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THE

BARB AND THE BRIDLE;

HANDBOOK

OV

EQUITATION FOR LADIES,

AND

MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION IN THE SCIENCE OF

RIDING, FROM THE PREPARATORY SUPPLING

EXERCISES ON FOOT, TO THE FORM IN

WHICH A LADY SHOULD RIDE

TO HOUNDS.

Heprinted from " The Queen " Neivsiyaper.

By "YIEILLE MOUSTACHE.

5>

London :
THE "QUEEN" OFFICE, 346, STEAND.

1874.

LONDON :
PRINTED BY HORACE COX, 346. STRAND, W.C.

INTRODUCTION.

Having received numerous applications from ladies
desirous of information, as to the true principles and
practice of equitation, I venture to put before tlie
public, in book form, a series of articles which appeared
originally in the columns of the Queen newspaper on
ladies' riding.

Commencing with the calisthenic practices so neces-
sary to a young lady before beginning her mounted
lessons, these papers enter into every detail (less thoso
of the Kaut Ecole de Manege) connected with the science
of riding as it should be acquired by all who wish to
become efficient horsewomen. As the rules laid down
are precisely those upon which I have successfully
instructed a great number of ladies, as my experience is
of many years^ standing, and acquired in the best schools
in Europe, I trust the following pages may prove useful ;

VI INTRODUCTION.

for, while it is quite true that neither man nor woman
can learn to ride by simply reading a book on the sub-
ject, still a carefully-compiled manual of equitation is
always a ready means of refreshing the memory upon
points of importance in the art, which, however clearly
explained by the oral instruction of a first-class master,
may yet in time escape the recollection of the pupil.

'^ViEiLLE Moustache."

W f t^l r

■ «'

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

CHAPTER I.

Riding, considered as a means of recreation, as a promoter of health,
or as the best mode in which to display to the greatest advantage
beauty and symmetry of face and form, is perhaps unequalled among
the many accomplishments necessary to a lady.

Out of doors croquet may be interesting as a game, and fasci-
nating enough when a lady has an agreeable partner, but as an
exercise physically its healthf ulness is doubtful.

There is too much standing about, often on damp grass, too little
real exertion to keep the circulation up properly, and too many
intervals of quiescence, wherein a lady stands perfectly still (in a
very graceful attitude no doubt) long enough in the chill evening air
to create catarrh or influenza.

Archery, although a far more graceful exercise than croquet, is
open to the same objection as regards danger of taking cold.

Skating, though both healthful and elegant, is so seldom avail-
able as scarcely to be reckoned among the exercises beneficial to
ladies. Moreover, it is attended with considerable danger in many
■cases.

To he well is to look well. Healthy physical exertion is irdispen-
sable to the former state, and in no way can it be so well secured as

B

Z THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

by riding. Mounted on a well-broken, well-bred horse, and canter-
ing over a breezy down, or trotting on the soft sward, on the way to
covert, a lady feels a glow of health and flow of spirits unattainable
by any other kind of out or in door recreation.

That the foregoing truths are fully appreciated by the ladies of
the Upper Ten Thousand is abundantly proved by the goodly
gathering of fair and aristocratic equestrians to be seen in Rotten
Row during the London season, and at every fashionable meet of
hounds in the kingdom in the winter time.

Nor is riding confined to those on]y whose names figure in the
pages of " Burke "or " Debrett." Within the last twenty years the
wives and daughters of professional men and wealthy tradesmen, who
were content formerly to take an airing in a carriage, have taken to
riding on horseback. And they are quite right. It is not (with
management) a bit more expensive, Avhile it is beyond comparison
the most agreeable and salubrious mode of inhahng the breeze.

The daughter of the peer, or other great grandee of the country,
may be almost said to be a horsewoman to the manner born.
Riding comes as naturally to her as it does to her brothers. Both
clamber up on their ponies, or are lifted on, almost as soon as they
can walk, and consequently " grow " into their riding, and become
at fifteen or sixteen years of age as much at home in the saddle as
they are on a sofa. In the hunting field they see the best types of
riding extant, male and female, and learn to copy their style and
mode of handling their horses, while oral instruction of the highest
order is always at hand to supplement daily practice. To the great
ladies of England, then, all hints on the subject would be superfluous.
Most of them justly take great pride in their riding, spare no pains
to excel ia it, and are thoroughly successful.

In fact, it is the one accomplishment in which they as far surpass
the women of all other countries in the world as they outvie them in
personal beauty.

A German or French woman possibly may hold her own with an
Englishwoman in a ball room or a box at the opera; but put her
on horseback, and take her to the covert side, she is "not in it" with
her English rivals.

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 3

Although the advantages and opportunities I speak of, however,
render words of advice upon female equitation unnecessary to ladies
of the sangre azul, I trust they may be foimd useful to others who
may not have had such opportunities.

In the upper middle classes nothing is more probable than the
marriage of one of the daughters of the house with a man whose
future lot may be cast in the colonies, where if a woman cannot ride
she will be sorely at a loss. Unlike the ladies of high degree above
alluded to, the daughter of a man in good position in the middle
class will often not have opportunities of learning to ride until she is
fifteen or sixteen, and by this time the youthful frame, supple as it
may appear, has acquired (so to speak) " a set," which at first
renders riding far from agreeable ; because it calls into action whole
sets of muscles and ligaments heretofore rarely brought into play, or
rather only partially so. Hence the unpleasant stiffness that always
follows the first essays of the tyro in riding of the age I speak of,
and which painful feeling too often so discourages beginners that
they give up the thing in disgust.

Now this unpleasant consequence of the first lessons may be easily
obviated by the following means. Bearing in mind that pain or
stiffness is the result of want of supplesse, the first desideratum is to
acquire this most desirable elasticity. To accomplish this, three
months before the pupil is put on horseback she should begin a
course of training in suppling and extension motions on foot, pre-
cisely similar to those drilled into a cavalry recruit in the army. No
amount of dancing will do what is required. Even the professional
danseuse, with her constant exercise of the ronde de jamhe, never
possesses that mobile action of the waist and play of the joints of the
upper part of the figure so thoroughly tabe acquired by the exercises
I speak of, which also have the further greater advantage of giving
development and expansion to the chest. I therefore respectfully
advise every careful mother, who is desirous of seeing her daughters
become accomplished horsewomen, before taking them to the riding
master (of whom more hereafter), in the first place to employ a good
drUl master.

Possibly, the young ladies may have had drill instruction at

B 2

4- THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

school ; but experience tells me that such instruction is too often
slurred over, or only practised at such long intervals that its effect is
confined to causing the pupil to walk upright and carry herself well
— a very desirable matter, but not all that is requisite as a pre-
paration for riding.

Drill, to be effective for the above purposes, sJioidd he practiced
daily. The course of instruction should begin with very short
lessons, lasting not more than twenty minutes at first ; but these,
given in the presence of mumma^ should be most rigidly and minutely
carried out, otTieriuise they are useless. They should gradually be
increased in length, according to the strength of the pupil, until she
can stand an hour's drilling without fatigue. The course should
include instruction in the use of dumb-bells, very carefully given.
The weight of these should in no case exceed seven poimds for a
yomig lady of fifteen or sixteen, and may judiciously be confined to
three and four pounds for those of a more tender age. The great
use of dumb-bells is to give flexibility to the shoulder joints and
expansion to the chest. The first lessons should not last more than
five minutes, and in no case be continued an instant after the pupil
exhibits the slightest symptom (easily discernable) of fatigue.

Of the course of drill instruction, the lessons called the "extension
motions" are the most effectual in promoting flexibility of the whole
figure ; but they must be gone into by very gradual and careful
induction, and their effect will then be not only beneficial, but
pleasant to the pupil.

As it is possible that this may meet the eye of some lady who
resides where no eligible drill master is available, I propose in my
next chapter to give a programme of the exercises I speak of, which
may then be practised under the superintendence of the lady herself
or her governess. But in all cases where the services of a competent
and thoroughly practised drill master are to be had it is always best
to employ them.

Simple as the instruction may appear, the art of imparting it has
to be acquired in a school where the most minute attention is paid to
every detail, where nothing is allowed to be done in a careless or
slovenly manner, and where (so to speak) the pupil is never asked to

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 5

read before he can spell. It is this jumping in medias with beginners
in riding that so often causes mischief and disgusts the pupil, w^^
begins by thinking that it is the easiest thing in the world to ride
well, but when she is put on horseback finds to her dismay that it is
anything but easy until acquired by practice and thoroughly good
instructions.

6

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

CHAPTER II.

I PROCEED now to describe the suppling and extension exercises
I have before alluded to.

These are simple enough in themselves, certain not to be forgotten
when once leamt, and easy to impart in the way of instruction.
Their great efficacy depends, however, upon the judgment with which
the instructor varies them, so as to call into action alternately
opposite sets of muscles and ligaments, as it is by such a process only

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

that complete supplesse can be attained. The first suppling practice
is performed as follows : Place the pupil in a position perfectly

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

upright, the heels close together, the toes at an angle of 45 (military
regulation), the figure well drawn up from the waist, the shoulders
thrown back, chest advanced, the neck and head erect, arms hanging
perpendicularly from the shoulder, elbows slightly bent, the weight
of the body thrown upon the front part of the foot.

Then the instruction should be given thus : On the word " one,"
bring both hands smartly up to the full extent of the arms, in front
and above the forehead, the tips of the fingers joining (Fig. 1) ; on
the word "two," throw the hands sharply backwards and downwards
until they meet behind the back (Fig. 2). This exercise should be

Fig. 3.

Fig.

4.

commenced slowly, and gradually increased in rapidity until the
pupil can execute it with great quickness for several minutes con-
secutively. The object is to throw the shoulders well back and give
expansion to the chest.

Second practice. — On the word " one," bring the hands together
(from their position perpendicular from the shoulder) in front of the

8

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

figure, the tij^s of the fingers joinmg (Fig, 3). On the word "two,""
raise the hands, still joined, slowly above and slightly in front of the
head, to the full extent of the arms (Fig. 4). " Three," separate the
hands, and, tirrning the palms upwards, lower them to the level of
the shoulders, the anns fully extended (Fig. 5). Simultaneously
with the lowering of the hands the heels should be raised elowly from
the ground, so as to bring the weight of the body upon the toes.
On the word "four,'' lower the hands gradually to the sides, carry-
ing them at the same time well to the rear (Fig. 6). The heels are

Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

also to be lowered to the ground as the hands are carried backwards..
This exercise shoidd always be done slowly, as its object is the
gradual flexing and suppling of the shoulder and elbow joints, and
giving mobile action to those of the feet. In using dumb-bells the
first practice with them may be identical with the above, the dumb-
bells being grasped firmly in the centre.

Third practice. — On the word "one," close the hands firmly by
the sides; "two," raise them up quietly, bending the elbows until

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

9

the hands are touching the points of the shoulders (Fig, 7) ; "three,"'
carry the hands, still firmly closed, forwards and upwards, to the full
extent of the arms, well above and a little in front of the head
(Fig. 8) ; " four," bring the hands with a quick, sharp motion down
to the level of the shoulders, carrying the elbows well to the rear
(Fig. 9). The first two motions of this exercise should be performed
very slowly, the last very rapidly. It can also be practised with
advantage with the dumb-bells, and is then of great service in
strengthening and developing the muscles of the chest and arms.

Fig. 8.

There are a great many other suppling practices, but the above, .
varied occasionally by the use of the dumb bells, will be found suffi-
cient for all practical purposes.

Coming now to the extension exercises, I select the third as being
most effective. 1st motion. Bring the hands together in front of the
figure, as in the second sujDpling practice, the points of the fingers
joining, the whole frame erect and well drawn uj) from the waist.
2. Raise the hands slowly above the head to the full extent of the

10

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

arms, turn the palms of the hands outwards, and lock the thumbs
together, the right thumb within the left (Fig. 10). 3. Keeping the
body, head, and neck perfectly erect, place the head between the
arms, the thumbs still firmly locked together. 4. Keeping the knees
perfectly straight, lower the hands, and bend the back gradually and
very slowly forward and downwards, until the points of the fingers
touch the instep (Fig. 11). 5. Raise the body and head (the latter
still between the arms), quietly up in the same slow time, bringing

Fig. 9.

Fig. 10.

the hands again well above the head (Fig. 12). 6. Lower the hands
gradually (turning the palms upwards), first to the level of the
shoulders, making a momentary pause there, and then quietly to the
sides, carrying the hands in their descent from the shoulder as much
as possible to the rear, while the weight of the body is thrown entirely
upon the front of the foot.

In this exercise aU depends upon keeping the knee joints perfectly
straight, and the head, in the bending-down movement, as much as
possible between the arms.

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE.

11

The object of the practice is to give suppleness to the waist,
freedom to the knee joint by well suppling the ligaments at the back
of the knee, and at the same time to expand the chest. For these
purposes, if carefully and judiciously carried out, it is most effective,
calling alternately upon every portion of the frame wherein supple-
ness is indispensable to easy and graceful riding.

Great care should be taken not to hurry this lesson, and if the
pupil is of a figure that renders it difficult for her to reach her instep

Fig. 11. Fig 12.

in bending down, it should not be insisted on ; but it is necessary
that she should bend the back as much as possible without lending the
knees ^ as any jdelding of the knee joint destroys the whole value of
the exercise.

To perform the above named practices comfortably, the pupU
should wear a loose dress which throws no constraint upon any part
of the figure. SHppers, too, are better than boots, as the latter
confine the foot and ankle too much for complete liberty of move-
ment.

12 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

The duration of any of these lessons should at first be carefully
proportioned to the strength of the learner, and gradually increased
as to time day by day, until she can stand an hour's work without
fatigue ; but be the lesson long or short, it should be practised every
day.

It will be found that, with plenty of fresh air and walking exercise,,
the pupil, by the aid of these suppling and extension practices, will
develope rapidly in elasticity of movement and in general health, and
that a couple or three months of such preparation will help her very
much as an introduction to her course of equitation.

Any good drill master who might be employed to "set up" a young
lady would most likely teach her all the above, and much more ; but
I have ventured to detail these practices, assuming that a family may
be located in a neighbourhood in which no such man is available, in
which case the exercise can be imparted and superintended by the
governess of the family. These ladies are always clever and intelli-
gent enough to master in a few minutes such very simple details as
those above described.

Before quitting this subject a word about gymnastics may not be
out of place. Many heads of families consider them highly beneficial
when practised with bars and similar apparatus. My experience in-
duces me to differ from this notion, and I believe my view of the
matter would be borne out by the highest medical authority.

For boys even, gymnastic exercises should be most carefully
watched, in order that no undue strain should be thrown upon the
yet unset muscle and cartilage of the frame. For young ladies I
believe gymnastics to be not only unnecessary, but injurious, and
that every practical result desirable can be arrived at by the use of
such exercises as I have endeavoured to describe, varied occasionally
by the moderate use of the dumb-bells, a few minutes of which at
one time is always sufficient. Where there is a number of young
people together, there is sure to be a tendency to outdo each other
whenever physical exercises of any kind are introduced ; and, while
it is easy enough to control the pupils in the simple suppling practices
I speak of, it is very difficult for any but the most experienced per-
sons to determine how far a young lady may go without injury to

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. Vd

herself in the exercises of the horizontal bars or trapeze ropes. If any
Idnd of gymnastic exercises are allowed for a young lady, the best,
in my opinion, are those practised with the " Ranelagh," because no
hurtful strain can possibly be tlirown upon the pupil ; and for boys I
beheve the Ranelagh to be a first-rate invention, as is also the
" Parlour Gymnasium," and several others on similar principles,
which ignore the practice of the bars.

The full practice of the gymnasium, however, for young men whose
frames have attained a certain amount of maturity, is no doubt good
if not carried to excess. I speak, however, only of young ladies of
tender age.

Assuming then, that our pupil has been prepared for riding as
above described, let us proceed to consider the style of dress most
suitable for her early attempts in the saddle. For very young ladies,
say under twelve years of age, I beheve in hair cut short in preference
to flowing locks, because the latter are very apt to blow into the eyes
and seriously interfere with riding. For the very juvenile equestrian
tyro, the hat should be one that fastens under the chin with ribbon or
something that is not elastic. Notliing is more important in beginning
with young people on horseback than to give them confidence, and
nothing so completely puts them out as anything loose about the
head. For young ladies over fifteen or sixteen, hats which are
fastened to the hair may be worn. But, having regard to the progress
of the pupil rather than to appearance, I reconmiend every beginner,
no matter what her age, to leave no doubt about the security of her
headdress. As regards riding habits, to begin with, while they should
fit sufficiently to indicate the outline of the lady's figure, all tightness
should be avoided. Tight habits are very sightly to the eye ; but, in
common with tight corsets, steel or whalebone anywhere about the
dress is fatal to that perfect hberty of movement so essential to
success in a beginner.

Loose jackets of course should not be worn, because the instructor
would be unable to see in what form his pupil was sitting. Nothing
is better, in the first place, than a jacket, of any coarse material
the rider chooses, made in the ordinary form, with plenty of room,
especially about the waist and shoulders. The skirt should not be

14 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

too redundant or too long, as in the latter case it is apt to get
trodden on by the horse, and in windy weather blows about, to the
great annoyance of the rider. A skirt that reaches about 12in. below
the foot is amply long. As to breadth, it should be just large
enough to give space to move easily in. A more voluminous gar-
ment is unsightly. The skirt, made independent of the jacket,
should fasten under it with a broad band. No clothing should be
worn under the skirt except riding trousers. Under-skirts of any
kind will utterly spoil the appearance of the fair equestrian, and
render her ride one of discomfort.

Riding trousers, the making of which should only be entrusted to
people who are well accustomed to it, may be made of cloth or
chamois leather, booted with cloth.

The boots, whether Wellingtons (if they are not out of date), side
springs, or lace boots, should be made purposely for riding. Fashion
is imperious, and that of the present day dictates a boot with a very
high, narrow heel, and a waist which is almost triangular ; both are
quite unsuited for riding. The heel of a riding boot should be quite
as broad as the foot of the wearer, and should come well forward
into the waist, after the manner of a man's himting boot, and the
waist itself should be perfectly flat, so as to give a firm level bearing
on the stirrup-iron. A sharp, narrow-waisted boot will be found
not only impossible to keep in place in the iron, but will hurt the
sole of the foot very much.

Of spurs (very necessary in an advanced state of proficiency, and
inadmissible, of course, to a beginner) I shall say something here-
after.

Of gloves, the best kind for riding is a dogskin glove or gauntlet
two sizes too large. Six and a-half kid gloves do not admit of suffi-
cient freedom in the hand properly to manipulate the reins.

The pupil should be provided with a straight riding whip which is
not too flexible, because with a very supple whip she may inad-
vertently touch the horse at the wrong time and upset him.

Having said thus much as to the equipment of our fair tyro, I
leave all observations as to dress fit for the hunting-field, or such
promenade riding as that of Rotten Row, for a future paper, and

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 15-

proceed to say something about that very important consideration,,
the matter of the riding master.

In the first place, then, it is necessary that the professor of equita-
tion should be one who has been regularly brought up to his busi-
ness. If such a man is not within reach, then I submit that it is
better to entrust the riding education of the young lady to any staid
middle-aged gentleman who is a thoroughly good horseman, and
who will undertake the task con amove. If the gentleman has
daughters of his own, all the better. I do not recommend young
men for the office, because, naturally enough, they are more likely
to be engrossed with the charms of their pupils than the progress
they are making with their riding. Youthful preceptors, too, have
a tendency to " make the pace a trifle too good," and there are not
even wanting instances where they have " bolted " with their pupils
altogether. This by the way.

To return to the professional riding master. I may add that, in
addition to thoroughly understanding his craft, he should be a man
of education and a gentleman. Of such men there are several in
the metropolis ; in the provinces they are few and far between. In
most of our fashionable watering-places one sees very neatly got-up
horsey-looking men, duly booted, spurred, and moustached, tittuping
along with a small troop of young ladies, who, with their skirts
ballooned out with the fresh breeze from the " briny," and " sitting
all over the saddle," are making themselves very uncomfortable,
when they could have enjoyed the bracing air just as well, for less
money, in an open fly. The riding master, in all probability, has
promoted himself from the office of pad groom. He knows how to
saddle and turn out a lady's horse, and how to put the lady into the
saddle ; he knows, also, the cheapest market in which to go for
fashionable-looking screws upon whiqh to mount his customers.
There his qualifications as a riding master end. The inductive
steps by which a lady should be taught, the reason for everything
she is asked to do, the "aids" by which she should control her
horse and establish a good understanding with him, are all sealed
mysteries to the stamp of man I speak of. From such men and their
ten-pound screws there is nothing to be learnt in the way of riding.

.16 THE BARB A^^D THE BRIDLE.

Assuming, then, that some of my fair readers may be so placed
• as to render access to a professional riding master impossible, I have
ventm-ed upon this brief manual of "Equitation for Ladies," be-
cause I believe that there are many gentlemen, good horsemen, who
would willingly undertake the teaching of their young friends, but
that the former are unacquainted with the readiest way of going to
work. Let me hope that the following may be of use in such case,
both to preceptor and pupil. Addressing myself first to the former,
let me advise hmi to be guided from first to last by the following
maxims : 1st. Xever do anything to shake the confidence or nerve of
. your pupil, and never give away a chan.ce of doing it to the horse
she rides. 2nd, Never talk to her about lesson No. 2 until she
thoroughly understands lesson No. 1. While tittuping hacks are
useless, and it is necessary to have an animal, even for a beginner,
that has still plenty of life, vigour, and action in him, such a horse
requires to be thoroughly well-broken to carry a woman, and shoidd
have plenty of work, so as to do away with the possibility of his
flirting when she is mounted. It should be borne in mind that,
although a woman who has had years of practice will be equally at
home on almost every horse upon which you can put her, yet only a
particular stamp of animal is adapted to carry her in her earlier
essays.

Let me endeavour to give my idea of him. In height he should
be from 15.2 to 15.3. A very tall woman may look better on a taller
horse, but it is rarely that one finds an animal over 15.3 with the
requisite proportions to ensure good action. Colom* is of little
accoimt, except that grey horses in the summer time part with their
coats so freely as to spoil a lady's habit. Quality is indispensable.
A three-part-bred horse, however, is the best, because he is Kkely to
have more substance in the right place than a thoroughbred. A
good blood-like head and neck are warranty for fashion. Good
shoulders, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, are not always
good shoulders for a lady's horse, because while they should be clean
and sloping as to the scapula, the withers should not be too fine.
A little thickness there causes a side saddle to fit better for the
-comfort of the rider. There should be plenty of depth in the girth

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 17

:and rare good back ribs, for a woman's riding calls very much, on a
horse's power. A short back is not conducive to ease for the
rider, whatever it may be as to the staying powers of the horse. On
the contrary, what is generally called a long-backed horse carries a
lady most pleasantly ; but there must be plenty of power in the
quarters, muscular upper thighs, and strong hocks. The quarters,
too, should be good, and the setting on of the tail such as finishes the
topping of the horse well, and gives him a fashionable appearance.
If conjoined to the above-named points he stands on moderately
short legs, with plenty of bone, and has good round and sound feet,
lie will be found as nearly as possible what is required.

18 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

CHAPTER III.

If a horse has been broken, so as to be obedient to the hand and
leg of a man, and steady to sights and sounds, it is considered by
many that the animal has only to be ridden with a skirt, and
accustomed to strike off without hesitation with its off legs in the
canter, and it is fit to carry a lady.

This is a great mistake. It is true that teaching it to canter
collectedly Avith its off legs is necessary, as well as habituating it to
the skirt, but there are other and important matters to be con-
sidered which are too often overlooked.

In the first place, a man, to break a horse properly for a lady,
must be sufficiently well up at his craft to train the animal to obey
the lightest possible application of the aids of the leg; because
a lady, having but one leg to the horse, cannot give him the
same amoimt of support that can be giren by a man, who apj)lies
both.

To supply the absence of the leg on the off side, in the case of
the lady, the only substitute is the whip. But all men accustomed
to breaking know that the effect of the whip is altogether different
from that of the leg, and that while the whip is occasionally neces-
sary to rouse a slightly lazy horse, and put him into his bridle, in
the case of one very free, or at all hot, the whip must be used with
great caution by a lady. As I have remarked elsewhere, most young
horses are inclined to strike off in the canter with the near leg, which
is most unpleasant to the fair equestrian. To correct this, the
breaker applies certain well-known aids, which it is unnecessary here
to repeat. Bat in order to confirm the horse in his lesson of canter-
ing with his off leg, the man must give the animal a considerable
amount of support with both his own and both hands. If this is

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 19

continued after the horse is advanced to the stage of breaking
where the trainer begins to fit him for a lady, and carried on until
she rides him, he will be far from a pleasant mount to her, because,
missing the support of the man's legs, the horse will not understand
the light and delicate ones which the lady will use. It is necessary,
therefore, that the breaker should accustom his charge readily to
obey the slightest indication of the rider's will, and then ride him in
a side-saddle, in precisely the same way as he will afterwards be
ridden by the lady.

I remember once seeing a man, really a capital rider in his own
way, giving a lady a lesson on a horse of her own which he had
broken for her. Both master and pupil were sorely puzzled — the
former because the horse would not obey the hand and leg of the
rider, as directed by the master, and the pupil, by finding that all
she was domg produced an effect diametrically opposite to that which
was intended. Perhaps the horse, too, was as much puzzled to know
what to be at as either rider or master.

The animal was a very shapely chesnut, nearly thoroughbred, very
good-tempered, but full of courage. Evidently he was unaccus-
tomed to carry a lady, and was beginning to give indications that his
temper was getting up. The object was to canter "him to the right
round the school, " going large," as it is technically called. He had
trotted to the other hand well enough, and the young lady had
ridden hmi fairly ; but when turned to the reverse hand, and the
word " canter" was given, he evidently missed the sui3port afforded
by the legs of a male rider. When pressed gently forward to a
shortened rein, he stepped very high in his trot. " Touch him on
the right shoulder with the whip sharply, miss," said the riding
master. In answer to the sharp cut ot the whip, the horse jump ed
off passionately in a canter, with his near legs first — a dangerous
thing when going round the school to the right. " Stop him , miss,"
said the preceptor ; " take him into the corner, bend his head to the
right. Now the leg and whip again." The same result followed —
the lady flurried as well as her horse. The riding master at last
took the lady off, and mounted the horse himself ; but he rode with a
man's seat, not a woman's. The horse cantered collectedly and weli

C 2

20 THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE.

into his bridle when the master asked him. " You see, miss, it is
easy enough," said the master ; "a little patience, and you will do it
presently." But the second essay of the lady was as unsuccessful as
the first ; nay more so, as the horse was getting very angry. " What
can be the reason?" at last said the lady, halting her horse; "I
must be very stupid." "It is some peculiarity in your hand,"
said the master, soothingly ; " it will be all right by-and-by." Do
you think," said the lady, deferentially, "that the diflPerence of seat
— your leg on the right side — has anything to do with it? " "Not a
bit," replied the preceptor. But it had all to do with it, and event-
ually the lady had to be put upon an old school hack for her ride in
the park, leaving her own horse at the riding school.

When the lady was gone the master observed, " Most extra-
ordinary thing ! I can't get this horse to do wrong, and Miss A.
cannot get him to go a yard." " Did you ever ride hira in a side-
saddle?" I inquired. "I? Certainly not," was the answer; "no
man can break a horse in a side-saddle " (this was true enough as
regards the early stages), "and," continued the professor, "I can't
ride a bit in a side-saddle." The latter observation settled the
matter in my mind ; for it has been always clear to me that, if a
man cannot acquire a true and firm seat himself on a side-saddle, it
is impossible he can teach a woman to ride. He may teach her to
sit square and upright on an old horse that has been carrying
women for years, but "going about" on such an animal is not
riding — my idea of which, as regards a lady, is, that on a horse still
full of courage and action (though not too fresh or short of work)
the rider should be able, by the application of aids sound in theory
and practice, to render the horse thoroughly obedient to her will.
This is riding. Cantering along upon an old tittuping hack is
merely taking horse exercise in a mild form.

As regards a man riding in a side-saddle, I may say that some
years ago a young friend of mine, now deceased — than whom there
never was a better man with hounds — hunted in a side-saddle for
three or four seasons before his death. He had injured his right
foot so badly in a fall as to necessitate amputation at the instep, and
he preferred the side-saddle seat to the awkward and disagreeable

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 21

feeling occasioned by trusting to a cork foot in the off-side stirrup.
Some of your readers may probably remember the dashing youngster
I allude to, who was always to be seen going true and straight in the
front rank, when he hunted eighteen years ago with the Royal
Buckhounds. I can safely say that the horses he rode in his side-
saddle were the perfection of ladies' hunters, and that he was one of
the best instructors of female equitation I ever met.

I repeat, then, that before a horse can be pronounced fit to carry
a lady he should have been ridden in a side-saddle for some time by
a man .

Riding in this way, the breaker's first object should be to make
the horse walk truly and fairly up to his bridle, without hurrying or
shuffling in his pace, than which nothing is more unpleasant to a
lady, especially if she is engaged in conversation with a companion.
Of course it is indispensable that a horse should be a good natural
walker, but at the same time the animal should be carefully taught
to work right up to his bit in this most important pace ; action in
the others can then be easily developed.

In the trot the breaker should gradually accustom the animal to
go with the least possible amount of support from the leg. This he
will easily do by using a very long whip, and, when he feels the
horse hanging back from his work, touching him lightly on the hind
quarters instead of closing the leg.

In the foregoing I am assuming that the horse has been previously
well broken, mouthed, and balanced to carry a man. To teach a
horse readily to obey such delicate aids of hand or leg, as a lady
can apply, I have found the following method most effectual : Use a
side-saddle which has no head crutch on the off side ; this gives
more freedom of action to the right hand. Ride without a stirrup ;
your balance is sure then to be true. Use a long whip, and wear a
spur on the left heel, furnished with short and not very sharp rowels.
Make your horse walk well, and trot well up to his bridle, with as
little leg as possible, touching him sharply with the spin? if he tries
to shirk his work. The long whip on the off side will prevent him
from throwing his haunches in. Before cantering, collect him well.
Keep his forehand well up, and his haunches under him. Keep his

22 THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE.

head well bent to the right ; take him into the corner of the school
or manege ; then, keeping him up to his work rather by the aid of
the spur and whip than by the leg, strike him lightly off to the right.
A sharp touch of the spur behind the girth, and a light firm feeling
of both reins, the inward the strongest, will cause him to strike off
true. Where no riding house or walled manege is available, the
above may be successfully carried out in a small paddock, having
tolerably high fences and corners nearly square.

Manner in riding the horse at this stage of his breaking is of vital
importance. The hands, while kept well back, should be light and
lively ; the whip and spur (never to be unnecessarily applied) should
be used so as to let the horse know that they are always ready if he
hangs back from his work ; and the rider, sitting easily and flexibly
in the saddle, should ride with spirit and vivacity, making much of
the horse frome time to time as he answers with alacrity to the light
and lively aids applied. A dull rider makes a dull horse, and vice
versa. Gradually, a well bred, good tempered animal will learn to
answer smartly to the slightest indication of the rider's will, and
while giving a good appai to the hand, will convey a most enjoyable
feeling from his well-balanced elastic movement, without the neces-
sity of strong or rough aids. In a very brief tune the long whip
can be dispensed with, and all incHnation to throw the haunches
in will cease. The animal has then acquired the aplomb necessary
to fit him for the lady equestrian. He should then be taught by
gradually inductive lessons to walk quietly up to his fences and
jmnp freely, his haunches well under him ; and subsequently to
execute his leap from a steady, collected canter, without rush or
hurry.

During the latter part of each lesson he should be ridden with a
skirt or rug on.

He should then be accustomed to all kinds of sights and sounds,
from the rattle of a wheelbarrow to the pattering file firing at a
review, and the loud report of a great gun ; and especially he should
be habituated to having all sorts of colours about him.

I well remember seeing a fine horse, that had been some time in
the breaker's hand, and was perfect in his mouth and paces, put a

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 23

■general officer and his lady into a complete fix. The lady went to
a review, having been assisted into her saddle by her husband in
his mufti costume before he dressed for parade. After the review ;
the lady dismounted to partake of luncheon in a marquee, and,
.after the repast, the general proceeded to put liis wife on her horse ;
but the gallant steed by no means understood the dancing plume of
.red and white feathers in the officer's cocked hat, and he would
-none of him. He snorted, pawed the ground in terror, ran back,
<and did everything but stand still, although he had stood the
:marching past and firing well enough. Unluckily the groom had
•been sent home, and there was nobody in mufti on the ground who
•could put the lady on her saddle. Even when the general took off
his cocked hat, the horse, having taken a dislike to him, would not
let his master come near him. Finally, as there was no carriages on
the ground, the lady had to walk a considerable distance, her
horse led by an orderly. The above goes to show that to make a
horse perfect for a lady, nothing likely to occur in the way of sights
or sounds should be overlooked. If the horse possesses the requisite
power and form to fit him for a hunter, and the lady for whom he
is intended graces the hunting field with her presence, the animal
.should be ridden quietly in cubhunting time as often as possible,
in long trots, beside the hounds going to covert, and accustomed
gradually to the music of the "sylvan choir," to stand quietly at
the covert side, and take no heed of scarlet coats. If the horse has
been otherwise well broken, the above is simply a question of time
and patience.

Let me now say something with regard to saddlery and appoint-
ments. The most important of these, of course, is the side-
saddle, as to the form of which considerable diversity of opinion
exists.

My own experiences induce me to believe in a saddle which is as
nearly as possible y?a< from between the pommels to the cantle; any
dip in the stretcher of the tree, while it renders the lady's seat less
secure, has also the effect of throwing her weight too much upon
the horse's forehand, and thus cramping his action. When a lady
has acquired skill and confidence in her riding, a saddle with a

24 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

very low-cut pommel on the off side is best, because it not only
admits of the rider getting her hands lower (for which occasion
may frequently occur), but on the off side it gives the lady and the
horse a far better appearance, the high off side pommel spoiling the
graceful contour of figure in both. Worked or plain off-side flaps
are matters of taste, and have nothing to do with utility. The
stirrup should be a Victoria, well padded. The leather should be
fitted on the near side, in a similar manner to a . man's stirrup
leather, and be quite independent of the quarter strap. The reason
for this" is obvious. If you fit a lady's stirrup leather ever so care-
fully after she is up, you cannot tell how much the horse "will
give up " in his girth after an hour's riding, or even less ; and the
leather which takes up on the off side may give to the extent
of three or four holes, thereby greatly incommoding the rider,
especially if she is in the hunting field and has to jump her horse,
as it is ten to one, although she has the power of pulling up the
leather herself, if, in the excitement of the chase, either she or
anybody else will notice the rendering of the leather, and a drop
leap may bring the rider to grief, whereas the near side arrangement
is a fixtiu-e, and always reliable. For really comfortable riding, I
believe also that it is quite as necessary that a saddle should be
made in such proportion as to Jit the lady, as that it should fit the
horse. Even a thoroughly accomplished horsewoman cannot ride
easily in a saddle that is too short from pommel to cantle, or too
narrow in the seat. In either case, both discomfort and ungainly
appearance are the result ; while to a lady ot slight petite figure,
a saddle too long from front to rear is equally misightly, though
possibly not quite so uncomfortable to the rider. Broad girths of
the best materials are indispensable. There should be three of
them. The quarter strap or girth should lead from the near side
fork of the tree to a buckle piece attached to a ring on the off-side
quarter, the ring giving the quarter strap a better bearing. A
crupper should never be used ; a horse that requires one is not fit
for a lady. Saddle cloths are unnecessary to a carefully-panneUed
saddle, and hide the symmetry of the horse. Breastplates or neck
straps may be used for limiting, or the fitting of martingales-

/ •

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 25-

(neceesary sometimes). But the less leather about the horse, where-
it can be dispensed with, the better he will look.

As to bridles, as a rule, I maintain that a lady's horse properly
broken should ride right into an ordinary double bridle, bit, and
bridoon, the port of the bit proportioned to the contour and
setting on of the horse's head and neck, as should also be the length
of the cheek piece and jaw of the bit ; while the question of a
j)lain or twisted bridoon or snaffle must be regulated by the hand
of the rider and the mouth of the horse. For park or promenade
riding, fashion of late years inclines to a single rein bridle or
" Hanoverian," or hard and sharp. 'No doubt they are very sightly
and neat in appearance ; but with a high-couraged horse they
require very nice and finished hands, and in the majority of cases,
in my hmiible opinion, are safe only for the most accomplished
female riders.

I leave the question of bridle -fronts, bound with ribbon of pink,.
blue, or yellow, to the taste of my readers ; when neatly put on and
fresh, they look gay in the park. But either there or in the hunting
field, I beheve more in the plain leather front, as having, if I may so-
express it, a more workmanlike appearance.

Having now endeavoured to describe the best preparations on
foot for the pupil, the style of dress most suitable for her first
lessons in equitation, the stamp of horse a lady should ride, the-
training he should undergo for the special service required of him,
and the kind of saddlery and equipment he will travel best in, in
my next chapter I will attempt briefly, but minutely, to detail the
first step in the riding lesson proper, namely, the form in which
the pupil should approach her horse in order to be assisted into
the saddle, and the mounting motions, all of which are of great
importance, as each motion should be executed gracefully, without
hurry, and in a well defined and finished manner. Nothing con-
nected with riding stamps the style and tournure of a lady more
than the fashion in which she mounts her horse and arranges her
habit ; it ought, in fact, to be a matter as carefully looked to by the
instructor as her mode of entering a room would be to a master of
deportment.

i Vi^

26 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

CHAPTER IV.

The manner in which a lady should approach her horse in order to
be assisted to mount should be carefully looked to by the instructor.
Anything like hurry, whUe it is calculated to render the horse
unsteady, is at the same time ungraceful, and the beginning of a bad
habit always to be avoided.

Everything in the way of mounting or dismounting a horse, either
by a lady or gentleman, should be done with well-defined and deli-
berate, although smart motions. This precision once acquired is the
good habit which becomes second nature to the rider, and is so highly
indicative of good manners in equitation.

To some persons the formula I am about to describe may appear
too punctilious, and possibly carried to too nice a point of precision.
But my idea is that in all these matters it is well to begin by over-
doing them a little. We are all more or less prone to become care-
less in our carriage and bearing, both on foot and horseback, as we
grow older ; therefore overdoing them a trifle with young people
may safely be pronounced an error on the right side.

I have frequently heard the remark that it is of no consequence
how a man or woman gets upon a horse, provided they can ride when
once up. I maintain that graceful riding is true riding, and that if
it is worth while to ride gracefully, it is equally worth while to mount
gracefully.

Let us then suppose the lady to be dressed and ready for her ride
in school or manege. She should take the skirt of her habit in the
full of both hands, holding her whip in the right ; the skirt should
be raised sufficiently to admit of the wearer walking freely. Then
she should walk from a point in the school at right angles with her
horse quietly to his shoulder, and face square to her left, standin g

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 27

just behind the anunal's near elbow and parallel to bis side. Thus
facing to the front, and still holding her skirt with both hands, she
should pass her whip from her right hand into the left, and " make
much of her horse " by patting him on the near shoulder — the best
method anybody (man or woman) can adopt as a first step to
acquaintance with a strange horse ; at the same time she should
speak soothingly to her new equine friend. The horse should be
held by a gToom standing in front of him, and holding him by both
reins. On the assistant approaching to lift the pupil to the saddle,
the lady should return the whip to the right hand and drop her
habit. She should then take the snaffle or bridoon rein in the
centre with the left hand, at the end close to the buckle piece with
the right, and draw them through the left until she has a hght and
equal feeling upon both sides of the horse's mouth. The right hand
should then be placed firmly on the near side upper crutch of the
saddle, the snaffle rein held between the pommel and the hana, the
whip in the full of it. The left hand should then grip the reins, and
the lady should resmne her position square to the front, without
moving her right hand or relaxing her grasp of the pommel of the
saddle. The assistant (who should be a gentleman^ not a groom)
should then stoop low enough to place both his hands locked together
in such a position that the pupil can place her left foot firmly on
them, the left knee sHghtly bent. At the same time she should also
place the flat of her left hand firmly on the right shoulder of the
assistant, keeping her arm perfectly straight. The instructor should
then give her the following directions : " On the word ' one,' bend
the right knee ; on the word 'two,' spring smartly up from the right
foot and straighten the left knee." If the pupil executes these
movements simultaneously, keeping her left elbow perfectly firm and
the arm straight, the assistant can lift her with the greatest ease
to the level of the saddle, where, firmly grasping the pommel, she
has only to make a half turn to her left, and she is seated sideways
on her horse. The assistant should then straighten the skirt down,
and taking the slack of it in his left hand, lift it over the near side
upper crutch while the lady turns in her saddle, and facing square
to her point, [lifts her right knee over the pommel, bringing her

28 THE BARB AND THE BEIDLE.

right leg close to the forepoint of the saddle, with the leg well
drawn back, and the toe raised from the instep. The assistant
should then place the lady's foot well home in the stirrup. Before
raising the right knee over the pommel, the lady should lift the
snaffle reins with her right hand high enough to admit of her
moving the leg without interfering with them. The right knee
being firmly placed between the pommels, and the left foot in the
stirrup, the pupil should then place her right hand with the snaffle
reins between the finger and thumb and the whip in the full of the
hand, firmly on the off-side pommel of the saddle. She should then
draw her left foot well back, and getting a firm bearing on the
stirrup, raise herself well up from the saddle, leaning forward
sufticiently to preserve her balance. She should then pass her
left hand back, and pull her skirt well out, so that there remains
no ruck or wrinkle in it, and then quietly lower herself down to
the saddle again. This act of clearing the slack of the skirt is one
which it is so frequently necessary for the lady to execute when
riding that she should practise it frequently in her early lessons.
It is true that when the assistant first places her on the horse he can
arrange her habit as she rises from the saddle ; but, for some time,
until she has acquired firmness and perfect balance, her habit will
inevitably ride up, particularly in trotting, and it is necessary that
she should learn to be independent in this respect of the gentle-
man who attends her. Moreover, as to arrange the habit grace-
fully requires considerable practice, it should form a distinct part
of the lesson at first when the horse is standing perfectly still,
afterwards at a Avalk, and finally at a trot. In cantering it cannot
be done.

Having arranged the hind part of her skirt, the lady should then
take the front in her left hand, and pull it well forward, raising her
right knee at the same time, to insure that she has perfect freedom
of action for it. The left knee should then be placed firmly against
the leaping crutch (or, as it is generally called, the third crutch)
of the saddle ; although with saddles devoid of an off-side pommel,
it is, in fact, tne second crutch. This important adjunct to a lady's
firmness and security in riding should always be most carefully

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 29

looked to by Paterfamilias when purchasing the saddle, and by the
master after it is bought. I can well remember when the third
crutch was unknown ; and in these days, when its efficiency has
been so abundantly proved, it really seems marvellous how ladies
years ago could not only ride well mthout it, but even acquit them-
selves creditably in the hunting field. The secret of the matter,
however, lies in this : First, although there was no third support for
the rider, the off-side and near-side pommels were much closer
together than those now made ; the off-side one was well padded,
and in most cases where ladies rode hunting it was usual to have an
extra pad, which fitted on to the off-side crutch, and again narrowed
the interval, according to the size of the lady, until her leg fitted
tightly between the two crutches, thus giving her a very firm hold
with the right knee. Nevertheless, it is evident that only the truest
balance would enable the fair equestrians of those days to maintain
their seats.

When a young lady is first put on horseback, I believe in anything
that can give her confidence, and for this purpose the third crutch is
admirable, because she finds a firm purchase between the crutch and
the stirrup. As this hold, however, is apt to degenerate into a com-
plete reliance on the third pommel, it is necessary in. a more advanced
stage of the lessons in equitation to use a saddle without any such
support for the pupil. The third crutch, when forming part of a
side-saddle, should never he removed^ as is too frequently done by
grooms for the purpose of cleaning the saddle. The crutch itself is
so constructed as to screw into a socket in the tree. By constantly
screwing and unscrewing it, the thread of the screw wears out ; in
fact, this will occur much sooner than would be supposed. The
consequence is that, let the lady or her assistant turn the third
crutch to what angle they may in order to suit the length and
formation of the lady's leg, the crutch will not remain in its proper
position, but is continually shifting, turning, and wobbling, to the
great discomfort of the rider ; nay, I have seen more than one case
where the crutch has turned edgeways to the rider's leg, and caused
severe pain and bruising of the delicate limb. Let it be a strict
injunction then, to your groom, " Never unscrew the third crutch ;"

30 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

and if you find the support shifting in its socket, shift the groom as
soon as possible, and send the saddle to the saddler to be firmly-
fixed in.

Why saddlers should fit these supports to turn at all, I can see no
g3od reason. Some men, it is true, say that in putting a lady on
horseback it is necessary to turn the third crutch round, so as to
prevent it from catching the skirt ; but for my own part I could
never find any necessity for this, or any difficulty in clearing a lady's
skirt when lifting her to the saddle. In purchasing a side-saddle, T
rej^eat, the greatest judgment is necessary as regards the third crutch ;
while it should be long enough to give a good purchase and be well
padded, it should be but slightly curved. A crutch that forms a
considerable segment of a circle is both inconvenient and dangerous
— inconvenient because it is a support of this description (if any)
that is in a lady's way in mounting, and dangerous because, if in the
hunting field a horse should chance to fall with his fair rider, she
would be imable to extricate herself from her fallen steed, inasmuch
as the nearly half-circular crutch would completely pin her leg to the
horse. It is, in fact, almost as dangerous as if a man were to strap
himself to his saddle (which, by the way, I once saw a very deter-
mined hunting man do when suffering from weakness in one leg).
He had no oiDportunity, however, of testing his experiment, as the
master of the hounds very judiciously told him that, if he per-
severed, he (the master) would take the hounds home.

Nor is there any possible use in the enveloping of the leg by the
thick crutch of the side-saddle. With the slightest possible bend,
the support is sufficient if the rider sits fair and true in her saddle,
while plenty of stuffing is necessary to avoid bruising the leg, espe-
cially in leaping. These "stumpy-looking" third crutches are certainly
less sightly in the saddle-room than the more circular ones ; but I
submit that, inasmuch as it is not seen when the lady is up, it is of
more consequence to consult her comfort and safety than the eye of
the groom.

When the lady has arranged her dress to her satisfaction, as above
described, the next section of the lesson should consist in teaching
how she should take up her reins; and here again the greatest care

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 31

should be taken by the instructor that this is done coolly and grace-
fully, without hurry or " fumbling." A great deal of trouble in this
way may be saved by the instructor teaching the lady how to take
up her reins on foot. Thus, take an ordinary double bridle, let a lad
hold the upper part of the head-stall in one hand, and the bits in the
other, and stand opposite the pupil. Hang both reins over your left
arm just as they would rest on the neck of the horse, the curb rein
underneath, the bridoon rein above. Let the pupil then take hold of
both reins at the end with the right hand ; place the second finger of
the left hand between the bridoon reins with the nearside rein upper-
most, and the little finger of the same hand between the curb reins,
the near-side curb rein uppermost. Let her then place both bridoon
and bit reins perfectly flat over the middle joint of the forefinger of
the left hand, and drop the end of the rems over the knuckles, then
close the thumb firmly down on them. She will find then both bit
and bridoon reins equally divided, and an equal facility of causing
them to act on the horse's mouth, according to the direction in which
she turns the wrist of her left or bridle hand proper, or assists it
with her right hand, accordmg to the aids hereafter to be described.
The mode of holding the reins above laid down is called in the
French school " Mode de Paysanne," or civilian method. The
military fashion, which is far more elegant, but not so well adapted
at first for a beginner, is as follows.

The pupil takes the end of the bridoon reins between the finger
and thumb of the right hand, and passes them over the full of the
left, or, to render the explanation still more simple, passes all the
fingers of the left hand between them, the off side rein above, and
the near side one below ; the buckle piece on the knuckle of the
forefinger, the rest of the rein hanging loosely down. Let the lady
then take the bit or curb reins between the finger and thumb of the
right hand, and pass the little finger of the left between them, the
near side rein uppermost. With the right hand then let her draw
the reins through the left, until — keeping the left hand perfectly
quiet — she has a light, almost imperceptible, feeling on the horse's
mouth. Let her then turn the bit reins over the middle joint of the
forefinger of the left hand, and close the thumb down closely and

32 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

firmly on them. The reins will then be precisely in the form in
which a dragoon's reins are arranged when he is riding a finished
horse at a field day or elsewhere. This method is therefore called the
" mode militaire." But inasmuch as only a highly-finished horse can
be ridden on the bit rein alone by an equally finished rider, in order
to assist the latter, and to prevent the horse imduly feeling the action
of the curb on his mouth, it is necessary that the rider should draw
up the bridoon reins so as to obtain an equal feeling upon both bit
and bridoon. Nothing can be more simple than to do this, as the
rider has only with the right hand to take hold of the bridoon rein
■ on the left or near side of the buckle or centre, and draw it up until
the part passing under the lower edge of the hand is of equal length
with the bit reins. She then closes her left thumb on both reins,
and shortens the right bridoon rein until it is of equal length with
the others. The rider has then an equal feeling of all four reins.
She should then hold the ends with her right hand, and let th.e reins
slip through the left until both hands are drawn back close to her
waist, the wrists slightly rounded outwards, the back towards the
horse's head, and the elbows drawn slightly back behind the waist.

The instructor having placed the pupil's hands, should then pro-
ceed to correct her general position. The figure should be weU
drawn up from the waist, shoulders perfectly square and well thrown
back, head and neck erect, the upper part of the arm hanging
almost perpendicular from the shoulder, the elbows well back, so that
a thin rod would pass between them and the waist ; the obvious
reason for this position of the hands and elbows being that, if they
are allowed to go forward, the whole flexibility of the waist — upon
which depends the comfort, grace, and security of the pupil's riding
— is destroyed, and the Hthe figure of the fair rider becomes rigid
and wooden in appearance, and stiff in action.

The upper part of the figure being thus placed, the master's
attention should be directed to the position of the feet and legs.
That of the right leg I have already described. The left leg, with
the knee well bent, should be placed firmly against the third crutch,
the heel well sunk, the toe raised from the instep, the foot at first
well home in the stirrup. By well stretching down the heel the rider

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 33

l>races all the muscles at the back of the leg, and this, joined to
drawing the figure well up from the waist, secures that true balance
so indispensable to good riding. The right leg should be well bent
and drawn back as near as possible to the left leg.

This should be the position at a walk, the aids for which, and the
turns I leave for another chapter.

D

34 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

CHAPTER Y.

Let me now offer a few remarks on a subject upon which con-
siderable diversity of opinion exists, namely, whether the teaching of
a young lady in riding may or may not be entrusted to a female pro-
fessor of equitation in preference to a man. At the first glance,
there seems to be good reason for preferring the tuition of the lady
but, on careful consideration, I believe most of those interested in
the matter will agree with me that, under many circumstancs likely
to occur, one lady, however good a horsewoman herself, is likely to
be quite unable to render the desired assistance to a pupil, conceding,
at the same time that, as regards the details of dress, the opinion of
a lady who has had long practice in the saddle may be very useful.

In the first place, the placing of the pupil on the horse and taking
her off cannot possibly be as well done, to say the least, by a lady
instructor as it can by a gentleman ; neither would the performance
of such an office be graceful or convenient to either. Secondly, all
that portion of the instruction wliich should be given by the
instructor on foot while the pupil is on horseback can be better given
by a man who understands his business than by a lady, because,
although the tone of voice in which the instruction is conveyed
should be kindly, and the manner cheerful and encouraging, a degree
oijiymnesii and conciseness is necessary, which few ladies possess, for
the reason that the art of teaching riding, like riding itself, requires
a considerable practice and long drilling into the instructor in a
school where smartness of diction and expression form part of the
education of an intended professor of equitation. Thirdly, assuming
both instructor and pupil to be in the saddle, a lady, although
thoroughly mistress of her own horse, is unable to aid her pupil as
easily as a man can.

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 35

In the early lessons given (the instructor being on horseback), it
is necessary that the latter should be close enough to the pupil's
horse on the off side to be able at any moment to place the hands of
the learner, to check any exuberant action of the horse by laying the
left hand firmly upon the reins ; and in the first essays made by the
pupil in the trotting lesson, to assist her by the left hand of the
instructor placed under the right elbow of the beginner.

And finally, should any necessity arise during a ride for dis-
mounting the pupil, a lady instructor labours under this difficulty,
that having dismounted herself, and both pupil and teacher being on
the ground, the act of mounting again by two ladies, unattended by
a man, is one of considerable difficulty and possible danger.

From the very necessity of her position in the saddle, a lady
teaching another cannot, without inconvenience to both legs (the left
especially), approach near enough to her pupil's horse to assist the
latter with her left hand, because her left leg is always in danger of
coming in contact with the other horse ; while on a windy day the
skirt of her habit is likely enough to be blown into his flank, and
thereby make him unsteady. Not long since I saw two ladies who
were riding, unattended by a man, in a very awkward predicament.
Both are practised riders, possessing capital seats and hands, and are
equal to any contingency likely to occur as long as they are in the
saddle ; nay, one of the ladies is, I beUeve, the most accomplished
horsewoman I ever saw. Her seat is both fine and graceful to a
degree ; her hands perfection, her nerve first-rate, and her experience
in riding even difficult horses with hounds considerable. This lady
was the elder of the two ; her companion was considerably younger,
but although a very accomplished rider, she lacked the experience of
her friend. Something had gone amiss -with the younger lady's
saddle, and both ladies dismounted to arrange it. The elder was
quite equal to this, for I have seen her many times saddle and bridle
her own horse, and with one that would stand quietly (being herself
exceedingly supple and active), she can put her hands on the upper
pommel and vault into the saddle without any assistance. But in
the case I allude to she was completely fixed. Her horse was a
chesnut thoroughbred, only four years old ; and, although, despite

D 2

36 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

all difficulty I believe, had she been alone, she would have succeeded
in mounting, her friend and her horse placed her in an awkward
dilemma. She was compelled from time to time to use one hand to
disengage the folds of her habit, and she had to hold both horses,
even if her friend could have gained her saddle unassisted. Neither
horse would stand still ; the one, as is invariably the case in such
little difficulties, setting a bad example, which the other was not
slow to follow. To hold two horses, keep clear of her own habit,
while the horses were shifting their positions continually, and give
her friend even the least help in mounting, proved too much even
for the highly-finished lady equestrian, and as the contretemps
occurred on a lone country road, I believe they would have been
compelled to lead their horses a considerable distance, had I not
chanced opportunely to arrive. In such places as Rotten-row a lady
instructor may get on tolerably well with her pupil, because, in case
of any mishap, there are plenty of men always at hand who know
what a horse is ; but in out-of-the-way country places it is very
different. The British rustic, whatever other good qualities he may
possess, is not celebrated, as a rule, for over politeness to ladies —
strangers particularly. In proof of the above, there is a story current
in this neighbourhood which is likely enough to be true, although I
cannot vouch for it myself. The tale runs thus : — A lady (one of
the daughters of a noble house) having married, had gone abroad
with her husband, and been absent from the home of her early days
so long that the uprising generation of young people about the
estate knew her not. She was taking a ride one day unattended,
and mounted on a steady cob, had been visiting the long-cherished
scenes of her childhood, when she came to a very awkward bridle
gate, seated on which was a juvenile "wopstraw" in duck frock,
leather leggings, and wideawake. The boy jmnped down and
opened the gate for the lady, at the same time takmg off his hat.
Now the fair recipient of this delicate attention was well aware of
the fact that the village people on the paternal estate were celebrated
in the county for their rough manners to strangers, ladies forming no
exception, so she was agreeably surprised at the exceptional good
behaviour- of the youngster, the more so as she was quite sure he

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 37

did not know her. Taking a shilling out of her purse she gave it to
him, observing : " You are a very good boy," and added, laughing,
" I am sure you were not born at D." (the name of the principal
village on the estate). But to the donor's horror the youngster,
grasping his hat firmly in one fist and the shilling in the other, with
a fiery glare of indignation in his fat face and flashing eye, replied,
" Thou be'st a loyar (Har), I wor."

Verbum sap. All rustics are not so ill behaved as the one above
mentioned. But as very few of them will go far out of their road to
assist a stranger, it is as well that ladies riding in remote country
parts should be attended by a gentleman ; and I repeat, for all
purposes of instruction, the attendance of a man will be found far
more efficient than that of a lady.

38 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE,

CHAPTER VI.

The frontispiece represents the stamp of horse best calculated to
carry a lady, and is a very truthful likeness of a five-year-old horse,
named Prince Arthur, a son of the celebrated racehorse Stockwell,
his dam a half-bred Arab mare.

The subject of the plate, therefore, has some of the very best
Enghsh blood in his veins, in conjunction with that Eastern strain
from which in all probability our magnificent British thoroughbreds
derive a considerable proportion of their power of endurance, or, in
turf phraseology, their staying quality.

The horse is a first-class hack, as good a performer over the
great Leicestershire pastures and formidable oxers which so often
bar the way in that sporting county, as he has already proved
himself in the manege ; and, as he possesses, in addition to true and
most elastic action, fine temper and indomitable courage, I venture
to present his likeness as my type of the sort of animal adapted
either for Rotten-row or to hold his own in the " first flight " over
a country.

A common error is that any weedy thoroughbred, too slow for
racing, and without the "timber" and substance to enable him to
carry a 10-stone man to hounds, is good enough for a lady's riding.
There can be no greater mistake. While quality and fashion are
indispensable in a woman's horse, strength and substance are equally
necessary. As I have before observed, the very conditions upon
which the comfort and safety of a lady's riding depend, leave her
horse without that support in his action which he would derive from
the riding of a good man; while, however true the balance of the
lady may be, still the horse's powers are called upon in a long ride,
either on the flat or over the country, in a way which tests him

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 39

severely. There must therefore be plenty of wear and tear in the
right place — great strength in the loins, a back not too short, aided by
strong and well-arched back ribs, which are at the same time not too
closely locked up.

The Arab horse proper, despite his great capability of endurance,
his symmetrical contour and extraordinary sagacity, is still a trying
mount for a lady unaccustomed to him. With great power in his
hind quarters (as a rule), he is short in the back, low and short in
front of the saddle. The consequence is that from his powerful
back action, he pitches too much in his collected paces to ride
~ pleasantly to a woman, although when striding away at top speed he
is easy enough.

On the other hand, the English horse that possesses length enough
to enable him to travel easily under the fair equestrian too often has
the length in the wrong place, and cannot stay — a defect fatal
to enjoyable riding for a lady, at all events in the hunting field.

It is to the admixture of Eastern and Western blood, therefore,
that one has to look for symmetry of topping conjoined to length in
the right place, power, and substance.

I now proceed to say a few words as to the " aids " to be em-
ployed to put the horse in motion. In order to impress these
thoroughly upon the memory of the fair tyro, the preceptor should
adopt a form of question and answer to the following effect :

Q. What are the aids to make a horse walk ? — A. A pressure of
the leg to his side, at the same time easing the hand.

Q. How is the hand to be eased ? — A. From the vmst ; the arm
being kept perfectly steady, and the little finger yielding towards the
horse's neck.

Q. How many lines of action should the little finger of the bridle
hand move on ? — A. Four. First, towards the waist ; second,
towards the horse's neck ; third, towards the right shoulder ; fourth,
towards the left.

Q. What are the objects of these motions? — A. First, to collect,
halt, or rein back the horse. Second, to give him facihty of moving
forward. Third, to turn him to the left. Fourth, to turn him to the
jight. The upper part of the rider's figure to be slightly turned

40 THE BARB AND THE BIJIDLE.

cr

from the waist, by bringing forward the right shoulder when tiimin
to the left and vice irrsd, in order to enable her to move exactly on
the same line as the horse, and so to preserve completely her due
aplomb or balance in the saddle. The above, in a slightly modified
form, is the instruction laid down in the " Mihtary Aid Book," as is
the following.

Q. What is meant by a light hand ? — ^A. An almost imperceptible
easing and feeling of the bridle hand, so as to preserve the natiu-al
delicacy of the horse's mouth.

The foregoing, however, while it indicates correctly and concisely
what a light hand is, is scarcely exi^licit enough for a beginner. I
believe the best definition to be this : when a horse is " light in
hand," according to the technical meaning, it should by no means be
understood that he has so delicate a mouth that he fears the action
of the bit in it. On the contrary, ha^T.ng in his breaking been fairly
balanced, the greater part of the weight on his haunches, and ridden
well up to his bridle, he should admit of a steady appid between his
mouth and the rider's hand, while he bends in the poll of the neck.

Tlioroughly balanced, and bending as above described, his mouth
yields to the action of the rider's hand, and is " light " in the true
sense of the principles of equitation.

A great deal of nonsense is talked about ladies' hands being so
much more light and dehcate than those of a man. The truth is,
that, assmning both male and female rider to be equally f)ractised in
the saddle, there is no differcnee whatever in the feeling or appui
given by the horse.

Thoroughly habituated to obey certain indications conveyed to
him through the medium of the bridle reins and leg or other aid of
the rider, he will answer to them precisely in the same manner to a
lady as he would to a man ; while, on the other hand, if these
indications are not given with well-defined clearness and precision,^
he will not answer to anybody's riding.

There is a point, however, as regards the action of the hands,
to which I beg to call the particular attention both of young ladies
commencing their lessons in equitation and of gentlemen (non-pro-
fessional) who may undertake the task of teaching riding.

THE BARB AND THE BKJDLE. 41

A great difference of opinion exists as to whether the action of
the bridle hand should be from the wrist only, or whether (spring
like, if I may use the expression) the "give and take" action
should be conveyed by the upper part of the arm being quite
mobile at the shoulder joint and in conjunction with the fore-
arm, the latter kept, however, close to the side, and movmg
easily and freely to the horse's action. The latter theory is
warmly advocated by many thoroughly experienced horsemen and
professors of female equitation, who maintain that to teach a yoimg
lady to keep the arm firm to the side, in the manner adopted in
the military riding school, is not only' to give her a rigid wooden
appearance on her horse, but also to destroy the proper flexibility
of her figure.

On the other hand, some instructors — those especially who are
veterans of the cavalry manege — insist that firmness of the arm
should in all cases be rigidly demanded.

My experience induces me to come to a conclusion which is
midway between these opposing theories.

In the first lessons given to a lady on horseback it is well to
insist upon her keeping the arm steady, because otherwise she is
ready not only to yield her hand to every movement of the horse,
be that yielding right or -wTong, but gradually and imperceptibly
to herself her hands will steal forward until they are eight or ten
inches in front of her, the consequence being that the muscles of the
waist become rigid, and the flexibility of her figure at its most
important point, as regards riding, is lost, while the hands remain
in the awkward and ungainly position I allude to.

For the above reason, therefore, it is desirable to inculcate firm-
ness of the lower part of the arm to the side in the early lessons ;
the hands drawn back close to the waist. And, in order to make
tliis form of riding more easily comprehensible to the pupil at her
first essay, the following will be found highly effective :

Let the instructor stand in front of the horse, and taking the
bridle reins one in each hand, let him caution the pupil not to yield
to him if he pulls against her. Let him then take a quick, sharp
pull at the reins in the same way as a horse would when trying to

42 ' THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

get his head free from the rider's control. The master will find that,
despite the caution, both the pupil's hands will come forward at
once ; and if this action on the bridle had been executed by the
horse instead of his master, the former would have gained his first
step in having his own way, and, for instance, from a collected
canter could increase his pace at his own will. Now, there is
nothing more important in the action of the hand in controlling the
horse than firmness and instantaneous decision in yielding or main-
taining the appui.

" If " (say some theorists) " a horse pulls against you, drop
your hand to him." This is rather a vague expression, which,
in fact, conveys no real meaning to an inexperienced person ;
among horsemen it is intended to convey that you should yield
to the horse whenever he pulls or takes a Kberty with the hand.
Now, the direct reverse of this is the course to be adopted by all
riders who wish to acquire good hands. When a horse endeavours
to forereach upon the rider, the latter, instead of yielduig, should
close his hands firmly on the reins, and keep the arms perfectly
steady, loithout pulling an ounce against the horse ; at the same time
closing his leg with equal firmness. In the next stride or two the
horse will yield to the hand, which should instantly yield to him ;
and thus he learns that you are master of him, and goes well
together, or, as it is technically called, collectedly and within him-
self ; whereas if the hand is freely yielded whenever he takes a
liberty or romps for his head, in a very brief time he wiU be all
abroad, and going in any form but that best for hmiself or his rider.

To ensure firmness and steadiness of the hands, however, equal
firmness and steadiness are requisite in the arms, and, for that
reason, the pupil should be taught to keep them close to the side ;
an additional reason being that, if this is neglected, a beginner, as
it were, disconnects the figure from the waist upwards, and loses
her true balance. When the pupil has had sufficient practice
to ensure steadiness in the saddle, the injunction as to arms
perfectly steady may be relaxed; and gradually, while there is no
1 nt eral motion of the arm from the side or sticking out of the
elbows, the lady will learn to give easy play to the shoulder

THE BAKE AND THE BRIDLE. 43

joint without destroying the neatness of her riding or her power
to fix her arms for a moment if the horse tries to get his head
away. In short, my theory is that it is impossible for the pupil
to learn the true appui, or acquire what is usually called a light
hand, until she has acquired a steady one. It is easy enough to
tell her to "give and take" to the cadence of the horse's action;
but the precise moment at which to do this must be made clear to
the learner by some well defined and easily comprehensible rule. I
submit that the readiest way of defining it is that I have attempted
in the foregoing, Havuag carefully given the above instruction, see
that the pupil is sitting fair and true in the saddle, and be careful
to correct any tendency to throwing forward the right shoulder,
which is both inelegant and destructive of balance. See that the
right knee is in a firm, but still flexible form on the upper pannels.
Caution the pupil while she draws her figure well up from the waist
to stretch the left heel well down ; and let her then, keeping her
hands perfectly quiet, press the horse forward into a walk with the
leg, while she yields the little finger from the wrist only. Let her
make the horse walk freely out, but up to his bridle, the whip being
applied, if necessary, on the off shoulder if he hangs back behind
his work.

Nearly all young people, when first put on horseback, are anxious
to be off in a canter at once, and it is a sore trial to their patience
to be kept at a walk. But there can be no greater mistake than to
allow them to canter a horse until they have learnt the " alpha " of
their business — that important lesson, how to make a horse walk
true and fair.

This accomplished, " going large " round school or paddock, the
pupil should be carefully instructed how to turn her horse square to
the right or left, and to rein him bac£. And in order to make the
instruction as clear and concise as possible, again, in a modified
form, the " Book of Aids " may be called upon. The formula there
laid down, in the shape of question and answer, is as follows : —

Q. How do you turn a horse to the right or left ? — A. By a double
feeling of the inward rein, retaining a steady feeling of the outward.
The horse kept up to the hand by pressure of both legs. The out-

44 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

ward by the strongest. Now, as in the case of a lady, there is no
right leg to support the horse, in turning, he is liable to lean upon
the hand ; the rider should close the left leg firmly, and touch him
lightly on the off-side with her whip, which will at once cause him
to keep his forehand up and his haunches under him. After being
once or twice so corrected he will turn carefully, without hurry or
coming on his shoulder.

The pupil should then be taught to turn her horse right and left
about in the centre of the manege^ the aids being simply continued
until the animal faces the reverse way, the pupil turning her
horse upon his centre in the middle of the manege^ instead of his
haunches, as at the side. Plenty of practice should be given in
making these turns, because Jt»y them the pupil learns to bring up
the right or left shoulder according to the hand turned to, the
right shoulder in turning to the left, and vice versa ; and this should
be most carefully attended to by the master, otherwise the body of
the pupil is moving on one line and the horse on another, and in
case of his flirting the pupil is already half-way out of her saddle.
Too much attention therefore cannot be given to this vital point in
the aplomb for this obvious reason — if a lady once acquires the
habit (which unfortunately too many do) of allowing the horse to
turn without " going with him," it is quite on the cards that some
day a horse, a trifle too fresh, may jump round with her. If the
above principle of " going " with the horse has been thoroughly
well taught her in her early lessons she will have no difficulty in
accompanying the action of the horse, if she even fail in checking
it ; but if she is permitted so to sit as to be looking over her horse's
left ear when she turns him to the right, she is leaving the question
of her seat entirely to the generosity of the steed. And it may be
as well to say at once that, with the best intentioned, broken, or
mannered horse, it may be laid down as a golden rule in riding to
leave nothing to his generosity. Horses are very keen in their percep-
tions, and can detect in a manner little suspected by the inexperienced
when they have one at a disadvant;»ge.

Reining back may be practised from time to time. To do this
well, again clearly defined instructions should be given. First the

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 45

liorse should be halted. Thus : A light -firm feeling of both reins, to
check his forward movement ; the leg closed tightly at the same
time, to keep him up to the hand ; the reins to be eased as soon as
the horse is halted. The aids for reining back should then be
explained as follows : Closing the hands firmly on the reins, the
rider should feel the horse's mouth as though the reins were made of
silken thread instead of leather, and close her leg quietly to keep
him up to the hand. There should be no dead pull at the horse's
mouth, but the reins should be eased at every step he takes back-
wards, which, if the aids are smoothly and truly applied, he will do
without throwing his haunches either in or out. In the early lessons
the pupil should not be allowed to rein her horse back more than
two or three steps at a time. The use of reining back is to bring
the greater weight from the horse's forehand to his haunches, to
collect him and make him light in hand. (See " Aid Book.") It is
also of great use in assisting the pupil to correct her own aplomb in
the saddle, and acquire a true appui on the horse's mouth. Every
movement of the hand of the rider, however, and every step of the
horse, should be carefully watched by the instructor. The horse
should never be allowed to hurry back, as that will at once enable
him to get behind his bridle.

These lessons at a walk, the turns to the right and left, turns
about and reining back, should be continued until the pupil executes
them with precision. Her position should be rigidly attended to, all
stiffness avoided, and nothing in the shape of careless sitting
allowed to pass unnoticed. I repeat, the early lessons should, if
anything, be a little overdone in the way of exactness, because any
careless habit acquired at sach a stage is most difficult to get rid of
afterwards. When the pupil is thoroughly au fait at her walking
lesson, she should commence the next important section, that, namely,
of learning to trot, the formula of which I will endeavour to explain
in my next chapter, concluding this with a description of the form in
which a lady should dismount, and the assistance that should be
be afforded by the master.

Having halted the horse in the centre of the school, his head
should be held by a steady groom. The lady should then pass the

46 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

reins from the right hand to the left, and quietly lift her skirt with
the right hand until she can easily disengage her right knee from
the upper pommels. At the same moment her left foot should be
disengaged by the assistant from the stirrup, and her skirt from the
near-side pommel or third crutch. The lady should then drop the
reins on the horse's neck, and having disengaged her right knee,
turn quietly to the left in her saddle, and face the assistant. She
should then with both hands take up the slack of her habit until
her feet are quite clear of it, otherwise, on alighting she is liable to
trip and fall, possibly right into the arms of the assistant, which is
not, by any means, according to rule.

Having gathered up the skirt, the lady should then carry her
hands forward about eight or ten inches from her knees, and rest
both her hands firmly on those of the assistant, who should raise
them up well for the purpose. It remains only then for the lady
to glide smoothly down from the saddle, and, slightly supported
by the assistant, she will alight easily and gracefully on terra
Jirma. Some riding masters have a fashion of taking a lady off
her horse by placing both hands on her waist and allowing her to
throw her weight forward upon them. Such a practice is outre^
inelegant, and unsafe, because the lady is likely enough to throw
more weight forward than the master anticipated, in which case
both may come to the ground, to the great discomfiture of the fair
equestrian.

THE BARB AND THE BKJDLE. 47

CHAPTEE, YII.

The Trotting Lesson.

This, once thoroughly mastered, gives the pupil confidence and
security on her horse, and is the great inductive step by which she
learns the value of balance. Some years ago it was considered that
if a lady could sit her horse gracefully at a walk, and securely at a
canter, she had accomplished all that was correct or necessary in
female equitation. Trotting was altogether ignored, for the simple
reason that ladies found "it extremely difficult to do, and impossible
to find anybody who could help them out of their difficulty by
teaching them the right way. In those days most of the riding
masters were men who had been instructors in the cavalry. In that
arm of the service, trotting according to regulation is quite a dif-
ferent thing to the easy rise and fall seat practised by civihans-
on horseback. It is a necessity in cavalry, in order to preserve the
dressing in line, that a man should sit down in his saddle at a trot,
and allow the horse to shake him fair up and down in it. If the
rising seat were allowed, it would be impossible to preserve anything
like dressing. This shake-up, or "bumping" seat, however, as men
out of the army call it, is by no means so distressing as some people
imagine, unless the horse is unusually rough in his action.

The reason is that the military trot is taught upon the principle of
balance. The man sits fair down on his ^eat, and, keeping his knee
forward and his heel well down, does not cling to the horse by
muscular grasp ; consequently the bumping, so terrific to the eye of
the civilian, is scarcely felt by the soldier, and in continental armies,
where rough trotting horses are exceptional, the motion or jolt is
scarcely perceptible. There are a great many popular fallacies about
military riding — as, for instance, that a dragoon rides with a very

48 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

long stirrup ; that his seat is insecure ; that the bumping gives a
horse a sore back ; and that, except a sailor and a tailor, a dragoon
officer is about the worst horseman to be found. This is not exactly
the place to enter into any controversy on the subject ; but I may as
well observe at once, and I do so because I am sure the old soldiers are
not altogether despised by the ladies, even in this non -military
country, that all the foregoing are so many mistakes. A dragoon,
any time within my memory, rode just the same length as a man
does over a country — that is to say that, measuring the cavalry
man's leather and iron by the length of liis arm and hand, which is
the right length for a civilian, you have exactly the cavalry regula-
tion length. The stirrup of a lancer indeed is somewhat shorter
than that used by most hunting men. Finally, an acquaintance
with the habitue's- of such places as Melton would prove to unbe-
lievers in the riding of cavalry officers that the names of most of
the men who go to the front in the hunting-field, and keep there,
^re to be found in the " Army List." I have been tempted thus to
digress by having referred to the military riding school, from which
in former days, most, if not all, the riding masters who taught
ladies came. Now, although I stand up (as in duty bound) for the
military system of riding jjer se, it does not produce the right man
to teach a woman to ride, if the experience of the preceptor has been
acquired in the riding school only. Excellent as is our system (or,
rather, the German system, for it is imported from the Prussian
service), for making a man a first-class dragoon, as regards anything
connected with a lady's seat or the principle of her balance, it is
useless.

As regards her hands, or the application of the "aids" of the
manege, it is highly beneficial, because nothing can be more clear or
concise than the simple rules laid down in military equitation for the
apphcation of the " helps," by which a horse's easy movement is con-
trolled and regulated. It was principally to the want of men who
could teach a lady to ride, however, that the absence of a trotting in
the side saddle was to be attributed "lang syne."

It is altogether different now. Riding masters took to riding
.across country, and their daughters took to it also, naturally.

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 49

Awkward spills occurred ; and long journeys home after hunting, all
done at a canter, terribly shook the horse's legs and the temper of
the head of the family. " Why the deuce can't you let your horse
trot ?" I once heard the worthy sire of a blooming girl of sixteen say
to his daughter, who was pounding away on the hard road on the
retour de chasse. " For God's sake let him trot. Carry. You'll
hammer his legs all to pieces. Why don't you let him trot?'
" Because, pa, he won't let me trot," was the unanswerable reply.
True enough ; Carry knew nothing about it, and there was nobody
to tell her. She was riding on a saddle that fitted neither her nor
her horse. She had no third crutch, and she had a slipper stirrup
(that worst of abominations in ladies' saddlery). Looking back at
those days, the only wonder to me is, how ladies managed to ride at
all. That they did ride is certainly proof (if any were wanting) of
their courage and perseverance under difficulties.

The necessity for trotting having become apparent as ladies took
more to riding, it at length called the attention of one or two
thoroughly practical men to the subject. The first of these, I
believe, was the celebrated steeple race jockey, Dan Seffert, who
had been a riding master in his early days, and who was equally at
home in the manege or between the flags over a country.

The running made by Mr. Seffert was soon taken up by other first-
class horsemen, among whom were Mr. Oldacre, and Mr. Allen, of
Seymour-place. The third crutch was added to the side saddle, and
numerous improvements effected in it, which rendered trotting not
only practicable, but pleasant and easy to a lady, provided she was
taught the right way. I believe we owe the third crutch and padded
stirrup to Mr. Oldacre, a first-class judge of female equitation ; but
I am not quite certain upon this p'Oint. The saddle having been
rendered practicable for the purpose, the next thing requisite was a
comprehensible and simple set of rules, by which the lady could be
taught to trot, without distressing either her horse or herself. To
whom these rules owe their origin is immaterial ; as to their efficiency,
such as they are, I have found them highly so, and therefore beg
leave to submit them to your readers.

After the usual walking lesson (abridged, however, to allow more

E

50 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

time for what is to follow), the pupil should ride her horse to the
centre of the school, and halt him there, so that the instructor has
perfect faciUty of getting at the horse on any side, and seeing the
exact form in which his pupil moves. The lady should then be
instructed to take a firm hold with the right knee on the upper
pommel of the saddle, grasping it well between the thigh and the
lower part of the leg, and carrying the latter well back, with the heel
sunk as close as possible to the left leg. By sinking the heel well,
she will give great firnmess to her hold with the right leg upon the
upper pommels. To accomphsh this, however, she should get well
forward in her saddle, and care should be taken that her stiiTup is
not too short, otherwise she will be thrown too far back to enable
her to take the necessary grip with the upper leg. The left leg
should then be well drawn back, the front of the thigh pressed
firmly against the third crutch, the left heel well sunk, and the toe
raised from the instep, because a firmness is thus given to the leg
and thigh which would otherwise be wanting. The body, from the
waist upwards, should be inclined slightly forward, and the angle at
which the left foot is drawn back from the perpendicular line from
the knee to the foot should be regulated by the inchnation of the
body forward, so as exactly to balance it.

Having placed his pupil in this position, and seen that her hands
are well drawn back and arms firm, the instructor should then take
her foot out of the stirrup, and give the following concise instructions :
*' On the word ' one,' raise the body slowly from the saddle as high
as possible." Now, to do this without the aid of the stuTup can only
be accomplished by keeping the heel well down and the leg back (in
the first place, in order to balance the body), and then raising the
figure by the action of the right knee and its grasp upon the upper
pommel. At first the pupil will find this difficult, even when the
horse is perfectly motionless, and when the riding master assists her
by putting his left hand under her left elbow ; but after a few efforts
fihe will succeed. This is the first step in learning the rise with pre-
cision. Having accomplished it, the pupil should not lower herself
again to the saddle until the instructor gives her the word "two,"
when she should lower herself as slowly as she rose.

THE BAEB AND THE BEIDLE. 51

If she has been well tutored in the extension and suppling practices
•alluded to in my second chapter, she will understand what "one,
two " time means in this way as well as in dancing, and her know-
ledge of balance on foot will assist her on horseback. These rising
and falling motions should be continued until the pupil executes them
with precision, fair intervals of rest being allowed. The master
ishould then place the lady's foot again in the stirrup.

The absence of this support in the previous lesson will have pre-
vented the pupil from leaning to the near side, and throwing her
weight out of the perpendicuiar — a most pernicious habit, which
ladies who try to learn their trotting in one lesson are very apt to fall
into, and it is a fault very difficult to correct. In fact, the main
object in beginning without a stirrup is to avoid this error.

With the support of the stirrup the pupil will find the act of rising
and maintaining an upright or slightly bent forward position (the
figure raised well up from the saddle) a comparatively easy matter,
and the lesson should be continued thus for a quarter of an hour
longer. However trying to the patience this riding without gaining
ground — "marking time" in the saddle — may be, the lady maybe
assured, that it is by rigid attention to such minutiae only that she
■can become a first-class horsewoman, and that she is in reality losing
no time.

AVhen we hear the singing of Mme. Titiens, or recollect the un-
rivalled dancing of Taglioni, we are apt to forget that with all the
natural talent of these great artistes, it was close attention to rudi-
mentary elements that laid the foundations of their excellence. It is
so in riding, to excel in which is far more difficult than in dancing.
It is those only who are content with mediocrity who ignore detail.
We come now to the second section of this lesson, in which the pupil
will begin to find the first fruit of her previous exertion. The master
having led her horse to the side of the school, should give her instruc-
tion to walk him freely out, riding him, however, well up against the
snaffle, if necessary for this purpose using her whip sharply. The
horse will then take fairly hold of her hand, and give her a good
appui. The rising and falling should then be continued at a walk,
and assisted by the impetus given by the horse's forward motion, and

52 THE BARB AND THE B I? IDLE.

the stirrup, the pupil \n\\ find her work still easier than when the-
horse was at a standstill.

The instructor should now count his "one," "two," in different
times, allowing a longer or shorter interval between each word,
according to whether he means to convey to the pupil the notion of
quick sharp action in the horse, or long dwelling action. Thus, when
the horse trots, he wiU be able to count his time in exact accordance
with the animal's movements. Be the time quick or slow that he
counts, he should exact rigid conformity of action in the pupil ;
because this harmony of motion to the counting is as important to
success in the riding master as it is to the music master. Time and
cadence in action are vital points in equitation.

As soon as the instructor is satisfied that his pupil can easily
accommodate her action to his word, he should prepare to test both
in the trot. But if he takes a week to get the pupil to do the two
previous lessons (one of them even) properly, they should be con-
tinued until she does it; nobody can spell until he knows the
alphabet.

To carry on the lesson in the trot, the instructor should mount a
cob or pony of such height as will admit of his easily placing his
left hand under the right elbow of the pupil. He should ride with
his reins in his right hand, and be sure that the horse he gets on is a
perfectly steady one.

He should now put plenty of vivacity into his own manner ; he
will then easily impart it to his pupil and her horse. The latter
should be smartly "woke up "if at aU behind his work — pressed
up to the bridle with whip and leg, and " made ready" to increase
his pace at any moment. The master should then caution his pupil
that on the words " Prepare to trot," she should strengthen her.
grasp on the upper pommel, her pressure against the third crutch,
and well stretch down the left heel, while she carries back the left
leg, and inclines the body slightly forward from the waist, arms
very firm, fingers shut tight on the reins ; and while the body inchnes
forward there should be no outward or lateral curvature of the
spine, nor should the head be dropped. The shoulders pressed weU
back, and the hands close to the waist, will give firmness and

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 53

suppleness to the whole figure. Directly the master is satisfied with
the pupil's position, he should place his left hand under her right
elbow, urge his own horse smartly on, and give the word " Trot,"
on which the pupil should, without altering her position or yielding
her hand, touch her horse smartly on the shoulder with the whip ;
he will then trot forward. At the first step he takes the master
should help the pupil up with his left hand, and commence counting
his "one," "two" in exact accordance with the horse's action.
In nine cases out of ten the lady will succeed, with a fair stepping
horse, in catching at the first attempt the rise at the right moment,
and the increased impetus given by the horse will assist her, while
her preparatory lessons in rising and falling will now prove their
value.

Should any failure, however, attend the first effort, both horses
should again be brought to the walk ; the lady should be allowed to
re-arrange her habit, and recover from the inevitable flurry which
attends any failure of this sort. Patience, concise explanation, and
cheerful manner on the part of the master will jDresently find their
reward. All ladies do not possess great nerve, but most of them
have great courage and perseverance, and after a false start or two
they get on their mettle, and are sure to catch the true action.
When once they have it, the master should make the pace sharp
and active three or four times round the school, which is long
enough for a first attempt. A couple more turns of equal duration
should terminate the first trotting lesson. The lady should walk
her horse round the school until both are cool, make much of him
by patting him on the neck, and then be taken off. Day by day the
instructor can slightly increase the length of the lesson, always
beginning it, however, as above described, until the rise and fall of
the pupil at a trot is perfectly true and" fair. There should be no
twist from the waist, the shoulders perfectly square, every movement
in exact harmony with the horse's action. After the lady can rise
and fall in the saddle unaided by the master, he is better on foot,
because he can stand behind his pupil, and at once correct any fault
in her position or riding ; and no fault, be it remembered, however
trivial, should be allowed to pass uncorrected.

54 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

For some time the lady should continue trotting out round the-
school, riding altogether upon the snaffle and sending her horse
well up against it. There should be no " give-and-take " action in
the hand in this case ; but while she does not pull the weight of a
feather against her horse, she should make him maintain the appui'
by taking well hold of her hand ; his trot will then be regular and
fair.

After about ten days or a fortnight of such practice, the master
may commence the third section of his trotting lesson, namely, that
in which the pupil begins to collect her horse, raise his forehand, and
bring his haunches under him.

The first step in this should be to ascertain that the lady is not
dependent upon the horse's mouth for any part of her firmness in
the saddle, or, more correctly speaking, to see that her balance is
right unaided by the bridle, because, although perhaps imperceptible
to the rider (man or woman), the appui of the mouth has more to do
with the seat than most people imagine. In good schools of equita-
tion men tell you " There are no hands without legs." True, and if
we were to ask many a good man that we see crossing a country to
ride over a big fence without a bridle we should perceive that there
are few seats without hands. It is to correct the tendency to trust
for support to the horse's mouth that the efforts of the instructor-
should now be directed.

To carry this out, he should be mounted upon a horse of about
equal height to that of his pupil, on the off side, and close to whom
he should place himself. He should direct her to drop her reins
entirely, and then take them in his left hand, riding his own horse
with his right. He should then instruct the lady to place her
hands behind her w^aist, the right hand grasping the left elbow, as
described in the suppling practices. Cautioning her again as to
firmness of grasp and good balance, he should then urge both horses
into a smart trot, and keep them going round the school two or
three times, carefully watching the action of the pupil, and if he
perceives the least indication of distress pull up immediately. The
exertion necessary to execute this lesson is severe if the pupil has
not been weU suppled before being put on horseback. If she has,.

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 55

there will be considerably less effort in it ; but, in any case, on first
practising it, the fair tyro requires every encouragement to perse-
vere, because in doing one thing well, she is very apt to forget
another. Constantly reminded as to her position as the trot goes
on, she will succeed in doing all well. After two or three such turns
(the arms of course disengaged during the interval^, the lady should
take up her reins again ; this time the curb and snaffle reins of equal
length, and in the form (No. 1) described in a previous chapter.
She should then trot her horse freely out round the school, and she
will find the full benefit of her recent drilling without reins, inas-
much as her seat will be many degrees firmer, and her balance more
true, leaving her more liberty of action in hand and leg to apply the
necessary aids to her horse in the coming lesson, in which at a well-
regulated and collected pace, she will learn to turn him in any direc-
tion at her will, to rein him back, to make the inclines and circles,
and prepare him for the cantering lesson by finally riding him in
his trot entirely on the curb rein, and throwing him well upon his
haunches.

66 THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE.

CHAPTER YIII.

The Trotting Lesson {continued).

I COME now to the final section of tlie trotting lesson— that "which,
thoroughly acquired, I may term the thorough bass of the matter.
Having satisfied himseK that his pupil has command of her horse,
steady seat and hands, and true balance when riding equally on the
snaffle and curb, the master should proceed to instruct her as to the
mode of arranging the reins so as to ride on the curb alone.

As this has been abeady described, it is needless to repeat the
formula. I may observe, however, that, in order to give increased
facility of action to the bridle hand, and avoid anything like sudden
jerk or rough pull upon the horse's mouth, it is best for the lady to
retain the end of the curb reins between the fore finger and thumb
of her right hand, by doing which she is enabled, keeping her
left hand perfectly steady, and opening and closing the fingers, to
give easy play to the reins. Without this she would find riding on
the curb alone difficult at first with the left hand only, because
all the motion must come from the wrist, and considerable practice
is necessary to accommodate this motion exactly to the action of the
horse. Care should be taken that the elbows are kept well back, so
as to preserve the suppleness of the waist, and by this time also the
pupil ought to have acquired sufficient steadiness in the saddle to
admit of her giving easy play to the uj^per part of the arm at
the shoulder joint. But until complete firmness of seat is gained
this should not be attempted, because in the case of a novice it
disconnects the figure, and interferes with the horse's mouth materi-
ally. The most rigid attention also should be given to the pupil's

THE BAKE AND THE BRIDLE. 57

general position, and the firmness and correct placing of both legs —
the heels well down, the upper part of the body well drawn up from
the waist, " the whole figure pliant and accompanying every move-
ment of the horse" (see "Military Aid Book").

The lady should commence the lesson by walking her horse two or
three times round the school ; and it is here, by close attention, that
she will learn that light hands are neither " heaven-born" nor
impossible to acquire. On pressing the horse forward with her leg
or whip, so as to make him walk up against the curb, it is possible
her hand may be a little heavy, and that the horse may resist it. In
this case, if not cautious and carefully watched, she will let her
hands go forward. It is for the instructor to take special
care of this, and point out to his pupil how she can ease the
reins through her left hand by the aid of the right, so as to
catch the true appid, without yielding altogether to the horse. In
other words, she should allow sufiicient rein to go through her hand
to enable the horse to walk freely forward ; and then, closing her
fingers again firmly, make him go up to every hair's breadth of rein
she has given him, and fairly against the curb. There should
not be a particle of slack rein. In fact, it may be received as
a sound principle in riding that there should never be slack reins, no
matter what the pace. If you give your horse the full length of
the reins even, make him go up to them.

When once the lady has gained the above-named ojjjmi (the right
hand assisting the left), she should be instructed to halt her horse
lightly on his haunches preparatory to reining back. And again she
should do this by drawing the reins through the fingers of her left
hand with the right, keeping the former perfectly steady, and
drawing her own figure well up, in order to avoid any tendency to
lean forward. On the word " Rein back," which should be given in
a very quiet tone of voice, and in the exact cadence in which
the master desires his pupil to move her horse to the rear, the lady
should feel both reins lightly but firmly for a moment, closing at the
same instant her leg so as to keep her horse's haunches under him,
in the manner before described when using the snafile only, but in
the present case with greater care and precision. Lightly and Jirmly

58 THE BAEB AND THE BEIDLE.

feeling the curb reins while pressed by the leg, the horse will take a
step back. The reins should be yielded the instant he does so. Two
or three steps back are sufficient, when the word "Forward" should
be given, preceded by the caution to close the fingers firmly on the
reins, and, with whip and leg, keep the horse well up to his work.
Feeling this amount of constraint laid upon him, the horse will be
inclined at any moment to canter. But here the tact of the master
should be exhibited in instructing his pupil to release the horse from
his fore-shortened position, by allowing about six inches of rein (or
more, if necessary), to pass through her left hand as she presses the
horse forward into a free trot (about eight miles an hour). All her
firmness of seat will be necessary now, because any irregular action
on her part will cause her hand to become heavy, and make the
horse canter. The great thing is, not to continue trotting on the
curb-rein alone too long. Short lessons often repeated, and intervals
in which to correct everything are best for pupil and instructor.

AYhen the lady can accomplish trotting out for twenty minutes:
without allowing her horse to break, she should then be instructed
to collect him to a slower pace, bringing him more upon his haunches,
and with his forehand more up. This requires the nicest tact and
discrimination on the part of the rider, perfect steadiness in the
saddle, and firm pressure of the left leg ; while the reins should be
drawn through the left hand with as much care as though the lady
feared to break them. The shortened pace should be smart and
active, and the horse so collected as to be ready to turn to the right,
or left, or about, or make the inclines at any moment. All these
exercises should then be practised in the same order as when the
pupil rode, assisted by or on the snaffle only.

After the lady has performed these to the satisfaction of the
master, she should bring her horse to the walk and be instructed to
carry the end of the curb reins, which she has held hitherto in her
right hand, through the full of the left hand, and place both reins
(the off-side one uppermost) over the middle joint of the fore finger,
and close the thumb firmly on them. The end of the reins should
be dropped to the off-side of the horse, and hang down outside the
off-side crutch ; the whip (with the point doivnwards) kept quiet.

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 59

Raising the point of the whip, when a lady is trotting a horse on the
curb alone, and unassisted by her right hand, is very apt to make
him break, because the point of the whip is always in motion, and
causes the horse to turri his eye back at it.

The instructor should now carefully place the lady's bridle hand,
with the wrist rounded outwards and the thumb pointing square
across the body, the back of the hand towards the horse's head, and
the little finger turned upwards and inwards towards the waist, the
arm perfectly firm, and the wrist quite supple — as in this case it is
from the wrist only that every indication to turn, to halt, or rein
back is given, aided by the whip on the off side and the leg on the
near side. The pupil can then be taught to turn her horse to either
hand, or about, at a walk, without any motion of the bridle hand
perceptible to a looker-on, although perceptible enough to the horse.
In turning to the right, the little finger should be turned down
towards the left shoulder, and the back of the hand turned up.
This movement will shorten the right rein, and cause it to act on
the right jaw of the bit. The whip should be closed firmly (not
with a blow) just behind the flap of the saddle on the off side. The
left leg suiDporting this will cause the horse to turn square to his
right. Exactly the reverse movement will turn him to the left.
Right or left about, aids continued, until the horse has reversed his
front.

The trotting lesson may then be gone through again, the pupil
riding entirely with the left hand. But in beginning these lessons
care should be taken to let them be very short, because, in spite of
all previous supplying, considerable constraint is thrown upon the
wrist at first. Any yielding to the horse is accomplished by turning
the little finger towards his neck, while to collect him simply the
little finger is turned up again towards the waist. But the fingers
and thumb of the bridle hand must be kept firmly shut upon the
reins, otherwise the hand becomes heavy and uneven in its action.

By lessons, gradually increased in length, the pupil should be
accustomed thus to ride her horse throughout the trotting lesson,
and trot him out, riding with one hand. It is not usual for ladies
to continue for any length of time riding in this form ; but it is

^60 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

highly necessary that they should be thoroughly well practised at
it, otherwise an important part of their course of equitation will be
neglected. The same may be said of the bending lesson, previous
to cantering. It is rarely put in practice by any but professional
female equestrians. But a lady ought to be thoroughly acquainted
with its formula, because it teaches the principle upon which a horse
acquires his souplesse, which is just as necessary to his freedom of
action and pleasant riding as the early suppling lessons of the pupil
herseK were conducive to her own progress.

THE BAKB AND THE BRIDLE. 61

CHAPTER IX.

The Beimding and Cantering Lesson.

According to the ordinary acceptation of the term, a horse is sup-
posed " to bend well" when he arches his neck, yields to the bit, and
uses his knees and hocks freely. This alone by no means conveys an
adequate idea, however, of what is meant by bending a horse in the
scientific sense. The " Mihtary Aid Book " supplies the following
question and answer, which gives in a very concise form a better
notion of the matter.

Question: What is the use of the "bending lesson"? — Answer:
To make the horse supple in the nech and rihs^ to give free action to
his shoulder, and teach him to obey the pressure of the leg.

It will be seen, then, that "bending a horse" really means^
rendering him supple in every portion of his frame,, and especially in
his ribs and intercostal muscles, as it is suppleness in that part that
gives him the lithe, easy motions so pleasant to the rider.

I have before observed that I do not consider an intimate know-
ledge of the " haut ecole de manege" indispensable for ordinary
riding purposes, either for a lady or gentleman. But, although the
" bending lesson " thoroughly carried out may be said to be the very
gist of " liaut ecole riding," even in its simple form^ unaccompanied
by the higher aids, it is of great service in rendering a horse docile
and obedient to hand and leg, and for that purpose is always
resorted to in our schools of military equitation.

Now, although I do not expect every lady to acquire the art of
suppling her own horses, still a knowledge of the " bending lesson"
will make her thoroughly acquainted with the reasons why a horse
renders ready obedience to her aids of hand and leg ; and, on the
contrary, why he resists them.

^62 THE BAEB AND THE BEIDLE. •

Stiffness (as it is technically termed) has more to do with what is
commonly called restiveness than most people imagine. A horse is
asked to do something that calls upon him to bend or supple a joint
in which, even in early youth, he is still far from supple. He can-
not do it. The rider perseveres, and the horse resists. AVhereas,
when he is thoroughly suppled, he does not know how to disobey
his rider (supposing the latter to know what he is about). If a lady,
therefore, wUl pay close attention to the instruction of her master,
she will discover that her horse will obey her more readily, and move
with more ease to himself and her, when she applies her aids
"smoothly" (without which the bending lesson cannot be done),
than by the application of sudden or violent indications of her will.
For it must be borne in mind that a double bridle is an instrument
of great power in a horse's mouth, and that what may seem light
handling to the uninitiated rider may be rough to the horse. A fair
amount of practice, therefore, in the above-named exercise will have
the effect of rendering a lady's hands remarkably true and steady ;
and, although the lesson may be a little trying to the patience, the
pupil will find her reward in increased confidence and proficiency.

For all practical purposes the "bending lesson" proper may be
divided into two sections, namely, the "passage" and the "shoulder
in," all other movements of the lesson being simply variations from
the above named. The "half passage" may be looked upon as an
introduction to the "full passage," but admits of being practised
with facility at an increased pace at the trot or canter, and at the
latter is a very elegant exercise. To begin with the " shoulder in."
Let us suppose a horse standing parallel to the boards at the side
of the school. To place him in the desired position it is necessary
to bring his forehand in, so that his fore and hind legs are placed
upon two lines, parallel to each other and to the boards, and then to
bend his head inwards at the poll of the neck. No more correct
idea, I believe, can be conveyed of the position than that given in
the "Aid Book," which furnishes the following answer to the ques-
tion. How should a horse be placed in "shoulder in"? "Ans, : AVhen
a horse is properly bent in ' shoulder in,' the whole body from head
to croup is curved ; the shoulders leading, fore and hind feet moving

THE BARB AND THE BEIDLE. 63

on two lines parallel to each other, hind feet one yard from the
boards."

Again. " Q. Whsd, are the aids for working this lesson? — A.
On the word ' right or left shoulder in,' the horse's forehand is
brought in by a double feeling of the inward rein, the outward
leg closed, so as to bring the horse's hind feet one yard from the
boards."

The outward rein leads, the inward preserves the bend ; a pressure
-of the inward leg (of the rider) compels the horse to cross his legs ;
the outward leg keeps him up to the hand and prevents him from
swerving. The horse should be well bent in the pole of the neck,
and well kept up to the hand with the outward leg, the shoulders
always leading.

It will be seen from the above that the rider compels, or rather
■coaxes, the horse, by very firm and steady aids, to move with his
forehand well up, and his whole figure bent (neck and ribs), with his
feet moving on two distinct parallel lines — the effect being to call
upon every important joint, and thoroughly to supple the ligaments
and tendons, as well as to create muscular development, in a way
similar to that of gymnastic or extension exercises in the human
being. "With young horses in training it is necessary to watch this
lesson very carefully, and never to "ask too much" at one time,
because any forcing of it would certainly result in restiveness ; the
^strain, even with naturally supple horses, is considerable, and must
not be persevered with one moment after it is eivdently painful. Of
course, in the case of a lady practising the lesson, it must be done
upon a horse that has gone through a long course of teaching, and
to whom, therefore, the movements cause no inconvenience. But
even here the pupil will find that she must use her hand and leg with
firmness, steadiness, and decision, without hurry or impatience, or
the horse will not answer to her.

The movement must be executed very slowly, and at first only by
a few steps at a time, because, however au fait at his work the
horse may be, the pupil will find considerable difficulty in continu-
ing to apply the aids.

In working the " shoulder in" to the right, it is necessary for the

64 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

master, after putting the horse and rider in true position, to place
himself on the horse's off side, when he should give the word,
" Right shoulder in — march ! " The lady then, firmly closing her
left leg to keep the horse up to the hand, should keep her right hand
well back and low down close to the saddle, lead the horse off with
the left rein, and close her whip to his ribs on the off side, just
behind the flap of the saddle.

If the horse has been accustomed to work the lesson, with a lady
he will obey these aids. But in some cases it is necessary for the
master (to supply the absence of the right leg of a man to the horse),
to push firmly with his left hand against the horse's ribs to move
him off. The rider, while leading the horse off with the left rein,
should keep up a continual, light easy play of the right rein, so as to
preserve the bend inwards. The instructor should count " one,
two," in very slow time, as the horse moves first his fore and then
his hind leg. After a few steps onward the horse should be halted,
by the rider feeling both reins, and closing the whip firmly on the
off side. He should then be made much of and moved on again. A
quarter of an hour is ample for the first lesson.

After the pupil understands and can apply the aids for the
"shoulder in" (riding on the snaffle), she maybe taught to do it
on snaffle and curb together, and then on the curb alone, when she
will find the nicest balance in her seat and the most careful and
delicate manipulations of the reins necessary — joined, however, to
distinct and perceptible feeling upon the horse's mouth. And on
moving her horse forward she will find that her hand is true and
steady.

The " shoulder in" having been neatly done, the lady should rein
her horse lightly back and ride him forward, making the corner of
the school quite square, and then halt at the centre marker. On the
word "right half passage," she should turn the horse's head square
down the centre of the school, and exactly reverse the aids by which
she worked the *' shoulder in " ; that is, she should lead the horse
off with the right or inward rein, well balancing and assisting its
power by the outward one; with her leg she should press the
horse until he places one foot before the other, gaining ground to

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 65

his front, and obliquely to his right at the same time, until he
arrives at the boards, when he will completely have changed the
hand he was working to, and at a canter would, if necessary, be
called upon to strike off with the left leg instead of the right.

After executing the " half passage " correctly, the pupil may
practise the "full passage," the difference between which and the
" shoulder in" is again concisely explained in the "Aid Book."

" Q. What is the difference between the ' passage ' and ' shoulder
in'? — A. In the passage the horse bends and looks the way he is
going. The outward are crossing over the inward legs, and the
inward rein leads. In the ' shoulder in ' the horse does not look the
way he is going. The inward are crossing over the outward legs,
and the outward rein leads."

"Q. What is the difference between the full and half passage? —
A. In the 'full passage ' the horse crosses his legs. In the 'half
passage ' he only half crosses them, placing one foot before the
other."

The pupil will find the passage much more easy to execute than
the "shoulder in," though, I repeat, no horse would do the former up
to the hand as he ought to do unless he has been well drilled in the
latter.

The greatest care on the part of both master and pupil is indis-
pensable to carry out this lesson. The slightest inadvertence or
false movement is at once answered on the part of the horse by
his taking advantage of it and putting himseK in a wrong position,
whereas if he is carefully ridden, and kept well up to the hand,
the subsequent cantering lesson will be much more easy to
perform.

It must be clearly understood, however, that for a lady to attempt
to execute the" bending lesson" by written directions alone, and
unaided by the vigilant superintendence and oral instruction of a
first-rate master would be a mistake. Clear and concise as the
language of the "Aid Book" is, it is impossible for any man writing
such directions to indicate the precise moment at which each move-
ment of hand and leg is to be made, any more than the man who
writes the score in music can regulate the hand of the instrumental

F

66 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

executant of it. There must be energy, patience, and close attention
on the part of the pupil ; vigilance, patience, temper, and thorough
knowledge of his craft on the part of the instructor. Master and
pupil thus in accord, the latter will derive great advantage and
insight into the elegant accomplishment she is endeavouring to
acquire, while anything like carelessness on either side will be fatal
to the utility of the lesson. It should be thoroughly well done or
not at all.

After the careful execution of the above lesson, the pupil should
prepare her horse for cantering by reigning him back lightly on his
haunches ; touching him if necessary smartly with her whip, in
order to put him well up to his work. A step or two back (well up
to the bridle) is sufficient, when she should move forward, and the
instructor should give her the aids for cantering ; which (once
more to quote the simple language of the "Aid Book ") are as
follows: "A hght firm feeling of both reins to raise the horse's
forehand, a pressure of both legs to keep his haunches under
him, a double feeling of the inward rein, and a stronger pressure
of the outvrard leg, will compel the horse to strike off true and
united."

The above of course is intended as instruction to a man ; but sub-
stituting a liglit tap of the whip on the oif shoulder for the pressure
of the inward leg of the man, and very light for strong aids, the
instruction holds good in the case of the lady.

Now, I have observed before that a horse to be thoroughly broken
to carry a woman should be taught to answer to very light aids, and
require, in fact, very little leg in order to understand and answer to
the indications of his rider's will. If this has been properly carried
out the lady will have no difficulty in striking her horse off to the
right, true and united^ which means in cantering to the right (as
nearly every hack and lady's horse does) with the off fore, followed
by the off hind leg.

A charger or "high ?«a??e9e " horse — which must use either leg
with equal facility, and go to the left as well as the right — in
cantering to the former hand will go wich the near fore, folloAved
by the near hind, and be still " true and united " in his pace.

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 67

When he goes with the near fore, followed by the off hind, or
vice vei'st, he is " disunited."

A point of vital importance to be looked to by the master is that
his pupil at her first attempt at cantering her horse is perfectly
•cool and self-possessed, and that she applies her aids smoothhj^
Avithout hurry or excitement , for so great is the sympathy of the
horse in this respect, that flurry on the part of the rider is sure to
cause passionate, excited action in the horse. The manner of the
master has much to do with this ; while it should be such as to
keep his pupil and her horse vif and on their metal, he should be
careful not to crowd the former with too much instruction at once.
Her position should be corrected before she is allowed to strike her
horse off. Care should be taken that her arms are firm, and hands
well back. The waist should be bent slightly forward, which will
give it more suppleness. She should have a firm grip of the upper
crutches, both heels well down, and at her first effort she should
ride equally upon the snaffle and curb reins. To do this (assuming
that she is riding with her bridle in military form), it is only neces-
sary that she should draw up the slack of the near-side snaffle rein
with her right hand until it is level with and under the near-side
curb rein; then carry the snaffle' rein thus shortened over the middle
joint of the forefinger of the left hand, and shut the thumb firmly
on them. She can then place the slack of the off-side snaffle rein
for a moment under the left thumb, while she places the rein between
the third and little finger of the right hand, brings the rein through
the full of the hand over the middle joint of the forefinger, and
closes the thumb firmly on it. The whip should be held in the full
of the hand, the point downwards.

With her hands and figure in the above-named forni, the lightest
appHcation of the aids ought to strike her horse off "true and
united ; " but if by any chance he takes off with the wrong leg or
''disunited," as may sometimes happen with the best broken horse,
from a little over-eagerness or anxiety on the part of the pupil, or a
little unsteadiness of hand, the master should cause her to bring her
horse again to the walk, and reassure her — taking care, however,
•on these occasions that she never " makes much of" or caresses her

F 2

68 THE BARB AND THE BEIDLE.

horse, which would tend to confirm him in a bad habit, but reins hinii
back, and again puts him up to his bridle.

It is a rare occurrence when a horse (thoroughly well-broken)
strikes oif incorrectly ; but I am endeavouring to write for every
contingency.

Assuming the horse to have struck off smoothly to the in-
structor's word Ca-a-n-te-r — which should be given in a quiet,,
soothing tone of voice, and drawn out as if every letter were a
syllable — the horse should be allowed to canter freely forward,
although without rush or hurry. The paq^ should not be toO'
collected at first ; the military pace of manoeuvre is about the
correct thing ; eight miles an hour or thereabouts ; the cadence
true ; the horse well ridden into his bridle, and in this case
yielding to the bit — because, in cantering, it is necessary to have an
ajjpid upon the mouth, quite different from that to be maintained
in trotting, in which it is best for the lady that the horse should feel
her hand fairly and firmly, and that there should be little " give-and-
take " action of the latter. In cantering, on the other hand, an easy
give-and-take play of the hands is indispensable, to cause the horse
to bend in the poll of his neck, yield to the hand, and go in true
form. By this time the pupil should have acquired sufficient firm-
ness and aplomb in the saddle to justify the instructor in commencing
to impart to her that mobile action and flexibility of the upper arm
at the shoulder joint, which may be regarded as the artistic finish-
ing of her course of equitation. But it will not do to commence
this (so goes my experience) at the outset of the cantering lesson,
wherein at first it is best to insist upon firmness of the arms, other-
wise the pupil is most likely (imperceptibly to herself) to allow her
hands to glide forward, and thus destroy the flexibility of her waist,
which is a point always to be most carefully watched. It is pos-
sible that at first the figure of the pupil, from over-anxiety to main-
tain her position and ride her horse correctly at the same time, may
be somewhat rigid ; but complete flexibility cannot be expected at
once. It must be remembered that, although the action of cantering
in a horse is much easier than trotting, still it is novel to the rider,,
who moreover has to keep her horse up to his work.

THE BAEB AND THE BEIDLE. 69

It is not the case of putting a young lady upon an old tittuping
liack that can do little else than canter along behind the bridle and
" drag his toe " at a walk. A horse that has any action or quality
in him, and has been taught to trot up to his bridle, requires " ask-
ing" to canter, and in the early efforts of the pupil requires keeping
to his -work a little after he has struck off in his canter, otherwise he
will drop into a trot again. Such a horse, however, is the only one
upon which to teach a lady to ride. The easy-going old hack above
alluded to is fit only for an invalid to take the air on. At the same
iiime it is asking a good deal from the pupil in her early cantering
lessons to keep her horse up to his work, and to maintain her own
position correctly ; and if she exhibits a little stiffness or formality
(if I may use the expression) at first, it may fairly be passed
over untn increased confidence permits the master to give his atten-
tion to what I may perhaps call the "unbending" of his pupil.
After a few days' cantering as above described, the lady may begin
to collect her horse ; and by this time also she should be fitted
-with a spur, of which the best I know is Latchford's patent.
An opening in the skirt on the inside is necessary. The shank of
-the spur should not be too short, otherwise it is very apt to cut
holes in the habit. The pupil, when the spur is first fitted on,
should be cautioned to keep her left toe as near the horse's side as
the heel, in order to avoid hitting him when he does not require it ;
:and, indeed, the wearing of the steel aid is in itseK a good exercise as
-to the true position of the left leg, while the blunt head of a Latch -
ford (when not pressed hard to the horse's side) does away with any
danger.

The use of the spur in a lady's riding is objected to by some ; but
I cannot consider any rider (man or woman) worthy of the name
who cannot use one and be safe "^enough in the saddle at the
.same time. One objection to spurs for ladies is, that they are apt
to do all sorts of mischief in the event of the lady being thrown from
lier horse. Now, the latter is a contingency which (except in the
hunting field) I do not admit as possible, if the lady has men about
her who know their business in the horse way. If she has not such
j)eople about her, she is better without spurs decidedly ; and

70 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

there is anotlier thing she is better witliout, namely, a horse of any
sort.

If a horse is projDerly broken, and has a man about him who will"
give him plenty of work, and keep him from getting above hunself,
and his fair owner has been as well taught as her horse, she ought
to be as safe on his back as in her brougham, in any kind of riding,
except in exceptional cases in the hunting field. By exceptional
cases I mean where a lady, unaccompanied by a good pilot, takes
a line of her own when hounds are going fast in a big grass
country, and rides (jealous of the field) at impracticable places.
In such case she is likely enough to get down, horse and all. But
even so — and I have witnessed more than one such accident — I have
never found that the lady got hurt by the spur when she wore the
sort I allude to ; and again, I think it is only just to that clever-
loriner, Mr. Latchford, to say that he has invented a lady's stirrup-
which renders danger from it in the event of a fall next to im-
possible— certainly she cannot be dragged by it. In this stirrup
there is no opening at the side by means of springs or complicated
machinery of any sort. It requires neither diagram or drawing to
describe it, because it is the perfection of mechanism — extreme
simplicity. One has only to imagine an ordinary stirrup, rather
elongated than usual from the opening for the leather, the bottom
bar broad and flat ; the latter perforated with two holes. Within
the above-named stirrup another, a size smaller, but fitting nicely
into it. On the lower side of the bottom bar of the inner
stirrup two projections, or obtuse points of steel, which fit into
the holes of the lower bar of the outer stirrup. Now, as
long as the lady is in her saddle the inner stirrup must, from its
mechanism, remain in its place ; but in the event of her being thrown
her weight acts upon the lower part of the outer stirrup, which turns
over and releases the inner stirrup entirely.

To return, however, to the question proper of spurs for a lady, I
must say that they are of the greatest assistance to her when, having
acquired the necessary degree of steadiness on her horse, she desires
to ''wake him up." Too much whip is a bad thing. In riding in
the coimtry a lady must perforce have to open a bridle gate-

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 71

sometimes for herself, and if she is always using a whip to liven her
her horse up, she will find it difficult to get him to stand still, even
while she opens the lightest of gates. As regards the pupil in the
school, I repeat she should be habituated to wear a spur as soon as
her progress justifies it.

72 THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE.

CHAPTER X.

The Cantering Lesson {continued).

Haying satisfied himself as to the proficiency of liis pupil in canter-
ing "going large" — that is, round the school or menage — the atten-
tion of the instructor should next be directed to teaching her to
make the turns and circles, and execute the "half passage" with
precision.

The use of these exercises is to confirm (while riding upon both
snaffle and curb reins) the steadiness of hand and seat and true
balance of the rider, because, although these may appear good
enough while a lady is riding her horse on a straight line, or only
wdth the turns at the corners of the school, many shortcomings will
be detected when she attempts to turn him square from the boards,
or asks him to make a true circle, in which the hind legs follow
exactly over the same track as the fore legs.

To commence tliis lesson in proper form, the pupil should collect
her horse, by reining him quietly back, then move him forward well
up to the hand, at a walk and at a smart active pace. AVhen she
arrives at the centre marker at the end of the school, the master
should give the word "down the centre," when the rider should
turn her horse square to the right (assuming, as is usually the case,
that she commences her lesson to that hand). The aids for turning
at a walk having been already given, it is only necessary to say that
the turn down the centre requires only a trifle stronger application of
the left leg, to counteract any tendency of the horse to throw liis
haunches outwards, and that, looking steadily to the centre marker
at the other end of the school, the pupil should sight that marker
well between her horse's ears, and ride true and straight to it, taking
care, by closing the leg in time, that the horse does not cut off any

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

73

of the ground, but plants his near fore foot close to the boards and
makes the corner equally square, because whenever a horse is allowed
to " cut the corners off" he endeavours to get behind the bridle, and
generally succeeds. The pupil, therefore, should be cautioned in
time by the instructor, and if she fails to make good every inch of
ground, the word " halt" should be given and the horse reined back.
Arrived about midway down the school, the turns to the right should
be made square from the boards, the horse's haunches kept under
him so that he does not hit the side of the school with his hind feet.
His doing which is at once a proof that he is out of hand. Arrived
at the centre of the school, the words ''right turn" should be given
again, instead of allowing the pupil to ride right across the school to
the boards on the opposite side. She should then ride a couple of
lengths down the centre, and again turn her horse, by word from the
master, square to the right, and once more to the left, when arrived
at the boards. This, repeated two or three times, is a good prepara-
tion for executing the circle ; in order to facilitate the correct riding
of which, the master should cause his pupil to halt her horse at the
side, and himself walk over the ground he desires her to ride over.
If he does this correctly, the pupil will find little difficulty in riding
the circle with precision.

Starting from a point close to the boards, a couple of horses'
lengths in front of the pupil, the master should make an incline to
the right, at an angle of about forty-five, until he is half-way
between the boards and the centre of the school ; he should then
bring up his left shoulder, and make another incline at the same
angle to the centre of the school. Down the centre he should walk
straight, the distance of a horse's length ; again bring up his left
shoulder, and make two inclines to the side. The figure he will thus
describe does not quite represent a circle as he walks ; but when the
horse is called upon to move his fore and hind legs on the same track,
it will be a circle in his case as nearly as possible. Having caused
the pupil to move her horse forward, the instructor should give her
the aids for circling, which are a double feeling of the inward rein,
the horse well supported with the outward, and well kept up to the
hand by the leg.

74 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

In circling to the right, the horse to be well bent to the right, so
that the rider can see his inward eye ; fore and hind legs moving
exactly on the same track, the horse not throwing his haunches out..
The great use of this circling is, that as the horse changes his
direction no less than six times in a small space, to keep him up to
his work the lady must bring up her left shoulder as many times as
the horse alters his direction. To do this, she must be quite supple
in the waist, and circling is therefore a capital practice to insure this
freedom of action at that portion of the figure. To render the
lesson still more easy to the pupil, I have found it answer well, after
walking over the ground, to mark it out on the tan with a stick. In
military schools the circle to the right or left is followed by the
" circle and change," in which, when arrived at the boards, the pupil,
instead of turning the horse's head to the hand he is working to,
changes the bend, and turns to the reverse hand. This, however,
cannot be executed at a canter with due precision without the use of
the right leg, and is therefore (in my opinion) better omitted in a
lady's course of equitation, an additional reason being that, when
she is taught to make the change at a canter, she can do it much
more effectually and elegantly by the " half passage."

The circles having been neatly done, the pupil should rein her
horse back, put him well upon his haunches, and strike him off at
a collected canter, about five miles an hour, the cadence true, the
position of the rider correct.

It is at this point that the instructor should begin carefully to get
his pupil to supple herself in the saddle, while she still rides her
horse well up to his work. It should be borne in mind that
a horse cannot make turns or circles at the "pace of manoeuvre"
without considerable danger to himself and his rider, because at such
a pace it is next to impossible to keep him fairly balanced, and he is-
liable, even on well-kept tan, to slip up, whereas at a very collected
pace, with his haunches well under him, there is no danger whatever,
although at first it will call very much upon the energy and close
attention of the rider. Having her horse well into his bridle, the
give-and-take action of the hand should now come gradually from
the shoulder joint, and the pupil should be frequently reminded to-

THE BAUB AND THE BRIDLE. 7i>

avoid resisting the action of the horse in his canter, but to endeavour,
on the other hand, to accompany him in his short stride. This is ta
be done by simply keeping both heels well down, the hands back,
the waist bent slightly forward and perfectly supple, and avoiding
too strong a grasp with the right leg upon the upper crutches of the
saddle. The figure from the waist upwards, however, should be-
perfectly erect, leaning neither backwards nor forwards, either posi-
tion being both unsafe and ungainly.

Nothing is more common than to see a lady sitting with the upper
part of her figure bent forward in a canter, and, if not overdone, the
effect is by no means ungraceful to the eye of a looker-on. But it is
a habit likely to increase in degree, and unsafe in any case, because^
it is opposed to the principle of true balance.

With the shoulders well back, the body, neck, and head upright,
the waist slightly bent forward, the hands well back, and acting by
an easy play of the upper arm at the shoulder joint — sitting, in fact,
with freedom in the saddle — the action of the horse at a collected
pace will give the rider a slightly cjUdhig motion from the cantle-
towards the pummels, and gradually she will thus acquire the habit
of suppling herself on her horse ; ready, however, at any moment
"to seize her seat " (to use the expression of old Sam Chifney) by
muscular grip if the horse flirts or plunges, which, however, it is
difficult for him to do when going well within himself and up to his
bridle.

The left leg at a canter should not be drawn back, as in trotting,,
but kept close to the horse's side, with the heel down, and the foot
as nearly as possible under the knee. Of course, the above-described
easy deportment in the saddle is not to be acquired in a single
lesson ; it requires considerable practice and close watching by both,
master and pupil. Once learnt, however,- the lady has gained another
important step in her equitation.

The length of time requisite to insure complete souplesse at this
point is dependent upon several circumstances, over which the master
has only a moderate amount of control.

The figure of the pupil is an important point in the matter. If
she is naturally lithe and has been well suppled on foot, the task

76

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

will be considerably easier. If, on the contrary, she is of a square
figure — short in the neck and waist, and stiff in the shoulders — con-
siderably more time is requisite. But with care, attention, and
perseverance it can be acquired by all in early youth.

I know a lady who rides with both dash and judgment with hounds
who is anything but a good figure; but she began imder proper
tuition when she was very young, and, although no longer so, she
has preserved the souplesse and true balance acquired in her early
days. Natural aptitude, too, is of great assistance to both master
and pupil, and should be energetically developed by the former ; at
the same time, care should be taken that the pupil does not overrun
her lessons.

As an instance of what can be accomplished even at a first essay
by a lady gifted with natural talent for riding, I cannot refram
from relating the following : — Some years ago I chanced to be at
the school of a fashionable riding master in London, when a class
of young ladies was going through a ride. In the gallery from which
I was observing them was also the mother of one of the young ladies
who was riding, and of another much younger, who was standing
by her side watching with the most intense interest the riding below.
The younger lady was not more than ten or eleven years old, but of
-a form and figiu-e exactly fitted for performing well in the saddle,
being tall of her age, and lithe and supple in her movements. She
did not speak, but I could see from the excitement of her manner,
the gUtter of her large dark eyes, and her changing colour, that she
was heart and soul with the fair equestrians. The ride finished
with a leaping lesson, and there was some capital jumping over a
gorsed bar, hurdles double and single, and an artificial brook. The
last performance completely overcame the little spectator in the
gallery. Bursting into a violent fit of sobbmg and weeping, she
clutched her mother's dress, and cried convulsively, "Dear mamma,
let me ride, let me ride." The lady, quite surprised and very much
aifected by the emotion and excited state of the child, nevertheless,
refused, declaring she was too young. But the young supiDlicant
for equestrian houom^s was not to be denied ; she continued to
implore and weep, and, the riding master coming to her aid, the

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 77

mother gave way. Her little daughter was put on a quiet horse,
and the master himself led him round the school at a walk, but
this by no means satisfied our ambitious little tyro. "Let me
trot," she said; "I am sure I can trot." The professor was quite
sure she could not, and told her so ; and, to convince her, he started
the horse trotting, and ran by his side. He was never more mis-
taken. The lessons the pupil had been witnessing from the gallery
must have made a strong impression on her mind ; for, to the
surprise of all of us, she caught the action of the horse at the
first step, and made the best attempt at trotting I ever saw for a
beginner. Feeling that trotting fatigued her, she asked to be
allowed to canter, and this she did in very good form. But the
crowning part of the thing was, that when we were about to take
her oif her horse, she begged to be allowed to have a jump. I
confess, I thought the riding master wrong in consenting to this. But
again our little friend electrified us all. A hurdle was put up, well
sloped, so as to make the jump a very moderate one, the little
pupil's hands placed, and her position rectified. No sooner had the
horse turned the corner of the school, and before the riding master
had time to check her, than the girl's eye lit up just as I had seen it
in the gallery. She caught the horse fast by the head, hit him with
her heel, put down her hands, and sat as though she had been
hunting for years. It was too late to stop her, and any interference
at the moment would have done more harm than good. With my
heart in my mouth, I saw the horse go at the hurdle. He was one
that had " an eye in every toe," and did not know how to make a
mistake. But his daring little rider had roused him thoroughly,
and he jumped high enough to clear a big fence, and far enough to
take him over a small brook. Just as the horse took off, I shouted
involuntarily, " Sit back ; " and the little enthusiast answered as
though my voice had been inspiration. Her lithe little figure was
bent from the waist, precisely at the right moment ; and she
landed safe, except that the concussion threw her slightly up in
the saddle. Her marvellous aptitude (talent the professionals
would have called it) induced the riding master to let her make
another attempt, and this time, putting her horse at the hurdle at

78 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

the same dashing pace (which, by the way, with her wonderful nerve
and confidence, made it easier for her), she sat in the saddle,
as the old groom who tended the hurdles said, "as if she had'
o^rown there," and landed fair and true without jolt or concussion.

This young lady is now one of the most brilliant horsewomen in
England. Her genius (if I may be permitted the expression),
joined to close application and the best of opportunities of riding
good horses, enabled her in a brief space to far outstrip all her
youthful competitors, and in less than twelve months after the time
1 speak of she could execute most of the "bending lesson," at a
canter as well as a professional rider, while over the country with
hounds she was always close to her pilot, than whom there was no
better man. This when she was barely thirteen years old.

Such instances of extraordinary aptitude, nerve and courage,
combined with the necessary elasticity and physical power to ride,
are very rare indeed ; in fact, in a long experience of such matters,
I do not know of a parallel case. Nevertheless, if the natural dash
and fitness for riding possessed by this young lady had not been
•carefully watched, moulded into proper form, and restrained within
due bounds, they would inevitably have run riot with her, and
brought her to grief. It is in such cases as the above, or rather
such as tend in that direction, that the tact and judgment of a
riding master is required. If the young lady I speak of had been
allowed, and the of>portunity had offered, she would have mounted
without hesitation any brute that would carry a saddle, and mischief,
•of course, would have resulted.

To return to the cantering lesson proper. When the instructor
has succeeded in completely regulating the cadence of the horse in
his pace and the position of his pupil, he should give her due caution
to wait for the last sound of his word, to keep her body back and
her leg close, supporting the horse well with the outward rein, and
he should then give the word, well drawn out, gently and without
hurry, "right turn," when the pupil should turn her horse from the
boards with the same aids as at a walk, but more firmly applied,
and if the horse leans upon her hand she should keep him up with
her spur.

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 79

"Many a horse" (says the "Aid Book") "keeps a tolerable
•canter on a straight line, but when turned he feels too much con-
straint laid upon him, and leans upon the rider's hand. If at such
a moment the rider yields the reins instead of closing the hand
firmly on them, turning the little fingers up towards the waist, and
closing the leg firmly, the horse comes upon his forehand."

Concise as the above passage is, it describes exactly what occurs
on first making a turn at a canter, and it calls upon all the energy
and attention of the pupil to keep the horse up to his work. But
as in other exercises in the course of equitation, her reward will be
in her thorough command over her horse under all circumstances,
because by learning to ride him with such minute precision she is
always able to anticipate his every movement.

The first three or four turns at a canter should be made square
across the school, from side to side, and no second word should be
given on arriving at the boards ; the pupil turning her horse again
to the right without any caution, and continuing to "go large"
round the school until she again gets the word to turn. This
practice will teach her to be constantly on the alert, and to maintain
such a balance as will enable her in turning to move exactly on the
same line as her horse, bringing her left shoulder up precisely at the
right moment.

Three or four turns are quite sufficient for the first lesson, because
the horse before completing these must go several times round the
school, and the pupil should ride hun well up to his bit. After a few
turns, smoothly and correctly made, the pupil should bring her horse
to the walk, halt, make much of him, and sit at ease.

Making much of a horse when he has performed well is always a
judicious mode of letting him know that he has been doing right ; at
the same it affords him an interval of rest, which is quite necessary.
U'his may appear absurd to those who are accustomed to see horses
continue galloping for hours. But it must be remembered that the
sort of work I have been endeavouring to describe is altogether
artificial ; that the animal thrown upon his haunches only goes
through the lesson with considerable exertion, and that if he is
kept too long at it, this can only be done by an amount of fatigue

80 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

on the part of the rider which would be far from beneficial to a lady.
The object of the lesson is to induct the pupil into a mode in which
she can obtain complete mastery over her horse. It is, as it were, a
gymnastic exercise for both steed and rider, and must not be
persevered with too long at one time. After about ten minutes'
rest the pupil should again collect her horse, rein him back, and pre-
pare him again for cantering. She should then strike him quietly off,
and ride him very collectedly, so as to be ready to make the circles.
These should be made from about midway down the boards ; and on
the last sound of the words " circle right," the pupil should turn her
horse's head from the boards, and, supporting him well with the left
leg and rein, ride in a figure exactly similar to that she described at a
walk. She will find, however, that the horse requires considerably
more support in making the circles than he did in the simple turns.
Being on the bend from the time he leaves the boards until he arrives
at them again, the nicest riding is necessary to keep his fore and
hind feet on the same track, and prevent him from throwing his
haunches out. The pace, too, should be more collected than when
the turns were made. Four miles to four miles and a half an hour is
quite fast enough, and, if necessary, the horse must be halted and
reined back several times in order to get him thoroughly collected^
Two circles well done are quite sufficient. The pupil should then again
halt, " sit at ease," and make much of her horse. By this time
both he and the pupil will have gone through a tolerably severe
lesson, because the collected pace necessary to execute it, and
especially the circles, necessitates a great deal of cantering before a
beginner can ascertain the true cadence — without which, and a con-
siderable amount of support from her hand and leg, it is unsafe and
useless for her to attempt her turns and circles ; frequently, too, a
horse will have to go several times round the school before the
instructor can see the opportunity to give the word. Reining back
again, and collecting him, call very much upon the horse's powers,
while, on the other hand, over-fatigue is specially to be avoided as
regards the pupil. After resting ten minutes or so, the lady should
conclude this lesson by walking him quietly about till he is quite cool.

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 81

CHAPTER XI.

The Cantering Lesson (continued) — The Half Passage and

Change.

Although the last-named exercises belong, strictly speaking, more
to tlie curriculum of the military riding school than to female
equitation, still, to be able to execute them with precision is of
great advantage to a lady, because they teach her that by getting
a good bend on her horse, and placing him in a certain position by
the application of the proper aids, she can compel him at her plea-
sure to canter with either near or ofF foot leading ; and, although it
may not be agreeable to her to keep her horse going with the near
leg, unless she is riding on the off side, nevertheless, the practice of
the half passage and change is an admirable, and indeed very
elegant, mode of acquiring ready facility in the effective use of
hand and leg. I have said before that the horse in the " half pas-
sage " places one foot before the other, instead of crossing his legs
completely, as in the full passage. The former mode of progression
enables the horse therefore to gain ground diagonally to his front,
instead of moving upon a line at right angles with the boards as in
the latter.

The aids by which the haK passage is executed are the same as
those of the " full passage," with the following exceptions. First,
there is a lighter pressure of the leg on the outward side ; and in the
case of a lady it is necessary that she should use her whip on the off
side behind the saddle alternately with her leg on the near side, in
order to cause the horse to gain ground to the front, as well as to
place one foot before the other.

After starting her horse at a walk, "going large," the rider

G

82 THE BAKB AND THE BRIDLE.

should rein him back, collect and balance him — riding equally upon
snaffle and curb reins — she should make the corner perfectly square ;
and when midway between it and the centre marker, the instructor
should give the word " light half passage," upon which the pupil
should still further collect her horse into the slow pace she used in
the bending lesson, and, having arrived at the centre marker, she
should bring the horse's forehand in, by a double feeling of the right
rein ; the outward leg closed, to prevent the haunches from flying out.
The inward rein leads ; the outward balances and assists the power
of the inward. A pressure of the left leg causes the horse to place
one foot before the other (see Aid Book). The whip used in alter-
nate action with the leg will cause him to move to his right front,
towards the boards.

A very light and delicate application of the leg, in unison with a
similar application of the whip, is sufficient with a well-broken
horse to enable the rider to do the " half passage " correctly at a
walk. The point at which, strictly speaking, she should arrive at
the boards is just midway between the ends of the school; and in a
properly-regulated one there should always be a white marker on
the wall, just above the place where the sockets for the leaping bar
are inserted in it.

Keeping her eye upon this marker, the rider should lead her horse's
forehand lightly with the right rein, maintaining an easy, playful,
feeling of the snaffle in his mouth, and carefully balancing his every
step with the left rein, while she presses him up to his work with
the leg and whip. The horse's head should be bent to the right, so
that his right eye is visible to the rider as she sits perfectly square
in the saddle. The pace can scarcely be too slow, but every step
must be taken up to the bridle, the horse's forehand up, and his
haunches well under him.

In no part of a lady's course of equitation is it necessary for the
instructor to pay more close attention to his pupil than in this : the
temptation to the latter to relax her position, and sit, as it were, "all
over the saddle " is great, from the difficulty she at first experiences
in applying the aids effectually, and her anxiety to do well, Causing
her to twist her figure in pressing the horse with the left leg. The

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 83

horse, too, is moving with his fore and hind feet in two distinctly-
different lines, which renders it far from easy, without considerable
practice, to sit fair and square in the saddle. Close attention and
quiet correction, however, will obviate all this.

Many people, I am aware, assert that riding with such precision
is unnecessary to a lady. From this opinion I beg leave to dissent
in toto, my idea being that a course of equitation for a lady means
teaching her everything (less the lessons of the " Haute Ecole ")
connected with the subject, and that whether she chooses hereafter to
practise the "bending lesson," "half passage," and change at a
■ canter or not, a thorough knowledge of them will give her a facility
of riding unattainable by any other means, and make her also
thoroughly an fait to the reason for everything she does in order to
.control the animal under her.

Again, I can see no possible reason why the nicest precision should
be considered unnecessary in a lady's riding any more than it is in
music ; and, to try back on my old simile, I submit that as the same
scale is written for a Thalberg as for the fair daughter of the house
who performs on the pianoforte for the post prandial amusement
■of paterfamilias, and inasmuch as the mode in which the music
is performed is dependent in a great measure upon precision and
practice, so in riding it is necessary to make a young lady acquainted
with the principles of equitation in their minutest details, and
xjarefuUy to watch that she executes them with the most rigid
exactness.

To return to the half passage. On arriving at the boards the
lady should halt her horse for a moment and make much of him,
then rein him back, and again walk him round the school to the left.
The half passage should then be done to that hand, reversing the
aids, and using the whip instead of the left leg. This will bring the
horse again upon the right rein. He should now be well put up to
his work, and pressed smartly off at a very collected canter. The
instructor should be most careful that the proper cadence in pace is
arrived at before he gives the word, and should caution the pupil
also that when she arrives at the boards she should bring her horse
-to the walk.

G 2

84 THE BARB AND THE BEIDLE.

To facilitate this exercise also, it may be advisable in some cases-
to take the whole school instead of half of it ; but in that case the
horse should go over the same ground in the " half passage" at a
walk, as he afterwards does at a canter.

When the exercise is done at the latter pace, no attempt should
be made at the first effort to change the horse at the boards. The
master should give the word very quietly directly the pupil turns the
corner of the school, and she should then press her horse well up, and
turn his head smoothly from the centre marker, applying her aids
with firmness and decision, endeavouring at the same time to prevent
him from hurrying his pace. This, however, at the fii'St attempt, it
is scarcely to be expected that she will accomplish.

If the whole school is taken, the point of arrival at the boards
should be about a horse's length from the end, where he should be
brought quietly to a walk, the rider for this purpose keeping the
body back, turning the little fingers of both hands up towards
the waist, and drawing the hands themselves well towards her
waist. The bend of the horse's head should then be changed to the
left, by allowing the off side reins to slip through the right hand
about two inches, and drawing the near-side reins through the left
hand, with the right, to an equal extent. The near-side reins should
then be passed into the right hand, while with the left the rider
"makes much" of her horse on the near side. This, of course, should
only be done if he has executed the movement with reasonable pre-
cision, for (to repeat) perfection cannot be expected in the pupil's
first effort.

Plenty of time should be taken between these " half -passage "
lessons, because they are severe, calling very much upon the
physical powers of both horse and rider.

In order to give both a fair chance, the lesson should be again
done at a walk, then at a canter, the pupil carefully instructed on
arriving at the boards to strike the horse off collectedly to the left.
To do this she should quietly change the bend to that hand, carry
her left foot well forward towards the horse's shoulder, so as to use
an action of her leg reverse to that she had recourse to in striking
him off to the right. She should keep him well bent, but well sup-

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 85

ported with the outward rein. When she has him in the corner of
the school, and bent both in his neck and ribs (which in turning and
putting his off fore foot into the angle must be the case, if she
applies her whip smartly behind the flap of the saddle, and presses
her left foot to his near elbow, keeping his forehand well up at the
same time), he can scarcely refuse to strike off with his near leg ;
but it must be borne in mind that a lady cannot be expected to
execute this movement with any certainty unless the horse has been
previously taught by a man to obey the aids the lady applies as
above directed. This, however, every breaker who knows his busi-
ness can easily do.

When a fair amount of proficiency is acquired in this lesson, the
■change may be made from what is technically called a " half halt,"
which means simply that, the horse being thrown more upon
his haunches, the aids are applied with great firmness, and
the horse compelled to change his leg without being brought com-
pletely to the walk. The degree of proficiency, however, should
be when the pupil can change her horse with certainty after halting
him.

The pace at which the half passage is done should be very col-
lected, and, I repeat, if the rider and horse do it only reasonably
well (that is, the latter continuing true and united in his pace, and
■changing freely after being halted), that for some little time it
should be considered sufficient, and every allowance made for the
fact that the lady, unlike the male rider, cannot give support to her
horse with both legs.

Most likely at first the horse will throw his haunches out a little,
-and the rider slightly lose her position. Practice and the close
application most ladies give to riding will suffice to correct all this,
and in due time the pupil will be able to execute the lesson with
smoothness and ease to herself and her horse. She will then be
sufficiently advanced to commence cantering on the curb rein alone.
This, as regards finish in the rider's hand, is in equitation what tone
is in music. Every motion of the little finger, or the slightest turn
of the wrist, acts upon the curb when it is unrelieved by the snaffle
with so much more power, that the greatest care is necessary to

86 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

teep the bridle hand steady at first, and to avoid anything
approaching to suddenness or roughness of action.

This steadiness is best accomplished by causing the pupil to ride
with the reins arranged military fashion, with the snaffle reins
hanging over the full of the left hand, the off side rein upper-
most, and the right hand holding the end of the curb reins, as
before described, which affords greater facility for easing and
feeling them than can at first be expected, when the action is given-
altogether from the left wrist. In the latter case, the hand without
considerable practice would be far too heavy, even when the arm
was kept quite firm, and unbearably heavy to the horse if there was
any motion from the shoulder of the rider.

I must repeat that the lines of action of the little finger of the
bridle hand are four — namely, towards the right and left shoulder
respectively, according as the rider desires to turn the horse right
or left ; and towards his neck and her own waist, as she wishes to
collect, rein back, or move him forward.

Now, while in trotting on the curl) rein only the hand and arm
should be kept as steady as possible, in order that the horse may
make a free appul between mouth and hand, '• taking hold a
little of the latter ; " in cantering the direct reverse of this is the
case, and the hand of the rider should give and take to every stride
of the horse.

It is in the mode of timing these give-and-take motions in exact
harmony with the action of the horse that fine and finished hands
consist ; and I will endeavour to give an idea of the readiest way in
which this delicate manipulation may be acquired, with as much
precision as the fair rider can exercise when pressing the keys of
a pianoforte.

Let us suppose, then, that in preparing for the cantering lesson
on the curb, in order nicely to collect the horse, the reins are drawn
quietly through the left hand by the right, as above described, the
object being to rein the horse back a step or two, and balance him
well with forehand up and haunches under hun. By the above-
named drawing up of the reins a firmer appui is created against
the liorse's mouth. By closing both leg and whip, however, while-

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 87

still maintaining this appui., the horse will step back. The instant
he does the reins should be yielded to him, and he will bend in the
poll of the neck and yield to his rider's hand. So that the appui is
then scarcely perceptible. This alternate action of hand and leg,
aided by the whip, should be repeated just as many times as it is
desired to rein the horse so many steps backward, the latter
moving very slowly ; a couple or three stejDS for the purpose
above named are always sufficient. To move the horse to the
front again at a walk, the leg should be closed, and the reins
eased until he moves forward, when he should be again collected.
But if the rider desires to strike him off at once at a canter, at
the moment she eases her hand she should apply her spur smartly
just behind the girth, and touch the horse lightly on the off
shoulder with her whip. Being properly bent and prepared, he
will then strike off with his right leg first, and well within himself ;
but having eased the reins as the horse takes his first short stride
forward, the rider should feel them again the next instant, keeping
her left hand well back, her arm steady, and manipulating the reins
with the right hand and the fingers of the left, so that she feels
them just as the horse's fore foot is on the ground, and eases them
as he raises it.

This may appear to the uninitiated a very difficult matter, but in
reality it is not at all so, any more than it is difficult in dancing to
keep time to music, or for the nmsician to count the time to himself ;
and by careful watching it can be mastered as well as either of the
above, or the stroke in swimming.

Anybody who has witnessed a cavalry field day will have noticed
that the regimental band and the action of the horses both in trotting
and cantering past the commanding officer are in exact harmony ;
and many people believe that the horses are taught to canter to the
music. The reverse of this, however, is the case. The leader of the
band, having himself passed through a course of equitation, knows
the exact cadence of the pace of manoeuvre, and regulates the time of
the music accordingly ; but it is because he is able to count the
time of the horses' footfall so well that he is also able to set the time
of the music. In like manner the fair equestrian, with a little

88 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

practice, can learn to count the time of her horse's canter to herself,
and regulate the action of her hand accordingly.

The pupil must throw plenty of life into her riding, and, while
she sits easily and flexibly as regards her whole figure on the saddle,
should keep the horse equally upon his mettle. In a riding school
he requires more calling upon than when out of doors, and more
*' pressing up," as it is technically called ; but when once the rider
has him going, well balanced, and bending nicely, the great thing
is to " let well alone," and not ask too much, by which she would
only fret and upset him. In bringing the horse to the walk, the
. pupil should be cautioned to feel him up very gradually, avoiding
any sudden jerk on his mouth. The gradual stronger feeling for
two or three strides, of the taking action of the hand, followed by a
much slighter giving of the reins, will bring the horse smoothly to
the walk. The body of the rider should be inclined slightly back
from the perpendicular.

When the lady has acquired ease and freedom in riding on the
curb, the turn, circles, "half passage " and change may be practised,
close attention being given that the aids are applied smoothly and
quietly.

After a few such lessons, the pupil may commence riding with
the left hand entirely unassisted by the right. For this purpose it is
necessary first to carry that portion of the reins held in the right
hand over the middle joint of the fore finger of the left ; close the
thumb firmly down on them, and drop the slack of the rein to the off
side of the saddle near the horse's shoulder.

The give-and-take action must at first be from the wrist only,
the arm being kept firm, and the hand opposite the centre of the
body.

For a time this will be a little diflicult, especially in turning, when
the rider has only the motion of the little finger to depend upon for
the action of the bit in the horse's mouth ; but by supporting the
horse well with the leg and whip, she will find that he will presently
answer readily to her aids. In turning to the right, the hand must
be turned with the knuckles up, and the little finger down towards
the left shoulder, the wliip pressed to the horse's side, and the leg

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 89

kept close, in order to make the turn square. In turning to tlie left,
the little finger should be directed inwards and upwards towards the
right shoulder, and the left leg pressed to assist the turn, while the
whip on the off side insures its squareness. The wrist must be
quite easy and supple. In collecting, reigning back, halting, or
bringing the horse to the walk, the action by which he is restrained
should again at first be altogether from the wrist, because motion
from the shoulder would be too heavy. In yielding to the horse,
nothing more is necessary than to turn the knuckles up and the httle
finger towards the horse's neck.

By degrees, as the pupil learns to command her horse riding in
this form she must be instructed once more to give free and mobile
action to the arm at the shoulder joint, as when riding on both
snaffle and curb reins. But at first firmness of the arm is essential
to give steadiness to the hand. A good deal has been said about
turning horses by pressure of the rein against the neck without
acting upon the metal in his mouth ; and opinions very diverse have
been expressed on this point. With all deference to the disputants,
I submit that both are right and both wrong in some respects.
For instance, when the rider has the reins divided and the hands well
apart (a section of the lady equitation I propose to say something
about hereafter), if the rider turns the horse square to the right or
left he must use his legs as weU as his hands, and imperceptibly
perhaps to himself (even if he has not been taught by rule) he
closes both the outward leg and feels the outward rein firmly, in
order to support the horse and prevent him from falling, which
otherwise he would be in danger of doing. Now, this support with
the outward rein causes it to press against the horse's neck, and to
some extent gives him the indication of the rider's will. But still it is
simply impossible to do this without acting on the snaffle or bit rein,
as the case may be, on one side or the other, as long as the reins are
attached to a bit of any sort. And after all, it is the leg which gives
the surest indication of the rider's wiU.

One sees a lad in an Irish fair riding with a flat-headed
halter turned through the horse's mouth, and, with the rope only
•on one side, he will put the horse through his paces, jump him,

90 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

and turn him to either hand. There is no metal at all in the mouthy
although the hemp is not a bad substitute ; but the rope being only
on one side, it is evident that it is not pressure upon the neck that
turns the horse, but the action of the boy's leg against the inter-
costal muscles of the horse, and the inflection of the lad's body to
the hand he desires to turn to.

Moreover, in the case, let us say of a dragoon, we will suppose at
riding school drill, it would be utterly out of the question to turn
horses by pressure on the neck and preserve order at the same time.
Let us suppose a double ride — seven mounted men on either side of a
school or manege. They are going large round the place, and the
instructor gives the word " Right and left turn." If each man of
the fourteen were to turn his horse by pressure of the reins against
the neck, instead of by the aid of leg and hand, the result would
be that in place of making a square turn at right angles with the
boards, each horse would describe a segment of a circle, more or less
large, according to the susceptibility of his neck, and the stiffness
or otherwise of his ribs. The consequence would be that the two
sides, instead of passing left hand to left hand through the
intervals (and it must be remembered that there is little room to
spare), would be on the top of each other, and in confusion at once.
And if this would be bad at a walk, it would be still worse at a
canter. In either case it would be impossible, by the application of
such aids, to preserve the dressing. The above, I submit, is a
sufficient reason, where the utmost precision in riding is required, why
turning a horse by the action of the rein against his neck (if, indeed,
it can be done at all without the leg) is objectionable; and another
objection in the case both of the dragoon and the lady rider is that
the motions by which such aids could be applied are too wide for neat
and elegant riding.

Horses in their breaking may be taught to answer all sorts of
" cross aids ; " but for simplicity and ease of comprehension there is
nothing in equitation so good as the system practised in the German
and our own cavalry riding schools, the proof of which lies in the
fact that, although years ago one did not get even an average
amount of intelligence as a rule in our rank and file, yet every

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 91

cavalry soldier could readily understand the simple system upon
■which he was taught. It is because that system forms, after all, the
basis of much that applies to female equitation that I have so
frequently quoted from and alluded to it.

AYhen the instructor finds that his pupil is quite at her ease, riding
her horse with one hand only, that she can do this, giving due
freedom of action to the arm at the shoulder joint, has perfect
command of liim, and plenty of liberty and confidence in her
own deportment on his back, he should take her out and ride
with her in the park or road, and subsequently prepare her
to extend her horse at a gallop, and commence her leaping
lessons.

At this stage a more finished style of equestrian toilette will'
of course be adopted, in lieu of the loose habiliments hitherto-
used.

I do not pretend to lay down any arbitrary rule on this subject.
Much of course depends upon the taste of the lady herself, and in
this respect English ladies are pre-eminent; a good deal also upon
the judgment and experience of those about her. But as I have
good opportunies of seeing the best types of fashionable attire for
ladies' riding, I venture to suggest some of them.

92 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

CHAPTER XII.

Dress for Park Riding, and the Extended Paces.

In no department of the charming art of dressing well is a lady so
much shackled by conventional usages as in her " get up" for riding.
In all other kinds of dress, from the full Court costume to simple
morning wrapper, such is the almost endless variety of style that
there is something to suit every woman, from the lady of high degree
to "Dolly Varden," and the "Molly Duster;" and the selection
made is conclusive as to the good or bad taste of the wearer. In
riding dress it is altogether different. " Chimney pot" hats, tight-
fitting jackets, and flowing skirts of orthodox dark rifle-green seem
to be de rlgueur^ whatever may be the figure, style, or complexion
of the wearer. I submit (and in this opinion I am borne out
by several accomplished lady riders, to one of whom I am indebted
for the following suggestions) that this is wrong, and that some
modifications as regards shape and colour would be advantageous
both as regards the comfort of the ladies themselves, and as a
matter of taste.

To begin with head-dress. It is manifest that whereas a lady of
tall, lithe figure, with an oval Grecian style of face, and classical
contour of head, will appear to the greatest advantage on horseback
in a plain or gentleman's hat, and with her hair so arranged as to
show the outhne of the head and neck, one of the Hebe style
of beauty, particularly if slightly inclined to the " em&07i.," if so
accoutred, would not look by any means well. Yet one constantly
sees the same sort of head-dress worn by ladies whose general style
is in direct contrast, the reason presumably being that fashion admits
of such little latitude for choice.

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 93

Again, as regards the jacket. A lady of slight figure (for effect)
can scarcely wear anything that fits too close, consistently with her
freedom of motion ; but the fair equestrian whose proportions are
not " sylph like" is badly equipped in such a garment.

To revert to the hat for the latter type of lady, the most becoming
style seems to be one with a low crown, and brim more or less wide,,
according to the features of the wearer, as such hats admit of great
variety, both in material, and, what is more important, in colour ;
and consequently it is not difficult for a lady to obtain that which is
exactly suitable to her both as regards feature and complexion.

Some of these hats for park or road riding, ornamented with
ostrich or other feathers, are exceedingly elegant and becoming, and
protect the skin from the rays of the sun, without any necessity for
a veU, which cannot be said of the plain black or gentleman's hat.
For the hunting field, of course, feathers or ornaments are out of
place ; but nevertheless most elegant low-crowned, wide-rimmed
hats, made of fine felt and without ornament, of shaj)es suitable to
every class of feature, are obtainable in Melton, and I presume are
equally accessible in London.

The form of jacket most suitable for a lady whose proj)ortions
incline to fulness is a tunic, made Hussar fashion, that is, it should
have two seams in the back and be well sprung inwards towards the
waist without fitting tight ; the short skirt made full, and reaching
well down to the saddle ; the sleeves wide. Broad braiding
judiciously arranged on such tunics, too, will have the effect of
considerably diminishing the appearance of redundant fulness of
figure in the wearer.

Two rows of braiding, commencing at the lower edge of the tunic
behind, should bend inwards towards the waist; but instead of
diverging thence to the shoulder points, as in a military coat, should
pass over the shoulders, about midway between them and the neck,
and thence be continued with a turn (ornamental or plain) to the
front of the tunic on both sides, and reaching down to its lower
extremity. There should be no braiding round the bottom edges of
the jacket. These tunics can be made either single or double
breasted, but in either case should have broad lappets in front;

"94 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

and neckties of any colour suitable to the wearer's complexion,
arranged as a gentleman ties his neckcloth, and fastened with
gold horseshoe pins, jewelled or plain, are very effective. The
single-breasted tunic should be fastened with hooks and eyes,
■covered by the braid ; the double-breasted jacket should fasten
with plain silk buttons. The advantage of these tunics is that,
while they afford plenty of room to the rider, and while they in
no way cramp her flexibihty in the saddle, they tend to diminish
to a degree scarcely conceivable the appearance of redundant
fulness or squareness of form, and give a very elegant tournure
to a figure that would look by no means well in a tight-fitting
jacket.

Again, neckties of moderately large pattern, and ornaments in the
way of feathers and pins, or other fastenings for the cravat, all
tend to diminish to the eye the appearance of weight and size, and
as a rule, are as becoming on horseback to ladies of full figure as
rigid plainness in habits, collars, &c., are to those of spare and deli-
cate form. It should be borne in mind that it is on the off side that
the figure of a lady equestrian is most critically noticed by the
observer. On the near side the skirt has a great effect in increasing
or diminishing the apparent size and form of the rider. On the off
.side every defect in form or dress is patent, and it is on the off side
that the gentleman attendant rides. Close-fitting jackets, then, I
repeat ; plain gentleman's hats, with or without lace lappets, and
extreme simplicity of get up, will be most effective on the off side
in the case oi a lady of slight figure. The style of hat and tunic
I have attempted to describe is most suitable to those whose physique
is more developed.

As regards skirts, a fair amount of fullness, according to the size
of the rider, for road or park, gives a very graceful appearance on
the near side, care of course being taken that the habit is not so
long as to admit of the horse treading on it. For hunting skirts
can scarcely be too circumscribed, as long as they afford the wearer
freedom of action,

A word now about colours. I repeat that except in the
arbitrary dictmn of fashion there is no warranty for the all but

THE BARB AND THE BEIDLE. 95

universal prevalence of dark rifle-green for riding habits. It
must be evident that a lady who is a " brunette " will look far
better in a riding dress the coloiu" of which is dark chocolate
-or purple than she will in green of any sort ; and on the other
hand a "blonde" would be more suitably attired in a habit of a
shade of light blue suitable to her complexion than in anything of
more sombre hue. Again, in the hunting field why should our
atrician ladies who grace these sporting reunions with their
presence, and go as straight and well as any men, shewing
always in the front rank, be debarred by fashion or conventional
usage from wearing scarlet jackets. Scarlet is worn on foot — for
opera cloaks, in shawls, in whole dresses. Why not scarlet on horse-
back? I saw a lady this season riding with one of our crack Midland
packs who wore a scarlet jacket of very fine cloth ; a light blue silk
cravat, fastened with a diamond horseshoe pin ; a skirt of very dark
blue, and a plain man's hat of Melton style. She was a blonde with
golden hair, mounted on a bright chestnut blood-like hunter; and,
as she was of slight, lathy figure, and rode exceedingly well, the
ensemble was quite charming. This lady was the cynosure of all
eyes, not only on account of her capital riding but her dress, which
I heard deprecated by some as " too lovd.'''' My humble opinion
was that it was exactly in harmony with the place and the sport,
most becoming to the wearer, and calculated to give dash and
hrilliancy to the coup d''oeil afforded by the field as they streamed
away after the hounds ; moreover, the lady herself had that
thoroughbred stamp and aristocratic bearing that would have ren-
dered any innovation in equestrian costume admissable in her case.
But when the complexion and style of any lady admits of it, I can
see no reason why she should not wear scarlet with foxhounds as well
as her brother or her husband. In summer time, too, is not dark rifle-
green or any dark colour and thick cloth which attracts the rays of
the sun to the certain discomfort of the wearer an absurdity, when
the fair equestrian would look far better, because more seasonably
attired, in light grey, light blue, or even in a habit of perfectly white
linen, or similar fabric ? .

As I have ventured to point out a pleasing alteration of conven-

96 • THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE.

tional dress in the hunting field, I trust I may be pardoned for
describing what appeared to me an equally consistent innovation in
summer costume for the saddle. Last summer I sa^Y fom* young
ladies taking an early morning canter over a breezy down in this
neighbourhood. The weather was sultry. Three of the ladies wore
habits of different shades of grey, according to their respective
complexions, the fabric evidently very thin. Their equipment was
completed by felt hats of different shapes, exceedingly becoming
The fourth lady, who was very fair, wore a perfectly white
habit, made, I presume, of linen ; the jacket edged with a narrow
light blue cord ; her headdress was a yachting hat of Tuscan straw,
encircled by and also fastened under her chin with light blue
ribbon. In the front of her jacket she wore a moss rosebud. She
was riding an Arab-like blood horse, and being, like her companions,
not only well mounted, but a first-rate horsewoman, the effect was
not only pleasing to the eye and full of " dash," but, I am sure,
most conducive to the comfort of the fair riders themselves.
Fashion apart, I may fairly ask, would not these four ladies have
looked equally well, and felt as much at their ease, in Rotten
Row as on the springy Leicestershire turf? I devoutly hope
yet to see some of the leaders of fashion in the gay London
season inaugurate some such change as I venture to suggest ; and
certain I am if they did so. Rotten Row in the month of May would
present a brilliant Watteau-like appearance, very different from
that produced by the prevalence of sombre colours now worn by the
equestrian habitues of that fashionable ride.

To return to our fair pupil (having made such selection of riding
di'ess as is most suitable to her style). Her first outdoor rides
should be taken on some quiet and little frequented road until she
becomes accustomed to control her horse ; for there is a great
difference in the form of going of the same animal in the riding
school and on the road, as many horses that require consider-
able rousing in the school are all action and lightheartedness out of
doors.

On the road, especially when they are hard, walking and trotting
should be the pace, the pupil riding equally on snaffle and curb

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 97

reins ; the pace free and active ; the trot about eight to eight and a
half the hour.

Cantering should never be practised on hard ground, as it is
certain, sooner or later, to cause mischief to the horse's legs.
Where there is a good broad sward by the roadside, as in the
Midland counties, a good stretching canter for miles may always
be had where the ground is good going. But such places are not to
be found in the neighbourhood of the metropohs ; and it is necessary
therefore to select some open common, such as Wimbledon or
Wormwood Scrubs, for cantering at first.

By degrees the pupil should be accustomed to ride through
thoroughfares where there is considerable traffic, and may then,
make her debut in Rotten Row ; and here I may remark that nobody,
lady or gentleman, should ever attempt riding in this fashionable
equestrian resort until they have thorough command of their horses,
and, indeed, know scientifically what riding is. The place, strictly
speaking, is a ride intended for royalty alone ; and I believe I am
correct in saying that the admission of the general public to it is by
no means a matter of right. Great pains are bestowed to keep
it in good order throughout the year ; especially, it is always soft
and good for a horse's legs. But as a great concourse of equestrians,
male and female, is always in the Row in the London season, and as
the horses are nearly all well bred and high couragcd, there is con-
siderable danger, both to themselves and others, in persons with
indifferent seats and hands venturing to ride in the fashionable
crowd, the danger being considerably enhanced by the fact that such
people are altogether ignorant of the risk they are running. For
my own part, after seeing some corpulent citizen rehearsing "John
Gilpin " in Hyde Park, with his trousers half-way up to his knees,
and his feet the wrong way in the stirrups, the wonder has always
been to me not that accidents occur in Rotten Row, but that there
are not a great many more.

There are adventurous ladies, too, who occasionally create a
sensation among the crowd, not at all flattering to themselves if
they only knew the sentiments of those about them ; and I really
think it would be a capital plan to appoint some competent gentle-

H

98 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

men to take charge by turns of the Row in the London season, and
order the mounted police on duty quietly to see everybody out of
it who was unable to command their horses. Matters, since
the mounted constables have been put on, are not quite so bad as
formerly ; but there is plenty of room for improvement still, both as
regards dogs, pretty horsebreakers, and tailors.

At all events, I recommend any man taking a young lady into the
Park in the height of the London season " to have his eyes about
him" in every direction, lest some "dashing equestrian," male or
female, should come bucketing a horse in rear of his charge, and
to keep a close watch also upon the latter — to see that she rides her
horse all the time she is in the place, keeping him well into his
bridle, which reduces to a minmium the chances of his suddenly
flirting.

Elsewhere I have gone at considerable length into the subject of
possible accidents in the Park. It is perhaps necessary that I
repeat the gist of it here, which is simply that no young lady, how-
ever accomplished a horsewoman she may be, should be allowed by
her friends to ride in the Row unattended by a male companion, who
is not only a thoroughly good horseman, but accustomed to ride
beside a lady and anticipate anything in the shape of bad manners
on the part of her horse ; that the attendance of a groom, who
rides at a considerable distance in rear of the lady (whatever appear-
ance of conventional style it may give to the fair equestrian), is
utterly useless to her in case of accident, nay, in more than one
instance that I have known has been productive of it from the
groom galloping up at a critical moment, and still further exciting
the lady's horse. Finally, that no lady should ever ride a horse
of high breed and courage that has been allowed to " get
above himself," by remaining day after day in the stable, or having
insufficient work, when exercised, to keep down exuberant fresh-
ness.

There is no danger to a thoroughly good horsewoman in riding a
horse that is •' light-hearted." But there is risk to everybody, man
or woman, in riding one " mad fresh," ready to jump out of his
skin, as the grooms say, in a crowd of other horses.

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 99

For my own part, of two evils, I would rather see a lady jammed
into a lane with twenty or thirty horses, after hounds had just got
away, and everybody wag strugghng to get out, than I would see
her in the Park unattended by a gentleman, and mounted upon
a well-bred horse that was very fresh. I do not by any means
deprecate riding in the Row. It is a splendid piece of riding
ground, and relieved to some extent, as it now is, of overcrowding
by the ride on the upper side of the Park ;"' it is a glorious place for a
canter. But I repeat, let everybody who takes a horse there be able
to ride him, and have eyes for liis neighbours as well as himself ;
and especially let gentlemen who attend ladies there be always on
the qui vive for the adventurous Gilpins and "pretty horse-breakers."

The canter for the Row, conventionally and wisely, should be
almost as collected as that of the riding school. It is an understood
thing, in fact, that no lady or gentleman (properly so called) "sets
a horse going " there ; and trotting when practised should also be
done very collectedly, both paces admitting of the display of talent
and proficiency in equitation of the rider.

For the more extended paces, it is necessary again to have recourse
to open heath or common; and, before the pupil attempts to "set
her horse going," the difference between cantering, in the " andante "
pace, and galloping, should be clearly explained to her. The main
difference in this cantering is to some extent an artificial pace,
because, when practised collectedly, the greater weight of the horse
is brought from his forehand on to his haunches ; and the shorter
the pace, the more his weight is on his hind legs. It is for this
reason that very collected cantering should not be continued for
any great length of time, from its tendency to strain the hocks ,
nevertheless cantering, Hke trotting, cannot fairly be pronounced
altogether artificial, because anybody who has had the handling of
a great number of young horses must have seen many of them
rimning loose who would canter the length of a paddock at quite a
short pace, both legs on the same side (generally the near side) ; and
I have seen a foal at a mare's foot trot, true and fair, for a consider-
able distance.

Gallopping, however, like walking, is a perfectly natural pace,

H 2

100 THE BARB ANii THE BRIDLE.

although it is a mistake to say that in the gallop the horse moves

both fore and hind legs together, in what is frequently termed

" a succession of jumj)s." That he does this in his top speed, and

especially in making a supreme effort, as in a desperate finish of a

race, is perfectly true : but it' is equally certain that at half or three

quarter speed he is leading with either near or off fore leg, and that

anything but a full speed gallop is simply a very extended canter.

Any man who has ridden a race must know that where the distance

is great, say four miles or more, and men do not force the pace, for

perhaps two-thirds of the way every horse (say of a score of them)

will be leading with either near or off leg, generally the former, and

that a very hot excitable horse, eager to get to the front, will

change Ms leg when he finds his rider keeps his hands doAvn, and his

horse back. It may be said that this is not galloping but cantering ;

but I beg to assure all those who maintain this opinion that such a

canter is faster than any gallop resorted to, apart from racing, that,

in short, such a gallop is a very extended canter. Whatever the

term, however, may be most applicable to it, half racing speed is

quite as fast as a lady will have occasion to ride, unless in cases of

desperate emergency. At such speed the horse has altogether a

different balance to that maintained in the short canter ; and,

although he does not go altogether on his shoulders, still, to afford

him freedom of action, he must be allowed to extend his head and

neck, because, if too much bent, his action will be clambering,

instead of sending him freely to his front.

To gallop a horse in good form the lady should adopt a different
arrangement of the reins to any heretofore used. It is simply to
divide them, so that the little fingers of both hands pass between the
snaifle and curb reins, the latter under the little finger, and a Uttle
longer than the former, the appui bemg principally uj^on the snaftie,
although there should be no slack rein on the curbs. Her hands
shoiild be kept well apart, and as low down as she can get them.
The reason for separating the hands is, that it is far more difficult
for a lady to set her hands down than for a man to do the same thing,
because the front forks of the saddle are very much in her way.
If, however, she rides with a saddle, the off side crutch of which

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 101

is " cut down," and she places her right hand outside her right
knee, and her left hand outside the near side upper crutch, she will
have the reins at nearly the same angle, and about the same feehug
on the horse's mouth, as would be obtained by a man in setting his
horse going.

In order to counteract any tendency of this position of the hands
to interfere with the rider's proper balance, the left foot should be
■carried well forward, while the leg is pressed firmly againt the third
crutch, and an equally firm grasp of the upper crutch is taken with
the right knee. A slight bend forward of the figure from the waist
upwards is admissible, but great care should be taken by the
instructor that this is not overdone, but regulated by the angle at
which the left foot is placed. With the slight bend forward, how-
ever, there should be no rounding of the back or shoulders, or drop-
ping of the head. Neither should the hands be allowed to get too
forward; they will be somewhat in advance of their position at a
canter, but not be more than six or eight mches from the body — the
hands with the knuckles upwards, the elbows only shghtly bent.

The ground selected for this exercise should be well known to the
instructor — sound, good-going turf, perfectly free from rabbit holes
or rotten places. The pace should be gradually increased from a
free canter to about half -racing speed, the master making the pace
himself, and carefully watching his pupil in every stride her horse
takes. The lady should be instructed to let her horse "take fairly
hold " of her, and press him with the leg imtil he strides freely
along in his gallop. She should keep her hands shut firmly on the
reins, and rest the former against the saddle. The horse then,
while taking well hold of her, will not pull^ nor will she pull an
ounce against hhn, the consequence being that when she desires to
decrease her speed, she has only to"" lean back gradually from her
galloping position, bringing the body first perfectly upright, and
then inclining back at about the same angle she previously carried
it forward, raise her hands up from the saddle, and carry them back
to her waist, while she turns the little fingers inwards and upwards
towards it, which will cause her to feel the curb reins with a double
feeling to the snaffle, and in about a dozen strides she can thus collect

102 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

her horse into a steady canter and bring him subsequently to a walk.
The length and speed of these rides must be carefully regulated by
the master according to the nerve and strength of his pupil. With-
out a fair amount of both nerve and physical power such gallops
should not be attempted at all. Where there is plenty of both, a
half-mile spin is admissible to begin with, and, with good going
ground, this may be increased gradually to a couple of miles. The
instructor should be very careful in cautioning his pupil to diminish
the speed of her horse by degrees and in the manner above described,
especially avoiding any sudden pull at him, or any unsteadiness of
the hands. Carefully practised, these gallops will give the pupil
great freedom and confidence in the saddle ; and they are, more-
over, wonderful promoters of health.

THE BAKB AND THE BRIDLE. 103

CHAPTER XIII.

The Leaping Lesson.

I COME now to a section of our courses of instruction, which, if not
as some suppose the most difficult to impart or acquire, is neverthe-
less of great importance. The principles, however, upon which a
horse "■ does a fence " neatly and safely, and those upon which
depend the secure riding of the lady, once properly understood, the
rest is a question of practice, the thorough training of the horse
and his complete fitness for his task being assiuned. The two latter
points are, however, of such vital consequence that I wiU endeavour
to direct attention to several matters connected with them, which I
trust may be useful.

In the first place, then, it should be borne in mind that whereas
every horse of every breed in the world can be taught to jump,
jumping comes so aptly to some as to be perfectly natural, and no
more trouble to them with a fair weight than walking or galloping.
Such horses are easily taught to be clever ; that is to say, to do
" doubles," " in and out," and crooked places, with ahnost the
surefootedness of a goat, as well as to jump clean timber or fly
sixteen or eighteen feet of water. The sort of animal I speak of is
fond of jumping, and consequently when carefully broken learns to
balance himself with the greatest nicel:y ; and, provided the ground
is sound, you cannot get him down, while he does not know what
refusing means, except in the case of utterly impracticable places.

It is upon such horses, or those which approach the nearest to
them in their quaUfications, that a lady should be mounted, not only
for the hunting field itself, but in her initiation in the riding school
into the art of riding her horse over a fence. Horses that rush at

lot THE BARB AND THE BEIDLE.

their jump, are hot-headed, or intemperate in any way, are utterly
unfit for a lady to attempt leaping with, either indoors or out.
There should be blood and quality undoubtedly, as well as substance
and power, but these must be joined to the best of temper. Pos-
sibly the very perfection of a horse exists in that wonderful little
animal the Lamb, who has just exhibited at LiverjDOol the most
extraordinary feats of cleverness and endurance, coupled with
splendid action, speed, and temper, ever yet sho"wii by any horse.
The form in which, galloping at top speed, he jumped over two
horses lying Jwrs de combat right in his way, and cleared both and
their riders without further injury to any, will live always in the
memory of those who witnessed it ; while his unflinching and deter-
mined effort to win under a weight that scarcely admitted of hope
stamp the Lamb as a horse without equal in our day. In my
opinion no price in reason could be too much to ask or give for such
animal.

A short time ago I had the great honoiu" and privilege accorded
me by his noble owner of a close inspection at his private training
quarters of this unrivalled little equine gem ; and I am bound to say
that, although I never quite believed in perfection of a horse until I
saw the action, manner, and general form of the Lamb, as far as my
judgment or experience goes, I freely accord to him the palm over
every horse I have seen in a lifetime spent among horseflesh in one
quarter or another of the world ; but, although it is not possible in
my humble opinion to find his equal as a cross-country horse, our
endeavours should be directed to obtain for a lady hunter that wliich
approximates most closely to the Lamb. Let me briefly point out
what are the qualities that render such horses the fittest for carrying
a lady to hounds.

Li the first place, the connecting points of such an animal are so
true in their relative adjustment, that while in galloping he does not
claniber or fight the air, he goes with action so safe as always to
clear any of those apparently insignificant obstacles, which too often
bring to grief a gallant-looking steed and his fair rider. When
" ridge and furrow " (as must sometimes occur) run the wrong way,
he can go safe from land to land ; and this is of greater consequence

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 105

to a lady's riding than many suppose. The stamp of horse I speak
of, too, will gallop with his hind legs well under him, while he
maintains a proper balance of his fore hand without getting his head
too low. He will do his fences without rush or passion, and measure
his distance to perfection.

Secondly, his breeding gives him the power to endure through
long runs, while his temper prevents that feverish excitement so
detrimental in its reaction on a hot horse after a long day's hunting.

To return to the detail of the leaping lesson. This should always
be commenced either in a riding school or in a space so inclosed as
to do away as nearly as possible with any chance of the horse
refusing. It is not possible always to procure one that is quite a
"Lamb;" and, however well trained the animal on which the fair
pupil is put, no possible temptation to do wrong should ever be
allowed to remain in his way, A gorse-bound bar, a wattled hurdle
or common sheep hurdle are all equally good for the first attempt,
care being taken not to make the leap too high. But I do not, from
experience, believe in putting the bar or other obstacle on the
ground, because the effort a well-broken horse makes to clear it is so
slight, that it puts the rider off her guard ; and when afterwards
he rises higher in his jump, he is very apt to shift her in the saddle.
There is a very natural inclination on the part of a tyro in riding,
lady or gentleman (having seen a horse jump under another person),
to suppose that some effort of the hand is necessary to lift the horse
over the obstacle.

It should be the duty of the instructor carefully to warn his pupil
against any such effort, and in the first attempt to attend only to
her true equilibrium, while she presses the horse well up to his
bridle, keeping her hands perfectly steady, well back, and well
down. She should take a firm hold of the upper crutch of the saddle
with her right knee ; sit well into the saddle, and not on the back of
it, because the further back she sits, the greater the concussion
when the horse alights. She should put her left foot well home in
the stirrup, and press her leg firmly against the third crutch, while
she keeps the left knee quite flexible, and the left foot well forward.
She should draw her figure well up from the waist, which should be bent

J 06 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

slightly f orw ard ; and she should avoid stiffening the waist, because
it is from that point that she is able to throw the upper part of the
figure backwards at the proper moment, and at the true angle, to
preserve her balance. She should direct her glance straight between
the horse's ears, and well in front of him to the end of the school,
because if she looks down at her hands or the bar, she relaxes her
upright position. The horse should be led up to the bar by the
instructor, who should be able to jump lightly over the obstacle
with the horse ; and another assistant should follow with a whip,
the presence of which the horse will recognise in an instant, without
any noise being made with it, and he will go at once into his bridle,
and "take hold" of the rider's hand. A groom should hold the
end of the bar or hurdle so lightly, that if the horse touches it, it
will fall ; while another groom should stand in such a position, about
a horse's length to half a one outside the instructor, as to do away
with all chance of the horse swerving from any nervous action of the
rider's hand.

In jumping, at first the pupil should ride entirely upon the snaffle
rein. In fact, for early leaping lessons, it is best to put a good broad
reined snaffle in the horse's mouth, instead of a double bridle,
because it prevents any confusion about the reins, and consequent
derangement of nerve in the pupil. On approaching the bar, the
latter should incline the body back from the waist upwards, at
such an angle, that a line from the back point of the shoulder would
fall about a couple of inches behind the cantle of the saddle. This
is not according to the strict formula laid down by high-class pro-
fessors of equitation ; on the contrary. " The Aid Book " teUs us
that "the body should be inclined forward as the horse rises, and
backwards as he alights." But I have found in teaching ladies to
jump their horses that, particularly with a quick jumping one, any
such attempt would result in the horse hitting the lady in the face
with his head, and thereby thoroughly disgusting her with leaping
lessons, to say nothing of possible disfigurement or injury. The
instructor cannot be too quiet, simply keeping well hold of his
horse, making him walk close to the boards, and cautioning his
pupil to sit back — not away Jrom the crutches of the saddle, but to

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 107

throw the upper part of her figure back the instant the horse drops
his head. Any more instruction will only confuse her. The master
should jump with the horse, hut not hold the habit, as is customary
with some preceptors of riding, because no man is so clever on his
legs butj that some inequality in the tan or turf might cause him
to stmnble, in which case assuredly he would pull the lady off her horse.

After the first jmiip the master is better away from both horse
and pupil. In nine cases out of ten I have found that the above
simple directions to the latter result in her landing all right, except
a little derangement of equilibrium to the front ; but the easy
spring of a well-bred and well-broken horse, and the hold he takes
of her hands, reassure her. She has made her premiere pas in.
jumping, and finds that it is by no means so difl&cult a matter as she
anticipated In her second attempt, if she exhibits good nerve,
as most young ladies of the present day do, the instructor need only
walk up the side of the school with her, close to the horse's shoulder,
quietly correcting her if she allows her reins to become slack,
because in that case she loses the appid on the horse's mouth, which
in her early attempts at leaping is of vital importance to her. In
fact, it is necessary, in order to give the pupil confidence, that the
horse should jump with a firm hold upon her hand.

Many authorities on riding teU us that a horse's jump is simply
a higher stride of his galloj) ; from this notion I beg entirely to
dissent. In leaping, a horse first raises his forehand upwards with
a half rear, both feet quitting the ground at the same instant, the
height he rises corresponding to the angle at which he takes off.
Secondly, from his hind legs he propels himself forwards, both hind
legs moving together, and, if he is a good jumper, weU under him.
If leaping, therefore, is to be compared to any other action of a
horse, it must resemble a plunge gainin'g ground to the front. There
is no possible gain in teaching, however, by comparing a horse's
leap to his any other movement. Instinct teUs him what to do in
order to clear his legs of the obstacle, and, like walking or galloping,
the action is by no means artificial, inasmuch as a thoroughly
unbroken young horse loose in a paddock will jump through a gap
on an ill-kept farm (if his dam makes the running) with precisely

108 THE BARB AND THE BEIDLE.

tlie same action as a finished hunter ; and, therefore, in one sense 1
endorse the dictum once expressed to me by an Irish farmer when
I asked his opinion as to the natiu-al paces of a horse. His reply-
was, " Sure some of 'em goes no way natural, but just the way you
don't want thim to go ; and there's some of tliim that nothing's so
natural to as to ate a lot of good oats a man never sees the
price of again. Thim's bad ones. But if you're spakmg of a
good maning, rale Irish horse, the most natural pace he has is to
jump well." I quite agree, bar the word pace, that jmnping to
a horse is as natural as any other instinctive action. The weight,
however, to be carried, and the mode in which that weight is
distributed at the critical moment, makes a material difference to
both horse and rider. Therefore, the early leaping lessons should
be confined to causing the pupil to do as little as possible to impede
the action of the horse, while she preserves her due balance. Like
the breaking of a young colt in the case of a pupil learning to ride
over a fence, if you ask too much at once or confuse the learner,
you obtain nothing but discomfitiu-e.

As regards this portion of the course of equitation, it is specially
necessary to bear in mind the old French maxim, Cest ne pas le
premiere pas qui coute. At the same time it is quite possible, if
the first step is injudiciously taken, to spoil the whole of your
previous work. Special care should be taken that the horse does
not take off too soon ; and if, from any unevenness of the rider's
hands or legs, he attempts this, the instructor shoald be quickly at
his head again, and compel him to do his work coolly and collectedly.
" The standing leap," as this is technically called, is considerably
more difficult as regards catching the precise moment at which to
throw the weight of the body back than the " flying leap," because
in the standing leap the horse, being nearer to the obstacle, pitches
himself forward with a much rougher action, and does not land so
far on the other side of the fence ; whereas when he canters freely
at it, the difference in the shock to the rider is as great as that
€xperienced in the pitch of a boat in a short chopping sea, and the
boat's rise and fall in a long swell, the pace also causing the horse to
take more freely hold of the rider's hand.

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 10^

Complete confidence, however, must be established before a lady
should be asked to ride her horse at a fence out of a walk ; and
nearly as much time should be expended over this new step in the
series of lessons as were occupied in trotting.

I have not, however, to define the principle upon which, in either
standing or flying leap, security of seat must be sought. Some say
that in leaping it is by muscular grasp only that a lady can retain
her true equilibrium in the saddle ; others adhere to the notion that
it is all done by balance. Now the truth lies midway between these-
two theories. It is quite possible for a man to ride over a fence by
balance only. AVitness what one sees frequently in a circus, where-
some talented equestrian maintains his footing on a bare-backed
steed, while the latter jumps a succession of bars. Here there is
nothing to keep the rider on the horse but sheer balance ; and, of
course, if this can be done by one man standing up, it can be much
more easily done by another sitting down in the saddle, although
very few men ride across country in such form, nor indeed is it
either safe or desirable to do so. The thing, nevertheless, is quite
easy. It is not so easy with a lady, because her position on the
saddle is altogether an artificial one ; and, moreover, the weight of
the skirt is sufficient to render riding by balance alone most diffi-
cult. It is by a combination of firm grasp on the crutches, seized
just before the horse arrives at his fence, and a true balancing of the
body from the waist upwards, that seciu-ity of seat in jumping is
obtained. A most necessary adjunct to the above, however, is firm-
ness of the arms, because, if the latter are allowed to ffy out from
the sides, the whole figure becomes, as it were, disconnected, and the
proper liplomh is lost. By taking a firm hold of the upper crutch of
the saddle with the right leg, the rider is enabled to balance her
body as the horse rises, while the pressure of the left leg against the
third crutch prevents the concussion of his landing from throwing
her forward, provided always she throws back her weight at precisely
the right moment. This requires practice, and well-timed assistance
from the instructor, thus :

As soon as the pupil acquires sufficient confidence to ride her
horse fairly up to the fence, and keep his head straight to it, the

110 THE BAKB AND THE BRIDLE.

master should stand far enough from her to obtain a good view of
the whole contour of figure of horse and rider. He should place the
hands of the latter icell apart, cause her to shut her fingers firmly
on the reins, which give firmness to the body ; keep her hands well
down and her figure well drawn up, ready on the instant to throw
the weight back. He should then caution her to execute the last-
named movement on his giving the single sliarp word " IS^ow." The
pupil should then press her horse Avell up against her hand, and keep
his head steady and straight to the bar. The instant he rises the
instructor should give his word sharply, and the rider will then
catch the true time at which to act upon it. This requires only close
attention and watching by instructor and pupil, both being " vif "
and thoroughly on the alert. After a few efforts the lady is then
sure to find out the time without any word. I have taught a great
many very yoimg ladies as well as gentlemen to ride over a fence by
the aid of the word given in the above form, and have found it
always of the greatest assistance both to myself and pupils. Special
attention is necessary to keeping the hands well down and well apart,
and the shoulders quite square, because there is a natural tendency
on the part of most ladies in the first leaping lessons to throw the
right shoulder forward, which not only destroys her balance but
causes her to pull the horse's head to the near side. The hands
cannot be kept too quiet at first, for any effort to give and take to
the action of the horse is nearly certain to result in the pupil check-
ing him at the very moment he springs forward, and pulling him
upon his fence.

A well-broken horse, when put up to his bridle, will take a good
hold of the rider's hand, and if sufficient length of rein is given him
will clear the bar without the necessity of the rider moving her
hands a hair's breadth. Subsequently, when she has had sufficient
practice to feel quite at home, she can be taught how to assist liim
when he does a long striding leap over water or a strong double
fence with ditches on both sides.

After the standing leap is executed neatly, and in good form by
rider and horse, the flying leap should at once be practised.

The pupil should put her horse into a steady canter, going to the

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. Ill

left round the school ; and for this purpose the hurdle or bar
should for the time be removed, so as to enable the lady to get her
horse into a good free stride. AVhen the instructor sees that she
has her horse in proper form, the hurdle should be put up again
and well sloped, because, even so, the horse will jump considerably-
higher in all probability than the rider expects.

This is the moment at which the master requires to be thoroughly
on the alert. He should caution the lady not to let her horse hurry
when he turns the corner and sees the hurdle, which many horses are
very apt to do. "Hands down," "Sit back," " Press him against
your hand," and the "Now!" at the right moment should be the
concise words, given in a tone at once lively and encouraging. The
result will be a clean, clever jump, well done by horse and rider,
when the former should be " made much of."

A couple or three leaps so executed are quite enough in a school,
because nothing so worries most horses as to keep them continually
jumping at the same place, and if the leap is too often repeated,
they are apt to sulk or blunder at it.

Within the walls of a good riding house almost every kind of
obstacle can be represented which can be met with out of doors.
The double, the artificial brook or painted wall, all give the pupil
sufficient insight into the form in which a well-taught horse will
negotiate any of the fences to be met with in the hunting field ; and
the lady should be carefully taught how to stop and steady her horse
at a crooked or cramped place.

When once the leaping lessons are commenced, one should be
given every day, either before or after the riding out. If the ride
is intended to be a long one, the jmnping should be done while the
horse is fresh, and has all his powers in hand.

When the pupil can do the standing and flying leap, the in and
out or double in good form, riding on the snafile, she should again
return to her double bridle, which should be fitted with a curb chain
with broad links ; and the whole of it should be well padded and
covered with soft leather, to prevent any jar upon the horse's mouth
in jumping. The reins should be separated and placed as for gallop-
ing, the greatest care being taken by the instructor that the curb is

112 THE BARE AND THE BKIDLE.

no tighter than just to keep it in place, for which a good lip strap
should be used, and the curb chain fitted so as to admit the play of
quite two fingers between it and the horse's jaw. In placing the
reins, the master should see that the greater appui is on the snaffle,
and that after the pupil closes her hands upon the reins she does not
shift her hold of them in the slightest degree. Having now four
reins instead of two as formerly, there will be a tendency to " fidget "
with them, or obtain a better hold. This must instantly be corrected
if it occurs, otherwise ten to one but the lady gets the cm-b rein too
short, and pulls her horse on his fence. At the same time there
should be no slack curb rein hanging down, but it should be of such
length that, on landing, the horse can just feel the action of the
curb, and the reason for this is obvious. In school all leaping may
be accomplished on the snaffle ; but in the hunting field it is far
otherwise. In deep groimd a horse requires holding together, and
no lady could do this with a snaffle bridle. And, again, in a long
rim, when a horse has been severely called on, he may make a
blunder on landing from a drop m a bit of boggy ground, in which
case the curb rein is necessary in aid of the snaffle. As, therefore,
it is in the school that the pupil should be prepared for every out-
door eventuality, riding over her fences with both curb and snaffle
must be practised ; and, finally, over a small jump she must be
taught to ride with the curb alone.

THE BARB AND THE BEIDLE. 113

CHAPTER XIY.

The Leaping Lesson (continued).

It may fairly be accepted as a general rule, that a horse should not
be ridden over a fence upon the curb alone. The rule, however, has
its exceptions. One of these is the possible case of a lady being-
placed in such a predicament that she has no alternative in the pre-
sence of imminent danger but that of leaping her horse to avoid it,
and in such case it may be (and, indeed, in my own experience has
occurred) when the lady Avas riding her horse with a single curb
bridle. If the fair equestrian so placed lacks the necessary nerve,
dexterity of hand, and firmness of seat, she must come to certain
grief. It is therefore highly desirable that, although on ordinary
occasions she should use both snaffle and curb in leaping, she should
also be thoroughly an fait at doing it, if the necessity arises, upon a
"hard and sharp," or single " Hanoverian."

Again, leaping on the curb rein only teaches the pupil the full
value of every particle of her balance and muscular grasp on the
saddle, while it also shows her that, although as a rule a horse
requires to be kept well together, there are exceptional instances in
which it is necessary to yield the hands freely to him. The above-
named is one of these cases. The leaping lessons, however, which
lead up to the point of proficiency at which the pupil shoidd be per-
mitted to attempt so critical and difficult a piece of riding must be
carefully and inductively given.

Assuming that the fair tyro rides her horse boldly and confidently
over the ordinary fences used in a school, and can execute an "in
and out " jump without derangement of seat or hand, the effort of
the master should next be directed towards teaching his pupil how to

114 THE BARB AND THE BKIDLE.

cause her horse to extend hhnself over a jump where there is con-
siderable width as well as height. I must repeat that, for this pur-
pose, a horse should be used that is thoroughly up to his business —
one that will stride freely away and gallop at his fence. The best
practice to begin with, in what I may perhaps call "fast jumping"
for a lady, is at an artificial brook.

This is easy enough to arrange in a riding school. It requires only
a sheet of canvas, painted the colour of water, of such dimensions
that the people in the school can increase or diminish its width at
pleasure. This canvas should be long enough to extend from one side
of the school to the other, which can be managed by fastening the
canvas to a couple of light rollers. On the taking-off side of this
artificial brook there should be some low wattles, gorse bound, or
otherwise ; and these also should extend quite across the school.
There is then no chance of a well-broken horse refusing.

Before the canvas arrangement is stretched across the riding-
house, the pupil should be instructed to set her horse going at a free
striding canter — as fast as is compatible with safety in turning the
corners, which should be well cut off in this case, the pupU riding a
half-circle at both ends of the school. After two or three turns
round the house at this pace, in order to get the horse well into his
stride, the assistants should arrange the jump while the instructor
prepares his pupil for it. And now let me endeavour to explain the
difference in the position and action of the hands of the rider neces-
sary for a long jump as compared with that requisite in a short one.
In the latter, safety consists in a horse jumping well together or col-
lectedly, because in a cramped or crooked place speed is almost
certain trouble. Where, on the contrary, there is a broad sheet of
water to be got over, "plenty of way" on the horse — sufficient speed
to give great momentum to his effort, is indispensable. In the short
leap or crooked place, then, the horse should be made to jump
throughout right into his bridle ; and for this purpose the position and
steadiness of hand described in the last article, accompanied by such
pressure of the leg as will keep him up to it, is the true mode of
" doing such places,"

But to clear a wide jump, it should be remembered that the horse

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 115

must not only go a good pace on it, but he must be allowed to
extend his head and neck the instant he takes off. If this is
neglected, the fair equestrian, in attempting a water jump, will
inevitably find herseK in the brook.

Now, a man in riding at water has this great advantage over a
lady in the same case, that, having equal power with both legs, he
can force his horse up to any length of rein, no matter how long, in
reason, and compel him to face it, thus enabling the rider to hold
him through every inch of his jump, while he gives him plenty of
scope to extend himself. For a lady to do this is impossible. Too
much pressure of the left leg or repeated use of the spur, even if
counteracted on the off side with the whip, would cause the horse
to throw his haunches to one side, and he would not jump straight.
Steadiness of seat, hand, and leg are therefore indispensable to the
lady. The horse ought to be well practised at the particular jump
before she is allowed to attempt it, and therefore should require no
rousing or urging, to get plenty of way on, for his effort. But
before the pupil faces her horse towards the brook, she should be
emphatically but quietly enjoined by the instructor to respond to his
word " now " as follows : Let it be understood that her elbows
should be drawn back until they are three inches or thereabouts
behind her waist, the hands about the same distance below the
elbows, the former about six inches apart, with the fingers closed'
firmly on the reins and turned inwards and upwards imtil they touch
the waist, the reins divided, as for galloping, but with the slightest
possible feehng upon the curb. With her hands in the above-named
form she should ride her horse to his jump, never moving them until
she hears the sharp sound of the word " Now ! " from the instructor,
when at the same instant the body, from the waist upwards,
should be thrown back and the hands shot forward, the elbows
following, until they are just level with the front of the w^aist. As
the hands go forward, the little fingers should be turned downwards
and the knuckles upwards ; this wUl bring the middle jomts of both
hands with the nails dowm wards against the right thigh, about four
to six inches above (or, as the rider sits, behind) the knee ; and this
turning down of the nails and forward motion of hands and elbows

I 2

116 THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE.

will give the horse free scope of his head and neck, while the hands?
coming in contact with the right thigh will still maintain the proper
appui, and support the horse when he lands in his jump. Although
the foregoing appears prolix in description, it occupies little time ta
explain viva voce ; and with the instructor by her side the lady may
practise the action two or three times while her horse is standing
still before he faces his jump. The instructor should then quit the
lady's side and place himself near the brook in such a position that
he has a fair view of the horse as he takes off, Tlie pupil should
turn her horse quietly about, and ride to the left into the corner of
the school, and as soon as the horse's head is square to the jump,
and himself square to the boards, the master should give the word
smartly, " Canter." With plenty of vivacity, the pupil should
immediately strike her horse into a striding pace, keeping her
hands well back and hitting him smartly once with the spur. An
assistant with a whip should also crack it slightly behind the horse.

Let the master then closely watch the moment at which the horse's
fore feet quit the ground, and give his word quickly and sharply,
and in nine cases out of ten the jump will be a success.

The artificial brook should be arranged about two-thirds of the-
distance down the school, so as to give the horse plenty of space to
get into his stride before he comes to it, while there will be sufficient
room to collect him after he lands. If he does it well the first time
(and with the above described handling he will scarcely fail to do
so), and the rider performs her part moderately well, the jump
should not be repeated. If, however, it is necessary again to go
through the instruction, the horse should not be put at the place
back again, but the end of the canvas be rolled up and the wattle
removed, so as to admit of his passing to the longer reach of the
school. These lessons should be given daily until the pupil executes
them with the requisite energy and correctness of riding, the in-
structor taking special care never to ask his pupil, however, to do
such jumps unless he sees that she is quite equal in health and good
spirits to the occasion. For riding which requires any extra " dash'*
about it must never be attempted by anybody if they are at all out
of nerve.

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 117

After the pupil does the brook well, it may be replaced by a
•double set of gorsed hurdles, jjlaced just so far apart as to neces-
sitate their being done at a single jump. In this case, however, the
pupil, while giving her horse by the action of her hands sufficient
scope to allow him to jump a considerable distance, should not be
allowed to ride so fast at the obstacle, about half the speed neces-
sary to do water being quite sufficient ; and the oif-side hurdles
should be so placed that if the horse strikes them they will give
way.

As a rule ladies do not perform, even in Leicestershire, over big
double fences, or very strong oxers, and the indication of what is
required to do them should be sufficient for riding school practice.

As I have elsewhere observed, a horse will jump higher and
further when going with hounds than you can with safety ask him
to do when in cool blood, or when only roused to extraordinary
effort by the use of the spur or whip. And no man in his senses in
the hunting field would ever think of piloting a lady to a place
which he would only ride at himself at a pinch. Such jumps, there-
iore, as I have endeavoured to describe within doors should represent
the biggest which most ladies are likely to encounter with in a fair
hunting country. As regards riding over a fence, with the curb rein
^unrelieved by the snaffle, the practice should be as follows :

A hurdle should be well sloped, so as to render the leap a very
moderate one. The rider should quit her hold of the reins, which
should be knotted and fastened by a thong to the mane. A leading-
rein should then be attached to the ring of the snaffle, and the horse
led quietly up to the fence, and halted. The pupil should then draw
her hands back until they are in the same position as she would place
them in putting her horse at his jump, with the hands closed firmly,
which will give steadiness to the body. She must take a de-
termined hold of the u^Dper pommel with her right knee, and be
ready with the figure perfectly poised to throw her weight back at
the proper moment ; placing her left thigh also firmly against the
third crutch, her foot well home in the stirrup and well forward, the
shoulders perfectly square, and the waist quite pliant. An assistant
ishould then crack a whip smartly in rear of the horse, without

118 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

hitting him ; this ■will cause him to spring lightly over the hurdle >
If the position of the pupil before the horse takes off is carefully
looked to, there will be little derangement of seat.

This lesson should be repeated until it is executed with precision.
At the same time, two or three jumps of this sort are quite sufficient
in one day, because, if repeated too often, the horse, missing the
support of the hand, is apt to blunder. When the lady can ride over
her fence in the above-named form, she should take up and arrange
her reins, so that, while that of the snaffle is not in the horse's way,
she feels him on the curb only. She should give him fair length of
rein, draw her left hand back to her waist, and place the right hand
lightly on the left, just in front of the knuckles ; but the reins should
be held military fashion — the little finger between them, the leather
over the middle joint of the forefinger, the thumb closed firmly on it,
the little finger well turned up towards the waist. The horse must
be riden at a smart walk, well up against the curb, until he is close
enough to the hurdle to jump. The whip must again be used, and
the instructor's word again sharply given, when the pupil should
yield both hands freely, turning the little fingers downwards, and
slipping the elbows forward. Great firmness and steadiness of seat
are necessary to do this lesson well, and considerable practice is
necessary to insure complete unity of action in the body and hands,
the former being yielded quickly as the latter is actively thrown
back. To assist the pupil in her first attempts at this portion of the-
leaping lesson, the curb chain should be slackened as much as pos-
sible, and it should be one that is broad and well padded.

As the lady acquires the requisite lightness of manipulation and
additional firmness in the saddle, the cm-b (link by link) may be
tightened until it is in its proper place, namely, so that it admits of
the play of one finger only between it and the jaw of the horse. But
the greatest care on the part of the instructor is necessary in
watcliing how both horse and rider behave before this can be
accomplished.

The lesson is called technically "jumping from the hand," and
once thoroughly acquired, the pupil has little to learn, as regards
indoor work, in the way of riding over her fences. She may in that

THE BARB AND THE BEIDLE. 119

respect be considered fit to take her place any time at the covert side,
and hold her own, under proper pilotage, with hounds, where of
course she will use snaffle and curb reins equally, or according to the
temper and breaking of her mount.

During the leaping lessons, and in fact throughout the whole
course of equitation up to this point, the pupil should be put upon
as many different horses as possible consistent with her progress,
care always being taken that she is thoroughly master of one before
she is put upon another. The action of horses varies so much in
degree, no matter how much from similarity of breed and form it
may assimilate in kind, that to attain anything like proficiency the
rider's mount requires frequent changing ; otherwise, when put upon
a strange horse, she would find herself sorely at a loss.

With the exception of one practice, which in some degree resem-
bles the leaping lesson, we may now safely dismiss our fair pupil
from technical indoor instruction, except in the way of an occasional
refresher, whenever those about her discover any inclination to lapse
into a careless form of riding. This both men and women are so apt
to do (imperceptibly to themselves), that an occasional sharp drilling
does no harm to the most practised rider of either sex.

The final instruction to be given in the school is called the
"Plunging Lesson," and maybe briefly described as follows, pre-
mising that although it is the bounden duty of every man who has
anything to do with a lady's riding to avoid by every means allowing
her to be put on a restive horse, yet it is always possible that, from
some unavoidable cause, a lady (especially in the colonies) may some
day find herself on a bad-mannered animal that will "set to" with
her. In order, therefore, that in such an undesirable case she may
not be at a loss, it is well that when thoroughly practised in leaping,
she should be put upon a horse that will kick smartly whenever he is
called upon by the master. Such a horse is useful for the above pur-
pose, and is generally to be found in most riding establishments. The
trick is easily enough taught, and requires no description. Neither is
it at all incompatible with general good manners.

The first thing, then, as regards the pupil, is to impress upon her
that whenever a horse " sets to " kicking with her, that her tactics

120 THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE.

should consist first in keeping his head up, and, secondly, in finding
him something else to do than kick.

A horse cannot have his head and his tail up at the same time,
therefore, when he kicks, his first effort is to get his head down. This
should be immediately counteracted by the rider sitting well back,
keeping her hands up as high as her elbows, feeling the horse
firmly on the curb reins as well as the snaffle held in one hand, while
she applies the whip vigorously across his neck. This will have the
effect of causing him to keep his head up and go to the front. The
same firm treatment will be successful in most cases where a horse
attempts to plunge. But in the latter case the hand must be
yielded if there is any attempt to rear, and if the last-named
dangerous vice is carried to any length, the rider should not hesi-
tate to take fast hold of the mane, or put her hand in front of the
horse's neck. Both rearing or plunging, however, may be effec-
tually prevented by the use of the circular bit and martingale,
described under the heading " Rearing Horses and Runaway Dogs "
in the Field of Nov. 11, 1871. In my humble oj)inion, every lady
going to India and the colonies should have one or two such bits
among her outfit of saddlery, and if properly fitted in the horse's
mouth, all risk of rearing or even violent flirting is done away with .
Such tackle, however, does not prevent a horse from kicking^ and
although no lady should ever attempt to ride one that is possessed
habitually of this vice, a sudden accession of kicking may arise in an
otherwise good-meaning horse from some ill-fitting of the saddle, or
similar casualty, causing tender back or otherwise upsetting him. Of
course, no punishment should be resorted to in these cases ; but it is
as well for a lady to be able to keep her seat in such an emergency,
and this she will easily do if she keeps the horse's head up, and her
leg well pressed against the third crutch.

On Brighton Downs, some years ago, I saw a young lady
thoroughly master a kicking horse in the manner above described,
accompanied, however, with a considerable amount of punisliment,
most resolutely applied with a formidable whalebone whip. No
second glance was necessary to perceive that in this case the lady was
well aware of the horse's propensity, and had come out for the pur-

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 121

pose of thoroughly taking it out of him, which certainly she did
effectually, and as he was a vicious-looking weedy thoroughbred, "it
served him right."

But I must again enter my protest against ladies running such
risks, however accomplished they may be as horsewomen. Let them
accept the respectful advice of a veteran, and avoid vicious horses.
Brutes that run back, plunge, rear, or kick from sheer vice (and
there are many that do) are fit only for the ridiag of the rougher
sex, and only of such of them as have the ill fortune to be compelled
to get their living by riding. The so-called plunging lessons above
alluded to, however, will give a lady a thorough insight into the orm
in which to ride in case of emergency.

122 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

CHAPTER XY.

The Hunting Field. •

"We enter now upon a new and important phase of our pupil's educa-
tion in the saddle. Before doing so, however, I feel bound to observe
that from time to time a vast amount of "twaddle" is ventilated on
the question of the propriety of ladies riding with hounds. All sorts
of absurd objections have been brought forward against the practice ;
as, for instance, that hunting as regards ladies is a mere excuse for
display and flirtation, and that it is both unfeminine and dangerous,
I believe that these objections, made by people who never knew the
glorious exhilaration of hunting, may be very briefly disposed of. I
reside where the very cream of the midland hunting is carried pn,
and I perceive that year after year the number of ladies of high rank
and social position who grace the field with their presence is on the
increase ; while to the best of my belief no female equestrians wl/o
are not ladies have been seen with hounds in Leicestershire or it&
vicinity for some years. So much for the stamp of woman that
hunts nowadays.

As regards flirtation and display, I am at a loss to understand why
anti-foxhunting cynics should have selected the covert side, or the
road to it, for their diatribes ; for there can be no time for flirting
when hounds are once away. It must be manifest to every man
who has the most remote notion of what manner of people our
aristocracy and gentry are, that they will only know at the covert
side precisely the same stamp of person they meet elsewhere in
society. In that society there are dinner parties, flower shows, balls,
the opera, all affording equal or better opportunities for flirtation than
the hunting field. As to hunting being unfeminine, it is difficult, I

^ THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 12S

submit, to pronomice it any more so than riding in Rotten-row.
And finally, as regards danger, I propose to show how it can be
rendered all but impossible if due care and forethought are exercised
by the male friends or relatives of the hunting lady. Let us now,
therefore, having traced out the course of instruction in the riding
school, on the road, and in the park, consider how safety is best
ensured to the beginner.

As regards the stamp of horse the fair debutante of the chase should
ride, I have already endeavoured to give my idea. I have only to
add that he should be very fit for his work, the pink of condition,
without being above himself ; and, finally, that no temptation as to
fine action or clever fencing should ever induce a lady to ride a
hunter that has a particle of vice about him. With the best of
piloting it is impossible always to keep her out of a crowd, where
she is in a woeful dilemma if mounted on a horse that kicks at
others. I have seen this more than once, and have heard expressions
from the suffering riders that must have been far from pleasing to
refined feminine ears. I must, however, record a special instance of
politeness under difficulties which I witnessed during the past season.
Hounds were running with a breast-high scent, the pace very fast,
when the leading division had their extended front diminished to
single file by a big bullfincher, practicable only in one place. Among
those waiting their turn to jump was a lady who always rides very
forward. She was mounted on a rare-shaped, blood-like animal,
that looked all over like seeing the end of a long day, but exhibited
considerable imjDatience at the check. In some cases, as all hunting
people know, the difficulty is always increased to those who are
compelled to wait by a ruck of riders crowding up from the rear.
The case I allude to was no exception to this rule, and among others
came a welter middle-aged gentleman, riding a horse quite up to his
weight — a grand hunting looking animal, that appeared intent upon
clearing every obstacle in his path, not excepting the unpatient ones
who were doing the gap in Indian file. The veteran, however, who
was a capital horseman, managed to pull up his too-eager steed just
in rear of the lady's horse, and was forthwith accommodated with a
most vicious kick with his near hind leg. Fortunately, the distance

124 THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE.

was too great to admit of the stout gentleman receiving the full
benefit of the intended favour, which nevertheless made his boot-top
rattle, and materially altered the genial expression of his rubicund
visage. Turning gracefully in her saddle, the fair votary of the
chase expressed her deep regret at the bad behaviour of her horse.
"I am very sorry — awfully sorry ; 1 hope you are not hurt," she
said, in a tone which ought to have consoled any middle-aged
sportsman for a broken shin. " I never knew him to do it before,"
continued the lady. " Pray don't say a word, JSIiss," replied the old
gentleman, taking off his hat with a genuine thoroughbred air;
"don't say a word; they are only dangerous when they do it
behind." Whether they do it "behind" or "before," kick in a
crowd at other horses, or hit at hounds with their fore feet (as some
thoroughbreds will do when excited), they are equally disqualified
for ladies' hunters, however gaily they may sail over the turf or clear
the obstacles in their way.

To proceed with our lessons. Before venturing to take our
aspirant for the honours of the chase to a regular meet of foxhounds
— where she is apt to become excited, and possibly unnerved by the
imposing array of "pink," gallant horsemen, and aristocratic ladies
riding steeds of fabulous price, dashing equipages, and thrusting foot
people, always ready to embarrass a beginner — it is best to seek out
a quiet line nearly all arable land, where the fences will be small,
where there are few ditches to be met with, and where the going on
the stubble or fallow will be good enough when the crops are off the
ground. The pupil should wear a "hunting skirt" properly so
called — that is, one not too redundant, made of strong cloth, and
booted with leather about eight or ten inches wide round the bottom.
This is a very necessary precaution, because it prevents the skirt
from hanging up in the fences and getting torn. Hunting boots
also should be worn, back-strapped, tongued in at the foot, and
reaching nearly to the knee, the upper part made of thick but very
flexible leather — buckskin is the best. It is soft, and at the same
time thick enough to save the leg from a blow from a strong binder,
which occasionally hits very hard in its rebound, having been pre-
viously bent forward by somebody who has just jumped the fence.

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 125

A " Latchford " spur of the sort before described is also requisite^
and the question of the arrangement of skirt necessary to enable the
rider to use the spur effectively has caused considerable diversity of
opinion among cognoscenti on hunting matters. Some ladies have
an opening made in the skirt, through which the shank of the spur
passes ; and in order to keep the latter in its place, it is usual to
have a couple of strings strongly stitched on to the inside of the
skirt. These are tied round the ankle, and prevent the skirt to a
great extent from getting foul of the spur. But this method
decidedly involves a certain amount of risk, because, in case of the
horse making a blunder and falling, the lady has not the free use of
her leg. Again, there is a method of letting the spur shank through
a small opening similar to a large eyelet hole, made of strong elastic,
and let into the skirt, the point of insertion having been previously
measured when the rider is in the saddle and her left leg and foot
are properly placed as regards the third crutch and stirrup. But a
still better way is that which I have seen adopted lately by severa
ladies who go very straight with hounds. It is as follows. After
the skirt has been carefully measured and marked (the lady up), an
opening is made perpendicularly, large enough to admit of the lady's
foot passing through it. This opening should be made about six or
eight inches above the place where the ankle will touch the skirt,
when the left leg is fairly stretched down, the knee bent, and the heel
sunk. AVhen the instructor has assisted his pupil into the saddle,
he should put her foot in the stirrup, and wait until she has care-
fully arranged her habit ; he should then take her foot out again,
and the lady should lift it high enough to enable her attendant ta
pass it through the opening. The foot can then be replaced in the
stirrup, and the spur buckled on. The upper leather (by the way)
should be broad and slightly padded. By these means the left foot
and the leg from six to eight inches above the ankle will be entirely
clear of the skirt, which will give the rider perfect freedom of action,
while the opening is not sufficiently wide to admit of the skirt being
blown clear of the leg. This, moreover, is prevented by the leather
booting ; in fact, in a well-made hunting skirt there should be no
slack cloth for the winds to play with at all.

126 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

The kind of whip to be used is the crop (without the thong) of a
hunting whip ; a Malacca crop is the best for a lady, because the
lightest. It should have a good crook to it, well roughened on the
outside, and be furnished, moreover, with a roughened nail head, in
order to prevent the crop slipping when the rider attempts to open
a gate. Gauntlet gloves with strong leather tops are best, because
they prevent the possibihty of the rider's hands being scratched or
injured in jumping a ragged fence ; but if the lady dislikes gauntlets,
the sleeve of the jacket should be made to fasten with three buttons
dose to the wrist, because the sleeves now so much in fashion, being
very wide at the wrist, are apt in taking a fence to catch and get
torn, in addition to the risk of the rider being pulled off her horse.
These casualties, which of coiu-se cannot occur with the clean-made
jump taken in the riding school, are likely enough to happen in the
field, and should be carefully guarded against.

As regards the shape and make of the jacket I have already said
so much, that I must leave it to the taste and figure of the rider,
always assmning that while she allows herseK plenty of freedom of
movement, she does not wear anything too loose, or any steel
supports about her, as for hunting these are highly dangerous.

As regards headgear, the same style of thing that sufficed for the
riding school may not be considered sufficiently effective for the
hunting field ; and, without venturing upon ground so delicate as an
opinion or even knowledge of ladies' "coiffure," I may say that at
Melton and other fashionable hunting centres there has for some
time existed an artful combination between the ladies' hat makers
and the hair dressers, by means of which that very elegant affair
the "Melton hat" is deftly fitted with an arrangement of hair
behind which is immovable, no matter where the wearer jumps in
hunting. The hairdresser's services are first called into requisition ;
possibly he imparts the " arcana " of his craft to the lady's maid;
but one or other succeeds in making such an arrangement of the
hair as renders it at once secure in riding and becoming to the style
of the lady herself. The hat with the hair attached behind is then
placed on the head, and secured by an invisible elastic band. Should
any of my readers desire information on these matters, so important

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

127

to a lady's comfort in the hunting field, I can furnish them with the
names of the people in Melton and elsewhere who can give them
-every detail.

Having our pupil accoutred as before described, and taken her to
a quiet farm, the instructor should pick out a line, start at a walk in
front of his charge, pop his horse quietly over the fences, and see
that his pupil does them with equal coolness and without rush or
liurry. When she can do this well, the pace should be increased to a
steady canter ; and the master riding beside her should be careful
that she steadies her horse three or four lengths before he takes off,
always riding him well into the bridle.

This kind of practice should be continued for some days, until
the pupil is quite at home at her work, and the master should then
proceed to instruct her as to the mode in which to make her horse
"crawl" through gaps and crooked, cramped places, and do "on
and off " jumps and doubles. The animal best adapted for this sort
of practice is one that is clever rather than fast. An Irish horse,
out of a ditch and bank country, is preferable. But the instructor
should take special care, by first doing these "on and off" jumps
"hi in self, to ascertain that the banks are sound; otherwise there is
danger of just the worst kind of fall a woman can have. We have
lately had a lamentable instance of this in the case of a noble lady,
one of the most brilhant horsewomen in England.

For my own part, I am entirely against a lady jumping her horse
in the field at any place where there can be the slightest doubt as to
good foothold, unless she is preceded by a man to pUot her. If the
latter gets down, he can always (assuming him to be a good work-
man) get clear of his steed, whereas at these rotten places a lady and
her horse are likely to fall "all of a heap," and injury greater or
less is a certainty to the rider.

Not long since I saw a little girl, about ten years old, riding with
hounds on a mite of a pony which was as clever as a monkey. The
little heroine took a line of her own (no doubt she knew the country
well), and kept her place among the foremost for some time ; pre-
sently she disappeared, and we found her impounded, pony and all,
up to the back of the latter in a piece of rotten ground which had

128 THE BARB AKD THE BRIDLE.

lot them in like a "jack in the box." Neither the pony nor his
l)lucky little rider were hurt, but (as they say in Ireland) that was
more by good luck than good guiding.

I maintain that cliildren at that age should never be left in the
hunting field to their own devices, however well they may ride, and
that, either in their case or that of young ladies of riper age, they
should never be allowed to go with hounds, unless accompanied by
a man who is not only a thorough horseman and judge of hunting,
but is also well acquainted with the country he is riding over, and
accustomed to pilot ladies.

After the pupil has learned to make her horse " creep " in the
manner above described — to insure success in which, however, the
closest watching is necessary on the part of the instructor, and
directions requisite in each individual case, utterly impossible in
written general instructions — she should be carefully taught to open
gates for herself, because it is nearly sure hereafter to occur that she
may have to ride at a pinch in a country place where her route lies
through a line of bridle gates, and the attendance of a man to open
them for her may not be available. Nothing is easier than for a
lady to open a well-hung and well-latched gate, the hinges of
which are on the oif side. Bridle gates occur most frequently in
great grazing countries, such as Leicestershire, AVarwickshire, or
Northamptonshire, by reason of the necessity of confining cattle
within certain limits. The gates are generally heavy, well poised on
their hinges, and opening either with wooden latching or iron spring
ones, easily reached at the top.

K the gate is hung on the off side, all the lady has to do is to ride
her horse with his head in an oblique direction between the gatepost
and the gate, so that when she has the latter open she can continue
moving on in the same slanting direction. She should first press the
end of her crop down upon the latch, if it is a wooden one, keeping
herself perfectly upright in the saddle, and steadily seated in it.
Directly the latch lifts she should press firmly against it with the
rough crook, push the gate open, and press her horse onwards in the
same obhque direction, by which the animal's croup clears the gate
sooner, and all risk of its closing on him is avoided. If there is a

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 129

long iron spring latch to the gate, it must first be pulled open with
the crop, so that the latch rests against the hasp, and a steady pur-
chase must then be taken against the upper bar with the crop, and
the gate thus quietly pushed forward : this if it opens from the
rider. If the reverse, the horse's head should be kept perfectly
square close to the gate post, until the latch is lifted and rested on
the hasp. The gate should then be pulled open, and the horse's
head inclined just tlie reverse way to that adopted when the gate
opens front the rider. But in no case should she lean forward, or
put herself out of her balance, in order to get hold of the latch or
the gate itself, and she should be particularly careful that the reins
do not catch against the long iron hasps so common to the gates I
speak of.

Only last year, I met a lady who rides a good deal unattended
and, seeing her about to open a gate I knew to be rather an awkward
one, I trotted on to assist her ; but (possibly desiring to show me
that she could do it unassisted) she leant forward to give the gate a
lift, and in doing so she dropped the reins upon her horse's neck,
when the animal immediately hooked the headstall of a single curb
bridle upon a long iron hasp, and, finding himself fast to it, drew
back suddenly and broke the headstall, the bit fell out of his mouth,
and the lady (utterly helpless) had no alternative but to shp off as
quickly as possible. Fortunately, the animal was a very quiet one,
or the consequences might have been serious ; as it was, we managed
to change bridles, and, having sphced the broken one, went on our
separate ways. But, I repeat, one cannot be too careful or methodical
in opening gates. "When one opens from the jiear side, the reins must
be passed into the right hand, the crop into the left, and the greatest
care taken, if the gate opens to the rider, to push it well back behind
the horse's quarters before she movesr-on, riding with her horse's head
towards the hinges. When a near-side hung gate opens /rom the rider,
there is less difficulty, it being only necessary after lifting the latch to
push against the gate with the crop, sitting quite upright, and giving
swing enough to the gate to enable the rider to get clear of it. But
in either case, to or from, with a gate hung on the near side the latch
should first be lifted, by using the crop in the right hand, resting the

K

130 THE BARB AND THE BIJIDLE.

latch if possible against the hasp, and then changing hands with the
crop and reins as before mentioned. If this is not done, and the
rider attempts to lift the latch with her left hand, she must change
the direction of her horse's head when the gate is open, at the great
risk of bringing it on his quarters.

These directions, like others I have ventured upon, may appear too
minute ; but it should be remembered that, whereas, carefully-
followed out, a lady on a steady horse accustomed to gates can
open them with safety, any carelessness may result in a bad accident,
because the steadiest horse, if "hung up" in a gate, will become
furious if he cannot instantly get clear of it. When, therefore, the
pupil is well practiced at this sort of work, and has learned to feel
her way in cramped places as well as to do her fences at a steady canter,
a fair half-speed gallop may be ventured on, the pupil setting her
horse going, and pressing him if necessary with the spur, to take
his fences in his stride, the spur being used, however, some distance
from the fence. The master should ride beside his pupil in this
lesson, carefully watching the pace of the horse and the action of the
rider. A nice easy line of about a couple of miles should be taken,
and the pace maintained throughout. A month of this kind of
practice will form a capital introductory step to hunting : and when,
in the mild misty mornings of russet-brown October, foxhounds begin
to beat up the quarters of the vulpine juveniles, abjuring her "beauty
sleep," the lady may with advantage, before the " early village cock
proclaims the dawn," don her hunting habiliments, and, under the
careful tutelage of her "pilot," trot off to covert and see the
" beauties " knock the cubs about.

This is by far the best way to begin hunting in reality. There
are very few people about at that early hour, and those only who
are thorough enthusiasts about the sport ; consequently there is
more time for the new votary of Diana to get accustomed to the
alteration in her horse's form of demeaning himself. For be it known
to the uninitiated that even an old horse, that requires kicking and
hammering along a road when ridden alone, is quite a different
animal and mover the instant he sees the hounds, and will show
an amomit of vivacity perhaps very little expected by his rider ;

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 131

while a well-bred young one requires a great deal of riding on such
occasions.

The short bursts sometimes obtained in " cub hunting" are capital
practice for a lady ; while occasionally a veteran fox, some wily old
purloiner of poultry, affords a good twenty or five-and-twenty
minutes, even when the fences are blind. I recommend our pilot,
liowever, to keep his charge out of these latter matters, for blind
jumping is always bad for a lady.

As regards taking a beginner out with harriers, I am against it.
It is very well for invalids or corpulent gentlemen who are " doing
a constitutional ; " but it teaches a young lady nothing of what is
really meant by hunting — which, however, she is in a first-rate
position to learn with the cubs.

Staghimtmg with a deer turned out from a cart and caught with a
whipthong, is equally inefficacious, because the hunting as a rule
only commences when the run is over. Moreover, there is always a
crowd of people who come out for riding only, and care notliing about
hunting, and these are the most likely to get into a lady's way, and
bring her to grief.

The same may be said of drag hunting, which I hold to be no place
for a lady, any more than steeplechasing.

Let us then, legitimately to inaugurate our pupil into the usages
and forms of hunting proper, stick to cub hunting until November
opens the fences and gives her a chance to prove the value of her
previous instruction.

Before closing this article, I cannot refrain from citing an instance
of the great value of a lady learning to cross the country well,
irrespective of the sport of foxhunting and its health-giving and
exhilarating effects. Within ten miles of where I write this resides a
lady, young, wealthy, and beautiful, who, although not a religious
recluse^ is as thorough and sincere a devotee of religion as any
cloistered nun. Her whole time is spent in acts of charity, and
ministering to the spiritual and bodily welfare of the poor for miles
round her residence. No weather is too inclement, no night too
dark, to stop her on her errands of mercy and charity. If sum-
moned even at the dead of night to attend the bedside of a sick or

K 2

132 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

dying person, as frequently happens, she will dress herself quickly
in rough habiliments suitable to it — maybe in tempestuous weather
— saddle and bridle a horse herself if her people are not quick
enough for her, and, provided with cordials, a prayer book, and a
long hunting crop, she will gallop off the nearest way to her desti-
nation, taking the fences, if they lie in the road, as they come ;
and one bright moonlight night I saw her do two or three places
that would stop half the men that ride to houiids hereabouts. This
lady, who may fairly and without exaggeration be called the
"ministering angel" of the district, does not, it is true, hunt now ;
but it was in riding to hounds that she acquired her wonderful
facility of getting over the country.

The above is no sensational story. The lady, her brilliant riding,,
her true religion, and her charities, are well known, and can be
vouched for by hundreds of people in this part of the world. Who
shall say after this that hunting is unfeminine ?

I have a word more to add, according to promise, as regards the
fitting of the circular bit.

This bit, which can always be procured at Messrs. Davis's,
saddler, 14, Strand, is fitted in the horse's mouth above the mouth-
piece of a snaffle or Pelham bridle. It has a separate head-
stall, and is put on before the ordinary bridle. It requires no
reins, is secured by a standing martingale to a breastplate, and
is a certain remedy for horses flirting or rearing when too fresh
(which, however, I repeat, for a lady's riding should never be
allowed).

The strap between the breastplate and the ring bit should be just
long enough to enable the horse to move freely forward, without
liberty enough to admit of his rearing.

In the next chapter I will endeavour to describe what regular hunt-
ing for a lady means ; point out the readiest way of getting to our
most fashionable packs of hounds ; and how ladies residing even in the
metropolis may enjoy a day or two of good sport on this fine grass
country at the least necessary expense, may witness and enjoy
hunting in its perfection, and, if requisite, may breakfast in May-
fair or Belgravia, have a glorious gaDop over the Midland pastures,.

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 133

and return to a late dinner. Of course I am aware that neither of
the above-named localities is likely to hold many hunting ladies in
November. But the fashionable quarters of London are not deserted
in February, and spring hunting is perhaps after all the most
enjoyable.

134 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

CHAPTER XYI.

The Hunting Field {continued).

Among the many advantages aiforded by tlie " iron road " to lovers.
of hunting there is none more appreciable than the facility it affords
to those who reside in a non-foxhmiting country of getting to hounds
with ease and rapidity.

AYithout any greater inconvenience than the necessity of early
rising, a lady who lives in Tyburnia or Belgravia may easily enjoy
a day's hunting in Warwickshire or Leicestershire, and be in her
own home again in reasonable time in the evening.

During the early spring hunting of the present year, several
ladies came to Market Harborough and Melton on these sporting
expeditions, and returned the same day thoroughly satisfied.

One party, consisting of three ladies and as many gentlemen,,
seemed to me to have been admirably organised, and to be quite a
success throughout.

They left Saint Pancras at eight o'clock in the morning, in a
saloon carriage, arrived at Melton at half -past ten, and were at the
meet at eleven, with military punctuality. They enjoyed a capital
day with the Quorn hounds, left Melton at haK-past six, after
riding a considerable distance back, and arrived in town at nine
o'clock.

A novel and agreeable feature in the arrangement was that the
party dined in their luxurious carriage while being whirled back to-
the metropohs, a first-class dinner and the best of wines having
been furnished from the hotel, and served in admirable form. After
the journey and the sport one of the ladies (I was told) held a

THE BAKB AND THE BRIDLE. 135

numerously attended and fashionable reception at her own house
the same evening ; and with a brougham in waiting at St. Pancras,
and a pair of fast horses, joined to the wonderful " smartness" (if I
may be permitted the expression) displayed by the fair and aris-
tocratic votary of Diana in the field, I should think the thing quite
possible as regarded time.

The above-named party was mounted at Melton by some friends ;
but, by giving fair notice, thoroughly good and well-made hunters
can always be secured by any of the Midland hunting centres by
those who do not care to rail their own horses from London,
Market Harborough is still more accessible than Melton, being but
two hours from London, and situated in the centre of a splendid
grass country, hunted by Mr, Tailbj ; while a smart trot of eight
miles would bring the sporting voyageur to Kilworth Sticks and the
Pytchley, provided the right day was selected. Rugby, too, is
equally accessible, and boasts a fair hotel, where the charges are
not more extortionate than they are at Harborough, which is saying
a good deal. The hunting in the vicinity of Rugby, however, amply
compensates for a little overdoing in the matter of charges.

It is scarcely possible to go to Rugby the wrong day to get at
hounds within a reasonable distance, and some of the meets of that
admirable pack, the North Warwickshire, are frequently at such
picturesque and convenient try sting places as Bilton Grange — now
celebrated by the Tichborne trial, and sworn to as the place where
the " Claimant " was not. However this may be, a straight-
necked and wily gentleman is generally to be found at home,
either in the plantations of the grand old demesne or close by at
Bunker's Hill or Cawston Spinney, who is tolerably certain to
lead the claimants for his brush a merry dance across the glorious
grass country to Barby, Shuckborough, or Ashby St. Leger.
The fences, too, in this part of the IMidlands are just the thing for a
lady's hunting, and, while quite big enough in most cases to require
a little doing, they are by no means so formidable as those in High
Leicestershire and the Quorn country. The old-fashioned buUfincher
is rare, and double ox fences equally so, while there is a pretty
variety of nice stake-and-binders, pleached hedges, and fair-water

136 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

jumping, with an occasional flight of rails, big enough to prove that
the fair equestrian's hunter can do a bit of timber clean and clever.
In fact, I know no coimtry I would as soon select for a young lady
to commence regular hunting in as that in the vicinity of Rugby.
Combe Abbey, Misterton, and Coton House are all sweetly English,
as well as thoroughly sporting places of meeting, and the truly
enjoyable trot or canter over the springy turf, which everywhere
abounds by the roadside in these localities, and makes the way to
covert so pleasant, has more than once been pronounced by hunting
critics to be more desirable than hunting itself in parts of England
where the road is all "Macadam," and the land plough, copiously
furnished with big flint stones, such as one sees in Hampshire.
Apropos of which charming country there is a sporting tale prevalent
in this real home of the hunter.

A rich, middle-aged, single gentleman, a thorough enthusiast
about foxhunting, had a nephew, a very straight-going youngster,
who the "prophetic soul" of his uncle had decided should one day
be the man of the country in the hunting field, and second to
none over our biggest country ; and, to enable "Hopeful" to lead
the van, the veteran mounted him on horses purchased regardless
of expense. Furthermore, determined that no casualty in the way
of breaking his own neck should suddenly deprive his favourite
nephew of the golden sinews of the chase, the old Nimrod made a
very proper will, leaving all his large property to his fortunate
young relative.

Things, indeed, looked rosy enough for our young sportsman.
Youth, health, wealth, a capital seat, and fine hands upon his horse,
any quantity of pluck, a thorough knowledge of hunting, and plenty
of the best horses to carry him — who could desire more? Alas
that it should be so ! even the brightest sunshine may become over-
cast— the fairest prospect be marred — by causes never dreamt of by
the keenest and most far seeing among us.

At the termination of a capital season in the IVIidland, our
youngster, not content to let well alone, and, like that greedy boy
Oliver still "asking for more," unknown to his worthy uncle,
betook himself to the New Forest in Hampshire.

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 137

"Hopefiil" was a sharp fellow enough, and he did not believe
that all was gold that glittered ; but he was under a very decided
impression that wherever there was a good open stretch of green
level turf it was safe to set a horse going." Alas! the luckless
young sportsman was not aware that in the New Forest this is by-
no means a certainty, and one day, when riding to some staghounds,
determined to "wipe the eye" of the field, he jumped a big place
which nobody else seemed to care for, and, taking his horse by the
iead, set him sailing along the nearest way to the hounds. A lovely
piece of emerald-green turf was before him ; he clapped his hat
firmly on, put down his hands, and, regardless of wild cries in his
rear, made the pace strong. Suddenly and awfully as the Master
of Ravens wood vanished from the sight of the distracted Caleb
Balderstone and was swallowed up in the Kelpie's Flow, so disap-
peared "Hopeful" and his proud steed; both were engulfed in a
treacherous bog, and, before either horse or man could be extricated,
" the pride of the Shires " was smothered in mud beneath his horse.

Next season, at a "coffee-housing" by a spinney side, where
hounds were at work, an old friend of the bereft uncle ventured to
condole with him on his loss.

" Sad business," he said, shaking his old hunting chum warmly
by the hand ; " sad business that about poor Charlie down in
Hampshire ! "

" Sad, indeed," replied the veteran uncle, returning the friendly
squeeze. "Who would have thought my sister's son would have
ever done such a thing? Staghunting was bad enough," he con-
tinued, as the irrepressible tear coursed down his furrowed cheek ;
" staghunting was bad enough, but to go at it in Hampsliire — I
shall never get over it. As to his being smothered, of course that
served him perfectly right."

Turning, however, from the above melancholy instance of degene-
racy in sport to the pleasanter theme of the right locale in which a
lady should commence foxhunting, I must not forget Leamington,
the neighbourhood of which beautiful and fashionable watering
place affords some capital sport to those who delight in " woodland
hunting." The woods at Princethorpe, Frankton, and the vicinity,

138 THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE.

hold some stout foxes that afford many a nice gallop, while the
country is rideable enough for a lady if she keeps out of the woods.

Leamington, too, has first-rate accommodation for hunting people.
There are, indeed, no better hotels to be met with anywhere than
the "Regent" or the "Clarendon," or more moderate charges for
first-class houses; while the "Crown" and the "Bath" afford
capital quarters for gentlemen, and ample provision for doing their
horses well.

The charming Spa, moreover, is at an easy distance from Rugby,
and by railing a horse to the latter place, ready access can be had to
hunting in the open country, six days in the week.

My advice, then, to young ladies, who desire to witness foxhunting
in perfection, is to select one of the above-named localities, and to-
put herself at once under the guardianship in the field of a thoroughly
good pilot who knows the country.

Words of advice to the latter are superfluous. All the men who
undertake the responsible office of guiding a lady after hounds
hereabouts are quite at home at their business, and it may be
satisfactory to my fair readers to know, that, although there are a
great number of ladies riding regularly with hounds in the North
Warwickshire, Pytchley, and Atherstone country, no accident
attended with injury to a lady rider has occurred within my
recollection, which extends over a long series of years.

The initiation at cub hunting will have given our pupil confidence,
and accustomed her to the excitement shown more or less by every
horse at the sight of hounds ; and careful attention to the rules of
jumping before laid down will insure safety if she adheres carefully
to her pilot's line. It is as well, however, that she should understand
wherein consists the reason for what her hunting guide does, and
what should be done and left undone, from the time of arrival at the
meet until the retour de cJiasse.

In the first place, then, while her mentor will of course see to her
girths and horse appointments before a start is made to draw a
covert, the lady should carefully look to her own dress, head gear^
&c., and be certain that everything is in its place, and shows no-
signs of giving way. But if anything chances to be out of order — •

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 139

if she has ridden to the meet any considerable distance — it is best to
dismount and repair damages at once. As a rule, there are always
houses available for this, and nimble-fingered dames zealous in the
service of any lady who desires their assistance.

When the fair votary of the chase travels to the meet on wheels,
I recommend her by all means the use of a warm overcoat, of
which the Ulster is very convenient, and was very much worn for
the above purpose last season. In proceeding from the meeting-
place to the covert a great thing is to keep out of the crowd — no
matter how well-behaved a horse the rider may be on — because in a
ruck there is always more or less danger of her being kicked herself
The most likely position for a good start will of course be selected
by the pilot ; but it should be remembered that to be quiet while
hounds are at work in covert is a fixed law of the hunting code ; to
avoid heading a fox when he breaks away, another vital point ; and
no exclamation of surprise or wonder should be allowed to escape
the lij)s, even if a fox (as I have seen happen more than once)
should run between the horses' legs. Foxes, though it may be
assumed that they all possess a large amount of craft and cunning,
differ as much in nerve and courage as other animals ; and while
one will sometimes dash through a little brigade of mounte<l
people, the shout of a small boy on foot may turn him back ; and
while Reynard, again, will frequently rush off close to a lady's
horse and take no notice of either him or his rider if both remain
quiet, the waving of a handkerchief, or even the slightest move-
ment of the lady on her steed, may cause Sir Pug to alter his mind,
and thus a good thing may be spoilt. For the foregoing reasons,
therefore, to be perfectly quiet and remain steady, if near a possible
point at which a fox can break away, is indispensable. When
hounds are settling on his track great -care should be taken to avoid
getting in their road, or in any way interfering with them. After
they have settled, the object should be to go ivell to the front and
keep there — first, because the greatest enjoyment in hunting, viz.,
seeing the hounds work, is by that means attained ; and, secondly,
whenever there is a check, a lady riding well forward gets all the
benefit of it for her horse, whereas those who lose groimd at the

140 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

start, and have to follow on the line, keep pounding away without
giving their horses a chance of catching their wind — a very material
thing in a quick run.

A check of a few minutes, affording a good horse time, has
enabled many a one to stay to the end of the longest run, when an
equally good animal has been " pumped " in the same thing for want
of such a respite from his exertions.

Again, a great point to be observed is to maintain such a position
as will enable the rider to turn with the hounds at the right
moment ; resolutely resisting any temptation in order to cut off
ground, to turn too soon, and risk spoiling sport by crossing their
line.

It should be remembered that it is quite as easy to jump the
fences when one is in the front rank, as it is when sculling along with
the rear guard, and much safer, because the ground always affords
better foothold and landing, when it has not been poached up by a
niunber of people jumping. This is especially the case after a frost,
when the going is at all greasy.

Even in cases when hounds slip an entire field, and get the fun all
to themselves, still those who get away well at first will have all the
best of the " stern chase."

If, fortunately, our fair tyro is well up when a fox is run into and
killed, she should carefully avoid getting too close to the hounds
when they are at their broken-up prey. There are always keen eyes
about that can discern on these occasions whether a lady has been
riding straight and well, and there will not be wanting some gallant
cavalier to offer her the tribute due to her " dash " and good work-
manship, in the shape of that coveted trophy of the chase, the brush.
There may, however, be more than one lady up on these occasions (I
have seen several after very good things), and, as a rule, the brush is
most likely to be offered to the lady of the highest rank. These
trophies, therefore, are scarcely to be counted upon as a reward for
€ven the best and straightest riding — the less so as of late years it
has been observed that in most cases a very stout and straight-
necked fox succeeds in eluding his pursuers, and " lives to fight
another day."

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 14 1

In beginning regular hunting, one good run in a day for a lady
should suffice for some little time. In November the days are very
short, and often enough a fox started after three o'clock will be
running strong when darkness comes on. For a lady, and a beginner
especially, it is best to leave off and trot quietly home while there is
yet dayhght.

As regards "get up" or equipment, I must add to my former
suggestions that a lady for the hunting field should be provided
always with a waterproof overcoat, which should be rolled up in as
small a compass as possible, and is better carried by her pilot or her
second horseman (if she has one out) than attached by straps to the
off-side flap of her own saddle ; as, in addition to spoiling the
symmetry of the saddle on that side, I have seen instances of
things so attached hanging up in ragged fences, no matter how care-
fully they may have been put on.

A sandwich case and flask are highly necessary also. Hunting is
a wonderful promoter of appetite, and it is not beneficial to a young
lady's health to go from early breakfast to late dinner time without
refreshment ; while it is quite possible — nay, very probable in a grass
country — that she may be a long way from head-quarters when she
leaves the hounds, and in a part where refreshment for a lady cannot
be had for love or money.

The Melton people have met this requirement very efficiently.
Thus, into a very flat, flexible flask, with a screw-cup top, they put
a most succulent liquid, composed of calves' foot jelly and sherry.
This flask is accompanied by a very neat little leather case, which
contains half a dozen nice biscuits, or, in some instances, a small
pasty, composed of meat. These cases, with the flask, are made
to fit into the pocket of the saddle on the off-side under the hand-
kerchief, and the flap of the pocket is secured by a strap and buckle.

To roU a waterproof neatly, the following plan is the best : Lay
the garment down flat, opened out, on a table, the inside upwards ;
turn the collar in first, then turn the sleeves over to the inside,
laying them flat ; next turn in both sides of the coat from the collar
downwards, about eight or ten inches ; then turn in the bottom of
the garment about the same distance, when it will form a pocket.

142 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

One person should hold this steady while another rolls the collar end
very tightly up towards the pocket ; it will then fit into it so closely
as to make a very small and compact roll of the whole coat.

I must not omit to say that, in addition to the first-rate hunting
to be had in the Midlands, there is some good sport with hounds
obtainable nearer the metropolis, namely, in the Vale of Aylesbury,
witli that noble patron of sport, Baron Rothschild. But still I
must award the palm to Leicestershire, Warwickshire, and North-
amptonshire as far away superior to anythmg in the hunting way
to be seen in any other part of England. In whatever part, how-
ever, the fair lover of hunting seeks her sport, she should bear in
mind that when she is once away with hounds she cannot be too
particular as to riding her horse with the utmost care and precision,
and to avoid taking liberties with him by jumping big places for the
sake of display. It cannot be too strenuously impressed upon her
mentor that, as long as the true line to the hounds can be main-
tained, the less jumping that is done, the longer the horse will last ;
that one big jump takes as much out of him as galloping over three
big fields ; and that he should be ridden every inch of the way, because
when hounds get off with a good scent it is impossible to say that
they may not keep on running for a couple of hours, in which case,
if too much is done with him at first, he wiU inevitably, to use a
racing phrase, " shut up."

The light weight of most hunting ladies is a point in favour of the
horse ; but it is more than counterbalanced by the absence of sup-
port which a man who rides well can give with the right leg. It is
the absence of this support in the case of a lady's horse, however
well ridden, that causes him to tire sooner than he would if ridden
by a gentleman ; and hence the necessity in selecting a horse to carry
a woman with hounds for having not only staying power, but two
or three stone in hand. Nevertheless, although unable to give to
the animal as much help as can be afforded by a gentleman, ladies
can do much by the exercise of that tact and judgment which is their
peculiar gift.

Every lady who hunts is sure to be more or less an enthusiast
iibout horses, and is always, according to my experience, ready to

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. , 143

adopt any siiggestioa which tends to their well doing, I therefore
venture to point one or two matters which I trust will be found
useful.

In the first place, when the hounds have settled to their fox and
people have shaken themselves into their places, the fair rider in
her early essays in the field should bestow her principal attention
upon the animal, upon ^vhich depends much of her sport. With a
^ood man by her side, she will run no risk from thrusting neigh-
bours, and although she cannot too soon begin to have " one eye
for the hounds and another for the horse," it is the latter w^hich
demands all her energies. The whole business is exciting. The
genuine dash, the vigour, the reality, that is so striking to a novice
when hounds come crashing out of covert, through an old wattle,
or bounding over a strong fence; the up-ending and plunging of
impatient young horses, the brilliant throng of fashionable eques-
trians, the rattle of the turf under the horses' feet as they stride
away — all these, or any of them, are quite sufficient to warm up
even old blood, and are certain to send that of the young going at
such a pace that all rule and method in riding is very apt to be
forgotten, or thrust aside in the eager desire " to be first."

It is just at tliis critical moment that I w^ould advise my fair
readers to lay to heart the necessity of controlling their excitement,
because it is at such a time that a horse, especially at the beginning
of the season (if allowed), -will "take out of himself" just what he
wdll want hereafter, assuming a stout fox that means business to be
to the front. A soothing w^ord or two, and " making much" of the
excited steed, will generally cause him to settle in his stride and cease
romping ; whereas, if the rider is excited as well as the horse, we have
oil upon fire at once. Again, it cannot be too forcibly impressed
upon ladies riding with hounds that the latter require plenty of room
to rrork.

" Place aux dames " is a rule rigidly observed by gentlemen in the
hunting field Room for the hounds should form an equally invio-
lable law with ladies in the same place. And it is the more necessary
to impress this upon beginners, because many a first-rate man who
pilots ladies, although bold as a lion over a country, and cautious to

144 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

a degree as to the line he takes for his fair compagnon de chasse, is
oftentimes far too modest to check her exuberant riding, and the
consequence is, many an anathema — not loud, but deep — is bestowed
upon both by exasperated masters and huntsmen.

Unlike the professional riding master, a first-rate pilot — such, I
mean, as is paid for his services — though well behaved and respectful,
is likely enough to lack much education, except such as he has
received in the saddle or on practical farming matters ; and his awe
of a lady, properly so called, is so considerable as to preclude his
exercise of the fortiter in re altogether, no matter how much his
charge is unwittingly infringing the rules of sport.

I saw an amusing instance of this not long ago. A lady, the
widow of a wealthy civil servant in India, having returned to her
native land laden with the riches of the East, being still young and
excessively fond of riding, purchased a stud of first-class hunters^
took a nice little hunting box in Leicestershire for the season, and
engaged the services of a very good man to pilot her. As a rule every
lady rides in India — some of them ride very well ; but a rattling
gallop at gun fire, in the morning, over the racecourse at Ghindee or
Bangalore, is quite a diiferent matter to a gallop with the Pytchlej
hounds. The " Bebe sahib" (great lady) had no idea, mounted as
she was, of anybody or anything (bar the fox) being in front of her.
And be it known to those who have never been in India that " great
ladies" there are ''bad to talk to," being in the habit pretty much
of paying very little attention to anything in the way of counsel
coming from their subordinates. Our Indian widow was no
exception. So she did all sorts of outrageous things in the field in
riding in among the hounds — and, indeed, before them — to the
disgust of the master and everybody else, including her pilot, who in
her case was certainly no mentor — but the latter was too well paid
to risk offending the peccant lady ; he ventured a gentle hint or two,
and, being snubbed, gave it up for a bad job.

He was so severely rated, however, by the masters of hounds in
the district — one of whom declared he would take them home
directly he saw the lady and her pilot with them — that the latter
was fairly at his wits' end to know how to keep the too dashing

\

THE BARB AND TEE BRIDLE. 145

widow within bounds. Sorely puzzled, he sat in his spacious
chimney nook one night smoking his pipe in moody silence, his wife
knitting opposite him.

"What's the matter, John?" began his spouse. "Matter!" he
replied; "it's enough to drive a man mad; Mrs. Chutnee's going
again to-morrow, and, as sure as fate, she'll ride over the hounds
or do something, and get one into trouble."

"What makes her go on so, John?" again inquired the cara
sposa. — " Go on ! it is go on : I think that the name for it. Go on
over everything ! no fence is too big for her. I like her for that,
but she never knows when to stop. Last week she knocked an old
gentleman over, and he lost a spick span new set of teeth as cost, I
dare say, a matter of twenty guineas ; and the day before yesterday
she lamed a hound as was worth a lot of money, to say nothing of
hurting the poor brute. I don't know what to be at with her, and
that's a fact, because, barring her going so fast, she is the best-
hearted lady ever I see."

And John relapsed into silence, blowing mighty clouds of smoke,
while his wife plied her knitting-needles. But a woman's wit, in
difficult cases, is proverbial ; and in the watches of the night a
bright notion, based upon knowledge of her own sex, flashed upon
the anxious mind of the snoring John's wife. The result was as
follows. Next morning, true to time, John was in attendance to
accompany the fair widow to the field. They had some distance
to ride to covert, and after a smart spurt of a mile or two on
the sward, the lady pulled her horse up to walk up a hill.

"John," said the lady (who was in high spirits), "what do people
here think of my riding?" — "Well, some thinks one thing, and
some thinks another," was the reply.

"That's no answer," observed the- fair interlocutor; "what do
they say? that is the thing. I know one thing they can't say;
none of them can say they can stop me over any part of the country,
no matter how big it is."

Opportunity, says some wise man, is for him who waits. Now
was John's opportunity to avail himself of his clever little wife's
bright idea.

146 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

"Stop you, my lady! no, that's just what they do all say; and
what's more, they say you can't stop yourself — that you ain't got no
hands, and your horse takes you just where he pleases, if it's even
right over the hounds."

The " Bebe sahib " was bitterly chagrined, for she prided herself
justly upon her capital hands upon a horse. She was silent for a
few minutes, and then she said, " I want you to tell me what to do^
just to let these people know, as you do, that I have hands." —
" Then I will tell you," my lady, said John, brightening up. "Just
you do this : when the hounds get away, you let me go first, and
keep your horse about a hundred yards behind me. I'll pick out a
line big enough, I'll warrant, and that will show them all about your
seat and your jumping. Then about the hands ; if you please,
w^henever I pull up, you do the same. They say as you can't stop
your horse, you know."

" Can't I?" said the little lady, " can't stop my horse when I like!
I'U let them see that. Can't stop ! I should like to know what a
woman can't do if she makes up her mind to do it."

John's wife was a capital judge ; there was no more riding over
hounds or disarranging of elderly gentlemen's teeth. But the " Bebe
sahib " has taken me to the extremity of my space, and I must pull
up, reserving further observations and suggestions on the himting
field for my next chapter.

THE BAKE AND THE BRIDLE. 147

CHAPTER XYII.

The Hunting Field (continued).

On reading my previous observations on Fox-hunting, it may occur
to many ladies that in order to enjoy the sport, great nerve
and physical power, as well as a thorough knowledge of the
principles of equitation and long practice, are indispensable, and that
in default of either of the above qualifications they ought not to
venture into the field. This, however, would be an extreme view
of the case. It is quite true that to go straight to hounds and take
the country and the fences as they come it is necessary that a lady
should be in vigorous health, as well as a thoroughly accomplished
horsewoman. But, gTant the latter condition, those of even more
delicate constitutions, and consequently lacking the nerve and
strength to take a front-rank place and keep it, niay still participate
to a great extent in all the enjoyable and healthy excitement of the
chase, if they follow it out in a grass country), and put themselves
xmder the guidance of a man who knows that country well.

It cannot be too generally known to those who are not strong
enough to sail away with the hounds over big fence or yawning brook
that one great advantage as regards hunting afforded by a grass
country is that a lady who is attended by a man well up at the
topography of the district can generally find her way through easilyi
opened bridle gates from point to point, from whence, throughout
the best part of even a long day. she can witness and enjoy the
sport, although she is not with the hounds ; and this without
pounding on the macadam and shaking her horse's legs ; for all our
Leicestershire roads are set, as it were, between borders of green ^
velvet in the hunting season. All that is necessary to a most enjoy-
able day (if it is fine) is a horse that can get over the ground in

L 2

148 THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE.

tiptop form — a good bred one that can gallop and stay. On such a
one, lots of grand hunting may be seen if it cannot be done by even
a timid lady who dare not essay jumping.

Turning, however, from the dehcate and timid to those whose
health and physique enable them to hold their own in the front
rank, I venture to point out a possible casualty that may happen in
himting, which, although not of frequent occurrence, may easily be-
attended with dangerous results if the fair rider with hounds is
unacquainted with the means of counteracting it. I allude to the
possibility of a horse in crossing a ford, where the stream is rapid
and the bottom uneven, losing his footing. I have seen tliis occur
more than once, both to good men and to ladies, and the result was
not only an immersion over head and ears, but considerable danger
as well. This is easily to be prevented, as follows : The fact of a
horse losing his footing in deep water is at once apparent by his
making a half plunge, and commencing to swim, which instinct
teaches him to do directly he feels that he is out of his depth. At
such a moment, if the rider confines the horse, he will inevitably
roll over in his struggle. The great thing, therefore, on such an
occasion is at once to give him his head, quitting the curb rein
entirely, and scarcely feeling the snaffle, " while any attempt to-
guide the horse should be done by the slightest touch possible "
(see "Aid Book"). The reins should be passed into the right
hand, with which, holding the crop also, the rider should take a firm
hold of the upper crutch of the saddle. She should, at the same
time, with her left hand raise her skirt well up, disengage her left
leg (with the foot, however, still in the stirrup), and place it over
the tliird crutch. By these means she will avoid any risk of the,
horse striking her on the left heel with his near hind hoof, which
otherwise in his struggle he would be almost certain to do. If a
horse is left to himself he will swim almost any distance with the
greatest ease, even with a rider on his back ; and there is no more
difficulty in sitting on him in the form above named than in canter-
ing on terra Jirma. It is absolutely necessary, however, to get the
foot — and especially the stirrup — out of the way, otherwise there is
always danger of his entangling himself with them or with the

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 149

skirt. \ATien the horse recovers his footing on the bottom he will
make another struggle, but the hold of the right hand upon the
pommel will always preserve the seat of the rider. To be quite safe
in such a predicament is simply a question of knowing what to do,
and having the presence of mind to do it quickly. To show that the
necessity for swimming a horse may occur to a lady as well as to a
gentleman the following case, I trust, will suffice.

Many years ago I was riding with a lady from the village of
Renteria en route to San Sebastian, in the north of Spain. The
way was round a couple of headlands, between which was a deep
bay, running up to the hamlet of Lezo. This bay was all fine sand
up to some low but rather precipitous cliffs at the head of the inlet,
but at the extremity of either headland careful riding was requisite
by reason of rough rocky places. On the occasion I allude to the
tide was flowing when we rounded the first point. Having been
long accustomed to the place, however, we both considered that we
had ample time safely to turn the other extremity of the bay ; but a
lively spring tide, aided by a brisk north-easterly wind, caused the
sea, running in through the narrow gut of " Passages," to increase
in velocity to such an extent that we were completely out in our
reckoning. Seeing the tide gaining rapidly on us, we set our horses
going at top speed over the level sand, racing (as it were) with the
*' hungry waters " for the distant point. When we neared it, how-
ever, I saw at once that it was hopeless to attempt rounding
it, for our horses were already above the girths in water, keeping
their feet with difficulty on the level sand, and I knew that* to try
to keep them on their legs on the shelving and rocky bottom at the
extremity of the point would result in their rolling over us. There
was nothing, therefore, for it but to try back, endeavour to regain
the head of the inlet, and make the attempt, however difficult, to
clamber up the steep but still sloping face of the cliff. Long before
we reached our point, however, both horses were swimming ; but they
made scarcely a perceptible struggle in doing so, as the rising water
lifted them from the level sand bodily off their feet. The lady (who
was at first a little fliu'ried) lost no time in getting her habit and her
leg out of the way of mischief, and quickly regaining her nerve laid

150 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

fast hold of the saddle, and laughing, declared it was " capital fun.""
I confess, on her account, and that of the horses, I did not think so ;
but encouraged her in her fearlessness. We gave the horses their
heads, and they struck out bravely towards the cliff. As soon as
they recovered their footing, the lady, having been previously
cautioned to extricate her foot from the stirrup, shpped off her horse,
the water taking her up to her waist. I lost no time in following her
example, and turning the horses loose, we drove them at the sharp
and slippery incline up the hill. Both horses scrambled up, with no
further damage than the breaking of a bridle ; but to get the lady
(encmnbered as she was with her wet garments) up the steep hillside
Was a task I have not forgotten to this day. The face of the cliff was
studded with patches of gorse here and there, which assisted us
certainly at the expense, of my companion, of severely scratched
hands and torn gloves. But the ground was so slippery that our
•vi^et boots caused us continually to slip back, both of us in this
rfespect being at a great disadvantage with the horses, whose iron
shoes and corkings enabled them to obtain better foothold. Partly,
hbwever, by dragging, partly by cheering the lady to persevere,
I succeeded in gaining the level ground with her, while the sea broke
lA heavy, noisy surges below, and sent the spray flying over us. The
lidy, who had borne up bravely so far, fainted from reaction when
we gained the level sward, where the horses were grazing quietly,
none the worse for their bath. But there were three stalwart Basque
p(easants at work hard by, turning up the soil with their four-pronged
iton forks. Their cottage was close at hand, and having partially
revived the fair sufferer, we carried her to the house, where she
received every attention from the padrona, and no further evil
resulted, except scratches and torn garments. But while I was
sensibly impressed with the courage displayed by my companion,
who was a shght, delicate woman, I am quite certain that ignorance
of the right thing to do at the right time would have been fatal to
both of us. As the tide gained so rapidly upon us, had the lady
allowed her horse to flounder or plunge m it, she would inevitably
have become entangled with him and drowned, despite any effort of
mine to save her.

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 151

I have witnessed many other instances of the facility with which
horses will extricate their riders from difficulties in deep water.
Among these I know none more worthy of record than the following.

Some years ago a large Government transport, conveying troops
and horses, was wrecked at Buffalo, Cape of Good Hope. Among
the troops was a detachment of light cavalry. The ship parted on
the rocks, and despite the efforts of the people on shore, the greater
part of the troops (officers and men) were drowned. An officer of
the cavalry party, however, determined to make an effort to reach
the shore, upon which a heavy sea and tremendous surf were
breaking. He laimched his horse overboard, and, plunging quickly
after him into the tumbhng sea, seized the horse by the mane, and
succeeded in retaining his grasp, while the plucky and sagacious
animal gallantly dragged his master in safety through the surf.

I repeat, then. Be always on your guard in crossing deep water
with a horse, or in fording a stream where the current is rapid. Jn
India and other tropical countries the necessity for being able to
swim a horse occurs more frequently than at home ; and, in the
monsoon time especially, it behoves everybody who is going a
journey on horseback to be extremely careful how they attempt to
cross a swollen stream, as the freshets come down with such rapidity
that I have frequently seen a horse carried off his legs by the force
of the current when the water has not been more than knee-deep,
and, when once the foothold is gone in such places, it is extremely
difficult frequently to find a place at which to get out again, on
account of the precipitous formation of most of the banks. In any
case, however, the above-named directions will be found effectual,
and the horse, if left to himself, will find a landing place, even if he
swims a considerable distance to gain it.

A point of considerable importance as regards hunting also is for
ladies to avoid riding home in open carriages, no matter how fine the
weather may be, or how well they may be wrapped up. Riding to
the meet on wheels is all very well, particularly if the distance is
great and by a cross-country road, and the time short. But, after
galloping about during the greater part of the day, no conveyance
home other than her horse is fit for a lady, except the inside of a

152 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

close carriage on rail or road, and a good foot warmer at the bottom
of the carriage ; and if there has been much rain, riding home on
horseback is by far the safest plan. I have frequently ridden home
sixteen and eighteen miles after dark with a lady whom I had the
honour of escorting on her hunting excursions, sometimes in very
bad weather, and I can safely say that, rain, snow, or sleet, she
never took cold. After leaving the hounds my first care was always
to make for some hospitable farmhouse near the road, or in default
thereof, some decent roadside inn, where we could have the horse's
legs well washed, and the lady's waterproof carefully put on if there
was rain about. I always carried for her a second pair of dry knee
boots, carefully folded up in a waterproof havresack. These boots
were made with cork soles within and without, and, as such boots
are easUy carried by any man who pilots a lady (of course I don't
mean the pilot who rides in scarlet), I specially recommend them to
consideration. The most difficult thing after riding a long day's
hunting, in which, now and again, a good deal of it will be in wet
weather, is to keep the feet warm. Throughout all the rest of the
system the circulation may be kept going by the exercise even
of slow steady trotting ; but the wet, clammy boot, thoroughly
saturated, it may be, by more than one dash through a swollen
rivulet, strikes cold and imcomfortable in the stirrup iron even to a
man, who has a better opportunity of counteracting it by the use of
alcoholic or vinous stimulants. It is therefore highly conducive to a
lady's comfort after her gallop with hounds, if she has far to go
home, to change her boots ; and this, with a little care and foresight
on the part of her attendant, can always be accomplished. With a
dry pair of boots, a good waterproof overcoat, and a cambric hand-
kerchief tied round her neck, a lady may defy the worst weather in
returning from hunting.

A word now about second horsemen, in a country like this, where
the Jiahitu^s of it know tolerably well, if hunting is to be done in a
certain district, that a fox, given certain conditions of wind, is most
likely to make for certain points, and that if a covert is drawn
blank, the next draw will be in a certain locality, it is not difficult
for a good second horseman to be ready at hand when the lady

THE BAUB AND THE BRIDLE. 153

requires a fresh charger. But (assuming always that she can afford
to have a second horse out) nothing connected with her hunting
requires more discrimination than the selection of a second horseman.
Any quantity of smart, good-looking, light-weight lads, who can turn
themselves out in undeniable form, and ride very fairly, are always
to be had, with good manners and equally good characters ; but one
thing requisite is that they should know every inch of the coimtry
they are in. Thus a lad, however willing, from Scotland or Ireland,
would be of very little use as a second horseman in the midland
district of Englani; and therefore weight, up to ten stone at all
events, is of less consequence than an intimate knowledge of the
topography of the surrounding country.

To have a second horse at the right spot at the right time, and
with little or nothing taken out of him, requires in most cases con-
siderable foresight and judgment on the part of the lad who is on
him, and therefore a fair amount of intelligence, in addition to
careful riding, is indispensable, as weU as natural good eye for
country. The different form in which second horses are brought to
the point where they are required is conclusive as to the foregoing,
for one constantly sees two animals, up to equal weight and in equal
condition, arrive at the same spot, one not fit to go much further,
and the other with scarcely the stable bloom off his coat.

154 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

CHAPTER XYIII.

The Condition of Hunters.

As the value of most of the foregomg suggestions as regards a lady-
riding to hounds is more or less dependent upon the form and con-
dition in which the horse destined to carry her in the chase is put, I
trust a few words upon this important subject may be acceptable.

In the first place, then, experience proves that the getting of a
horse into really good condition is a work of considerable time, and
that when once the animal has arrived at the desired point of
physical health which will enable him to make the most of his
powers, as a rule, it is considered to the last degree undesirable that
anything should be done to throw him out of his form.

Many years ago it was considered that a horse that had been
hunted regularly through a season should be turned out to grass
throughout the summer, and that if he was taken up when the crops
were oif the ground, there was time enough to get hun fit by No-
vember ; while it was considered altogether unnecessary to give him
more than one feed of corn a day while turned out. In numerous
cases I have known he had none from April to September.

The present form of treating hunting horses is diametrically the
reverse of the foregoing. A horse once " wound up " (as it is
technically called) for hunting is generally kept up all the year
round ; his spring and summer training consisting of long, slow,
steady work, principally walking exercise.

Now, my own opinion, based upon many years of experience and
close observation, does not agree with either of the foregoing practices.

The first evidently was wrong, because a horse, even running in
and out throughout the entire summer, though well kept on corn,
will put up an amount of adipose substance, which cannot be got

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 155

off in two months, with due regard to the preservation of proper
quality and muscular fibre. While, on the other hand, I believe
that, although by keeping your horse up all the year round you
will bring him out in rare form in November, yet still he will not
last yon so long as one that has had fair play given to his lungs by
a few weeks' run when the spring grass is about ; for, however good
the sanitary arrangements of our modern stables and the ventilation
of boxes may be, the air breathed in them cannot be so pure as that
of a fresh green meadow. Men and women require a change of air
once a year at least, and everybody who can afford it looks forward
with pleasurable anticipation to their autumn holiday. Why should
the noble animal who has carried us so well and so staunchly through
many a hard run be denied his relaxation and his change of air in
the spring ?

As a substitute for turning horses out for a brief run in the spring,
it is customary in some stables to cut grass and give it, varied by
vetches and clover, to the horse in his box. These salutary altera-
tives are good in themselves, but there is still wanting the glorious
fresh air of the open paddock, which, when all nature is awaken-
ing from the long slumber of winter, is so renovating to the equine
system.

It is best to fetch your horse up at night, because it is in the
night when turned out that he eats the most ; but the object of
giving the animal his liberty is not that he may blow himself out
with grass, but that, in addition to the purifying effect to the blood
of spring herbage, he shall also breathe the spring air unadulterated.
If this is carried out, I believe those who practise it will find that
their hunters will last them many years longer than those that are
kept at what may be called " high stable pressure " all the year
round.

Prejudice, however, is strong as regards the foregoing matter, as
in others connected with the stable treatment and general handling
of horses. People are far too apt to go into extremes and adopt a
line of treatment because it is in vogue with some neighbour or
friend who is supposed to be well up on the subject, and must there-
fore be right in everytliing he does. The best way, I submit, is to

156 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

<jall common sense into play, and be satisfied that the oracular friend
has some good reason " which will hold water " for what he does.

I respectfully recommend the spring run then, by all means ; and,
if I may venture so far to infringe the imperious laws of fashion, I
would venture to suggest that hunters might be allowed just a little
bit more tail, for the purpose for which nature intended it — namely,
to keep off the flies, which in summer will find them out, in or out
of the stable. Extremes in fashion as to the trimming of horses are
nearly as absurd as one sees from time to time in the dress of ladies
and gentlemen, and quite as devoid of sense or reason. Who has
not seen the old racing pictures in which Diamond or Hambletonian
figure with a bob tail, and who has not laughed at the grotesque
figure (according to modern notions of a racehorse) of these " high-
mettled ones," all but denuded of their caudal appendages ?

As a matter of taste and good feeling, therefore, I venture to plead
for a trifle more tail for hunters than is at present allowed. To a
good stableman it gives no trouble, and in spring and summer time
it is of great use to the horse. When the latter is brought up from
the spring run, the question of restoring his hunting form (if, indeed,
he can be said to have lost any of it) is simple enough ; in fact, there
are few subjects on which more twaddle is talked than about the
" conditioning of hunters," stablemen being particularly oracular and
mysterious about it. Eoomy, clean, and well-ventilated boxes,
^ood drainage, four and five hours' walking exercise every day, the
best oats procurable given u'hole, not crushed, with a moderate allow-
ance to old horses of good beans, and a fair allowance of good old
hay or clover, perfect regularity in exercise and stable times, the
attendance of a thoroughly good-tempered cheery lad who knows his
business, and the total prohibition of drugging or physicking of any
sort, unless by order of a veterinary surgeon — these are the arcana
of the much talked-of " conditioning." Some tell you that a hunter
should have scarcely any hay. I have yet to learn why not, because
I am quite sure that really good hay assists a horse to put up muscle.
Of course he is not supposed to gorge himself with it, as some
ravenous animals would do if allowed. But the same thing may be
said of a carriage horse or a charger. Waste of forage is one thing,

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 157

the use of it another ; and as there has been considerable discussion
of late as to the cost of feeding a horse, I beg to say that on a fair
average those even in training, requiring the best food, can be kept,
when oats are 32s. or 33s. a quarter, for 15s. a week. I speak of
course of the absolute cost of forage of the best kind.

Where horses are delicate feeders, and this is the case with some
who are rare performers in the field, the appetite should be coaxed,
by giving small quantities of food at short intervals, making the
horse, in fact, an exception to the ordinary stable rule of feeding
four times a day. A really good groom wUl carefully watch the
peculiarities of such a horse as regards feeding, and come in due
course to know what suits the animal, the result being plenty of
good muscle, equal to that of more hearty "doers." But stimulat-
ing drugs, I repeat, should never be permitted. Carrots as an
alterative are good, but they should be given only when ordered
by a veterinary surgeon, in such quantities as he orders. They
should be put in the manger whole, never cut up, as there is nothing
more dangerous than the latter practice in feeding, because numerous
instances are on record of horses choking themselves with pieces of
carrot.

When hunting time approaches, a little more steam as regards
pace at exercise may be put on. Trotting up hills of easy ascent
serves materially to " open the pipes," and, despite a very general
prejudice to the contrary, I maintain that, for some weeks before
hunting commences, a horse is all the better for a steady canter of
moderate length every morning. A very good reason why stud
grooms as a rule object to this is, simply because it involves a
great deal more work in the stable.

If horses are only walked or trotted at exercise, one man
generally can manage very well to e:^ercise two horses, riding one,
and leading the other with a dumb jockey or bearing reins on him ;
but, if the horse is to be cantered, there must be a man or boy to
every horse, and, consequently, exercise would occupy considerably
more time.

It is quite clear that the horse will have to gallop when hunting
begins, and, as all training should be inductive, it is absurd to

158 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

say that he should do nothing up to the 31st of October but
walking and trotting, while on the first day of November his owner
may come down from town and give him a rattling gallop with
hounds. Surely such extremes are not reconcilable with common
sense !

Let me now say a word about washing horses, about which also
•considerable diversity of opinion exists, some maintaining that the
brush and wisp alone ought to keep the horse's skin in proper form,
and others advocating washing partially.

In my time I have tried all sorts of stable management, and I
beheve the truth is as follows : Nothing is more conducive to a
horse's health than washing, with either cold or tepid water. But
if you adopt the cold Avater system, you must be sure that it is done
in a place where there is no draught. It should be commenced in
summer time. There should be two thoroughly good stablemen in
the washing box, and a boy to carry water from the pump. The
horse's head and neck should be thoroughly washed, brushed,
scraped, sponged, and leathered, and a good woollen hood put on.
His body washed thoroughly in the same way, and a good rug put
on. Then his legs equally well done, and bandaged. Let him then
be put into his box for a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes,
stripped and dressed by a man who will let his shoulder go at him,
not one who will play with him. When thoroughly dressed his coat
will shine hke new satin, and his whole manner will tell you how
refreshed he is by his bath. The washing cannot be done too
quickly consistent with thorough good work. Two good men and
a smart boy ought to wash, clothe, and bandage a horse in five
minutes, or they are not worth their salt.

If the cold water system is begun in summer, and regularly
followed up, it can be carried on throughout the winter, no matter
how severe the weather may be, and an incalculable advantage of
the system is that a horse so treated is almost impervious to cold
or catarrh.

But to carry the treatment out, a lot of first-class stablemen are
indispensable, men who — no " eye servants" — do their work con
<imore^ and take a genuine pride in their horses. If the thing is

THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 159

negligently done, or dawdled over, it is likely enougli to be produc-
tive of mischief.

Where the stable staff is limited in nmnber and not first-rate in
quality, if washing is resorted to, tepid water must be used, because
one smart man can wash a horse in tepid water in a proper washing
house unassisted. But a special veto should be put upon washing a
hunter's legs, as is too often done, outside in the yard, the horse tied
to a ring in the wall, with the cold night air blowing on him. No
matter if warm or cold water is used, whether or not mischief
follows is mere matter of chance if the foregoing bad treatment is
permitted.

Briefly, then, it may be said, if you have good men about you and
enough of them use cold water, beginning in the summer and con-
tinuing it regularly. If you are short of really good stablemen, use
tepid water ; but use it in a washing box built for the purpose, and
never let it be done out of doors.

160 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

CHAPTER XIX.

Having endeavoured to mark out the course of equitation from the
preparatory suppling practices to the orthodox conventionalities of
the hunting field, I conclude this series of papers with a few hints
which I trust will be useful to ladies about to proceed to India or
the colonies.

In the first place, as regards riding habiliments, I recommend
ladies going to India to procure everything in the shape of habits,
trousers, and hats in this country. In India they cost a hundred
per cent, more than at home, and the natives can only make them
by pattern. Riding boots can be procured in the East quite as
well made and as durable as those made in England, and at a fifth
of the price.

Saddlery should be taken out from England. It is also just a
hundred per cent, dearer in India. One good side-saddle, such as I
have previously described, will with care last a lady many years.
Of bridles she should take at least half a dozen double ones (bit and
bridoon). Horse clothing of any sort as used in England is not
required in India.

As regards the horse itself on which the fair emigrant to the East
wiU take her health-preserving morning gallop at gim-fire, I must
say little. I have endeavoured elsewhere to give some idea of what
Arab horses are; and, as every lady going to India is certain to
know some male friend who is well up at buying a lady's horse, I
need only say that, if the animal purchased is a young unbroken
one, the best plan is to send him to the nearest cavalry or horse
artillery station, and have him broken precisely in the same form as
an officer's charger. The Arab dealers from whom the horse, if
unbroken, is most likely to be purchased, know nothing, and care

THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 101

less, about breaking, and the people about them have the very
worst hands upon a horse I have ever seen.

All riding in India, except in cases of absolute necessity, should
be done very early in the morning. The lady should be in the saddle
soon after gun-fire (five o'clock). By the time she arrives at the
galloping gTound (in a large station or cantonment generally the
racecourse) the sun will be up, so quickly does it rise, with scarcely
any twilight, in India ; but its rays are not then vertical, nor is the
heat either oppressive or injurious until much later in the day.

A couple or three hours' riding is sufficient for health, and the
gTeat thing is to go home quite cool; the bath and breakfast are
then most enjoyable. Evening promenades are as a matter of
fashion, and indeed, of reason, usually attended by ladies in carriages.
There are many, however, who prefer riding on horseback again in
the latter part of the day ; but experience proves that evening riding
on horseback is not good, as a rule, for ladies. Exposure to the sun
on horseback, or indeed in any way, should be specially avoided, as
should also violent exercise of any kind, that on horseback not excepted.
The rattling gallop, which is not only exhilarating but healthful
in Leicestershire, is inadmissible in most parts of India, where
extremes of any kind are injurious. Finally, I would respectfully
impress upon every lady who is likely to go to India, those especi-
ally who, having been l)orn there, have been sent home for their
education, that they should avail themselves of every opportunity
in this country of becoming efficient horsewomen. To be able to ride
well is very, desirable for a lady who is to pass her life in Europe,
in India it is absolutely indispensable ; and if the lady's equitation
is neglected in early days at home, she will find herself sadly at a
loss when she arrives in India ; for although there are plenty of
thoroughly competent men there who could instruct her, their time
is taken up with teaching recruits at the early time of the day at
which a lady could avail herself of their services. As regards riding
in Australia, the Cape, New Zealand, Canada, or the West Indies,
briefly it may be said that again it is best to take out saddlery from
this country, because, although it can be procured in any of the
above-named colonies far cheaper than in India, it is still consider-

162 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.

ably dearer, and generally not so good as at home. At the Cape, in
Australia, and in New Zealand — the two former colonies especially —
long journeys have frequently to be done by ladies on horseback ;
and if a thoroughly practical education in the saddle is necessary to
health, as regards a sojourn in India ; it is equally so as a matter
of convenience in other of the British dependencies abroad.

Let me, then, close my humble efforts at carefully tracing out the
readiest way for a lady to become a thorough horsewoman by again
recommending them all to begin early, and to pay implicit attention
to the tuition of a first-class instructor ; always to throw their
whole heart into their riding, fixing their minds rigidly on it whUe
learning, and never, however proficient or confident they may be,
venture, unless upon a life-and-death emergencj'-, upon half -broken
norses. During the Indian mutiny instances occurred in which ladies
owed their lives to their nerve and courage in mounting horses
ill-adapted to carry them, and by dint of sheer determination urging
them into top speed and safety to the fair fugitives. In such
<lesperate emergencies there is no alternative but to accept the lesser
risk ; but in ordinary cases my advice (the result of long experience)
is to all lady writers, never moimt an untrained horse, and never
allow your horse to become too fresh for want of work.

A casualty which may be attended with trifling consequences to
a man may have the most serious results in the case of a lady ;
while I am firmly of opinion that no such thing as an accident
ought ever to occur to her on horseback if due care and foresight
are exercised by those about her, and if the lady herself will be
careful whenever or ;mder whatever circumstances she approaches
or mounts a horse to be always on her guard, to ride all the time
she is on him, to remember that in all matters that relate to riding
the homely old adage, " Afterwit is not worth a penny an ounce "
is strictly applicable, and that the golden rule is, " Never give away
a chance to your horse."

^

Webster Famfly Library of Veterinary Medidro
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at
Tufts UniVGrsity
200 Vv'esiboro Road
North Grafton, MA 01 536