
6 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 that is independent of any sup]3ort 
 from the reins, he may acquire a light 
 touch upon the mouth of the horse as 
 readily as he may make a fine stroke 
 with a pen. 
 
 As I have said, each man has a 
 seat peculiar to himself, and that will 
 be his seat for all purposes, wdiether 
 in the field, upon the road, or in the 
 school. 
 
 It will be obtained in the followinsr 
 
 o 
 
 manner : — 
 
 After ha vino; reached the saddle, dis- 
 engage the left foot from the stirrup. 
 Then, bearing tlie weight of the body 
 upon the buttocks, make the inner sides 
 of the thighs, from the knees up, grasp 
 the saddle. The body must be held 
 erect, the shoulders thrown back, and the 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE, 7 
 
 chin drawn in ; and the elbows should be 
 carried close to the sides. 
 
 The legs, from the knee down, should 
 hang without stiffness, and the feet 
 will, without effort, find their proper 
 place, parallel with the body of the 
 horse. 
 
 The length of stirrup-leather will be 
 found when the tread of the iron strikes 
 the heel immediately above the junction 
 of the sole. The toes will be raised and 
 inserted in the stirrups as far as the balls 
 of the feet. 
 
 The stability of the seat is dependent 
 upon the iveight of the body, the balance 
 and the grasp of the thighs. The erect 
 seat upon the breech, that we have 
 described, permits the body to make, 
 most readily, those motions that are 
 
8 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 necessary for preserving the perpen- 
 dicular application of the weight, and for 
 keeping the balance. The strongest hold 
 upon the saddle possible is with the in- 
 side of the thighs. 
 
 There should be no pressure upon the 
 stirrups ; for this would relieve the weight, 
 disturb the balance, and force the grip 
 of the thio;hs. It is no arg;ument in 
 favour of riding upon the stirrups, that 
 the horsemen of the East carry their 
 knees up to the pommel of the saddle, 
 for the Mexicans, who are better riders, 
 extend the leoj to its full leno-th. It is 
 in spite of bad systems that these peoples 
 who live on horseback become skilful in 
 the manacrement of their steeds. Because 
 a circus performer standing upon one leg 
 keeps his horse under circumstances that 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 9 
 
 would prevent a poor rider from keep- 
 ing in his saddle, it does not follow 
 that the proper way to ride is upon 
 one leg. 
 
 The seat having been found and the 
 stirrups having been adjusted, no changes 
 should be made for the different circum- 
 stances under which the rider will be 
 called upon to exercise his skill. It is 
 bad art when the principles are not suited 
 to every emergency ; and the seat that 
 has been found to be that in which the 
 centre of gravity can best be preserved 
 in the high airs of the manege, where 
 the horse makes the most violent move- 
 ments of the fore-hand and of the croup, 
 should answer all requirements. 
 
lo HOW TO RIDE 
 
 THE REINS. 
 
 The beo:inner will use tlie reins of the 
 snaffle only. He will take a rein in the 
 grasp of each hand, the loose end passing 
 under and held by the thumb, at a length 
 that will o^ive him command of the mouth 
 of the horse. 
 
 In teaching the horse the changes of 
 direction, as is described in the chapter 
 upon " Hands and Legs," one hand will 
 hold the curb, the reins divided by the 
 little finger and grasped by the thumb ; 
 while the snaffle-reins will be held above 
 those of the curb, divided by the breadth 
 of the other hand. 
 
 There are various ways prescribed for 
 holding the reins in riding the trained 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 1 1 
 
 horses, but I prefer the following 
 method : — 
 
 In the left hand : the curb-reins divided 
 by the little finger ; the snaffle-reins 
 divided by the middle finger ; the ends 
 of both sets carried up through the hand 
 and secured by the thumb, which should 
 be uppermost and pointed to the ears of 
 the horse. By bending the wrist to the 
 right, so that the knuckles come upper- 
 most, the head of the horse will be carried 
 to the right and the change made in that 
 direction. By bending the wrist to the 
 left, so that the finger-nails come upper- 
 most, the horse w^ill be turned to the left. 
 There should never be tension upon the 
 tw^o bits at the same time. The horse 
 should be ridden upon the curb ; the 
 snafile will be used to fix the height of 
 
12 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 his head, and, occasionally, to take the 
 place of the curb to freshen the mouth. 
 
 The right hand ^Yill be carried upon 
 the loose ends of the reins to assist the 
 left. 
 
 HORSE GYMNASTICS. 
 
 The following exercises will be found 
 of great service in giving strength to the 
 seat, in aiding the balance, in teaching 
 the habit of regaining a lost position 
 without disturbing the tension of the 
 reins, and in giving ease and grace to 
 all the motions of the rider. 
 
 AVhen so indicated, these movements 
 will be made from the position prescribed 
 for "the seat." 
 
and school a horse. 13 
 
 Exercises for the Seat. 
 
 I. 
 
 In the seat, with the arm hanginor 
 motionless by his side, let the pupil take 
 away one thigh from contact with the 
 saddle and bring it back into its place, 
 with the point of the knee turned in as 
 much as possible, the movement being 
 made by a rotation of the hip-joint. This 
 should then be done with the other 
 leg. 
 
 It 
 
 From the seat, and the rest of the body 
 in quiet, raise both knees to meet above 
 the pommel of the saddle, and bring them 
 back to the saddle, making the inner sides 
 
14 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 of the thighs take as many points of 
 contact as possible. 
 
 III. 
 
 In the seat, keeping the thighs close to 
 the saddle, let the pupil lean back until 
 his shoulders touch the rump of the 
 horse ; then let him cjuietly recover his 
 erect position. 
 
 IV. 
 
 In the seat, keeping the buttocks in 
 the saddle and the thighs in place, let 
 the pupil lean forward and slightly to one 
 side until one of his shoulders touches 
 the crest of the horse. Then let him 
 slowly recover his position. 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 15 
 
 V. 
 
 Ill the seat, let the body sway forward, 
 to one side, to tlie rear, to the other side, 
 and then into position ; then reverse the 
 movement. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Lose the seat to the right, and without 
 aid from the hands bring the body back 
 into the saddle by a quick turn of the 
 buttocks ; then make the movements to 
 the other side. This should be practised 
 at the walk, at the trot, and at the galloji. 
 
 For the Balance. 
 
 I. 
 
 In the seat, the arms hanging without 
 stiffness, carry the right leg over the 
 
i6 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 pommel to the left side ; then cany both 
 legs over to the rioht : then come back 
 to the seat by carrying the left leg to 
 its place. 
 
 II. 
 
 In the seat, carry the right leg over 
 the pommel to the left side ; then work 
 the body npon the buttocks as a pivot 
 until the face is to the rear. Carry the 
 left les: over, then the rinht leo;, and work 
 the body upon the buttocks as a pivot 
 until the face is to the front. Eesumc 
 the seat by carrying the left leg over tlie 
 pommel to its place ; then reverse the 
 movement. 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE, 17 
 
 FoK THE Legs and Feet. 
 
 I. 
 
 In the seat, keeping the knees fixed, 
 bring the lower part of first the one leg 
 and then the other, as high up on the 
 side of the horse as is possible, without 
 either touching the horse or moving the 
 knee. This movement should be done at 
 the walk, at the trot, and at the gallop, so 
 that the rider may have perfect control 
 of the action of the legs in directing the 
 movements of the croup. 
 
 II. 
 
 In the seat, the legs hanging without 
 stiffness and the rest of the body quiet, 
 rotate, first the one foot and then the 
 
i8 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 other, from the ankle-joint, with an out- 
 ward and then an inward movement. 
 The improvement in this exercise may be 
 measured by the facility with which the 
 pupil can gain his stirrups by the action 
 of the feet only. 
 
 To Mount. 
 
 Standino; at the shoulder of the horse, 
 facino- the near side, with the left hand 
 seize a lock of the mane close to the 
 crest, the hairs passing down through 
 tlie hand, the thumb uppermost. 
 
 With the right hand grasp the pommel 
 of the saddle, the lino-ers under the 
 tree, the tliumb extended towards the 
 ground. 
 
 Leave the ground with a spring and 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 19 
 
 take the weight of the body upon the 
 arms until the fork is level with the 
 withers of the horse, resting a moment 
 in this position. 
 
 Carry the right leg over, and sink 
 quietly into the saddle. 
 
 Release the liolds upon the mane 
 and the pommel. 
 
 To those who have never tried it, 
 this movement appears to be difficult. 
 It is, in fact, very easy, and should be ac- 
 complished after a few trials by any one 
 who is active enough to undertake riding. 
 It should be performed at the walk, at the 
 trot, and at the gallop. At the gallop 
 care must be taken not to carry the body 
 over too much in putting the right leg 
 across the horse, nor need the body be 
 carried so hig-h as when the horse is at 
 
20 HO IV TO RIDE 
 
 rest, nor is the momentary stop to be 
 observed. 
 
 To Dismount. 
 
 Seize the mane and pommel as in 
 mounting. Bear the weight npon the 
 straio^htened arms as the rioht lecj is 
 brought over to the left side. Hold the 
 body for a moment perpendicularly to the 
 side of the horse, the whole weifj^ht beino' 
 supported by the two arms. Drop gently 
 to the ground at the shoulder of the 
 horse. This may be done at the gallop, 
 by avoiding the momentary rest and 
 coming down prepared to take a few 
 steps with the horse, after which the 
 holds upon the mane and pommel should 
 be released. 
 
and school a horse. 21 
 
 General Exercises. 
 
 I. 
 
 From the seat, grasping each side of 
 the fore-part of the saddle, bear the 
 weight of the body upon the extended 
 arms, tiirnino; the bahmced body first one 
 way and then the other. 
 
 II. 
 
 From the seat, grasping each side of 
 the fore-part of the saddle, throw the 
 body forward upon the slightly bent 
 arms towards the neck of the horse ; 
 and, throwing up the legs in rear, cross 
 them, and come into the saddle faced 
 to the rear. 
 
22 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 III. 
 
 From this position, place the palms 
 of the hands upon the rump of the horse, 
 and, performing a movement similar to 
 the above, come into the saddle faced to 
 the front. 
 
 HANDS AND LEGS. 
 
 The horse is propelled by the hind- 
 quarters, and the movements are directed 
 by the fore-hand. The legs of the rider 
 act upon the croup, and by their pressure 
 bring forward those forces ; the hand 
 restrains the forces of the fore-hand, 
 and collects and guides all. When the 
 forces of the croup are brought for- 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 23 
 
 ward to such a point that they meet and 
 balance the forces of the fore-hand, the 
 horse is in equilibrium, and no movement 
 can be generated until one or other of 
 the forces predominate. 
 
 As the legs act upon the forces of the 
 croup, and as the hand governs the forces 
 of the fore-hand, it will be seen that this 
 union and balance of the forces puts the 
 immediate and distinct control of the 
 mass within the power of the rider. 
 
 The forward movement of the horse 
 will be measured by the effect of the 
 forces of the croup to predominate, 
 and the corresponding yielding of the 
 forces of the fore-hand. 
 
 But if the force opposite the aug- 
 mented force does not yield, then that 
 unyielding part is the more firmly fixed 
 
24 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 to the ground, as by an incumbent 
 weight, and if action takes pLace it must 
 either be in rearins; or in kickino;. 
 
 If the forces of the croup pre- 
 dominate, and the fore-hand does not 
 yield to correspond, then the action of 
 this latter part is hampered. But if, 
 as the forces of the croup seek to 
 advance the point of union, an advance 
 is made by the fore-quarters, the equi- 
 librium may still be approximately ob- 
 tained. That is, if this equilibrium is 
 to be maintained, the forward movement 
 of the fore-hand will be permitted as 
 the forces of the croup are brought 
 forward. 
 
 If the speed is to be increased, the 
 legs will act upon the croup, and the 
 hand will give freedom to the fore-hand. 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 25 
 
 If it be desired to moderate the speed, the 
 forces of the fore-hand will be brought 
 back ; and when they are brought back 
 to a point where they balance the forces 
 of the croup, a halt is brought about. If 
 the forces of the fore-hand are brought 
 back beyond this point of balance, the 
 mass must move back, or undue weight 
 must fall upon and fix the croup. 
 
 It will be the object of the rider to 
 maintain the approximate equilibrium in 
 all the movements of the horse. 
 
 But to obtain the control of these 
 forces, all the resistances, active or by 
 the will of the horse, and passive or 
 by the weight of the horse, must be 
 
 overcome. 
 
 That is, the horse must be supplied 
 in the fore-hand and in the croup, must 
 
26 HO W TO RIDE 
 
 obey the legs, and be amenable to the 
 bit. The method of supplying the croup, 
 and of teaching obedience to the pressure 
 of the legs, will be treated at length in 
 the chapter upon " The Pirouettes." We 
 shall now turn our attention to the fore- 
 hand and to its seat of feeling, the 
 mouth. 
 
 The horse must first be tauo-ht that he 
 cannot pass beyond the limit put by the 
 hand without bringing pain upon him- 
 self, but that so long as he is obedient 
 to the bit lie finds comfort. To this end 
 the hand will firmly resist any attempts 
 of the horse to go beyond the limit 
 fixed, but it will make a concession 
 whenever he yields his opposition. The 
 next step will be to make him relax his 
 jaw and bring his head into position, so 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 27 
 
 that there will be no opposition to the 
 bit. To accomplish this, the rider will 
 be mounted and the horse will be kept 
 npon the ground. Taking the curb-reins 
 in his left hand, the rider will make 
 (Tentle vibrations of the right rein with 
 the right hand until the horse gives the 
 jaw. A word of encouragement will 
 be oiven and the tension will be released. 
 Then changing the curb-reins into the 
 right hand, the same thing will be done 
 with the left rein in the left hand. 
 After the horse will yield to either side, 
 he will be induced to give up the opposi- 
 tion of the jaw, and bring the head into 
 position by the same vibratory motions 
 of the two reins at equal length. If the 
 horse hangs upon the bit, he will be 
 induced to bring up his head and carry 
 
28 no W TO RIDE 
 
 liis own weight by a few pulls upon the 
 snaffle-bit, from below upwards. But 
 there is never to be a steady tension upon 
 the bit, the horse is to be kej)t in hand by 
 n series of slight touches that are to be 
 relaxed the moment the resistance ends. 
 Wlien tliere is a steady pull, no matter 
 how light it may l)e, the equilibrium is 
 destroyed. 
 
 By a pressure of the legs the horse will 
 be made to bring his hind-legs in under 
 liim, a forward movement being prevented 
 and lightness in front being secured by 
 the means above recited. When these 
 forces iVoni the fore-liand and from the 
 croup are gathered and balanced, the 
 liorse is in ocpiilibrium, and is ready for 
 any movement without further prepara- 
 tion. 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 29 
 
 After these lessons have been repeated 
 at the halt until he desists from opposi- 
 tion, he will be put into the walk, the 
 trot, and the gallop, the aj)proximate 
 equilibrium being at all times demanded. 
 If he attempts to go beyond the bit he 
 must be restrained, and lightness must 
 be kept up by the gentle, intermittent 
 tensions of the curb-reins. If he hano-s 
 back, the heels must keep the forces of 
 the croup up to the point that is required 
 by the desired speed. 
 
 It is through ignoring the fact that a 
 horse's fore-hand may be lightened by 
 the play of the bit, that induces some 
 writers upon riding to adopt crude and 
 improper means for producing the differ- 
 ent movements depending upon that 
 condition. A badly trained horse will 
 
 D 
 
3Q HOW TO RIDE 
 
 bear upon the bit of the heavy hand, and 
 instead of becoming light in the front at 
 its pressure upon the mouth, the fore-hand 
 will be the heavier for this opposition. 
 It is for such horses and such riders that 
 some writers upon the art advocate that 
 the head should be pulled to the left to 
 lighten the right shoulder, when the rider 
 wishes his horse to lead in the gallop 
 with the rig-lit side. Now it is af2:reed on 
 all hands that a horse's head should be 
 turned in the direction that he goes. In 
 the above instance the head of the horse 
 is turned to the left, and he is to lead off 
 with the right side. Then if his head is 
 carried to the rio-ht to chano^e direction to 
 that side, the horse should, if he answers 
 to his sis^nals, chano^e his leoj and be 
 false in his gallop. But when the heavy- 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 31 
 
 handed rider has on some occasion made 
 his horse rear, he finds that when the 
 horse is forced to yield to the hand he 
 becomes light in front, and the theory 
 we support is in that case proved. 
 
 We have seen that by overcoming the 
 resistances of the fore-hand we can lio^hten 
 that part without violence, and when we 
 come to the lesson upon the gallop the 
 same principles will be applied to make 
 the horse lead with either leg. For if the 
 fore-hand is made light by the proper 
 action of the bit, that side will be made 
 the lighter upon which the action is the 
 more strongly defined ; so that to make 
 him lead ofi" w4th the right leg we shall 
 raise that side with the right rein, and 
 the horse will move ofi* with his head in 
 the proper position. 
 
32 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 The height at which the head of the 
 horse will be carried must depend upon 
 the configuration of the animal, and the 
 action he takes ; but if the horse yields 
 his jaw to the bit, and carries his face 
 perpendicular to the plane of movement, 
 the light hand will permit him to carry 
 his head at the elevation that is best 
 suited to the circumstances. But if the 
 horse through perverseness or awkward- 
 ness carries his head too high or too low, 
 the rider must lower or raise the bridle- 
 hand until the head is brought into the 
 position in which the horse moves with 
 the greatest ease and lightness. The 
 snaffle-bit should be used to correct faults 
 in the carriage of the head. 
 
 We will suppose that the horse has so 
 far progressed in liis education that he 
 
AXD SCHOOL A HORSE. 33 
 
 may be put into the walk, and yet be so 
 obedient to the bit that he retains the 
 equilibrium as far as is possible. Keep- 
 ing him at a steady walk, the rider will 
 accustom him to bear the pressure of the 
 leo-s by applying them, first one and then 
 the other, as the horse raises the opposite 
 fore-leg. This will serve to improve the 
 action of the gait, as well as to bring him 
 to bear the pressure of the legs without 
 flinching. When he will answer the 
 pressure of the legs and bare heels by 
 brino-ino- forward the forces of the croup, 
 and will measure his speed by the freedom 
 given him by the hand without forcing 
 himself upon it, he will be accustomed to 
 the spur until he bears the scratch of the 
 rowel with the same complacency that he 
 bore the attacks of the heels. This can 
 
34 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 be brought about without trouble by 
 quieting the horse by voice and hand after 
 each application of the aid, which at first 
 should be very light, to gradually increase 
 in force. The spur should never be given 
 with a shock, but the foot should be 
 carried and the rowel quietly but quickly 
 applied by lowering the toe. After the 
 horse finds that the spur conies soon after 
 the pressure of the leg, he will rarely re- 
 quire the application of the severer form 
 of the aid, and the whole education of 
 the horse will tend to make him quick 
 and lively in his motions, and obedient 
 to the slightest expression of his master's 
 will. 
 
 The horse, in hand and gatliered, will 
 be put into the walk, and the rider will 
 practise the change of direction to the 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 35 
 
 ritrht. Taking tlie curb-reins in the left 
 hand, he will hold the snaffle-reins divided 
 by the width of his right hand. Upon 
 arriving at the point where a new direction 
 is to be taken, the rider will turn the head 
 of the horse by the direct application of 
 the right snaffle-rein, and when the horse 
 turns into the new path the left hand will 
 be carried to the right, so that the left 
 curb-rein will press against the left side 
 of the neck. The legs of the rider will 
 give such aid in bringing up the croup 
 in the new direction as the circumstances 
 may require. 
 
 After the horse will turn readily to the 
 demand of the snaffle-bit, he will be made 
 to take the new direction with the unaided 
 use of the curb, the left hand being carried 
 to the right, so that the outside rein 
 
36 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 presses upon the neck, and bends liis head 
 in the direction he is to move. 
 
 Carrying the curb-reins in the right 
 hand and those of the snaffle in the left, 
 the change of direction to the left will be 
 made in a similar manner. 
 
 The horse will be accustomed to be 
 brought to a stop from the walk by the 
 rider raisins^ the hand and leaning; back 
 in the seat, and gently pressing with 
 the left's to brin^r under the forces of 
 the croup. 
 
 The horse standhig, and in equilibrium, 
 the rider will induce him to bend his 
 head and neck, first to one side and then 
 to the other, by the vibratory motion of 
 the direct curb-rein. Both letrs will be 
 kept close to the sides of the horse to 
 keep him steady, the opposite leg being 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 37 
 
 rather closer to overcome resistance and 
 to prevent a movement of the croup 
 against it. The horse will not be per- 
 mitted to carry back his head, at will, from 
 the bent posture ; but the rider will bring 
 it back into position by the rein opposed to 
 that by which the movement was begun. 
 It only remains, for the present, that 
 the horse should be taught to bend the 
 croup, at the application of the heel, 
 sufficiently to put him into position 
 for the gallop. He will first be made to 
 take a step with the hind -legs to the 
 right by the application of the left leg, 
 the right rein playing with the mouth 
 to remove the opposition of the right 
 shoulder. By inverse means the croup 
 will be moved a step to the left. In all 
 movements of the croup the legs should 
 
38 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 be held close to the horse, so that the 
 action produced by the one may be 
 readily checked by the other. 
 
 THE WALK AND THE TROT. 
 
 It is not necessary, nor is it desirable, 
 that the tight grip of the thighs should 
 be maintained while at the walk. The 
 gait is so smooth that the weight and 
 the balance will serve to keep the rider in 
 his seat, and the knees being in position 
 the thighs may instantaneously take their 
 hold in case of a sudden start of the horse. 
 But this ease should never de2;enerate 
 into negligence, and as a horse is more apt 
 to stumble at a walk than at a quicker 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 39 
 
 gait, the rider must never permit his 
 attention to be taken from his horse. 
 The horse shoukl be kept constantly in 
 hand, particuhirly after any great exertion 
 that has called upon his strength, for he 
 is much less able to recover from a mis- 
 take when he is tired, and he feels the 
 fatio-ue less when he is kept roused. In 
 going down-hill he must have liberty 
 enough to permit his body conforming to 
 the slope of the ground, so that he may 
 extend his step safely. 
 
 For the trot the horse must be kept 
 level and light, between the application 
 of the hand and legs. The speed will be 
 restrained by the first or augmented by 
 the latter, at the will of the rider, whose 
 efforts should be so directed as to give 
 a regularly-cadenced gait of equal action, 
 
40 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 in the highest equilibrium possible. The 
 height and brilliancy of movement in the 
 trot may be governed by the applica- 
 tion of first the one and then the other 
 spur, supported by the rein of the same 
 side, as the opposite fore-leg of the horse 
 is raised to step off. In this way it may 
 be developed into the Spanish trot of the 
 manege. 
 
 When the increased action of the trot 
 takes place under the horse, it is called 
 the passage; but when the fore-hand is 
 lio:htened and the action of the fore-leo[s 
 is out forward, the movement is called 
 the Spanish trot. In both cases the 
 diaoronal le^^s move top^ether, and there 
 is a momentary rest at each stride, pro- 
 duced by the pull of the rein on the side 
 of the hind-leg that is in action. 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE, 41 
 
 In the trot tlie rider should sit erect, 
 with the shoulders thrown back, and the 
 thighs close to the saddle. 
 
 If the rider rises to the trot, the con- 
 stant shifting of the weight will greatly 
 interfere with the equilibrium of the mass ; 
 but it is not necessary that the horse 
 should get out of hand or be permitted 
 to bear upon the bit. The rider should 
 take no support from the bit, but should 
 hold his hand so that it will be independ- 
 ent of the motion he allows his body to 
 make. To rise in the trot the rider will 
 make use of the knees to secure the seat, 
 and allow his body, slightly sustained by 
 the stirrups, to be thrown up by the 
 motion of the horse, letting his weight 
 sink back into the saddle in time to 
 take the next impetus of the gait. The 
 
43 HO IV TO RIDE 
 
 shoulders should be held easy, but in 
 rest ; and the legs should hang straight 
 down from the knee, and must not be 
 permitted to work along the sides of the 
 horse. 
 
 THE GALLOP. 
 
 In the gallop, which is a succession of 
 leaps, the rider will lean slightly back, so 
 that the buttocks will be carried well 
 under him, and hold the body without 
 stiffness. The positions of the body must, 
 how^ever, always conform to the action of 
 the horse, and to the direction in which 
 he goes ; and practice must show what, 
 and how great, these changes should be. 
 In the gallop the horse must be true, to 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 43 
 
 insure his balance and safe footing. To 
 be true in the gallop, the fore and corre- 
 sponding hind-leg will be in the lead of 
 that side to which the horse is turninnj 
 or moving. For instance, if it is the in- 
 tention to turn or to move the horse at a 
 gallop to the right, he must have the head 
 and croup bent to the right, and must 
 take the long strides of the gait with the 
 fore and hind leg of that side. This will 
 preserve his centre of gravity, and in case 
 of a mistake he has his legs in under him 
 to help him to a recovery. If the horse 
 is galloping in a straight line, it makes no 
 difference with which of his fore-legs he 
 takes the long stride or lead, provided 
 the hind-leg of that side corresponds. If 
 a horse takes the long strides with the 
 right fore-leg and the left hind-leg he is 
 
44 J^OW TO RIDE 
 
 disunited, and has not got his powers 
 well in control. If in turning to the 
 left he is leading with the right legs, he 
 can with difficulty retain the centre of 
 gravity, and is apt to fall at the slightest 
 blunder. We say that a horse leads on 
 that side when he makes the long strides 
 with the legs of one or other side. But 
 the fact is, the fore-leg of the other side 
 leaves the ground before the fore-leg which 
 makes the long stride does, and the same 
 thino: is true of the hind-leo-s. But the 
 leo[s on the side to which he has been 
 bent • pass the others in tlieir longer 
 stride, and the horse is said to lead with 
 them. 
 
 To put the horse into the gallop, lead- 
 inor with the off-le^^, let the rider brino* 
 him into equilibrium, then lightening 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 45 
 
 the fore-liand, and particularly the right 
 shoulder, with a play of the direct rein, 
 let him press in the left heel. In conse- 
 quence of these movements on his part, 
 the horse will take the gallop with the 
 legs on the right side making the larger 
 strides ; for the right shoulder is free to 
 extend itself in answer to the propulsion 
 of the forces from the croup, and the 
 hind-quarters being bent around to the 
 right, the hind-leg on that side must 
 follow with a similar step. The croup 
 of the horse, bending to the rio^ht at 
 the application of the opposite spur, will 
 make the lon^^er stride with the hind-lcir 
 that is so advanced, and such a move- 
 ment is required to preserve the centre 
 of gravity under the conditions. 
 
 The horse having been put into the 
 
 E 
 
46 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 gallop, he will be aligned upon the path 
 he follows by means of the hand and 
 legs. The trained horse under the skilled 
 rider will take the gallop upon the right 
 or upon the left leg without bending 
 perceptibly ; for so perfect will be the 
 equilibrium and the control, that the 
 measured use of the aids will inaugurate 
 a movement that will not require 
 correction. 
 
 LEAPING. 
 
 The pupil should first practise the 
 standing leap, and upon a well-trained 
 horse. The horse standino; at the bar 
 will be induced to rise, by transferring 
 the forces of the fore-hand back, and by 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 47 
 
 the pressure of the legs he will be made 
 to spring forwards. 
 
 As the horse rises the rider will bend 
 slightly forward, giving the horse the 
 reins. AVhen the horse leaves the 
 ground the rider should lean back, so 
 that he may preserve his centre of 
 gravity, and by bringing his buttocks 
 well in under him receive the shock in 
 the strongest possible seat. As the hind- 
 legs of the horse reach the ground, the 
 rider wall resume his erect position. Any 
 bearing upon the stirrups will disturb 
 the seat, and may cause the rider to 
 fall. 
 
 There must be no attempt on the part 
 of the rider to lift the horse ; and when 
 the hand has played its part of convey- 
 ing back the forces of the fore- quarters, it 
 
48 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 must ease the tension of the reins until 
 the fore - feet of the horse touch the 
 ofround, when he will feel the mouth to 
 give the horse such support as he may 
 need to recover the equilibrium. 
 
 In taking the flying leap the seat will 
 be nearly the same as that for the gallop; 
 the rider will not lean forward as in the 
 standing leap, for the action of the horse 
 will not require it, and if he swerves or 
 refuses the rider should be sitting; well 
 back to avoid a fall. As the horse makes 
 the exertion for the jump the rider will 
 bring his breech well under, lean back as 
 far as the eff*ort the horse is about to 
 make shall demand, and resume the 
 position for tlie gallop when the horse 
 alights, at the same moment collecting 
 him for the same speed with which he 
 
A\I) SCHOOL A IfORSE, 49 
 
 aj)proaclied the leap, but taking care 
 not to check him or harass his move- 
 ments. 
 
 When the horse takes the flying leap 
 he must have the fullest liberty of his 
 head ; the bit being used only to direct 
 him to the obstacle, and its tension re- 
 leased before the horse rises in the leap. 
 The legs will be carried in close to the 
 sides of the horse to support him, but he 
 should be neither spurred nor whipped at 
 the jump, as it distracts his attention at 
 a critical moment. If he requires it, the 
 horse should be roused before he comes 
 upon the ground where he is to decide 
 upon his place for taking off, and from 
 that time he should be left to himself 
 until he receives the support of the bridle 
 as his fore-feet touch the ground. The 
 
50 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 trick of throwing up one arm, or of giving 
 a cry of encouragement to the horse as 
 he rises, may work mischief by causing 
 him to swerve, but it is then too late 
 to offer him aid in gathering for the 
 leap. 
 
 The horse should not be ridden to a 
 high leap at a speed that extends him too 
 much. He should not be so flurried as 
 he approaches a wide leap that he cannot 
 use his instincts for safety. If a horse 
 jumps in a slovenly manner he should be 
 remanded to the school. 
 
 VICES, TRICKS, AND FAULTS. 
 
 The severity with which a horse has 
 been punished for a fault is, usually, the 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 51 
 
 measure of the violence with which he 
 will repeat it. It is this violence that 
 makes the horse so dangerous in his 
 rebellion, for until he loses his reason he 
 will take care not to injure himself, and 
 so in a measure protects his rider. Few 
 young horses are dangerous in their 
 resistances until they have met with 
 cruel treatment. It is seldom that a colt 
 in breaking will bolt with his rider ; it is 
 usually the old offender who is guilty of 
 this most dano^erous of vices. Althouo;h 
 nearly every young horse will rear at the 
 pressure of the bit, he will seldom rise to 
 a dangerous height, and he soon ceases 
 to offend in that way. A horse must be 
 corrected and put right, but it is never 
 necessary to resort to severe punishments. 
 Fortunately the horse is an animal of one 
 
52 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 idea, and when lie has determined upon 
 liis line of opposition he is easily circum- 
 vented and humbled. If he refuses to 
 turn to the right, he will be so intent upon 
 opposing the right rein that he may be 
 turned around to the left until he is con- 
 fused, when he will very gladly go in any 
 direction. If he declines to go forward, 
 he is not prepared to resist a demand for 
 a backward movement, and he will soon 
 tire of that unusual mode and start 
 forward at the first hint from his rider. 
 But a horse properly broken and trained 
 w411 not be guilty of such contumacy, 
 and will not be apt to show the vices of 
 which I am about to speak, but for w^hich 
 the rider must be prepared. 
 
 If a horse bolts the rider should not 
 fatigue himself by taking a steady drag 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 53 
 
 upon the mouth. Leaning back, with 
 the breech well under him, and bearing no 
 weight in the stirrups, the rider should 
 take a succession of pulls upon the bit, 
 one following the other sufficiently near 
 to obtain cumulative effect. When the 
 horse appears to yield to the bit, advan- 
 tage should be taken of the moment, to 
 prevent his again extending himself, by 
 increased exertions upon the part of the 
 rider, whose powder should be reserved, as 
 far as possible, to seize this opportunity. 
 I know of no way to prevent a horse 
 bolting ; by keeping his head up with 
 the snaffle-rein the rider will have greater 
 command of the horse, but the use of 
 severe bits will not deter a confirmed 
 bolter from indulging his vicious pro- 
 pensity. 
 
54 HO IV TO RIDE 
 
 If a horse rears the reins should be 
 loosened, and if the rider require support 
 he should seize the mane, without, how- 
 ever, letting the reins drop from his 
 hands. The spurs should not be applied 
 while the horse is rising, but as he comes 
 down the legs of the rider should be closed 
 to induce the horse to go forward. If the 
 horse refuses to go forward, the rider will 
 find the side of the mouth with which 
 the horse is not prepared to resist, by 
 drawino- the reins from rig;ht to left, and 
 holding the rein of that side low he will 
 pull the horse around, aiding the hand 
 by the application of the spur on that 
 side. If when the horse rears he sinks 
 upon his hind-quarters, the rider should 
 endeavour to leave the horse by seizing 
 the mane and throwing himself aside, 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 55 
 
 and although he may not be able to clear 
 himself of the horse, he will, at least, 
 avoid coming down under the saddle. 
 
 If a horse is shy at passing an object, 
 he can generally be made to proceed by 
 turning his head away, and passing him 
 along with the spur that is opposite to 
 the object, as in traversing. If he is a 
 young horse, and has not been mal- 
 treated, he will usually face that which 
 has caused his alarm if he is allowed to 
 take as much room as the way offers. 
 The rider should avoid taking notice of 
 the horse's fright, as any nervousness on 
 the part of the rider will confirm the 
 horse in the opinion that there is danger. 
 If a horse takes alarm on the road at 
 things with which he is familiar, it is 
 either through defective eyesight, or be- 
 
56 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 cause he lias found out that he can 
 take liberties with his rider. A man of 
 discretion will know when a horse should 
 be w^hipped up to an object of w^hich 
 there is a pretence of fear, but the 
 horse must never be struck after he has 
 passed on. 
 
 I do not like a horse that has low 
 action, for he must trip, and he is likely, 
 sooner or later, to come down. A horse 
 stumbles when, throuc^h weakness, w^eari- 
 ness, or stiffness from age and work, he 
 is not able to recover himself from a trip. 
 He usuallv bears the evidence of his 
 accident on his knees. 
 
 A horse that stumbles from weakness 
 is not fit for saddle use. If the rider 
 is unfortunate enough to find himself 
 mounted uj^on a horse that gives indica- 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 57 
 
 tions of being insecure upon his feet, he 
 should demand free and lively action, 
 with rein and legs. The horse should 
 not be allowed to become indolent, nor 
 be permitted to hang upon the bit. On 
 descending a hill the horse must have 
 liberty of action, for if he steps too short 
 he is liable to come down ; and a horse 
 that is checked has not sufficient freedom 
 for his safety. It is after a long day's 
 work that a weary horse may for the first 
 time stumble, and it is a mistaken idea 
 of kindness that induces the rider to let 
 a horse take his head upon such an occa- 
 sion. The horse misses the encourao^e- 
 ment of the rein and the support of the 
 leg, and is invited to fall. Besides, it is 
 much more fatiguing for him to bear his 
 burden, deprived of his usual aids, and 
 
58 HO IV TO RIDE. 
 
 in drooping spirits. Finally, in case of a 
 fall, either of a stumbling horse, or under 
 any other circumstances, the rider should 
 hold on to the rein until he is assured 
 that his feet are free of the stirrups. 
 
PART II. 
 
 HOW TO SCHOOL A HORSE. 
 
 THE EARLY EDUCATION OF THE HORSE. 
 
 In order that lie may never chafe against 
 restraint, the horse should never know 
 perfect freedom. From the hour he is 
 foaled he should be accustomed to the 
 sio-ht of man, and belief in man's power 
 should increase with his knowledge. He 
 must be treated with kindness; but in- 
 dulgence will spoil his temper, and he 
 
6o HOW TO RIDE 
 
 acquires a contempt for tlie authority 
 that is tardily enforced. 
 
 At six months of age the colt should 
 be broken to follow with the halter, and 
 be made to submit at a time when his 
 resistance cannot have such success as 
 to encourage him in rebellion. At two 
 years of age he should be made to bear 
 the saddle without repugnance, and to 
 know the effects of the bit. If he is 
 intended for riding purposes he should 
 never be put in a bitting-machine, as all 
 contrivances of that kind teach him to 
 bear upon the hand, a habit that is in- 
 compatible with j^crfect manners. But, 
 from the time he is two years old, he 
 should be lunged, at intervals that will 
 insure his retainino; that which is taudit 
 liim, with the cavesson. 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 6i 
 
 By the time he is ready to bear the 
 weight of the rider he sliould be per- 
 fectly familiar with the stable, and sliould 
 submit to all the manipulations of the 
 groom. At three years of age, if he be a 
 well-developed colt, he may be mounted 
 by some one whom he well knows, and 
 induced to go forward a few steps. In 
 all of his previous education, and par- 
 ticularly at this juncture, he should be 
 treated with firmness but great gentle- 
 ness, and he should be encouraged by 
 hand and voice whenever his conduct 
 deserves approval. 
 
 If he has been treated as I advise, he 
 will not be likely to show any restiveness 
 on the occasion of his being mounted for 
 the first time, and the trainer will per- 
 haps never experience any trouble with 
 
 F 
 
62 BO IV TO RIDE 
 
 him. It is not improbable that upon the 
 third or fourth day that he is mounted, 
 he will, on being taken beyond his usual 
 limits, show some disinclination to yield 
 to the will of the rider, and refuse to go 
 in a direction for which he has some dis- 
 like. No violence should be resorted to 
 in such a case ; but if he will not answer 
 the bit and the pressure of the legs, he 
 may be led by some one who should be 
 at hand in these early lessons to assist 
 the trainer. 
 
 The snaffle alone should be used at 
 first, and the rider should hold his hand 
 high or low, as the horse bears down or 
 raises his head. He should be ridden in 
 this bit until he readily answers to it, 
 and the rider should teach him, as early 
 as possible, to go forward at the pressure 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 63 
 
 of the legs. No whip should be carried 
 in the early mounted lessons, and in the 
 lunging on the cavesson the whip should 
 never be used to cause pain. 
 
 If the colt is naturally heavy in the 
 shoulders, he should be made to carry 
 himself light by short pulls upon 
 the snaffle, from below upwards. The 
 active resistance of the mouth should be 
 overcome by gentle vibrations of the 
 bit. 
 
 When he will go quietly in the snaffle, 
 and has been made familiar with the 
 usual sio-hts and sounds of the road, he 
 may be put into the double-reined bridle. 
 The snaffle will be used to regulate the 
 height of the head, and to begin the 
 changes of direction ; the bit will be used 
 to teach the horse to give the jaw and to 
 
64 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 bring in tlie head, as I have before de- 
 scribed. 
 
 These bittings are never to be aban- 
 doned, and they must be daily practised, 
 so that the horse will yield to the first 
 demand of the bit. 
 
 When the horse is obedient to the bit 
 he should be made to collect his forces in 
 equilibrium, and he is then prepared for 
 schoolino; in those his/her branches of his 
 education that are to make him, what is 
 so highly to be desired, a trained horse. 
 
 By firmness and gentleness the horse 
 can, by means of the system I have 
 advised, be readily made quiet to ride. 
 If he becomes shy it will be because his 
 vision is defective. A young horse, 
 properly treated, will acquire so much 
 confidence in his master that he will 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 65 
 
 face objects about which he has grave 
 suspicions. Each time that he finds his 
 terror groundless, his fear of strange 
 objects will be lessened, and I have seen 
 horses, trained in this w^ay, that would 
 shy at nothing when under the saddle. 
 
 THE PIROUETTES. 
 
 The precision with which the pirouettes 
 are made will determine the grace and 
 facility with which the horse will execute 
 all movements. 
 
 Pirouettes on the Fore-Hand. 
 
 The horse, saddled and bridled, will be 
 taken to some retired spot. The riding 
 
66 HOJV TO RIDE 
 
 school is, of course, the best place for 
 these lessons, but any smooth ground 
 will answer, where there is nothing to 
 distract his attention. 
 
 It is intended that the horse shall 
 carry his croup around his fore-hand, 
 the outside fore-leg acting as the pivot in 
 the movement. The trainer will stand at 
 the shoulder of the horse, and, if the first 
 movement is to be made to the right, on 
 the near side of the horse. 
 
 With his left hand he will take both 
 reins of the curb at al)out four inches 
 from the branches of the bit. He will 
 then induce the horse to give his jaw, 
 and to bring his head into a perpen- 
 dicular position, by drawing the reins 
 in gentle vibrations towards the chest of 
 the horse, yielding the hand whenever 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE, 67 
 
 the horse answers to the pressure, and 
 repeating the operation whenever the 
 horse shows a disposition to go out of 
 hand. With the whip he will then tap 
 the horse upon the rump until the hind- 
 legs are brought well under the body. 
 The horse will then be in a position to 
 make a move in any direction without 
 any further preparation. 
 
 The horse being thus collected, the 
 trainer will give gentle taps of the wdiip 
 upon his near flank, until the animal 
 moves one step to the right, the fore- 
 hand being held stationary by the bit in 
 the left hand, and resistance of that part 
 overcome by feeling the right side of the 
 mouth. As soon as this one step to the 
 right, by the hind-quarters, is taken, the 
 taps of the whip must cease, and the 
 
68 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 horse should be encouraged, so that he 
 may know that his effort has met with 
 approval 
 
 This change of position will throw 
 him out of line, his off fore-leg being 
 too far in rear. By a tap of the whip 
 upon the under side of the off fore-arm 
 he will be brought straight, and the 
 trainer should again show his satisfaction 
 by a kind word or a touch of the hand. 
 Let these proceedings be continued until 
 the horse steps off promptly ; but he 
 should not, at first, take more than one 
 step at a time, and must never be per- 
 mitted to volunteer a movement. After 
 each change of position he is to be put 
 straight, and he will be kept collected by 
 the hand and the whip. 
 
 The same means, right and k-ft being 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 69 
 
 interchanged, will teach him to pass in 
 the opposite direction. 
 
 These lessons should be repeated at 
 intervals, so that they are not rendered 
 irksome or fatiguing to the horse, until 
 he will complete his circles, either way, 
 without taking up the pivot or outside 
 foot. 
 
 These pirouettes will now be made 
 with the rider in the saddle ; and if the 
 work on foot has been faithfully per- 
 formed, the horse will be well advanced 
 in his education. 
 
 Bringing the horse into equilibrium, 
 the rider will play with the right rein of 
 the curb to destroy the resistances of the 
 shoulder, and with his left leg will make 
 the horse carry the croup one step to the 
 right. The right leg of the rider will be 
 
70 HO IV TO RIDE 
 
 held close to the side of tlie horse, to 
 limit the movement to one step, to pre- 
 vent him moving backward, and to assist 
 the off fore-leg in taking its place in the 
 new position. Taking one step at a 
 time, the horse wdll complete the move- 
 ment about the near or outside fore-leg, 
 which has been the pivot. 
 
 By interchanging right and left^ and 
 observing the same care, the reversed 
 pirouette will be made to the left. 
 
 When the horse wdll make the circle 
 by the one step and the stop, with ease 
 and without resistance, he will be made 
 to complete the jiirouettes without the 
 stop, step by step ; his head carried in 
 on the side of the approaching croup. 
 That is, if the croup is passing to the 
 right the head will be carried to the 
 
A\D SCHOOL A HORSE. 71 
 
 right, to give an easy and graceful 
 carriao;e to the liorse in the movement. 
 
 Pirouettes on the Choup. 
 
 In these movements the fore-hand will 
 go about the croup, the inner hind-leg 
 being the pivot. To show the horse 
 what is expected of him, a few lessons 
 should be given, on foot, in the following 
 manner : — The trainer will stand in front 
 of the horse, and, taking a snaffle-rein in 
 each hand, in order to direct the fore- 
 hand and to fix the croup, he w^ill lead 
 the horse about, a step at a time, taking 
 pains to keep the pivot-leg as stationary 
 as is possible under such circumstances. 
 
 He will then mount the horse and put 
 
72 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 him in equilibrium. With a snaffle-rein 
 in each hand he will, if pirouetting to the 
 left, draw the horse to the left with the 
 rein of that side, fixing the croup with 
 the snaffle in the right hand. The right 
 leg will be kept close to the side of the 
 horse to prevent the croup coming against 
 it, and to keep that side of the horse up 
 in its place in the movement if required. 
 The fore-hand will be brouo-ht about in 
 this way until the horse's position is 
 reversed, and he stands facing the direc- 
 tion opposite to that from which he 
 started. Then he will be put in line, 
 the rio^ht lecj of the rider beins^ used 
 to bring up the right side of the horse. 
 By the assistance of the aids, right and 
 left beinor exchano:ed, the horse will be 
 practised in the movement to the right. 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. Ts 
 
 111 the same way the horse will then be 
 made to complete the circle, pivoting on 
 the croup, to the right and to the left, 
 the outside leg being brought up as the 
 balance requires its support. After the 
 horse will perform these pirouettes on 
 the snaffle-bit, the curb will be used at 
 the finish of the movement, and then the 
 curb-bit, the reins carried in the hand 
 to which the horse turns, w^ll be used. 
 Finally, the horse will be made to do the 
 pirouettes to either side, with the curb- 
 reins carried in the left hand. To make 
 the pirouettes on the haunches neatly and 
 quickly, the forces of the fore-hand will 
 be well carried back, so that the horse 
 will rise off the ground in making the 
 face about. The hind-leg on the inside 
 is to be the pivot, and the other hind-leg 
 
74 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 will be brought up during the movement 
 to give it the finish. 
 
 After the horse has been tauo;ht to 
 traverse, and to make the changes in 
 the gallop for which these lessons have 
 prepared him, he will be ready to make 
 the pirouettes upon the croup in action. 
 To this end he will be ridden in circles, 
 then in voltes or circles in which the 
 croup follows an inner path and the fore- 
 hand an outer path : the pirouette results 
 when the horse will make the volte with- 
 out moving his hind-legs away from the 
 pivoting ground. 
 
 TEA VERSING. 
 
 If the reader has mastered all tliat has 
 appeared in these pages to this point, he 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 7^ 
 
 should be able to make his horse perform 
 everything that is possible to the animal. 
 Tt only remains for me to point out the 
 best manner for obtaining the best eJBfects 
 in the more important movements. 
 
 In traversing, or passing sideways to 
 the right and to the left, the horse should 
 be placed at such an angle, with the line 
 upon which the movement is directed, 
 the shoulders in advance of the croup, 
 that his legs may move freely, and his 
 carriage be light and unconfined. Sup- 
 pose the horse is standing perpendicularly 
 to the line of the movement, and it is 
 intended to traverse to the right, the 
 rider will make the croup pass one step 
 to the left, w^hich will bring him into 
 the proper position for traversing in the 
 opposite direction. The resistance of the 
 
76 HO W TO RIDE 
 
 shoulders will be overcome by the right 
 rein, and the left leg will cause the horse 
 to step off to the right, the tw^o aids 
 demanding the position and the move- 
 ment, the right leg being ready to assist 
 in keeping the horse up in his place, and 
 to prevent the croup coming too far to 
 that side. He must be kept in equilibrium 
 and at the proper angle to the line of 
 march, or the movement w-ill be awkward 
 and uneven. He will be made to traverse, 
 at a speed not faster than a w^alk, in 
 direct lines and in circles, to the right 
 and to the left, taking care that in the 
 circles the body of the horse keeps the 
 proper angle at every point in the cir- 
 cumferences ; and that his head is bent 
 in the direction he follows. 
 
 He may tlien be brought to perform 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. -j-j 
 
 the traverse at the passage, which is the 
 liigh step that is produced by restraining 
 the advance of the horse, and at the 
 same time demanding from him increased 
 action and exertion. The horse beino^ at 
 the trot in a direct line, the rider will 
 induce the action of the passage by the 
 pressure of the legs, alternately as the 
 horse raises the opposite fore-leg, and by 
 restraining with the hand any increase of 
 speed ; then with the direct rein and 
 opposite leg the horse will be made to 
 traverse, the high step of the j^a^mr/e 
 being retained in the movement by 
 accentuating the pressure of the opposite 
 spur as the horse raises the fore-leg on 
 the side to which he is passing. The leg 
 of the rider on the side to which the 
 movement tends will be used to keep the 
 
 G 
 
78 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 horse u^ to the line, and to prevent the 
 croup going over too far. The result 
 should be a regularly cadenced action, 
 in which the horse dwells at each step, 
 the effect of the increased pressure of the 
 rider's leg being to keep the legs of the 
 horse suspended for the moment. But 
 the croup must not be driven over too far, 
 and the equilibrium must be observed. 
 In traversing at the passage, the weight 
 of the horse is, at each cadence, sustained 
 upon two legs diagonally opposed, while 
 the other two are carried beyond them 
 in the direction of the movement — the 
 shoulders slightly in advance upon one 
 path, the croup in simultaneous actions 
 following another parallel path. At each 
 step the horse leaves the ground, and is 
 for the moment in the air. 
 
AXD SCHOOL A HORSE. 79 
 
 In producing the action of the passage 
 in the direct line, the hand and spur of 
 the side of the moving hind-leg act in 
 concert to induce the high action and the 
 momentary rest ; but in traversing the 
 rein upon the side to which the horse 
 moves must be used to lead him on the 
 path, and both the increased action and 
 the momentary rest must be caused by 
 the opposite spur giving the impulse at 
 each step of the leading fore-leg and its 
 diagonal hind-leg, while the non-action of 
 the other spur aids to give the eflfect 
 of that momentary rest which in the 
 straight line must be actually brought 
 about by the rein acting against the 
 spur. 
 
 The traverse in the gallop may be 
 obtained by means similar to those 
 
8o NO IV TO RIDE 
 
 employed in traversing at the passage, 
 the horse being put into the gallop on 
 the direct line, and leadins; with the le2[s 
 of the side on which the movement will 
 be made. As the horse comes upon the 
 ground where the traversing is to begin, 
 he will be permitted to make one false 
 step with the croup as he takes the posi- 
 tion fur the traverse, to be corrected at 
 the second step in the movement. In the 
 same way, when he is put into the direct 
 line, he will be permitted to make one 
 false step with the croup to j)reserve his 
 balance, to be brought into the true 
 gallop at the second step upon the new 
 line. 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 8i 
 
 CHANGES IN THE GALLOP. 
 
 It is ao;reed on all sides that the 
 changes in the gallop are not only the 
 most striking and important of all the 
 movements, but that in them is also 
 found the highest test of the skill of the 
 rider. But hardly any two authorities 
 have agreed upon the method by which 
 this is to be tauo;ht, and few can be found 
 who hold the same opinion as to the best 
 manner of making the trained horse 
 change in the gallop. I have never 
 had any faith in the method so usually 
 accepted, even by the highest authority, 
 of teaching the horse to gallop by a 
 false method, to afterwards substitute 
 a better one in demanding his perform- 
 ance of that pace. 
 
82 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 If the fore-hand of the horse is 
 lightened by bringing back its forces, 
 that side will be the lighter from which 
 we demand the most ; and to make the 
 horse lead with the one side or the 
 other is simply to make the hand act 
 more upon the side from which we desire 
 the highest action. If, then, we wish to 
 gallop with the right side of the horse 
 giving the extended strides, we should 
 make upward play with the bit upon 
 that side of his fore-hand, and bring 
 his croup round with tlie pressure of the 
 left leg. The horse will then lead off 
 as desired, with his head in the proper 
 position, and there will be nothing to 
 correct. 
 
 Although the direct rein has been 
 before this time used to teach the gallop, 
 
AMD SCHOOL A HORSE. 83 
 
 it is for the purpose of pulling tlie 
 shoulders in so that the horse, his croup 
 being brought round by the opposite 
 spur, will not be able to take the extended 
 step with the outside leg. This accom- 
 plishes the object, but it gives cramped 
 and unoraceful action. I believe that 
 the theory I advance is original with me, 
 and I know that it gives the best re- 
 sults, for it is the method that Baucher 
 and other great authorities use after the 
 horse has been taught by some ruder 
 means. 
 
 To make a horse lead with a certain 
 side, therefore, the direct rein will make 
 upward play, and be supported by the 
 opposing spur. 
 
 At first the horse will be made to 
 gallop in the line, then in circles, 
 
84 HO W TO RIDE 
 
 gradually diminisliing in diameter, 
 always leading with the leg of the side 
 to which he is going. When the horse 
 will answer to the aids, and will lead 
 with either leg, as may be required, 
 without hesitation or blundering, the 
 rider will turn him from a circle to the 
 rio'ht or the left, to one on the other 
 hand, applying, quickly but without 
 violence, the hand as the fore-feet begin 
 a new cadence, the leg as soon as the 
 fore-hand feels tlie effect of the bit. The 
 rider will, of course, bend his body to 
 conform to the movements of the horse, 
 and this balance in the weio;hts will 
 assist in the change. 
 
 When this has been accomj^lished 
 without destroying or interfering with 
 the cadences of the gait, it will be a 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 85 
 
 mere matter of practice to make the 
 
 chaDges at any finished step in the 
 direct line. 
 
 TO STOP IN THE GALLOP. 
 
 While it is only in the gallop in 
 equilibrium that the horse can be 
 brought to a finished halt, yet the same 
 means, in a form modified by the rider's 
 appreciation of the circumstances, may 
 be effectually used to make the horse 
 draw up in the extended gallop. 
 
 The horse being in the best approxi- 
 mate equilibrium, the rider will bring 
 him to a stop by leaning back and 
 pressing in his legs as the hind-legs of 
 the horse begin one cadence of the gait, 
 
86 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 and raise the hand, and bear upon the bit 
 as the fore-legs begin the next cadence. 
 The result will be that the horse will 
 stop without another step, for the heels 
 bring in and the weight of the body 
 fixes the hind-leo-s, and the hand restrains 
 and brings back the forces of the fore- 
 hand, and prevent the mass advancing. 
 These applications of the aids must be 
 made with celerity and precision, but 
 without violence. 
 
 The halt in the gallop is of benefit in 
 pre23aring the horse for the changes of 
 lead in that n^ait, for the horse accustomed 
 to the halt in the gallop the application 
 of the aids in makino; the clianoe of lead 
 will jjroduce the momentary rest that 
 permits him to change his leg with 
 smoothness and accuracy. 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 87 
 
 TO BACK, 
 
 In backing the horse the offices of 
 the fore - hand and croup are inter- 
 changed ; for now the impulsion comes 
 from the fore-hand, and the heels restrain 
 and direct the forces of the croup upon 
 the course. 
 
 Standing at the head of the horse, 
 the trainer will bring him into equili- 
 brium, taking care that the shoulders 
 and croup are in a line. Then with 
 a tap of the whip upon the croup he 
 will induce the bes^innino; of a forward 
 movement from that part by the raising 
 of one of the hind-legs, but before the 
 mass acquires the forward motion the 
 horse will be made to carry the raised 
 
eS HO IV TO RIDE 
 
 hind-leg one step in rear, by a pressure 
 upon the bit. He will then be collected 
 and made to take one other step back- 
 wards in the same manner. The next 
 day he may be made to take two con- 
 secutive steps ; and he will be taught 
 carefully and without haste until he 
 will move back several steps and still 
 retain his lightness. 
 
 The rider will then mount the horse, 
 and, having brought him into equili- 
 brium, will, by a pressure of the legs, 
 induce the raisino- of one of the hind-leers, 
 which with the balanced mass will be 
 carried back one step by a pressure of 
 the bit. The whole art of teachino; the 
 horse to back lies in these instructions ; 
 but the rider must proceed cautiously, so 
 that the horse will acquire the movement 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 89 
 
 in an easy and light manner. Let him 
 be satisfied with a few steps well done 
 each day, until the horse acquires perfec- 
 tion in the movement. The lee:s will 
 always be carried close to the sides of the 
 horse to keep him straight, and to prevent 
 the forces from yielding too much ; the 
 hand must influence the forces of the 
 fore-hand only enough to produce the 
 backward motion, without brinmnor them 
 back so far as to destroy the equilibrium. 
 When the rider wishes to stop the horse 
 backing, he wdll increase the pressure of 
 the legs and yield the hand in some 
 cadence of the movement, and will start 
 the horse forward in the walk without 
 coming to a marked halt. 
 
 The horse may be made to go back- 
 wards with the actions of the trot or 
 
90 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 the gallop, by the same means that are 
 used to make him back in the motions 
 of the walk. 
 
 WHEN LADIES RIDE. 
 
 All the instructions contained in these 
 pages, except so far as regards those for 
 gymnastics and for the seat, will apply 
 to ladies, when the whip will take the 
 place of the right leg of the man. 
 
 The whip should be strong and 
 straight, and the horse will be trained 
 to answer to its application in exactly 
 the same way as to the pressure of the 
 man's leg. 
 
 It is only necessary to say a few 
 words about the seat. I have nothing 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 9» 
 
 to sucro-est in a saddle by a good maker, 
 beyond remarking that it must be made 
 to fit the rider, and that, in addition to 
 the double safety-stirrup, the leathers 
 should hang from spring-bars in the tree, 
 the bar inclining upwards from the front, 
 so that the stirrup may not be detached 
 in case the rider carries her left leg back, 
 as many are in the habit of doing. 
 
 The lady should so sit upon the horse 
 that her weight will fall perpendicu- 
 larly to the back of the horse ; her face 
 directly to the front, her shoulders drawn 
 back, and her elbows held to her sides. 
 She will permit her body, from the hips 
 upwards, to bend with the motions of the 
 horse, in order that she may preserve 
 her balance. The reins are to be held in 
 the manner prescribed for men, the hand 
 
92 HOW TO RIDE 
 
 in front of the body, and in a line with 
 the elbow. The whip is to be carried in 
 the right hand, with the point towards 
 the ground. The horse should never be 
 struck with the whip upon the head, neck, 
 or shoulder. To apply the aid upon 
 those parts will teach him to swerve, 
 and render him nervous at the motions 
 of the rider. In a lady's hand the whip 
 simply takes the place of a spur for the 
 right side. 
 
 The horns of the saddle, the superfluous 
 one at the right being dispensed with, 
 should be of such lengths and curvatures 
 as will suit the rider. 
 
 The right leg will hold the upright 
 horn close in the bend in the knee, by 
 such a pressure as the action of the horse 
 or other circumstances will dictate. 
 
AND SCHOOL A HORSE. 93 
 
 The k'ft foot will be thrust into the 
 stirrup to the ball of the foot, and the 
 heel will, as a rule, be carried down ; but 
 when the heel is elevated, the upper part 
 of the left knee should find support in 
 the side-horn, and for that end the stirrup- 
 leather will be given such a length as 
 will permit this. By the grasp given by 
 the elevation of the left knee from the 
 stirrup and the embrace upon the upright 
 horn by the right leg, the rider will have 
 as strong a seat as her strength can 
 afford; and with a proper balance she 
 will not be likely to find a horse that 
 will unseat her. 
 
 As a fall of the horse is attended with 
 great perils to a lady rider, she should 
 never be mounted upon an animal 
 whose legs betray any weakness, or 
 
94 HO IV TO RIDE. 
 
 whose knees give evidence of stumbling, 
 or upon one that is not master of lier 
 weight. The lady must see that, in 
 turning to the right or left, her horse 
 leads on the side to which he bends, 
 and she should carry her inside shoulder 
 slightly back at the same time, so that 
 the centre of gravity of the mass will 
 be preserved. The leg will support the 
 horse in turning to the right, the whip 
 will give support in turning to the left. 
 
 The lady who desires to excel in 
 horsemanship should, when an oppor- 
 tunity offers, witness the performance 
 of some school-rider of her sex. A few 
 public lessons from such mistresses of 
 the art as Mademoiselle Guerra or 
 Mademoiselle Elise de Vienne will be of 
 very great advantage. 
 
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