/ -** LJ 
 
3 9090 013 408 733 
 
 Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine 
 Cummlngs Sehooi of Veterinary Medicine at 
 Tufts Uriiversity 
 200 Westboro Road 
 Worth Grafton. MA 01536 
 
4* 
 
 
 
THE 
 
 LADY'S EQUESTRIAN MANUAL, 
 
 THE PEINCIPLES AND PEACTICE 
 
 Jfofsety^sfyipfoi* J^dieg 
 
 ARE THOROUGHLY EXPLAINED, TO ENABLE EVERY LADY 
 TO RIDE WITH COMFORT AND ELEGANCE. 
 
 ttf) jFifta Illustrations. 
 
 WILLIS P. HAZARD, 178 CHESTNUT STREET, 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 1854. 
 

 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1854, by 
 WILLIS P. HAZARD, 
 in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court for the Eastern Dis- 
 trict of Pennsylvania. 
 
 Kite & W alto if, 
 Printers. 
 

 fioijfciijfg. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction..., 9 
 
 Equestrian Technicalities 25 
 
 The Lady's Horse 28 
 
 Personal Equipments 34 
 
 Accoutrements for the Horse 36 
 
 The Saddle 37 
 
 The Bridle 41 
 
 The Stirrup 45 
 
 Rules of the Road 47 
 
 Mounting 50 
 
 Dismounting 56 
 
 The Curb, Etc.... 60 
 
 Mode of Holding the Reins 60 
 
 Shifting the Reins 61 
 
 Separating the Reins 63 
 
 Changing the Reins 64 
 
 Adjusting the Reins 65 
 
 Position of the Hand 66 
 
 Management of the Curb 67 
 
 The Reins 69 
 
 The Seat and Balance • ^ 
 
 (iii) 
 
IV 
 
 Contents 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Hand 81 
 
 Qualities of the Hand 85 
 
 Aids and Defences 90 
 
 Soothings, Animations, Etc 94 
 
 Corrections 97 
 
 Vices , 100 
 
 Exercises in the Paces 113 
 
 The Walk 118 
 
 The Trot 125 
 
 The Canter 130 
 
 Turns, Stops, Etc., in the Gallop 136 
 
 The Gallop 139 
 
 Stopping and Backing 140 
 
 Going Backward in the Walk 142 
 
 Leaping 146 
 
 Concluding Remarks ,. 150 
 
£i*ef^ce« 
 
 Though riding on horseback seems only of late 
 to have become the most fashionable exercise of 
 ladies, it has very long been sufficiently so to war- 
 rant the publication of a useful work on the sub- 
 ject ; and it is surprising that none should have 
 appeared. Indeed, the difficulties and the delica- 
 cies which attend the practice of riding, in ladies, 
 have long appeared to the writer to render such a 
 work more necessary for them, than for gentle- 
 men. 
 
 1* (5) 
 
6 Preface. 
 
 Such were the motives which led to the produc- 
 tion of the present volume, in which the chief la- 
 bor of the author has been to concentrate in the 
 smallest space everything really useful to ladies 
 on the subject of riding, to express this in simple 
 and intelligible language, and to give the whole a 
 systematic and impressive arrangement. 
 
 He accordingly flatters himself, that, at a time 
 when riding has become so eminently fashionable 
 an exercise for ladies, and when the road daily 
 displays so many elegant women on horseback, his 
 work will ensure security, ease, and grace of the 
 riders. 
 
 In addition to the experience of the author as a 
 teacher, he has not hesitated to derive valuable 
 knowledge from numerous friends, who have kindly 
 imparted many hints which he has embodied, and 
 which will prove of great value to his readers, but 
 also he has extracted from all the best treatises 
 ever published upon the subject, all that was at 
 all likely to be of any use. Many of his fair 
 
Preface. 7 
 
 friends have also spoken to him of just what they 
 would have liked to have had some written instruc- 
 tions upon, but which they were never able to find 
 in books upon the subject, when they were learn- 
 ing. Therefore knowing what was wanted, and 
 believing that he possessed the knowledge requisite 
 to fill that want, he with the more confidence 
 offers this volume to that portion of the public 
 for whom it is intended, in the belief that with 
 proper attention to its directions, no lady need 
 take lessons of a riding-master, for here she will 
 find all he can teach her; and also that ladies 
 who have taken lessons, may find much that will 
 assist them to become practical and expert horse- 
 women. 
 
 Those who have the time and the money to 
 spare may well take a few general lessons from a 
 teacher ; but to the many who have neither, yet 
 wish to be able to ride with comfort and elegance, 
 and particularly to those in the country, and small 
 towns, where the lessons of a teacher are not to 
 
8 
 
 Preface. 
 
 be had, yet where it is a necessary accomplish- 
 ment, this volume must undoubtedly prove a wel- 
 come addition. 
 
THE 
 
 y o 11 1) g JL n d I) ' s 
 EdUESTRIAN MANUAL. 
 
 Our Virgin Queen, peerless Elizabeth, 
 With grace and dignity rode through the host : 
 And proudly paced that gallant steed, as though 
 He knew his saddle was a royal throne. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Riding on Horseback is, confessedly, one of the 
 most graceful, agreeable, and salutary of feminine 
 recreations. No attitude, perhaps, can be re- 
 garded as more elegant than that of a lady in the 
 modern side -saddle; nor can any exercise be 
 
 (9) 
 
10 Introduction. 
 
 deemed capable of affording more rational and 
 innocent delight, than that of the female eques- 
 trian. Pursued in the open air, it affords a most 
 rapid, and, at the same time, exhilarating succes- 
 sion of scenic changes, at a degree of personal 
 exertion, sufficient to produce immediate pleasure, 
 without inducing the subsequent languor of fatigue. 
 Nor is riding on horseback attended with that 
 danger to ladies, attributed to it by the indolent, 
 the melancholy, and the timid. Accidents, in- 
 deed, in the side-saddle, are of extremely rare 
 occurrence. Strange as it may seem, it is, how- 
 ever, an incontrovertible fact, that horses, in gene- 
 ral, are much more docile and temperate, with 
 riders of the fair sex, than when mounted by men. 
 This may be attributed, partially, to the more 
 backward position, in the saddle, of the former 
 than the latter ; but, principally, perhaps, to their 
 superior delicacy of hand in managing the reins. 
 
 As an active recreation, and a mode of convey- 
 ance, riding on horseback appears to have been of 
 very remote usage among our fair countrywomen. 
 During a long period, indeed, it was the only one 
 known to, or adopted by them, for the performance 
 of journeys. Such, too, appears to have been the 
 case (with some modifications) in other European 
 countries. The only voiture of the French, says 
 
Introduction. 11 
 
 Garsault, until the reign of Charles the sixth, was 
 the back of the horse or mule; neither kings, 
 queens, princes, nor subjects were acquainted with 
 any other. In the time of that monarch, litters, 
 borne by two horses, first appeared; but these 
 were uncovered, and used, only, by ladies of the 
 court. Froissart describes Isabel, the second wife 
 of Richard the second of England, as having been 
 borne "en une litiere moult riehe, qui etoit or- 
 donnee pour elle ;" and this kind of vehicle, during 
 the reigns of several succeeding monarchs, appears 
 to have been used by women of distinction in this 
 country, but, only, it is to be observed, in cases of 
 illness, or on occasions of ceremony. For ex- 
 ample, — when Margaret, daughter of Henry the 
 seventh, went into Scotland, she generally rode 
 "a faire palfrey;" while, after her, was conveyed 
 " one vary riche litere, borne by two faire coursers, 
 vary nobly drest; in the which litere the sayd 
 queene was borne in the intrying of the good 
 townes, or otherwise, to her good playsher." 
 
 Towards the end of the thirteenth century, ve- 
 hicles with wheels, for the use of ladies, were first 
 introduced. They appear to have been of Italian 
 origin, as the first notice of them is found in an 
 account of the entry of Charles of Anjou into 
 Naples ; on which occasion, we are told, his queen 
 
12 Introduction. 
 
 rode in a careta, the outside and inside of which 
 were covered with sky-blue velvet, interspersed 
 with golden lilies. Under the Gallicised denomi- 
 nation of char, the Italian car eta, shortly- after- 
 wards became known in France ; where, so early 
 as the year 1294, an ordinance was issued by 
 Philip the Fair, forbidding its use to citizens' 
 wives. Nor was England far behind in the adop- 
 tion of the vehicle ; for, in " The Squyr of Low 
 Degree," a poem supposed to have been written 
 anterior to the time of Chaucer, we find the father 
 of a royal lady promising that she shall hunt with 
 him, on the morrow, in " a chare,'" drawn by 
 
 " Jennettes of Spain that ben so white, 
 Trapped to the ground with velvet bright." 
 
 " It shall be covered with velvet red, 
 And clothes of fine gold all about your head; 
 With damask white and azure blue, 
 Well diapered with lilies blue." 
 
 However richly ornamented, the careta, char, or 
 chare — and there is little, if any, doubt, to be 
 entertained as to their identity — may have been, 
 it was, probably, a clumsy, inelegant, and incon- 
 venient structure ; for its employment appears to 
 have been far from general among high-born ladies, 
 even on occasions of ceremony and pomp. During 
 the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries, 
 
Introduction. 13 
 
 the French princesses usually rode on donkeys ; 
 and so late as the year 1534, a sacred festival was 
 attended by Queen Eleonora, and the females of 
 the blood royal of France, on horseback. Nor 
 did the superior and more recent invention of 
 coaches, for a long period, tend materially to 
 supersede, among ladies, the use of the saddle. 
 These vehicles, according to Stow, became known, 
 in England, in 1580 ; but, many years after, Queen 
 Elizabeth herself is described as having appeared, 
 almost daily, on her palfrey. In the time of 
 Charles the second, the fashion, among ladies, of 
 riding on horseback, declined ; during subsequent 
 reigns, it gradually revived ; and the exercise may 
 now be regarded as firmly established, among our 
 fair countrywomen, by the august example of their 
 illustrious Queen. 
 
 The present graceful, secure, and appropriate 
 style of female equestrianism is, however, mate- 
 rially different from that of the olden time. In 
 by-gone days the dame or damosel rode precisely 
 as the knight or page. Of this, several illustra- 
 tions occur in an illuminated manuscript of the 
 fourteenth century, preserved in the Royal Li- 
 brary. In one of these, a lady of that period is 
 depicted on horseback, enjoying the pastime of 
 the chase. In another, are represented two gentle- 
 2 I 
 
14 
 
 Introduction 
 
 women of the same period, on horseback, with an 
 individual of the other sex, engaged (as is shown 
 by some parts of the design, which it would be 
 needless, for our present purpose, to copy) in the 
 once much-favored diversion of hawking. 
 
Introduction. 15 
 
 Queen Elizabeth, says a writer in the Encyclo- 
 paedia Londinensis, " seems to have been the first 
 who set the ladies the more modest fashion of 
 riding sideways. Considerable opposition was, at 
 first, made to it, as inconvenient and dangerous : 
 but, practice, in time, brought it into general use ; 
 particularly when ladies found they could ride 
 a-hunting, take flying leaps, and gallop over cross 
 roads and ploughed fields, without meeting with 
 more accidents than the men : besides, it was not 
 only allowed to be more decorous, but, in many 
 respects, more congenial to the ease and comfort 
 of a female rider." 
 
 Our author is, however, wrong in ascribing 
 the fashion of riding sideways, by women in this 
 country, to Elizabeth ; by whom it could only have 
 been confirmed, or, at the most, revived; — the 
 honor of its introduction being clearly attribu- 
 table to another Queen of England, who lived at 
 a much more early period of our history. 
 
 Ann of Bohemia, consort of Richard the second, 
 is the illustrious personage to whom we allude. 
 She, it was, according to Stow (whom Beckman 
 follows on this point,) that originally showed the 
 women of this country how gracefully and conve- 
 niently they might ride on horseback sideways. 
 Another old historian, enumerating the new fashions 
 
16 Introduction. 
 
 of Richard the second's reign, observes, "Likewise, 
 noble ladies then used high heads and cornets, and 
 robes with long trains, and seats, or side-saddles, 
 on their horses, by the example of the respectable 
 Queen Ann, daughter of the King of Bohemia, 
 who first introduced the custom into this kingdom : 
 for, before, women of every rank rode as men do." 
 (T. Rossn, Hist. Be. Aug. p. 205.) In his beau- 
 ful illustrative picture of Chaucer's Canterbury 
 Pilgrims, Stothard appears to have committed an 
 anachorism, in placing the most conspicuous female 
 character of his fine composition sideways on her 
 steed. That the lady should have been depicted 
 riding in the male fashion, might, it strikes us, 
 have been inferred, without any historical research 
 on the subject, from the poet's describing her as 
 having, on her feet, 
 
 " A -paire of spurres sharpe." 
 
 Neither the original example of Ann of Bohemia, 
 nor that, in later days, of Elizabeth, as female 
 equestrians, however extensively followed, had 
 sufficient force, entirely to abolish, among our 
 countrywomen, the mode of riding like the other 
 sex. In the time of Charles the second, it ap- 
 pears, from a passage in the Duke of Newcastle's 
 great work on Horsemanship, to have still, at least 
 
Introduction. 
 
 17 
 
 partially, subsisted. Another writer of the seven- 
 teenth century, whose manuscripts are preserved 
 in the Harleian collection, speaks of it, as having 
 been practised, in his time, by the ladies of Bury, 
 in Suffolk, when hunting or hawking; and our 
 venerable contemporary, Lawrence (a voluminous 
 writer on the horse,) it is worthy of remark, states, 
 that at an early period of his own life, two young 
 ladies of good family, then residing near Ipswich, 
 in the same county, "were in the constant habit 
 of riding about the country, in their smart doe- 
 skins, great coats, and napped beaver hats." 
 
 Although entirely relinquished, at present, per- 
 haps, in this country, the mode of female eques- 
 trianism under notice continues to prevail in va- 
 rious other localities. In the following sketch, 
 
 taken from Charles Audry's magnificent "Ecole 
 2* B 
 
18 
 
 Introduction 
 
 d' Equitation," a Persian lady is delineated as just 
 about to start on a journey, in the saddle ; and, 
 in the next, which is engraved from an original 
 drawing, "done from the life," a lady and gentle- 
 man of Lima are represented on horseback. " I 
 have endeavored," the artist says, in manuscript, 
 on the reverse of his sketch, " to depict the horses 
 'pacing ; as they are almost universally taught 
 to do, in Peru : that is, to move both the legs, of 
 one side, forward together. It resembles an Eng- 
 lish butcher's trot in appearance ; but, it is so easy, 
 that one might go to sleep on the horse : and, 
 after riding 'spacer, it is difficult to sit a trotter 
 
 at first. It is, also, excessively rapid ;— good 
 pacers beating other horses at a gallop. The 
 ladies of Lima do not always ride with the face 
 
Introduction. 
 
 19 
 
 covered: but, only, when the sun is powerful. 
 They, sometimes, ride in ponchos, like the men : 
 in fact, it is exceedingly difficult, at first sight, to 
 determine whether a person on horseback be male 
 or female." 
 
 The side-saddle introduced to this country by 
 Ann of Bohemia, differed, materially, from that 
 now used by British ladies ; having, no doubt, 
 been a mere pillion, on which the rider sate, as in 
 a chair. 
 
 At what period our fair countrywomen first 
 began to ride with the knee over the pommel, we 
 are not enabled to state : it is, however, clear, ac- 
 cording to the original of the following sketch, which 
 occurs in one of the historical illustrations of eques- 
 trianism, given by Audry, that the courtly dames 
 of England did so, about the middle of the seven- 
 
20 
 
 Introduction 
 
 teenth. century. Our author describes the figure 
 as being that of the Countess of Newcastle. 
 
 It may be conjectured, that a single crutch, 
 only, for the advanced leg, was at first used ; and 
 this, it is not improbable, was fixed on the centre 
 of the pommel, as in the lady's saddle, now, or at 
 least very lately, common in some parts of Mexico ; 
 where the women, it would seem, ride with the left 
 hand towards the animal's head. This, also, ap- 
 pears to have been, sometimes, the case, down to a 
 recent period, in our own country ; for, in rather 
 a modern description of the side-saddle, the 
 crutches are spoken of as being movable, in order 
 to afford a lady, by merely changing their relative 
 positions, the means of ridiig, as she might please, 
 
Introduction. 21 
 
 on either side of her horse. That a second 
 crutch was used about the middle of the last cen- 
 tury (we are unable to state how much earlier,) in 
 France, at least, is evident from a plate of the 
 lady's hunting saddle, at that period, given by 
 Garsault ; in which, it is curious, a sort of hold- 
 fast is provided for the fair equestrian's right 
 hand. But, even so recently as Garsault's time, 
 the saddle in ordinary use, by French women, was, 
 we learn from his work on equitation, still, a kind 
 of pillion, on which the rider sate, diagonally, with 
 both feet resting on a broad suspended ledge or 
 stirrup. The pillion in this country has not yet 
 
 become obsolete ; being still, frequently, to be seen, 
 on the backs of donkeys and hack poneys, at 
 watering places. During the early part of the 
 present century, its employment continued to be 
 
22 Introduction. 
 
 general. It was fixed behind a man's saddle, on 
 the croup of a steady horse, trained to go at an 
 easy though shuffling pace between a walk and a 
 trot. The groom, or gentleman, equipped with a 
 broad leathern belt buckled about his waist — by 
 which the lady secured her position, in case of 
 need — first mounted ; and his fair companion was 
 then lifted, backwards, and behind him, into her 
 seat. In an old work on horsemanship, written 
 by one William Stokes, and published at Oxford, 
 it is not, perhaps, unworthy of notice, directions 
 are given for.. vaulting into the saddle, after the 
 
 lady has been placed on the croup ; together with 
 a plate illustrative of so exquisitely nice and mar- 
 vellously absurd an operation. In Mexico " they 
 manage these things," if not "better," at all 
 events, with more gallantry, than our forefathers 
 did, for with them, " the jpisana, or country lady," 
 
Introduction. 23 
 
 we are told, " is often seen mounted before her ca- 
 valiero ; who, seated behind his fair one, supports 
 her with his arm thrown around her waist." Our 
 illustrative sketch of this custom is taken from a 
 beautiful model,— the work of a native Mexican 
 artist. 
 
 Having, now, offered our fair readers a slight 
 and unpretending historical sketch of female 
 equestrianism, we shall proceed, after a few pre- 
 liminary remarks, to the practical details of the 
 art. 
 
 Its various advantages, inducements, and attrac- 
 tions, as an exercise, have, already, been noticed. 
 Much, however \ as we wish * to interest our fair 
 countrywomen, in its favor, it is proper, on our 
 part, to tell them, frankly, that equestrianism 
 is far from being an intuitive art: — there is no 
 "royal road" to it. To be enjoyed and appreci- 
 
24 Introduction. 
 
 ated, it must be learnt. That ease and elegance, 
 — that comparative safety in the side-saddle, of 
 which we have spoken, it is impossible to achieve, 
 without considerable practice, based upon proper 
 principles. Many young ladies, however, feel a 
 delicate repugnance to passing through the ordeal 
 of a riding-school ; some, again, do not reside in 
 situations, where the benefit of a teacher's direc- 
 tions can be procured ; while others, erroneously 
 flatter themselves, that they are in possession of 
 every needful acquirement, as regards equestrian- 
 ism, when they have discovered how to retain a 
 seat on the saddle, and guide a horse by means of 
 the bridle. To such of our readers as happen to 
 be comprised within either of these classes, — and 
 to those, also, who, after having received a pro- 
 fessor's instructions, are desirous of further 
 improvement, the following pages, if carefully 
 perused, will, the writer most zealously hopes, 
 prove beneficial. 
 
Equestrian Technicalities. 25 
 
 JqqegfH^ii} XftefiQioqlifies. 
 
 A few, among the most generally adopted, of 
 these, it will be expedient, in the first place, to 
 notice and explain. 
 
 Most parts in the external structure of the 
 horse are known by names of obvious significa- 
 tion : but such is not, exactly, the case with all. 
 
 To commence with the anterior limb : — a is the 
 fore pastern ; b, the fetlock ; c, the leg ; and d, 
 the arm. 
 
 In the hind limb, e is the hind pastern ; /, the 
 hock ; g, the stifle ; and h y the haunch. 
 3 
 
26 Equestrian Technicalities. 
 
 The upper surface of the neck, i, is denominated 
 the crest ; Jc, the withers, and I, the croup. 
 
 In the bridle, supposing it to be double-reined, a 
 is the double head-stall ; 5, the front ; <?, the nose- 
 
 Curb Bit. 
 
 Snaffle Bit. 
 
 band ; d y the throat-lash ; e, e, the snaffle rein ; 
 
 and /, /, the curb rein. At g, g, is the martingale. 
 
 In the saddle, a, is the near crutch ; b, the off 
 
 crutch ; e, the cantle ; d, the crupper ; e, the safe ; 
 /, the skirt ; g, the stirrup ; h, the near side half 
 of the surcingle ; and i, », the girths. 
 
Equestrian Technicalities. 27 
 
 A lady's right hand is termed the wAzp-hand, 
 and her left, the bridle-h.a,n&. 
 
 The near side of a horse is that which is on the 
 left of the rider ; and the off side that which is on 
 her right. 
 
 The height of a horse is always estimated in 
 hands, of four inches each : it is always measured 
 at the tip of the shoulder. A horse is never spoken 
 of as being so many hands tall, but so many hands 
 high. 
 
28 The Lady's Horse. 
 
 Xfye W$'* ftofse. 
 
 Although the lady usually has a horse selected 
 for her, by some gentleman, either of her own 
 family or her acquaintance, it may not be inexpe- 
 dient to inform the fair reader of those qualities 
 which, combined in the same animal, may be said 
 to constitute a complete lady's horse. Such a 
 creature, however, we must observe, is exceedingly 
 difficult to be procured, even by those possessed 
 of' the nicest judgment on the subject ; and, to 
 whom, the usually important question of price is 
 not an object of consideration. 
 
 The beau ideal of this kind of horse is superla- 
 tively elegant in form, exquisitely fine in coat, and 
 unexceptionably beautiful in color ; of a height, 
 in the nicest degree appropriate to the figure of 
 the rider ; graceful, accurate, well-united, and 
 thoroughly safe in every pace ; "light as a feather" 
 in the hand, though not at all painfully sensitive 
 to a proper action of the bit ; bold in the extreme, 
 yet superlatively docile ; free, in every respect, 
 from what is technically denominated "vice;" 
 
The Lady's Horse. 29 
 
 excellent in temper, but still " though gentle, yet 
 not dull;" rarely, if ever, requiring the stimulus 
 of the whip, yet submitting temperately to its 
 occasional suggestions. 
 
 In some, though not in all respects, the form 
 should approach closely to that of a thorough-bred 
 animal. The head should be small, neat, "well- 
 set" on the neck, and gracefully "carried." The 
 nostrils should be wide ; the eyes large, rather 
 protruding, dark, yet brilliant ; the ears erect, and 
 delicately tapering towards their tips. The ex- 
 pression of the countenance should be lively, ani- 
 mated, noble, and most highly intelligent; the 
 
 neck rather arched and muscular; the ridge of 
 the shoulders narrow and elevated ; the chest full 
 and fleshy ; the back broad ; the body, round or 
 barrel-like ; the space between the hips and tail, 
 3* 
 
30 The Lady's Horse. 
 
 long, and very gradually depressed towards the 
 latter organ, which, it is essential, should be based 
 high on the croup. The fore and hind limbs should 
 be distant, the one pair from the other ; the 
 "arms" muscular; the knees broad, the hocks 
 (laterally) wide; the legs flat and sinewy; the 
 pasterns rather long; and the hoofs large, and 
 nearly round. 
 
 A rough, or, what is technically termed, a 
 "staring" coat, considerably deteriorates the ap- 
 pearance of a horse, however perfect in other con- 
 ditions. Its surface, on a well-bred, healthy, and 
 properly groomed animal, is not only smooth, but 
 brilliantly polished. The mane, if too long and 
 thick, will interfere with that delicate management 
 of the reins so desirable to a lady on horseback ; 
 and the tail, if of immoderate length, will, by the 
 animal's whisking it towards his sides, prove incon- 
 venient, to the fair rider, at all times ; but, espe- 
 cially so, in dirty weather. Neither of these 
 appendages, however, on the other hand, should 
 be ungracefully brief or scanty. 
 
 Of all colors presented by the horse, none is so 
 rich, and, at the same time, so elegant and chaste, 
 as a bright bay; provided the mane, tail, and 
 lower parts of the legs, be black. A small white 
 star on the forehead, and a white speck on one of 
 
The Lady's Horse. 31 
 
 the heels, are to be considered, rather, as beauties, 
 than defects : but much white, either on the face 
 or legs, whatever be the general hue, is quite the 
 reverse of desirable. After bright bay, chestnut, 
 perhaps, deserves to rank next in the scale of taste ; 
 provided it be not, as is very frequently the case, 
 accompanied with white legs. Some of the vari- 
 ous shades of grey, however, are, in the opinion 
 of many, entitled to be placed above it ; of these, 
 the silver grey, with black mane and tail, claims 
 the highest place ; brown is rather exceptionable, 
 on account of its dulness. Black is not much 
 admired ; though, as we think, when of a deep jet, 
 remarkably elegant. Roan, sorrel, dun, piebald, 
 mouse, and even cream color (however appropriate 
 the latter may be for a state carriage-horse) are 
 all to be eschewed. 
 
 The height of her horse should be in harmoni- 
 ous proportion with that of the rider. A very 
 young or short lady is in no less false a position, 
 as regards grace, on a lofty steed, than a tall, full- 
 grown woman, on a diminutive poney. For ladies 
 of the general stature, a horse measuring from 
 fifteen to fifteen and a half hands, at the point of 
 the shoulder, is usually considered, as regards 
 height, more desirable than any other. 
 
 In paces, the lady's horse should be perfect ; or, 
 
32 The Lady's Horse. 
 
 at all events so far as regards the walk and canter. 
 The former should be fast, bold, firm, and lively, 
 without being unsteady ; and the latter, light, easy, 
 well-combined, and graceful : so, too, should the 
 hand-gallop ; although, it is true, a lady's horse is 
 rarely put to this pace, unless used for the field. 
 The trot, again, is but little practised : still the 
 complete lady's horse is expected to be capable of 
 performing it with great precision of step, and but 
 little concussion to the rider : — many ladies re- 
 garding it, — however discountenanced by the ma- 
 jority, perhaps, — as preferable, from its vigor, 
 liveliness, and dash, to any other pace. 
 
 To expatiate on the absolute necessity of the 
 lady's horse being safe on his limbs, would be need- 
 less. 
 
 The mouth should be sensible of the most deli- 
 cate hint of the rider's will, communicated to it by 
 means of a bit. A horse that pulls hard, or hangs 
 heavily upon the reins, is very unsuitable for a 
 lady's use : so, again, is one having the mouth so 
 tender as to suffer from moderate pressure, either 
 by the snaffle or the curb. The former is no less 
 fatiguing to, than the latter is distressed by, the 
 bridle hand. 
 
 If, however, a horse possessed every quality 
 requisite for a good horsewoman, a lady of timid 
 
The Lady's Horse. 
 
 33 
 
 disposition would be so alarmed at the sprightly 
 action and delicate sensibility of his mouth, that 
 she could not forbear cringing ; and, against this, 
 it is necessary to guard, for the cringing of the 
 body, always to the near side, and also that of the 
 hand, makes the horse restless and uncomfortable. 
 
34 Personal Equipments. 
 
 ^eirso^i £<jt|iptyeii)fs. 
 
 In the selection of these, a lady ha3 a fair op- 
 portunity for the proper display of a refined and 
 judicious taste. All that is gaudy, needless, or 
 even elaborate, is vulgar. Perfect simplicity, in- 
 deed, as regards, not only her own costume, but 
 "the trappings of her palfry," is expected, at the 
 present day, on the part of every well-bred female 
 equestrian. 
 
 The habit should fit the bust, without a crease : 
 but beneath the waist, it ought to be, not only long, 
 but, somewhat full and flowing. Its color should 
 be dark as possible, without being positively black. 
 
 The hair should be plaited ; or, if otherwise 
 dressed, so arranged and secured, that it may not 
 be blown into the rider's eyes ; nor, from exercise, 
 or the effect of humid weather, be liable to be so 
 discomposed, as to become embarrassing. 
 
 To ride in a bonnet is far from judicious. A 
 hat, or neat undress military cap, is indispensable 
 to the female equestrian. It should be secured 
 most carefully to the head : for, the loss of it 
 
Personal Eq ipments. 
 
 35 
 
 would not merely be inconvenient, but, perhaps, 
 dangerous, from the startling effect which its fall 
 might produce on the sensitive temperament of the 
 horse. 
 
 A veil is the reverse of objectionable, provided 
 it be of moderate length, and safely tied to the 
 hat or cap ; which, it is proper to state, should 
 have no other ornament or appendage. 
 
 The whip should be exquisitely neat and highly 
 finished ; but with little, if any decoration. 
 
36 Accoutrements for the Horse. 
 
 ftcMiifretyeqta foir ftje Jfoirge. 
 
 Every accoutrement for the horse, however 
 ornamental and pictorial, beyond the mere saddle 
 and bridle, is to be rejected, as being in bad taste. 
 The crupper and breast-band are now almost obso- 
 lete ; the saddle-cloth has nearly disappeared ; 
 nettings are, generally speaking, abandoned ; and 
 the martingale itself, valuable as it may be for 
 horses of a certain character, is rarely to be seen. 
 
 Simplicity, indeed, as regards female equestrian- 
 ism, is now imperatively (and, strange to say, most 
 
ACCOUTREMENTS FOB, THE HORSE. 37 
 
 judiciously) enjoined, by "that same fickle god- 
 dess, Fashion," in obedience to whose sovereign 
 behest, a lady's horse, in the olden time, was dis- 
 guised, as it were, " in cloth of gold most curiously 
 wrought." 
 
 THE SADDLE. 
 
 The Saddle must be considered first with rela- 
 tion to the horse, and secondly with relation to the 
 rider. 
 
 I. With regard to the horse, the saddle prevents 
 the friction he would endure if bare-backed, or if 
 he had merely a cloth on ; and it distributes the 
 weight of the rider to the parts most capable of 
 bearing it. 
 
 Without a saddle, the horse would sustain the 
 weight in the middle and weakest part of the back ; 
 but with a saddle, the rider's weight is distributed, 
 as the saddle has bearings before and behind, but 
 none in the middle. 
 
 Hence it is evident that the saddle should be 
 proportioned to the size of the horse; the bear- 
 ings before being clear of interference with the 
 plate-bone, and not extending further behind than 
 within four inches of the hips. 
 
 The bearing of the saddle should be equal on 
 4 
 
38 Accoutrements for the Horse. 
 
 every part that it is intended to touch ; and the 
 closer it conies, so that neither the weight of the 
 rider nor settling of the pannel can bring it to 
 injure the withers' or chine, the better. 
 
 If a saddle do not fit, the pannel cannot be 
 stuffed so as to insure its not injuring the horse ; 
 and where it does fit, superfluous stuffing should 
 be avoided, as causing the saddle to shift its 
 place, &c. 
 
 II. With regard to the rider, it must be ob- 
 served, that a saddle may form a most unpleasant 
 seat for her, though it fit the horse. 
 
 The best test of the propriety or adaptation of 
 the seat is when the rider, without the stirrup and 
 without effort, easily falls into and keeps her pro- 
 per situation in the saddle ; for when the seat is 
 improperly shaped, she will be shifted and placed 
 insecurely. 
 
 A lady's saddle requires particular exactness in 
 fitting, or the horse will be cruelly galled by it. 
 It should be very deep in the points, and should 
 sit close from the top of the bearing to the extreme 
 ends of the points. The manner in which a lady 
 rides will ever give the saddle a preponderance to 
 the near side, at which time the saddle is sustained 
 by the point on the near side, and the bearing on 
 the off, which may be compared to a hook; the 
 
Accoutrements for the Horse. 39 
 
 depth and closeness of the near point, preventing 
 the bearing on the off side unhooking itself. The 
 closer the pommel comes down to the withers, so 
 that neither weight nor settlement can make it 
 touch, the better ; and a trifling easement may be 
 given on the off side of the pommel, but not to 
 extend to any part where the bearing should be, 
 lest you loosen that hold which sustains the saddle. 
 Ladies' saddles, when properly fitted, will not 
 require cruppers more than gentlemen's, but the 
 girths crossed from the hind part of the saddle to 
 the front, will keep them more steady ; or a strap 
 from the hind part of the saddle to the fore girth 
 on the off side, may prevent the saddle twisting to 
 the near side, as it usually does. 
 
 The seat of a lady's saddle, exclusive of the 
 head, is differently formed from the gentleman's. 
 A deep hollowness in the centre of the seat is 
 unnecessary ; the seat is stuffed on each side full, 
 that the rider may be less liable to slide to the 
 near side ; and particular regard should be had 
 that the saddle is proportioned to the size of the 
 lady, for a tall lady, though ever so slim and light, 
 must not have a short saddle, because she cannot 
 keep herself from off the cantle. 
 
 The modern ladies' saddles, exclusive of the 
 heads, are made high in the pommel ; the intention 
 
40 Accoutrements for the Horse. 
 
 being to prevent the seat from shifting forward, 
 on even ground, or small declivities, which it un- 
 avoidably will in riding down steep hills ; and 
 when the seat is thus thrown forward, the knee 
 loses its grasp, which is the lady's principal secu- 
 rity. The head of the modern saddle, which is 
 the part that receives the knee, is made high (from 
 six to eight inches,) which secures the knee from 
 being displaced by any little unexpected rough- 
 ness, that sometimes unavoidably happens. The 
 head is also placed more upright, or over to the 
 off side, which assists the lady in keeping her 
 centre in the saddle, and not hanging to the near 
 side. Beside this, the modern saddle has a flap 
 on the near side before, which preserves the habit 
 from the sweat of the horse, and the leg from the 
 front of the saddle. The inside of this flap is 
 sometimes lined with flannel for the accommoda- 
 tion of the horse ; and the outside with hog-skin, 
 stuffed for the accommodation of the rider. The 
 head, and every part of the lady's saddle, should 
 be stuffed, to render it as comfortable as pos- 
 sible. 
 
Accoutrements for the Horse. 41 
 
 THE BRIDLE. 
 
 The Bridle consists of reins and a bit ; for the 
 latter term may be applied to any piece of metal 
 introduced into the horse's mouth for the purpose 
 of restraint. 
 
 I. A short iron rod, made rather wider than the 
 mouth of the horse, and provided with a hook or 
 ring at each extremity for fastening the reins to, 
 affords us an instance perhaps of the greatest pos- 
 sible simplicity in the construction of a bit ; and 
 such a one only slightly curved forwards, to allow 
 more liberty for the tongue, is at present in gene- 
 ral use for the heavier kind of draft horses. 
 
 A rod similar to the former, broken in two pieces, 
 and connected by a joint in the middle, is the next 
 in point of simplicity, and is in common use for 
 horses of light draft, as in those employed for the 
 curricle, coach, &c. 
 
 The next in point of further complication of 
 parts, and which scarcely can be said to differ 
 from the former, is the common snaffle. This is 
 provided with two cross pieces which rest against 
 the lips or sides of the mouth externally ; for as 
 the snaffle is intended for the saddle horse, and 
 the reins go to the hands, these cross pieces are 
 4* 
 
42 Accoutrements for the Horse. 
 
 useful in preventing the bit from being drawn 
 through the mouth. 
 
 To give the greatest ease possible, a large and 
 highly polished bit is necessary. 
 
 On the other hand, to give the greatest degree 
 of severity to the mouth piece of the snaffle, it is 
 twisted while hot into a spiral form, and is made 
 to present by this means a sharp, rough, and un- 
 equal surface to the jaw, being capable, according 
 to the degree of sharpness to which the edges are 
 wrought of pressing the bars or lips with greater 
 or less severity. The different degrees of punish- 
 ment which this kind of bit is capable of inflicting, 
 will perhaps be found sufficient for all the purposes 
 of correction. 
 
 The next kind of bit in use for horses is the 
 curbed bit, which, as it is an instrument of much 
 greater complication of parts than the snaffle, so 
 it appears to have been of comparatively recent 
 date. 
 
 Stripped of all unnecessary trappings, this in- 
 strument consists of the following essential parts : 
 — a mouth piece ; two side branches, or inflexible 
 rods of iron, firmly fixed to the former ; a chain 
 passing from side to side, behind the chin, includ- 
 ing the jaw ; two eyes or rings at the upper ex- 
 tremity of these branches, serving to fasten them 
 
Accoutrements for the Horse. 43 
 
 to the headstall, to stay them in the mouth, and 
 having the chain attached to them ; and two other 
 rings at the lower extremity of the above branches 
 receiving the reins which pass to the hand. These 
 are all the parts really necessary to constitute the 
 curb. 
 
 The bits thus formed being placed in the mouth, 
 and the chain passed round the lower jaw, the 
 branches, it will be readily seen, become powerful 
 levers when drawn backwards, acting upon the 
 mouth piece as a centre, and squeezing, by means 
 of the chain, whatever interposes between it and 
 the mouth piece, with a force equal to the length 
 of the lever afforded by the lower branch. 
 
 From considering its mode of operating, it 
 might reasonably be doubted whether it does in 
 reality stop the horse by its power and opposed 
 force, as is generally conceived at present, or 
 rather by the severity of the pain it inflicts ; for 
 should the horse arm himself against this, it is 
 totally insufficient to arrest his course ; of which 
 instances occur in runaway horses every day. 
 
 The most useful bit of the curbed kind appears 
 to be the Weymouth bit, which is at present in 
 common use for draffrnorses of light work, as for 
 carriages, coaches, &c. It consists of a strong, 
 plain mouth piece, of uniform thickness through- 
 
44 Accoutrements for the Horse. 
 
 out, without any upset or jeive, but is simply 
 curved forwards, to give liberty to the tongue. 
 This kind of construction is the simplest perhaps 
 that the curb admits of. 
 
 The easier, simpler, and lighter a bit is in all its 
 parts, provided it produces the desired effect, the 
 better and more agreeable it will be. 
 
 II. As to the reins, we need only observe, that 
 their centres should be accurately marked; but 
 when, by both reins being held in one hand, the 
 near or left rein has to pass under the little finger 
 and on the outside of the right rein over the fore- 
 finger, this should cause the right rein to be held 
 from half to three quarters of an inch shorter, 
 and the centre to come proportionally toward the 
 left. 
 
 When a horse can stop readily and with ease, 
 when his head is constant and steady, and he is 
 light and firm in the hand, and so supple as to be 
 able to obey it in all its motions with ease and 
 readiness, he gives ample proofs that the bit is 
 properly adjusted, and fitted to his mouth, and 
 that he is reconciled, and even pleased with the 
 power it exercises over him*^on the contrary, if 
 he open his mouth as if he was gagged, if he 
 writhe and twist his jaws, if he draw up his tongue 
 above the mouth piece, or thrust it out of his 
 
Accoutrements for the Horse. 45 
 
 mouth sideways, if lie retain himself or run hack- 
 ward, if he carry his head very low, and endeavor 
 to force the hand, if he fear the impression of the 
 bit, have no appui, toss his head up and down, or 
 refuse to advance and go forward, interrupting his 
 manege with various disorders, he gives evident 
 reason to suspect that the bit is not properly 
 adapted to his mouth, and hurts it, either within 
 side or without. 
 
 . THE STIRRUP. 
 
 The pupil having been instructed in the use of 
 the different aids, and how to maintain her seat, 
 and to ride with ease to herself in the proper 
 equilibrium without the stirrup, may be considered 
 sufficiently advanced to be permitted to ride with it. 
 
 The proper length of the stirrup is, when the 
 upper edge of the bottom bar of the iron, or of 
 the slipper, reaches one finger's breadth below the 
 inner ankle bone. 
 
 The position on horseback with a stirrup differs 
 in nothing from that described for the position 
 without a stirrup; except that, the thigh being 
 relieved from the weight of the leg and foot by 
 their resting on the stirrup, the knee will be a 
 little bent. 
 
46 Accoutrements for the Horse. 
 
 When the foot is in the stirrup, the heel should 
 be lower than the toes ; and no more than the na- 
 tural weight of the limbs should be borne in the 
 stirrup. 
 
 It is by an easy play of the ankle and instep 
 that the stirrup is retained and the position pre- 
 served. 
 
Rules of the Road. 47 
 
 lilies of ffye 1{o^cL 
 
 Without a knowledge of these, the fair eques- 
 trian, when riding in public, would be exposed to 
 considerable inconvenience, and, often, to no slight 
 degree of danger. 
 
 By a generally understood compact, persons, 
 whether riding or driving, when proceeding in op- 
 posite directions, pass, each on his or her own off, 
 or right hand side, of the road ; and when on a 
 parallel course, the faster party goes by the other, 
 also on the off, or right. In other words, when 
 the former is the case, the left hands of the par- 
 ties meeting, are towards each other ; and, in the 
 latter, the left hand of the faster, is towards the 
 right hand of the slower. It follows, therefore, 
 that when the rider is about to meet horses or car- 
 riages, she should take her ground on her off, or 
 right, side of the road ; and, when about to pass 
 those travelling in the same direction with, though 
 at a less speedy pace than, herself, on her right, 
 or off. In meeting one rider, or vehicle, and, at 
 
48 Rules of the Road. 
 
 the same time, passing, by superior speed, an- 
 other, she must leave the first, on her left, and the 
 second, on her right. 
 
 It will not be inexpedient, under the present 
 head, to make some observations as to which side 
 the lady should take, when riding in company 
 with a gentleman. Adams, a teacher of equita- 
 tion, and the author of a work on the. subject, 
 remarks, that the only inducements for a gentle- 
 man to ride on the left of a lady, would be, that, 
 by having his light hand towards her, in case of 
 her needing assistance, he might the more readily 
 and efficiently, be enabled to aiford it, than if he 
 were on the opposite side ; and should any dis- 
 arrangement occur in the skirt of her habit, he 
 might screen it until remedied. Also you are 
 situated next the carriages, and the various ob- 
 jects you meet, which, in narrow roads, or pass- 
 ing near, might intimidate a lady. On the other 
 hand, our author observes, with great good sense, 
 though in terms somewhat homely, — addressing, it 
 is to be noticed, his remarks to gentlemen, — " the 
 inconvenience of riding on the left of the lady, is, 
 that if you ride near, to give her any assistance, 
 you are liable to rub, or incommode, the lady's 
 legs, and alarm her: and the spur is liable to 
 catch, or tear, the lady's habit : if the roads are 
 
Rules of the Road. 
 
 49 
 
 dirty, your horse, likewise, bespatters the lady's 
 habit. On the right hand of the lady, these in- 
 conveniences do not occur, if you ride ever so 
 close. For these reasons, I think it most proper 
 to take the right hand of a lady." 
 
50 Mounting 
 
 ?#0l|lf)fll[}g. 
 
 Whatever the disposition of a horse may be, 
 he should be approached apparently in good tem- 
 per. Horses know by appearance whether the 
 rider is angry or pleased, bold or timid, handy or 
 awkward. A soothing tone of voice and caresses 
 are pleasing ; and to such as are unsteady, or have 
 a dislike to be mounted, it helps to dispel their 
 fears. Young horses especially should therefore 
 be thus gently treated, and much encouraged. 
 
 Before mounting, it is proper to observe whether 
 the saddle is rightly placed, the girths secure and 
 not too tight (for many horses are apt to plunge 
 when they are,) the bridle fitly on, and the curb, 
 when used, smoothly placed. 
 
 On approaching a horse, the skirt of the habit 
 should be gracefully gathered up, and the whip be 
 carried in the right hand. 
 
 It is the groom's duty, when the rider ap- 
 proaches to gather up the reins with his left hand, 
 smoothly and evenly the curb rein between, and 
 
Mounting 
 
 51 
 
 somewhat tighter than the bridoon, properly di- 
 viding them with his forefinger. The lady advanc- 
 
 ing on the near side of the horse, to the saddle, 
 receives them a little more forward than the point 
 of the horse's shoulder, with her right hand, which 
 still retains and passes the whip over the saddle to 
 
 the off or right side. On taking the bridle in this 
 manner, her forefinger is placed between the reins : 
 
52 Mounting. 
 
 the groom then removes his hand, and the lady 
 draws her own back, suffering the reins to glide 
 gently and evenly through her fingers, until she 
 reaches the near crutch of the saddle, which she 
 takes with her right hand, still holding the whip 
 and reins, and places herself close to the near side 
 of the horse, with her back almost turned towards 
 him. The groom now quits his former post, and 
 prepares to assist her to mount. The horse being 
 thus left to the lady's government, it is proper, 
 that in passing her hand through the reins she 
 should not have suffered them to become so loose 
 as to prevent her, when her hand is on the crutch, 
 from having a light, but steady bearing on the bit, 
 
 and thus keeping the horse to his position during 
 the process of mounting. She next places her left 
 foot firmly in the right hand of the groom, or gen- 
 
Mounting. 53 
 
 tleman, in attendance, who stoops to receive it. 
 The lady then puts her left hand on his right 
 shoulder; and straightening her left knee, bears 
 her weight on the .assistant's hand; which he 
 gradually raises (rising, himself, at the same time) 
 until she is seated on the saddle. During her 
 elevation, she steadies, and even if necessary, 
 partly assists herself towards the saddle by her 
 hands; one of which, it will be recollected, is 
 placed on the crutch, and the other on her assis- 
 tant's shoulder. It is important that she should 
 keep her foot firm and her knee straight. 
 
 If these directions be well attended to, she will 
 find herself raised to her saddle with but a trifling 
 exertion, either, on her own part, or that of the 
 assistant. Should the latter be a lad only, or a 
 groom not much accustomed to this part of his 
 business, he should use both hands instead of one ; 
 — joining them by the fingers : indeed, this gene- 
 rally speaking, is the safer mode. The lady, in 
 all cases, should take care that her weight be well 
 balanced on her left foot from which she should 
 rise as perpendicularly as possible ; above all things 
 taking care not to put her foot forward, but keep- 
 ing it directly under her. The assistant should 
 not begin to raise her until she has removed her 
 right foot from the ground, and, by strengthening 
 5* 
 
54 Mounting. 
 
 her knee, thrown her weight completely into his 
 hand. 
 
 Having reached the saddle, while her face is still 
 turned to the near side of the horse, and before she 
 
 places her knee on the pommel, the assistant puts 
 the lady's left foot in the stirrup, while she re- 
 moves her hand from the near to the off crutch of 
 the saddle, holding the whip and reins as before 
 directed. She now raises herself on the stirrup 
 by the aid of her right hand, while the assistant, 
 or the lady herself with the left hand, draws the 
 habit forward in its place. She then places her 
 right knee between the crutches, and her seat is 
 taken. 
 
 Should the back part of the habit at this time, 
 or afterwards, in the course of the ride, require 
 
Mounting. 55 
 
 any arrangement, the lady raises herself in the 
 stirrup, by strengthening her knee, and, with her 
 left hand, disposes her habit to her satisfaction. 
 
 The method of doing it is to take the reins in 
 the right hand as directed when mounting, holding 
 by the off crutch or pommel of the saddle, and 
 raising yourself up. The action of the horse, if 
 moving, will then considerably assist you. With 
 your left hand, each time you rise, pull and shake 
 your clothes down, and endeavor to raise yourself 
 as high as you can for that purpose. 
 
 When the clothes rise before, it may be neces- 
 sary to remove the knee from the pommel. This 
 few ladies choose to do, nor is it advisable but 
 when the horse stands still, or is only in a slow 
 walk. You then, having hold as before, and lean- 
 ing the body back — but raising yourself upright 
 in the stirrup is best — remove your knee, and thus 
 standing, let the garments fall down by a momen- 
 tary shifting of any part that presses them to the 
 saddle ; which done, place your knee again, and 
 seat yourself. 
 
56 Dismounting 
 
 £HstyOl{K)fj>Cj« 
 
 The first operation, preparatory to dismounting, 
 is to bring the horse to an easy, yet perfect, stop. 
 If the lady be light and dexterous, she may dis- 
 mount without assistance, from a middle-sized 
 horse : but, it is better not to do so if the animal 
 be high. 
 
 The right hand of the lady, when preparing to 
 dismount, is to receive the reins, and be carried to 
 the off crutch of the saddle. The reins should be 
 held sufficiently tight to restrain the horse from 
 advancing : and yet not so firm as to cause him to 
 back or rear ; nor uneven, lest it make him swerve. 
 
 The lady should next disengage her right leg, 
 clearing the dress as she raises her knee ; remove 
 her right hand to the near crutch : and then take 
 her foot from the stirrup. 
 
 Thus far the process is the same whether the 
 lady dismount with or without assistance. 
 
 In whatever manner the lady may choose to 
 dismount, it is necessary to be careful that the 
 
Dismounting. 57 
 
 clothes are off the pommel of the saddle, and the 
 stirrup free of any entanglement. 
 
 If the lady be assisted, the gentleman, or groom, 
 may either lift her completely off the saddle to the 
 ground ; or, taking her left hand in his left hand, 
 place his right hand on her waist, and, as she 
 springs off, support her in her descent. She may 
 also alight if she be tolerably active, by placing 
 her right hand in that of the gentleman (who, in 
 this case, must stand at the horse's shoulder) and 
 descend without any other support. Should there 
 be any objection to, or difficulty found in alighting 
 
 by either of these modes, the gentleman, or groom, 
 may place himself immediately in front of the 
 lady, who is then to incline sufficiently forward for 
 him to receive her weight, by placing his hands 
 under her arms, and thus easing her descent. 
 
58 Dismounting. 
 
 If the lady dismount without assistance, after 
 the hand is carried from the off to the near crutch, 
 she must turn round so as to be able to take, in 
 her left hand, a lock of the horse's mane ; by the 
 aid of which, and, by bearing her right -hand on 
 the crutch, she may alight without difficulty. In 
 dismounting thus, without assistance, she must 
 turn as she quits the saddle, so as to descend with 
 her face towards the horse's side. 
 
 By whatever mode the lady dismounts, but es- 
 pecially if she do so without assistance, she should 
 — to prevent any unpleasant shock on reaching 
 the ground — bend her knees, suffer her body to be 
 perfectly pliant, and alight on her toes, or the 
 middle of her feet. She is neither to relinquisl 
 her hold, nor is the gentleman, or groom, if she 
 make use of his ministry, to withdraw his hand, 
 until she is perfectly safe on the ground. 
 
Dismounting. 
 
 59 
 
 In order to dismount with grace and facility, 
 more practice is required than that of merely de- 
 scending from the saddle after an exercise or a 
 ride. It is advisable to mount and dismount, for 
 some days, several times, successively, either be- 
 fore or after the ride ; — commencing with the most 
 simple modes, until a sufficient degree of confi- 
 dence and experience is acquired to perform either 
 of these operations in a proper manner, with the 
 mere aid of the assistant's hand. 
 
60 The Curb, Etc 
 
 Ifye Gi^b, £fc. 
 
 All the preceding lessons are supposed to be 
 given with the snaffle alone. 
 
 When the pupil has attained some proficiency 
 in horsemanship and has acquired a proper degree 
 of knowledge of the aids, she may be instructed 
 to ride with the curb in addition to the snaffle. 
 
 The construction of the curb, and the mode of 
 using it, have been already explained. 
 
 MODES OF HOLDING THE REINS. 
 
 We have already described the modes of hold- 
 ing the snaffle either with two hands or with one. 
 Those of holding the Curb are somewhat similar. 
 
 Considering these in the same order, we may 
 first notice the practice of the army, who always 
 ride with bits and bridoons. The bit or curb rein 
 is placed within the bridoon or snaffle rein, and 
 passes through the hand exactly in the same man- 
 ner as the snaffle was before described to do ; the 
 little finger separating the left rein from the right, 
 
The Curb, Etc. 61 
 
 &c. The left rein of the bridoon or snaffle then 
 passes through the hand, laying smooth on the 
 left rein of the bit or curb, with the thumb, as 
 before observed, placed on it ; and the right rein 
 hangs loose. 
 
 The more usual method of holding the reins is 
 that wherein the little finger separates the curb 
 reins, and the second finger the bridoon reins. 
 
 SHIFTING THE REINS. 
 
 This should be done expertly without stopping 
 the horse, altering his pace, breaking the time, or 
 looking to the hands. 
 
 When the snaffle reins are held in one hand, 
 the method of shifting from the left hand into the 
 right is as follows. 
 
 Turn the thumbs toward each other, carry the 
 right hand over the left, put the forefinger of the 
 right hand downwards between the reins in the 
 place of the little finger of the left hand, and lay 
 the reins smoothly through the right hand. 
 
 By this means the forefinger separates the left 
 reins from the right ; the superfluous reins hang 
 downwards through the hand; and the thumb 
 presses the left reins between the first and second 
 joint of the forefinger. 
 6 
 
62 The Cukb, Etc. 
 
 If the reins are shortened by this method of 
 shifting, it is easy to let them slip to their proper 
 length; hut, whenever they are too long, it re- 
 quires the assistance of the other hand to shorten 
 them. 
 
 The shifting them again into the left hand is 
 only carrying the left hand over the right, putting 
 the little finger of the left hand downward between 
 the left and right reins, placing them smoothly 
 upward through the Land, and letting the ends 
 hang over the forefinr - as at first. 
 
 When both curb .id snaffle reins are held in the 
 last and most r aal method, you shift them into 
 the right hn* t (after turning the left thumb to- 
 wards the ^ght,) by putting the forefinger of the 
 right h? ad into the place of the little finger of the 
 left, tue second finger of the right into the place 
 of the third finger of the left, and the third finger 
 of the right into the place of the second finger of 
 the left, placing the reins smoothly through the 
 right hand, with the ends hanging down. 
 
 Thus you have every rein separate in the right 
 hand. 
 
 When you shift them again to the left, put the 
 fingers of the left hand into the places you took 
 them from. 
 
The Curb, Etc. 63 
 
 When you are handy and expert at this, your 
 reins will never be in disorder. 
 
 The shifting of the reins is principally intended 
 to relieve the left hand when cramped or tired, or 
 when you have occasion to use it, or when you 
 mean to work or attack your horse on the left side. 
 
 SEPARATING THE REINS. 
 
 Separating the reins, on several occasions, is 
 very necessary. Two hands can execute more 
 than one ; and, consequently, when a horse refuses 
 obedience to one hand, you take two. 
 
 You seldom have occasion to take more than one 
 rein in the right hand, which, if a single-reined 
 bridle, you cannot mistake ; but when it is a double- 
 reined bridle, you take the right rein only of the 
 snaffle in the right hand. 
 
 For tYs purpose, turn the back of your right 
 hand upwards ; put the first three fingers over the 
 bridoon rein, by which you receive the rein be- 
 tween your little and third finger ; let the super- 
 fluous end hang over the forefinger with the thumb 
 placed on it ; and then carry the thumb upwards 
 as you do the bridle hand. 
 
64 The Curb, Etc. 
 
 changing the reins. 
 
 Changing the reins, when working with a double- 
 reined bridle, may at times be necessary. 
 
 For this purpose, when you are working to the 
 right, you have the reins of the bit only in the left 
 hand, the bridoon rein being entirely detached 
 from it ; and the right hand holds only the right 
 rein of the bridoon. 
 
 Now, when you change to the left, first throw 
 all the superfluous rein over to the right, so that 
 the rein is straight from the horse's mouth to the 
 neck on his left side, and quit it with the right 
 hand. Then change the reins of the bit into the 
 right hand, with the forefinger downward between 
 them, as other reins have been directed to be 
 shifted. Lastly, the left hand, being disengaged, 
 lays hold of the bridoon rein, which, by the super- 
 fluous rein being over on the right, you can take 
 as short as you please, and let it slip to the length 
 you require. 
 
 In changing again to the right, be sure first to 
 throw all the superfluous' bridoon rein to the left, 
 and then you will not be embarrassed when you 
 come to take it up with the right. 
 
The Curb, Etc. 65 
 
 adjusting the reins. 
 
 Adjusting the reins is altering them by shorten- 
 ing or lengthening in whole, or in part, as occasion 
 may require. This will be as often as you change 
 from one place to another. Besides, the reins, 
 being held as pliant and easy as circumstances 
 will admit, imperceptibly slip, particularly with 
 beginners. 
 
 To become expert at adjusting the reins, take 
 the superfluous reins that hang over the forefinger 
 of the left hand into the right hand altogether. 
 Do not remove the left hand ; but only open the 
 fingers so that you can slip the hand up and down 
 the reins smoothly and freely, while the right 
 hand supports the horse and feels every cadence 
 or step the horse takes. By this method, you will 
 become handy in altering the reins altogether. 
 
 Would you shorten the curb rein and lengthen 
 the bridoon, apply the right hand to the end of 
 the curb rein that hangs over the forefinger. First 
 slip the whole of the reins too long ; then slip the 
 left hand down the reins, keeping the centre of the 
 curb rein fast in your right hand, and feeling with 
 your fingers whether both the curb reins are of 
 equal length before you grasp with the left hand 
 or quit the right. 
 
 6* E 
 
66 The Curb, Etc. 
 
 In like manner you shorten the bridoon or 
 snaffle, and lengthen the curb ; first slipping the 
 whole too long ; and then applying the right hand 
 to the rein you mean to shorten. 
 
 When any single rein wants shortening, apply 
 the right hand to that part which hangs over the 
 forefinger, and draw it tighter. 
 
 A little observation and practice will soon make 
 you so perfectly acquainted with their situation, 
 that you will find them as readily in the dark as in 
 the light. 
 
 When the reins are separate, i. e. both hands 
 occupied by reins, and they want adjusting, you 
 bring the hands together to assist each other ; re- 
 membering that the hand that supports the atti- 
 tude or position the horse works in, which is always 
 what is termed the inner hand, is not to depart 
 from its situation so as to occasion any disorder, 
 but rather the outward hand to be brought to the 
 inner, for the purpose of adjusting them. 
 
 POSITION OF THE HAND. 
 
 The left elbow is to touch the hip lightly. The 
 arm is to be steady against the side, without force 
 or stiffness. The hand is to be about three inches 
 from the body, and as much above the pommel of 
 
The Curb, Etc. 67 
 
 the saddle. The little finger is to be in a line with 
 the point of the elbow. The wrist is to be rounded. 
 The finger nails are to front the centre of the 
 body. The thumb is to point across the body. 
 
 From this position of the bridle hand, the little 
 finger should at least have three lines of action 
 upward to guide the horse; — towards the right 
 shoulder, — towards the left, — towards the breast. 
 The little finger should move on these lines only 
 as the aids require. Thus the horse will be guided, 
 and lifted up at each turn, by the inward or lead- 
 ing rein ; the outward acting in unity with it. 
 
 Pupils should be cautioned not to throw their 
 right shoulders back, which they are apt to do, 
 when they first take the reins in one hand. The 
 right arm should hang in an easy and natural posi- 
 tion by the side. 
 
 MANAGEMENT OF THE CURB. 
 
 The curb requires a light hand in the manage- 
 ment. It is necessary to feel and ease the reins 
 in the degree suitable to the individual horse. 
 Some horses require rather a firmer feel than 
 others, and most have some peculiarity, which ex- 
 perienced riders discover and turn to account. 
 
 The pupil cannot be too deeply impressed with 
 
68 
 
 The Curb, Etc. 
 
 the necessity of a constant attention to the proper 
 management of the curb, by means of which a 
 correspondence is kept up between the mouth of 
 the horse and the hand of the rider. When judi- 
 ciously held, it occasions a playful action of the 
 horse's mouth. It is by a firm, easy, and light 
 hand only that the sensibility and freshness of 
 feeling of the horse's mouth, so essential in riding, 
 can be preserved. 
 
The Reins. 69 
 
 Ifje ^ciij3. 
 
 . Pupils, during their first lessons, may arrange 
 the reins in the following manner : — The right 
 hand is removed from the crutch of the saddle ; 
 the reins are separated, and one is held in each 
 hand passing up between the third and fourth 
 fingers, the ends being brought over the forefingers, 
 and held in their places by closing the thumbs 
 upon them, and shutting the hands : these should 
 be on a level with each other, at a little distance 
 apart, three inches from the body, or thereabouts, 
 with the knuckles of the little fingers in a line with 
 the elbow. By slightly advancing the hands, and 
 even relaxing the hold of the reins, the horse, if 
 well trained, will go forward. The left hand is 
 raised to turn to the near or left side, and the right 
 hand to turn in an opposite direction. By slightly 
 raising and approaching both hands toward the 
 body, the horse may be made to stop. When 
 either "rein is acted on, to turn the horse, the other 
 should be a little slackened, or the hand which 
 holds it relaxed. 
 
70 The Reins. 
 
 As soon as the pupil has passed her noviciate in 
 the art, she holds both reins in the left hand. 
 Some ladies separate them by the third and fourth 
 fingers ; others by one of these fingers only ; and 
 many, by the fourth and little finger : but the 
 greater number use the latter alone for this pur- 
 pose, passing the off or right rein over it, and 
 bringing the near or left rein up beneath it. The 
 reins are carried flat upon each other up through 
 the hand, near the middle joint of the forefinger, 
 and the thumb is placed upon them so that their 
 ends fall down in front of the knuckles. The 
 elbow should neither be squeezed close to the side, 
 nor thrust out into an awkward and unnatural 
 position ; but be carried easily and gracefully, at 
 a moderate distance from the body. The thumb 
 should be uppermost, and the hand so placed that 
 the lower part of it be nearer the waist than the 
 upper ; the wrist should be slightly rounded, the 
 little finger in a line with the elbow, and nails 
 turned towards the rider. 
 
 With the reins in this position, the lady, if she 
 wish her horse to advance, brings her thumb to- 
 wards her, until the knuckles are uppermost, and 
 the nails over the horse's shoulder : the reins, by 
 this simple motion, are slackened sufficiently to 
 permit him to move forward. After he is put in 
 
The Reins. 71 
 
 motion, the rider's hand should return to the first 
 position, gradually ; or it may be slightly advanced, 
 and the thumb turned upwards immediately. 
 
 To direct a horse to the left, let the thumb, 
 which in the first position is uppermost be turned 
 to the right, the little finger to the left, and the 
 back of the hand brought upwards. This move- 
 ment is performed in a moment, and it will cause 
 the left rein to hang slack, while the right is tight- 
 ened so as to press against the horse's neck. 
 
 To direct the horse to the right, the hand should 
 quit the first position, the nails be turned upwards, 
 the little finger brought in towards the right, and 
 the thumb moved to the left : the left rein will thus 
 press the neck, while the right one is slackened. 
 
 To stop the horse, or make him back, the nails 
 should be turned, from the first position, upwards, 
 the knuckles be reversed, and the wrist be rounded 
 as much as possible. 
 
72 The Seat and Balance. 
 
 Ifye §e^f ^5 l^i^ce. 
 
 The body should always be in a situation, as 
 well to preserve the balance, as to maintain the 
 seat. 
 
 The seat is the disposition of the several parts 
 of the body, agreeably to the manner in which 
 the horse works. 
 
 The immediate result of this is, the keeping 
 firm in the saddle at such times as the body is 
 liable to be thrown on the horse's neck, if not 
 over his head, or to tumble backward over the 
 horse's tail. 
 
 It should be explained to the pupil, that, to have 
 a good seat on horseback, she must be in unity 
 with her horse, and as firm and easy as though 
 they were one body. 
 
 The fundamental seat is that medium position 
 from which all others proceed, and in which the 
 rider sits when the horse is not only going straight 
 forward, but without any bend in his position. 
 
 One of the most common errors committed by 
 
The Seat and Balance. 73 
 
 ladies on horseback, who have not been pro- 
 perly taught to ride is hanging by the near crutch, 
 
 so that instead of being gracefully seated in the 
 centre of the saddle, with the head in its proper 
 situation, und the shoulders even, the body is in- 
 clined to the left, the head is brought to the right 
 by an inelegant bend of the neck, the right shoulder 
 is elevated and the left depressed. 
 
 To correct or avoid these and similar faults, is 
 important. All the rider's movements should har- 
 monize with the paces of the animal : her position 
 should be at once easy to herself and her horse ; 
 and alike calculated to ensure her own safety and 
 give her a perfect command over the animal. If she 
 sit in a careless, ungraceful manner, the action of 
 her horse will be the reverse of elegant. A lady 
 7 
 
74 The Seat and Balance. 
 
 seldom appears to greater advantage than when 
 mounted on a fine horse, if her deportment be 
 graceful, and her positions correspond with his 
 paces and attitudes ; but the reverse is the case, 
 if, instead of acting with, and influencing the 
 movements of the horse, she appear to be tossed 
 to and fro, and overcome by them. She should 
 rise, descend, advance, and stop with, and not after 
 the animal. From this harmony of motion result 
 ease, elegance, and the most brilliant effect. The 
 lady should sit in such a position, that the weight 
 of the body may rest on the centre of the saddle. 
 One shoulder should not be advanced more than 
 the other. Neither must she bear any weight on 
 the stirrup, nor hang by the crutch towards the 
 near side. She ought not to suffer herself to in- 
 cline forward, but partially backward. If she 
 bend forward, her shoulders will, most probably, 
 be rounded, and her weight thrown too much upon 
 the horse's withers : in addition to these disadvan- 
 tages, the position will give her an air of timid 
 gaucherie. Leaning a little backward, on the 
 contrary, tends to bring the shoulders in, keeps 
 the weight in its proper bearing, and produces an 
 appearance of graceful confidence. 
 
 The head should be in an easy, natural position : 
 that is, neither drooping forward nor thrown back ; 
 
The Seat and Balance. 75 
 
 neither leaning to the right nor to the left. The 
 bust should be elegantly developed, by throwing 
 back the shoulders, advancing the chest, and bend- 
 ing the back part of the waist inward. The elbows 
 should be steady, and kept in an easy, and appa- 
 rently unconstrained position, near the sides. 
 The lower part of the arm should form a right 
 angle with the upper part, which ought to descend 
 almost perpendicularly from the shoulder. The 
 position of the hands, when both are occupied with 
 the reins, or when the reins are held in one only, 
 we have already noticed : the right arm and hand, 
 in the latter case, may depend, easily, from the 
 shoulder, and the whip be held in the fingers, with 
 the lash downward, between two fingers and the 
 thumb. The whip may also be carried in the right 
 hand, in the manner adopted by gentlemen : the 
 lady is not restricted to any precise rules in this 
 respect, but may vary the position of her whip 
 arm as she may think fit, so that she do not per- 
 mit it to appear ungraceful. She must, however, 
 take care that the whip be so carried, that its 
 point do not tickle or irritate the flank of the 
 horse. 
 
 The stirrup is of very little use except to support 
 the left foot and leg, and to assist the rider to rise 
 in the trot : generally speaking, therefore, as we 
 
76 The Seat and Balance. 
 
 have already remarked, none of the weight of the 
 body should be thrown upon the stirrup. The left 
 leg must not be cramped up, but assume an easy 
 and comfortable position : it should neither be 
 forced out, so as to render the general appearance 
 ungraceful, and the leg itself fatigued ; nor, should 
 it be pressed close to the horse, except when used 
 as an aid ; but descend gracefully by his side, 
 without bearing against it. * 
 
 Although hanging by the left crutch of the 
 saddle, over the near side, is not only inelegant, 
 but objectionable in many important respects, the 
 near crutch, properly used, is a lady's principal 
 dependance on horseback. The right knee being 
 passed over the near crutch, the toes being slightly 
 depressed, and the leg pressed against the fore 
 part of the saddle, the pommel is grasped, and the 
 rider well secured in the possession of her seat. 
 It is said, that when a lady, while her horse is 
 going at a smart trot, can lean over, on the right 
 side, far enough to see the horse's shoe, she may 
 be supposed to have established a correct seat ; 
 which, we repeat, she should spare no pains to 
 acquire. In some of the schools, a pupil is often 
 directed to ride without the stirrup, and, with her 
 arms placed behind her, while the master holds 
 the long rein, and urges the horse to various de- 
 
The Seat and Balance. 77 
 
 grees of speed, and in different directions, in order 
 to settle her firmly and gracefully on the saddle, — 
 to convince her that there is security without the 
 stirrup, — and to teach her to accompany, with 
 precision and ease, the various movements of the 
 horse. 
 
 Nothing can be more detrimental to the grace of 
 a lady's appearance on horseback, than a bad posi- 
 tion : a recent author says, it is a sight that would 
 spoil the finest landscape in the world. What can 
 be much more ridiculous, than the appearance of 
 a female, whose whole frame, through mal-position, 
 seems to be the sport of every movement of the 
 horse ? If the lady be not mistress of her seat, 
 and be unable to maintain a proper position of her 
 limbs and body, so soon as her horse starts into a 
 trot, she runs the risk of being tossed about on 
 the saddle, like the Halcyon of the poets in her 
 frail nest, — 
 
 "Floating upon the boisterous rude sea." 
 
 If the animal should canter, his fair rider's head 
 will be jerked to and fro as "a vexed weather- 
 cock ;" her drapery will be blown about, instead 
 of falling gracefully around her; 'and her elbows 
 rise and fall, or, as it were, flap up and down like 
 the pinions of an awkward nestling endeavoring to 
 7* 
 
78 The Seat and Balance. 
 
 fly. To avoid such disagreeable similies being 
 applied to her, the young lady, who aspires to be 
 a good rider, should, even from her first lesson in 
 the art, strive to obtain a proper deportment on 
 the saddle. She ought to be correct, without 
 seeming stiff or formal: and easy, without ap- 
 pearing slovenly. The position we have described, 
 subject to occasional variations, will be found, by 
 experience, to be the most natural and graceful 
 mode of sitting a horse : — it is easy to the rider 
 and her steed ; and enables the former to govern 
 the actions of the latter so effectually, in all ordi- 
 nary cases, as to produce that harmony of motion, 
 which is so much and so deservedly admired. 
 
 The balance is conducive to the ease, elegance, 
 and security of the rider : — it consists in a fore- 
 knowledge of the direction which any given mo- 
 tion of the horse will impart to the body, and a 
 ready adaptation of the whole frame to the proper 
 position, before the animal has completed his 
 change of attitude or action — it is that disposition 
 of the person, in accordance with the movements 
 of the horse, which prevents it from an undue 
 inclination, forward or backward, to the right or 
 to the left. 
 
 The balance is preserved when the rider sits 
 directly down upon the saddle, and so firmly that 
 
The Seat and Balance. 79 
 
 nothing can loosen her seat. But the firmness 
 here necessary is that hold with which she keeps 
 herself on horseback, without employing strength, 
 trusting entirely to the natural balance of her 
 body to accompany all the motions of the horse. 
 
 Nothing but practice can give this balance, and 
 consequently this hold upon the horse. 
 
 By the direction and motion of the horse's legs 
 the balance is governed. If the animal be either 
 standing still, or merely walking straightforward, 
 the body should be preserved in the simple posi- 
 tion which we have directed the lady to assume on 
 taking her seat. Should it be necessary to apply 
 the whip, so as to make the animal quicken his 
 pace, or to pull him in suddenly, the body must be 
 prepared to accommodate itself to the animal's 
 change of action. When going round a corner at 
 a brisk pace, or riding in a circle, the body should 
 lean back rather more than in the walking posi- 
 tion : to the same extent that the horse bends in- 
 ward, must the body lean in that direction. If a 
 horse shy at any object, and either turn completely 
 and suddenly round, or run on one side only, the 
 body should, if possible, keep time with his move- 
 ments, and adapt itself so as to- turn or swerve 
 with him ; otherwise, the balance will be lost, and 
 the rider be in clanger of falling, on the side from 
 
80 The Seat and Balance. 
 
 which the animal starts. In no case, let it be 
 remembered, should the rider endeavor to assist 
 herself in preserving her balance, by pulling at 
 the reins. 
 
 To acquire the balance the practice on circles, 
 or what is called the longe, is recommended. 
 Here it is right to begin on large circles, and at 
 an easy gentle trot, by which the horse will be so 
 little bent, as scarcely to make a perceptible alter- 
 ation in the fundamental position; but as the 
 circles are contracted, and the pace extended, it 
 is necessary not only for the body to lean with the 
 horse, but likewise to bend or be turned in the 
 same direction as the horse's head, which, of course, 
 is a little within the circle. In doing this it is use- 
 ful to work equally to both hands. 
 
 Experience proves that the body, if in the 
 manege seat and fundamental position, almost in- 
 voluntarily takes the corresponding motion, whether 
 the horse rears, springs forward, kicks, stumbles, &c. 
 
Of the Hand. 81 
 
 0f ii]e ihtyd. 
 
 On the hand depends all excellence in horse- 
 manship. The hand directs the action and time, 
 raises the horse's forehand, lightens the mouth, 
 and supports the position. In violent contentions 
 with the horse, the hand deprives the horse of half 
 of his power to throw the rider; and it would 
 otherwise be impossible to keep on the back of 
 some horses. 
 
 Before the operation and effects of the hand 
 can be attained, an expertness at holding the reins 
 must be acquired. 
 
 There are various methods of holding the reins, 
 according to the style of riding, the design of the 
 rider, and the propensities or defences of the 
 horse. 
 
 Here we consider bridles which have one rein 
 attached to each end of the bit, such as snaffles. 
 
 In these as well as in other cases, the reins 
 ought generally to be separated, passing into the 
 hand between the third and fourth fingers and out 
 
82 Of the Hand. 
 
 of it over the forefingers, where they are held 
 down by the thumbs. 
 
 When the snaffle is held in the common way, 
 both reins are placed in the left hand. The left 
 rein passes under the little finger and the right 
 under the third finger, both lying smooth through 
 the hand, the superfluous quantity of rein hanging 
 over the first joint of the forefinger, and the thumb 
 placed upon it. 
 
 To convey to the pupil an idea of the manner 
 in which the hand operates on the horse's mouth, 
 she should be placed on a horse whose mouth is 
 perfectly formed and obedient, but not too deli- 
 cate ; the reins being held as described ; the hand 
 placed so that the ends of the fingers are opposite 
 to the centre of the body, and about the height 
 of the elbow : the reins collected to such deter- 
 mined length, that, bracing the muscles of the 
 hand, would rein the horse back ; and easing them, 
 permit the horse freely to advance. The hand, 
 for preserving a medium effect on the mouth, 
 should be only half shut ; — the knuckles next the 
 wrist being nearly open. 
 
 I. The hand being connected to the reins, the 
 reins to the bit, the bit operating in the curb on 
 the bars in the horse's mouth, and in the snaffle 
 on the lip, the rider cannot move the hand, nor 
 
Of the Hand. 83 
 
 scarce a finger, but the horse's mouth is more or 
 less affected. This is called the correspondence. 
 
 II. If then the hand be held steady, as the 
 horse advances in the trot, the fingers will feel, by 
 the contraction of the reins, a slight tug, occa- 
 sioned by the cadence of every step. This tug, 
 which is reciprocally felt in the horse's mouth, by 
 means of the above described correspondence, is 
 called the appui. 
 
 While this appui is preserved between the hand 
 and mouth, the horse is in perfect obedience to the 
 rider, the hand directing him with such ease that 
 the horse seems to work by the will of the rider, 
 rather than the compulsion of the hand. 
 
 Now the correspondence, as it is termed when 
 we speak of the effective communication between 
 the hand and mouth, — the appui, when we speak 
 of the quality or strength of the operation in the 
 mouth, — the support, when we speak of the effect 
 the hand produces in the position or action, — are 
 always to be maintained in the manage, and all 
 united paces ; and, without these, a horse is under 
 no immediate control, as we find in the extended 
 gallop or full speed, where it may require a hun- 
 dred yards to pull, before you can stop. 
 
 The strength or degree of this appui (allowing 
 for the different qualities of horses' mouths,) de- 
 
84 Of the Hand. 
 
 pends on the relative situation of the hand, and 
 position of the horse. 
 
 The raising of the rider's hand increases her 
 power ; and this, raising the horse's head, dimin- 
 ishes its power. 
 
 If a garter were placed across the pupil's fore- 
 head, and a person behind her held the two ends 
 in a horizontal direction, if the pupil stood quite 
 upright, she could not pull at the person's hand, 
 nor endure the person's hand to pull at her, with- 
 out falling or running backwards. This is the 
 situation of a horse when united. 
 
 Accordingly when the pupil felt the hand severe, 
 or expected it to pull, she would guard against it, 
 by bending the body, projecting the head, and 
 planting one foot behind. This is the situation of 
 the horse when disunited, or defending himself 
 against the heaviness of the hand. 
 
 Hence a heavy insensible hand cannot unite a 
 horse, because the horse cannot bear its severity 
 when united. And hence heavy hands make hard 
 mouthed horses. 
 
 If then the appui be heavy from the head being 
 carried too low, and the horse not sufficiently 
 united, raise the hand, and let the fingers, by 
 moving, rather invite than compel the head to rise ; 
 the left leg on one side and the whip gently laid 
 
Op the Hand. 85 
 
 on the other at the same time, pressing the 
 haunches under. By this means the horse will 
 become more united, and the appui will be light- 
 ened. 
 
 Should the hand be too straight, or confining to 
 the horse (which it may be, though it does not pull 
 half ah ounce) by the rider collecting the reins to 
 unite the horse, and the horse freely uniting him- 
 self, he may become so balanced on his haunches, 
 that, while the hand supports him thus, though it 
 do not pull in the least, he cannot disunite himself, 
 nor advance one step ; and should the rider then 
 press him without yielding or dropping the hand, 
 she would compel him to rear. 
 
 By these two extremes may be understood, first, 
 where the horse is disunited ; and last, where he 
 is too much united. The intermediate conse- 
 quence and effect of the hand and heel must be 
 acquired by practice. 
 
 In pulling the bridle, if the lady pull more than 
 at the rate of a pound weight, she may be said to 
 carry her horse, and not the horse her. 
 
 QUALITIES OF THE HAND. 
 
 There are many properties requisite to consti- 
 tute a masterly hand. That is called a masterly 
 8 
 
86 Oe the Hand. 
 
 hand which is not only well formed in itself by 
 tuition, and riding manege horses, but can make 
 the untutored mouth partake of the sensibility of 
 the hand, which, in other terms, is dressing the 
 horse. 
 
 Three qualities are essentially necessary to 
 such a hand. It ought to be firm, gentle,- and 
 light. 
 
 I. That may be called a firm or steady hand 
 whose feeling corresponds exactly with the feeling 
 in the horse's mouth. This demands a certain 
 degree of steadiness, and constitutes that just cor- 
 respondence between the hand and the horse's 
 mouth, which every horseman wishes to find. 
 
 Such a hand will not yield to the solicitation or 
 craving of the horse to get the ascendency of the 
 hand ; for an ascendancy of the hand is obtained 
 when the horse abandons that delicate correspon- 
 dence producing the appui, and keeping him under 
 the strictest obedience, and makes a dull -or insen- 
 sible pull on the hand. And horses, though they 
 have been ever so well broke, after being rode a 
 few times by an untutored hand, will fall into this, 
 if permitted. 
 
 To frustrate the little efforts of the horse to ob- 
 tain his purpose, the hand is kept firm, and the 
 fingers braced, by which their operation becomes 
 
Of the Hand. 87 
 
 severe, and is a proper punishment. Should the 
 horse disregard this, and plant his head low, to 
 endure the severity of the hand, the hand must 
 act by moving the fingers, shaking the reins, &c, 
 to raise the head and divert him from his purpose ; 
 and lastly, the correction of the hand must be 
 given severely, if necessary, to deter him from 
 further attempts. This correction is given by first 
 yielding the hand that the reins may become slack, 
 then giving them a smart or violent snatch in an 
 upward direction, which will make the horse raise 
 his head ; and the apprehension of a repetition of 
 it will deter him from putting it down again. 
 
 II. An easy or gentle hand is that which, by 
 relaxing a little of its strength and firmness, eases 
 and mitigates the degree of feeling between the 
 hand and horse's mouth. 
 
 It is a rule in this respect not to pass, at once, 
 from one extreme to another, as from a firm hand 
 to a slack one, or to jump over that degree of sen- 
 sation which is derived from the easy or gentle 
 hand. Were the rider at once to go from a firm 
 hand to a slack one, she would entirely abandon 
 her horse, she would surprise him, deprive him of 
 the support he trusted to, and precipitate her on 
 his shoulders. On the contrary, were she to pass 
 from the slack to the tight rein all at once, she 
 
88 Of the Hand. 
 
 must jerk her hand, and give a violent shock to 
 the horse's mouth : — rough and irregular motions 
 which would be sufficient to falsify the firmest ap- 
 pui, and to ruin a good mouth. 
 
 The hand, moreover, must be sensible and dis- 
 criminating whether the horse wishes to disengage 
 himself from its restrictions, or whether he wants 
 a momentary liberty for his accommodation and 
 ease. He will remove the rider's hand if he wants 
 to cough ; he will move his head if cramped by 
 too long confinement, or to dislodge a fly, and the 
 like. The rider, discovering the cause of such 
 removal, will not correct (unless the horse, pre- 
 suming on her compliance, takes too much liberty,) 
 but rather allow a reasonable accommodation, and 
 be gentle and pleasant while the horse is united 
 and obedient. 
 
 III. A light hand is that which lessens still more 
 the feeling between the rider's hand and the horse's 
 mouth, which was before moderated by the gentle 
 hand. 
 
 The appui being always in the same degree, would 
 heat the mouth, would dull the sense of feeling, 
 would deaden the horse's bars,, and render them 
 insensible and callous. Lightness of hand con- 
 sists, then, in an almost imperceptible alternate 
 
Of the Hand. 89 
 
 feeling and easing of the bridle, regulated by the 
 motion of the horse. 
 
 By proper attention to this practice, the natural 
 delicacy and feeling of the horse's mouth will be 
 preserved, — the rider's hand will be gradually 
 formed, — and a constant correspondence between 
 the horse and the rider will be established. On 
 the contrary, any dead or continued pull will pro- 
 duce effects directly opposite to those desired. 
 
 It is indispensably necessary, therefore, that all 
 the operations of the hand should be firm, gentle, 
 and light ; and, in order to this, it is necessary 
 that the wrist alone should direct all its motions 
 by steering it, if we may so say, through every 
 motion which it is to make. 
 
 8* 
 
90 Aids and Defences 
 
 fUds ^3 Defences. 
 
 All sucli motions of the body, the hands, the 
 legs, and the whip, as either indicate the rider's 
 wishes, or, in some degree, assist the horse to fulfil 
 them, are, in the art of riding, denominated aids; 
 and those movements of the rider which tend to 
 save the animal from disuniting himself, or running 
 into danger, may, properly enough, be classed 
 under the same title: while such as act for the 
 preservation of the rider, against the attempts of 
 the horse, when headstrong or vicious, are termed 
 defences. 
 
 The aids of the hand are considered the most 
 important : all the other actions of the rider tend- 
 ing, principally, to assist the bridle-hand and carry 
 its operations into complete effect. There should 
 be a perfect harmony in the aids ; and all of them 
 ought to be governed by those of the rein. In 
 many instances, the power of a movement per- 
 formed by the hand may be destroyed by the 
 omission of a correct accompanying aid or defence, 
 
Aids and Defences. 91 
 
 with the body, or the leg. Thus :— if a horse rear, 
 it is useless for the rider to afford him a slack rein, 
 if she do not also lean forward, in order, by throw- 
 ing her weight on his fore-parts, to bring him down, 
 and also to save herself from falling backward over 
 his haunches. Should the rider, Tvhen her horse 
 rises, slacken the reins, but retain her usual posi- 
 tion on the saddle, if he rear high, she must neces- 
 sarily be thrown off her balance ; and then, if she 
 hang on the bit, in order to save herself from fall- 
 ing, there is great danger of her pulling the horse 
 backward. 
 
 The aids and defences of the body are numerous : 
 we shall attempt to describe a few of them ; the 
 residue must be acquired by practice, and the 
 lady's own observation. When the rider indicates 
 by her hand that she wishes the horse to advance, 
 the body should be inclined forward in a slight 
 degree ; and the left leg (with the whip, also, if 
 the animal be sluggish, or not well trained) pressed 
 to his side. Should she, by pulling the rein to- 
 wards her, or turning the wrist in the manner we 
 have before directed, communicate her desire to 
 stop, her body ought, at the same time, to be 
 thrown back, with gentleness, or otherwise, in pro- 
 portion to the severity of the action of the hand 
 against the horse's inclination to increase his speed 
 
92 Aids and Defences. 
 
 contrary to the will of his rider, or when he leaps, 
 kicks, or plunges. If a horse rear, the rider 
 should lean forward more than in the aid for the 
 advance : but care must be taken, in this case, to 
 perform the defence with discretion, especially 
 with a pony, or gallaway ; for, should the animal 
 rise suddenly, and the rider throw herself abruptly 
 forward, it is not improbable that he might give 
 her a violent blow on the face with the top of his 
 head. 
 
 We have already mentioned, in a previous part 
 of our treatise, the direction which the body should 
 take when riding in a circle, turning a corner, or 
 acting as a defence against the danger attendant 
 upon a horse's shying. In the first case, the aid 
 of the body, if properly performed, will carry with 
 it the aid of the hand, the leg, and even the whip, 
 if it be held near the horse's side. We will ex- 
 plain this by an example : — Suppose the rider 
 wishes to turn a corner on her left; she inclines a 
 little towards it, drawing her left shoulder in, and 
 thrusting her right shoulder rather forward : the 
 bridle-hand will thus be drawn back on the near 
 side, the off rein will consequently act on the 
 horse's neck, and the left leg be pressed close 
 against the near side ; so that all the necessary 
 
Aids and Defences. 93 
 
 aids for effecting her object, are performed by one 
 natural and easy movement. 
 
 The aids of the whip, on one side, correspond 
 with those of the leg, on the other : they are not 
 only used in the manner we have already men- 
 tioned, when the rider wishes her horse to ad- 
 vance, or increase his pace, but also in clearing a 
 corner, &c. If the lady be desirous of turning 
 to the left, she may materially aid the operation 
 of the hand, which directs the foreparts of the 
 horse to the near side, by pressing him with her 
 stirrup leg, so as to throw his croup in some 
 degree to the right, and thereby place it in a 
 more proper position to follow the direction of 
 his shoulders. In turning to the right, the whip 
 may be made equally useful by driving out his 
 croup to the left. The power of these aids, es- 
 pecially that of the whip, should be increased 
 as circumstances require. The aid which is suf- 
 ficient for some horses, may not be powerful 
 enough by half for others : and even with the 
 same animal, while the slightest pressure will 
 produce the desired effect in some cases, a mode- 
 rate, or, even, a rather severe, lash with the whip 
 is necessary in others. 
 
94 Soothings, Animations, Etc 
 
 §ooff(iii|gg, ftif}lft)01oif}s, &c« 
 
 The voice and the hand, the leg, and the whole 
 body, may be employed to soothe and encourage. 
 High-mettled or fretful horses, it is often neces- 
 sary to soothe, and timid ones to encourage. A 
 spirited animal is frequently impatient when first 
 mounted, or, if a horse or a carriage pass him at 
 a quick rate ; and some horses are even so ardent 
 and animated, as to be unpleasant to ride when 
 with others. In either of these cases, the rider 
 should endeavor to soothe her horse, by speaking 
 to him in a calm, gentle tone. She should suffer 
 the whip to be as motionless as possible, and take 
 even more than usual care that its lash do not 
 touch the flank. Her seat should be easy, her leg 
 still, and her bridle-hand steady. The bit should 
 not be made to press on the horse's mouth with 
 greater severity than is necessary to maintain the 
 rider's command; and, as the horse gradually 
 subsides from his animation, its bearing should be 
 proportionately relaxed. The perfection of sooth- 
 
Soothings, Animations, Etc. 95 
 
 ing consists in the rider's sitting so entirely still 
 and easy, as not to add in the least to the horse's 
 animation ; — at the same time being on her guard, 
 so as to be able to effect any of her defences in an 
 instant, should occasion render them needful. 
 
 There is scarcely any difference between sooth- 
 ings and encouragements ; except that, in the latter, 
 it is advisable to pat, and, as it were, caress the 
 horse with the right hand, holding the whip in the 
 left. A shy or timid horse may often be encour- 
 aged to pass an object that alarms him, to cross a 
 bridge, enter a gateway, or take a leap, when 
 force and correction would add only to his fear, 
 and, perhaps, render him incorrigibly obstinate. 
 
 Animations are intended to produce greater 
 speed, or, to render the horse more lively and on 
 the alert, without increasing his pace. Some ani- 
 mals scarcely ever require animation ; while others 
 are so dull and deficient in mettle as to call them 
 frequently into use. The slightest movement of 
 the body, the hand, or the leg, is enough to rouse 
 the well-bred and thoroughly-trained animal ; but 
 it is necessary for the animations to be so spirited 
 and united, with sluggish horses, as almost to be- 
 come corrections : in fact, what is a mere anima- 
 tion to one horse, would be a positive correction to 
 another. 
 
96 Soothings, Animations, Etc. 
 
 The aids of the hand, the whip, the leg, and the 
 body, which we have before described, are anima- 
 tions ; so also, are pattings with the hand, the 
 tones of the voice, &c. Animations should be 
 used in all cases,~when the horse, contrary to the 
 rider's inclination, either decreases his speed, 
 droops his head, bears heavily and languidly on 
 the bit, or, begins to be lazy or slovenly in the 
 performance of his paces. A good rider foresees 
 the necessity of an animation before the horse 
 actually abates his speed, or loses the ensemble 
 of his action, and the grace and spirit of his de- 
 portment. It is much easier to keep up, than to 
 restore, a horse's animation : therefore, the whip, 
 the leg, the hand, or the tongue, should do its 
 office a few moments before, rather than at, the 
 moment when its movements are indispensable. 
 
 A slight motion of the fingers of the bridle-hand 
 serves as an excellent animation : it reminds the 
 horse of his duty, awakens the sensibility of his 
 mouth, and preserves a proper correspondence be- 
 tween that and the hand. 
 
Corrections. 97 
 
 GoWecttoifs. 
 
 Ladies certainly ought not to ride horses which 
 require extraordinary correction. For numerous 
 reasons, which must occur to our readers, a lady 
 should never be seen in the act of positively flog- 
 ging her steed : such a sight would destroy every 
 previous idea that had been formed of her grace 
 or gentleness. Moderate corrections are, however, 
 sometimes necessary; and the fair rider should 
 make no scruple of having recourse to them when 
 absolutely needful, but not otherwise. Astley, in 
 his work on the management of the horse, after 
 very properly recommending all quarrels between 
 the steed and his rider to be avoided, observes, 
 that too much indulgence may induce the horse to 
 consider "that you are afraid of him;" and, our 
 author adds, "if he should once think you are 
 really so, you will find he will exercise every means 
 to convince you that he considers himself your 
 master, instead of acknowledging, by implicit obe- 
 dience, that you are his." 
 9 G 
 
98 Corrections. 
 
 Those, who imagine that a horse is to be cor- 
 rected only with the whip, are very much mistaken. 
 The aids and animations of the leg, the bridle- 
 hand, the body, and the voice, may be made suffi- 
 ciently severe to correct and render a horse obedi- 
 ent in all ordinary cases. Severe flogging seldom 
 produces any good effect; and, in most contests 
 between a horse and his rider, when both get out of 
 temper, the former usually gains some important 
 advantage. The best way to correct a horse is to 
 dishearten, and make him do what he would fain 
 avoid ; — not so much by force and obstinate reso- 
 lution, in contesting openly and directly with him, 
 when he is perfectly prepared to resist, as, by a 
 cool opposition and indirect means. There are 
 different methods of attaining the same end ; and 
 those which are the least obvious to the animal 
 should be adopted; a lady cannot rival him in 
 physical strength, but she may conquer him by 
 mere ingenuity, or subdue him by a calm, deter- 
 mined assumption of superior power. 
 
 Corrections are of two sorts, You may punish 
 a horse with the whip ; you may punish him by 
 keeping him in a greater degree of subjection. 
 In all cases, a sensible rider will endeavor rather 
 to work upon the understanding of the creature, 
 than upon thedifferent parts of his body. 
 
Corrections. 99 
 
 In reality, the corrections which reduce a horse 
 to the greatest obedience, and which yet dishearten 
 him the least, are such as are not severe ; but such 
 as oppose him in what he wants to do, by restrain- 
 ing and putting him to do directly the contrary. 
 If your horse do not advance, or go off readily, or 
 if he be sluggish, make him go sideways, some- 
 times to one hand, sometimes to the other ; drive 
 him forward, and so alternately. If he go for- 
 ward too fast, being extremely quick of feeling, 
 moderate your aids, and make him go backward 
 some steps : if he press forward with hurry and 
 violence, make him go backward a great deal. If 
 he is disorderly and turbulent, walk him straight 
 forward, with his head in and croup out. These 
 sorts of correction have great influence upon most 
 horses. 
 
100 Vices. 
 
 3i!ces. 
 
 Some horses are addicted to a very troublesome 
 and vicious habit of turning round suddenly, — we 
 do not here allude to shyness, but restiveness, — 
 without exhibiting any previous symptom of their 
 intention. A horse soon ascertains that the left 
 hand is weaker than the right, and consequently 
 less able to oppose him ; he therefore turns on the 
 off side, and with such force and suddenness, that 
 it is almost impossible, even if the rider be pre- 
 pared for the attack, to prevent him. 
 
 In this case, it would be unwise to make the 
 attempt : the rider would be foiled, and the horse 
 become encouraged, by his success in the struggle, 
 to make similar endeavors to have his own way, or 
 dismount his rider. The better plan is, instead of 
 endeavoring to prevent him from turning with the 
 left hand, to pull him sharply with the right, until 
 his head has made a complete circle, and he finds, 
 to his astonishment, that he is precisely in the 
 place from which he started. 
 
Vices. 101 
 
 Should he repeat the turn, on the rider's at- 
 tempting to urge him on, she should pull him 
 round, on the same side three or four times, and 
 assist the power of the hand in so doing, by a 
 smart aid of the whip or the leg. While this is 
 doing, she must take, care to preserve her balance, 
 by an inclination of her body to the centre of the 
 circle described by the horse's head. 
 
 The same plan may be pursued when a horse 
 endeavors to turn a corner, contrary to the wish 
 of his rider; and if he be successfully baffled, 
 three or four times, it is most probable that he will 
 not renew his endeavors. 
 
 On the same principle, when a horse refuses to 
 advance, and whipping would increase his obsti- 
 nacy or make him rear, or bolt away in a different 
 direction, it is advisable to make him walk back- 
 ward, until he evinces a willingness to advance. 
 
 A runaway might, in many instances, be cured 
 of his vice by being suffered to gallop unchecked, 
 and being urged forward, when he showed an in- 
 clination to abate his speed, rather than by at- 
 tempting to pull him in : but this remedy is, in 
 most situations, dangerous, even for men : and all 
 other means should be tried before it is resorted 
 to by a lady. Should our fair young reader have 
 the misfortune to be mounted on a runaway, she 
 9* 
 
102 Vices. 
 
 may avoid evil consequences, if she can contrive 
 to retain her self-possession, and act as we are 
 about to direct. She must endeavor to maintain 
 her seat, at all hazards, and to preserve the best 
 balance, or position of body, to carry her defences 
 into operation. The least symptom of alarm, on 
 her part, will increase the terror or determination 
 of the horse. A dead heavy pull at the bridle 
 will rather aid him than otherwise, in his speed, 
 and prevent her from having sufficient mastery 
 over his mouth and her own hands to guide him. 
 She must therefore, hold the reins in such a man- 
 ner as to keep the horse together when at the 
 height of his pace, and to guide him from running 
 against anything in his course; and, it is most 
 probable that he will soon abate his speed, and 
 gradually subside into a moderate pace. Sawing 
 the mouth (that is, pulling each rein alternately) 
 will frequently bring a horse up, in a few minutes. 
 Slackening the reins for an instant and then jerk- 
 ing them with force, may also produce a similar 
 effect: but, if the latter mode be adopted, the 
 rider must take care that the horse, by stopping 
 suddenly, do not bring her on his neck, or throw 
 her over his head. 
 
 In whatever manner the runaway be stopped, it 
 
Vices. 103 
 
 is advisable for the lady to be on the alert, lest he 
 should become so disunited, by the operation, as 
 to fall. 
 
 Our readers may think, perhaps, that this advice, 
 however easy to give, is difficult to follow : we beg 
 leave, however, to tell them, that although it is 
 not so easy as drawing on a glove, or replacing a 
 stray curl, it is much more practicable than they 
 may imagine ; though, we trust, they may never 
 have occasion to put it to the proof. 
 
 There is another situation, in which it is advis- 
 able to force the horse, apparently to have his own 
 way, in order to baffle his attempts. Restive 
 horses, or even docile animals, when put out of 
 temper, sometimes endeavor to crush their riders' 
 legs against walls, gates, trees, posts, &c. An 
 inexperienced lady, under such circumstances, 
 would strive to pull the horse away ; but her ex- 
 ertions would be unavailing; the animal would 
 feel that he could master the opposition, and thus 
 discovering the rider's weakness turn it to her dis- 
 advantage on future occasions. We cannot too 
 often repeat, that, although a rider should not 
 desist until she have subdued her horse, she must 
 never enter into an open, undisguised contest with 
 him. It is useless to attack him on a point which 
 
104 Vices. 
 
 he is resolute in defending: the assault should 
 rather be directed to his weaker side. If he for- 
 tify himself in one place, he must proportionately 
 diminish his powers of defence in another. He 
 anticipates and prepares to resist any attempt to 
 overcome him on his strong side ; and his astonish- 
 ment at being attacked on the other, and with suc- 
 cess, on account of his weakness in that quarter, 
 goes far to dishearten and subdue him. If he 
 plant himself in a position of resistance against 
 being forced to advance, it is a matter of very little 
 difficulty to make him go back. If he appear to 
 be determined not to go to the right, the rider 
 may, on account of the mode in which he disposes 
 his body and limbs, turn him, with great facility, 
 to the left. If he stand stock-still, and will not 
 move in any direction, his crime may be made his 
 punishment: the rider, in such case, should sit 
 patiently until he show a disposition to advance, 
 which he probably will in a very short time, when 
 he discovers that she is not annoyed by his stand- 
 ing still. Nothing will subdue a horse so soon as 
 this mode of turning his attacks against himself, 
 and making his defences appear acts of obedience 
 to the rider's inclination. When, therefore, a 
 horse viciously runs on one side towards a wall, 
 
Vices. 105 
 
 pull his head forcibly in the same direction ; and, 
 if, by the aid of the leg or whip, you can drive his 
 croup out, you may succeed in backing him com- 
 pletely away from it. It is by no means improb- 
 able, that when he finds that his rider is inclined 
 to go to the wall as well as himself, he will desist. 
 Should he not, his croup may be so turned, out- 
 ward, that he cannot do his rider any mischief. 
 
 In shying, the same principle may be acted 
 upon, more advantageously, perhaps than in any 
 other case. Should the lady's horse be alarmed 
 at any object, and, instead of going up to, or pass- 
 ing it, turn round, the rider should manage him as 
 we have recommended in cases where the horse 
 turns, through restiveness. He should then be 
 soothed and encouraged, rather than urged by cor- 
 rection, to approach or pass, the object that alarms 
 him : to attempt to force him up to it would be 
 ridiculous and dangerous. If the horse swerve 
 from an object, and try to pass it at a brisk rate, 
 it is useless to pull him towards it : for, if you suc- 
 ceed in bringing his head on one side, his croup 
 will be turned outward, and his legs work in an 
 opposite direction. This resistance will increase 
 proportionately to the exertions made by the rider. 
 A horse in this manner may fly from imaginary, 
 
106 Vices. 
 
 into real danger ; for he cannot see where he is 
 going, nor what he may run against. Pulling in 
 the rein, therefore, on the side from which the 
 horse shies, is. improper ; it should rather be slack- 
 ened and the horse's head turned away from the 
 object which terrifies him. By this mode, a triple 
 advantage is gained : in the first place, the horse's 
 attention is diverted to other things ; secondly, — 
 the dreaded object loses half its terror when he 
 finds no intention manifested on the rider's part to 
 force him nearer to it ; and, lastly, — he is enabled 
 to see, and, consequently, avoid any danger in 
 front, or on the other side of him. 
 
 A horse may be coaxed and encouraged to go 
 up to the object that alarms him ; and, if the rider 
 succeed in making him approach it, a beneficial 
 effect will be produced: the horse will discover 
 that his fears were groundless, and be less likely 
 to start again from any similar cause. After the 
 first impulse of terror has subsided, the animal, if 
 properly managed, will even manifest an inclina- 
 tion to approach and examine the object that 
 alarmed him : but, while he is so doing, the rider 
 must be on her guard ; for the least movement, or 
 timidity, on her part, — the rustling of a leaf, or 
 the passing of a shadow, — will, in all probability, 
 
Vices. 107 
 
 frighten him again, and he will start round more 
 violently than before. After this, it will be ex- 
 ceedingly difficult to bring him up to the object. 
 Astley, however, whom we have before quoted, 
 says, that should the first trial prove unsuccessful, 
 it must be repeated, until you succeed ; adding, 
 that the second attempt should not be made until 
 the horse's fears have subsided, and his confidence 
 returned. 
 
 A horse that is rather shy, may, in many cases, 
 be prevented from starting, by the rider turning 
 his head a little away from those objects, which, 
 she knows by experience, are likely to alarm him, 
 as well before she approaches as while she passes 
 them. 
 
 A lady, certainly, should not ride a horse ad- 
 dicted to shying, stumbling, rearing, or any other 
 vice : but she ought, nevertheless, to be prepared 
 against the occurrence of either; for, however 
 careful and judicious those persons, by whom her 
 horse is selected, may be, and however long a trial 
 she may have had of his temper and merits, she 
 cannot be sure, when she takes the reins, that she 
 may-not have to use her defences against rearing 
 or kicking, or be required to exercise her skill to 
 save herself from the dangers attendant on start- 
 
108 Vices. 
 
 ing or stumbling, before she dismounts. The 
 quietest horse may exhibit symptoms of vice, even 
 without any apparent cause, after many years of 
 good behavior ; the best-tempered, are not im- 
 maculate, nor the surest-footed infallible : it is 
 wise, therefore, to be prepared. 
 
 Stumbling is not merely unpleasant, but danger- 
 ous. To ride a horse that is apt to trip, is like 
 dwelling in a ruin : we cannot be comfortable if 
 we feel that we are unsafe ; and, truly, there is 
 no safety on the back of a stumbling nag. The 
 best advice we can offer our reader, as to such an 
 animal, is never to ride him after his demerits are 
 discovered : although the best horse in the world, 
 may, we must confess, make a false step, and even 
 break his knees. 
 
 When a horse trips, his head should be raised 
 and supported, by elevating the hand; and the 
 lady should instantly throw herself back, so as to 
 relieve his shoulders from her weight. It is use- 
 less to whip a horse after stumbling (as it is, also, 
 after shying;) for, it is clear, he would not run 
 the risk of breaking his knees, or his nose, if he 
 could help it. If a horse be constantly punished 
 for stumbling, the moment he has recovered from 
 a false step, he will start forward, flurried and dis- 
 
Vices. 109 
 
 united, in fear of the whip, and not only put the 
 rider to inconvenience, but run the risk of a repe- 
 tition of his mishap, before he regains his self-pos- 
 session. It being generally the practice, — and a 
 very bad practice it is, — for riders to correct horses 
 after having made a false step, an habitual stum- 
 bler may be easily detected. When a horse, that 
 is tolerably safe, makes a false step, he gathers 
 himself up, and is slightly animated for a moment 
 or two only, or goes on as if nothing had hap- 
 pened ; but if he be an old offender, he will re- 
 member the punishment he has repeatedly received 
 immediately after a stumble, and dash forward in 
 the manner we have described, expecting the usual 
 flagellation for his misfortune. 
 
 When a horse evinces any disposition to kick, 
 or rear, the reins should be separated, and held by 
 both hands, in the manner we have described in a 
 previous page. This should also be done when he 
 attempts to run away, grows restive or shies. The 
 body should also be put in its proper balance for 
 performing the defences : the shoulders should be 
 thrown back, the waist brought forward, and the 
 head well poised on the neck. Every part of the 
 frame must be flexible, but perfectly ready for 
 action. 
 10 
 
110 Vices. 
 
 The principal danger attendant on the horse's 
 rearing is, that the rider may fall over the croup, 
 
 and, perhaps, pull the horse backward upon her. 
 To prevent either of these consequences, immedi- 
 ately that a horse rises, slacken the reins, and 
 bend the body forward, so as to throw its weight 
 on his shoulders ; and the moment his fore-feet 
 come to the ground, — having recovered your posi- 
 tion, gradually, as he descends, — correct him 
 smartly, if he will bear it; or, endeavor to pull 
 him round two or three times, and thus divert him 
 from his object. 
 
 The latter course may also be adopted to prevent 
 his rearing, if the rider should foresee his inten- 
 tion. 
 
Vices. Ill 
 
 A horse that displays any symptoms of kicking, 
 should be held tight in hand. While his head is 
 well kept up, he cannot do much mischief with his 
 heels. 
 
 If, however, when the rider is unprepared, in 
 spite of her exertions he should get his head down, 
 she must endeavor, by means of the reins, to pre- 
 vent the animal from throwing himself; and also, 
 by a proper inclination of her body backward, to 
 save herself from being thrown forward. Should 
 an opportunity occur, she must endeavor to give 
 him two or three sharp turns : this may also be 
 done, with advantage, if she detect any incipient 
 attempts in the animal to kick. 
 
 A horse inclined to rear seldom kicks much: 
 but he may do both alternately; and the J$u& 
 
112 
 
 Vices. 
 
 should be prepared against his attempts, by keep- 
 ing her balance in readiness for either of the op- 
 ponent defences. She must also take care, that, 
 while she is holding her horse's head up and well 
 in hand to keep him from kicking, she do not cause 
 him to rear, by too great a degree of pressure on 
 his mouth. 
 
Exercises in the Paces. 113 
 
 £xei*cise3 ity ffye £^ces. 
 
 Although our limits will not permit us to enter 
 into an elaborate detail of the lessons taken by a 
 pupil in the riding school, it is right that we should 
 give the learner a few useful hints on the rudi- 
 ments of riding, and not devote our whole space 
 to the improvement of those who have made con- 
 siderable progress. While we endeavor to correct 
 bad habits in the self taught artist, — in the pupil 
 of a kind friend, an affectionate relative, or of a 
 mere groom, — to confirm the regularly educated 
 equestrian in the true principles and practice of 
 the art, — to remind her of what she has forgotten, 
 and to improve upon the knowledge she may have 
 acquired, — we must not forget those among our 
 young friends, who having never mounted a horse, 
 are desirous of learning how to ride with grace 
 and propriety, and who dwell at a distance, or do 
 not feel inclined to take lessons, from a master. 
 
 10* H 
 
114 Exercises in the Paces. 
 
 To such, one-third, at least, of our preceding ob- 
 servations are applicable ; and we recommend an 
 attentive perusal of what we have said, as to 
 Mounting, the Aids, &c, before they aspire to the 
 saddle. Our other remarks they will find useful 
 when they have acquired a little practice. 
 
 A quiet and well-trained horse, and a careful 
 attendant, should, if possible, be procured. A 
 horse, that knows his duty, will almost instruct his 
 rider ; and if a friend, who is accustomed to horses, 
 or a careful servant, accompany the pupil, there is 
 little or nothing to fear, even in the first attempts. 
 The friend or groom, may also by his advice ma- 
 terially assist the learner in her progress. 
 
 It would be needless for us to repeat our advice 
 as to the manner of mounting, holding the reins, 
 making the horse advance, stop, turn, &c, or the 
 proper disposition of the body and limbs : all these, 
 in her early lessons, the pupil should gradually 
 practise. 
 
 The natural paces of the horse are the walk, 
 the trot, and the gallop. These are all distin- 
 guished by the action of the legs and the beats 
 of the feet, which mark a sharp, flat, slow, quick, 
 or rapid time. 
 
 I. The walk is the most languid pace, being 
 performed with less exertion than the others. 
 
Exercises in the Paces. 115 
 
 The action of the walk is that motion of the 
 legs in which one at a time is off the ground and 
 three on ; marking four distinct beats, as each foot 
 in rotation comes to the ground in the following 
 order : — The off fore foot, leading first, marks one ; 
 the near hind foot, two ; the near fore foot, three ; 
 and the off hind foot, four. 
 
 Here, though the feet follow each other quickly, 
 yet the langour of the action makes the beats flat. 
 
 II. The trot is a more animated pace, proceed- 
 ing from the walk ; for when we animate the horse 
 too much, or urge him to proceed faster than he 
 can by moving one leg after the other, we oblige 
 him to take up two at a time. 
 
 In the trot, the off fore foot and near hind foot 
 mark one beat; and the near fore foot and off 
 hind foot mark another beat ; so that in this action 
 there are two legs crosswise off the ground, and 
 two legs on, which in their alternate change of 
 situation mark the time of one, two. 
 
 Here, as the action is animated, the beats are 
 sharp and quick, in proportion to the degree of 
 animation and extension. 
 
 III. The gallop is a pace of still higher anima- 
 tion, and more exertion than the trot, and proceeds 
 from the trot, as the trot does from the walk \ for 
 
116 Exercises in the Paces. 
 
 when we press a horse in the trot beyond his ca- 
 pacity, or animate him with the legs while we re- 
 tain him with the hand, we compel him to raise 
 his two fore legs after each other, which commen- 
 ces the action of the gallop. 
 
 The action of the gallop is in the following 
 order, when leading with the right leg. — The near 
 fore foot is first raised from the ground : then the 
 off fore foot. These come to the ground in the 
 same order. The near fore foot marks one beat, 
 or time : the off fore foot, passing the other, while 
 both are in the air, comes to the ground more for- 
 ward, is the leading foot, and marks the second 
 beat. The hind feet follow in like manner. The 
 near hind foot marks a third beat ; and the off 
 hind foot, passing, comes to the ground more for- 
 ward, and marks a fourth beat. Thus the action 
 of the gallop is by means of the two fore legs 
 leading close after each other ; and the hind legs 
 immediately following in like order. 
 
 Here, when the gallop is united and true, the 
 feet mark a regular, sharp, and quick time, of one, 
 two, three, four. 
 
 IV. The amble may perhaps be considered as a 
 natural pace of the horse ; because most foals fol- 
 lowing their dams amble more or less to keep up 
 
Exercises in the Paces. 117 
 
 with them. The difference between the walk and 
 the amble is, that two legs of a side are raised in 
 the latter at one and the same instant, and so on 
 
 vice versa. 
 
118 
 
 The Walk 
 
 Xfce aij^ik. 
 
 Let the pupil walk the horse forward in a straight 
 line, and at a slow rate, supporting his head in 
 such a manner as to make him keep time in the 
 beats of his pace ; but not holding the reins so 
 tight as to impede the measurement of his steps, 
 or to make him break into a trot on being slightly 
 
 animated. The hand should be so held, that it 
 may delicately, but distinctly, feel by the opera- 
 tion of the horse's mouth on the reins, every beat 
 of his action. If he do not exert himself suffici- 
 
The Walk. 119 
 
 ently, lie should be somewhat animated. Should 
 he break into a trot, he must be checked by the 
 reins ; but the pull must neither be so firm nor 
 continued as to make him stop. The moment he 
 obeys the rein and drops into a walk, the hand is 
 to be relaxed. Should he require animating again, 
 the movement for that purpose must be more gentle 
 than before, lest he once more break into a trot. 
 
 After walking in a straight line for a short time, 
 the lady should practise the turn to the right and 
 to the left ; alternately using both hands in these 
 operations, in the manner directed in a previous 
 page. She must observe, that when she pulls the 
 right rein in order to turn the horse on that side, 
 the other hand must be relaxed and lowered, or 
 advanced to slacken the left rein and ease the 
 horse's mouth, and vice versa. 
 
 If the horse do not readily obey the hand in 
 turning, or bring forward his croup sufficiently, he 
 must be urged to throw himself more on the bit, 
 by an animation of the leg or whip. The anima- 
 tions during the first lessons, should be commenced 
 with great gentleness, and the rider will early 
 discover, by a little experience, to what degree it 
 is necessary to increase them in order to procure 
 obedience. This observation should be attended 
 to were it only for the pupil's safety ; for if she 
 
120 The Walk. 
 
 begin with her animations above the horse's spirit, 
 his courage will be so raised as to endanger, or, at 
 least, alarm her, and thus render what would 
 otherwise be an agreeable exercise, unpleasant. 
 
 After the pupil has practised walking in a 
 straight line, and turning on either side, for a few 
 days, she may walk in a circle, and soon make her 
 horse wheel, change, demi-volt, &c. The circle 
 should be large at first, but when the pupil has 
 acquired her proper equilibrium, &c, it must day 
 by day, be gradually contracted. 
 
 In riding round a circle, the inner rein is to be 
 rather lowered, and the body inclined inward. This 
 inclination must be increased during succeeding 
 lessons, as the circle is contracted, and the pupil 
 quickens the pace of her horse. She must prac- 
 tice in the large circle, until she is able, by her 
 hands and aids, to make the horse perform it cor- 
 rectly. The inside rein must be delicately acted 
 upon ; if it be jerked, at distant intervals, or borne 
 upon, without intermission, the horse, in the for- 
 mer case, will swerve in and out, and, in the latter, 
 the rider's hand, and the animal's mouth, will both 
 become, in some degree, deadened ; and thus their 
 correspondence will be decreased. In order to 
 procure correct action, the inner rein should be 
 alternately borne on in a very slight degree, and 
 
The Walk. 121 
 
 relaxed the next instant, — the hand keeping exact 
 time in its operations with the cadence of the 
 horse's feet. The direction is to be frequently 
 changed; the pupil alternately working to the 
 right and the left, so as to bring both her hands 
 into practice. 
 
 As soon as the rider becomes tolerably well con- 
 firmed in her seat and balance, and in the perform- 
 ance of the simple aids and animations, as well in 
 large as in small circles, she should begin to ride 
 in double circles ; at first of considerable diameter, 
 but decreasing them, by degrees, as she improves. 
 Riding in double circles, is guiding the horse to 
 perform a figure of 8 ; and this, in the language 
 of the riding-school, is effecting the large and 
 narrow change, according to the size of the circles. 
 The number of the circles may be increased, and 
 the sizes varied, with great advantage both to the 
 rider and the horse. They may be at some dis- 
 tance from each other, and the horse 
 be guided to work from one to the 
 other diagonally. Thus, suppose 
 he starts from a, he may be made to 
 leave the upper circle at g, and en- 
 ter the lower one at d ; leave it at 
 c, and enter the first again at b; 
 and so continue for some time : then, 
 11 
 
122 
 
 The Walk. 
 
 beginning at/, to quit the lower circle at e, enter 
 the upper one at £>, leave it at e, and enter the 
 lower circle again at d. Thus, the position of the 
 rider and horse are alternately changed, from 
 working from the right to a straight line, thence 
 to the left, thence to a straight line, and thence 
 again to the right. To give an instance of riding 
 in a greater number of circles, of different diame- 
 ters, let the horse start from a, and 
 leave the upper circle at b, travers- 
 ing to the outer small circle at c, 
 passing round, so as to enter the in- 
 ner circle at e, and going round, by 
 /, to g ; quitting it at g, and enter- 
 ing the lower circle at h; quitting 
 the latter again, after passing round 
 *, at Jc, and thence proceeding to- 
 wards the outer small circle ; en- 
 tering at I, going round and enter- 
 ing the inner circle at e, passing round, and quit- 
 ting it at/, to return again to a, by entering the 
 upper circle at m. These exercises may be diver- 
 sified in various ways ; the pupil, for instance, may 
 perform the upper circle, and one or both of the 
 pair below, return to the upper circle, cross from 
 that, diagonally, to the lower circle, quit it, at Ji 
 or Jc, to perform one of the middle circles, return 
 
The Walk. 123 
 
 to the lower circle again, pass thence to the other 
 middle circle, and quit it at c, or / (as the case 
 may happen,) to return to the upper circle again. 
 Nothing can be more beneficial than this variety 
 of action ; it tends at once to confirm the pupil in 4 
 her seat ; to exercise her in her balance and aids ; 
 and to render the horse obedient : while, if he be 
 kept in only one direction, he will perform the 
 figure mechanically, without either improving his 
 own mouth and action, or the rider's hands, aids, 
 or balance. 
 
 In the art of riding, working on a circle is 
 called a volt; in angles, or zig-zag direction, changes 
 reverse; and on half a circle from a line, a derni- 
 volt. These figures may first be performed sepa- 
 rately ; but there can be no objection to the demi- 
 volt and changes reverse being afterwards embo- 
 died in the exercises on circles. As in the last 
 figure, the lady may work from a in the mode di- 
 rected, for some time ; then perform 
 the variations, by going across from 
 a to b, and describe a demi-volt round 
 by e e to a ; then return from a to b, 
 and work a demi-volt, in an opposite 
 direction, from b to a: thence, the 
 lady may proceed in a line, enter the 
 lower circle at d, and re-commence 
 
124 The Walk. 
 
 riding in circles. The change reverse may at any 
 time be performed, by quitting the upper at e or/, 
 and working on the traversing lines, so as to cross 
 the lower circle at g or h, and enter it at i or h. 
 In fact, these exercises may be varied ad libitum ; 
 and the more they are diversified, the greater ad- 
 vantage the lady will derive from them, provided 
 she persevere until she can perform one figure with 
 accuracy, before she enter upon another that is 
 more complicated. Should the horse, in changing, 
 yield his head, but withhold his croup so as to de- 
 stroy the union of his action, or mar the perfec- 
 tion of the change, the rider should bring it to 
 the proper position, or sequence, by an aid of the 
 whip or leg, as the case may be. 
 
The Trot. 125 
 
 Ifye Ifrof. 
 
 The lady should begin to practise this pace as 
 soon as she is tolerably perfect in the walking les- 
 sons. This pace is the foundation of excellence 
 in all others. By its alternate action, we supple 
 every joint — the shoulders, the elbow, the knee, 
 the loins, the haunches, the houghs : we raise the 
 head and foot, and- make the mouth, without which 
 the faculties of the horse are confined, and all his 
 actions stiff and uneven. 
 
 The perfection of the trot consists : first, in its 
 suppleness, which gives the horse a free use and 
 extension of his limbs, either on straight lines or 
 circles ; next, in its union, by which the labor is 
 more equally distributed, for a little observation 
 points out, that the horse's fore legs have a greater 
 portion to sustain than the hind, especially when 
 the horse is disunited, or, what is termed, on the 
 shoulders ; then in its action, which should be true 
 and equal, the liberty of the fore quarters not 
 exceeding the hind, nor the hind the fore, — the 
 11* 
 
126 The Trot. 
 
 knee up, the haunches bent, springy and pliant, 
 the step measuring exact distances, and making a 
 regular time of one, two, the measure of which 
 depends on the animation, restriction, or rapidity 
 of the action. By these qualities, the horse is 
 capacitated to work freely to right or left, on 
 circles, without falsifying his step, or breaking his 
 time. 
 
 In the trot, as in the gallop, the horse leads 
 with a foot, either right or left, by which the lead- 
 ing side is a little more advanced than the other. 
 This nice discrimination is observed only by those 
 much acquainted with horses. The suppling to 
 both hands capacitates him to work to one hand as 
 
 well as the other; and in horses that have not 
 been so suppled, if chance or fatigue make them 
 change their leg for that which they are not accus- 
 
The Trot. 127 
 
 tomed to, their action is stiff, irregular, confined, 
 and unpleasant. 
 
 It will be as well for her, at first, to trot in a 
 straight line: she may then work- in the large 
 circle, and proceed, gradually, through most of 
 the figures which she has performed in a walk. 
 To make the horse advance from a walk to a trot, 
 draw upwards the little finger of each hand (or 
 that of the left hand only, when the pupil has 
 advanced enough to hold the reins in one hand,) 
 and turn them towards the body ; an animation of 
 the leg or whip should accompany this motion. 
 The trot should be commenced moderately : if the 
 horse start off too rapidly, or increase the pace 
 beyond the rider's inclination, she must check him 
 by closing the hands firmly ; and, if that will not 
 suffice, by drawing the little fingers upwards and 
 towards the body. This must not be done by a 
 jerk, but delicately and gradually ; and, as soon 
 as the proper effect is produced, the reins are again 
 to be slackened. If the horse do not advance with 
 sufficient speed, or do not bring up his haunches 
 well, the animations used at starting him are to be 
 repeated. When the horse proceeds to the trot, 
 the lady must endeavor to preserve her balance, 
 steadiness and pliancy, as in the walk. The rise 
 in trotting is to be acquired by practice. When 
 
128 The Trot. 
 
 the horse in his action, raises the rider from her 
 seat, she should advance her body, and rest a con- 
 siderable portion of her weight on the right knee ; 
 by means of which, and by bearing the left foot 
 on the stirrup, she may return to her former posi- 
 tion without being jerked ; the right knee and the 
 left foot, used in the same manner, will also aid 
 her in the rise. Particular attention must be paid 
 to the general position of the body while trotting : 
 in this pace, ordinary riders frequently rise to the 
 left, which is a very bad practice, and must posi- 
 tively be avoided. The lady should also take care 
 not to raise herself too high ; the closer she main- 
 tains her seat, consistently with her own comfort, 
 the better. 
 
 The only proof, or rather the most certain sign 
 of a horse trotting well is, that when he is in his 
 trot, and the rider begins to press him a little, he 
 offers to gallop. 
 
 As the rider improves, she will encourage her 
 horse to put his foot out freely, supporting his 
 forehand up, and his haunches under. For this 
 purpose, she must keep up a sufficient degree of 
 animation ; and the instant she perceives a languor, 
 which may be felt before any visible abatement in 
 the action takes place, she must throw in her ani- 
 
The Trot 
 
 129 
 
 mation in time — a touch of the finger, the anima- 
 tion of the tongue, the switch of the whip, or the 
 application of the leg and whip, whichever comes 
 the most ready, so that it is not too frequently 
 used to lose its effect. 
 
130 
 
 The Canter. 
 
 Ifye C^i/fei*. 
 
 The whole of the exercises on circles should 
 next be performed in a canter ; which may be com- 
 menced from a short but animated trot, a walk, or 
 even a stop. If the horse be well trained, a slight 
 pressure of the whip and leg, and an elevation of 
 
 the horse's head, by means of the rems, will make 
 him strike into a canter. Should he misunder- 
 stand or disobey these indications of the rider's 
 will, by merely increasing his walk or trot, or going 
 into the trot from a walk, as the case may be, he 
 
The Canter. 131 
 
 is to be pressed forward on the bit by an increased 
 animation of the leg and whip ; — the reins, at the 
 same time, being held more firmly, in order to re- 
 strain him from advancing too rapidly to bring his 
 haunches well under him ; for the support of which, 
 in this position, he will keep both his hind feet for 
 a moment on the ground, while he commences the 
 canter by raising his fore feet together. 
 
 The canter is by far the most elegant and agree- 
 able of all the paces, when properly performed by 
 the horse and rider ; its perfection consists in its 
 union and animation, rather than its speed. It is 
 usual with learners who practise without a master, 
 to begin the canter previously to the trot ; but we 
 are supported by good authority in recommending, 
 that the lady should first practise the trot, as it is 
 certainly much better calculated to strengthen and 
 confirm her in the balance, seat, &c, than the 
 canter. 
 
 The lady is advised at this stage of her progress, 
 to practise the paces, alternately, in the various 
 combinations of the figures we have described; 
 performing her aids with greater power and accu- 
 racy in turning and working in circles, when trot- 
 ting or cantering, than when walking. She should 
 also perfect herself in her aids, the correspon- 
 dence, and balance, by alternately increasing and 
 
132 The Canter. 
 
 diminishing the speed in each pace, until she 
 attain a perfect mastery over herself and her 
 horse, and can not only make him work in what 
 direction, and at what pace, but, also, at what 
 degree of speed in each pace, she pleases. 
 
 The horse ought to lead with the right foot: 
 should he strike off with the left, the rider must 
 either check him to a walk, and then make him 
 commence the canter again, or induce him to ad- 
 vance the proper leg by acting on the near rein, 
 pressing his side with the left leg, and touching his 
 right shoulder with the whip. His hind legs should 
 follow the direction of the fore legs, otherwise the 
 pace will be untrue, disunited, and unpleasant, 
 both to horse and rider : therefore, if the horse 
 lead with his near fore leg (unless when cantering 
 to the left — the only case when the near legs 
 should be advanced,) or with his near hind leg, 
 except in the case just mentioned — although he 
 may lead with the proper fore leg — the pace is 
 false, and ought to be rectified. 
 
 When the horse leads with the proper leg, the 
 hand should resume its usual position, the rider 
 observing to make the horse bend a little inwards, 
 by shortening the right rein. The fingers should 
 be softened, if necessary, to let the horse advance, 
 
The Canter. 133 
 
 but the hand kept up, and every cadence felt of 
 the fore feet coming to the ground. 
 
 Beginners cannot be expected at first to know 
 when the horse takes the proper leg: practice 
 alone must give them that knowledge. If the 
 rider, however, take the proper position, and if 
 the horse go off smoothly, and continue the croup 
 in, she may reasonably suppose him right ; but on 
 the contrary, if the horse appear to resist these 
 aids, and the croup be out and the shoulders in, he 
 will, most likely, be false. 
 
 It is natural with beginners, to suppose that the 
 faster they ride, the better they ride ; but, how- 
 ever gratifying the riding fast may be, there is 
 more skill displayed in keeping up an animated 
 action in the gallop, at the rate even of three 
 miles an hour, than at that of twelve or fifteen 
 miles an hour. The attention of the pupil should 
 therefore be, to keep up the animation and action 
 of the gallop, without going fast. If the anima- 
 tion fail, or the action be not supported by the 
 hand, the horse will break into the trot, particu- 
 larly as the gallop is shortened or united. 
 
 The perfection of the gallop consists in the 
 suppleness of the limbs, the union of the horse, 
 the justness of the action, and the regularity of 
 the time. 
 12 
 
134 The Canter. 
 
 The gallop when disunited and when extended 
 to speed, even though the horse is supple and just 
 on his legs, loses its harmony and regularity of 
 time. In these cases, the fore legs measure less 
 space from each other, and so do the hind legs, 
 which make the beats quicker in each, and leaves 
 a space between the beats of the fore legs, and 
 the beats of the hind. In these gallops, it would 
 be highly imprudent to circle, or turn, but on a 
 very large scale. 
 
 Begin, therefore, in a medium way, neither too 
 rapid nor too slow. Be sure to keep the hands 
 up, rather above than below the elbow, and quite 
 steady, that you may feel the cadence of every 
 step, and the support your hand gives. If you 
 feel the action declining, correct it instantly, be- 
 fore worse disorder takes place, by an animating 
 touch of the fingers, the leg, or the whip. The 
 hand first discovers any disorder or relinquishment 
 going to take place, and consequently is the first 
 to correct it. 
 
 Horses, when broke, in many instances, discover 
 the ineflicacy of the rider's hand, particularly in 
 the gallop round the riding house. If the hand 
 be not attentive, the horse will break his ground 
 at the ends: he will not only evade filling the 
 corners, but will circle without going to the extent 
 
The Canter. 135 
 
 of the house. To prevent this, keep the horse 
 sufficiently united, and properly supported by the 
 hand. Do not suffer him to depart from the side 
 wall, till his nose arrives within five yards of the 
 end wall. As you become proficient, you may ride 
 him up to a yard. Then gradually turn or incline 
 your body, to let the horse circle ; but still keep 
 the hands sufficiently operating outward, to keep 
 the horse's fore legs on the outer extent of the 
 ground, and close the leg, to support the croup in, 
 and haunches under ; by which the horse will be 
 properly balanced, and in no danger of slipping. 
 
 The pupil must be trained by practice and in- 
 struction to retain her seat and balance, and to make 
 her horse obey the aids, with as much ease and 
 pteadiness at the canter as at the walk. 
 
 When the rider finds she can put her horse off 
 properly, and support the action, she must partic- 
 ularly attend to the truth and union of the action, 
 and try to raise it to the highest animation, riding 
 sometimes rapidly, sometimes slowly, yet always 
 united. 
 
 When capacitated to ride the gallop in high ani- 
 mation, lofty action, united and true to both hands, 
 she will proceed to make the changes. 
 
136 The Canter. 
 
 TURNS, STOPS, ETC., IN THE GALLOP. 
 
 When the rider is familiar with the paces, easy 
 in her seat, and has learnt to apply the proper 
 aids, she should be taught how to turn her horse 
 to the right, at a canter. This is to be done with 
 the leading rein, by raising the horse's forehand, 
 and pressing the haunches forward and under him : 
 at the same time, the outward rein assists to steady 
 the horse, and a pressure of the leg keeps the 
 haunches from falling too much out. 
 
 If she turn her horse suddenly with the inward 
 rein, only without shifting the forehand, or apply- 
 ing the leg, the horse must turn on his shoulders, 
 and lose all power to halt on his haunches ; and 
 being twisted round unprepared, he will change to 
 the outward leg, to counteract the effect of this 
 uncollected turn. 
 
 The inner hand always supports the position the 
 horse works in, and must be fixed to the body. 
 The outer hand must be accomodating to the in- 
 ner : that is, it may be detached from the body, — 
 placed forward to admit the little turn of the 
 horse's nose to the lines he is to work on, — carried 
 higher than the inner, to raise the action and ani- 
 mation without moving the hand that supports the 
 
The Canter. 137 
 
 position; and if the outer elbow is raised, the 
 hand, elbow, and shoulder must be of a parallel 
 height, and form a graceful arch. 
 
 The pupil should also practise the stop fre- 
 quently, always changing the place where she stops, 
 lest the horse should prepare himself to halt when 
 he comes to the place at which he has been accus- 
 tomed to stop. 
 
 To stop skilfully in the gallop, you seize the time 
 when the horse's fore feet are coming to the 
 ground, which is the beginning of the cadence; 
 and the hind feet coming up to their exact distance 
 finish the cadence, and complete the stop-; while 
 the horse is so balanced, that he can readily set 
 off again with the same rapidity as before. 
 
 The skill of the rider and obedience of the 
 horse, are happily displayed in the stop during 
 the gallop ; for, besides seizing the exact time, as 
 above observed, a due proportion of power must be 
 attended to, agreeable to the readiness, obedience, 
 union, or rapidity of the action. Should your 
 operation be too feeble, the stop would not be 
 effected, at least in a proper manner : if it be too 
 powerful, you overbalance the horse on his haunches, 
 and compel him to move his feet after the cadence 
 is finished, to recover his balance. Besides, in 
 these over violent operations of the body and 
 12* 
 
138 The Canter. 
 
 hand, you risk the extension of the sinews behind, 
 or hurting the back and loins ; and therefore, till 
 horses are ready and obedient to the stop, it should 
 not be attempted in too violent and rapid gallops ; 
 not even then, if the horse is weak, or the rider 
 heavy, in which case, the double arret is used, as 
 being less liable to injure the horse, or shake the 
 rider. 
 
 As the canter is a severe exercise, both for 
 riders and horses, the duration of it should be 
 short. 
 
The Gallop. 
 
 139 
 
 Ifye ft^iiop. 
 
 No lady of taste ever gallops on the road. Into 
 this pace, the lady's horse is never urged, or per- 
 mitted to break, except in the field : and not above 
 one among a thousand of our fair readers, it may 
 be surmised, is likely to be endowed with sufficient 
 ambition and boldness, to attempt " the following 
 of hounds." Any remarks, on our part, with 
 regard to this pace, would, therefore, be all but 
 needless. 
 
140 Stopping- and Backing 
 
 §fof>f>»i).g w$ 3hci(iJ)cj« 
 
 The lady must learn how to perform the perfect 
 stop in all the paces. The perfect stop in the walk, 
 is a cessation of all action in the animal, produced 
 instantaneously by the rider, without any previous 
 
 intimation being given by her to the horse. The 
 slovenly stop is gradual and uncertain. The incor- 
 rect stop is a momentary and violent check on the 
 
Stopping and Backing. 141 
 
 action in the middle, instead of the conclusion, of 
 the cadence, while the fore legs are coming to the 
 ground. The proper movements should be per- 
 formed, by the rider, so that the stop may con- 
 clude correctly with the cadence. The firmness 
 of the hand should be increased, the body be 
 thrown back, the reins drawn to the body, and 
 the horse's haunches pressed forward by the leg 
 and whip, so that he may be brought to bear on 
 the bit. 
 
 The stop in the trot is performed as in the walk : 
 the rider should operate when the advanced limbs 
 of the animal, before and behind, respectively, 
 have come to the ground, so that the stop may be 
 perfected when the other fore leg and hind leg 
 advance and complete the cadence. 
 
 The stop in the canter is performed by the rider 
 in a similar manner : the time should be at the in- 
 stant when the horse's fore feet are descending ; — 
 the hind feet will immediately follow, and at once 
 conclude the cadence. In an extended canter, it 
 is advisable to reduce the horse to a short trot, 
 prior to stopping him, or to perform the stop by a 
 double arret ; — that is in two cadences instead of 
 one. 
 
 It is necessary that the lady should learn how 
 
142 Stopping and Backing. 
 
 to make a horse bach, in walking : to do this, ehe 
 reins must be drawn equally and steadily to- 
 wards the body, and the croup of the horse 
 kept in a proper direction by means of the leg and 
 whip. 
 
 going backward in the walk. 
 
 The action of a horse when he goes backward 
 is, to have always one of his hinder legs under his 
 belly, to push his croup backward, to bend his 
 haunches, and to rest and balance himself one time 
 on one leg, and then on the other. 
 
 Care must be taken that this action of going 
 backward be just ; and that in performing it .the 
 horse keep his head steady, fixed, and in a right 
 place, that his body be trussed or gathered up as 
 it were under him, that he be not upon his shoul- 
 ders, but, on the contrary, upon his haunches, and 
 that the feet be even. 
 
 It is by an equal and steady feeling of both 
 reins of the bridle, that the horse is made thus to 
 step back; and to give greater efficacy to this, 
 the hand should be kept from rising, and the 
 knuckles a little down. The body should no 
 
Stopping and Backing. 143 
 
 longer be thrown back as in the stop, but rather 
 bend forward, which gives the hand greater effect, 
 without provoking the horse to rear — a circum- 
 stance that might occur with horses which do not 
 readily obey the hand, particularly if you leaned 
 back to give power to the hand. If you attempt 
 to compel the horse back by the power or weight 
 of the body, and he should rear, the body cannot 
 be brought forward, you hang on by the bridle, 
 and should you happen to have the preponderance, 
 you pull the horse backwards on yourself. The 
 horse must at the same time be gently felt with 
 both leg and whip, in order to keep him up to the 
 bridle, and to prevent him from swerving. 
 
 The operation of the hand in reining back 
 is a kind of invitation. Should the horse 
 not readily obey, play with the mouth by moving 
 the fingers : this will induce the horse to raise his 
 head. 
 
 The instant the horse is constrained to back, the 
 body, if in a proper position, will incline forward, 
 and the fingers must be eased. A horse that is 
 properly broke, obeys the lightest pressure of the 
 fingers, and backs without throwing him off his 
 balance ; but the horse that is constrained to back 
 is overbalanced, and, if the body did not come for- 
 
144 Stopping and Backing. 
 
 ward, or the hand relinquish its severity, he must 
 back till he fall : therefore, the instant the horse 
 yields to the hand, the body and hand yield to the 
 horse, that he may recover his balance. He 
 should then be gently invited or pressed to back 
 again. 
 
 In reining back, the hand must preserve its cen- 
 trical situation, so that it may not compel the 
 croup to traverse off the line. If the hand is from 
 the centre to the left, the croup will traverse to 
 the right ; and if to the right, the croup will tra- 
 verse to the left. 
 
 With the greatest exactness of the hand, how- 
 ever, some horses' croups will traverse, and re- 
 quire the particular attention of the heel or whip 
 to support and direct them on the line. The hand 
 and heel or whip are always to support and assist 
 each other. Thus : should the croup traverse to 
 the right, you must, of course, press with the whip ; 
 then to give assistance or co-operation, the hand 
 must be carried a little to the right ; but this must 
 be done with the greatest delicacy, lest you should 
 throw the croup too much to the left, and reverse 
 the disorder instead of correcting it. 
 
 It is to be observed, that, in reining back, the 
 hand and the heel or whip change their functions ; 
 
Stopping and Backing 
 
 145 
 
 that is, the hand compels the action, and the heel 
 or whip directs it. 
 
 This operation ought to be performed very 
 slowly at first, and only two or three steps at a 
 time. 
 
146 
 
 Leaping 
 
 ettftyg. 
 
 In riding-schools, ladies who never intend to 
 hunt, are frequently taught to leap the bar. The 
 practice is certainly beneficial ; as it tends to con- 
 firm the seat, and enables the rider more effectu- 
 ally to preserve her balance, should she ever be 
 mounted on an unsteady or vicious horse. 
 
 Leaps are taken, either standing or flying, over a 
 bar, which is so contrived as to fall, when touched 
 by the horse's feet, if he do not clear it : it is placed 
 at a short distance from the ground, at first ; and 
 raised, by degrees, as the rider improves. The 
 
Leaping. 147 
 
 standing leap, which is practised first, the horse 
 takes from the halt, close to the bar. The flying 
 leap is taken from any pace, and is easier than the 
 standing leap, although the latter is considered the 
 
 safer of the two to begin with ; as, from the steadi- 
 ness with which it is made by a trained horse, the 
 master or assistant can aid the pupil at the slight- 
 est appearance of danger. 
 
 The position of the rider is to be governed in this, 
 as in all other cases, by the action of the horse. No 
 weight is to be borne on the stirrup ; for, in fact, 
 pressure on the stirrup will tend to raise the body, 
 rather than keep it close to the saddle. The legs 
 — particularly the right one — must be pressed 
 closely against the saddle, and the reins yielded to 
 
148 Leaping. 
 
 the horse, so that the rider can just distinguish a 
 slight correspondence between her own hand and 
 the horse's mouth. The animations thus produced, 
 and the invitation thus given, will make the horse 
 rise. As his fore quarters ascend, the lady is to 
 advance forward ; the back being bent inward, and 
 the head kept upright and steady. A moment be- 
 fore the horse's hind legs quit the ground, the body 
 should be inclined backward ; the rider taking care 
 not to bear heavily on the reins, lest the horse force 
 her hand, and pull her forward on his neck, or over 
 his head, as he descends. When the leap is cleared, 
 the rider should bring the horse together, if at all 
 disunited, and resume her usual position. 
 
 In the flying leap, the seat is to be preserved as 
 in the standing leap ; except, that it is needless, and, 
 indeed, unwise, to advance the body as the horse 
 rises : because, in the flying leap, the horse's position, 
 especially in a low leap, is more horizontal than 
 when he rises at the bar from a halt ; and there is 
 great danger of the rider being thrown, if she lean 
 forward, in case the horse suddenly check himself 
 and refuse the leap ; which circumstance occasionally 
 happens. The waist should be brought forward, and 
 the body suffered to take that inclination backward 
 which will be produced by the spring forward of the 
 horse. The horse's head is to be guided towards 
 
Leaping. 
 
 149 
 
 the bar, and the reins yielded to him as he ad- 
 
 vance. 
 
 The proper distance for a horse to run previous 
 to the leap, is from ten to fifteen yards. If he be 
 well trained, he may be suffered to take his own 
 pace ; but it is necessary to animate an indolent 
 animal into a short, collected gallop, and urge him, 
 by strong aids, to make the leap. 
 
150 Concludinu Kbmakks. 
 
 Goifciqdiifg ^ehi^Jfs. 
 
 The lady should perform her first lessons with a 
 snaffle bridle, holding the reins in both hands, and 
 without a stirrup. When she has acquired some 
 degree of practice in the balance, aids, and gene- 
 ral government of the horse, she may use a bridle 
 with double reins, and hold them in the left hand, 
 managing them as we have directed in some of the 
 preceding pages. 
 
 If the lady be but in her noviciate in the art, 
 we strongly advise her not to place too much reli- 
 ance on her own expertness, or to attempt too 
 much at first ; but rather, to proceed steadily, and 
 be satisfied with a gradual improvement ; as it is 
 utterly impossible to acquire perfection in the 
 nicer operations of riding, before the minor diffi- 
 culties are overcome. 
 
 The lady, in all cases, should recollect that her 
 horse requires occasional haltings and relaxation. 
 The time occupied in each lesson should be in pro- 
 portion to the pace and animation in which it has 
 
Concluding Remarks. 151 
 
 been performed. If the exercise be varied and 
 highly animated, the horse should rest to recruit 
 himself; at the expiration of twelve or fifteen mi- 
 nutes when refreshed, by halting, he may be made 
 to go through another of the same, or rather less 
 duration, and then be put up for the day. It would 
 be still better to make two halts in the same space 
 of time ; — the exercise taken in such a lesson being 
 equal to three hours' moderate work. When the 
 lessons are less animated, they may be made pro- 
 portionally longer ; but, it is always better, if the 
 pupil err in this respect, to .do so on the side of 
 brevity, than, by making her lessons too long, to 
 harass her horse. 
 
Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine 
 Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at 
 Tufts University 
 200 Westboro Road 
 
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