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ILLUSTRATIONS BY F. LUXD, ani. L. REXAITLT

05. f?. B. ©I^EAGH, PUBLISHER

1655 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.

PRICE $2.1

GOERCK PRESS, 1655 BROADWAY, N. Y.

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Lecture I.

THE ART OF RIDIKG-.

Origin, developement and useful application.

Communications to the educated world, by Ernst Carl von Gfillmaim.

PREFACE.

In all branches of human science and strife, it is of great import-
ance, to search for the origin of what we recognise as being a weio-htv
factor in the evolution of the universe.

An original idea, which in the course of centuries has given rise to
mighty facts,has often lain dormant in the chaos of changing times
and circumstances, because the general tide of affairs prevented its
growth.

The hitman mind often requires an incentive to awaken its innate
vigor to consciousness, and only then does it ascend on the wino-s of
knowledge, to the creation of all things beautiful and great, in honor
of itself and for the benefit of humanity.

" Let there be light ! " was the command of God, "which caused the
chaos of the world to pass into a state of harmonious order. Light
caused the functions of the universe to act and unrestrained they go
on crushing all, that stands in the way of knowledge and progress.

In this progressive course errors separate themselves and allow us
to distinguish truth from untruth.

May the light of truth open the way for, and encourage in their
efforts men of perseverance, who arouse themselves from the lassitude
of everyday life, to independent thought and action, in the pursuit of
greater knowledge.

The battle between merit and mediocrity, requires courage and en-
durance, even self denial and sacrifice, because mediocrity is supported
by the indiscriminating majority, who know- of nothing better and in
their mental indolence desire nothing new ; while the advocates of
merit, being in the minority, are unable to overcome the lethargy of
the masses.

Only the continued appeal to the intellectual, and faith in the over-
whelming power of the enlightened mind, will maintain the courage
of those, who are called ttpon to continue the strife for that, which
emanated from the tests of experience and scientific investigation.

Equipped with the results of indefatigable study of a life time and
undeniable experience in the field of the art of riding. I have under-
taken the task of bringing before the educated world these lectures,
which are caculated to demonstrate that, like in every other art or
science, a high standard can be reached in the art of riding if the same
amount of love and constant application is given it, as is the case for
instance with music, painting and other arts.

If we must say, in honor of the so called good old time, that it has
produced great masters, the fame of whom will expire only with the
world itself, it may be, that the repose and stability of affairs in gen-
eral were of good influence, though it cannot be denied, that this heavi-

ness had its drawbacks ; and we must also confess injustice of our
period, that the time of steam and electricity, has entrained the minds
of men in its course and that a certain haste and rush has seized the
world, in which meditation and tranquility have ceased.

In quick tempo humanity hurries on, fearful of being distanced, to-
ward an end indefinite and often precarious.

These observations taken from public life, apply to the science and
art of riding1.

In times of old the art of riding was cultivated by the educated
world to the highest degree of perfection ; it was then a matter of hon-
or with the gentleman, to be an accomplished rider and in sport as in
earnest he displayed his agility and bravery on horseback.

The greatest masters of the art of riding belong to past centuries
and their successors can be called but their imitators.

The range of firearms has during the last century changed the de-
sign of calvary.

The impossibility to directly approach infantry, or artillery in the
open field, compelled it to appear unf orseen by making detours with
greatest speed, in consequence of which, endurance and speed became
most important factors.

This necessitated better horses and a change of cavalry tactics.

There is since the last great wars hardly an obstacle of territory,
that cannot be taken by cavalry, which is equal to the requirements of
the present time.

As elating as this fact is to the patriot, it has had upon the true art
of riding the deplorable influence, that the horsemen of both America
and Kurope, are being carried along by its example to such an extent,
that to-day the masters and worthy teachers of a higher art of riding
are scarcely to be found and that with them the well trained saddle
horse is gradually disappearing, while on the other hand superficiality
is rapidly spreading and the art of riding is mutilated beyond recogni-
tion by amateurs.

" Among the blind the one eyed is king." This is an old truth and
often the so afflicted will not undergo a thorough operation, because they
have crown accustomed to theflattery of an impostor, and enlightenment
mio-ht deprive them of their self satisfaction.

" When danger is greatest, G-od is nearest! " One is tempted to ex.
claim to those, who do not know what they undertake, when under the
guidance of such a protector, they fear along on a half crude horse.

It certainly requires a person of little conscience, to so abuse the
confidence of the inexperienced, and to attach so little importance to
safety and dignity.

Self reliance under all circumstances in life, is surely a most impor-
tant trait, in the character of the educated, and parents should try to
cultivate it early in their children ; but this is possible only in matters in
which the parents themselves are experienced and competent to form an
opinion. In branches though, that are removed beyond their judge-

5

ment and supervision, it is commendaoie, that possible dangers should
not be ignored, and the most prophylactic principles empldyed. >

The historical d j velopement of the art of riding, is closely connected
with the domestication of the horse, and the history of the same, as far
as it could be traced from traditional sources and which offers many
interesting points of information.

In his work on the training of the horse, Xenophon ( over 2000 years
ago) shows, that even then, the pliable horse had been recognized as that
which more willingly yields to subordination, than the rigid and inflexi-
ble. Certain methods are clearly demonstrated in this book, which
serve to make the horse docile and obedient.

We would ask: Is it not possible to give new life and distinction to
this beautiful art ? Does the educated world of to-day miscomprehend
the noble qualities of the horse ? Is the horse but a means -of transporta-
tion ? Does it not merit our love and careful attention, if it is entrusted
with our life ?

Look upon the beautiful form of a ■well bred horse, recognize its ex-
cellent talents and qualities, and you will treat it with more patience and
consideration, and try to exact from it by careful training, that, which
will move you to gratitude and joy.

Is there a more beautiful enjoyment for young and old, an exer-
cise more beneficial to body and mind, than riding on a good horse ?

Let us try and cultivate the art on horseback in a higher sense ,
and not shrink from a thorough going contemplation, which only
seemingly requires more time, but increases in interest and attractive in.
formation, and gives us the highest satisfaction, the more we obtain of
the knowledge of horsemanship.

Love for the horse will help to attain success.

E. C. VON GrlLLMASN

General flistory of the £I°rse'

The native land of the horse cannot accurately be determined.
Varying- in size, height and usefulness, it is found in all of the tem-
perate, most of the tropic and many of the northern regions of the old
world. It is however established that the horse has been in existence
before the last great inundation, known as the deluge, in the days of
Xoah. In numerous places in Europe, Asia and Africa, fossil bones of
of animals belonging to the species of the horse have been found, mostly
in company with the petrified remains of the Hippopotamus, the Ele-
phant, the Rhinoceros, the Bear, the Deer and other animals. The lime-
stone beds at Cannstadt, W^urttemberg, Germany, at Sevron, Argen-
teuil, France, and Vald'Arno, Italy, are particularly rich in teeth of
fossil horses. At an early period, the tertiary sand, fossils of an animal,
similar to the horse, have been found and called "hippotherium" this
species showing two false toes on each foot. The majority of these
bones are of the same size as the ones belonging to their survivors.
Xaturalists speak of America as the only country where skeletons of
gigantic horses "were ever discovered. From the bible, which aside
from its higher claims, contains the first credible information on the
past, we learn that 1650 years before Christ horses had been tamed 1 y
by the Egyptians.
1st Book of Moses, Chapter 50, Verse 9 :

" When Joseph carried the remains of his father from Egypt to
Canaan, there went up with him both chariots and horsemen."

One hundred and fifty years later, horses formed the main strength
of the Egyptian army.
2nd Book of Moses, 14th Chapter, 7th Verse:

"Pharaoh persecuted the Israelites and he took 600 chariots and all
the chariots in Egypt, and captains over every one of them."

Mules are mentioned very early, as it is said of the descendants of
Esau, who inhabited the districts of Sier : " And these are the children
of Zibeon; both Ajah and Anah, this was that Anah that found the
mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon, his father." (1st
Book of Moses, Chapter 24.) Anah was a contemporary of Isaac, who
lived 1590 years before Christ; If we may believe the statements of
the ancient historians. Sesostris, probably the King, whom Joseph
served, had 27,000 chariots, and Semiramis, the foundress of Babylon,
had 100,000 chariots and 1,000,000 riders; but these accounts are un-
doubtedly very much exaggerated. Fifty years later, after the exodus
of the Israelites from Egypt and 1450 before Christ, horses had already
been acclimated to such an extent in Greece, that at the commencement
of the Olympic games, races with horses and chariots were given. We
have then sufficient proof , that at a very early period the horse had been
made the servant of the human race, and as we have seen, first in war.
The beautiful description which Job gives of the horse, also speaks of
its use in arms as follows: (Job, Chapter 38, Vers 18.) "Hast thou
given the horse strength ? Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder ?
Canst thou make him afraid of the grasshopper? The glory of his

nostrils is terrible. He pi v. eth the valley and rejoiceth in his
st reng-th; He goeth to meet the armned man ; He mocketh at fear and
is not affrighted ; Neither turneth he back from the sword."

The books of the old testament enable us, to more closely determine
the time when the horse Erst began to be tamedin Egypt, Canaan and
the neighboring countries. When in 1920 before Christ, Abraham left
llanin and on account of the famine emigrated to Egypt. (1st Book of
Moses, Chapter 12, Verse lb'.) "And he had sheep, and and oxen and he-
asses, and men-servants and maid-servants, and she-asses and camels."
Undoubtedly horses would have been named if such had been among
his herds, or if they had been tamed in Egypt at that time. Fifty yea rs
later Abraham went to Moriah to offer his only son. (1st Hook of
Moses, Chapter 22, Verse 3.) "And he saddled his ass, and went unto
the place of which Cod had toldhim." He would scarcely have selected
the ass, had horses been known at that time. When thirty years after
this, Jacob returned to Isaac, with Rachel andLeah,the scripture quotes
the number of animals which he had sent to appease Esau's wrath, as :
(1st Book of Moses, Chapter 32, Verses 14 and 15th.) 200 she-goats and
20 he-goats, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 30 milch camels with their colts, 40
kine and 10 bulls, 20 she-asses and 10 foals." but horses are not mention-
ed. Not quite 24 years later, when during the famine in Canaan.
Jacob sent to Egypt to buy corn, horses are first spoken of. (1st Book of
Moses, Chapter 45, Verse 19.)

Joseph sent chariots, probably wagons drawn by horses, to trans-
port his father from Canaan to Egypt; however, it seems, that horses
were introduced later, and that they were not yet very numerous; nei-
ther does it seam that they were used as beasts of burden, as all
the grain, which had been sent for the support of Jacob's numerous
family was carried by asses; but in Egypt the herds of the inhabitants
already contained horses, of which the bible says: (1st Book of Moses,
Chapter 47, Verse 17.) "And they brought their cattle unto Joseph, and
Joseph gave them bread in exchange for their horses, and for the flocks,
and for the cattle of their herds." The above shows, that horses were
first used in Egypt about 1740 before Christ, and that soon after their
number was enough to form a considerable part of the Egyptian army,
and when the Israelites returned to Canaan, they acclimated the horse
there. (1st Josuah, Chapter 11, Verse 16.) "And the Canaanites went
out against the Israelites, and all their host with them, and people even
as the sand, that is upon the seashore in multitude, with horses and
chariots very many." It is however uncertain that these chariots ■were
pulled by horses, and it would seem therefore, that the use of the horse
under the rider is older, than that in harness. In the army of
Pharos, mainly riders are named, who received their denomination
from the use of the spur ; the word which in Hebraic signifies " rider "
being formed from the verb which means to stick, to sting that is to
spur. It follows clearly, that riding.at that time, was not only a com-
mon occupation, but had already attained a certain degree of accomplish-
ment. When on his death-bed Jacob revealed the future to his sons,

he said to Dan: (1st Book of Moses, Chapter 49, "VerselT.) "There shall
be a serpent in the "way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse's
heels, so that his rider shall fall back-ward."

The bible throws light upon the subject -which no other historical
records explain; that is the time, when the horse was first utilized for
the service of man, at least in one, and at that same time the most civ-
ilized part of the world, before Greece -was populated. A long- time
must have elapsed, before men realized the value and real use of the
animals that lived around them. In all probability they commenced
with those, which they could capture the easiest and subdue the
soonest. The advantages, which they derived from so doing induced
them to tame animals of the class of mammals, of greater importance.
In harmony with this the books of Moses show, that after the ox, the
sheep and the goat, the ass was tamed, then the camel, and last the horse;
but as soon as the latter had been conquered and its strength, docility
and sharp senses had been appreciated, the other animals were thought
inferior, except in Palestine, where the use of the horse was forbidden
by divine order; or the vast or sterile wilderness, where it could not live.
From Kgypt, the use of the horse spread into other and distant coun.
tries, and it is probable, that the horse was ransplanted there from Egypt.
The Greeks say, that Neptune struck the earth with his trident and so
caused the horse to appear. The truth is, that the Thessalians, who
were first and best mounted in Greece, were colonists from Kgypt.
Records of Natural History give another land as the nativity of the
horse and its equipment: In the higher regions of middle Asia, the
horse may have escaped destruction through the general overflow.
It seems, that from the high valleys of the Oxus and Cashemere this
species of animals and their use for the service of man, came to China,
India and Kgypt. It is to this last named though, that the honor is due
of having j udiciously cared for the horse, and to have improved its
breed. This is proved by the many sculptures of that time and period,
which not only represent horsss well bred and beautiful, but also per-
sons who are occupied cleaning their limbs, rubbing them, etc. All the
horses are represented either entirely free or hitched to chariots ; riders
being found only on. works of a later period. During his travels through
Persia and various other countries of the Orient, the British Orientalist
Ousely, inspected among other works of sculpture those of Persepolis,'
and from them drew a conclusion as to how the horses had been gradually
subdued; He writes: "There are no images of equestrians, although they
are mentioned by various travelers; one would think that the simple
mounting of a horse has preceeded its use before the chariot, with its
complicated harness; but in Persepolis no riders are to be found, and
we know that Homer, the Kpic Poet of Greece, describes his horses as
attached to chariots, from -which the warriors would, from time to time,
alight, for the purpose of fighting on foot, and we know, that this Poet
does not describe them as fighting on. horseback. The absence of mount-
ed images would support the presumption, that those sculptures were
made before the time of Cyrus (539 B. <Z.) whose example and prescrip-

tion first inspired the Persians with a liking- for horsemanship, -which
previously had been entirely unknown to them.

In Greece -we find it quite different; upon the friezes of the temple
of Minerva, on the Acropolis, which -was erected many years before the
destruction of Persepolis, we see many equestrians, but no horses in
harness -whatever; consequently, it seems that in Persia the driving- of
horses -was customary, while in Greece it was not. The Greeks utilized
chariots not for warfare, but only for public games.

The Bible decides further, that Arabia, by -whose breed of horses,
the breeds in other countries -were so much ennobled, is not the native
country of the horse. Six hundred years after the period just mention-
ed, Arabia had as yet no horses. Solomon procured spices, gold and sil-
ver from Arabia, but all the horses for his own use, as well as those
provided for the Phoenician Kings, were gotten from Kgypt. The num-
ber of his chariots is estimated at 1 100, that of his riders as 12,000, and
stables are supposed to have existed for 40,000 horses. ( 2nd Cronicles,
1st Book.) " The price of a horse was then 150 shekels (over $80. ) and
the price for a wagon .600 shekels (over $300)."

Before we enter upon the history of the Kuropean horse, we shall
briefly mention the records of the historians, as to the treatment and
peculiarities of horses belonging to the earlier periods. The inhabitants
of Upper Kgypt and Abyssinia -were mounted, wild and robber like; he
who fell into their hands was plundered and sold to foreign potentates;
many hordes of them accompanied Xerxes on his campaign to Greece.
In Libia, Kumidia and Mauritania, from the boundries of the Desert of
Sahara to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, horses were plentiful.
Aelian describes these horses as slender, thin and flighty; they needed
but little care, and contented themselves with what food they found on
the pasture s, -where they were turned loose after their day's work had
been done. Even now the treatment of the horse in those regions is said
to be but little better ; they were originally ridden without saddle or
bridle, the rider having only a switch or stick, with which he struck
them on their jaws, right or left to guide them; a blow on the mouth
was the sign for a full stop, and the heels -were to urge them to go. The
guidance of the horse by a slight touch with the finger against the neck
is represented on the sculptures of the Parthenon.

If we now turn to Arabia, we find that the Historians of old do not
speak of the horse ; either these deserts had no horses at that time or
else they -were, if in existence, not worthy of mention. Syria and Asia
Minor in general were not celebrated for their breed of horses, except
Colophon, between Smyrna Kphesus, whose equestrians were in de-
mand everywhere, and -were thought to be invincible. Armenia pro
duced excellent horses. The chariots of Xerxes -were drawn by Armen
ian horses, as the most stately of his Empire. Some Historians of a
latter period speak of the great care given to the mane of the horse. It
was clipped in the shape of a bow, or parted in the middle, so that the
mane hung on each side of the neck, but more frequently it was allowed
to hang full and long on the right side. Many old works of sculpture

indicate that it was customary nearly everywhere to mount on the
right side, which accounts for the hanging of the mane on that side
because the rider had to make tise of it in mounting, the stirrups being
unknown. In later periods, and as at the present day, one mounted his
horse from the left, but the mane continued to be on the right. Media
possessed horses of a similar type to those of Armenia and in large
numbers. The breed of horses of Cappadocia was the most celebrated
in the whole Orient; less perhaps on account of their speed, but because
of their imposing appearance and high action. Founded upon the in-
spection of many old sculptures, Sir Mandeville, the Knglish traveler
says: "These horses heads are heavier than those of the Parthian
horse, and are therefore better suited to draw chariots than to carry a
rider."

It seems, that the artists of old were particularly fond of these
shapes as they took great pleasure in reproducing them in their most
conspicuous attitudes. Oppian says of them: "In the iryouth they are
tender and soft, but the strength comes to them with years; and con-
trary to other horses, they are better and more powerful as they ad-
vance in age."

In Xerxes' army the Parthians fought on foot, but soon after tl*ey
became celebrated as equestrians, and gained the fame of being invinci-
ble. On horseback they were extraordinarily agile, and were dreaded
in their attacks as well as in their flight, for they were in the habit of
suddenly reversing on their horses' backs and overwhelming their pur-
suers with a storm of arrows. Yegetius describes the manner in which
they trained their horses anl made tli3:n sure-footed by galloping over
very uneven territory; these horses were lighter than those of Cappa-
docia and Media, and were of astonishing endurance, without needing
much food or rest.

The Scythians, Medians and Parthians were followed later by the
Aryans in their various tribes, all of whom were equestrians, and some
of them maintained a force of from 200,000 to 330,000 horses. The speed
of their marches, the quickness of their attacks and retreats, the endur-
ance of man and horse, the appearance of horde after horde, without
showing any decrease in number, and their occasional settling upon con-
quered districts, deserve to be mentioned here "with at least a few words
When toward the end of the eighth century, the Saracens had over-run
a considerable portion of Kurope, they were 200,000 riders strong, and
much better disciplined than had been the Goths and others. Little is
said of the horse from Southern Asia and eastward of the Indus, except,
that chariots and riders from these distant lands helped to augment the
army of Xerxes. As mentioned before, Persia possessed but few horses
up to the reign of Cyrus, and these few of minor value; later their breed
became celebrated. Cyrus improved and encouraged horse breeding,
of which he had recognised the importance for his country, by allowing
privileges to the owners of a certain number of horses; these facts to-
gether with a tendency to make an imposing show by the display of
beautiful equipments, soon gave to the Persians the finest cavalry of

the Orient. The Persian horse was so highly thought of, that Alexander
considered oi\q of their breed as the best gifts, and when the Parthian
Kings wanted to propitiate their Gods through a valuable offering, they
sacrificed a Persian horse. Vegetius says, that they were superior to
all other breeds, for their proud and comfortable gait, which made rid-
ing a recreation and not a fatigue, and that the extensive breeding of
these horses was highly profitable to their owners. Horses as -well as
riders were often covered with armor from head to foot, and the tactics
of the Parthians to cover their pursuers with arrows in sham-flight, was
adopted by the Persians. Arrian describes their method of riding:
'■They had no bridle like the Greeks, but guided their horses with asim-
ple sling or strap made of cowhide, which they fastened around the
horse's nose. The inward side of this nose band was set with small
pieces of iron, copper or ivory; in its mouth the horse carried a small
iron bar, which was attached to the nose band and served to give the
rein a hold as well. When this rein was pulled the points of the nose
band pained the horse and made it manageable ! ! ! (?) The "Cavezon,"'
an instrument of to-day, seems to originate from that device. We shall
now enter upon the history of the horse in Europe.

The Egyptians established many colonies in Greece and brought
their well-bred horses with them; it appears, that the first landing took
place about the time of the birth of Closes, and in Thessaly in northern
Greece. The natives of this region were so frightened at the sight of
mounted -warriors, that they fled in all directions in the opinion, that
these creatures, seemingly half human and half horso, were monsters;
they were given the name of Centaurs, and were frequently represent-
ed on monuments. According to the old Greek mythology, Bucephal-
us, the saddle horse of Alexander the Great, was of this breed; it would
not be mounted by any one but its master, and kneeled down when he
wanted to get on its back. Alexander rode Bucephalus in the battle of
Hydaspes, where he finally was deadly wounded; here, for the first time
it disobeyed its master: It carried him quickly out of the heat of battle
then knelt down to let him dismount, broke down and expired. Sixty
years later the Egyptians founded another colony in Southern Greece
and thus introduced the knowledge of the horse in the neighborhood of
Athens; their leader was Erichton, who, the same as the first Centaur, in
the shape of a marksman, was entered among the Constellation of Stars
as Auriga, (that is driver) The Thessalians always maintained first
rank in the Greek cavalry, in fact, Thessaly -was the only part of the
country, which, on account of its spendid pastures was well adapted
for the breeding of horses; while the remaining parts of Greece were
more or less dry and sterile. After the importance of horse breeding for
the army had been recognized, the necessary number of equestrians
Were obtained in Athens and Sparta by giving to a number of such cit-
izens the second rank in the Republic, as well as certain honors and
privileges. The Equites or Chevaliers of the Roman Republic were cre-
ated in the same manner. It is on the Greek monuments that we first

72

meet with the bit in the horses mouth, although not generally, as i re.
quently there is neither saddle, stirrups nor bridle to be found. To guide
the horse, a strap was slung around the horse's neck. The force with
which the horses occasionally pulled on this strap to liberate themselves
and the accidental catching of the same in the horse's mouth, together
with the fact that they were then more manageable, may have given
the first idea for a harness and bridle; to both sides of a sort of halter
reins -were attached, and afterward an iron mouth piece was inserted'
which was broken in the middle or side, or merely a small piece of chain •
it resembled therefore, the ordinary snaffle, with simple knots or knobs
on each end. Bits of this kind are frequently met with on sculptures of
the time of Pericles. (430 13. C) But the headstall had not been known
long, as the bits were fastened with straps going around the horse's
nose; this bit soon made room for a snaffle very similar to the one now in
use, only that sometimes another strap came down from the headstall
in front of the nose band. A chain, such as our curb chain appears now
and then, probably to hold the bit in its place. The curb was unknown
to the Greeks, and the only severe effects found in the old bits were
rough and sharp elevations on the inside of the knobs of the snaffle, act-
ing upon the corners of the horse's mouth; such a bit was, from its re.
semblance to the teeth of a wolf, called "Lupatum." Nothing was known
of saddles, as we have them now, but the horse's back was covered, b e
it for comfort or show, -with costly blankets and rare animal skins,
which were fastened with a girth. According to the historical tradition,
the horse of Aeneas was covered with the skin of a lion; the one of the
Parthenonius with the skin of a lynx. At religious and other occasions,
these covers were especially rich and not unfrequently decorated with
gold, silver or precious stones, and bells were attached to the horse's
mane. The stirrup was also unknown; this comfortable aid in mount
ing and dismounting came into use remarkably late. In the middle of
the twelfth century of the christian era, the stirrup is first mentioned in
the book of Kustathius; but proofs show, that it had been in use one
hundred years previously. Berenger gives a copy of a horse, saddled
and bridled and provided with stirrups, which is taken from a tapestry
at Bayeux, and was embroidered at the time of "William the Conquerer
by his wife, representing scenes of his landing inKngland, (tune 1027 to
1087). The heroes of antiquity depended upon their agility and swung
themselves upon their horses' back from either side; those armed with
lances and spear, had provided the same with a projectio non the lower
end, or with a simple sling, which helped them to mount as well as to
hold their weapons with more security. Some animals were trained to
facilitate mounting by bending down their necks, or by kneeling down
Persons of high rank had slaves or servants on hand to assist them in
getting on or off their horses; now and then a short ladder -was used,
and the magistrates in Greece as well as Rome had to see, that at inter-
vals not too far apart, mounting blocks were erected of stone, for the
comfort of equestrians. At an early period the riders' legs were pro-
tected by boots, to which the spear was afterward attached. The horse's

13

hoofs were unprotected, and the paved streets, which are so hurtful to
them, did not exist ; in the meantime, lameness must have occurred
from time to time, either beco.use of the soft nature of the hoof or be-
cause horses went too fast or t do long1 upon the high way. To remedy this
nuisance, the Greeks and Romans first strapped to the hoof a kind of
sandal, made of braided reeds, or of leather, and strengthened these soles
occasionally with an iron plate or even with plates of gold or silver, as
was the case with the horses of Nero or Pappaea. The horse shoe, in
its present shape, was invented in the fifth century after Christ ; later,
the shoe was not only a means of protecting the feet, but to prevent
deformity and disease of the hoof, or to cure the same. (Dietetic and
Therapeutic shoeing.)

It is said of the Greeks that sometimes they tied two or three sad
die horses together, and alternately swung themselves upon one or the
other while going at full speed ; of course this -was not an occurrence
common in ordinary riding, and Homer speaks of it, as a proof of their
great ability in the art of riding, aai it shows that the Greeks took
great pains in breaking and training their horses. As above mentioned,
the horse was in many countries first used to pull -wagons, and the
same may be said of Greece in its earliest periods. During the siege of
Troy which lasted for ten years, not a single rider is heard of, all war-
riors fighting on foot or from their chariots ; it appears though, that
chariots rarely met in combat but drove swiftly over the battle grounds,
the -warrior throwing his spsars in both directions, and when he
found an adversary, whom he thought his equal, they halted, dismount-
ed and fought on foot. The chariots were made for the purpose, and
decorated with great pomp, the victor keeping the chariot of the defeated
as booty. In some instances, three horses were hitched before the
chariots, the third figuring as a reserve, in case one of the otherj should
become exhausted, or be wounded. Hector's chariot was drawn by
four horses. The charioteers, although subordinate to the warriors-
were rarely selected from among his servants, often it -was a trusted
friend of the combatant, or else a charioteer of profession. Even Hector
and Nestor drove the chariots of others.

The attachment of scythe shaped blades to the war chariots -was not
customary with the Greeks or Romans ; they could only be used in open
fields, and not uncommonly they caused disturbance among their own
ranks, "when the horses became shy and unmanageable from noise and
other causes ; their use therefore, -was soon discontinued. In the course
of time this was the case with all the war chariots, and the higher class
of warriors preferred to fight on horse back, -where personal bravery
and strength could be shown as well, and better order kept in battle.

Up to the Christian era, and in some countries until later, the use of
the horse was confined to war, hunting and for pomp in festivities ,
Then racing was instituted partly for the purpose of comparing the
value of different horses, and to reward their owners; and partly to give
more splendor to religious celebrations. The most famous of these sp ec
tacles was given every fourth year in honor of Jupiter, during the
olympic games; however, almost a century elapsed until horse racing

H

was added to wrestling- and pugilism, that is not until the twent y -third
Olympiade. In the subsequent races only equestrians made their ap-
pearance, each horse being ridden by its owner who was compelledto train
himself and horse thirty days previous to the race. The horses wer
classified in such, having the full a<re, and others, 'whose acre ranged be-
low this standard ; but the Historians give no information as to what
this meant, nor do they speak of the weight of the riders. The race-
course measured over four English miles. In one of the races, called
"Kalne," only mares were entered, and toward the end of the course
the riders had to dismount and with the bridle in hand, run along side
of their mounts to the pole.

In the twenty-fifth Olympinade, chariot races were introduced-
The chariots were placed in one line at the starting post, and their places
assigned through allotment. On. each side stood an altar, upon one of
which stood an Eagle consecrated to Jupiter ; upon the other a dolphin
in honor of Keptune. Through a certain mechanism, the eagle was
elevated into the air, and the dolphin disappeared in the depth, which
was the sign for the start of the chariots. The Hippodrome was about
one-third of an English mile in length, and at its end was a pillar,
around which the chariots had to go and come back to the starting
post. Six. tim°s +his had to be repeated, so that the whole course may
be said to have covered a little over four English miles. The turn
around the pillar was the first test for the agility of the charioteers
and the training of the horses; hardly had this been overcome,
when they had to pass a statue of enormous size, called Traxippus
(the terror of horses.) A little further and in the middle of the course
there was a projecting rock, which left only little space to drive by,
and where the ability of the driver was severely tested, the more so as
the discordant sounds made by the trumpeters on the rock served to
frighten the horses. It is to be imagined, that at the end of the race the
number of chariots had decreased considerably, as some ran against the
end post, others could not get their horses to pass the statue, and still
more were smashed against the rock, so that the passage for the follow-
ing ones were greatly obstructed. The victors in such chariot races,
as can readily be seen, had to work hard for their laurels and the honors
which finally awaited them. To learn how the qualities of a horse were
judged at that period, we should hear Xenophon, who lived 355 to 445
B. C, and by whom a book on the art of riding has been preserved to
the present age; "above all" he says "one must look at the feet, as a
house of which the upper parts are handsome, but which has not suf-
ficient foundation would be worthless, so a horse would not be fit to
use in war, if his feet were weak, even though it had all the other good
qualities; because no good could come from them." The Romans, in
their earliest days, laid great stress upon the breed and care of
the horse, but then it had already been introduced in Greece for seven
centuries, and its importance there generally recognized. Races both
with horses and chariots became common in Rome at an early period,
but the chariot races were gradually abandoned, while the others con-

*5

tirmcd in favor until the time of the Emperors, and the young men of
the rank of chevaliers, devoted themselves diligently to this occupation
Dangerous feats and obstacles, as in Greece, were not customary with
the Roman races. The Romans are probably the inventors of the curb
bit. Emperor Theodosius is represented on an antique monument, and
his horse carries in its mouth a curb with levers of enormous length.
Among the Roman authors, Yarro, who lived about 70 years 13. C, gave
a description of a horse, which afterward was hardly surpassed. He
savs "excellent results may be expected of a colt when in running on
past tire, it strives to keep at the lead of the herd, and if, when brought
to a stream, it plunges into it first; if its head be small; the limbs clean
and firm; the eyes clear and brilliant; the nostrils wide and the ears
moderately close together; if the mane be strong and thick; the chest
broad and the shoulders flat and slender; if the barrel be round and firm ;
the loins broad and strong and the tail full and bushy; if the legs be
straight and even, and if the hocks be broad and well j ointed; if the hoofs
be hard and tough, and the veins visible everywhere."

Virgil, the Roman poet, gives some interesting remarks on horses,
about eighty or ninety years later, and soon after, that is in the middle
of the fourth century B. C, Yegetius wrote his book on veterinary
science. The symptoms of diseases as a -whole are acceptable enough
in their descriptions, but the methods of cure as stated in his book, are
hardly such as to inspire esteem for the learning of the period. Near-
ly at the same time the invasions of the Goths began, and soon after-
wards all traces of the state and condition of science disappear in both
the Eastern and Western Roman Empire. The sources of the general
history of the horse have now been considered. The special history of
the horse comprizes mainly the races of the horse and their peculiar-
ities in size form build, expression and ability of performing the duties
which our service demands, and it is closely related to the breeding of
horses of the different countries.

{Jistory of the English florse.

The earliest communication on the horse of Great Britain, is con-
tained in the accounts of the invasion of that Island by Julius Caesar.
The British army was accompanied by numerous war chariots drawn
by horses and provided at the axles with short scythes which swept
everything before them and spread terror among the enemy. The con-
queror gives a vivid description of the skill, with which the horses
were trained. It is useless to inquire as to what type of horse Britain
then possessed, but judging from the clumsy construction of the char-
iots, and the rage with which they were driven, as well as from the
bad condition, or total absence of streets, it is evident, that they
must have been uncommonly powerful.

The views of some naturalists, stating, that the ponies of Cornwall,
Devonshire or of Wales and the Shetland Islands were the original
type of the English horse, are incorrect. The horse was then, as it is
now, the product of the region in which it lived; small and tough, it ex-
isted where it had little food and was exposed to influences of weather;
but in the marshes of Witham and on the borders of the Tees and the
Clyde, the body and the strength of the horse were probably as well
developed as they are to-day. Caesar considered them good enough to

?6

take many of them to Rome, and the British horses were in demand
for sometime after that in many parts of the Roman Empire.

At that time the horses must have been exceedingly numerous in
Great Britain, as it is said, that King- Casibelaun, when he dismissed
the greater part of his army, retained fotir thousand chariots with the
intention to disturb the Romans while foraging.

British horses were first crossed at that period, but it cannot be as-
certained, whether or no this had improved their breed. The Romans
who had settled in Britain, imported numerous cavalry in order to
quell the frequent insurrections of the natives. No doubt the Roman
horses became amalgamated with the English, and so the latter became
a mixture of the native, with the Gallic, Italian, Spanish cavalry. Sev-
eral centuries elapsed, during which no account is given of the En-
glish horse, as to w hether its breed was improved or neglected.

About nine hundred and twenty years after the landing- of Caesar,
we find the British territories united xmder Alfred. This monarch
gave great attention to horse breeding and created the office of horse
thane, a dignitary attached to the court of the King.

Athelstan, the natural son of Alfred the great and the second in
reign after him, laid great stress on matters of horse breeding and in
the year 930 issued a decree, that no horse should be sent out of the
eountry, unless they were gifts of the king. This showed that he care-
fully endeavored to preserve the breed, which was beginning to be ap-
preciated by the neighboring countries. A document of the year 1000
contains interesting remarks on the value of horses of that time; when
a stallion was lost through death or negligence, the owner was entitled
to an indemnity of thirty shillings, for a mare or filly, twenty shillings
for a mule or donkey twelve shillings, etc., (According to the Anglo
Saxon valuation, forty-eight shillings constituted a pound, which is in
silver equal to about three pounds of the present currency, and five
pence made a shilling.

To check fraud on the part of dealers, the law gave to the purchaser
a certain time to assure himself, that the horse was free of three
diseases: three nights for staggers, three months to test the sound.
ness of the lungs and one year for glanders. For each defect dis.
covered after the sale, one third of the price of the animal had to be re-
funded, unless the defect concerned the ear or the tail, because it was
supposed that the buyer should have detected these. If one lamed a
horse he was compelled to replace its value, and if accused of having
c aused its death, twenty-four witnesses had to be procured, who under
oath testified to the blamelessness of the accused.

The renting of horses was customary, and, like to-day, the hired
animal was generally abused. The benevolent Howell, Prince of Wales,
did not consider it beneath his dignity to issue laws for their protection.
>'He who hires a horse and rubs its hair so as to gall the back, shall pay
four pence, if the skin is rubbed through to the flesh, eight pmce, and
if is sore to the bone, sixteen pence."

Even at that time there seem to have been persons who took pleas-

17

tire in cutting the horse's tail ; he who was convicted of doing so, had
to feed the horse until the hair had grown out, and besides furnish the
owner with another horse for use.

When the tail was cut with the dock, the culprit had to pay the en"
tire value, as such a horse was considered unfit for further service.

Athelstan seems to have valued some of his horses very highly, he
mentioned in his will those, which were given to him by Thorbrand,
and a white horse donated by Lisbrand. These names were evidently
Saxon, but nothing further is known of them.

The earliest information on the Anglo Saxon and the Welch, makes
no mention of the use of horses in the plow. In the tenth century a
Welch law prohibited farmers to plow with stallions, mares or cows.
On a piece of tapestry of the year 1066, a man is represented driving a
horse to a harrow, this being the earliest record of the use of horses for
farming purposes. William the conqueror greatly improved and en-
couraged horse breeding. He owed his victory at Hastings chiefly to
his superior cavalry, his favorite horse was of Spanish blood. His
suite, nobility as well as common soldiers, came from a country, where
agriculture had progressed more rapidly than in England. A consider-
able portion of the Kingdom was divided among these men and it is
undoubted, that however unjust the usurpation of the Normans may
have been, Englands agriculture and particularly the breeding of
horses gained by this change of her landed nobility. Some of the
Barons especially "Roger of Boulogne, Count of Shrewsbury" intro-
duced Spanish horses into their new possessions. The historians of
this period, as usual principally Monies, who knew nothing about
horses, give us very little exact intelligence on this subject.

The Spanish horse was esteemed highly on account of its handsome
appearance and proud movements, and was sought particularly for
tournaments and occasions of pomp. The courage and agility of the
rider, could be most advantageously displayed on such a noble and
spirited animal.

The first Arabian horse, or at least the first known of, came to Eng-
land under the reign of Henry the first, in the year 1121. Alexander
the first, King of Scotland, gave to the church of St. Andreas, an Arab-
ian horse, with rich equipments, Turkish armor, numerous precious
ornaments and a considerable dowry. It is said, that the lineage of
some horses, can be traced to this Arab, an assertion for which, how-
ever, the proofs are lacking.

Henry the second imported horses of foreign blood, but nothing is
known of their origin. Maddock speaks of an increased expenditure
for the maintenance of the Kings horses, "which had recently come
from across the sea."

About that time Smithfield became celebrated as a market for
horses. Of the method in which ordinary saddle and war horses were
tried there, Fitzstephen, as a contemporary, gives the following ac-
count : "Wrhen there -was to be a competition among these or other
horses, which were strong and fast in their way, there was invariably

an exclamation, of joy and the common horses had to clear the field.
Three jockeys, or sometimes only two, prepared for the race. The
horses were not without ambition, they trembled with impatience and
kept constantly in motion. Finally, when the sign was given, they
broke away and dashed with great speed to the end of the course;
animated, and hopeful of applause and victory, the riders spurred
their willing mounts, swung their whips and tried to urge them by
shouting." His description reminds us of the longer races of to-day and
proves the value of the Knglish horse, even before its improvement by
the introduction of Oriental blood had been attempted.

Immediately after this the crusades began. Undoubtedly the
crusaders might have enriched their country with choice Oriental
horses, but they were entirely -wrapped tip in superstition and ro-
mance, and so lost this opportunity.

An old romance speaks of two (probably Oriental) horsss, which
Richard the lion hearted, acquired on the Island of Cyprus, that neither
horses nor camels could equal them in speed, and that they conld not
have been bought for two thotisand pounds in gold.

The price of horses at that time varied a great deal. In the year
1185, fifteen brood mares -were sold for two pounds, twelve shillings
and six-pence ; they were bought by the crown and distributed to the
vassals, each of whom paid four shillings. Twenty years later, ten
stallions brought no less than twenty pounds a piece, and twelve years
after this, the sum of thirty -eight pounds was paid for a pair of horses
imported from Lombardy. The usual price for a good saddle horse was
ten pounds, and for a hired wagon or cart, with two horses, ten-pence
per day were charged. G-reat credit is due to King John for the care
he gave to agriculture in general and horse breeding in particular. He
imported one hundred select stud horses from Flanders, which added
much to a production of a wel! bred draught horse in England.

John established numerous and valuable studs; he eagerly craved
the possession of any excellent horse and took pleasure in receiving
from his vassals magnificent horses, instead of money for a fine which
was due, or for rights and privileges granted them. He took pride in
his cavalry, which he endeavored to perfect as well as the horses used
in tournaments and for luxury.

One hundred years later Edward the second, bought in Lombardy,
thirty war and twelve heavy draught horses. The countries from
which at that time the greater part of Europe procured their better
horses, were Lombardy, Italy and Spain. Flanders supplied the horses
required for agricultural purposes.

Edward the third purchased fifty Spanish horses and attached
such importance to this addition to the English or rather to the mixed
blood of the period, that he made a formal application to the Kings of
Spain and France, for the protection of the consignment of horses
during their transportation. "When they had safely arrived, it was
calculated, that the cost of each horse was no less than thirteen pounds,

J9

six shillings and six-pence, or one hundred and sixty pounds of our
currency. These horses were meant to serve, partly to the contin-
uation of the war with Scotland, partly for a tournament, which the
King intended to give. To the latter festivities and for warfare in gen-
eral only stallions were used; the altering of horse colts was not
customary and the use of mares among so many horses would have led
to disturbances. Mares were considered inferior at that time, but when
the castration became more general the price of mares increased, be-
cause it was found, that even though they were inferior to stallions,
they possessed strength and comparatively more courage and more en-
durance, than geldings. Edward the third possessed several race
horses ; but the real meaning of this term is not clearly shown, either
they were light and fleet, as contrary to the war horse, or they were
literally used for racing. The average price of these race horses was
eight pounds, six shillings and eight-pence. The King -was a lover of
racing and hunting and began to recognize the advantage of crossing
the stately and heavier horses with those, which "were lighter and
possessed more speed.

The heavy armor of the soldiers "was a drawback, -which after-
wards was removed. The rider with all his equipments frequently
weighed over fourteen stone (14 pounds per stone), and to carry this a
horse had to be of more than ordinary, size and strength. Only after
the musket was substituted for the war axe and the iron armor was dis-
pensed with as useless, the actual improvement in the breeding of
horses began in England.

While Edward the third profited by the importation of foreign
blood for the horses of his country, he was unwilling, that his
neighbors should share the advantages of this proceeding. The export
of horses w as prohibited under a very heavy penalty. Only one ex-
ception is known to have been made, when a German horse dealer was
permitted to take out of the country, a few horses, brought there on
speculation, and then only on the condition, that he would take them to
Scotland. The Kingdoms of Great Britain, were so jealous of each
others prosperity, that up to the reign of Queen Elizabeth it was con-
sidered a capital crime, to export horses to Scotland.

In this -way the English horse became slowly the equal of, and su-
perior to the horses of neighboring countries, its value was more gen-
erally and more highly acknowledged and prices became so high, tha.
the breeders and dealers received enormous sums for their stock, from
many of the young and inexperienced noblemen. In the year 1386
Richard the second saw fit to cause a reduction in prices. This
measure was interesting, not only because it showed the increased
value of the horses of that time, but also because it mentions the
districts which five hundred years ago, cultivated horse breeding.
The decree "was given and published in the counties of Lincoln
and Cambridge and in the eastern and nothern districts of York
county, and the price was reduced to the sum sanctioned by the

2o

former Regents. A more liberal policy finally stopped this absurd in-
terference in the affairs of agriculture and commerce.

Up to the reign of Henry the seventh at the end of the fifteenth cen-
t hit, little has been recorded about horse breeding. He maintained the
law prohibiting the exportation of stallions, but mares aged over two
years and of a value less than six shillings and eight pence, cotild be
exported. In order to prevent the mixing and degeneration of the
breed, which was caused by the fact, that in the autumn, animals of
all kinds and of both sexes, were turned out together on pasture, the
King forbade the turning out of stallions, which had in consequence
that all inferior specimens were altered and only the best ones were re-
tained for breeding purposes. A gait which at that time was particu-
larly well liked, was pacing. A contemporary says, that th£ English
horses were rarely made to trot, but that they excelled in the comfort-
able gait of pacing ; the front feet were held together by chains and
the hind feet were provided with shoes, which at the toe had a long
projection, to teach them to pace.

Henry the eighth, who was fond of display and splendor, favored
the breeding of excellent horses. He limited the size, under which no
horse was to be kept : the lowest measure for a stallion was fifteen
hands, and for a mare thirteen, and even before the horses had their
full growth, no stallion under fourteen and one half hands could be
turned out on pasture or in the forest, where mares were at large.
Once every year the authorities had to inspect both forest and pasture
and not only stallions, but mares and geldings, which were considered
unfit for breeding or other purposes, had to be killed. He also ordered,
that each deer park should contain a certain number of mares at least
thirteen hands in height, and all his prelates and noblemen, and all,
"whose wives wore velvet bonnets" had to keep stallions for riding, of
at least fifteen hands. These decrees expired with the tyrant who
issued them.

The oldest English treatise on agriculture and the treatment of
horses and cattle appears under Henry the eighth. It was written by
Fitzherbert, the judge of the civil court at Westminster and contains
much valuable instruction. The title of this book, which has now be-
come very rare, is "Book on agriculture". It appears that mares wefe
not then generally used for farming, and the author says, "a farmer
should not be without mares and stallions and particularly if he plows
with horses, he should have both, and use the male horses for draught
and the mares to bear colts, in order to keep xip the stock, and some-
times one may use mares for work, when they are gently treated."

It was easy to f orsee the results caused by the tyrannic edicts of
Henry the eighth ; horse breeding did not materially improve, and
decreased decidedly in quantity.

When England, under Queen Elizabeth, was menaced by the in-
vincible fleet of Philip the second of Spain, the Queen could in her
entire Kingdom raise a cavalry of only three thousand men, and

21

Blundeville, who wrote at that time a splendid, work on the art of
riding, spoke disparagingly of these horses.

The secret of how to improve horse-breeding was not yet dis-
covered; it was attempted with despotic: force, and only with crossings,
•of which nothing- extraordinary could be expected, or rather it was re-
lated to the existing peculiarities of the country, the heavy vehicles,
poor roads and slow mode of traveling, and suggested, nothing of the
remarkable changes, which in future centuries took place.

Bhmdeville describes the majority of the horses as strong, heavy
and adapted only for heavy draught, a few were light, but these were
soft and of no endurance. As an exception he mentions a horse which
covered in one day the distance of eighty Knglish miles.

Tests of speed were made at Smithfield, and in different parts of
England races were instituted regularly ; the first gatherings of this
kind took place at Parterly, Croydon anel Stamford ; but there was
neither a system like at present nor any particular type of horse, but
nunters and ordinary saddle horses ran together and the meetings
were open to all comers.

There was at first no cotirse laid out, but the races were run fol-
lowing a trail across the field and sometimes the most difficult ground
was chosen. Then the steeple-chase came into existence, with its many
dangers and more of cruelty, than at our time, men being stationed at
intervals, whose duty it w^as, to whip the tired and exhausted animals
to new exertion.

It must however be acknowledged, that the horse races in those
days Were not disgraced by betting and fraud, which seems to have
become inseparable from racing and hunting to-day. The prize con-
sisted ordinarily of a wooden bell, decorated with flowers ; later the
bell was made of silver.

Horse racing now became more popular, but only in the last year
of the reign of John, were they governed by general rules. The races
however were often but mere bets, as to "who would reach the end
first, or tests of speed and endurance over unreasonably long distances.
The improvement by crossing English mares with Turkish and
Barbe horses in order to produce good race horses, was extensively
tried, but with little success and John decided for an experiment 'with
the Arabian breed. He probably remembered the history of the
Arabian stallion, given to one of his Scotch churches five hundred
years previously. From a dealer by the name of Markham he pur-
chased a celebrated Arab stallion for the sum of five hundred pounds.
Kings, like their subjects, are often influenced by the opinions of their
servants ; the Duke of Newcastle had an aversion against this foreign
horse and in his book on the art of riding, he describes this Arab, as a
thin legged good for nothing horse, because, after a season's training, it
could not race successfully. The opinion of the Duke, though probably
incorrect, was then of great weight and the Arabian horse lost its re.
putation among English horse breeders. Another horse of Oriental
origin was then brought to England and called White Turk, then fol-

22

lowed Helmleys Turk imported by the first Duke of Bucking-ham,
Fairfax's Moroccan and others, these soon wrought a change in the
breed of English horses and Lord Harleigh, one of the old school*
complained that large horses "were almost disappearing and that only
light and fine horses were produced, with a view of obtaining speed.

Charles the first instituted the races of Hyde Park and New-
market, and introduced the use of the curb bit. In the third year of
his reign he issued an order confining the use of the snaffle to hunting
and racing.

After the restoration of Charles the second, in the year 1660, horse
breeding received new encouragement. Charles the second sent his
Master of the horse to Levante to buy stallions and brood mares, these
were chiefly Barbes and Turks.

John the second had little time to devote to horse racing, of which
he was a great lover and when, after his abdicatian, he lived in France,
imported English horses.

From this time on to the middle of the past century, the system of
ennobling the English horse by crossing was actively continued; every
variety of Oriental blood was bred with the English, and the supe-
riority of these crossings over the best of the original stock became
apparent. In the latter part of the reign of Queen Anne ; Darley took
refuge with the rejected blood of the Arab, he had to struggle against
prejudice and it was some time before Darley's stallion attracted atten-
tion. Finally the value of his gets was appreciated, and now we owe
to him a breed of horses, which in beauty, speed and endurance has no
equal.

The recognized superiority of the English horse is due, not only to
climate and other characteristics of the country itself, but is the result
of scientifically conducted breeding, which means not only the pro-
curing of a good original stock, but also the careful raising of the
descendants, and above all, the judicious selection, of the individuals
intended for propagation.

23

keciure II.

THK THOROUGHBRED.

The origin, of the thoroughbred horse has been much disputed ; some
say that its ancestors are pureby Oriental, others assert that it de-
lineates from the native horse, the breedof which was improved and per-
fected by judiciously crossing with the Barbe, Turk, and Arab. The
stud book, an acknowledged authority, traces the pedigree of all the old
racers to Oriental origin, or to a period of which the records are lacking.
If the pedigree of a runner of to-day is demanded, it is traced back
to a racer of renown, or it begins with an Oriental sire, or in darkness.

It must be admitted on the whole that the present English thorough-
bred is of foreign origin, improved and perfected by the influence of
climate and careful culture. There are however exceptions, as Samp-
son and Bay-Malton, a crossing with common blood having taken place
in both instances, though they were the best horses of their time. In
some of the best racing stables and particularly in the studs of the Earl
of G-rosvenor and Kgremont this was an established principle. The
British climate and good judgement have made the thoroughbred wha^
it is.

During the last century great attention was given to the pedigree
of the race horse. In the pedigree of almost every noted runner, not the
slightest defect can be discovered, and if with the brilliant exceptions
of Sampson and Bay-Malton, a- drop of common blood was mixed with
the pure strain, it was at once expressed and recognized in the inferior
conformation or lack of endtirance, and from two to three generations
were required to remedy the defects and their consequences.

The race horse excels through its beautiful Arabian head, its fine
and well connected neck, its long slanting shoulders, well built hind
legs, broad muscular quarters, its flat, and from the knees down, rather
short cannon bones, which, by the way, are not always as broad as they
might be, and its long and elastic pasterns.

Darley'sArab was the sire of the best racing stock. Mr. Darley
bought him at Aleppo, he was foaled in the neighboring desert of Pal-
myra.

s The immediate descendants of this invaluable horse were the Devon-
shire or Flying Childers; the Bleeding or Bartlett's Chilaers, Almansor
who was never trained and others.

Through the two Childers, the blood and the fame of their sire was
spread broadcast; they sired other Childers; Blaze, Snap, Sampson,
Eclipse and a multitude of excellent horses.

The Devonshire or Flying Childers, so called by his breeder Mr.
Childers of Carrhouse, "was the fleetest horse of his time, he was after-
ward sold to the Duke of Devonshire. At first trained for hunting, his
extraordinary speed and fire caused him to be placed on the race course.
He ran over the round course of Newmarket (3 miles, 6 furlongs and
93 yards) in six minutes and forty seconds, and covered the Beacon
course (4 l-S miles and 158 yards) in seven minutes and thirty seconds.

2 4

In October 1741, Mr. Wilde wagered to ride 127 miles in nine hours
at the Curragh races in Ireland, he covered the distance in six hours
and twenty-one minutes with ten horses.

Thornhill excelled him 1745 by riding from Stilton to London and
back and again to London, altogether '213 miles in eleven hours and
thirty-four minutes, which means, deducting the time for changing of
mounts, 20 miles per hour for eleven hours.

Shoftoe in 1762 rode 50 1-4 in one hour and forty -nine minutes with
ten horses, of which he rode five a second time. In 1763 he won an ex-
traordinary wager; 100 miles were to be ridden each day for 29 con-
secutive days, and not more than 29 horses were to be used; he execu-
ted this, with 14 horses' and in one day rode 160 miles.

Hull Squibbler furnished the greatest proof of strength and speed
of a race horse on record. In December 1786, he ran around the plain of
Newmarket, (23 miles) in 57 minutes and 10 seconds.

Eclipse was sired by Marsk, who was a grandson of Bartlett's
Childers. Much was said of the beauty or rather the peculiarity of his
build. The considerable expansion, the slanting and low position of his
sho ulder was remarkable, as well as the length of his forehand, the broad
and well proportioned hind hand and the pronounced muscles of his
fore-arm and thigh, Nothing definite can be said of his speed as he
never had a competitor, who was fast enough to test it. He was raised
by the Duke of Cumberland and after the death of the latter he was sold to
Wildman, a sheep dealer for 75 guineas. Colonel O' Kelly bought a part
interest in the horse from Wildman. In the spring of the following
year, when his reputation was at its height, 0' Kelly wished to become
the sole owner and purchased the remaining share for 1000 guineas.

He was thick winded and for that reason did not come upon the
race course until his fifth year.

After Eclipse had distanced all competitors in a race in 1769, he beat
in the following spring Wentworth's Bucephalus, who had never be-
fore been beaten; two days after he distanced Pensioner and in August
of the same year won the great subscription race of York. As there
were no owners willing to run their horses against him, he concluded
his victorious course by whining the King's Pl^te on the 18th of Octo-
ber, 1779, over the course at Newmarket. He was never beaten, never
forfeited an entry fee and won for his owner more than 25,000 pounds-

Later he was used for breeding; he was the sire of 334 winners,
and these realized for their owners over 160,000 pounds in money, not
counting plate and cups. The income, which the owner derived from
Eclipse must have been enormous.

After he left the race course, Colonel O'Kelly was asked to sell him,
he demanded 25,000 pounds sterling, an annual rent of 500 pounds, as
long as he (Mr. O'Kelly) lived, and the privilege of his service for six
mares yearly. The stallion lived almost ten years longer and served for
a number of years at 50 guineas. The neglect of his hoofs caused dis-
ease and his value as a sire as well as that of his gets became dubious.
He died in February, 1789, at 25 years of age.

25

More than 20 years after Darley's Arab, and after the value of the
Arabian blood had been generally recognized, G-oddolphin possessed a
stallion of peculiar conformation. He was called an Arab but was in
reality a Barbe. Only after the birth of Lath, one of the best horses of
the period, his excellent qualities were appreciated. He died in 1759, at the
age of 29 years.

In the beginning of the 18th century, horse races were instituted in
almost every large city in England. The contests were chiefly between
full grown horses. These races were of a kind, which required both
speed and endurance and the true value of the horse became thereby
apparent, which added to the improvement of the breed.

The distance as a rule was three or four miles and occasionally more,
and evidence of remarkable speed was shown as well as in the mile and
one-half races of to-day.

The author of a very interesting treatise, comparing the Knglish
race and saddle horse of the past century, with that of the present,
speaks of a horse "Exotic" -which appeared on the course for eleven
consecutive years. In the seventh year it won a race at Peterborough
consisting of four heats at four miles each.

What are the race horses of to-day ? They are indisputably faster,
they are longer, lighter in build and yet muscular they are creatures,
as beautiful as one would care to see, but the majority of them are ex-
hausted when the first half of the course is run and of fifteen or more
starters, only two or three come under the wire in possession of their
full vigor ; and what becomes of them after the race ? After a hard run,
as the races of former days are now called, the horses came in none the
worse for their exertions, and year after year they were in condition
to start. But now, a single race as the Derby, is apt to disable the
victor, occasionally forever, and yet the course is but one mile and a
half. The St. Leger is still more dangerous, although the distance is
not two miles. The race is over, a f ew large bets have been won by the
owner of the animal and the latter, whose performance accomplished
the victory, is led away with beaten flanks, bleeding sides and sprung
tendons, perhaps never to be heard of again. It has answered the pur-
pose for which it was raised, and that it is sufficient!

AYfiat has prompted honest and sensible persons to change the
character of the Knglish race horse and with it the English horse in gen-
eral, to such disadvantage? It is not simply the natural course of
events, which has brought it about. At the beginning of the past
centtiry and even until later race horses were beautiful and powerful
animals, with almost as much speed as could be desired and an endur-
ance, which was not easily exhausted. These horses were bred not
only with a view of satisfying the expectations of the owner on the
race course, but even if his hopes were not realized, he consoled himself
with having raised an animal, valuable to the country. Later the
demand on speed increased steadily ; certainly at the expense of
strength and endurance. Horses were bred only to win races. The re-

26

suit of this principle -was an animal longer in. boay, <^_, beautiful as its
ancestors or more so, but less satisfying to the eye of the competent
judge, because they were less muscular, their tendons not as free, the
withers sharper but less powerful. The proof, that endurance has
decreased, lies in the fact that these horses could not run over the long
courses of their ancestors and consequently only one half the distance
of the former courses has been adopted for most flat races. Speed was
desired and obtained ; but something of the old and incomparable breed
should have been retained in order to be able to fall back upon it, when
the World recognizes its mistake.

Another circumstance must be mentioned here. Under the old sys-
tem, as a rule only the fittest horse could win, but in the present races
with very young horses for a short distance, when the real contest is
limited to a stretch of two or three hundred yards, much depends upon
the rider, and if the horses are not too unequal, the outcome is wholly
in the hands of the jockey. If he can depend upon the endurance of his
horse, he may easily distance all his competitors ; on the other hand, he
will try to save the strength of his swift, but readily exhausted
animal, until near the end of the course, and then at once rush toward
the finish before his adversary could gather himself for the last
exertion.

Among the great race horses of the earlier part of the nineteenth
century, were Colonel, who was foaled in 1825. In 1828 he ran a dead
heat -with Cadland at the Derby, beating Zingare and seventeen others.
He also won the St. Leger at Duncaster over Beldine, "Velocipede and
seventeen others. He was sold to King George the fourth for 4000
guineas.

Fleur de Lis -was raised in 1822 by Sir Ridley. She was by
Bourbon, a son of Sorcerer, out of Lady Rachel, the latter by Stamford,
her dam was Young Rachel by Volunteer out of Rachel, a sister to
Maid of all work, and originated from High-Flyer on both sides of her
parentage. Bourbon had been a winner 17 times in 23 races. Fleur de
Lis was in size and conformation the most beautiful throughbred mare
ever seen in Kngland. She "was fully 16 hands, beautifully propor-
tioned and possessed an inexhaustible strength, "which she showed
particularly toward the end of her races.

The breeding of thoroughbreds for the race course, is continued
"with great zeal, but a spot in the pedigree is not a cause for anxiety, as
much as it was formerly and before long horses like Hotspur, Marl-
borough Keck, Lady Superior, Courouch and other half bred horses
and their descendants will have to be admitted to the stud book.

THE HUNTER.

The hunter should not be under 15 or over 16 hands in height ; if he
measures less, he will not always be able to follow, and more than 16
hands is apt to make him awkward.

The more the country is cultivated, the faster the hunt is ridden.
The trail of the fox is deeper and the scent lies better on cultivated

27

ground, than in the open and barren land, where the hounds are obliged
to follow the scent with their nose close to the ground and must con-
sequently go slower. Endurance is always essential, but speed has
become more necessary with the hunter and consequently blood is a
necessary quality. In a country, -where obstacles are abundant, a
half-bred horse may be of good service, but for general use, the hunter
should be at least three quarter bred, perhaps seven eights. If a
thoroughbred can be obtained of sufficiently strong bones and higher
movements, it would be the best hunter ; but the thoroughbred with his
characteristic gait would not carry himself high enough, to see the
the fences, even at less than full speed.

The first quality of a good hunter is, that he should be fairly light
in hand ; therefore the head should be small, the neck thin, the crest
firm and arched and the jaws wide ; then the head will be well attached
and form with the neck, that angle, which admits a light and com-
fortable guidance.

Something of a ewe-neck diminishes the beauty, but interferes in no
way with the speed, but rather draws the centre of gravity forward
and facilitates respiration.

Even if the race li orse lies heavily in the riders hands, the fatigue is of
short duration and over with the race, but with the hunter, who is our
companion for the whole day, it is of importance, that it should not tire
the rider too much, through the weight of head and neck. The fore-
hand must be more elevated, than with the racer ; with the latter it is
pardonable if the hind-hand is from one to two inches higher than the
fore-hand ; the bulk of his power coming from the hind-quarters, and a
lower fore-hand will draw more weight forward and thus add to the
speed.

'With the hunter a good elevation of the fore-hand is indispensable ;
the shoulder must be of the same dimension and lie as obliquely as that
of the runner, but at the same time be stouter, so as to keep the saddle
in good position during a long ride. The chest must be rounder to give
increased capacity for lungs and heart. A broad chest is an advantage
with the hunter. The forearm must be as muscular as that of the run-
ner or more so, the cannon bone seen from the side and particularly
under the knee broader, because the freer the tendons the greater the
mechanical advantage of their functions. The shin bone must be short,
because a higher gait is demanded of the hunter, than of the runner,
and particularly while leaping over hedges and fences, it must be able
to draw the cannon bone well up to the forearm i.i order to clear them.
The pastern should be shorter and less oblique in position ; long
pasterns are good in the race horse, because they break the shock, with
which it comes to the ground after its enormous leaps, and the oblique
position of the various bones of the foot serve the same purpose, bu.{_
this elasticity involves necessarily greater weakness. The hunter,
owing to its varying gaits needs more strength to carry its somewhat
heavier body and greater weight of the rider and to endure the great
strain of a days work.

28

The hoof is an important point with the hunter ; it is so with the
racer, btit it is also a fact that many thorougbreds have but tolerably
good hoofs. The narrow, contracted hoof, is the curse of racing- blood ;
but the work of the race horse is performed on the turf, wrhere the
hoofs are not liable to injury, while the hunter is frequently obliged to
cover ground, that is hard and stony, where his hoofs will soon suffer
if they are not very good.

The body of the hunter, in comparison with that of the racer, must
be short and compact. A compact horse with a shorter stride will
hardly strike the ground, while in a longer stride the feet will sink
deeper into the ground and the horse exerts itself in extracting them.
Kvery rider knows that a short bodied horse can stand more in the
way of climbing, although it does not descend hills so easily.

It is unnecessary to say, how important temperament and courage
are with the hunter. A high strung, irritable horse is very annoying,
and a timid one, that is inclined to refuse the lowest obstacles, is apt to
ridicule the rider.

Air, exercise and feed are the three words, which embody the secret
of good training for the hunter.

When the hunting season is over, the horse should be turned out,
as soon as possible ; let it have the entire month of May and the month
June partly or entirely ; but when the grass is scarce, the ground hard
and flies plentiful, take it in. Thus the whole advantage of a free
pasture, which no box stall or medicine can supplant, is obtained, with-
out the disadvantages of a too prolonged pasturage.

THE ORDINARY SADDLE HORSE.

This horse for various reasons is more difficult to obtain in its per
fection, than even the hunter or racer. The price of the saddle horse,
destined to serve so many purposes, is so low, that he, -who possesses a
good oiie does not care to part with it, and it may be considered good
fortune to chance upon such a horse.

There are indeed many defects, that may be overlooked in the
hunter, but which the ordinary saddle horse must not possess. The
hunter may be inclined to run away, be awkward at a walk or even at a
trot, he may have thrush or corns, if he only galops along at a good
tempo, has good wind and endurance, and jumps well, we may be satis
fied. Hut the saddle horse, if it is to be good for anything, must have
sound good legs, good hoofs, a quiet temperament, must not shy, be
light in hand and sure footed.

It is a mistaken idea, that the horse ■will never fall, if it only lifts
its legs high. The higher the animal lifts its feet, the greater the force
with 'which it will set them down, the rider will in proportion feel the
increased shock and the hoofs will be more apt to suffer. A horse with
great knee action will not always be fast, its gait will rarely be com-
fortable and in the long run not more scctire than others. It is a matter
of experience, that the safety of a horses gait depends much more upon
how its feet are set down, than upon how they are raised, and still more

29

upon the fact, that the foot is at once set fiat upon the ground, than
-upon the most elevated action. If the toe touches the ground first, it may
be expected, that the horse will occasionally knuckle over. An unex-
pected obstacle will throw the centre of gravity of the animal forward
and it will fall. If the toe digs into the ground before the foot is firmly
set down, a trifling circumstance may cause a misstep and a fall. A
stumbler can be recognized by the fact that the toe of the shoe is worn,
while the heels are scarcely used.

The saddle horse, like the hunter, must possess more or less blood
according to the nature of its employment. Three quarter or half bred
will make a useful animal for all service.

3°

THE AKATOMY OF THE HORSE.

BONES OF THE HEAD.
(a. b.) The occipital,

(c) Parietal,

(d) Frontal,

(e) Temporal,
(/) Malar,

tg) Lachrymal,
\b) Nasal,

ii) Superior Maxillary,
ck) Pre-maxillary,
(/) Inferior Maxillary,
THE TEETH.
(m) Incisors 12,
(«) Tusks or bridle teeth 4,
(o) Molars 24,

THE TERTEBEAE.
(p-v) Cervical 7,
(w) Dorsal 18,
(x) Lumbar 6,
(j) Sacral 5,

(f) Caudal 15 to 13.

BONES OF THE TKTTNK.
(a'-a') Ribs 18 pairs,
(*) Sternum or breast bone
(//) Ilium,
(c') Os Pubis,
(d') Ischcium,

BONES OF THE LIMBS.
(t/f) Front limbs :
(e) Scapula,

THE SKELETON.

{f) Humerus or first bone of the

true limb

{g') Radius or forearm,

\h) Elbow, or Ulna

(*' to q) The bones of the knee joint
or carpal bones ;

Pisif orme, Scaphoids Lunar,
Cuneif orme, Trapezoides Os Mag-
num, Uncif orme or hook like.,
(?-') Cannon bone,
(s') Splint bones,
(f ) Sesamoids,
\u') The great pasterns,
(v) The little pasterns or coro-
naries,

(«>') The coffin bone,
(x') The navicular.
(B) The hind limbs :
(y') Femur or upper bone of the
thigh,

(^') Patella or knee pan,
(#") Tibia or great bone of the leg,
(b" Fibtila or small bone of the leg ,
(c" to Z>") Bones of the hock joint or
tarsal bones,

(Os Calcis or heel bone, Astragalus
Cuboides. the navicular bone of
the tarsus, The middle and outer
cuneif orme bones. The balance of
the bones of the hind limbs, are
the same, as those of the front

3i

For a due comprehension of the shape and action of the horse, the
rider should possess a thorough acquaintance with the arrangement and
position of the bones and their relation to one another.

The osseous framework or skeleton of the horse must therefore be
attentively studied. The importance of this study cannot be too strongly
insisted upon, for without a knowledge of the bones, the precise situa.
tion of the muscles cannot be determined or their action on the limbs
properly understood.

The series of bones comprised in the skeleton may be conveniently
divided into four groups; the first comprehending the bones of the head,
the second the vertebrae, the third the trunk and the fourth the bones of
the limbs.

The bones of the head may be divided into those of the cranium and
the face. The cranial bones include all those which cover or inclose the
brain, they are for most part arranged in pairs, one on each side of the

mesial line of the skull. The frontal or bone of the forehead (d) forms
the broad flat surface between the eyes and extends with a narrowing
outline toward the top of the head. Considerable difference in the width
of this bone may be noticed in various horses, a^xd it will generally be
found that the broad and ample forehead is a mark of high breeding and
superior intelligence. The parietal (V) extends backwards from the
frontal to the poll, it has a ridge or crest of great strength and hardness
along the upper surface, from which the bone slopes down like a roof on
each side, covering the brain, which it is mainly concerned in protecting.
Immediately behind the parietal and covering the entire back of the
head is the occipital (a) a bone whose position exposes it to greater strain,
than any other of the component parts of the skull are liable to. The
occipital has to support the whole weight of the head, which is articu-
ated by two round protuberances or condyles at the base of this bone,

to the atlas or first vertebrae of the neck. On the outer sides of the
occipital and beyond the condyles are two styliform processes or point-
ed projections, for the attachment of some of the muscles of the neck,
which assist in supporting-thehead. The temporal (<?) bone unites above
with the parietal and behind with the occipital. It contains the internal
parts of the ear and has a depression or hollow beneath for the articula-
tion of the lower jaw. Anteriorly this bone joins the extremity of the
frontal and continuing- f orward unites with the malar (J) or cheekbone,
making- up the zygomatic arch and forming the greater part of the
orbit, which is completed by the lachrymal (g), or small facial bone at
the inner corner of the eye. Immediately before the frontal, is the nasal
(k) bone, one of the principal bones of the face and covering- the delicate
membrane of the nose. The superior maxillary (/) is a large bone oc-
cupying- the side of the face, It carries all the molar teeth or grinders
and the tusks of the upper jaw. The nippers or incisor teeth are insert"
ed into the premaxillary (k), which uniting the two bones last mention"
ed, completes the framework of the nose. The lower jaw consists of two
bones only, the inferior maxillaries (z), these are rounded at the hinder
extremity of the jaw and terminate in two processes directed upwards.
The terminal projection or condyloid, process, articulates with the tem-
poral bone at the base of the zygomatic arch and forms the hinge on
which the whole lower jaw moves. The second process, termed the
coronoid, passes under the arch and receives the lower end of the large
temporal muscle, which arises from the parietal bone and is principally
concerned in moving the jaw in the act of mastication.

The vertebrae of the neck are seven in number and are called cervi-
cal. The atlas, which articulates with the skull is a ring- shaped bone
with broad lateral projections; but without any other prominent char-
acters. It has great freedom of motion on the second bone or dentata
and on the peculiar articulations of these two vertebrae, the power of
turning the head mainly depends. The remaining five bones of the neck
closely resemble each other, they have various small processes, for the
attachment of muscles and ligaments, and therefore will be sufficiently
understood by an examination of the cut. Eighteen vertebrae are
given to the back and called dorsal, these are the only ones bearing the
ribs, then follow six lumbar or those of the loins, situated between those
bearing the ribs and the haunch bones.

The number of ribs is sometimes found to exceed that of eighteen ;
nineteen and occasionally twenty ribs being found in the horse ; but in
such cases there is no actual increase in the number of bones in the verte-
bral column. The dorsal and lumbar vertebrae together are alwavs
twenty-four, so, that if one or two ribs above the normal number are
present, thereby increasing the dorsal series, the lumbar vertebrae are
proportionately reduced. The sacrum includes five bones, which in the
grown horse are united into one mass and thus act as a kind of -wedge
or keystone to the arch formed by the approximation, at this point, of
the haunch bones. Great strength and solidity are required here, as the
united bones of the pelvic arch are the great pivots, on which the hind

33

limbs turn, and by which they are enabled to throw forward the -whole
weight of the animal. The remaining- vertebrae are of the caudal,
usually fifteen, more or less. The most prominent feature in each dorsal
vertebrae is the strong spinous process on its tipper surface, these are
largely developed on the anterior portion of the dorsal series, and pro-
duce the elevation above the shoulder called the withers. They are of
importance, because they afford a large surface for the attachment of
t he ligament, which supports the head and neck. Altogether they form
the ridge of the back. On each side of the vertebrae transverse pro-
cesses are situated, articulating with the ribs, and the smaller oblique
projections serve to unite one vertebrae to the other. The spinalcolumn
has considerable flexibility as well as very great strength. Besides
there are also ligaments along the broad under surface of the vertebrae,
others again between the transverse processes, and similiar strengthen-
ing ties, uniting the upright projections or spinous processes; the
whole tnass forming a marvel of strength, lightness, and flexibility.

The ribs are jointed to the transverse processes of the vertebrae and
curve with some variations in their outline and direction, down to-
wards the sternum or breast bone, to which the first eight or nine of
them, called the true ribs, are attached by their extremities, which, to
provide the elasticity, necessary for the expansion of the chest, are
composed of cartilage. The remaining ribs are termed false ribs, as
they have no individual connection with the breastbone ; they are how-
ever, united together by cartilage, each on its own side, and thus the
cartilaginous union ultimately terminates in the sternum ; so that the
whole of the ribs are enabled to act in uniformity. The sternum in the
young horse consists of six bones, which become united into a single
piece in the full grown animal. The front of this bone is convex and
sharply keeled, its upper extremity projecting, so as to be easily observ-
ed in the living horse. This is known as the point of the breast and its
place will be easily ascertained, when it is remembered, that the lowest
part of the collar just covers it. The haunch or pelvis is in reality
made up of six bones, three on each side, the whole firmly united into
one. Of these the ilium, is the most important; lateral prolongations of
the ilium produce the prominences so conspicuous just above and in front
of the hind quarters in every horse. The ischium is a backward con-
tinuation of the ilium and bears a considerable tuberosity, -which pro-
jects on each side a little below the tail. The pubis, apparently a single
bone, is connected with those already mentioned, and forms an inverted
arch with them below

The front leg is united to the body of the horse, by means of the
shoulder or scapula (V), which has a flattened and long triangular shape.
It is strengthened by a ridge or crest, dividing it lengthwise into two
somewhat unequal portions. The scapula rests on the ribs and is unit-
ed to the body solely by muscles.

The humerus (/), is a short and somewhat twisted bone, articulat-
ing by a rounded head with the glenoid or cup shaped cavity at the

34

point of the shoulder blade. Its lo wer extremity which is directed back
ward, terminates in two condyles receiving between them the head of
the forearm, 'which is composed of the radius (g), and the elbow or ulna,
The latter bone has a long projection above and behind the upper joint
and forms the point of the elbow, to which some powerful muscles are
attached for extending the arm.

The knee or carpus is a complicated joint, uniting the forearm to
the cannon bone, and is composed of six small bones, (i-q) interposed be-
tween the upper and lower portions of the front leg. They are: The pisi-
form (/), lunar (w), cuneiform (&), scaphoids (/), trapezoides (o), magnum
(p), and uncif orme («).

The true earpal bones are seven in number, six of them being placed
in two rows, each containing three bones, in front of the joint and the
seventh, the pisiform, being situated behind them, forming the point
of attachment for some of the muscles of the arm, and otherwise aiding
in the protection of the tendons running down behind the leg. Besides
the advantage of distributing a shock over several distinct parts, there
is another object to be gained by the interposition of these small bones.
The bending of the leg at this point can be carried so far that a very
wide opening between the bones of the forearm and the cannon bone
would necessarily be the result ; and this would take place at a part ex-
tremely liable to external injury. By the presence and arrangement of
the interposed carpal bones, this wide opening is replaced by three nar-
row ones, which are well protected from all ordinary dangers by being
covered with a capsular ligament, extending from the radius above, to
the shank below them. A large flat knee has always been considered a
valuable point in a horse, and from what we have shown of the action
of this joint, the advantages of its possessing a considerable extent of
"-rface will be sufficiently evident.

r

35

Below the knee is the cannon bone (r), which articulates at its upper
extremity with the lower row of the bones of the knee and at the other
end with the upper pastern. It is the the principal bone of this portion
of the leg and almost entirely devoid of any muscular covering', those
parts of it which are not hidden by tendons, being only protected by
skin. This bone is nearly straight, rounded in front, and flattened or
slightly concave behind.

The splint bones (s), are situated behind the cannon and a little on
each side of it. Throughout their length they are united by cartilage
and ligaments to the cannon bone.

The next two bones are the upper (w), and lower (v), pasterns. They
have considerable motion on one another to allow the foot to be bent
back.

Behind the fetlock joint, -which unites the cannon bone with the
upper pastern are two supplementary bones, termed sesamoids (t), they
serve to protect the back of the joint and some important ligaments
passing over it.

The toe is formed by the coffin bone (w), which is surrounded by the
horny hoof. Another small bone called the navicular (x), is found be-
hind and partly within the junction of the coffin and lower pastern, and
like the former bone is enclosed by the hoof.

Beginning at the upper extremity of the hind limb, the first bone to
be noticed is the femur (j>), or upper bone of the thigh. It is exceeding-
ly strong and stout ; it is short for its bulk, which is further augment-
ed by several large projections or trochanters placed lengthwise for the
attachment of some important muscles. The upper extremity of the
femur has a distinct rounded head, on the inner side fitting into, and
articulating with the acetabulum or bonyc up formed at the junction of
the three pelvic bones. But the lower end of the bone bears two prom,
inences, which fit into corresponding depressions in the next bone and
in front of which is placed the patalla or knee cap, together making up
the stifle joint of horsemen, or, more strictly speaking the actual knee
of anatomists.

The thigh consists of two bones, the tibia (a"), and the fibula (£")•
The tibia extends from the stifle joint to the hock. The fibula is placed
behind the outer side of it, extending from its upper extremity to about
one third of its length. It is attached to the larger bone by cartilage
and in general character agrees with the ulna of the front leg.

The hock (c"-h"), is an important and somewhat complicated joint.
It corresponds with the ankle and heel in man, although in the horse it is
at some distance from the ground. lake the carpus, the hock (tarsus)
consists of several small bones interposed between the long ones of the
lower part of the limb. They are six in number : The os calcis (c"),
astragalus (i"), cuboides (/'), navicular (/"), outer cuneiform (A"), mid-
dle cuneiform (g"). As the great toe is not represented in the horse, the
inner cuneiform is not developed.

The os calcis or heel bone forms the point of the hock. It acts as a
lever to straighten the joint and is moved by the achilles tendon and

*6

other tendons arising from the muscles which spring from the upper
part of the limb.

The remaining' or metatarsal bones are named like the correspond-
ing bones of the front leg.

COMPARATIVE VIEWS OF THE SKELETON OF HORSE

AKD MAN.

In plate we have given a comparative view of the two skeletons in
as nearly as possible the same attitude. It will be observed, that be-
sides the greater length of jaws and neck in the horse (although the
number and arrangement of the bones in these parts are the same in
both skeletons), the principal difference consist in the form of the ex-
tremities and the uses, to which they are applied. Man rests on the
entire length of the foot and his hands and fingers are constructed for
grasping. The horse on the contrary is supported on the extreme
points of its toes and fingers, reduced on each limb to a single digit and
protected by the nail becoming modified into a hoof.

Many of the bones in each skeleton are known by the same name,
but some parts of the limbs in the horse have been strangely miscalled.
We have thought it desirable therefore, to give in parallel columns the
names of those bones and joints, which although exactly corresponding
in man and horse are spoken of under different titles in the ordinary
description of the two skeletons.

37

NAMES COMMONLY APPLIED TO CORRESPONDING BONES
IN MAN AND HORSE.

FRONT LIMBS. HORSE,

Humerus.
Forearm (Radius)
Knee (Carpus)
Cannon and Splint
Fetlock joint.
Pasterns and foof.
HIND LIMBS. HORSE

Upper bone of thigh.
Stifle joint.
Thigh.

Hock (Tarsus.)
Point of hock.
Cannon and splints.
Fetlock j oint.
Pasterns and foot.

MAX.

Arm. (Humerus)

Forearm.

Wrist. (Carpus)

Hand (Metacarpus)

Knuckles.

Fingers.

MAN.

Thigh. (Femur)

Kne°

Leg.

Ankle. (Tarsxis.)

Heel.

Foot (Metatarsus.)

Ball of foot.

Toes.

3$

THE BONES OF THE PELVIS AKD HIND LIMBS OF MAK
AND HORSE ARE COMPARED ;

{a) Sacrum. > [h] Fibular.

{b) Ilium. | [*'] Tarsus.

{c) Isehicum- J Pelvis. [j] Metatarsus.

(J) Pubis. i ]k] Digit.

(e) Femur. fl] Phalanx.

(/) Patetla. [2] Phalanx.

[g] Tibia. [3J Phalanx.

IMPORTANT MUSCLES.

The muscles of the head are not -very numerous. The largest
superficial muscle is the masseter [a], its action is to close the mouth.
The temporal muscle [b], is employed in alternately raising and depres-
sing the under jaw. The orbicularis [c], the levator ]d] , the orbicularis
oris [<?], the dilator naris lateralis [/], the zygomatieus and the buccina-
tor [g], the nasalis labii superioris [h], the depressor labii inferioris [{].

Independently of the muscles for supporting the head and neek>
there is a very beautiful and simple arrangement, by which those
parts are kept in position when the horse is at rest. This consists of a
very strong elastic ligament, called, ligamentum nuchae, it arises from
the back of the occipital bone, immediately below the crest, in the form
of a stout round cord it passes over the atlas, allowing full freedom of
motion to the head, and is strongly adherent to the dentata, on which
the prmcipal strain from the weight of the head is thrown ; it then
passes backward to its attachment on the spinous process of the first
dorsal vertebrae.

39

MUSCLES OF THE HEAD AND NECK.
The first muscle of the neck, providing for the lowering and raising
of the head is the eomplexus major [j]. Immediately above this is the
splenitis [k], which raises the head. Behind the splenitis, and extending
along the superior margin of the neck is the levator ahguli scapulae
[1], with a reciprocal action on the neck and shoulder, according to
whichever is the fixed point at the time.

Of the muscles in front of the neck, there is first the hyoideus (wz,)
attached to the hyoid bone of the tongue, which it retracts. The sterno
maxillaris («), is the principal depressor of the head. Beyond the latter
and extending from the back of the head and upper part of the neck,
along the front of the shoulder to the top of the foreleg, is the levator
humeri (o), a long and very important muscle, having a double function
to perform, the principal one being the raising of the shoulder, and the
other the depressing of the head.

Of the muscles of the shoulder we may first notice the trapezius (x)
its office is to raise and support the shoulder, assisting the serratus
major (g). The antea spina tus (b), extends the bone forward, while the
postea spina tus (c), draws it outward and raises it. Behind the latter
is the teres minor (J), or little pectoral ; it draws the shoulder towards
the breast. The pectoral major (pm), is an important muscle and pulls

40

MUSCLES OF THK SHOULDER AND CHEST,
the whole foreleg, inward, insuring an even and regular action of the
limb. The anconaeous longus (e), and the aneonaeous externus (/),
straighten and extend the forearm.

MUSCLES OF THE BACK.

41

The muscle most important in the back is the latissium dorsi (*). it
covers the whole back, extending from the shoulder to the haunch and
is strongly attached to the processes of the vetebrae and the ribs. This
muscle is the principal one employed in raising the fore or hind quar-
ters in the act of rearing or kicking.

The muscles of the front limbs are, the extensor carpi radialis (k)>
extensor digitorum longior (/), extensor digitorum brevior (/), abductor
pollicis longus (k), external flexor (*•') middle flexor (mf), and internal
flexor {if).

cj-

MUSCLES OF THE FRONT LI3TBS.

The muscles of tne hind quarters are, tne gluteaus externus (/)
gluteaus medius or kicking muscle (wz), triceps femoris («), this muscle
has enormous power in propelling the animal f orward, biceps (o), semi-
membranosus (p). musculus fasciae latae [q] ; this peculiar muscle binds
down and secures the other muscles in front of the hauneh. The rectus
[;■], and the vastus externus [s] are powerful extensors of the tibia, the
gracilis [«]. The extensor pedis [v], the peroneus [w], the flexor pedis fx],
the gastrocnimi [j>] and the flexormetatarsi [^].

42

MUSCLES OF THE HIND QUARTERS.

EXTERIOR CONFORMATION OF THE HORSE.

43 •

EXTERIOR CONFORMATION OF THE HORSE.

1. Front of forehead.

31.

Arm.

2. Forehead.

32.

Elbow.

3. Forelock.

33.

Forearm.

4. Poll.

34.

Warts.

5, Ears.

35.

Knee.

6. Temple.

36.

Cannon.

7. Eyepit.

37.

Upper pasterns.

8. Arch of eye.

38.

Lower pasterns.

9. Eyes.

39-

Fetlock.

10-11 Nose.

40.

Coronary.

12. Nostrils.

41.

Hoof.

13. Mouth.

42.

Heel.

14. Upper lip.

43.

Back.

15. Lower lip.

44.

Loins.

16. Chin.

45.

Croup.

17. Cheek.

46.

Tail.

18. Jaws.

47.

Ribs.

19. Chin groove.

48.

Position for saddle girth

20. Throat.

49.

Belly.

21. Parotid glands.

50.

Flanks.

22. Neck.

51.

Hips.

23. Gullet.

52.

Hind-quarters.

24. Place where the operation of

53.

Buttocks.

bleeding is usually performed.

54.

Thigh.

25. Crest.

55.

Stifle joint.

26. Mane.

56.

Hock.

27. Withers.

57.

Achilles tendon.

28. Breast.

58.

Angle of hock.

29. Point of shoulder.

59-60. Sheath.

30. Shoulder.

61.

Rectum.

44

«

The horse fitted in this square measures far more in length than in
height, the lines 1, 2, 3, 4, are equally long; the total length (C, T),) shows
the harmonious proportion between forehand [E, D.] and hindhand
[C,E,].

The length of the shoulder [N, O,] reaches far below the knee, the
length of shoulder and forearm (K, L,] together surpass the length of
the extremities, [L, <5W,]-

The forearm [6] and the femur [5] have the proper position and the
desirable height is marked by the line 8-9.

THE HORSES AGE.

Closely connected with the anatomy of the horse, is the doctrine of
the horses age, ascertained by the appearance, condition and changes
of the teeth.

A mere theoretical learning, even a most thorough one, will in no
instance suffice to give a clear conception, of how the horses age can be
ascertained, with any degree of certainty ; but a careful practical ob-
servation, in connection with the former, will enable us to tell the age
of the horse correctly, at least tip to the time when the horse is so old,
that a few years more or less, would neither add to, nor deduct from
its value or usefulness.

The number of teeth in the full grown horse are 40: Upper jaw;
incisors 6 [2 nippers, 2 middle teeth, 2 corner teeth, 2 tusks and 12
molars. Lower jaw; the same. The mare lacks the four tusks, or
possesses them only in a rudimentary state.

In speaking of the age we shall not mention the molars.

The incisors appear first in the shape of the milk tooth which
is of a regular conical formation and has almost in the centre a narrow
contraction called the neck, they are whiter and smaller than the horse

teeth.

The colt is born with or receives in the course of two weeks after
birth, the nippers ; in four or six weeks the middle teeth and in four to
six months the corner teeth.

At the age of one half year the jaw of the colt is full. At one year
the edges of all incisors are partly worn by friction and the inner edge
of the corner teeth alone remain uninjured. At two years the mark of
the nippers and middle teeth are worn down and at the age of two and
one half years the teeth begin to change.

The marks or cups in the horse tooth are of a depth of three lines in
the lower jaw, and of six lines in the upper jaw. One line of which is
worn off each year from the time when the tooth comes into friction.

With 2 1-2 years, the horse nippers -break -through and come into
friction at 3. "With 3 1-2 years the middle teeth break through and come
into friction at 4. With 4 1-2 years the corner teeth appear and come into
friction at five. At this age the horses jaw is full; the tusks making
their appearance between the 4th and 5th year.

At 6 years the marks in the nippers of the lower jaw, have disap-
peared. At 7 the middle teeth of the lower jaw have lost their marks.
At 8 the corner teeth in the lower jaw are without marks.

45

The marks of the lower jaw having vanished, we now turn to the
upper jaw, where marks are still visible.

At 9 years the marks of the nippers in the upper jaw disappear and
an incision is found in the corner tooth. At 10 the mark in the middle
teeth of the upper jaw is "worn off and at 11 the mark has also left the
corner teeth.

At 12 years the corner tooth of the upper jaw shows an incision of
increased size. At 13 the nippers and middle teeth of the lower jaw
have become perfectly rounded and the tusks are blunt. At 14 the
corner tooth of the lower jaw becomes rounded.

At 15 the nippers in the upper jaw are rounded. At 16 the middle
teeth assume the same appearance. At 17 the corner teeth of the
upper jaw are also rounded. At 18 the nippers in the lower jaw are
triangular. At 19 the middle teeth in the lower jaw are tringular. At
20 the corner teeth of the lower jaw assume the same form.

At 21 the nippers of the upper jaw have become triangular. At 22
the middle teeth of the tipper jaw have the triangular form. At 23 the
corner teeth in the upper jaw have the triangular shape.

At 24 all the teeth begin to assume a reversed oval shape.

The formation and the change of the horse's tooth is subject to ir-
regularities, resulting from the varieties of food, which they grind on
pasture and in the stable and they are also subject to the results of
habits, which the horse contracts, such as cribbing, biting the manger
etc.

46

»

Lecture III.

THE SADDLE.

The saddle is intended to give comfort and security to the rider.
In weight and construction it must be adapted to the purpose which it
is to serve.

With the exception of a variety of systems, adopted by different
countries for the army, the English saddle is used universally, both for
men and ■women.

The tree or frame consists of wood or leather and steel, and is more
or less elastic. The best and most serviceable covering is pig skin.

The padding is made of wool or hair and should fit the horses back
as accurately as a plaster cast.

White or yellow -webbing and plaiting of cord or leather, furnish
the best material for girths.

The size of the saddle should be in proportion to the weight of the
rider, and horses with sensitive backs should carry longer saddles,
than would otherwise be necessary.

There are two ways o"f diminishing the weight of the saddle, with,
out reducing the dimensions of its inner surface. One method consists
of extending the tree or other parts over the points, which are exposed
to pressure, and as this pressure is exercised chiefly in perpendicular
direction, it is superfluous to extend it too far downward over the ribs
The second mode is to build the tree of the lightest possible material'
without lessening its durability and its elasticity.

A good saddle is not padded any more, than the protection of the
back against galling requires. The padding should be sewed and not
tacked to the tree. A recent English invention, which substitutes com-
pressed rubber for the ordinary padding, the so called " Panel Numnah'
claims to bring the rider closer to the horses back, to be more durable
and to remain always dry and cool, as it does not absorb perspiration.

The riders weight should be placed precisely in the middle of the
saddle, as this is the only part, from which the equal distribution of the
•weight, can be effected over the remaining suf ace ; if the rider sits too
far back, he will press the cantle into the horses back, while the forward
parts will shift to the front, as far as the withers will permit, and ex-
pose the latter to injury by galling.

In front, the saddle should be wide enough, not to interfere with
the points of the shoulder.

The girths and stirrup straps should be attached from the middle
of the tree, so as not to disturb the equilibrium of the riders seat and
the horses motion.

The average weight of an ordinary mans saddle is about ten pounds^
if lighter the reduction in weight is obtained at the expense of durabili.
ty, and a light saddle rarely fits as perfectly as a heavier one.

The construction of the seat and saddle flaps, depends on the use,
for which it is intended, and also on the weight of the rider and the
length of his limbs.

47

The military and school saddle, -will ordinarily require a deeper seat
and a more straightly cut flaps, than the steeple chase or cross country
saddle.

On hunting saddles, the puffs, which are intended to add to the
security of the seat, are frequently dispensed with and not without
good reason, as a rider who has for one or the other of many causes, been
thrown forward on the horses neck, will be able to regain his seat more
easily without the saddle puffs, which in this case would only prove a
hinderance and a cause for delay.

The womans saddle has 'within the last ten years undergone many
changes in form and inner construction, and in its present shape, the
English side saddle meets in every respect the demands on safety,
elegance and durability.

THE BRIDLE.

The bridle is calculated to hold, guide and control the horse and to
enable the rider to bring the horse in that position, of equilibrium, which
will facilitate the carrying of both the horse itself and the rider.

Which of the large variety of briddles is to be used, depends large-
ly upon the individuality of both horse and rider.

The bits used in riding are : the snaffle and the curb, in their various
constructions and combinations.

The simplest, easiest bit and the one, used in the first stages of
education of horse and rider, is the snaffle. It consists of two pieces
of steel, linked in the centre, with rings on both ends for the attach-
ment of the head-stall and reins, and sometimes bars are attached on
the sides, upward and downward of the mouth piece, to prevent the
shifting to one side , or the slipping of the rings into the horses mouth.
The snaffle acts upon the corners of the horses mouth and should lean
against the latter without gagging.

The most common varieties of the snaffle bit are : The simple or
school snaffle, the racing snaffle, the double snaffle, the unevenly broken.
The snaffle with mouth piece broken in several places, the twisted
snaffle, the chain snaffle, the rubber snaffle, the robe snaffle, the four
ring snaffle, and the roller snaffle.

All these bits answer one and the same purpose, and are selected
with regard to the individuality of the animal, exercising more or less
powerfully the pressure on the corners of the horse's mouth and the
tongue.

The curb bit, consists of an inflexible mouth piece, with an elevation
or port in the shape of an arch in the centre, to give more freedom to the
tongue.

At the sides of the mouth piece bars are attached, the lower ones
being ordinarily double the length of the upper ones.

The head-stall is attached to the rings of the upper bars, and the
reins to those of the lower ones.

The curb hooks in the upper bars, are connected -with the curb
chain, and the lipstrap, which connects the lower third of the lower

48

bars, through a special link in the curb chain, prevents the horse from
grasping the levers with its under lip and incisors.

The position of the curb in the mouth is two fingers above the
tusks, and the action of this bit is that of a lever, to which the curb
chain serves as a fulcrum.

The mouth piece may be of various shapes and thicknesses.

The levers are either straight or curved and according to their
length, they act more or less powerfully.

The "Pelham", is a combination of curb and snaffle ; a pull on the
upper rein produces the action of the snaffle, while the lower rein acts
as the curb.

"We will enter more fully upon the bits, in the chapters treating on
the guidance and training of the horse.

THE PRACTICAL PART OF THE ART OF RIDING.

ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES.

It is essential, that persons who wish to indulge in horsemanship
and to derive from it, pleasure and benefit to health, should form a
clear idea of the fact, that their safety and comfort is dependent upon
the confidence in their own ability, and, that the latter can be acquired
only by the most positive knowledge of the ways and means by which
the horse is controlled.

A mere general and stiperficial acquaintance with the management
of the horse and the simple recollection of points, covering one or the
other of numberless situations, with which the rider in his practical
experience is brought face to face, will not be sufficient guarantee for
the safety of those, who entrust themselves, to their horses, relying
more or less upon the gentleness and good disposition of the same.

The pupil should be made familiar with the characteristics and
peculiarities of the horse and become at an early stage inspired with
the true spirit of horsemanship, including courage, determination and
decisive action.

The possession of these qualities, will guide the rider in all event-
ualities, preserve calmness, and the principles, which have been in-
occulated in the rider by thorough and systematic instruction, and
which have impressed themselves upon his memory, by reason of their
clear understanding in their action and result, will be applied instinct-
ively.

It is an undeniable fact, that kindness will produce the best and
most lasting results in our relations with the horse, but the pupil who
intends to make the horse his subordinate companion, must be impressed
with the fact, that much depends upon numberless details of speech
manner and action, employed under various circumstances, -which
exercise over the horse a much greater influence, than is commonly
supposed.

Quiet, sternness and a moderate, but decisive use of the voice,
should be taught from the beginning.

The rudiments of horsemanship form a basis, upon which the entire
experience and practical execution of the art of riding are founded, and

4 9

the success of the whole is so strongly dependent upon the thorough
comprehension of the elementary principles, that they should be
dwelled upon conscientiously until mastered.

Nothing should be requested of the pupil by the master, before u
thorough explanation of the lesson has been given as to its practical value
and its results, and the office of each and every impression made upon
the horse, should be clearly and in detail demonstrated to the pupil.

The desire to hasten the progress of the pupil, should not tempt the
master to experiment with lessons, that are apt to prove a failure, but
whatever the pupil demands of the horse in the systematic course of
instruction, must, in every instance, be followed by response and only
when the understanding between horse and rider is clearly shown in
that particular lesson, the master may proceed with the next one.

Negligence in this direction, by either master or pupil, will cause
delay, augment future difficulties and invariably compel them to return
to the lesson, which the pupil has failed to master.

In the early stages of instruction, the pupil should be taught intelli-
gently the causes for resistance and sometimes defence, "which is render-
ed by the horse, in opposition to the demands of the rider, and thus learn
to distinguish ill-will, sulkiness and obstinacy, from the instances,
where defects in build and conformation or lack of strength and en-
durance, make obedience an impossibility, at least for the time being,
and in this way the pupil will learn to discriminate between the use
of severity and kindness.

Throughout the course of instruction, the pupil must be aware of
the fact that the impressions, in reg-ard to their strength or mildness,
must be made in harmony with the individuality of the horse. The
simple application of this or that impression will seem insufficient with
one and adequate with another horse, and the all important cultivation
of feeling in the novice, depends largely upon the fact, that he is taught
from the beginning, to adapt the degree of his impressions, to the degree
of sensitiveness of the horse.

The practical part of the art of riding consists of the rules, which
the rider must observe for the purpose of maintaining his seat on horse-
back, and the rules, that teach the rider how to guide and master his
horse.

Accordingly, the contents of the practical art, may be expressed in
the terms, seat and guidance. The seat forms an indispensable fore-
study, as it constitutes the independence of body and limbs and entire
relaxation, which are conditional for a good and secure guidance and
we will now give our attention to the conditions of the seat.
THE ELEMENTS OF SEAT AND GUIDANCE.

The Seat consists of : 1st. The seat in particular. The body should
be placed in the saddle, where we have the feeling of being in the mid-
dle, and the limbs should embrace the saddle with the inner side of the
thighs, from the crotch to the point of the knee. The pupil should sit
as broadly and as deeply into the saddle as possible.

50

2nd. The grip : When the limbs are in the position above mentioned
their pressure against the saddle, from the crotch down to the knee
furnishes the grip or hold on the .saddle. The exertion of the grip
would at length fatigue the rider and exhaust his strength, and for this
reason it must be reserved for emergencies, when sudden or unexpected
movements or changes of direction by the horse require it.

3rd. The position. The position of a person on horseback should be
easy, but erect and commanding. The carriage of the head is of im.
portance, because of its influence upon the upper part of the body in
general. Head and neck should be carried erectly and straight upon
the shoulders, the latter should be dropped naturally and the upper
part of the arm rest against the sides of the body. The forearm should
be carried at about a right angle with the upper arm, when holding the
reins.

Tbe lower part of the limb, from the knee downward, and particu-
larly the calve of the leg, fulfill the office of making impressions upon
the flanks of the horse and are not intended to assist the rider in main"
taining his seat. They should be carried in a position to allow the
calve of the leg to feel the saddle flaps.

The position of the ankle and foot is of highest importance for the
security and correctness of the entire seat. The rule of carrying the
toes inward, which is so commonly applied by teachers of a military
training and experience, does not fill the requisites of an elegant and
easy position. The term "toes out and heels out," if properly under-
stood, ■would be of value for the grip, facilitating the impressions with
the calve of the leg and securing a better and easier hold upon the
stirrup. Turn the ankle so, that it assumes on the inner side a convex
shape toward the horse, -while the outer side is concave ; this, together
with a slight depression of the heel will bring the foot in a position
which prevents the stirrup from sliding under the instep, it will bring
the spur at a proper distance from the flank of the horse and insure the
position of the thigh, which is indispensable for a firm grip. The
muscles of the calve of the leg will, through the depression of the heel,
receive the requisite tension, and hardness necessary for their use.

A recent invention by Mr. "Wm. H. 13. Creagh with an improve-
ment by the author, have brought into existenee a stirrup which for
safety, comfort and reliability, so far excels any previous devise, that
no horseman can well afford to deprive himself of its advantages ; the
position in which this stirrup is suspended from the saddle, not only
facilitates the proper position of the foot and leg, but literally compels
the rider to place the lower leg and the thigh in the only correct position
for rest and grip. The simple invention of a little rubber pad which
may at -will be removed and replaced, the proportions of the stirrup are
such as to insure comfort, and absolutely guard against the danger of
being caught.

In my long experience I have found this to be the only position of
the leg, which under all circumstances proves satisfactory.

5i

The position of a person on horseback, may be compared to that on
a barrel, If the feet were carried under the barrel, it would be next to
impossible for them to support any of the riders weight, and such a
position would also loosen the grip of the thighs and bring the knee out
of position.

In making use of the grip on horseback, the stirrups in their correct
position, furnish a solid resistance for the foot and facilitate a greater
pressure of the thighs against the saddle, and the farther they are
brought from tinder the horse in such cases, the stronger will be their
support to the rider.

The stirrup should be held under the ball of the foot, this being the
position which affords the most elasticity and leverage for its various
uses.

4th. The balance : This is the most important factor of the seat and
consists of steadying the center of gravity of the rider in the saddle and
the distribution of the weight in conformity with the horses motion.
Balance should be chiefly the means of maintaing the seat and with
perfect balance, the rider will arrive at the complete relaxation of all
muscles, and natural grace and suppleness, which is so much admired
and so rarely found among persons, who for lack of balance, are obliged
to cling to their horses rigidly.

Stiffness prevents the fine feeling, so important in hand and seat,
which in equestrianism is as indispensable, as the ear in music.

The overtaxation of the body extends invariably to the brain and
prevents the rider from discriminating thoughtfully in the use of the
impressions to be made on the horse.

THE GUIDANCE.

The practical method by which we make ourselves understood to
the horse and the impressions, by which we influence and control its
carriage and movements, constitute the guidance.

The rider communicates with the trained horse by means of aids and
devides the horse for the purpose of g-uidance into two parts : The fore-
hand, or that part of the horse situated forward of the rider, is con-
trolled by the aids of reins ; the hindhand, or that part back of the rider
is under the control of the aids of legs.

The aids of reins control the carriage and position of the horses
head and neck ; they serve to stop and back the horse and guide the
forehand to the right or left by pull, pressure against the neck, or both.

The aids of legs urge the horse to go forward by pressure upon the
flanks and guide the hindhand to the right or left by exercising press-
ure upon one side, from which the horse recedes.
BAREBACK RIDING.

No practice will give to the young rider such perfect balance, inde-
pendence of the horse's 'motion and feeling of being at home on the horse,
as the riding without saddle and reins, and where time and circum-
stances afford the opportunity, it shotrld receive the most careful at-
tention. For this purpose the horse is equipped "with a vaulting

52

surcingle, provided with two grips and a snaffle bridle with check rein.
The snaffle reins are attached to the buckles of the surcingle and their
length regulates the position of the horses head.

The horse is held by the teacher at the longe, a line of about 21 feet
in length and the pupil is now mounted or if possible, vaults upon the
horse's back.

While standing still, a series of gymnastic exercises with body,
arms and legs, should be gone through, to make the pupil familiar with
his new position.

The horse is then urged to walk by the sign of the teachers whip,
starting upon the right hand, that is to the right, and the same exer-
cises of body and limbs are executed.

After a change from the right to the left and the repetition of the
gymnastics in the new direction, the horse is again made to change and
is now started at a very small trot, during the commencement of which
the pupil may be permitted to grasp the grips of the surcingle. The
same gymnastic exercises should be executed in a trot.

The object of these lessons is to establish confidence in the pupil and
create perfect relaxation and balance, and grip should be entirely out
of the question.

The speed of the horse therefore, should be carefully regulated, so
as to permit the maintenance of the seat without any exertion on the
part of the pupil and the lesson should be discontinued before the pupil
tires.

When the performance in walk, slow and medium trot give entire
satisfaction, the horse should be started at a moderate galop and the
gymnastic exercises repeated in this gait, upon the right and left hand.

The tossing of a ball and leaps over bars raised a little above the
ground, will assist in familiarizing the pupil with the actions of the
horse under various conditions.

Vaulting, or leaping on and off the horse, while in motion, adds
greatly to the agility and fearlessness of the rider and the knowledge
of the same, f 1 equently proves to be of valuable assistance in practical
experience.

THE MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING.

The horse is equipped -with the snaffle bridle and is saddled. The
pupil places the horse in the centre of the ring, straight upon all four
legs and perpendicularly to the wall, standing directly before and
facing the horse, while doing so and holding the snaffle reins closely by
the horses mouth, one in each hand.

The next function to be performed is the examination of bridle and
saddle as to their condition and adjustment.

Reins and headstall should be of sound condition and the snaffle bit
should rest against the corners of the mouth without gagging.

The stirrup straps, billets and girths of the saddle, should be whole
and the latter lie smoothly around the horse, about the width of two
hands behind the elbow ; farther back, the girths would encircle the

53

false ribs and with the relaxation of the body, after a short time become
loose. The girths should be so tight as to permit the passing- ^^p and
down of a flat hand between them and the horse ; too tightly girthed
horses often resent the pain caused thereby, by overthrowing them-
selves or by buck-jumping, and too loose a saddle is not only liable to
turn during the act of mounting, but its unsteady position may cause
galling and soreness of the withers or back by friction.

The adjustment of the length of the stirrups now requires our at-
tention,

Starting on the left side, the pupil stands by the left shoulder of the
horse and passes the left arm from above through the left rein, leaving it
to hang over their elbow.

The right hand pulls down the left stirrup and places the stirrup
iron into the left hand, where it is held from underneath by four fingers.
The right arm and hand is now laid outstretched upon the stirrup-strap
and the foot plate raised under the right arm pit by the left hand. The
length of the stirrup should cover the distance from the tip of the mid-
dle finger of the right hand, to the arm pit.

After the final measurement has proved the correctness of the stir-
rup, the latter should be carefully lowered by the left hand to its hanging
position, because the throwing down or dropping of the stirrup iron,
may cause it to strike against the side of the horse and frighten the
latter.

The pupil now proceeds to adjust the right stirrup in exactly the
same manner, exchanging right for left and left for right in the use of
hands and arms.

Then the position before the horse's head is resumed and raising the
same with both hands, a final glance at both stirrups will convince the
pupil of their equal length.

The preparations for mounting are now completed and the pupil steps
closely to the horses left shoulder.

The reins are laid upon the withers of the horse and the riders left
hand is placed upon the ridge of the horse's neck, where the mane
grows abundantly, about on the lower third of the neck, with the back
of the hand downward and the palm opened and upward.

The right hand now crosses the reins through the left hand, first
drawing the right one and then the left one through the palm of the left
hand, sufficiently tight, to prevent the horse from moving during the
act of mounting. It will be of advantage, to have the right rein
slightly shorter, in order to prevent the horse's turning to the left, in
case the point of the foot should touch its side when placed in the stir-
rup or if the riders weight should draw the horse to the left while be-
ing raised to a standing position.

After the crossing of the reins a full bunch of mane is grasped with
the right hand, beginning by the roots and placed from below through
the palm of the left hand and drawing it around the thumb between
i he middle and ring finger, where upon the left hand is closed, firmly
holding the mane and reins. The advantage of holding the mane in

54

this fashion, lies in the possibility of releasing it instantly by simply
opening- the hand, if a sudden movement of the horse should require it,
while the repeated twisting of the hair around the thumb may cause
entanglement.

The pupil will now step backward toward the horse's head, suffici-
ently to permit the raising in a stretched position of the left leg, of
which the foot is placed fully into the stirrup from the outside, that is
the opening turned away from the horse, The latter movement should
be executed -without the aid of the right hand.

The rider's body is now swung around before the saddle, by aid of
the hold on the mane and a spring from the right foot, and the right
hand grasps the cantle of the saddle in the middle, opposite the pommel.

The left knee rests against the saddle flap and the lower part of the
leg is in a perpendicular position, parallel with the right leg.

A spring from the right foot, assisted by a slight pull from both
hands, brings the rider in a standing position upon the left stirrup,
where he assumes an erect attitude, dividing his weight upon both
hands and the stirrup. The rising into this position should be done
quickly and chiefly by springing from the right foot, in order to pre-
vent displacement of the saddle or disturbance in the equilibrium of the
horse.

The right hand is now carried forward to the beginning of the sad-
dle puff, to the right of the pommel, thtts keeping the saddle in its place,
and the right leg is raised straight and side wise above the height of the
horses back, then passed over the same down to the right saddle flap,
where the rider pauses for a moment and then gently lowers himself
into the seat.

Falling into the saddle will startle young, nervous or sensitive
animals, cause them to rush f orward and eventually make them rear ;
at all events it will inspire them with anything but confidence in the
rider, and in some instances it will require days, to overcome the fear
caused thereby, particularly -with colts, or horses with weak backs.

Upon being seated, the right foot takes the stirrup in the manner
described for the left one and the mane is then dropped by partly open-
ing and raising the left hand and brushed down smoothly with the
right. "*>

The right hand grasps the right rein from above, inserting the
fingers between the rein and the horses neck, the back of the hand
turned to the latter, where upon the reins are separated and the ends
turned over the index finger of each hand and the thumb being laid
over the ends to prevent slipping.

The original position of the hands is the perpendicular one and the
one most natural if the arm is carried resting against the body just be-
fore the hips and from the elbow forward.

The measurement of the stirrup as described before mounting is
usually, but not always correct and depends upon the length of the leg,
in proportion to that of the arm.

55

If, after mounting, we drop the stirrups and let the legs hang loose-
ly by the sides of the horse, the stirrup plate should reach to the upper
edge of the riders heel and the time has now come for the final adjust-
ment of the same.

The reins are given crosswise into one hand, while the other on its
own side raises the stirrup by pulling the end strap upward sufficiently
to undo the buckle and leaving the foot to keep a slight tension upon
the stirrup, we shorten or lengthen the same to the proper measure,
rebuckling it with the aid of the index finger and then replace the
buckle tinder the saddle quarter.

Care should be taken, that during this operation the leg remains
outstretched and away from the horses flank or shoulder, so as not to
start or disturb the horse by involuntary impressions.

The teacher will do well to assist the pupil in assuming the correct
seat and position, not only by thoroughly explaining and demonstrating
the same ; but also by actually placing the pupils limbs and feet in the
desired position with his hands.

Before going further, we would draw the attention of every pupil
to a point of vital importance, that is the absolute necessity of the horses
standing perfectly still, while being mounted. Under no circumstances
should the horse be permitted to stir until the rider has settled on its
back and only when the aids are applied, the horse should start.

Kvery attempt of the horse to leave the spot, where it has been
placed by the rider to be mounted, should be corrected by reestablish-
ing the original position, which should be emphasized by a most decisive
use of the voice and a stro Icing of the forehead and patting of the neck
-with the right hand, while the left one holds the reins.

If half a dozen attempts and the use of kindness have proved a fail-
ure, one cut -with the whip on the side, toward which the horse is
inclined to move, will bring it back in the position desired and again we
speak kindly and encouragingly, but firmly to the horse before making
another attempt to mount.

When the rider has the left foot in the stirrup and the right hand
on the cantle of the saddle, he will do "well to pat the horse on the back
and under the body behind the girth, to take away any fear of the touch
of the foot and to inspire confidence,

The most critical moment for a voluntary start is the time, when
the riders right hand has been placed on the saddle puff ard the right
leg is in the act of swinging over the horse's back, a sudden rush or
turn while the rider is in this position may result in disaster. For this
reason I recommend a pause after each movement in mounting and ex-
perience teaches, that the quiet and systematic proceeding of the rider
is imparted to the horse, and the understanding between the latter and
its master, will lead to satisfactory and lasting results.

Horses which show an inclination to buck, by raising their backs
before mounting and such who inflate themselves against the pressure
of the girths, should be backed a number of steps and then led forward
again, before being mounted.

In dismounting, the rider follows the same instructions, as for
mounting, reversing the order.

Lecture IV.

STARTING AND STOPPING.

When properly mounted, the pupil prepares the horse to start at
the command "walk forward," by -urging the same with the pressure
of both calves directly behind the girth, at the same time increasing the
tension on the reins by more firmly closing the fingers and a slight
downward bend of the wrist.

This aid of the leg should not consist of a simple hugging of the
horse's flank, but of a repeated pulsation or swinging, commencing from
the knee down and executed with the heel in a depressed position.

The strength of the aid depends upon the sensitivness of the horse
and the slighest degree should here, as in all cases, where aids of the
legs are required be applied, gradually increasing in force, until re-
sponded to.

The horse, when urged in this manner, will throw its weight for-
ward and take hold of the bit.

At the command "march " the tension on the reins is slightly less-
ened by relaxation of the fingers and the horse walks.

Upon reaching the wall of the ring, the pupil turns the horse to the
right by pressing upon the right rein from the wrist and then continues
upon the right hand along the wall, on the track or within one yard of
the wall.

The pupil should from the beginning be cautioned against the com-
mon mistake of looking down upon his horse's neck and his hands,
which in the course of time will injure his carriage and position in
general, and the exhaustion, which so frequently follows at the close
of the first lessons should be guarded against by complete relaxation
and the avoidance of an unnecessarily tight grip upon the reins and
sadddle.

The rider should see straight ahead in the direction, which he
intends to follow.

By sitting loosely and deeply into the saddle the pupil should learn
to feel the movements of the four legs of the horse and in the course of
time to be able, to distinguish the motions of each leg, fore and hind
separately. The development of this feeling is of great importance and
is best and soonest accomplished by letting the pupil count "one" ac-
companying the lifting and setting of the four feet.

The active riding or prompting of the horses every motion, in oppo-
sition to the passive riding, or simple existence on horseback should
also be insisted upon at once by adopting a certain cadence, tempo or
rvthm for the gait of the horse and by calling upon the pupil to main-
tain the evenness or cause the changes of the same.

In order to stop, the rider will again urge the horse to take hold of
the bit by the pressure of both legs and then gradully increase the
tension on the reins, until the horse is brought to a standstill, when the
reins shotild be relaxed.

57

The distribution of the rider's weight, which will later, when
treating on the guidance of the horse, be found to play a very important
part among the aids of weight, is now to be considered as a means of
maintaining the riders balance, the latter being at present the sole ob-
ject of the lessons.

In starting as well as -in stopping, the riders weight should go with
the horse, leaning slightly forward in the first instance until the horse
is in motion and reclining before the stop when the command "halt" is
given.

In regard to commands given during the instruction, we would say,
that they are necessary, when more than one rider is instructed at
the same time, in order to insure the uniform execution of the lessons
and becatise they ftirnish to the teacher the proof, that the pupil is
capable of prompting bis horse to certain movj.nents at a moment
given by him.

The commands should also express in the way they are given, the
space of time, required for their execution. Two commands are usually
given, the first intended to prepare the rider for the evolution or the so
called "preparatory command," the second, or executive command," for
the execution.

The starting, stopping and turning of the horse, necessitate the ap-
plication of the aids of the reins, legs and weight, and the executive
command "march" should be given slowly and the voice, in cases,
where a start or increase of speed is required, should be raised, and
lowered when a decrease of speed or a standstill is demanded. This is
not unimportant, because the call for decisive action or gentle and
gradual impressions lies in the nature of the command and the pupil
will instinctively suit the degree of his aids to the manner, in which he
is called upon to give them.

After having ridden for a number of rounds upon the right hand,
the pupil at the command "change" crosses the ring diagonally and ar-
riving at the opposite wall covers an equal number of rounds upon the
left hand.

It is necessary, that all lessons without any exceptions, should be
divided equally upon the right and left hand, thus developing the agility
of the rider in both directions.

The pupil will now change again going diagonally upon the right
hand and then urge his horse into a slow trot, by increased pressure of
the legs.

EXERCISES OF BALANCE IK A TROT.
The motion of the horses legs in a trot is a diagonal one, the right
front leg and the left hind leg, and the left front leg -with the right hind
leg, being raised and set down simultaneously.

The jolting, which accompanies the trotting motion of the horse,
causes the rider to be thrown slightly upward from the saddle, and the
shock which he receives in regaining his seat after each step, should be
lessened bythe tension of the foot upon the stirrup, the elasticity of the
ankle joint and a moderate grip of the thighs upon the saddle. The use

58

of stirrup and grip should be limited to the amount neccesary for the
comfort of the rider and the latter should endeavor to maintain his seat
chiefly by balance.

The " close trot. " sometimes termed " military trot, " should be
practiced by all beginners until their body, legs and arms are thorough-
ly independent of the horse's motion and the pupil is able to retain the
stirrup under the ball of the foot.

The close trot enables the rider to feel and understand the motions
of the horse and is the best agent for the attainment of a perfect balance.

During each lesson, the pupil should trot for a limited time with-
out stirrups, crossing the same over the pommel of the saddle upon the
horse's shoulders. Balance being the only object of this method, the
rider should abstain wholly from the use of the grip, giving himself up
completely to the horse's motion and leaving the legs hang loosely by
the sides.

One or two rounds upon both the right and left hand will suffice at
first, until the pupil has begun to feel at ho:n j ia the sadlk, when the
time of the exercise as well as the speed may be gradually increased. If
the trot without stirrups is continued too long or too violently, the pupil
will become exhausted and the benefit of this most valuable exercise is
lost.

During the turns around the corners, the riders weight should be
sufficiently brought toward the inside or centre of the ring.

THE AIDS.

The aids, which control the carriage, the position and the move-
ments of the horse are based upon the law of gravitation, the action of
the centrifugal and centripetal forces and the force of leverage.

They are applied, with regard to the anatomical construction and
the understanding of the horse, and consist of the aids of reins, legs and
weight,

"We divide the aids of reins and legs into the in and outside-aids,
calling the side toward the centre of the ring, or that side, toward which
the horse moves, the inside ; the other, near the wall, or the one, away
from which the horse moves, the outside.

The inside rein performs three functions ; First it is the " rein of
connection " it should maintain an uninterrupted communication, be-
tween the riders hands and the horse's mouth, depending as to the
amount of tension, upon the individuality of the horse. All impressions
of the inside rein is given directly backward and it should lean
against the lower third of the horses neck, there being no instance in
the art of riding, where the inside rem is pulled away from the neck.
It tends in its position to steady the lower part of the neck. Second,
it is the " rein of position." Its fixes the head in its vertical and lat-
eral position and controls the flexions of the neck. Because of the
former two functions, it is also, third, the"rein of guidance". It prepares
the forehand for all evolutions by giving the head and neck their de-
sired position and begins in so doing the guidance of the horse.

59

The outside rein has many duties to perform and varies greatly in
tension and position, It is instrumental in making1 the horses mouth
sensible to the impressions of the bit and in creating the desirable act-
ivity of the same, by alternately taking and giving, that is pulling and
letting loose. It is the means of preventing a false or crooked position
of the head or flexion of the neck, by counteracting the effects of the in-
side rein. It elevates the neck and is used as an aid of weight in guid-
ance, by its pressure against the neck, A very important office of the
outside rein lies in its action upon the hindhand ; a pull of the rein
away from the neck, thai is backward-sidewise, will have in conse-
quence the movement of the hindhand in the opposite direction.

One rein must not be pulled, without the resistance of the other suf-
ficiently, to prevent the shifting of the bit in the mouth.

The aids of legs control the hindhand of the horse by pressing
either combinedly upon the flanks and by so doing cause the forward
motion, or by moving the hindhand sidewise, making it recede from
the pressure of a single leg.

The centrifugal force tends, during the act of turning, to throw
the hindhand out from the centre of the circle, on part of which the
horse turns, thus depriving it of the support of its hind legs and the
danger of slipping and falling, which is caused thereby, increases
with the speed.

In order to secure the equilibrium of horse and rider and the safe
execution of any turn, we must create a centripetal basis or pivot by
approaching the centre of the curve, on which the horse turns, with
the inside hind leg, doing so in an increased measure, the shorter and
the quicker the turn is to be executed. The outside, leg of the rider
is for this purpose applied behind the saddle girth and thus we
compel the hindhand to describe a narrower circle, than the forehand,
assisting the function of the leg by that of the outside rein in the man.
ner described above.

The tension required for the aids of reins increases with the speed
and the maintenance of the tempo or rythm, is dependent xipon the
urging aids of the riders inside leg applied upon the girth,

Before all turns, the gait should be shortened without altering the
tempo, that is by causing the steps, or strides to be higher and shorter
through a more forcible application and more frequent repetition of the
aids of legs and an increased tension of the reins.

All turns should be executed gradually, that is, on a curve of at
least the length of a horse, or three paces, because too short, abrupt or
violent a turn would be apt to sprain and injure the horse and eventu-
ally throw it.

We will adopt the following formula for the simple turning of the
horse : The inside rein commences to turn, the outside rein governs
the radius of the circle, on part of which we turn, the inside leg urges
the horse during the act of turning and the outside leg prevents the
croup from falling out and establishes the centripetal basis in the turn.

6o

t

The riders -weight should be kept in perfect balance with the horse,
by inclining toward the inside of the turn.

Seen from birdseye view, the horse, from head to tail should be
bent throughout as the line, on which it turns.

IDEAL. ACTUAL.

CURVES OF HORSES BODY DURING TURN.

The various functions and results of the aids are best demonstrated
to the pupil, when the horse is at a standstill, and we will begin this by
demonstrating first the guidance of the forehand.

The position of the riders hands as we have already said, should be
vertical and close together, so as to enclose and steady the horse's neck
in its lower parts, between the two reins. The distance at which the
hands are held from the riders body, depends entirely upon the position
of the horse's head and neck, and should be such, that the horse can be
controlled and brought to a standstill, without compelling the hands to
move backward or past the riders sides. If a horse carried its neck
low and the head and neck fully outstretched it will be necessary that
the rider should hold the reins so short that a sudden raising of the
neck and bending in of the head, will not find him unprepared and 'with
his hands at his hips, but if the horse's neck is originally well elevated
and the head drawn in the vertical position, the hands may be carried
within four or six inches of the body and the tightening of the reins, by
simply closing the hand more firmly and a slight downward bend of the
wrist, will suffice to stop the horse.

The carriage of the horse is of great importance for the equilibrium
of its body and consequently for the safety of the rider. A correct
position aids in balancing the horse and facilitates the management of
the same,

Experiments made by General Morris of the Imperial French Caval-
ry, aided by the well known master and author Baucher and the veter-
inarian Bellanger, very clearly demonstrate the distribution of weight
in the horse's body in different positions as follows:

Two platform scales are used for the purpose and placed closely
together ; the front legs of the horse are placed on one, the hind legs on
the other scale so that the diagonals drawn from the right front leg to
the left hind leg and from the left front leg to the right hind leg, cross
just above the division between the scales.

61

The specimen is a little saddle mare, pretty regularly conformed,
except that the head and neck is slightly heavy in proportion with the
rest of the body; she was saddled and bridled and held immovably ; the
scales showed the following- results: Forehand, 4469-10, Hindhand,
3703-iolbs. Total weight, 817-2 -lo. lbs. Overcharge of the Forehand, 76 G-iO lbs
or l-li to l-lo of the total weight.

There was a swaying of the scales of 6.2 to 10.6 pounds, which was
caused by the motion of the internal parts, resulting from respiration
and which favored alternately fore and hindhand.

Now the mare's head was lowered until the point of the nose was
on a level with the chest, the result was : Forehand, 463 9-10 lbs. Hind-
hand, 353 3-10 lbs. Total weight, 81 7 2-10 lbs- Overcharge of the forehand,
1106-10 lbs.or 1-8 to 1-7 of total weight.

When hereafter the head and neck were elevated until the point of
the nose had reached the height of the withers, the scales indicated tlms:
Forehand, 429 9.10 lbs- Hindhand, 387 3-10 lbs. Total weight, 817 2-10 lbs.
Overcharge of the forehand, 42 6-10 lbs. or 1-20 to 1-19 of total weight.

Those results show clearly the overcharge of the forehand and
demonstrate, that the centre of gravity does not fall in the centre of the
rectangle, which is formed by the lines connecting the four feet of the
horse. They also prove, that the more the horse's head is elevated, be it
by natural conformation or the riders hand, the more equally the weight
of the head and neck will be distributed over all four legs of the horse-

It follows, that for the safety of the rider as well as for the preser-
vation of the horse's front legs, the rider should unload the forehand as
much as possible, by drawing the weight of the head and neck upward
and backward. The pupil will therefore raise the horse's neck by the
elevation of both hands and then lower the hofse's head in the vertical
position by an increased tension of both reins and a lowering of the
hands. It is to be remarked here, that it is not the duty of the rider to
bring about the desired position by main force, but by giving the reins
more or less tension and waiting the yielding of the horse, after 'which
they are to be relaxed.

The position of the head and neck is of vital importance for the con-
trol of the horse, and the flexibility of these parts depends iipon the
angle formed by the head and neck and upon the angle under which
the rein operates upon the mouth. If the horse's head and neck are out-
stretched to their full length as it is seen with race horses at full speed,
the horse is beyond the immediate control of die rider and this applies
more or less to all positions of these parts where the angle is obtuse or
more than DO degrees. The same may be said of the position which is
caused by the neck being curved downward from the withers and the
head bent under so that the horse's mouth rests against the chest. In
the first instance the angle of the reins and the horse's head will be too
acute, in the latter case too obtuse to have the leverage necessary for
the control of the horse.

The lines formed by the horse's neck, head and reins should consti-
tute a right-angled triangle and the face line should stand perpendicu-
larly to the ground.

62

The resistance offered by the horse to the impressions of the bit
"which is commonly termed the hard mouth, but which originates in
the stiffness of the neck and its connection -with the head, is thereby
broken and the forehand is under the control of the rider.

The obedience and sensibility to the aids of reins is further secured
by giving the horse's head a lateral position to the rig-ht or left, suffici-
ently to bring- the eye and nostril of one or the other side in view of the
rider. In doing this the vertical position of the head must be main-
tained and the lateral position limited to a bend of the articulation
bet^ween the atlas and the dentata, which is caused by an increased
pressure upon either rein, while the other resists sufficiently to prevent
a bend of the neck or a motion of the horse to the right or left.

It remains now to demonstrate the effect of the riders leg upon the
flank other than for the purpose of urging the horse to go and the pupil
will cause the hindhand to recede a few steps from the right and left
leg alternately, preventing the horse from starting at the same time by
sufficient restraint with the reins, keeping the horse's neck firmly en-
closed between both reins.

We shall enter thoroughly upon the details of the above when the
pupil will have advanced sufficiently to give his attention chiefly to the
guidance of the horse in its more refined phases.

Equipped with a good understanding of the aids and their applica-
tion taught so far, the pupil -will now continue the exercises of balance,
not only upon straight lined but also in the execution of a few simple
evolutions requiring changes of direction.

All evolutions which the pupil is called upon to perform in a walk,
both for the pvirpose of balance and guidance, must be executed with a
view of being repeated in a trot and in a galop, and therefore the pupil
should be prevailed upon to apply the aids conscientiously and to exer-
cise as much care in the most simple as in the more difficult lessons.

The first turns which present themselves to the pupil are the four
corners of the ring which must now be entered into and passed through
correctly. About two horse-lengths before the corner the step of the
horse is too shortened nnd the natural inclination of the horse to cut the
corner is to be overcome Dy holding the inside rein more firmly against
the neck and by an increased tension on the outside rein. The pull
which is thus caused on both reins would tend to slacken the tempo of
the walk, and for this reason we urge the horse by repeated pressure
of the inside leg, which is to be continued throughout the turn. We
have now arrived at the corner and turn the horse Dy giving increased
pressure to the inside rein through a closing of the hand and a bend in
the wrist so that the little finger of the inside hand points downward,
backward and toward the wall, at the same time pressing gently with
the outside rein against the neck, raising for that purpose the outside
hand above the inside one.

The outside leg performs during the turn the duty of preventing

63

the hindhand from falling out by repeatedly pressing against the flank
behind the girth.

After the turn has been executed hands and legs resume their
original positions.

The apparent simplicity of this lesson must not lead the pupil to
treat it superficially, and though the chief object of it lies in the pre-
paration of the same lesson for a trot -when it will prove a valuable
means of giving balance to the rider, it also furnishes the first idea of
guidance and teaches the pupil to distribute his weight in accordance
with the motion of the horse.

The success of the entire instruction lies in the most precise com-
prehension and execution of numberless details, and the teacher must
insist that the rules which are once given to, and understood by the
pupil are adhered to strictly. The performance of every single detail
and the final combination and harmonious application of all details will
alone make the whole successful.

The pupil can of course not be expected to memorize on horseback
a stock of numberless facts and details of instruction however well
they may have been understood at the time when they were given ;
if this were possible comparatively few lessons would suffice to educate
a talented pupil and this is why I insist on being thoroughly systematic
in my instruction, erecting one lesson upon the other and making the
possibility of one depending upon the understanding of the other.

I would compare the education of the novice to the erection of a
building where one stone is placed upon the other, their position depend-
ing upon each other. "We cannot build a little of the foundation, a little
of the roof and insert the intermediate parts at times to suit our fancy ;
likewise the rider must master the fundamental principles unquestion-
ably if he intends to make a success of that which is based upon them.

SIMPhK TURNS.

"We now proceed with the straight turns to the right and left, from
one wall to a point directly opposite at the other wall, such as the turn
from the middle of the long wall to the middle of the long wall opposite,
thus dividing the ring in two halves and through the centre line from
short wall to short wall.

The commands for these turns are "right turn" or "left turn,
March! " In the execution of these turns it is important that the actual
turning of the horse should cover a curve of three paces or one horse
length; too short a turn under the present distribution of weight over the
horse's four legs, would be likley to cause a wrench or sprain, par-
ticularly when executed in gaits faster than a "walk.

The diagonal changes from right to left or from the right to the left
hand, must now be executed with precision ; leaving one side after pass-
ing the first corner for two horse lenghts and arriving at the other side
two horse lengths before the second corner.

The repetition of these exercises, together with the lessons in bah
ancing, previously described, should be continued until the pupil has

64

become thoroughly familiar with their details and they should be
practised both with and without stirrups.

Before attempting to turn the horse in a trot, the pupil should be
able to make a distinction between the tempos of this gait.

For the ordinary exercises of balance, the slow and medium tempos
are the most serviceable and the pupil may, when he has become suffi-
ciently well balanced, allow the horse to trot freely.

During the execution of all turns the horse should be gathered to a
short trot, that is restrained with the reins, to shorten the steps and at
the same time urged with the legs to maintain an active tempo ; by so
doing the horse will be prompted to lift his legs higher and make
shorter strides.

The changes from one tempo to another, .by alternately ^lrging and
restraining the horse, must be practiced extensively and then the
simple turns which have been executed in a walk, may be repeated in
a trot, with and without stirrups,

ROUND TURKS.

When the pupil thoroughly comprehends and masters the straight
turns, we proceed with the round turns or turns on circles, beginning
with a large circle to the right.

For this purpose we select upon either end of the ring, a portion
constituting a perfect square and in this square describe a circle
mathematically correct, of which the circumference touches upon the
middle of each side of the sqtiare.

Riding upon a circle requires constant turning of the horse, how-
ever slight, and the entire body of the horse, trom head to tail, should
be bent like the circumference of the eirele on which it moves.

The aids which have been applied in the straight turns, during the
actual execution of the turn, are now to be used continually and the
weight of the rider inclines toward the centre of the circle.

The command for the execution of the circle is "on a large circle to
the right" (left) "March ! ".

In changing the direction at the command "change circle" the pupil
will leave the original circle, where the circumference touches the
imaginary wall or open side of the square and diagonally crossing the
ring will gain the other end and there describe a circle of the same
radius to the left. The position of hands and legs changes as the new
direction is assumed.

We next change the direction at the command "in the circle change,"
by describing two half circles along the diameter of the large circle of
which the radius is 1-4 of the radius of the large circle. Beginning at
the point where the circumference of the circle touches the -wall, the
pupil performs a semi-circle to the centre and there changing the
position of the horse by reversing the aids of reins and legs, describes
another semi-circle on the other side of the diameter, to the point oppo-
site from where he originally started, thus describing a capital S.

' It will be well, that the pupil at first should stop the horse upon ar-
riving at the point of changing the direction and at a standstill cause
the horse to assume the position required for the opposite direction,
until horse and rider have been made to understand each other suffi-
ciently, and sufficient balance has been acquired to effect these changes
without any violent motions of arms legs or body.

05
Lecture V.

HORSE TRAINING.

The training' school of the old masters does not enjoy the same
universal recognition among the sportsmen of to-day, which it received,
at the time when the highest achievements in horse training were popu-
larly appreciated, and when Princes of the European Courts and distin-
guished representatives of society coveted horsemanship among the first
of their chivalrous accomplishments.

The so called old school is almost extinct ; the art of riding as a fine
art degenerated and its disciples are few. The protectors and promot-
ers of this knightly sport, have almost died out and with them the taste
for cultured equitation.

The celebrated schools, from which graduated excellent masters,have
almost ceased to exist, and the modern productions in the field of eques-
trianism, bear but a faint resemblance to the character of the beautiful
art, which, sad to say, is to many but a cherished remembrance, to the
majority, an idea, entirely foreign.

If, instead of blindly following an unenviable, but large majority
into the field of anglomania, we do but try to search for the causes of so
remarkable a change, we can easily find them in the facts, that the the-
ories, the practical value of high school riding and a great many tech-
nical terms of the old school are superficially treated and misunderstood
by so called men of my profession, who in ttirn flood the minds of their
pupils with misinterpretations and falsehoods.

I frequently hear such expressions as ; " "What do we want, with
high school riding, with its collected trots and little gallops? What for
this everlasting ring riding, which is but a waste of time and perspir-
ation? Wrhat we want, is speed and riding out doors and over ditches
and hurdles etc. "

Never having ridden a thoroughly flexed horse, not being taught
better by his teacher and not inclined to study any literature on the
subject or to make personal observations, the ptipil lacks all compre-
hension of the purpose of the schools, which are only meant to be the
means of developing the cross country horse.

"It is too bad, about the time lost — they say to-day — shrugging their
shoulders over the Spanish trot, the time wasted over such unnecessary
efforts, a thankless art, which only brings horses behind the bit" are
their words. But when they have occasion to buy a horse, that shows
disposition to go in the Spanish trot, or has already been educated to it,
such a horse is praised as a wonderful animal, it is ridden only where
the most spectators are gathered and his value is doubled. In the mean
time it remains an open question, whether the horse only floats behind
the i-ein, in consequence of weakness, or too great a tension in neck,
back and haunches, or only paddles out in. front dragging its hind legs
after. As a rule, the latter is the case, and the horse is one, that is least
adapted to go correctly according to the schools and requires enormous
labor to produce active and elastic motions.

66

Often do we hear so called hunters spoken of in boastful tones :
'A splendid hunter," they say of many a crude disobedient animal, if
only once he has rolled among the herd over a few ditches and fences,
which he would have done as well without the rider simply following
in the company of his kind. But how, if the rider -were called upon tp
cover the same course alone? At the first ditch already, the horse
■would say "So far and no further." I call a splendid hunter that
horse, which before over following' the hounds, has, with apparent
pleasure and well calculated effort taken obstacles of all descriptions.

It has already been mentioned, that collected gaits are thought of
as being useless, but they are also said to, be destructive to cross
country gaits, first, because they undermine long strides, and secondly
because the horse grows firmer and harder in hand. Such critics
mistake the collected gaits for spoiled and shortened ones, which are
produced by restraining the horse with the reins only, but without £he
urging aids of the riders limbs. By this, short, low and dragging
movements are produced, without action and swing and freedom and
}east of all the desired lowering of the haunches and elevation of the
forehand.

The undesirable hardening in the hand at this occasion has tWQ
reasons, first, if a horse is only restrained in front and the hind hand is
not brought forward, the entire neck is sunk and the horse becomes
ever lower in front and higher in back, consequently lies in the riders
hand and pulls. But this mistaken proceeding can certainly not be
compared -with the true collection; secondly, when both ends of the
horse, head and hind hand are simultaneously gathered, a pressure is
created, •which manifests itself at once by a stronger leaning in the
hand and an increased tension in the seat ; but which is a sign, that the
right method has been chosen. As soon as the ignorant horseman has
reached this point, he -will discontinue the lesson, thinking that, should
he persist, the horse would only grow firmer and harder instead of

67

lighter and more pliable. But if he goes on, becoming more and more
steady and passive in his hand, but all the more active in his limbs
urging- the horse and gradually exercising a depressing influence u pon
the hind hand, he will find, that the horse will yield in both neck and
haunches, becoming flexible in the joints of the same and only now the
purpose of collection is achieved. The horse has through it acquired
that most beautiful quality of true looseness, all muscles and joints
work in free elasticity, even though this quality had by nature not ex.
isted at all.

Kow the horse carries himself, the reins have but a slight tension
and the moment haS arrived when the rider may ride, figuratively
speaking without reins, not having to fear, that his horse will roll along
on his forehand, and become ruined on his limbs, which is an unavoid-
able consequence, when the reins were given loose by the rider, until
all connection had ceased and the looseness and stretching of the entire
vertebral column has been enforced by long trots and galops continued
to the fatigue of the horse, in consequence of which the muscles become
slack, the horse goes on its joints and each leg goes by itself.

I am sorry to say, that this system has gained more ground than
one would think and we see many horses in the first month of their
training in a horrible condition of unnatural conformation and strained
tendons and joints, which is frequently and foolishly charged to the
breeding of the animal. Of course, if one would commence the training
of a crude horse, which is naturally behind the bit, with riding of col-
lected gates, nothing more injurious could be attempted.

If we concede, that institutions, which train competent masters are
growing fewer and fewer in number, it is a natural consequence, that
teachers and trainers worthy of the title "master" are rapidly decreas-
ing in proportion, and that professional positions must needs be filled
with men of freeruently very limited experience.

Few buyers understand it or will take the pains, of giving to
their horses a thorough education, and how few have the patience or are'
willing to expend the money, to leave their mounts in the hands of a
professional horseman for the time required. That time, necessary to
give careful and complete training to a young horse without injuring
the same, a training, which will last the life time of the horse, can by
no means be less than twelve months.

Many are of the opinion, that highly bred horses are for ordinary
use too high strung, and we must admit that there are now more horseS
of vehement temperament, than formerly ; bcca^ise first of all the causes
are not so easily removed on account of the downfall of the art of riding,
and secondly, because awkward hands will irritate and spoil horses so
inclined. The fact remains, that a saddle horse cannot be too well bred
to comply in speed, strength and durability with all reqtiirements.

It is of course to everyone, who has a disinclination to think, more
comfortable to join the chorus of professional fakirs, who hide their
ignorance by denouncing every thing, which their narrow horizon Can

68

not grasp, and to drag- in the dust and ridicule that, which to accomplish
they cannot even arouse their dull spirts to attempt.

The public though, who is benefited by correct instruction and well
trained horses deserves to be enlightened on a subject, which is to
every horseman of the greatest importance.

What does the term training a saddle horse imply? First, the phys-
ical development of the horse, such as will fit it as well as nature
permits for a destined purpose. Second, the generation of strength,
flexibility and endurance. Third, +he development of grace and beauty
of form and motion by adding to the natural faculties of the horse the
refined influence of artistic training. Fourth, the creation of a perfect
understanding between horse and rider, and the subsequent uncondi-
tional surrender of the first, to the will and impressions of the latter.

The term School riding and School training, the high schoooland the
schools above the ground, are, though very plain and to the point, rarely
understood.

They simply involve a series of schools or lessons which follow
each other systematicaly according to the nature of the horse and the
purpose for which it is intended. It is necesssary that we " as trainers''
must understand the anatomy and the physiology of the horse in order
to appreciate difficulties and obstacles which nature has sometimes put
in our way.

The disposition and the degree of sensitiveness of the horse, his age
and breeding must also be considered.

The existence of this or that weakness or natural advantage is next
of importance.

Talents and inclinations for this or that school will lead in no slight
degree to remarkable results in the hands of the trainer, who discovers
them.

All horses have that, which art and training claim as their work,
in them by nature and there are strictly speaking no artificial gaits.

Any one who has ever seen a horse turned loose and left to perfect
freedom, must have seen the majestic movements of a Spanish trot ex-
ecuted by the animal, even if it had never been ridden at all.

Any one who has seen colts enjoy their youth and liberty has seen
them perform pirouettes tipon their haunches, such as only good riders
on well trained horses could reproduce.

Furthermore we have all seen the difficult feats of the school above
the ground shown by horses who, feeling the unrestraint of perfect free-
dom will leap and kick, rear and plunge out ot pure delight. The weight of
rider, the tightly girthed saddle, the bits in the mouth and the con.
seiousness of being subject to human will, first prevent these voluntary
evolutions.

It is the object in training the horse, to subordinate every faculty
with which nature has so lavishly endowed it, to the comfort, use,
pleasure and safety of the rider.

To those who sneer ignorantly at the Spanish step, the redop (galop
on the spot) the piaffe or the capriole I would say this: why do athletes
go through such exercises as air springs, somersaults and others? Cer-

69

tainly not to perform these feats in public or at social receptions ; but
because they tend to supple all their muscles and loose all their j oints.

The training of the horse, like that of the athelete perfects and
strengthens the entire system and every organ in all its functions and
enables it to perform extraordinary work, when occasion demands it.

Some of these evolutions are so full of beauty and grace and dem-
onstrate so clearly the purpose to which they serve, that they give
delight to every intelligent onlooker, when seen at exhibitions.

The principles which guide the course of training are :

First, to bring the horse with confidence on the bit, that is, to create
in the horse, the desire to go forward and willingly to accept the tension
of the reins ; this is the foundation of all gentleness tinder the saddle,
and until this has been accomplished the trainer should not proceed
further.

Second, the forehand of the horse should be built up, the neck and
head should be elevated and the shoulders freely developed.

Third, next we begin to collect the horse and to lower its haunches
advancing its hind legs under the centre of gravity, and then we flex
thoroughly all parts of the horse bringing it under thorough com-
mand of reins and limbs.

It is not the purpose of this lecture to treat in detail on the course of
training about which volumes could be and have been written , my in-
tention is only, to check — if possible — the headless and senseless haste
in a matter, which, requires and is worthy of serious consideration.
THE TRAINING OF THE HORSE AT HAND.

The training of the horse at hand, in other -words, the preparation of
the horse on foot, for the service of the rider, is a branch of horse train-
ing, which in this country is almost unknown.

The value of this mode of handling is inestimable.

Young horses, unaccustomed to the weight of the rider will, when
unmolested by the same, more easily xmderstand and more willingly
yield to the aids taught them by this method.

Horses, whose construction of head and neck make the suppling of
the same difficult to accomplish, will be aided in their development
by being relieved of the trainers 'weight, until these difficulties have,
one by one, been overcome.

Horses, with weak backs or long pasterns will suffer less, when the
training at hand has given to them that position, which enables them
to carry themselves in balance, and support the rider's weight correctly,
before they are mounted.

Horses, which require correction, because of the opposition which
they offer to the impressions of the rider's limbs or to the spur are more
easily controlled and made obedient by handling on foot, because it is
next to impossible, for them to evade the influence of hand and whip
under these conditions.

The causes for sprains, lameness and other injuries which some-
times accompany the training in lateral gaits are greatly reduced, if

7°

riot entirely removed, -when these schools are tarrght first without the
-weight of the rider; the lessons of shoulder in, contra shoulder in, travers
and renvers, which tend to increase the flexibility in the neck, ribs and
haunches of the horse, make the same more obedient to aids of limb and
spur, and develope the freedom of action in shoulder and haunches, are1
facilitated enormously.

In these lateral gaits particularly, the distribution of the rider's
-weight plays a most important part, being of great assistance in
making the horse understand the lesson and a mistake therein or the
ttnsteadiness of the seat, at the time, when the horse is about to elevate
a limb for a stride f orward and side-wise, will have the setting down of
that foot for an immediate consequence, often in the -wrong place, re-
sulting in interfering or injured coronaries.

The training of the horse at hand begins by placing the horse in the
centre of the ring, straight, and on all four limbs ; bitted, with a simple
snaffle, the saddle is usually put on as if for the purpose of riding.

The trainer carries a training whip, of about four" arid one half td
five feet in length.

The trainer stands next to the left shoulder of the horse, holding iri
his left hand the left rein about three or four inches from the mouth-
piece, and the right rein is passed over the horses neck jxtst before the
-withers, and is held by the right hand which also carries the whip,
about before the middle of the left saddle puff.

"With the left hand the horse's head is gradually erected, until the
neck aLSSttmes a position as elevated, as its build will permit.

FLEXION OF HEAD AND' NE0K.

7i

Then a pressure is exercised upon the horse's mouth, in order to
bring- its head, or rather face line, in a perpendicular position to the
g-round, keeping the neck so high, as not to permit the nose to descend
below the line of the hip.

This lesson tends to supple the joint which connects the first
vertebrae of the neck -with the head.

To make the horse live and active in the mouth, and to induce the
same to yield early to the pressure of the bit, the left hand moves the
bit in the horse's mouth, in circular motion of about two inches in
radius, and by giving immediate and perfect freedom with the rein, at
each degree of obedience yielded by the horse, the latter will soon cease
to resist and seek of itself the position in which it finds the comfort of
meeting with a light hand.

We then proceed by flexing the next joint between the first and
second vertebrae of the neck ; by giving increased tension to the right
rein and taking care to maintain the vertical position of the head, we
obtain the lateral position of the same to the right.

INCORRECT. CORRECT.

POSITION OF HEAD TO THF BIGHT.

Thus we continue, carefully avoiding all contortion, to flex the en-
tire neck of the horse until his face stands opposite the puff of the
saddle.

The same proceeding is to be followed, flexing the horse to the left.

Due consideration must be given to natuial obstacles, such as short*
thick, or misconstructed necks of all kinds, and no amount of patience
must be spared in overcoming each hindrance by degrees.

Force, would lead to making the lesson painful to the horse, under-
mine the understanding between trainer and horse and excite resistance
on the part of the latter.

After the erect position of the neck has been confirmed, and complete
pliability established, we may consider ourselves in control of those
parts, and can now go on with the securing of the obedience of the hind-
hand of the horse., to limb and spur.

72

Assuming- the original position by the horse's left shoulder we teach
it to recede from the touch of the whip, by applying- the same to its
flank, where the riders leg would come in contact with the horse, that
is, directly behind the saddle girth.

This application of the "whip, consists of repeated and slight vibra-
tions, from which the horse will soon recede, stepping with its left
hind leg over the right one.

This is to be continued, a single step at a time, until the horse has
executed a full turn or pirouette upon its forehand.

As in every other case, each instance of obedience must be rewarded
by a caress, and a pause is to be made between each step, in order to
avoid the horse's rushing away from the whip.

This lesson like all others has to be practiced both to the right and
left, the trainer changing his position and that of reins and whip ac-
cordingly.

Following the pirouettes on the forehand, the horse is taught to ex-
ecute the same upon the hind hand.

In this lesson the trainer guides the front legs around the hind ones,
directing- the former, in steps latterally forward, around the latter;
preventing the horse's hindhand from moving, by laying the whip
against the flank on the right or to the left side, as the case may be.

When these pirouettes are thoroughly understood by the horse, we
repeat the same with position and contraposition and flexion of head
and neck, thus obtaining the pirouettes in the position of shoulder in,
contrashoulder in, travers andrenvers, with the inner front or hind leg
as pivot.

Before we go any further, I wish to explain the meaning of a few
technical expressions, the misunderstanding of "which causes many

73

mistakes and prevents the scholar from forming- a clear idea of the les -
son.

By going- on the right hand, we mean the motion in that direction,
■which if the ring were round, would constitute a circle to the right
thus having the wall at our left.

Going on the left hand, we have the -wall at our right.

The inner side is the one toward the centre of the ring, the outer
side lies near the wall, except in the evolutions of contrashoulderin and
renvers, when the inner side, like in all schools, requiring a flexion of
head, neck, vertebral eolumn and haunches, is the concave side, the out-
side being the convex one, regardless of the position to the "wall.

The same rule applies to the terms of inner and outer rein and inner
and outer leg of the horse, front or hind.

PIROUETTE ON HINDHAND.

The trainer now leads the horse upon the track, that is next to the
wall, and parallel with the same, on the right hand.

The right rein is held in the right hand, the left one passed over the
neck and held as aforetold in the left hand, "which also holds the "whip,
the point of which is directed toward the lower part of the horses thigh.

After erecting the horse's neck and head, the trainer begins to urge
the horse into motion "with the "whip, touching it on the spot indicated.

Some horses "will rush f orward, others "will back, still others "will
kick "with one or both hind legs, all of "which is harmless and "will cease
after a few seconds, "when the horse understands that he is to go for-
ward.

74

The trainer will walk along with the horse, himself stepping side-
wise to the right, and if the horse has after a round or two gone willing-

ly tip to the bit, the trainer will set the pace, by either urging or re-
straining, until the horse walks actively and regularly.

When a corner is reached the horse must be made to shorten its steps.

1

/

i f

1

■ "f""1

/

COLLECTED TEOT.

75

the tempo or rhythm, remaining the same, but the motion being one
with increased lifting, or action of both fore and hind legs.

In passing through the corner, the horse is to be bent in all parts,
the same as the cars of a railroad train, when going around a curve,

We begin now to shift the centre of gravity of the horse by degrees
toward the hind legs,

Raising the neck still higher with the inner rein, we urge the horse
as indicated, causing the hind feet to reach forward under the body to-
ward the saddle girth, compelling them to support gradually more and
more of the horse's weight.

Result of this will be a lowering of the horses hind hand and a pro-
portionate elevation of the forehand and the advancing of the horse in a
well cadenced, collected trot.

The time has now come to begin the teaching of the lateral gaits,
the purposes of which I have already explained.

The lateral gaits are an indispensable fore study for the galop, to
which we next turn our attention.

GALOP TO THE RIGHT.

The galop consists of a series of leaps the height and length of each
being regulated, by the degree of collection and balance.

The first leap or the setting of the horse into the galop, should be
the result of careful preparation.

After having collected the horse to such an extent, that his next
motion forward would commence by an elevation of the forehand and
after giving the horse such flexion and position, as is required for all
evolutions to the right, or left as the case may be, the trainer will put
his horse in the position of travers to the right, or left, (That is at an

76

angle of 45 degrees to the -wall) which makes it impossible for the horse
to gallop any other way, but leading with the right leg and then, with
an urging aid start the horse.

The advantage of the training at hand in this case lies in the fact
that the trainer can exact from his horse one leap, then pause and exact
another leap, thus gaining from the start the most absolute control over
each single motion of the horse, and prevent rushing or lugging on the
bit.

A horse thus prepared will make work easy for the trainer who
will now mount in the saddle.

The sources of resistance have all been thoroughly and in detail
overcome ; the horse is ready to receive a full bridle, and having been
thoroughly flexed, will render no opposition to the impressions of
the curb ; The aids of legs which are now substituted for the whip, are
already familiar and the trainer^ as well as the owner who is to ride
the horse, will reap the benefit of the training of the horse at hand.

77

Lecture VI.

LATERAL GAITS.

Evolutions during' which the front leg's of the horse are folio-wed in
their tracks by the hind legs, be it in a -walk, trot or galop are termed
gaits upon one or upon a single track.

Lateral gaits are executed by the motion of either fore or hindhand
going on a second track, -which lies parallel -with the other and one step
in-ward of the same toward the center of the ring. The lateral gaits
are therefore also termed gaits upon two or upon a double track. As
stated before, the purpose and aim of lateral gaits is :

A. for the horse: the increased flexibility of such joints and articu-
lations as tend to give elasticity, spring power and grace to the animal.

The development of freedom in shoulder action and the action of
the hind limbs. The obtaining of perfect understanding and response
to both the aids of reins and legs in their respective functions of giving
position and flexion, and in urging the horse.

The maintenance of a perfect equilibrium -with the center of gravity
shifted upon the haunches during the motions forward and sidewise.
The preparation of the horse for evolutions, the nature of which make
the obedience and proficiency of the horse in the lateral gaits con-
ditional.

B for the rider : The creation of the finest feeling and sense of touch
required to measure the various impressions by aid of which these
evolutions are exacted from the horse and which must be in perfect
harmony to insure the correctness of the lesson, as to tempo, carriage
position, flexion, balance, and direction of movements, the correct distri-
bution of the riders weight, over the body and into the motion of the
horse in both directions forward and laterally.

The lateral gaits are : "shoulder in" to the right. The horse stands
on the outer track parallel with the wall. As in all evolutions the first
step to be made is to collect the horse.

Then its forehand is guided upon the inner track by moving it one
step from the -wall toward the center of the ring.

Position of the head and flexion of the neck to the right is then given
and the horse made to recede from the pressure of the inside leg while
the rider prevents the falling out of the hindhand of ,the horse by a
pressure behind the girth -with the outside leg.

The "travers" or croup resembles the shoulder in as much as the
position and flexion of the horse remain the same ; but in this lesson it
is the hindhand which by a pressure with the outside leg is brought
upon the inner track, the horse receding from the pressure of the same
while the inside leg applied further forward, on the girth, urges the
horse forward and prevents it from going sidewise at too great an
angle to the wall.

. If the travers to the right is carried diagonally from the right to
the left hand and continued thereon it becomes "Renvers" to the right
or contra travers to the left.

The same aids are reversedly applied for the same lessons upon the
left hand.

It is of greatest importance that the forward motion in all lateral
gaits should predominate over the side wise motion to prevent the horse
from interfering or stepping on its coronaries and that the riders
weight should at-allevents be inclined in the direction in which the
horse moves.

For the better understanding of the lateral gaits for the novice I
will give the following tabular description :

Shoulder in to the right :

Forehand of horse on inner track.

Hindhand of horse on outer track.

Position of head to the right.

Flexion of neck to the right.

Flexion of ribs and haunches to the right.

Horse recedes from right leg, stepping with its right feet forward
and sidewise over left feet.

Riders left leg prevents falling out of hindhand toward wall by
pressure behind girth. Rider's weight to the left riders face to the
right.

Travers to the right.

Hindhand of horse on inner track.

Forehand of horse on outer track.

Position of head to the right.

Flexion of neck to the right.

Flexion of ribs and haunches to the right.

Horse recedes from left leg.

Right leg urges forward.

Horse steps with its left legs f orward and side-wise over the right
ones.

Riders weight to the right and face to the right.

Renvers to the right or Contra Travers to the left, is the Travers
to the right transposed and continued on the left hand, receiving its
name, Renvers to the right from the flexion of the horse, -which is
throughout head, neck and body to the right ; and the term Contra Tra-
vers to the leit from its being the Contra position of the Travers to the
eft upon the left hand.

The reversed order of aids, positions and directions holds good for
the same lessons executed on the left hand.

ABOUT RUNAWAYS UNDER THE SADDLE.

The failure to stop, the ignoring of the aids which strive to parry
and the continuation of motion other, than that which is necessary to
bring about the recpiisite collection and to overcome the continuous
swing of the gait, is termed "running away. "

This is applicable to all gaits, not excluding the walk.

The causes for this condition are different ones and hence the mode
of correction must vary accordingly.

79

7

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So

Si

It is not a rare occurrence that horses lose the feeling in their mouths
in consequence of a strong,incessant pressure upon the jaw and tongue.

This has its caus° in the suppressed circulation of the lymph and
its reflex action upon the afferent nerves.

Such horses, before entering1 into this condition have suffered great
pain by which they become benumbed, a state, which is augmented
considerably by the rush of blood to, or the congestion of the brain.

Horses so affected are seen to run away tmconsciously with their
mouths wide open, their tongues blue-black, with eyes fixed and boring
on the reins, in a walk, trot, gallop, or other gaits.

They stumble over whatever lies in their way, bang against the
sides of the ring and run their heads against the wall.

I will here recall an incident which happened under my eyes in
Brooklyn : A horse, untrained , but equipped with saddle and full bridle
was brought to a riding academy for trial and with a view of being
eventually handled for saddle use. After a few minutes the animal sud.
denly threw its nose away up in the air and reversing the neck trotted
rigidly toward the "wall entirely beyond the control of the rider.

Its head was so high that when he struck the wall his lower jaw
and windpipe were pressed against the side of the ring and for a few
moments he remained suspended between his hind legs and mouth, the
front legs not touching the ground.

I supposed the horse to be seriously injured as neither strength nor
any impressions of the reins could stir him out of his uncomfortable posi-
tion ; but after a little while he became relaxed and then went along
when guided entirely by the snafflle.

A very similar appearance is offered by horses which run away,
because of pain.

Through excessive flexions and extensions great pain may be caused
in the muscles of the poll, jaws, neck or back by the misuse of certain
kinds of reins similar to the martingal which force the horse to assume
positions of head and neck, to which the natural conformation of the
animal is sometimes directly opposed, and which may eventually be
obtained by patient and gradual suppling of the parts involved.

These horses, too , become stupefied and rush away in the most ex-
treme attitudes of head and neck, the latter making often all impress-
ions with the bits a practical impossibility and the horse is running
away in a -walk, trot, or unbalanced galop; less frequently in a decided
run.

With such horses we shall have to see, that -while in this irrespon.
sible condition they do not endanger themselves or the rider.

By releasing the reins and discontinuing the flexions, the cause will
be removed.

When the pain has ceased, the circulation is re-established and con.
sciousness has returned, the horse will again become willing and man-
ageable

Horses which are suffering from disease of the brain, particularly

82

those with periodical staggers> often lose consciousness entirely after
continuous fast going which has accelerated the circulation of the
blood.

With a wild and fixed look and absolutely oblivious of surround-
ing objects they runaway in a walk, trot, or sometimes in a galop. They
will run against houses, trees, over precipices and are therefore very
dangerous.

The gait of these horses is characteristic; they go awkwardly and
with high steps, as though they were wading through water.

Horses, which run away for want of balance are equally danger-
ous.

With them the motion of the trunk is faster than the motion of the
legs in consequence of an overcharged forehand and too great an incli-
nation in the gait.

They are in exactly the same attitude as a person who is fast de-
scending a very steep hill and who is losing more and more the control
over the precipitating body.

The forward moving legs are unable to overtake sufficiently fast
the motion of the trunk in order to place themselves before its weight.

This difference grows wider with each step through the continuous
swing of motion.

With the horse the unbalanced trot becomes a more unbalanced
galop and a dead run ending finally with a fall to the ground. Its
head and neck are carried low or far extended, whieh is usually the
case. We must try to gradually elevate them ; Dut horses may be seen
which even with a very high carriage of head and neck have so much
inclination forward that they too, dash away without any means of
steadying themselves. By the throwing back of the riders weight, the
gaining of a turn or large circle by which the effect of the continuotis
swing of motion may be broken, wc can little by litte re-establish the
equilibrium and so bring about a gradual shortening of the gait.

With all these animals, violent measures of whatever character
will be of no avail; jerking with the reins and parrying between the
spurs will be unsuccessful.

To direct such animals against a •wall is absurd, they will injure
themselves and endanger the rider.

It would also betray poor jtidgment to cure such horses of running
away, by tiring them out and urging them to go after they have luckily
escaped from serious disaster and reduced their speed.

Horses which run away on account of fright, are although at first
headless and confused, not in a state of stupefaction as the two species
of run-aways first spoken of; neither are they in a position, which
deprives them of the command over their body or in a condition which
makes the rider lose the power of making impressions upon the horses.

If circumstances permit the rider will do well to let the horse go for
a short space, to get away from the object of his fear, at the same time
speaking calmly to it and the horse may then be controlled again with
moderate aids.

83

Otherwise, when this is not practicable the horse must be handled
with firmness ; if need be the aid of the spur must bring its hindhand
under and the reins must be used in such a way, that they not only
exercise their restraining influence upon the horse but also that the
pain caused by their forcible application will distract the horses atten-
tion from the cause of the trouble.

A peculiar kind of runaway is the horse •which runs away in an-
ticipation of pain, ■when expected to halt or assume certain positions
which after many hard experiences they know to be connected with
more or less torture, as a rule they make their hecks rigid in moments
when they expect to be stopped and stretch their noses out so far as to
bring their face line on a level with the neck and in this way weaken
or annihilate the effect of a pull.

Others try to accomplish the same end by lowering and curving
their neck so much that their mouth rests against the chest.

Not unfrequently such horses, instead of running, advance in
lancades or plunges and in that way become doubly dangerous to the
inexperienced rider..

34

Not always is it the mouth which they are afraid of having hurt ;
often it is the back or hind legs, especially the hocks the over-exertion
and pain of -which they dread

For the moment it is well to let them go a little but as a remedy
it is advisable to seareh for the causes and to institute a method which
gives back to the horse its confidence in the rider and alleviates pain.

Undoubtedly the worst kind of horses which run away are those who
run away renitently. Animals which run away to avoid the de-
mands of the rider opposing the latter and which are determined to
carry out their own will. They have learned to assume positions of
head and neck which entirely nullify the action of the reins, by forcing
the hand, catching the bit etc., at ■which occasion twistings and contor.
tions of the neck are resorted to by the horse.

In full possession of their senses and well able to stop or turn at
any moment, they run into a crowd of other horses, around an
obstacle or precipitate themselves upon the same or they run away home-
ward to their stable, folio wing their moods by running, as balky horses
follow their moods by stopping.

When such horses have become experts in this kind of vice they do
not take the trouble to run away any longer but accomplish their
object when they have the "wrong kind of rider on their back in a trot
or finally even in a "walk.

The first kind of runaways which act from "weakness, pain, or fear
must be considered as momentarily irresponsible and any kind of
punishment or running them against "walls etc., must be considered
cruelty. The latter kind are as hardened criminals, which must be re-
duced to submission by every mode of punishment.

They require cool and determined riders "who through experience
have learned to choose the deciding moment and understand how to
meet the variety of opposition be it by complete release of the reins or
the energetic use of the spur, "with the hand at the same time firmly
resisting; either by sudden turning with one rein, by vigorous use of
the snaffle upward or finally by a decided jerk in the mouth.

The guiding of a horse against a wall or an obstacle is sometimes a
successful correction.

It is however difficult to determine how soon the horse will be ready
to stop or turn and the life of horse and man is therefore often at stake.

"With such horses it is in some instances "well to urge them to go
a-new after they have tired and of them-selves begun to stop ; but care
must be taken, not to run them into pneumonia because they usually
give tip only after their breath has begun to fail them.

There are horses, "which run away in a series of plunges ; they are
alternately pulling and behind the bit.

Usually they are animals "with strength energy and an irritable
temperament, which resort to this mode of freeing themselves after
having been forced into painful positions and their patience has been
sorely tempted.

They need very calm treatment and when they have gained confi-
dence and stand well against the bit a very gradual remedy of the
causes is commendable.

Everything that tends to excite them, must be carefully avoided.

86

Lecture VII.

CLUB RIDING.

One of the many -ways of enjoying' practical horsemanship, particu-
larly during1 the winter season when temperature and condition of
roads make outdoor riding an impossibility is the riding in clubs and
to music.

As a rule the prime motive for organizing these clubs is the desire
to give variety to the form of social grtherings in general in connection
with, of course more or less real or imaginary love for horsemanship.

Sometimes a number of advanced riders are the originators of the
idea and to facilitate the payment of dues and expenses of the club as
well as from social considerations, friends are requested to 30m in the
exercises regardless of talent or ability.

The desire of all these social organizations is to show their friends
who visit the galleries of our Academies a certain degree of proficiency
in the management of the horses consisting of a series of evolutions
commonly called figures executed to the accompaniment of music, under
the command of the Riding ivlaster.

Those of the members who have attended dancing schools know
that great precision, is necessary in performing ordinary square dances,
even on foot and will understand how much more their attention and
skill is taxed where tournaments even of a simple kind are executed on
horseback.

The mere pulling about of horses in turns of various descriptions
is not only imperfect and unsightly to the onlooker butinvolves danger
to both horse and rider as well as to the other participants in the
manoeuvre.

Like children who do not know of the destructive powers of the
elements with "which they trifle, beginners who have no previous
acquaintance with horses do not realize the peril of ignorance and
carelessness on one side any more than they appreciate on the other
hand the delight and pleasures derived from knowledge and capability.
The duration of a season for the ring-rides of these Clubs comprise ten
or twenty -weeks or ten or twenty practical lessons at one evening in
each week.

Considering the part of the hour -which must be given up to rest
and conversation the time appropriated for the achievement of the
desired result is narrowed down to such an extent that only the united
efforts of Pupils and Instructor can lead to success.

Most of these club riders if judged from the standpoint of a pro-
fessional critic leave a great deal to be desired and unless social meeting
and mutual entertainment -without any regard for horsemanship are
all these Club rides are expected to offer the members, I fail to see how
the mere fact of fast riding and becoming heated can at length satisfy
and give enjoyment to a club of intelligent men and women.

Tournaments, quadrilles, manoeuvres and evolutions which make up-
on every rider a demand of individual good horsemanship such as they
have been and may now be seen from time to time in Europe, have

§7

found in this country but a very imperfect imitation in exhibitions at
Riding Academies, about the success of which columns may be read in
our daily papers on the day following the event, but, which in many
ways are but a burlesque of what might have been a most creditable
performance, but for the lack of individual proficiency of the partici-
pants.

It nmst be admitted that the single numbers of the programme
are usually of a nature to attract lovers of the equine sport of the most
fastidious tastes, but a competent horseman will be sadly disappointed
to see a number of horses with their riders rush through a quadrille
without even an attempt to disguise the absolute lack of balance, col-
lection, position, or flexion and the absence of uniformity of gait, tempo
and cadence. A number of horses taking part in such a quadrille are
seen to galop, some correctly, some falsely; others trot, and still others
single foot. A part of the riders may be seen to sit their horses closely,
others rising to the trot and the aspect of the -whole frequently causes
a competent spectator a feeling of anxiety for the safety of some of the
riders who tear about at. random, depending entirely upon the surefoot-
edness'of their horses and the safe condition of the ground.

Ignorant of the dangers which they incur, they run risks which no ex-
perienced horseman would expose himself to and as a mere matter of
chance, escape falls and inj uries; the very thought of which makes the
looker on hold his breath and wonder why the list of accidents is not
greater.

To give variety to these performances and to gratify his ambition
to compete with and outdo others in the attractiveness of these evolu-
tions, the most difficult and complicated figures are composed, and the
pupils drilled indefatigably by the Riding Master, who will eventually
succeed in executing the number creditably, as far as the lines of circles
turns, volts, etc. are concerned, and although the general public may be
enraptured with the beauty of the figures and wonder at the possibility
of their execution the riders have profited nothing and are likely to ar-
rive at the conclusion, that they may now consider themselves masters
and experts in the management of horses and that there is but little for
them to learn.

But the purpose, which has originally caused masters of the art of
riding to compose and arrange quadrilles, manoeuvres and games on
horseback with a view of demonstrating the high training of the horse,
the agility and proficiency of the rider in exacting from the horse all
the grace, flexibility, suppleness, spring power, elasticity and strength
which nature and training have given to it and the perfect harmony
and understanding bet-ween horse and rider, which together with
rythm, evenness and refinement of performance is so suggestive
of poetry and music, have entirely been neglected simply because the
training of the individual horseman or horse-woman has been superfi-
cial and imperfect.

Many clubs have to my knowledge existed for many years and for
an equal number of years have they retained many of the original

88

members ; they have also been led by one or more competent and in-
dustrious instructors, and still they go on, year after year, riding- the
same figures "with more or less variations, but with the same absenee of
thorough horsemanship.

"With pupils who have been made familiar with the principles of
seat and guidance and who have the command of their horses fore and
hindhand and can collect and balance the same, the very simplest of
evolutions can be executed so as to be truly impressive and they may
be most artistically adorned with the aid of lateral gaits.

The essential point remains however, in the careful execution of
details and the uniformity and smoothness of the whole which give t0
the performance interest, distinction and practical value.

It seems to me that the constant repetition of figures of the same
kind or in the same manner, would become monotonous ; and it is not to
be wondered at when men and ■women of more than ordinary intelli-
gence make such ridiculous mistakes as to compare the bicycle to th
saddle horse and take up the exercise on the former instead of the latter
saying that riding in the ring is "slow and pokey."

There seems apparently nothing in horseback riding to employ
their mind or stimulate their interest because they handle the horse as
they handle the wheel, without thinking, and mechanically. I know of
nothing -which requires more constant exercise of thought and feeling,
more judgment and discretion than the management of a sensitive, well
trained horse.

If only the members of Riding Clubs would patiently wait "with the
planning of exhibitions until they have mastered the rudiments, and
until they are sufficiently at home on horseback to give their attention
to the refined execution of such intricate affairs as quadrilles etc., and be
satisfied to show at the end of a season, not a great many things ■which
they can not do, but a few -well selected evolutions -which they master
to perfection.

I have heard women and men raise their voices in horror -when
this or that man of the profession administered a well deserved blow of
the whip or sting "with the spur to a horse, because they failed to rec-
ognize the necessity for such severity ; but I have also seen the same
persons look on -with all evidence of interest and delight when young
men -who possessed of horsemanship only a firm seat and admirable
courage, ill-treated for an hour or more a few -worn out mustang ponies
jerking their mouths until they bled and spurring and beating -with
mallets the exhausted and steam enveloped nags while they revelled, in
-what some people may term a most enjoyable game of Polo.

Games such as polo, football on horseback, Jeu de Barre and others,
-when ridden by skilled horsemen on horses -well trained and, as re-
quired in some instances, well booted and protected against injury, are
commendable enough; but when, as is often seen, they are played -with-
out any consideration for the horse they mar the refined aspect of a
good entertainment and suggest that, which to eradicate should be the
aim of every true horseman: brutality, coarsness and contemptible ig-
norance.

89

THE GALOP.

In speaking of this gait, I will deal merely -with the galop as we
find it in school and cross country riding. "When correctly executed
the galop is one of the most graceful and enjoyable gaits of the horse
and deserves therefore our careful attention.

The galop consists of a series of leaps which to commence, the horse
may be induced in different ways, with regard to its degree ot training
and the standard of perfection achieved by the rider.

To induce a crude horse, "which is ignorant of the impressions of
reins and legs to galop, is most easily accomplished by urging the horse
into the desired gait out of a trot, at a moment, when a turn suggests
the leading with either the right or the left legs.

Such horses "break" into a galop and are very apt to soon fall back
into a trot because, from lack of balance, they are unable to carry them-
selves for a greater number of leaps in a galop.

The majority of hunters cause their mounts to galop by "driving"
the latter into this gait with a one sided aid of the heel, and a lift with
the reins upward which is responded to by the seasoned hunter with a
more or less hasty departure in a galop.

From a stand-point of the horseman and the pupil -who lays claim
to a finished instruction in the art of riding, the horse must be literally
"set" into a galop and the first leap be the result of a scale of aids, which
are continued for as many leaps as the rider desires the horse to make.

The collection of the horse, which forms an indispensable basis and
preparation for all evolutions and in all gaits, is necessary to a much
greater extend for the galop.

If the horse is expected to leap and to continue to leap well balanced
and light on the hand of the rider, the forehand must be discharged
of weight by urging the hind legs forward under the centre of
gravity of the horses body and by elevating the forehand and shifting
its weight upon the horses haunches or, to express it more correctly, by
shifting the hindhand forward and under the forehand and then eleva-
ting the latter upon the former.

lake on all other occasions the so balanced horse is under the control
of the rider on the principle by which the largest and heaviest bodies
become manageable and subject to the impressions of weaker bodies
■when they are properly balanced and pivoted.

We will next turn our attention to the position -which must be given
to the horse in order to compel it to galop either to the right or to the
left, as the case may be, and for this purpose I refer to the lateral gaits
spoken of in a previous leeture.

For the galop to the right the Travers to the right and for the galop
to the left the Travers to the left are the positions which will insure a
correct "setting in" at a galop on either hand.

It is of importance to maintain the collected condition of the horse
throughout the galop in order to control the number of leaps intended.

2^ot only is the galop, one of the most majestic and graceful gaits
when swingy and well collected, but the good condition of the forehand,

90

particularly the shoulders, knees and pastern joints and the muscles
and tendons of the parts will be preserved by the maintenance of a higher
equilibrium, while on the other hand they will suffer severely and give
out prematurely by the galop upon the forehand. One "way, the collect-
ed galop will increase the elasticity and spring of the horse's motion
while the other way, the galop on the forehand, disunitedly and unbal-
anced, will deprive the horse of these advantages and make the gait for
the rider unpleasant, hard and unsafe.

The necessity of leading -with the right or left leg seems, judging
from appearances not to receive the attention, which a matter of so great
an importance should command.

The turning of a horse in the -wrong galop aside from the unpleas-
antness and discomfort to the rider, involves the greatest danger, to both
him and the horse, because of the liability of slipping and falling -which
exists, when the horse is deprived of the support of the inside legs, chiefly
the inside hind leg.

I again mention at this instance the importance of a fine feeling
-which the rider must develope not only in his hands and legs but also
in his seat in order to be able to feel without the ridiculous performance
of leaning over and watching the horses legs, the raising and setting
down of the latter and so distinguish -whether the horse is galopping
right, left or cross-wise.

91
Lecture VIII.

WOMAKS RIDING.

Although the records of equestrian sport are adorned -with the names
of famous horsewomen who are celebrated not only for their daring spir-
it in riding across country, but also for their knowledge of cultured
horsemanship and proficiency in artistic riding, the generality of wo-
men who ride through the parks and over the public highways for health
and exercise still need encouragement to study more deeply the elements
of this beautiful art,

The natural grace, which is inborn to the representatives of the fair
sex, follows them into the side saddle and the praise and admiration
given them for the elegance of their seat and carriage on horseback, how-
ever well deserved, may lead many to believe that they have reached a
stage of proficiency which, though it may give to them comfort and en-
joyment, could, just then, be carried farther most successfully and make
them the complete master over their horses which, after all, is of vital
importance for their safety.

Talent, of course, is of itself an invaluable and speedy promoter of
success; but talent alone without serious application to study and prac-
tice will not accomplish every thing and even those who are not by
nature endowed with the characteristics of a good horsewoman may
in time accomplish unlimited proficiency, by perseverance, and pa-
tience.

The constitution, temperament and energy of individuals vary to
such an extent as to make it no easy task for the teacher to choose meth-
ods of instruction, and the mode of progressing with a pupil -with whom
he is not acquainted.

Nervous, sensitive and impatient pupils are easily discouraged and
inclined to discontinue their efforts when, after a few lessons, they find
themselves unable to overcome a certain awkwardness,

Their mind and physical efforts are concentrated upon their person-
al appearance; they are conscious of being observed and afraid of un-
favorable criticism although the latter may be entirely imaginary.

Let the beginner tmderstand that the accomplishments in the field
of horsemanship are not to be mastered within any specified period of
time, and having the control of their own body to consider as well as
that of the horse, the only safe and certain road to success consists of
the gradual and systematic learning and understanding of every detail
concerning the seat and guidance.

The most complete relaxation of body and mind is necessary to en-
able the beginner to continue the introductory lessons without over ex-
ertion exhaustion, and to give the master undivided attention.

The balance of the body, the grip -with the legs and the manage-
ment of the reins are so entirely dependent upon the feeling of the horses
motion and action, and the harmony in the distribution of the riders
weight with the movements of the horse is so indispensable to lightness,
firmness, elegance and correctness of the seat, that they demand abso-
lute repose and ease as well as alertness and readiness for action.

92

It is therefore necessary that the beginner should know why sys-
tematic and thorough proceeding is preferable to superficiality and
haste and also why this is more especially important while the
rudiments are being discussed and practiced.

The position of a "woman on horseback is of a nature, to show more
perhaps, than any other, the great advantages which make her the
masterpiece of creation, and it lies in the nature of horsemanship that
the carriage of the rider should be commanding. The very position of
a women in the saddle either betrays timidity and helplessness or it
suggests at once the fact, that she is capable of controlling her horse.

The aim of parents, husbands, and guardians, as well as of the
beginner herself should be, that she may become sufficiently advanced,
to be able to act on the impulse of the moment and instinctively upon
her horse in such a way as to insure her comfort and safety under all
circumstances and if possible, without resorting to the assistance of
other persons.

To make this possible, she must not only hear and remember, but
thoroughly analyze and comprehend the causes and effects the reasons
why, and the practical value of the means which are at her command to
influence the horse and cause the latter to obey.

MOUNTING.

A womans horse, when saddled, bridled and ready for mounting
should if possible be held at the head by the groom and the woman may
then stand by the left side of the horse near the saddle flap, facing the
horses head and place her right hand upon the pommel or upper horn of
the saddle; the whip or crop is also to be carried in the right- hand and
pointed downward on the right side of the saddle. The left arm of the
woman hangs leisurely by her side.

The assistant or teacher stands opposite the rider so closely that his
left hand may be placed under the womans left foot ■when the latter is
raised from the ground about a foot and a half, by bending the left knee.
The assistants right hand is placed under the womans left armpit.

For the mounting of beginners it will be commendable to count "one,
two, three" and when three is spoken, the woman will lightly spring
from the right foot and ankle and rigidly straighten the left knee, thus
giving the assistant an opportunity to raise her to the level or a little
above the seat of the saddle and then turning slightly to the left, the
rider will take her seat.

Next a womans right leg is assisted over the right horn by being
supported with the escort's right hand under the foot while the left hand
arranges the skirt to fit over the knee in the cut intended therefor and
helping the skirt under the knee to fit smoothly over the pommel and
leaping horn.

The stirrup is then placed under the left foot and by assisting the rider
with the left hand under the left elbow to rise in the saddle, the skirt
under the seat is pulled into position.

There are other methods of assisting a woman into the saddle; one of
which consists of the woman placing her left foot into the folded hands

93

of the assistant while her left hand rests on his right shoulder from
which she pushes herself upward as the assistant erects himself after
stooping' to receive her foot.

This method is quite generally used in Kurope, but if the assistant
should be very short and the horse and woman very tall the push from
the formers shoulder would not add much to raising the woman into
position and the lifting frdm the hands alone is no guarantee that the
woman may not be raised so high and so far, to almost go over to the
rig-ht after being' seated in the saddle.

The womans seat in the saddle should be such as to place her hips
and shoulders in a right angular position to the horses spine ; the right
lenee or the thigh a little above the knee resting against the pommel
with the lower part of the leg hanging downward over the saddle flap
and the toe of the right foot pointed downward.

The left thigh rests closely against the saddle flap while the ball of
the left foot holds the stirrup with the heel slightly depressed to pre-
vent slipping of the foot into the stirrup. The position of the left foot
should be parallel with the horse.

The adjustment of the stirrup as to its length, depends first upon
the length of a woman's thigh from the hip to the knee, the latter acting
as a lever in the act of rising, secondly, upon the stride and action of the
horse in a trot, thirdly upon the weight of the rider which, if great, and
the angle between the thigh and the lower leg very acute will fatigue
because of the increased effort in straightening the leg for the rise.

The adjustment of the stirrups therefore may be most effectually
attempted after the first trot, particularly, when the horse is a strange
one and the woman is not acquainted with its gait.

The Riding Master of course who is familiar with these details may
easily adjust a stirrup for the pupil by using his own judgment.

At all events it should be long enough to permit an almost complete
straightening of the leg and at no time should the left leg be cramped
under the leaping horn by too short a stirrup.

The woman's arms should rest against the sides of her body and the
forearm be raised to about a right angle •with the upper arm, when
holding the reins.

The position of the hands should be close together ; but their dis-
tance from the riders body depends entirely upon the carriage and
position of the horse's head and neck and tinder all circumstances should
the reins be held short enough to give sufficient purchase on the horse.

For the holding of the reins I refer to Lecture IV on "The Aids".

Gymnastic exercises, while halting on horseback, are an invaluable
aid to give relaxation and suppleness to the beginners body and limbs.

In all cases where the time is not too limited, I insist on the use of
the simple snaffle for the beginner until the hands have become indepen-
dent enough of the horse's motion and are steady enough, to be entrusted
with the curb.

The exercises of seat and guidance for wqman's riding and the aids
are the same, as in mans riding, but the whip in the woman's case

94

must take the place of the right leg.

A matter which gives rise to great trouble and in many instances
is accompanied by a hard struggle on the part of the beginner, is the ris-
ing of a woman to the trot.

To avoid the jolting caused by that gait and bouncing in the saddle
and falling heavily on to the horses back; women should be taught to
raise and lower themselves into the saddle in conformity with the strides
of the horse.

In doing so the -weight of the rider should be equally distributed
over the right knee and the left foot in the stirrup and the springing
motion should originate entirely from the regions about the woman's
hips.

The right knee and lower leg and the left leg from the knee down
should remain immovable, that is, the swinging of both, which is
frequently seen -with pupils of limited skill, must be avoided.

With many horses of a somewhat uneven gait it makes a decided
difference whether the woman rises with the right or left leg of the
horse and the beginner should learn to distinguish either, by feeling the
difference, the moment she begins to rise. A mistake which is commonly
made and sometimes adhered to, is the fact that women control thei**

INCORRECT. CORRECT.

POSITION IN RISING TO THE TEOT.

95

bodies iii attempting to rise, by exerting themselves unnecessarily, ' in-
stead of entering1 into the motion of the horse with perfect ease, they
sit too far to the right with too short a stirrup, and then lean over to the
left -with head and shoulders, to be able to rise.

Another common mistake is the bending forward of most beginners
as soon as the horse goes out of a walk, probably, to try and get a firmer
grip, which is an idea of which the pupil will however soon undeceive
her mind, when she finds that her security in the saddle is increased by
adopting a reclining position.

In order to set a horse into a galop, the woman will, when on the
right hand, place her horse in a Travers position to the right (see lect-
ure on the galop and lateral gaits) and in place of her right leg she will
apply the whip to the right shoulder of the horse.

For a galop to the left the Travers to the left gives the desired posi-
tion and the whip is used behind the saddle flap on the right flank of the
horse.

A GALOP.

Leaping over obstacles, both high and wide, is an accomplishment
which, at least in a limited degree, should form part of a woman's prac-
tice in horseback riding.

It is a matter of course that women should ride only well trained,
well behaved, and well mannered horses, and reliable, safe jumpers.

A fact which has more than anything to do with the successful tak-
ing of a jump is the firm determination, on the part of the rider to clear

96

the obstacle because the timidity and hesitation of the rider is strangely
but with never failing certainly imparted to the horse, and the latter
will almost invariably refuse if the riders heart does not proceed her
over the jump.

The horse must be ridden quietly up to the jump at a right angle to
the obstacle and given perfect freedom to measure the height or width
of the latter.

In high jumping the woman will lean forward with the horse during
the upward motion and then lean well back in the saddle.

During my experience in America, the question has frequently been
put to me, whether women may not find more safety and comfort by
adopting a mans seat.

Until recently I have never given the matter very serious consider-
ation; having had no experience whatever of my own with women riding
astride, I attempted to gather from men of the prof ession what informa-
tion I could, so as to be able to answer intelligently any future questions
by my pupils.

I found great difficulty in obtaining dispassionate views on the sub-
ject, particularly as to the Physiological standpoint in the matter and
therefore issued the following circular to 500 Physicians af the City of
New York.

ERNST CARL YON G1ELMANN,

KIDIXG MASTER.

New York City, January 10, 1895.
128 West 56th Street.
Dr .

My purpose in taking the liberty to address you, Dear Sir, is to fin-
ally decide upon the merits of the question, which in ten years of my
experience in America, has been put to me again and again : Shall women
ride on horseback astride or not ; and why?

I have inherited horsemanship ; my grandfather, Baron Ernst von
G-illmann was the master of the horse of H. R. H. the Grand Duke of
Baden, and my father, Baron Emil von Gillmann for twenty years an
officer of the German Cavalry, is about to celebrate the 25th anniversary
of his directorship of the Ecole Cantonale d'Equitation in Bale, Switzer-
land, an institution of the old school, known to many residents of New
York, -where horsemanship is cultivated as a fine art to its highest perfec-
tion.

My own training from early childhood, in all branches of the art of
riding and by eminent masters, my experience as a teacher, both in mil-
itary service and in public academies, together with the reputation as a
conscientious master, which I enjoy among my distinguished pupils, en.
title me, I believe; to the modest assertion, that I am competent to form
an opinion, as to the practicability and advisability of a woman's strad-
dling her horse, except from a Physiological, point of view.

The same question has been treated and argued, pro and contra in a
■way, at various times before ; but I have never had an opportunity to

97
obtain a dispassionate and disinterested opinion from professional horse-
men, because the majority of the latter are, I think, more or less pre-
judiced on the subject. I have arranged and begun to deliver at the re-
ception rooms of the

DICKEL RIDING ACADEMY COMPANY.

1J4-136 West 5 th Street. p

a course of illustrated lectures on horsemanship, which took place on

the Thursday nights of January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28,

and March 7, covering all phases of the art of riding.

The opening of these lectures was received with warm enthusiasm
and they enjoyed the substantial support of a most select audience,

I have consented to devote the entire evening of January 31st to the
discussion and eventual debate of the above problem, which involves
the folio wing questions :

Is there any reason, why the sense of propriety should hinder a wo-
man from riding on horseback astride?

Is there any reason, -why a costume, both elegant and modest in
design and -which reveals less of a woman's form, than the habit worn
for the last years, should not be used by women when riding.?

"Will it add to the comfort, ease, repose, relaxation and firmness in
woman's seat on horseback and thereby increase endurance and facili-
tate the learning of horsemanship for women?

What is the opinion of competent and learned physicians as to the
advisability of riding astride, from a physiological standpoint?

The last question is certainly the most important one and one in con-
nection with which I do not profess to know anything. Most of my pu-
pils, by a large majority have been women and are women and a large
percentage of them have been advised by their physicians to cultivate
riding on horseback for exercise and to benefit their health in general.

It now remains to be decided whether the seat astride, or the one in
the side saddle is the one, which in regard to healthf ulness is the most
desirable.

In the interest of science and for the enlightenment of the thousands
of women who ride daily, here and elsewhere I most respectfully and
earnestly solicit your opinion on this subject, -which, -with your kind
permission I would bring before my audience, together with that of
many other medical men.

If you will give me the pleasure of your attendance on the evening of
the lecture. January 31st 1895 I will gladly reserve your seat.

Thanking you very kindly in advance for your aid in solving what
I consider an important problem, I remain, Dear Sir, most respectfully,

ERNST CARL VON CJILLMANN.
Riding Master.

98

To this I received no answers speaking against -women riding
astride, and the following ones in favor of the innovation or rather the
revival of an old ctistom.

"In reply to your letter in regard to women riding astride, there
are things to be said both pro and con. From an anatomical standpoint
especially in reference to the female organs, there can be no question in
my mind that the best way and the one in which the organs retain
their normal position is for the woman to ride astride. The trouble
however is, that womens limbs especially from the hip to, the knee are
shorter in proportion than the mans, and consequently the question
arises, -whether they can get a firm hold and seat on the horse. If this
is the case then I should say most decidedly, that for a woman to ride
astride is both the best, and most scientific -way."

Signed

LEONARD P. RAU, II. D.
Chief of Division in operative
Gynecology, Post Graduate School and Hospital.
Attending Gynecologist, Montefiore Home.
Attending Physician, to New York Dispensary for diseases of -women

etc.

72 West 55th Street.

No Physiological Objection, a more desirable attitude.

Signed

E. E. PARTRIDGE M. D.
19 5th Avenue, New York.
In my judgment no injury -would result to -woman from riding
astride on horseback. I deal, of course, only with the Anatomical and
Physiological question involved in your inquiry, leaving to the commu-
nity at large the consideration of the Aesthetic Aspect of the matter."

Respectfully yours

T. GAILLARD THOMAS, M. D.
600 Madison Avenue.
"Your letter, asking -whether woman shall ride astride on horseback
or not and -why ; has been received and read -with great interest. In
my opinion from a physiological point of view, it would be immeasur-
ably better for women to ride astride. This position, on horse -would, I
think, render the exercise of much more benefit to women. The circu-
latory and muscular systems would receive the greater tonic effect from
the riding in this symmetrical position.

From an aesthetic point of view I also favor this position, for cer-
tainly beautiful and picturesque costumes can be devised for such
riding. I hope some of your distinguished pupils -will test the new
position, I am sure they -will find it to their advantage and others will
follow their good example.

Respectfully yours

Dr. SARAH A. FRENCH,
124 West 36th Street, New York.

99

"In. favor of riding astride, all women should practice riding on
both sides of the horse. Growing girls especially.

HENRY GRISWORD, M. D.
42 West 45th St., N. Y.
"In your circular letter of Jan. 10, you ask an interesting and im
portant question viz : what is the opinion of Physicians as to the ad-
visability of woman's riding astride from a physiological standpoint?
While I would not presume to speak, -with authority, I cannot believe
there is any impropriety in a woman's riding astride, or any physiologi-
cal reason for her not doing so in preference to the side saddle.

Yours Truly

O. B. DOUGLAS, M. D.
123 East 36th St., N. Y-
January 15, 1895.
Einst Carl von Gillmann, Esq.,

128 West 56th St., New York.
Dear Sir :

In answer to your note of the 10th instant, I enclose a reprint of my
paper on the subject of "Bicycling for "Women," with the conclusions of
which you may not agree, but in which you will find a number of facts
that bear on your most interesting and important query to the physi-
cian. The paper -was read at a full meeting of the Society, which con-
tains more famous names and men noted as specialists on diseases of
women, than any other in America with one exception ; and among all
the men who took part in the discussion of the paper there was only
praise for the exercise and general agreement with my conclusions. At
the same time, almost everything that has been said in the paper and in
the discussion in favor of bicycling, applies equally well to horseback
riding astride. You will see, therefore, that I believe women should not
be hindered from riding as a man does, and that it would be both proper,
modest, comfortable and safe, and that, in all these respects, it is infin-
itely to be preferred to the present position.

There is a vague and curious horror and lifting of hands among the
aity, particularly among elderly spinsters, at the idea of any exercise
with the thigh muscles, pelvic muscles or trunk muscles of women, or
of any jolting of the pelvic contests, which would seem to indicate that
the Great Anatomist had not known how to give them supports that
could be efficient, and the possibility, if in right dress they took exercise,
to properly develope these special parts of the body. The very fact that
they often show weakness makes more evident the need for exereises
properly directed and adjusted.

In one of the recent books on Athletic Work or Physical Culture,
there are some interesting photographs of the actual skeleton doino-
various exercises ; one of them represents the crouching position on the
bicycle that men often assume ; another shows, from the rear, the spinal
otation and curvature produced by the ordinary woman's seat in the
saddle. I would suggest that any establishment that does solar print-

IOO

ing could, for the sum of a couple of dollars, enlarge this last picture to
a big wall chart, which would make one of your most effective points.

In conclusion let me say that I heartily congratulate you on having
aken up so important a -work.

Yours Truly,

ROBT. L. DICKINSON,
(Dictated.)

Mrs, Col. Morton, of Roseville, N. J., says : "Being much interested
in the topic now being so intelligently and widely discussed, may I
kindly be permitted to give my personal views regarding 'which is the
best -way for woman to ride horseback ? ' I find from my own ex-
perience and that of my daughter, both being fond of the horse and the
exercise of riding in. the saddle, almost daily, that the use of the side-sad-
dle for woman should be entirely relegated to the archives of the past,
and the stride, or gentleman's saddle, absolutely adopted by all -women
riders, providing their health is of any consequence to them, this being,
as I view it, the valued desideratum. Some of the most eminent medical
doctors of Kngland are now vigorously advocating the man's saddle, or
striding the horse for -women riders, and certainly this important fact
should be favorably entertained, from a scientific point of view, if
from no other, inasmuch as medical men's opinions regarding that which
conduces most to our health should be considered authoritative at least.

"I find myself much improved in health, also my daughter, from
having some time ago adopted the new departure and method of striding
the horse. You can ride -with better facility and unquestionably with
greater safety. On the other hand, in riding in the sidesaddle, you not
only contort the body to your great discomfort, injure your horse by
afflicting too much weight upon his side, but you also, in ease of an
accident, should you fall or be thrown from the sidesaddle, jeopardize
life by not being enabled to expeditiously extricate yourself from your
side seat and stirrup, -where, on the other hand, were you seated astride
your horse and an accident were to occur, you have so much better an
opportunity to command your horse and dismount, havmg so much
better control of both limbs. I do not -wish to be thought 'conceited in
stating tne fact, after having acquired the tuition of riding astride my
horse, of being the first lady to introduce the same here in Roseville, N.
J. , o:\ our beautiful suburban drives. I would sincerely and earnestly
suggest to all women riders to adopt without delay riding astride the
horse.
Ro eville, N. J. MRS. COL MORTON.

Personally I have no reason to advocate riding astride or to de_
noanoe the use of the side saddle particularly if -women are properly
taught and prevented from injuring themselves by rigid and unnatura
position and unnecessary effort.

lOI

Lecture IJt.

HIGHSCHOOL.

The training- school for the horse may be compared to the gymnasium
of man.

The untrained body of the animal may contain faculties the use-
fullness of which depends upon their development.

A a animal may possess relative intelligence, that is, it may be sus-
ceptible to education and then become the interesting- and lovable com-
panion, as well as the useful friend and servant to man.

The development of the physique and the growth of the intellectual
forces must go hand in hand.

Combined they give the results -which stamp the training of the
educated and scientific horseman a "work of art, a production of brain
worthy of the respect and admiration of his fellow men.

It lies in the instinct of man to control the elements, natural forces
and raw materials and make them serviceable and refine them in
science, art and the practical uses of life.

The training of the human voice, of the hand of the sculptor, painter
are carefully conducted, the musician and the composer, the actor and
the playwright, the engineer and mechanic, all in their own branches
receive careful trainings; even -jewels and precious metals are trans-
formed from their crude stake into objects of brilliancy and purity for
the enjoyment and benefit of man.

The horse, aside from its value for agricultural purposes and its
use in war, has in my opinion a destination in art.

It is certainly the noblest of domestic animals and why should not
its splendid faculties and ready understanding be developed ? The art
of riding to my mmd and as conceived by me is one of the most beauti-
ful arts.

It has over painting and sculpture, the advantage that its creations
live and that besides the form and beauty, grace and majesty, -which
training has developed, the will of the horse is mastered

The disadvantage for the art of riding is, that -with the life of the
horse, the work of art is extinct and no canvas, marble or printed notes
will deliver it to the after world.

The art of riding has much in common with music and the horse is
in many instances to be compared to a musical instrument ; it responds
to the touch of the novice but it unfolds volumes of beauty and grace to
the master. Its cords like those of the violin, the harp or the piano may
be strained, sprung or put out of tune by the hand of the unskilled.

The widely read and popular novel by Du Maurier "Trilby" con-
tains a comparison which appeals to me strongly as applicable to horse-
manship.

Trilby had sung the simple melody of "Ben Bolt" in her artless, plain
and unmusical way to the piano accompaniment, equally unskilled, of
little Billee" when Svengali "put his big hands on the piano, over little
Billee's, pushed him off the music stool with his great gaunt body, and

102

sitting on it himself, he played a masterly prelude.

It was impressive to hear the complicated richness and volume of
the sounds he evoked after little Billee's gentle " tink-a-tink."

And Gecko, cuddling lovingly his violin and closing his upturned
eyes, played that simple melody as i+ had probably never been played
before — such passion, such pathos, such a tone — and they turned it and
twisted it and went from one key to another, playing into each others
hands, Svengali taking the lead ; and f ugued and canoned and counter-
pointed and battle doored and shuttlecocked it. high and low, soft and
loud, in minor, in pizzicato and eon sordino — adagio, andante, allegretto
scherzo — and exhausted all its possibilities of beauty ; till their suscept-
ible audience of three -was all but crazed with delight and wonder ; and
the masterful Ben Bolt and his over-tender Alice and his too submissive
friend and his old schoolmaster, so kind and so true and his long dead
schoolmates and the rustic porch and the mill and the slab of granite so
gray,

"And the dear little nook
By the clear running brook"
"Were all magnified into a strange, almost holy poetic dignity and
splendor quite undreamed of by whoever wrote the words and musie of
that unsophisticated little song, which has touched so many simple
British hearts that don't know any better — and among them, once, that
of the present scribe — long, long ago ! "

The masters of old have divided the gymnasium and the education
of the horse in chapters, in degrees or in periods, beginning with the
elements and systematically proceeding to the extent which the natural
faculties of the horse, physically or intellectually, would permit.

In this way they created the school on the ground, the highschool
and the school above the ground.

The high school performances up to date, are frequently distorted
by too superficial treatment of the schools and evolutions -which go to
show the practical value of high school riding, and they are on the other
hand amended by exhibitions of tricks which may do to, amuse the visi-
tors of a country circus but have no relationship with the art of riding.

The circus should be and frequently is in Europe, a temple conse-
crated to the art of riding and horse training in its various branches, but
in this country, high school riding in the circus is so far,but a shameful
burlesque of the evolutions of which the performers of this particular
branch often have not the faintest idea.

High school riding constitutes the classical part of equestrianism,
and is to be held distinctly apart from trick riding.

No intelligent rider will fail to appreciate its value once he has ar-
rived at a stage -where he can understand its purpose.

w The absence of general recognition of the high school in this country
is due to the fact that the representative specimens of that class are
horses, trained to perform as tricks the most striking paces and evolu-
tions of these schools lacking entirely the fundamental basis of training
and thus furnish no proof of any practical advantage of the high school.

103

Men from Kentucky may be seen to teach the horse the Spanish walk
"with spurs, attached to the toes of their shoes or with the whip
alone, giving no attention to the principle of bringing about the elevation
of the front legs and the forehand in general, by supporting it "with the
advanced hind legs and lowered haunches.

High school performances which are the result of systematic,
thoughtful training and which in their perfect harmony between horse
and rider and fatiltless execution of every detail, suggest poetry and
music, and high school performances, which are but a mechanical imita-
tion, a parody of the former, should not be mistaken for one another.

The last mentioned have upon the general public much the same in-
fluence as bad literature ; they mislead the mind, prevent the true con-
ception of really artistic eqitation and lower its ideals.

jjust so long, as judges of high school riding at public horse shows,
are satisfied with ostentatious productions of Spanish walk and tricks,
giving little attention to purity of gait, evenness of cadence, fluency of
tempo, correctness of position, pronounced flexion; elegance of seat,refine-
ment and lightness of guidance and true collection and balance, just so
long will the masters and performers of high school riding stiffer from
the competition of trick riders, who upon thorough examination, may be
found ignorant of the very elements of the art of riding.

104

Lecture JC.

POSITION OF A RIDING MASTER.

The position of a riding- master, the art of riding as a profession, out-
side of the cavalry service, is an institution, which has come to this
country from Europe.

The European courts, great and small, maintain large or small
equerries, for the use of the members of the household and for the edu-
cation in horsemanship of that leisure class, which is more or less closely
in contact with the former, and which makes up the aristocracy.

The equerries are officers of the Royal household in the department
of the Master of the Horse. They are men of breeding and culture, se-
lected from among the officers of the army, whose great talent and
ability in equestrianism fits them for their position and who make the
art of riding scientifically and practically the study of their lives.

The best of material in the way of horses and pupils, unlimited time
and exclusive devotion to the one subject, has enabled such men to pro-
duce phenomenal results.

Many of the smaller Courts have been reduced to all but a title, and
the maintenance of extensive studs and schools of equitation has be-
come beyond their means.

Public establishments have taken their places in many instances,
and are conducted as business enterprises.

Competition, which is considered the life of trade, has had upon
such institutions a destructive influence. The professional horseman
is compelled to yield to business principles and must sacrifice much of
his individuality.

Men, who, true to their aim of life and the chosen profession con-
tinued in the old school, are outranked by those who owe their success
to the flexibility of their character and who understand how to cater to
the weakness and vanity of human nature.

The criticism of such men, who build their prosperity upon the
ruins of the beautiful art which they aid in destroying, was never bet-
ter commented upon than by George Du Maurier, -who says : "Up rises
the printed howl of the duffer, the disappointed one, the wounded thing
with an angry cry the prosperous and happy bagman that should have
been, -who, has given up all for art and can't paint and make himself a
name, after all and never will, so falls to -writing about those who can —
and what -writing ! To write in hissing dispraise of our more success-
ful fellow craftsman and of those who admire him ! That is not a clean
or pretty trade. It seems, alas! an easy one, and it gives pleasure to so
many. It does not even want good grammar. But it pays, well enough
even to start and run a magazine with, instead of scholarship, taste and
talent! humor, sense, wit and -wisdom! it is something like the purvey-
ing of pornographic pictures; some of us look at them and laugh ard
even buy. To be a purchaser is bad enough ; but to be purveyor there-
of— ugh!

The poor devil of a cracked soprano (are there such people still?)
who has been turned out of the Pope's choir because he can't sing a
tune, after all! think of him yelling1 and squeaking his treble rage at
Santley, Sims Reeves, Lablaehe! poor, lost, beardless, nondescript! why
not fly to other climes, where at least thou mig-ht'st hide from us thy
woeful era ek, and keep thy miserable secret to thyself! are there no
harems still left in Stamboul for the likes of thee to sweep and clean, no
womens beds to make and doors and windows to bar and tales to carry.
and the Pasha's confidence and favor and protection to win? Even that
is a better trade than pandering- for higher to the basest instincts of all
the dirty pleasure some feel in seeing mud and dead cats and rotten
aggs flung at thos° we cannot but admire — and secretly envy.

Few people stop to think, that it requires years of earnest study
and hard work, theoretical and practical, to gain that knowledge which
iits one to impart to others, the theories of the art of riding, imiformly
and intelligently.

Long experience only and intimate acquaintance with the thousand
and one peculiarities both of pupils and horses, enable one to adopt a
s v st em and method, by which in the shortest possible time liorse and
rider can be practically educated with success.

It is to be desired, that pupils should find in their master a man
whose social position and education make their relations agreeable and
pleasant.

The hours of duty are long and the work sometimes laborious and
not without dangers.

I sincerely hope, that in time, not far off, our competent horsemen in
America will succeed in giving the Art of riding a distinction and rec-
ognition which it enjoys among the educated in Kuropc, and thereby
make our position what it should be : respected, appreciated, and ad.
equatelv compensated.

ERXST CARL VOX GILLMAXN.

The Dickel Riding Academy Go.

THF OLDEST ESTABLISHED RIDING SCHOOL IN NEW YORK.

Instructions given under the personal supervision of . . .

MR. CHAS. W. DICKEL.

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Exclusive Styles, Moderate Prices.

Every article guaranteed Satisfactory, or
Money refunded ....

Fur Lined Overcoats, From $5. to $250.
Seal Gloves and Caps, From $5. to $20.

I^obes and I^uej§ in ejpeett ^apietu

42 West 34th Street, CP(ew York City.

SIEDES'S

%easi23^^

met.uflins.8lo0 newyork,

[ESTABLISHED 1822.]

GEORGE N. JOYCE,

DEALER IX

Diamonds & Fine Watches,

Jewelry & Silverware.

200 Water & 32 FultOIl StS. Opposite WitedStates Hotel.

Repairing' Fine Watches and Jewelry is made a Specialty

THE CELEBRATED

PIANOS

PREFERRED
BY THE LEAD-
ING ARTISTS-

PIANOS

USED IN
LEADING

THEATRES

{VJos. 149 to 155 East I4th St., JVew York.

CAUTION. — The buying public will please not confound the genuine
S-O-H-M-E-R Piano with one of a similar sounding name of a cheap
o-rade.

Mc Niilty, Hilly
Tailors,

&■ Co.,

104W.59TH STREET, . . .

. . . Cor. 6th Avenue, N. Y.

Liveries, Riding Breeches,
Driving Coats, etc. : : ;

Ladies Riding Habits, Coats,
etc. : : :

©leaning, Q^e&m <§»co\ii°inc§,

"©yein^.
Impairing promptly attended to.

Cfl&S. WE^ER,

Manufacturer of

QiSucMin (Ribtng . . .

. . . (greec^ee,
Extra Fine Buckskin
Drawers

Without Seam Inside
These are the best Breeches and
Drawers for riders. Sore limbs
Impossible, as these goods will
always be soft.
Goods manufactured in every color
Best quality and workmanship
guaranteed.
White ©reecheg for (Joacbrrjerj
a Specialty ; : ;

Dyeing and Washing neatly done.
Recommended by all the leading
Riding Academies in New York.
Self-measure blanks on application

—PRICES MODERATE—
Reduced Prices for Clubs - - -
647 Garden Street, Hoboken, N. J.

Geo. F. Hoiler&n,

DEALER IN IMPORTED

i^by &5est and
Domestic ©igai^s,

1017 SIXTH AVE,
Smokers* NEAR 57TH ST.

Articles, NEW YORK.

I obacco and

. . . Cigarettes.

Turkish and Egyptian Cigarettes
always on hand : : : :

Cigars by the Box a Specialty.

Mc To <MLIP1M, FIrL *a.p

Despensing, Manufacturing and

Analytical Qhemist,

1014 SIXTH AVE,

Cor. 57th Street and

57 West 57th Street, N. Y.

TELEPHONE CALL 1229 R.

rHicroscopical and obemical

Analysis made.

Microscopical- Urinary Sed-
iment and Germs.

Chemical. Qualitative or
Quantitative.

Kidney Exeretions (Urine) and
all their constituents.

( Spring Mineral,
Waters, -j For Sanitary
( purposes.

Brown's Newport Express
Company.

^6th Street and 6th cAve

Established 25 Years.

FINE FURNITURE, PICTURES AND CHINA,

isiEb mb sfflf rei^c

Special attention, given to the packing1, etc. of Saddles, Harness and
other requisites.

Shippers for C. IV. Dickel and Co's Tiding
oAcademy.

A. PEARSON,

CREDIT ON

Furniture, Carpets, Orocbery ^Stoves, etc.,

59, 61 & 63 MYRTLE AVENUE,

Fifth door West of Jay Street , B R 0 0 K LY N

Goods deliverd in N. Y. Citv Free

Xawrence

SUCCESSOR TO

EXINER & CO.,

Ladies' Tailors, Furriers and Dressmakers,

624 Madison Ave., opposite lenox lyceum.

Outing and

©raveling suws

Evening, Dinner and

i^egeption dresses

Tiding Habits A Specialty . .

WE HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH ANY OTHER FIRM
USING SIMILAR NAME.

A. F. MULLER

HABIT MAKER AND LADIES' TAILOR

Originator and Patentee of
the improved

American (Eibin$ %<$\i
§kK\xt

With New Improvement for
Safety . . .

Unsurpassed in Fit, Elegance
and Comfort,

Highest Award World's Colum =
bian Exposition . . .

240 Fifth Avenue,

BET. 27th AND 28th STREETS.

f^emoVee! from 14 W. 2 3^ elti-eet

KjeWYorK

T. P. HAYES, H. D. HAYES.

HAYES BROTHERS,

HORSE SHOEING ESTABLISHMENT

1741 FJRO$DW$Y,

Bet. 55th and 56th Streets, KEW YORK.

tSrancl]. We^t ~£,n&, l_on£ tSrsvncl^. h|, cJ.

JJorses sei)t for arjd Retarded Witfy care.

PADS A SPECIALTY.
ESTABLISHED 30 YEARS.

P. Burke,
Horse Shoeing —

- - - Establishment.

848 Seventh Avenue,

Bet, 54th&55th Streets . . .

... NEW YORK.

The shoeing- of Road and Saddle Horses a Specialty.
Also, particular attention given to the Shoeing of Carriage Horses.

Thomas Buckley,

Iborse Sboeincj

EST&rjLrfSPO/LEiVT.

210 WEST 54th STREET, LATE OF 1722 BROADWAY.

'Bet. Broadway and yth zAve.

All Lame and Interfering Horses Shod in the most . . .

. . . Scientific manner and approved principles.

HORSES SENT FOR AND TAKEN HOME WITH CARE.

/Ilbartin & fllbartin

London Harness Agency,

235 Fifth £venue, JVew York,
1713 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia

English Horse Clothing.

Large consignment just received. Fifty per cent reduct-
ion. Cheapest and Best ever offered in this country.

S&JVIPkES £{VD ESTIJVI&TES.

Many new editions of old Sporting books just received.
Catalogues on application.
Only address in New York.

235 Fifth Avenue.

John Turtill,
English Bootmaker.

13 WEST 42nd STREET

Late of 84 Broadway, N E W YO R K,
HUNTING AND POLO BOOTS A SPECIALTY

JACOB BROTHERS,
PIANOS.

Unexcelled and endorsed by Qeadina Wrtists.

Factory 539, 54 L & 543 West 39th Street.

NEW YORK.

Warerooms, 103 East 14th Street, New York.
195 Broadway, Brooklyn, N. Y.
1041 Broadway, Brooklyn, N. Y.

AGENTS IN ALL LARGE CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

SCOURENE-^

Tfye Great H°^se Q\eai\ev : : : :

ar^d Ixabor Sa^ep'

Of Soaps it is a magic queen, I

It beautifies each earthly scene,
Don't fail at once to use Scourene.

Sold by Grocers Everywhere, PRICE 5 CENTS.
Wrapped in "Blue wrapper and Red Band.
Manufactured by Scourene (Manufacturing Co.,

419 East Eighth Street, ....

3\[ew York.

)f?e rrtanl^attan Live Stocb

Insurance Co of
NKW YORK.

Incorporated under Laws of State of N. Y.

905 SIXTH AVENUE,

In^Ure^ LtVe^ of KJor^e^
f\^a\n^{ 1i)eatr} from any

©aVise

HOME OFFICE,

NEW YORK CITY

- - - Directors *» - -

CHAS. W. DICKEL, WM. DURLAND,,

President. Theashheh.

WM. Y. FRAZEE, CHAS. E. SCHAFFNER,

Vice-President. Secretary and Gten'l Manager.

george s. ryer.

SE N D FOR BLANK APPLICATION AND PROSPECTUS-

ESTABLISHED in 1846.

Jos. Baldwin & Co.,

254 MARKET STREET, KEWARK, N. jj. . . .

5afcfclen> Ibarbware *
♦ . flfcanufacturers,

Hand=Forged and Halleable = = =

Warranled Hand-Porned BUs made in any Style 1o0rder,
To fit the Horse, and please the Rider and Driver.

XLhc IRifcer anb ©river*

A high-class illustrated magazine, devoted
to the breeding of the Thoroughbred, Trotter,
Hackney, Americo-Arab, Morgan, Cleve-
land Bay, French and German coach horses,
as well as polo ponies, hunters, jumpers and
high-school and saddle horses

"The Rider and Driver" contains all the gossip and
news of the hunt, coaching, riding and driving clubs and
riding schools. An invaluable advertising medium, and
recognized authority on proper form and appointments in
all fashionable turnouts.
Subscription, $4 a year.
Advertising rates sent upon application.
The Rider and Driver,

945 Broadway, New York.

JJew! Practical! Indispensable!

The

CREAGH SIMPLEX SAFETY STIRRUP,

Compels correct Tosition of foot and leg,

Impossible to be caught or dragged, Solid comfort
- - - Detachable bottom plate, ** - -

£o 6e useo teif 0 or xoit $ouf (RuBBer —

ENDORSED BY LEADING HORSEMEN AND HORSEWOMEN.

Send for Circular.

MENS' $5 per pair, LADIES' $3 each.

i655 Broadway, New York ....

Guy G. Grouse,

Formerly of CADWALLADER & CROUSE

UNION CITY, IND.

■™^^^— — "dealer in <§)tr>ictly "pine h^or^e^.

Tattersalls, 55th Street and 7th Avenue

NEW YORK CITY.

D. Hunter,

(Late SL Luke's Hospital.)

Trained Nurse and {Masseur ....

Physicians of all Countries prescribe massage treatment for

Rheumatism, Stiffness, fatigue after physical exertion, etc

Testimonials from the most prominent Physicians and Families of

New York and Vicinity

TELEPHONE CALL, 1641-38th.

408 IV est 51st Street . . . New York.

Mtitisx f airaly Library of vetecmary Mtedcro*

Gwimings School of Veterinary Wtedsan® si

Tufts University

200 Westboro Road

fiterth Grafton, MA 01536