AND

ORSE TRAINING.

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Earls

Court.

Telegraphic

Address

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London.
8.W.

"5AVIQEAR,
3 EARL5 COURT"

MILITARY CLASSES

FOR

OFFICERS AND ARMY CANDIDATES.

Late Chief Riding Instructor to

R.M. COLLECE4

3TAFF COLLEGE.

R.I-I.A

f7t/i LANCERS

EQUITATION ACCORDING TO THE BOOK OF AIDS.

Long, High and Buck Jumps Taught. Water Jumps.

Pdo. Pig Sticking. Tilting at the Ring. Picking up

Stirrup Iron with hand and lance, &c.

Dismoanting and Mounting at a Gallop, etc.

SEPARATE CLASSES FOR LADIES.

<?5S Cbargers and Eadks' Borses trained. $??>

10, 12, 14 & i6,

Earl's Court Square.

r^R. MILLER MAGUIRE begs to state
that he requests all his pupils to join
the Riding Class. He knows that

this class has the approval of the Military

Authorities, and commends itself to all

experienced officers.

Every Militia Officer and every Candi-
date for Woolwich or Sandhurst would find
it a great advantage to his career, besides
giving him the best exercise that a student
can have.

SAVIGEAR'S GUIDE

TO

HORSEMANSHIP

AND

HORSE TRAINING

EDITED BY

LIEUT- COL. J. GRAHAM.

All Rights Reserved.

London:
FARMER & SONS, KENSINGTON,

AND SOLD AT THE EaRL'S COURT RiDING ScHOOL.

1899.

Farmer & Sons,
Printers,
295, Edgvvare Road, London, W.

PREFACE.

Perhaps the reader will pardon a word
of explanation as to the origin and objects
of this Guide.

Having passed through an Army riding
school, and been afterwards employed for
three years in superintending the military
equitation of Students preparing for the
Army, I naturally felt interested on hearing
that Mr. Savigear, the well-known Instruc-
tor from Sandhurst, had opened a riding-
school at Earl's Court. Having further
ascertained that Army Tutors in the
neighbourhood regarded Mr. Savigear's
establishment as a boon to the candidates
under their care, I became a frequent,
visitor at the School.

During my visits I have been impressed
with the excellence of Mr. Savigear's

methods and with the rapid progress made
by his pupils. This result is doubtless
due in part to his exceptional experience
as an Instructor for a period of nearly forty
years, first in the Royal Horse Artillery,
next in the 17th Lancers, and afterwards
at the Royal Military Colleo-e. The fact
should also be mentioned that he was the
first promoter of the Islington Tournament
and assisted at its earliest meetings.

Mr. Savigear's patience and kindness in
dealino- both with men and horses are
notable features of his system and have
certainly contributed to his success, while
the information which he is able to com-
municate on every thino' connected with
riding makes him a very interesting
mentor.

Such are some of the considerations
which induced me to suggest the prepara-
tion of a manual embracing, in small
compass, the practical course of instruction
pursued at the Earl's Court School, and
givmg details that might be helpful to all
in the ridins" and o-eneral manao'ement of
the horse.

It is hoped that officers and candidates
who have passed through a course of
instruction and wish to keep up their
riding, will find the book useful as a guide,
that it will help them to direct soldiers
and grooms, and diminish the number of
cruel and expensive mistakes constantly
occurrino- in connection with the horse's
treatment.

J. GEAHAM.
March, 1899.

CONTENTS.

I. Introduction g

9.. Riding School Exercises 12

3. Military Equitation ... 18

4. Ladies' Equitation 82

5. The Training of' Horses 96

6. Saddles... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 116

7. Driving 120

8. Stables and other Subjects 127

H0RSEMANSH1P& Horse Training

INTRODUCTION.

It is assumed that the Army system
of equitation, when well and patiently
expounded, is the best foundation for horse-
manship, whether military or civil. In
fact, "The Book of Aids" may be regarded
as an unrivalled guide to the acquisition
of good hands and seat. It is therefore
reproduced here with sufficient fulness for
the instruction of officers, who, if they learn
the following lessons satisfactorily, may
rest assured that no one will challenge
their proficiency as horsemen. Non-military
pupils, by going through the same course,
will attain a firmness of seat and a light-
ness of hand, which nothing else can give
them.

It is a mistake to suppose that a hunting
seat, as it is called, is essentially different
from a military seat. Both are exactly in

10

the same place, namely, on the part of the
horse's back where there is least motion,
and where nature intends the Aveio-ht to be

c5

carried. The positions of the riders' hands
and feet are different in their respective
cases, as will be hereafter explained, but
for purjDoses of instruction the actual seats
are identical. It is therefore very strongly
held that, for whatever kind of riding a
pupil may be preparing, his best and surest
course is to pass carefully through the
regulation exercises, and thus lay what
has already been described as the best
foundation.

Ladies too, should be taught these
exercises, for no other system will give
them the same mastery over their horses,
or the same gracefulness and safety on
horseback. If a lady be sent out to ride
without having been perfectly instructed
in the use of the aids, and without the
practice . which cannot well be obtained
except in a good riding school, she is
placed in a position of danger, and the risk
is still greater if there be any uncertainty
about the trainino; of her horse. The
advice given on the training of horses,
driving, stables, and other matters, is

11

based on experience, and will be found
trustworthy. It is intended to furnish
those who have finished a course of
riding, with facts and ideas which will be
useful to them as owners of horses, for it is
not enough to learn the meclianical business
of sitting on and directing a horse ; the
horseman should sympathize with his four-
footed servant, and should be acquainted
with the best modes of treating him. He
should also have some knowledge of* horse-
breakin:/, and insist, whenever he has the
authority to do so, on its being carried out
in a kind and reasonable way.

EIDING SCHOOL EXERCISES.

It is not to be expected that anyone
can ride well without having been syste-
matically taught, and without having re-
mained long enough under instruction to
become thoroughly familiar with the system
followed. In this country the army system
may be considered the best for all practical
purposes, and, as already stated, it has
been made the basis of the school instruc-
tions in this manual, subject to modification
when necessary.

Some people on the continent still culti-
vate the ancient and elaborate horseman-
ship, once so much admired as the result of
the highest training in horse and man, but
generally deemed by our countrymen to be
too theatrical and ornate. Movements
like the pictffe and croupade have been
relegated to the arena, and the tendency
now is to make our riding exercises more
simple and practical. Even in our army

13

riding-schools the drill has recently been
simplified, not that higher training is use-
less, but that it takes up so much time for
which it offers no sufficient advantages.
A few hunthig men affect to despise school
riding altogether, but this is going to an
extreme, and can only be taken as an
evidence of ignorance.

Between the piaffe and croupade idea
and that of the cross-country rider who is
ignorant of aids, a safe and sure place is
claimed for the present system. It certainly
supplies instruction preparatory alike to
military, cross-country, and Park riding.
Very little explanation is required to show
that the difference between them is non-
essential, while in all the main points the
similarity is absolute. A hunting man
makes himself comfortable by pushing his
feet home in his stirrups, he can use both
hands on his reins, he does not usually
carry himself very erect, and he lets his
horse extend himself and walk with his
head low. This is all quite consistent with
what the horse and his rider have to do.
The soldier, on the other hand, can use
only one hand for his reins, and must keep
his horse collected, so as promptly to

14

chano-e his direction : he must hold his own
body and head erect, not only for the sake
of perfect balance, but in order to use his
weapons effectively. This is also reason-
able and necessary. But in both cases,
and in that of the Park rider, which is
their connecting link, the man is, or ought
to be, placed on the same part of the
horse's back, and should produce the same
effects on the horse's mouth. In all cases
he ought to have begun by acquiring
balance, in order to obviate hanging on
his horse's mouth, and likewise in all cases,
he ought to know the application of the
leg which saves and assists the horse, and
causes him to move in a desired direction
when no other means are effectual.

Now, it is quite evident, and is often
remarked by those who know what horse-
manship is, that the riding in the Park is
not what it ought to be in the capital of a
country professing the greatest horse -
knowledge, and possessing the best horses
in the world. Kiding-masters, so called,
are often to be seen there with their
pupils, but they generally give an ex-
hibition of " how not to do it," allowing
their charges to pound alohg anyhow, and

15

to display, without correction, nearly every
fault of which a person on horseback can be
guilty. Of course it is better to correct
mistakes in private than in public, but it
seems unusual to do so at all. Those who
will take the trouble to inquire will find
that in the majority of civilian riding
schools the pupils practise riding, it is true,
but receive little or no instruction.

It has repeatedly been suggested, and
not without good reason, that riding-
masters should be subjected to an examina-
tion before being permitted to practise
their calling. Life and limb may be
sacrificed in consequence of employing an
inefficient riding-master, but the worst of
the class is preferable to a coachman or
groom. Servants such as these, however
good and honest, are, in nearly every
instance, utterly incapable of teaching.

Even if they are themselves able to ride,
which is very seldom the case, owing to
their heavy hands, they do so less as
reasoning beings than from a kind of
instinct or habit ; they have no power of
imparting knowledge, and are immediately
out of their depth when confronted with a
** why and wherefore."

16

It certainly is desirable that an exercise
so healthful and agreeable as riding, should
be learned in the best possible way, not
only for the sake of the rider, but also on
account of the horse. The comfort of both
is promoted by the lightness of the rider's
hand and the proper position of his body
and legs. If the horse could only speak he
would remonstrate against the cruel manner
in which his mouth is hurt by the bit,
when badly taught men haul heavily or
onesidedly at the reins. He would likewise
complain of the heavy heels that kick his
sides, and of the uncouth means employed
to start or stop him. These and similar
matters should be thought of by all riders,
and even if they consider themselves
tolerably experienced, they would probably
derive advantage from undergoing a short
course of instruction periodically, as is the
case with officers and men of the mounted
services.

Anyone who intends to ride a young
horse, or to follow hounds for the first time
in a season, should make sure that his grip
is of sufficient strength. This is a point to
which but little attention is paid, but it is
of the greatest moment. Men who are
constantly riding and who are in robust

17

health, need not trouble themselves much
about it. They know that, when necessary,
they can take a good firm grip with their
knees, but there are many who have no
such certainty. The grip of the knees is
required when jumping, or when the horse
makes a sudden movement ; it should not
be constantly applied, for then the muscles
would soon become useless from fatigue,
but the rider should always be ready to
apply it on the slightest warning. The
power to grip can only be acquired by
practice, and until that power is possessed
there should be the greatest caution as to
where one rides, and as to the kind of
animal ridden, It may be incidently men-
tioned that an apparatus called "Savigear's
Eiding Grip Test," indicates the amount
of pressure, in pounds, that a horseman can
exert on the saddle with his knees, and
that to ride safely he should be able to
grip from seventy to a hundred pounds.

The following quotations from " The
Book of Aids," are made verbatim in order
that they may be thoroughly relied on by
military riders. The comments deemed
necessary for the purposes of this Guide
are inserted in brackets.

18

MILITAEY EQUITATION.

Military Equitation consists in the
skilful and ready application of the Aids,
by which the rider guides and controls the
Horse in all his paces ; and in a settled
balance of the body, which enables him to
preserve a firm seat in every variety of
movement.

The Aids in Horsemanship are — the
motions and proper application of the
bridle hand and legs, to direct and deter-
mine the turnings and paces of the Horse.

This Science is indispensably requisite
for the Military Horseman, in order that,
being able to govern his horse by the aid
of his legs and bridle hand, he may have
the right hand at full liberty for the use of
his weapons, and be capable on all occasions,
whether acting singly or in a squadron, of
performing with ease his various duties.

The system of Equitation laid down in
the following pages is calculated to ensure

19

these advantages — the rider, by the con-
stant attention which is called forth in the
practice of these lessons, will acquire
intelligence and confidence ; and the horse,
being accustomed to yield to the impulse
he receives from the rider, will be rendered
supple, active and obedient.

SADDLING.

The saddle should be placed in the
middle of the horse's back ; the front of it
about the breadth of the hand behind the
play of the shoulder.

The numnah should be raised well into
the fork over the withers by putting the
arm under it.

The girth should admit a finger between
it and the horse's belly. In saddling a
horse, the girth must be tightened gradually,
and not with violence. It is recommended
that the girths of all except young and
growing horses should be fitted so as to be
worn at home in the second or third hole
from the free end of the girth strap.

The surcingle should lie flat over, and
not tighter than the girth.

The breastplate should be so fitted that
the upper edge of the rosette or leather is

20

the breadth of three fingers above the
sharp breast-bone. It should admit the
breadth of the hand between it and the
flat of the shoulder, and also between the
martingale (when used) and the horse's
chest.

The carbine -bucket should hang perpen-
dicularly ; the butt-plate of the carbine
should be as nearly as possible the breadth
of four fingers below the elbow.

The blanket is folded lengthways in
three equal folds, one end is then turned
over 24 inches, the other is turned into the
pocket formed by the folds, the blanket,
thus folded, is placed on the horse's back
with the thick part near the withers. Size
when folded 2' 2" X 1' 8", when unfolded
5' 5" X 4' 8". The folding of the blanket
may be modified to suit horses of peculiar
conformation.

BRIDLING.

The bridoon should touch the corners of
the mouth, but should hang low enough
not to wrinkle them.

The bit should be placed in the mouth
so that the mouthpiece is one inch above
the lower tusk of a horse, and two inches

21

above the corner tooth of a mare. This
can only be laid down as a general rule,
however, as so much depends on the shape
and sensitiveness of the horse's mouth, and
on his temper.

The curb should be laid flat and smooth
under the jaw, and should admit two
fingers easily between it and the jawbone.

The headstall should be parallel to and
behind the cheekbone

The noseband should be the breadth of
two fingers below the cheekbone, and
should admit two fingers between it and
the nose.

The throat lash should admit two fingers
between it and the horse's jaw.

The bridoon rein should be of such a
length that, when held by the middle, in
the full of the left hand, with a light
feeling of the horse's mouth, it will touch
the rider's waist.

Leading and standing to the horse.

The man standino^ on the near side of the
horse, the bridoon reins are to be taken
over the head, held with the right hand,
the forefinger between them, near the rings
of the bridoon; the right arm bent, the
hand as high as the shoulder ; the end of

22

the reins in the left hand, which hangs
down without constraint behind the thigh.

When leading through a doorway, the
man, still holding the end of the bridoon
reins in the left hand, places himself in
front of his horse, and taking one rein in
each hand, close to the rings of the bridoon,
steps backwards, taking care that the
horse's hips clear the posts of the door.
When the horse is through he places him-
self on the near side, as before.

In passing an officer the soldier should
look towards him without changing his
position, and filing past an officer for inspec-
tion the man should lead on the same flank
as that on which the officer is standing.

^' In Front of your Horses.*'

Each man will take a full pace forward
with the right foot, turning to the right-
about on the ball of it, and take the bridoon
reins in each hand near the rings, still
holding the end of them in the left hand,
raising the horse's head to the height of
his own breast and six inches from it, and
making the horse stand even ; hands and
elbows as high as the shoulders. (In this
position a man shows a horse to an officer
when halted.)

23

" Eyes Right (or left) Dress."

When fronting the horses, the men will
dress to the same flank as when mounted.

" Off side, stand to your Horses."

Each man will take a full pace forward
with the left foot to the horse's off* side,
turning right about on the ball of it, and
coming to " Attention," the left hand
holding the reins near the rings, the fore-
finger between them, and the right hand
taking hold of the end of the reins and
hanging down behind the thigh.

" In Front of your Horses."

Each man will take a full pace forward
with the left foot, turn left about on it,
and resume the position before described,
the left hand taking the end of the reins.

" Stand to your Horses."

Each man will take a full step forward
with the right foot to the horse's near side,
and turn lefb-about on the ball of it, coming
to *' Attention."

" In Front of your Horses."
As before described.

" Single file right," " Quick March."

Each man will turn to his left and move
off in succession, dropping his left hand.

24

which holds the ends of the reins, to the
side, and holding the reins with the right
hand as before directed, a horse's length
distance being preserved from nose to
croup.

(For "Single file left" the instruction is
similar, the words " right " and " left "
being substituted for each other.)

The recruits will next be instructed in
the preceding positions and movements
when the reins are put over the horses*
heads and hanging on their necks.

'* Stand at Ease."

Each man will draw back the right foot,
as in foot drill, but the right hand will
slide down the bridoon rein to the full
extent of the arm, the rein being retained
in the hand, and the left hand will hang
down behind the thigh.

" Attention."

As before directed, but holding the left
rein near the ring, the right hand raised as
high as the man's shoulder, the left hand
hanging down straight by the thigh.

"In Front of your Horses, &c."

As before directed, except that in all
cases only one rein is held in each hand.

25

[It is held to be, as a rule, better for
beginners that their first lessons should be
given on saddles with stirrups. By this
means they gain confidence, and the muscles
of their legs become stronger. They are
also able to assume a more correct position
on horseback. But after eight or ten.
lessons of this kind, most of them may be
fit to ride without stirrups. It has almost
invariably been observed that when young
men commence on a numnah they cling by
the lower part of the leg, or by the heel,
while if riding on a saddle without stirrups,
they take the additional precaution of
holding on by the saddle, or by a friendly
wallet, when their instructor is not supposed
to be looking. The consequence is that
bad habits are formed, which cannot easily
be given up. This is especially notice-
able with regard to the use of the lower
part of the leg in holding on, which is a
habit acquired in riding without stirrups
before being prepared for it. The rider will,
therefore, at this stage be tauglit to mount
and dismount with stirrups, and will be
placed in the proper position with stirrups
(see page 53). When pupils have become
tolerably confirmed in that position, and

26

when they show some confidence, and
strength of seat, they should be required
to ride without stirrups. The latter exer-
cise is absolutely necessary if an indepen-
dent seat is to be acquired. Riding
without stirrups, if persevered in, secures
the rider's balance, and so does away with
the need, that many riders feel, of hanging
on by the bridle], i

RIDING WITHOUT SADDLES.

Mounting and Dismounting with Numnahs.
The recruits will then be practised in
mounting and dismounting. The reins
having been put over the horse's head, and
hanging evenly on his neck, the word will
be given.

" Prepare to Mount."

On this caution, each man will turn to
the right, step six inches to the right, and
close the left heel.

He will hold the reins equally divided
in the full of the left hand, which will be
placed on the horse's withers. The right
arm will be laid on the horse's loins, the
forearm being well to the off side, and the
fingers of the right hand closed.

27

"Mount."

By bending both knees, making a spring
from the insteps, and assisting himself by
straiofhtenino^ his arms, the man will raise
himself as much as possible over his horse,
and then pass his right leg over the horse
and drop into his seat in the centre of the
horse's back. In doing this he must be
careful not to cUng to the numnah, which
would otherwise become displaced. He
may hold the horse's withers with his left
hand, but the fingers of the right hand
must be kept closed, and the right arm
only used by pressing the forearm against
the off side of the horse.

" Prepare to Dismount.''

On this caution, each man will place
both his hands on his horse's withers, and
raise himself from the horse's back by
straightening his arms.

" Dismount."

He will bring his right leg clear over his
horse's quarters and alight on the ground,
throwing his weight on his toes. He will
then step six inches to his left, close his
right heel and turn to the left, laying hold
of the bridoon rein.

28

Mounting and dismounting should also
be practised on the off side.

As soon as the recruits are perfect in the
detailed motions of mounting and dis-
mounting, they must be practised in
mounting and dismounting without paus-
ing between the several motions.

Position with Numnahs.

The recruits beino^ mounted will now be
placed in the proper mounted position.

Each man should have his body balanced
in the middle of the horse's back, head
erect and square to the front, shoulders
well thrown back, chest advanced, small of
the back slightly bent forward, upper part
of the arms hanging straight down from
the shoulder, elbows bent and lightly closed
to the hips, little fingers on a level
with the elbows, wrists rounded, knuckles
to the front, and thumbs pointing across
the body. Each hand should hold a rein
between the third and fourth finger, the
end being thrown over the forefinger and
the thumb closed upon it ; when the horse
is in motion the hands should be about
three inches from the body, and from four
to six inches apart, but when sitting at

29

ease they should be close together and
rest on the horse's withers, right hand over
the left. The thigh should be stretched
down from the hip, the flat of the thigh
close to the horse's side, the knees a httle
bent, and the legs hanging down from the
knee and near the horse's sides. . The heels
should be well stretched down, and the toes
raised from the insteps, and as near the
horse's sides as the heels. A plummet line
from the front point of the shoulder should
fall one inch behind the heels.

While following these instructions, the
man must, however, sit easily on his horse,
without having his muscles unnaturally
braced, and without stiffness. In order to
get his toes and heels into a proper position,
he should be taught to turn the flat part of
the thigh from the hip towards the horse's
side, and not merely to twist the foot
inwards from the ankle or knee.

This is the position halted, or at the
walk ; at the trot the body must be in-
clined a little backward, the whole figure
pliant, and accompaning the movements of
the horse. The elbows and lower limbs
must be kept steady.

30

DRESSING AT THE HALT.

The recruits will next be instructed in
taking up the proper dressing when
mounted.

'' Eyes Right (or Left) Dress."

The whole of the squad will take up the
dressing by the flank named. The flank
man and the man next to him will place
themselves with their horses square across
the school with one horse's length interval
between them, and with their hind feet
three yards from the side of the school. The
remainder aligning themselves on them and
keeping the same interval from man to man.

Each man will have his body quite
square to the front, his head well up and
just turned enough to allow a glance of the
eye towards the dressing point, so as to be
iible to see the surface of the face of the
next man but one.

A correct position must be retained
while dressing, whether halted or moving,
and no attempt must be made to get the
dressing by leaning forward or backward.

"Eyes Front."

Each man will turn his head and look
straight to his front.

31

EXTENSION AND BALANCE MOTIONS AT THE

HALT.

[The Extension and Balance motions are
excellent, but should first be done on foot.
All pupils are recommended to get them-
selves into a state of modified athletic
training before commencing a course of
riding. If they do so, they will learn more
quickly, and sufier less from muscular
strain. The regulation physical drill, or
simple dumb-bells, will help towards this
end. The prescribed motions on horseback
are beneficial to all horsemen, whatever
may be their particular style of riding.]

In order to give the recruits ease and
confidence while sitting on horseback, to
teach them to preserve their balance under
all circumstances, they will then be prac-
tised in the following extension and balance
motions : —

" Prepare for Extension and Balance

Motions."

On this caution each man will drop his
reins on his horse's neck, and let his arms-
fall behind his thighs, hanging easily from'
his shoulders, with the palms of the hands;
to the front.

D

32

Caution, — " First Practice.

J)

*' One."

On the word " One," bring the hands,
at the full extent of the arms, to the front,
•close to the body, knuckles downwards, till
the fingers meet at the points ; then raise
them in a circular direction over the head,
the ends of the fingers still touching and
pointing downwards so as to touch the
forage cap, thumbs pointing to the rear,
elbows pressed back, shoulders kept down.

*' Two."

On the word " Two," throw the hands
up, extending the arms smartly upwards,
palms of the hands inwards ; then force
them obliquely back, and gradually let
them fall to the position of " Attention,"
elevating the neck and chest as much as
possible.

*'Three."

On the word " Three," raise the arms
outwards from the sides without bending
the elbow, pressing the shoulders back,
until the hands meet above the head, palms
to the front, fingers pointing upwards,
thumbs locked, left thumb in front.

33

■''Four."

On the word " Four," bend over until
i:he hands touch the feet, keeping the arms
,-and knees straight ; after a slight pause,
raise the body gradually, bring the arms to
.sides, and resume the position of " Atten-
tion."

N.B. — The foregoing motions are to be
done slowly so that the muscles may be
exerted throughout.

Caution, — " Second Practice."

"' One."

On the word " One," raise the hands in
front of the body, at the full extent of the
^rms, and in line with the mouth, palms
meeting but without noise, thumbs close to
the forefingers.

'' Two."

On the word " Two," separate the hands
smartly, throwing them well back, slanting
downwards ; at the same time raise the body
on the fore part of the feet.

■''One." "Two,"

On the word " One," bring the arms for-
^ward to the position above described and
.so on.

34

" Three."

On the word " Three," smartly resume
the position of " Attention."

In this practice, the second motion may
be continued without repeating the words
" One," " Two," by giving the order " Con-
tinue the Motions " ; the squad will then
take the time from the rio^ht hand man :
on the word " Steady," the men will remain
at the second position, and on the word
*' Three," they will resume the position of"
" Attention."

Caution, — " Third Practice."

The squad will make a second half turn
to the right before commencing the third
practice.

" One."

On the word " One," raise the hands with
the fists clenched, in front of the body, at
the full extent of the arms, and in line
with the mouth, thumbs upwards, fingers
touch inof.

*'Two."

On the word " Two," separate the hands
smartly, throwing the arms back in line
with the shoulders, back of the hand down-
wards.

35

^* Three.'

On the word " Three," swing the arms
round as quickly as possible from front to
rear.

^'Steady."

On the word "Steady," resume the second
position.

''Four."

On the word " Four," let the arms fall
smartly to the position of" Attention."

Caution,—" Fourth Practice."
*'One."

On the word " One," lean back until
the head touches the horse's quarter, but
moving the legs as little as possible.

" Two."

On the word " Two," resume the original
position.

Caution,—" Fifth Practice."
" One."

On the word " One," lean down to the
left side and touch the left foot with the
left hand, without, however, drawing up
the foot to meet the hand.

'' Two."

On the word " Two," resume the original
position.

36

The same practice should also be done-
to the rio^ht.

Caution, — '' Sixth Practice."

*' One."

On the word " One," pass the right leg
over the horse's head, and turning in the
seat, sit facing to the proper left, keeping;
the body upright and the hands resting on
the knees.

''Two."

On the word *' Two," pass the left leg
over the horse's quarter, and, turning in
the seat, sit facing to the rear, assuming
as much as possible the proper mounted
position, the arms hanging behind the
thighs.

*' Three."

On the word " Three," pass the right leg
over the horse's quarter, and turning in the
seat, sit facing to the proper right, the body
upright, and the hands resting on the
knees

'' Four."

On the word " Four," pass the left leg
over the horse's head, and, turning in the
seat, resume the proj)er mounted position.

37

Each of the above motions may be per-
formed by command of the instructor with-
out repeating the words, "One," '' Two," kc,

SIMPLE AIDS FOR MOVING OFF AT THE WALK,
HALTING, REINING BACK, AND TURNING.

" Walk, March."

Each man will relax the feeling of the
bridoon in his horse's mouth, by turning
the little fingers of both hands towards the
head of the horse ; and will press both legs
to the horse's sides. When the horse is in
motion the hands should resume their posi-
tion. The rate of the walk is four miles
an hour.

'' Halt."

Each man will feel both reins steadily by
bringing his little finge ^s towards his breast,
turning the nails upwards, and close both
his legs for a moment, to keep the horse up
to the hand. The feehng of the reins should
be relaxed as soon as the horse is halted.
*' Rein Back, March."

Each man will feel both reins lightly, by
turning the little fingers towards the breast,
and will press both legs to the horse's sides
to raise his forehand and keep his haunches
under him ; the rider must not have a dead

38

pull on the horse's mouth, but should ease
the reins after every step, and feel them
again,

*' Halt."

Each man will ease both reins and feel
them again, closing both legs for a moment
to keep the horse up to the hand ; the
hands to be eased as soon as halted.

" Walk, March."
As before directed.

'' Eight (or Left) Turn."

The turn is made by a double feeling of
the inward rein, the outward retaining a
steady feeling, and the horse being kept up
to the hand by a pressure of both legs, the
outward leg the stronger.

[It often happens in " Right (or Left)
Turn " that the inward leg is put on more
strongly than the outward, and a jerk is
given to the inward rein. The haunches of
the horse are thus thrown out, instead of
his hind feet being allowed to follow in the
track of the fore. These points should
receive special attention.]

*' Right (or Left) About."

The aids for the turn about are as
follows : — A double feelino- of the inward

39

rein and a stronger pressure of the inward
leg, supported by the outward leg and rein,
the horse turning on his centre, fore and
hind feet describing a circle.

Walking and Trotting in the School or

Manege.

The squad being now formed in line
down the middle of the school, with a
horse's length interval between the files,
the instructor will proceed to move the
^quad across the school by the command,
'' Walk, March."

Correct dressing is to be kept by keep-
ing the pace with an occasional glance of
the eye. No turning of the head is to be
permitted.

While moving in file round the school,
the squad will be numbered off from the
front as follows : —

'' From the Front, Number."

The leading file tells off " One," the next
■'' Two," and so on ; each man turning his
liead to the inward hand while doing so,
^nd at once turning his head again to the
front.

'' Trot."

Each man will ease his reins and press
iDoth legs to the horse, according to the

40

horse's temper ; when the horse is at the
trot he should feel both reins, to raise the
horse's forehand and keep his haunches
under him.

*' Walk."

By a steady feeling of both reins, each
man will brhig his horse to a walk. Both
legs must, however, be pressed to the
horse's sides to prevent him from altogether
halting.

*' Halt."
As before directed.

EXTEN^SION AND BALANCE MOTIONS WHILE

MOVING.

As soon as the recruits have learned the
proper method of moving their horses off at
the walk and trot, and of bringing them
again to the halt, the instructor will cause
them to go round the school at the walk
and trot without using their reins, folding
theh^ arms in front or behind their backs,
or letting them hang straight from the
shoulder, the reins being dropped on the
horse's withers, and to do the extension and
balance motions while their horses are in
motion.

41

In order that the squad may be led at a.
steady and even pace, the instructor will
name the men who are to ride without
their reins at any particular time, taking
care that the leading file is always riding
with his reins.

Thus, the order will be given, '* Nos. 2,
3, 4, &c." (or any other named men) " Drop
your reins," " Arms hanging down," " In
front (or behind your backs) fold your
arms."

These men will then ride round the
the school, or perform such extension and
balance motions as may be directed, and,
when the instructor thinks fit, will receive
the command, " Take your reins."

The leading file will afterwards be
changed, and the process will be repeated
until the whole squad has been exercised.

In performing some of the extension
motions (such as those which involve
extending the arms to the right and left)
while the squad is in motion, it will be
necessary to make the squad file down the
centre to give the necessary space. The
leading file will lead down the centre
of the school, and it will be found that
the horses of the remainder will in most

42

instances follow without the guidance
of the reins, if the recruits are mounted
upon thoroughly broken horses.

If any horse should break away from the
others, or get so close to the horse in front
as to be in dano-er of touch in": him, his
rider must take up his reins to restore him
to his place, and again drop them.

The instruction of recruits as above laid
down, to be practised on horses with
numnahs and bridoons, can only be carried
out when a riding school or enclosed manege
is available. When this is not the case,
the preparatory instruction will commence
at the beginning of the following section.
It is of the utmost importance, however,
that, whenever practicable, the instruction
in the foregoing sections shall be thorough-
ly carried out.

MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING WITHOUT

STIRRUPS.

*' Reins over."

The bit reins are passed over and in
front of the bridoon, the briJoon reins are
then passed over the horse's head, and the
end of them brought over the left bit rein.

43

The recruits will lead their horses into
the school, and will be formed up for
instruction.

*' Reins over."

The end of the bridoon reins is passed
over the left bit rein and brought up over
the horse's head.

They will then be instructed in mounting
and dismounting without stirrups.

" Without Stirrups — Prepare to Mount."

As with numnahs, but left hand will be
placed on the front of the saddle, the right
hand being on the back of the saddle.

" Mount."

As with numnahs.

" Without Stirrups — Prepare to Dismount."
Each man will place both his hands,
holding the reins, on the front of the
saddle, with the fingers extended.

*' Dismount."

As with numnahs.

As soon as the recruits are perfect in the
detailed motions of mounting and dis-
mounting, they must be practised in mount-
ing and dismounting without pausing
between the several motions.

44

The recruits being mounted, and having
iDcen taught to cross the stirrups, will be
taught to assume the proper mounted
position in the saddle.

■*' Cross Stirrups."

Each man will pass the off stirrup over
the horse's neck, and then pass the near
one over the off.

SALUTE WHEN MOUNTED.

When a dragoon, riding on the bit or on
all four reins (but without arms), passes an
officer, he should ride at Attention, casting
his eyes towards him. If riding on the
bridoon only, he will also raise the outward
hand until the little finger is in line with
the thumb of the inward hand.

A lancer, if his lance is at the Sling or
Trail when he passes an officer, should
bring his lance to the Carry, casting his
eyes towards him.

A dragoon with a carbine, if he passes an
officer, should bring his carbine to the
Carry, casting his eyes towards him.

A dragoon with a sword drawn, if he
passes an officer, should bring his sword to
the Carry, casting his eyes towards him.

45

Position of Bridle Hand with the Bit.

The upper arm hanging straight down
from the shoulder, the left elbow lightly
touching the hip ; the lower arm square to
the upper ; the hand opposite the centre of
the body and three inches from it, the back
of the hand to the front, wrist rounded
outwards, thumb pointing across the body,
little finger on a level with the elbow ; the
top of the thumb firmly closed on the bit
reins, which are divided by the little finger ;
the bridoon reins, when working with the
bit, to be held in the full of the bridle hand
and apart from the bit reins, hanging over
the forefinger.

The bridle hand will, at the halt, always
rest on the cape, cloak, or front of the
saddle, and when sitting at ease the grasp
of the fingers should be relaxed to allow
more liberty to the horse's head.

The little finger of the bridle hand has
four lines of action, viz. : —

Towards the breast, towards the right
shoulder, towards the left shoulder, and
towards the horse's head. These motions
should be made from the wrist, the arm
being kept perfectly steady.

46

Halting.

In Halting, the little finger is turned
upwards, towards the breast, and resumes
its position as soon as the horse has halted.

Keining Back.

In Reining Back, these motions are
repeated alternately at every step.

Turning to the Bight and Right-about.

In Turning to the Bight and Bight -
about, the little finger is turned, and the
hand a little raised, towards the right
shoulder.

Bight Shoulder in.

In Bight Shoulder in, on turning from
the boards, the little finger is turned
towards the right shoulder ; when in
Shoulder in, the little finger should work
partly upwards, towards the breast, and
partly towards the left shoulder, to keep
the horse's shoulders leading.

Bight Pass.

In Bight Pass, the little finger is turned
towards the right shoulder ; if the forehand
is too much advanced, the little finger is
turned towards the body to check it.

47

Half Passaofe.

In Half Passage, the little linger is'| not
so much turned to the right shoulder.

Working to the Left.

In Working to the Left, the same move-
ments are made towards the left shoulder.

Moving Forward.

In Moving Forward, the little finger is
turned towards the horse's head, to ease
the reins for a moment.

" Take up your Bridoon Reins."

On the command " Take up your Bridoon
lieins," when riding on the bit, the left
bridoon rein is drawn through the left hand
and placed over the bit reins, the left thumb
being closed firmly on the bit reins and left
bridoon rein ; the right bridoon rein is then
held in the right hand, as when riding on
the bridoon.

" Bit Beins." •

On the command " Bit Beins," when
riding on all four reins the right hand
drops the right bridoon rein, takes hold of
the left bridoon rein close to the left hand,
and draws the rein through the left hand
until the centre of the bridoon rein is in
the full of the left hand ; the left thumb

£

48

then closes firmly on the bit reins, the
bridoon rein being in front of the bit reins,
over the forefinger, and the right hand
assumes its proper position behind the
thigh.

When it is necessary to ride on all four
reins, with sword drawn or lance at the
Carry, the left bridoon rein is drawn
through the left hand as before, the right
bridoon rein is then placed across the left
hand the reverse way of the left bridoon
rein, and the left thumb closes firmly on all
four reins.

Bridoon reins are always to be taken up
when marching at ease, going over jumps,
or manoeuvring over bad ground.

Hising in Stirrup.

Recruits are to be instructed in Rising in
Stirrup, which habit, being conducive to
the greater ease of both man and horse, is
to be encouraged and practised whenever
possible.

[This is done by raising the body from
the knees, with the help of foot -pressure
on the stirrups. The leg from the knee
downward, should be kept steady and the
rider should rise not more than three or
four inches, less if possible. It is certain

49

that men cannot be taught to ride without
sitting close and bumping, nor can they
ever rise well in stirrups until they have
got their balance, and been shaken into a
good seat, by riding for some months
without stirrups. Nevertheless all should
learn to rise. The following remarks were
made to the Aldershot Military Society by
the late General Keith Fraser, when
Inspector General of Cavalry : — " I believe
Nolan who fell at Balaclava, who was
one of the best cavalry soldiers that
ever lived, and knew all about horses, said
bobbing up and down would take more out
of a man in ten miles than rising in the
stirrup would do in fifty. I should like all
the men to be taught to rise in their
stirrups." The latter sentence was received
with applause at the time, and has now
been authoritatively endorsed.]

MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING WITH

STIRRUPS.

[The seven motions by which the rider is
here taught to place himself on the horse's
back, although when the orders are read
or repeated they seem tedious and minute,
are nevertheless the best known means of

50

mounting a saddled and bridled horse. It
cannot be done more quickly. When once
a man has accustomed himself to mount
and dismount in the manner laid down, the
detail is found to be perfectly natural and
suitable. He is in no danger of neglecting
anything essential or of putting himself in
an awkward position. The time occupied
in accurately learning these motions will be
time well spent, if the rider preserve,
throuofh life, the excellent habit of mount-
ing and dismounting in this manner.
When a soldier, or any rider, carrying
a whip mounts a horse, he should hold the
whi]^ in the left hand together with the
reins and a lock of the mane. This obviates
the embarrassment observed when a man
passes his leg over the saddle, if he holds
the whip in the right hand.]

How many motions are there in Mounting?
Four in preparing to mount, and three
in mounting.

What are the Motions in preparing to
Mount ?

1st Motion.

The man turns to the right on the left
heel, and places his right foot opposite the

51

stirrup and parallel to the horse, heels
about six inches apart ; thus fronting the
horse, he takes the bricloon reins in the
centre with the left hand; he then takes
the end of the bit reins with the fore-finger
and thumb of the right hand, placing the
little finger of the left hand between them ;
the left hand is then placed below the right
on the neck of the horse, about twelve
inches from the saddle. The bridoon rein
when used singly is to be taken in the same
manner as the bit rein.

2nd Motion.

The right hand draws the reins through
the left, and shortens them, so that the
left has a hght and equal feeUng of both
reins on the horse's mouth ; the right hand
remains over the left.

3rd Motion.

The right hand throws the reins to the
off side, takes a lock of the mane, brings it
through the left, and twists it round the
left thumb ; the left hand closes firmly on
the mane and reins. The right hand now
quits the mane and takes hold of the left
stirrup, the fingers behind, and the thumb
in front.

52

4th Motion.

The left foot is raised and put into the
stirrup as far as the ball of it ; the right
hand is placed on the back part of the
saddle. The left knee is placed against
the saddle on the surcingle ; the left heel
is to be drawn back, in order to avoid
touching the horse's side with the toe.

What are the Motions in Mounting ?
1st Motion.

By a spring of the right foot from the
instep the man raises himself in the stirrup,
bringing both heels together, knees firm
against the saddle, and the heels drawn
back a little ; the body erect and partially
su^Dported by the right hand.

2nd Motion.

The right hand moves from the back to
the front of the saddle, and supports the
the body, while the right leg passes clear
over the horse's quarters to the off side ;
the right knee closes on the saddle, and
the body comes gently into it.

3rd Motion.

The left hand quits the mane, the right
the saddle, and the bridle hand assumes
its proper position, and the right hand

53

drops behind the thigh, without constraint ;
he is then able to take the stirrup with the
right foot without the help of hand or eye.

Placing the foot in the Stirrup.

When the feet are in the stirrups the
heels should be well sunk, and the feet
retained in the stirrups by an easy play of
the ankle and instep, the stirrup to be kept
under the ball of the foot.

Position with Stirrups.

The position with stirrups is nearly the
same as without stirrups, the knee being a
little more bent.

A plummet line falling from the point of
the knee should drop directly on the ball
of the foot. The foot should be kept in its
place by the play of the ankle and instep,
the stirrup being under the ball of the foot.
The lower edge of the bar is, as a general
rule, to be from two and a half to three and
a half fingers breadth above the upper edge
of the heel of the boot, when the man is
sitting in the proper position. The instruc-
tor must remember, however, that though
he should follow the general rules in fitting
the stirrups, a great deal depends on
whether the rider has a thin flat thigh, or
the reverse. A man with a thick thigh

54

requires slightly shorter stirrups, otherwise,
when the horse is in motion and the
muscles are brought into play, he will not
have a proper hold of the stirrups. The
rider should be slowly trotted round the
school or manege, and if a man is then seen
to be well down in the saddle, with his leg
in the proper position with his heel down,
and yet not to have a proper hold of his
stirrups, the stirrups require shortening.

[A general rule for the length of the
stirrup leather on a plain saddle, is that,
including the stirrup-iron, it should be the
same length as the arm, measured from
under the arm to the tips of the fingers.
The leg, from the hip bone to the knee,
will then form an angle of about 45 degrees].

How many motions are there in Dismount-
ing ? ^
Three in preparing to dismount, and four

in dismounting.

What are the Motions in preparing to

Dismount ?
1st Motion.

The right hand takes hold of the bit
reins above the left ; the right foot quits
the stirrup.

55

2nd Motion.

The riofht hand holds the reins, the left
slides forward on them, about twelve inches
from the saddle, feeling the horse's mouth
very lightly.

3rd Motion.

The right hand^^drops the reins to the off
side, takes a lock of the mane, brings it
through the left, and twists it round the
left thumb, the fingers of the left hand
closing on it ; the right hand is then placed
on the front of the saddle, the body to be
kept erect.

What are the motions in Dismounting ?
1st Motion.

Supporting the body with the right hand
and left foot, the right leg is brought
gently (without touching the horse's hind-
quarters) to the near side, heels close ; the
right hand on the back of the saddle is to
preserve the balance of the body, as in
mounting.

2nd Motion.

The body is gently lowered until the
right toe touches the ground.

3rd Motion.

Resting on the right foot, the left stirrup
is quitted and the left foot is placed in a

56

line with the horse's fore feet ; the hands
remain as in the former motion.

4th Motion.

Both hands quit their hold ; the man
turns to the left, and brings the body
square to the front ; during the turn the
right hand lays hold of the bridoon rein,
near the ring, and raises the horse's head
as high as the man's shoulder.

[All horse-soldiers should learn to mount
and dismount at the walk and canter.
Disaster may occur if men cannot mount on
the move, as in the case of the late Prince
Imperial of France.]

Stand easy.

Whenever the men are dismounted, with
or without arms, and have been allowed to
Stand Easy from the position of Stand at
Ease, they will be recalled to the latter
position by the command " Stand to your
Horses."

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE SYSTEM
OF MILITARY EQUITATION.

What is meant by Aids in horsemanship ?

The motions and proper application of
the bridle hand and legs, to direct and

57

determine the turnings and paces of the
horse.

What Aids are required in turning to the

right or left ?

A stronger feehng of the inward rein ;
the outward retaining a steady feehng, the
horse kept up to the hand by a pressure of
both legs, the outward leg the stronger.
In crossing- the school an interval of three
and a half yards from knee to knee to be
kept, and ride at the regulation pace.

What is the first thing to be done in
reining back ?
Close both legs to the horse's sides.

When should reining back commence ?

When the rider is sensible of every
bearing of his hand on the horse's mouth
and the pressure of his legs on the horse's
sides.

How would you then proceed 1

To rein back straight the little fingers
must be turned towards the breast, and
both legs must press equally the sides of
the horse to compel him to collect himself,
and prevent him from bearing on the bridle,
and dragging his fore feet on the ground ;
the rider should not have a dead pull on

58

his horse's mouth, but ease the reins after
every step, and then feel them again.

What is the rider to guard against in rein-
ing back ?

Allowing the horse to hurry or run back
out of hand, diverging from a straight line,
or halting in an uncollected position ; but
should press him well up to the bridle, so
that his legs are properly placed, or imme-
diately underneath his body.

Of what use is reining back ?

To bring the greater weight from the
forehand on the haunches, collecting and
making him Hght in hand.

How to lead a horse into the corners.

Feel the outward rein and apply the
inward leg, preserving the bend at the
same time.

What Aids are required in turning right

or left about ?

A stronger feeling of the inward rein,
and a stronger pressure of the inward leg,
supported by the outward leg and rein,
the horse turning on his centre, fore and
hind feet describing a circle ; when about,
the dressing is changed.

59

How many ways are there of turning about ?
Three ; on the forehand, centre, and
haunches.

What Aids are required to make a horse

trot ?

Each man will ease his reins and press
both legs to his horse, according to the
horse's temper ; when the horse is at the
trot he should feel both reins ; to raise the
horse's forehand and keep his haunches
under him. The rate of the riding school
trot is nine miles an hour.

What Aids are required in circling ?

A stronger feeling of the inward rein,
retaining a steady feeling of the outward,
the horse to be well supported with the
outward leg; if circling to the right,
dressing to the right ; if to the left, the
dressing to the left, the ride turning with
the leading file from the boards ; and with
the rear file on the centre of the school,
arriving again at the boards with the
leading file. An interval of three yards
and a half from knee to knee in advancing
and retiring, and four feet from head to
croup at the centre and side. In circling,
every man will make his horse describe a
circle, supporting him well with the inward

60

rein and the outward leg ; if the circles
are well made, the ride will cover on the
centre. Follow the rear file two paces
down the centre, and look to him for
leaving.

What aids are required to make a horse

halt?

A steady feeling of both reins, and
closing both legs for a moment, to keep
the horse well up to the hand ; the hands
to be eased. as soon as halted.

What aids are requh-ed in bending a horse ?
A. light and playful feeling of the inward
rein, supporting the horse at the same time
with the outward leg and rein ; the bend
to be made from the pole of the neck.
Bending and unbending should be gradual.

What aids are required in working shoulder

in?

The outward rein leads, the inward pre-
serves the bend, the inward leg presses the
horse to cross his legs, the outward leg
keeps him up to the hand and prevents
him from swerving.

How should a horse be bent in shoulder in ?

When a horse is properly bent in shoulder

in, the whole body, from head to tail, should

61

be curved, the shoulders leading, the
inward legs crossing over the outward, fore
and hind feet moving on two lines parallel
to the side of the manege, hind feet one
yard from the side.

How should a horse be turned when work-
ing shoulder in ?

On the forehand ; the inward rein staying
his forehand, and a pressure of the inward
leg circling his croup round ; the outward
leg and rein supporting ; when turned, the
shoulders are led off by the outward rein.

What aids are required in the passage ?

The inward rein bends and leads the
horse. The outward balances and assists
the power of the inward ; the outward leg
makes him cross his legs and the inward
keeps him up to the hand.

How should a horse be turned in the

passage ?

On the haunches ; the inward leg staying
his hind quarters, and a double feeling of
the inward rein to circle his forehand round,
the outward leg preventing his haunches
flying out.

What aids are required in the half passage ?
The horse's forehand should be brouofht

G2

in by a double feeling of the inward rein,
the outward leg closed so as to bring his
hind quarters in an oblique direction,
shoulders leading. Each file in succession
when he arrives at the point where
the leading file began the half passage,
applies the same Aids and dresses with his
horse's head on the outward knee of the
man in front of him. The horse must bend
and look the way he is going ; the inward
rein bends and leads, the outward assists
and balances the power of the inward ; the
pressure of the outward leg obliges the
horse to place one foot before the other ;
the inward leg keeps him up to the hand.

What is the difference between the full

and half passage '?

In the full passage the horse crosses his
legs, in the half passage he only half crosses
his legs, placing one foot before the other.

What is the difference between the passage

and shoulder in ?

In the passage the horse bends and looks
the way he is going, the outward legs are
crossing over the inward, and the inward
rein leads ; in shoulder in, the horse does
not look the way he is going, the inward

63

legs are crossing over the outward, and the
outward rein leads.

How to halt a horse on the passage.

Feeling both reins and closhig the in-
ward leg.

How to halt a horse in shoulder in.

Feeling both reins and closing the out-
ward leg-.

Of what use is the shoulder in and passage ?
To make the horse supple in the neck
and ribs, to give a free action to his
shoulders, and to teach him to obey the
pressure of the leg.

What Aids are required in turning about

on the forehand ?

Stay the forehand with the inward rein,
circle the croup round with the outward
leg, the outward rein well supporting, ancj
the inward leg keeping him up to the hand.

What Aids are required in turning about

on the haunches ?

Stay the hind quarters with the inward
leg, circle the forehand round with the
inward rein, the outward leg and rein well
supporting, to prevent the haunches flying
out.

F

64

What is the object of turning about on the

forehand ?

To teach the horse to obey the pressure
of the leg.

What is the object of turning about on the
haunches ?
To teach the horse to follow the rein.

What is the object of turning about on the

centre ?

To teach the horse to obey the leg and
rein.

What Aids are required in coming from
right shoulder in to right pass ?
Closing the left leg, and leading the

shoulders off with the right rein.

What Aids are required in coming from

right psiss to left shoulder in ?
♦ Change the position of the horse's head,
stay the forehand with the left rein, and
circle the croup round with the left leg ;
right leg and rein well supporting ; when
turned the shoulders led off with the right
rein.

What Aids are required in coming from
right shoulder in to right pass shoulder
out ?

65

A double feeling of the left rein, and a
•stronger pressure of the left leg ; the horse
turning on his centre ; the right leg and
rein well supporting ; when turned, shoul-
ders led off with the right rein.

What Aids are required in coming from
right pass shoulder out to right shoulder
in ?

A double feeling of the right rein, and a
stronger pressure of the right leg ; the horse
turning on his centre ; left rein and leg well
:Supporting ; when turned, shoulders led off
with the left rein.

What Aids are required in cantering ?

A light and firm feeling of both reins to
raise the horse's forehand ; a pressure of
l3oth legs to bring his haunches under him ;
a double feeling of the inward rein, and a
^stronger pressure of the outward leg will
oblige the horse to strike off true and united.

What does cantering false mean ?

In cantering to the right, the horse $
leading with both near legs is false ; if to
the left, leading with both off legs.

What does cantering disunited mean ?

Cantering with the off fore and neai*
liind, or near fore and off hind.

66

Canterinof true and united.

Cantering with the off fore followed by
the off hind, if to the right ; the near fore
followed by near hind, if to the left.

How is the pressure of the legs to be
applied ?

The pressure of the legs must be an
elastic feeling of the muscles — not a dull
and heavy clinging or kicking of the limbs.

[The pressure must not be applied with
the back part of the calf of the leg. The
knees must be kept close to the saddle,
and the feet remain parallel to the horse,
while the leg is drawn back slightly, and
pressed against the horse just behind the
girths.]

What does fineness of mouth mean ?

Fineness of mouth means a mouth that
is perfectly trained, and that responds to
the action of the bridle hand ; therefore
the rider cannot be too cautious in the
manner in which he uses the bit reins, or
too careful that the movements of his ha ad
are the correct indications of his own will ;
always bearing in mind that fineness of
mouth is not produced by lacerating the
gums of the horse, as the delicate skin

0^7

which covers them is never so tender and
sensitive after abrasion as before.

Are all horses alike delicate in the feeling

upon the bars of the mouth ?

They are, except when, from the use of
severe bits and a heav}^ hand, the sensibility
of touch has been destroyed.

Is the yielding and lightness of the horse
caused by the delicacy of his mouth ?
It is not.

How is it then caused ?

By the suppleness of the neck and
shoulders combined with that of the ribs
and haunches, and also the perfect balance
of the horse.

What is meant by a horse being balanced ?
When a horse has become so far suppled,
and obedient to the Aids, as to have his
powers fairly concentrated between the
hand and leg of the rider.

In applying the Aids, do the hand and leg

work together ?

Yes. The simultaneous application of
hand and leg is the essential groundwork
of good horsemanship. It is begun and
continued throughout every pace of the

68

horse, and without it there fiiever will be
good riding on the part of the rider, nor
collected action on the part of the horse.

What has the rider to guard against in

applying the Aids ?

The rider must be ever cautious \a hen he-
makes any increased bearing or pressure
with one hand or leg, that he does not
cease to have a proper feeling upon the
horse with the other hand and leg also ;
otherwise the bridle will have an imperfect
bearing upon the horse's mouth, and want
of due pressure with the legs will tend ta
render the horse uncollected in his action.^
What is meant by a horse being behind

the hand ?

A horse may be said to be behind tlie
hand when, in reining back, he evades the
feeling of the bit, and closing of the legs,,
by lowering his forehand, and not facing
his bridle, or by breaking his paces when
upon the move.

How is this generally caused ?

It may proceed from several causes, such
as the rider not supporting the horse suffi-
ciently with the leg, thereby throwing the
weight too much upon the forehand, or by

* Particular attention is directed to the above Aid.

69

a hard unyielding hand, or by weakness
and want of power in applying the Aids ;
or, lastly, by want of strength or steadiness
in the seat.

Are all horses capable of being suppled and
rendered obedient to the Aids ?
They are ; but it is a work of far greater
difficulty to supple old horses than young
ones ; it requires also much care, patience,
and skill to supple those of naturally bad
formation.

When horses are not obedient to the riders
should resource be had to punishment ?
If the proper method be used, it very
rarely happens that there is any want
of obedience on the part of the horse ;
punishment is therefore unnecessary, and
as a rule should not be allowed, except by
the most experienced men, and then only,
as a last resource.

In the case of resistance what are the means

to be resorted to ?

Resistance being frequently caused by
the rider exacting more from the horse
than his suppleness and formation enable
him to perform, the most simple lessons
should be resorted to, and patiently con-

70

tinued until the horse becomes more supple,
and consequently obedient.

Is it to be considered that men or horses,
after being brought to a state of perfec-
tion in training, will continue so without
the practice being kept up '?
The fact of men or horses having been
once brought to a state of perfection in
training must by no means be considered
sufficient, as the men cannot get experience
except by repeated lessons, and the horses
will lose much of their suppleness if not
kept up to it. Too much attention there-
fore, cannot be given to the continued
practice in Mihtary Equitation of the
trained men and horses.

Should the action or motion of the liorse
(at any pace) at all interfere with the fair-
ness or steadiness of the rider's hand ?
Certainly not ; the rider who cannot
control the motions of his hand must be
said to have " no hand " ; it therefore
requires an independent seat to have a
*' good hand."

Standing leap.

Bring the horse up to the bar at an
animated walk, halt him with a light hand

upon the haunches ; when rising, only feel
the reins so as to prevent them becoming
slack ; when the horse springs forward,
yield them without reserve ; when the
horse's hind feet come to the ground, again
collect him moving on at the same pace ;
checking the horse after he has made the
leap must be particularly avoided, as he
takes it as a punishment, when he ought
to be encouraged, and becomes shy of the
leap next time.

Open ditch.

The horse should be brought up to an
animated pace, and kept steady and straight
to the jump ; the rider must depend upon
±he judgment of the horse for the distance
lie will take to make the spring, taking
■care to keep his body back, and legs close
to the horse's side, bridle hand firm,
^nd the spur ready to be applied if ne-
cessary at the moment of the spring.

[The body need not be leaned back in
any great degree, at an open ditch or long
leap, but the above instruction may be
useful in counteracting the natural ten-
dency of a young rider to lean forward.
In point of fact, the preferable position is
upright, leaning neither back nor forward.

72

Keep the horse's head straight for the leap,
with reins in each hand. The knees hold-
ing tight, and the legs on, behind the girths.
Reserve the tight closing of the knees until
you are within a few yards of the jump,
give him his head when he rises, lean
back when he is coming down, pick him
up when he has landed, and then move on
at the original pace. Take care not to pull
him up too soon or he may land in the
middle of the jump. Buck jumps, three
feet high and ten feet apart, afford excel-
ent practice, when once a strong seat has
been secured ; tilting at the ring, pickings
up a stirrup-iron with a lance pole, and
other exercises, may be practised when
riders are well advanced.]

Flying leap.

The horse must not be hurried, or allowed
to rush, but with a light and steady hand
keep his head steady and straight to the
bar ; position the same as in the standing-
leap.

Swimming a horse.

Occasion may occur on service when a
dragoon may be obliged to swim his horse»
If he knows how to do so, it may be done

73

with safety. Ignorance of the proper mode
may be fatal to both man and horse. The
rider should take up and cross his stirrups
to prevent the horse entangling himself
with them ; he should quit the bit rein^
and scarcely feel the bridoon, and any
attempt to guide the horse must be by the
slightest touch possible ; he should lean
his chest as much over the horse's
withers as he can, throwing his weight for-
ward, and holding the mane to prevent the
rush of water carrying him backwards. If
the horse appears distressed, a man who
cannot swim may with safety hold the
mane and throw himself out flat on the
water, thereby relieving the horse from his
weight ; when the horse comes into his
depth he may again drop into the saddle.

What Aids are required to incline ?

A double feeling of the inward rein, sup-
ported by a pressure of the outward leg.

How should the dressing be taken ?

The leading file keeps the direction, the
remainder conform to him, and dress by
seeing the cheek and back of the shoulder
of the second file from him, keeping three
yards and a half from knee to knee.

74

CROSS AIDS.

Aids from right half pass to lef c shoulder in.
Change the position of the horse's head,
stay the forehand with the left rein, circle
the croup round with the left leg, then
lead the shoulders off with the right rein.

Aids from right half pass to left half pass.

Change the position of the horse's head,
close the right leg, and lead the shoulders
off with the left rein.

Aids from right half pass to right pass

shoulder in.

Stay the forehand with the right rein,
circle the croup round with the left leg,
when turned lead the shoulders off with
the right rein.

Aids from right half pass to left pass

shoulder out.

Change the position of the horse's head,
stay the forehand with the left rein, circle
the croup round with the right leg, when
turned lead the shoulders off with the left
rein.

Aids from right pass to right pass shoulder

out.

Stay the hind quarters with the right
leg, circle the forehand round with the

75

right rein, the left leg closed to prevent the
haunches flvinp; out.

Aids from right pass shoulder out to left

pass shoulder in.

Adoublefeehngof the right rein, a stronger
pressure of the right leg supported by the
left leof and rein, the horse turnino^ on his
centre ; when turned, change the position
of the horse's head, and lead the shoulders
off with the left rein.

Aids from right pass shoulder in to left
pass shoulder out.
The same as the preceding answer.

Aids from right pass shoulder in to left

shoulder in.

Change the position of the horse's head,,
and lead the shoulders off with the right
rein.

Aids from right pass to right pass shoulder

in.

Stay the forehand with the right rein,,
circle the croup round with the left leg ;.
when turned, lead the shoulders off with
the right rein.

Aids from right pass to left pass shoulder
out.

7Q

Change the position of the horse's head,
stay the forehand with the left rein, circle
the croup round with the right leg ; when
turned, lead the shoulders off with the left
rein.

Note. — To question these Aids as per-

ibrmed from the left rein, it will only be

necessary to substitute in the questions

..and answers ''Left" for "Right" and

^' Eight" for "Left."

RIDING WITH THE SWORD.

When standing to his horse at " Atten-
tion," the dragoon with a sword stands
square to the front with his toes in line
with his horse's fore feet, holding the
bridoon rein with the right hand near the
bit, the right hand raised as high as his
own shoulder, the sword upright by the
. side as on foot parade.

" Stand at Ease."

The position of the man is the same
as in the foot drill, except that the right
hand slides down the bridoon rein to the
full extent of the arm, the rein being
retained in the hand.

77

■*' By numbers." " Prepare to Mount," [In
four motions.]
As before directed.

** Mount." [In three motions.]
As before directed.

^'Prepare to Dismount." [In three mo-
tions.]
As before directed.

*' Dismount." [In four motions.]
As before directed.

In mounting on the off side, the dragoon
will pass the sword over behind him, as he
is bringing down his left leg into the saddle.
In dismounting on the off side, the sword
is first to be laid across the front of the
saddle, the shoe ot* the scabbard to the
right.

*' Draw Swords."

( 1 ) Pass the right hand smartly across
the body, over the bridle arm, to the sword
knot,"^ place it on the wrist, give it two
turns inwards to secure it, and as the
handle is grasped draw out the blade

* When the sword is attached to the saddle, it may be
necessary to draw out the blade so as to rest the hilt on the
bridle arm before the sword knot is taken and the handle pro-
perly grasped.

78

slowlyt until the hand is in line with the
elbow, turning the edge to the rear, the
right arm close to the body, shoulders
square to the front. (2) With an extended
arm draw the sword slowly from the
scabbard, edge to the rear, in rear of left
shoulder, and bring it smartly to the
*' Recover," that is, with the bar of the hilt
in line with the bottom of the chin, blade
perpendicular, edge to the left, elbow close
to the body. (3) Lower the sword smartly
to the ** Carry," that is, with the hilt
resting on the thigh, blade perpendicular,
edge slightly inclined to the left, the grasp
of the lower fingers slightly relaxed, little
finger in rear of the hilt, arm close to the
body, that part of it between the wrist and
the elbow lightly touching the hip.

" Slope Swords."

Bring the lower part of the arm at right
angles to the upper, hand in front of the
elbow, relax the grasp of the second and
third fingers, and allow the sword to fall
lightly on the shoulder, midway between
the neck and point of the shoulder, the
little finger still in rear of the hilt.

t Swords must be drawn from and returned to the scabbards
SLOWLY, in order to preserve the edge.

79

" Sit at Ease."

Keeping the sword at the slope, place
the hands on the front part of the saddle,
with the right hand over the left.

'' Attention."

Come smartly to the position of " Slope
Swords."

" Carry Swords."

Resume the grasp of the second and
third fingers and bring the blade perpen-
dicular, the hilt resting on the thigh, as in
the third motion of drawing swords,

" Return Swords."

Carry tlie hilt smartly to the hollow of
the left shoulder, blade perpendicular, edge
to the left, elbow level with shoulder ; then,
by a quick turn of the wrist, drop the point
in rear of left shoulder slowly into the
scabbard, and resume the position at the
end of the first motion of " Draw Swords,"
shoulders being kept square to the front
throughout this motion. (2) Return the
sword slowly into the scabbard, release the
hand from the sword knot by giving it two
turns outwards, the right hand remaining
across the body in line with the elbow,
fingers extended and close together, back

G

80

of the hand up. (3) Drop the right hand
smartly to the side.

When " Draw Swords" is ordered at the
walk, the men, after drawing, will remain
at the " Carry " until ordered to " Slope " ;
but if " Draw Swords " is ordered at
the trot or gallop, the men will come to
the *' Slope '^ after drawing.

When men are dismounted to lead their
horses, or attack on foot with carbines,
swords are to be attached to the saddles.

Proving.

In proving the telling off with a drawn
sword, the sword is brought to the " Carry,"
and again sloped on the command ^^ As you

[The ride should be frequently halted for
the purpose of correcting the position of
the riders and giving them the hints which
they may individually require. No one
under instruction should be allowed to carry
a whip in the school without leave, and all
should be taught to treat the horses in the
kindest and most friendly manner. They
should especially be made to understand the
delicate structure of the horse's mouth. A
Riding Master should be quiet and patient

81

but firm, and should not attempt to push
his pupils too rapidly on. He should be
able to gauge the ability of each man^ never
expecting more from him than the instruc-
tion he has received should enable him to
perform. If requisite, he should, again and
again, explain lucidly and without loss of
temper, such points as may not have been
comprehended by members of the ride, and
he should give the reasons for the various
applications of the aids, so that all may
work intelligently together. It is almost
unnecessary to add that an absolutely
correct standard of conduct and lansfuai^e
should be scrupulously maintained in every
riding school. Assistants should not be
allowed to carry whips, and interfere with
the pace of the ride. That should be kept
exclusively in the hand of the Master.]

82

LADIES' EQUITATION.

Let us glance for a moment at the lady,
the horse, the saddle, and the habit, each
and all of which must receive careful atten-
tion, before the combined effect can be
pronounced satisfactory. Although riding
is pre-eminently the exercise which gives
beauty and grace to the female face and
form, yet it is well to prepare for a course
of instruction by a few simple exercises on
foot. The more arduous exertions in the
saddle will be all the easier, and the lessons
will be all the sooner learned, if the muscles
be strong and the frame supple and erect.
In these days when cycling and tennis are
universally in favour, it should perhaps be
taken for granted that all young ladies are
quite fit to begin riding, with pleasure and
profit to themselves ; but if any of them
desire a series of exercises requiring no
apparatus, the first five Extension and

83

Balance Motions (p. 31) may be recom-
mended. These can be performed on foot
just as well as on horseback, substituting
for the fourth practice the following : —
Bend slowly backward and then forward,
as far as possible, without bending the
knees ; and substituting for the fifth prac-
tice the following : — Lean to the right and
left alternately, touching the leg as near
the foot as possible.

THE lady's horse.

The lady's horse should be perfectly
broken as well as naturally docile, with a
good mouth and safe action. A proper
average height for a lady's horse is 15
hands. Much depends on the taste of the
rider, but, as a rule, anything above 15.2 is
too conspicuous. It is, of course, desirable
that he should be handsome and well bred,
but it must likewise be remembered that
a tall and well grown horsewoman always
looks best when mounted on a horse of
some substance, provided that he has good
action, a fine coat, and tolerably good looks.
A smaller lady should ride a smaller
animal, but each should ride the horse that
suits her best in its size, style and paces.

84

•THE SIDE SADDLE.

With regard to the side saddle, some
caution should be exercised. It is not always
practicable to keep a saddle for each horse,
although it would be very desirable to do
so, but the next best thing is to get a
saddle that fits the lady. It can then be
stuffed as required, for any horse that has
to carry it. These saddles vary in length
from 1 6 to 21 inches ; and of course they
vary in age and weight. The best plan is
to try a number of old saddles until a really
good and comfortable fit is found, when one
of the same dimensions may be ordered
from an expert in the making of ladies'
saddles. Second-hand saddles are fre-
quently unsatisfactory. The same side-
saddle has been known to change hands
several times in one year, having been in
each case sold for much less than was paid
for it. To order a new saddle that will fit
the rider is probably the best economy.
With very young riders it has, doubtless, a
good effect to let them ride both on the
near and off side, but when they are grown
up it is better to let the habit of riding on
one side become second nature and not
disturb it.

85

THE RIDING HABIT.

The skirt should be fitted when the
wearer is on horseback. The whole habit
should be quiet in colour, neat and severely
simple in style, avoiding extremes in length
or shortness, and should fit with perfect
ease and comfort. A good habit maker
will be able to give ladies information as to
other items of a horsewoman's outfit.
Suffice it to say that hat, gloves and whip
should be suitable to the wearer ; the hair
should be done up tightly, no ear-rings
should be worn, and the whip should be of
moderate length and almost inflexible. A
safety skirt is not a necessity, but it may
be recommended, as being safer than the
ordinary one in case of a fall. ^

LADIES TO UNDERSTAND SADDLING AND

BRIDLING.

Ladies should be carefully and repeatedly
instructed in the various items which come
under the head of Bridling in the fore-
going pages, and also in those included
under Saddling, so far as they apply to a
lady's saddle (see p. 19), they will find the
knowledge and experience thus obtained
most useful in enabling them, when a horse

86

is brought round, to see at a glance whether
he is turned out comfortably and correctly.
Restiveness and accidents may thus be
obviated, for when a horse becomes un-
manageable it is generally from preventable
causes.

LADIES MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING.

To mount her horse, a lady walks up
close to the saddle, takes the snaffle reins
with the left hand and places them with
the whip in the right hand, with which
she then takes hold of the top crutch. The
lady next turns to the left, facing in the
same direction as the horse, places her left
hand on the left shoulder of the mounting
assistant, and her left foot in the palms of
his hands. Then, on the word mount, she
straightens the left knee, springing from
the right foot, while the assistant, who
must be close to the horse, raises himself
erect, and the lady is placed on the saddle.
She faces to the left, and with the right
hand on the crutch and the other on the
cantle, slightly raises herself, and the
assistant pulls her skirt straight and smooth.
The lady next carries the right leg over
the top of the crutch, rests it on the

87

pommel, and places the ball of her left foot
on the stirrup -h^on, changing the reins to
the left hand.

To dismount, take the reins in the right
hand, bring the right leg over the crutch,
and take the left foot out of the stirrup ;
see that the skirt is all clear, take hold of
both crutches, and lower the body lightly
to the ground. Or, dismount with the left
hand on a man's arm and the right on the
top crutch.

To mount without help, face the saddle,
put the reins on the left arm, let out the
stirrup leather, take hold of the lower
crutch with the left hand, in which also
hold the whip, then take the stirrup in the
right hand and the reins in the left, put
the right foot in the stirrup, taking care
that the toe does not touch the horse's side,
place the right hand on the top crutch, and
spring into the saddle from the left foot,
while pulling with both hands. Then settle
the seat as usual, and correct the length
of the stirrup.

THE lady's position IN THE SADDLE.

The lady should sit quite square to the
front, and she will be the better able to

88

do so if, when settling down in her seat, she
throws her right shoulder well back and
looks, for a moment, to her right rear.
This will bring her into a straightforward
position in the centre of the saddle, which
she should endeavour to maintain, keeping
body and head erect.

The shoulders should be thrown well
back, and be kept level. There should
be the breadth of a finger between the
calf of the right leg and the crutch,
the right heel should be a little drawn back,
and the toes of each foot should point to
the front. The stirrup will be the right
length if the rider can insert the palm of
her left hand between her leg and the crutch
when the knee is bent. If the stirrup
leather is shorter, the knee is likely to be
bruised, and if longer there will be an extra
bearing on the off side, which means a bad
seat, and a probable sore shoulder for the
horse. The weight of the rider should be
in the middle of the saddle, and by no
means on the back part of it. This is a
most necessary warning, because the backs
of ladies' horses are more frequently injured
by the weight which their riders place
far back in the saddle, than by any other

89

cause. It is an open question, whether
side-saddles should not be so made that the
rider cannot put her weight too far back,
but it is, at least right, to point out that
prevalent error, which each horsewoman
should try to rectify for herself

THE lady's reins.

The little finger of the bridle hand
should be placed between the reins when a
single rein bridle is used, and after a light
and even feeling of the mouth has been
obtained, the end should be passed over
the forefinger, and the thumb should be
closed on the reins. When a double rein
bridle is used, the third finger of the bridle
hand is placed between the curb reins, and
the last three fingers between the snafHe
reins, the ends of both being turned over
the fore finger, and the thumb closed on
them, thus the little finger divides the
near, and the second finger the off reins.
This is preferable to holding the reins in
the reverse position, viz. : with the third
finger between the snaffle reins, and the
curb reins outside ; the greater leverage
should, of course, be on the snaffle.
When a lady rides with the reins in both

90

hands, if a single rein bridle is used, she
passes the near rein between the third and
little fingers of the left hand, and the off
rein between tlie corresponding fingers of
the right hand. The free part of the rein,
if any, should be passed over the left fore-
finger with the thumb pressed on it.
When both hands are employed with a
double rein bridle, the little finger of the
right hand is placed between the off reins,
the snaffle rein being outside. As a rule
there should be a stronger feeling on the
snaffle than on the curb reins, but they
should all convey the gentle and yielding
pressure which comes from lightness of
hand. The thumb of the bridle hand
should j)oint across the body, the wrist be
rounded outwards, and be held about four
inches from the body, and not higher than
the elbow. When reins are in both hands,
the distance between the hands should be
from four to six inches. The elbows should
be close to the sides, and the arms per-
pendicular from the shoulder to the elbow.
It is however, not to be expected that
any lady can manage her bridle hand with
dexterity, or with comfort to herself and
her horse, until she has learned by assi-

91

duous practice, to sit firmly and easily in
her saddle ; she may then change her reins
from one hand to the other, drop them on
the horse's withers, and take them up with
the right hand or the left, disposing of
them in the way already described. Facil-
ity in handling the reins, and in placing
them with precision and fineness of touch,
between the proper fingers, is of the utmost
importance to the horsewoman, and is an
accomplishment that will go far to insure
her safety on horseback. By perseverance
it will become as easy as knitting, or any
other movement of the hands, that is
mechanically performed.

When a lady has learned to mount, and
been placed in the correct position on
horseback, she should be directed to ride
round the school or manege at a walk, and
until her seat has been fairly confirmed she
should have a snaffle bridle only, and hold
a rein in each hand. The exercises for
ladies should begin at " Walk, March,"
(p. 39), and should be carried on in
accordance with the quotations from " The
Book of Aids," so far as they are applicable
to ladies. To obviate repetition, ladies and
instructors are referred to that portion of
the Guide.

92

In all the exercises in which the pressure
of both legs is prescribed, it is to be under-
stood, that the pressure of the lady's whip
answers to that of the right leg. When a
lady moves from the halt to the walk she
brings back the left heel and touches the
horse with her whip on the oflP side, at the
same time easing the reins. When the
horse moves she feels the reins again. The
same aids are applied for the trot : but for
the canter the whip should be applied on
the off shoulder when cantering to the
right, and on the near shoulder when can-
tering to the left. It is easier for a lady
on an ordinary side saddle when her horse
canters to the right or, in other words,
leads off with the right foot. The most
difficult pace is the trot. In order to be
able to trot well and have a thoroughly
independent seat, a lady should ride under
instruction for three months without rising.
At the end of that time she will probably
be beautifully balanced, feel absolutely safe,
have a firm seat and perfect hands, and be
able to go anywhere. It may be said that
the ordeal is severe, but on the other hand
the results are most gratifying. The rise
at the trot can then be done with evident

93

ease and with only a slight motion. The
rider is square t<:» her front and sits in the
centre of her saddle. If those ladies who
ride obliquely, facing their left front,
swinging their legs and rising high in the
air, could see themselves at the trot as
others see them, they would be ready to
suffer much inconvenience and make great
sacrifices to unlearn so unsightly and
injurious a habit It must not, however,
be inferred that to become a fairly good
rider a lady requires three months without
rising in the stirrup. A shorter time may
make a considerable improvement, but as
with soldiers, so with horsewomen, it is
the long period without rising that gives
the strongest and best seat and conse-
quently the best hands.

With regard to the general principle,
some writers insist that until bewmers
have been well established in the saddle
they should not be allowed to touch
the reins. This is theoretically correct
but it is less necessary in the case of ladies.
Young riders keep themselves in their
place with the help of the bridle, but there
are practical difficulties to be met with
when an attempt is made to deprive them

94

of that support. If a ride consists of a good
number of pupils, the most feasible plan is
to let them have their snaffle reins, but to
keep them at a walk till they have got a
good position, and as far as possible, to
prevent them from bearing heavily on the
horses' mouths. Ladies are superior to
men in lightness of hand, and they learn
more quickly how to ride and manage a
horse. Perhaps their natural kindness has
its influence on these constitutionally
sensitive animals. In any case, kind treat-
ment goes a long way with the horse, and
a lump or two of sugar judiciously bestowed
will make him a confiding friend. It is sad
to think how brutally and ungratefully he
is used in this Christian country, and most
brutally in his old age.

95

ONE WORD ON CHILDREN.

A word may be said here on the way in
which children are often taught to ride,
and it must be a word of warning. It is
charitable to suppose that the parents of
these infants do not know at what pace
they are dragged at the heels of a groom
who, as a rule, looks straight before him
and seems to think of nobody but himself
Although the spectacle is of frequent
occurrence in the E>ow, it has not ceased to
be alarming. A child requires far more
attention and supervision than an older
person does ; the strength of the child is
much smaller than his spirit, and it is easy
to cause permanent injury by overtaxing it.
His riding lessons should, therefore, be
given with less publicity and greater sedate-
ness ; they should also be carefully graduated
so as to develop his powers and growth
before fast riding in the Park is permitted.

96

THE TRAINING OF HORSES.

If a superior and trustworthy head be
not employed to superintend the operation
of breaking, the owner would find it
advantageous to look after the breaker,
and for this purpose some knowledge and
judgment are necessary. Love of the horse
is essential to success in bringing out the
best qualities of the animal. This does not,
however, imply that punishment is to be
unknown, but that it is to be inflicted with-
out temper, judiciously, unwillingly, and
only for wilful misconduct.

When a young horse is brought up for
training, the treatment which he at first
receives, should depend very much on his
age and past history. The general practice
is to feed him almost entirely on bran
mashes for the first forty-eight hours, and
perhaps give a ball soon after his arrival.
His exercise during the first three days

97

should not be more than twenty minutes,
morning and afternoon.

A mouthing snaffle should be used to begin
with, and for the first six days he should
be longed on the right rein at a walk and
trot, say, twenty minutes, and on the left
rein ten minutes, being occasionally allowed
to come up to the trainer for rest. The
trainer should stretch out his horse's fore-
legs when he comes up, and then make
much of him and give him a piece of sliced
carrot or something else that the horse likes.

The horse should be made to bend and
look in the direction he takes, and the
outer rein should be the higher in order to
support him.

In longeing, two lessons should generally
be given on the right to one on the left, as
the near fore is the " mother leg," and the
horse is naturally more supple on the left
side.

In the second week the foregoing lessons
should be repeated, and the canter be com-
menced, but care should be taken not to
overdo it. The trainer should see that the
horse canters true on each rein. He should
also rein back a few paces at a time, but
without putting too much weight on the

98

haunches ; and he should bend the horse
to the rio^ht and left at the halt and
teach him to cross his feet. These
lessons should occupy from twenty to
twenty-five minutes twice a day, in addi-
tion to which he ought to be walked out
every day with the crosstrees, among
horses and carriages in the streets, and by
the end of the second week he will probably
begin to show an improvement in condition.
Should he not yet do so, he must be kept
at the same gentle exercise for a few days
longer.

The young horse must be in condition
before any attempt is made to mount him.
Many horses have been ruined by being
mounted too soon, and by other kinds of
bad management. Experience and a con-
stant exercise of judgment are needful
during the process of training. The dumb
jockey is not intended, as some suppose, for
a punishment, but to assist in preparing
the young horse for a rider. The snaffle
should be fitted with indiarubber, which
preserves the delicacy of the mouth, and
the two reins on each side should be leather,
because with indiarubber reins the horse is
apt to lean on the bit, and lower his fore-

99

hand. This is an unpleasant habit, which
may pull a rider off. On wet days he
should stand ^with the trees on him in a
loose box or on pillar reins, but the reins
must not be too tight or he may become
hard mouthed and a borer. Last of all,
before mounting, it is advisable to longe the
horse with the saddle, and the dumb jockey
on it. This will finish the second week, or
the extra days which may have been found
necessary. Longeing, properly carried out,
is a most useful part of a horse's education.
In the case of a harness horse, trotting
should predominate ; in that of a riding
horse, cantering.

In the third week the horse may be
mounted, but most carefully in all respects.
The saddle must be softly stuffed and lined,
and there must be no lumps nor any sub-
stance that can possibly irritate the skin.
The india-rubber snaffle should still be
used, and the horse should be worked on
the same circle for six days, at the walk,
trot, and canter, varied by mounting and
dismounting, bending, shoulder in and out,
and passage. These lessons should last for
thirty minutes in the morning, and twenty
in the afternoon. After each of them the

100

customary slice of carrot, or other reward
for a good equine scholar, should be given,
and the horse should be .ridden to his
stable.

At the beginning of the fourth week
he may be fitted with bit complete, and be
ridden anywhere, but the lessons on the
circle should be repeated for ten minutes
every day. The polo short cheek bit and
snaffle may be recoraended, with india-
rubber or leather at the back of the curb.

If the horse be now ridden regularly, six
days a week, until the end of the sixth
week of Training, he should then have learn-
ed to obey the rider's leg, and go through all
paces as required.

It is at this stage to be taken for granted
that the horse knows his duty, and is
willing to do it without being constantly
rewarded and made much of. The coaxing
treatment must, by degrees, be less fre-
quently employed, and obedience must be
gently but firmly enforced. It is very
seldom that horses trained in this way turn
out badly ; if they do, the mischief may
generally be traced to the ignorance or
cruelty of some untrustworthy person.
Experience teaches that there is not often

101

any lasting cure of wild or vicious horses,
by systems which involve pain and terror,
but it is likewise to be borne in mind, that
when a horse under training, disobeys a
reasonable order which he understands, he
must by all means be reduced to obedience.
This is not to be done, however, in a rough
or rash manner, but with quiet determin-
ation, which has the best effect both on a
child and a young horse, between which
there is a curious resemblance. Nothing
raises the spirit of resistance either in one
or the other, so much as undeserved harsh-
ness. Both may be ruined by it, but they
may also be spoiled for life, if the rod is
spared when it ought to be applied.

The following is Captain Nolan's cate-
chism, which should be learned by every
trainer. It is a most valuable document,
now becoming very rare.

CAPTAIN Nolan's catechism on the

TRAINING OF HORSES.

1. — In riding a young horse at what must
you first ann ?
I must get him to move forward.

2.— What next ?

To step out freely at a walk and a^trot.

102

3. — Then to render him obedient, how do
you begin ?
With the head and neck.

4._Why ?

Because the head neck should precede
or begin every movement of the horse.

5. — How do you set about it ?

By teaching the horse to obey the feel-
ing of the reins.

6. — Do you do this on foot or on horseback ?
I begin with the bending lessons on foot,
and thus, prepare the horse to obey the
hand when mounted.

7.— What follows ?

Teaching the horse to obey the pressure
of the leg.

8. — How is this done ?

By circling him on the forehand and
haunches.

9. — Is the horse then sufficiently broken

in ?

No. For as yet I have only reduced,
separately to obedience the head and neck,
the shoulders and the haunches, one after
another.

103

10. — To derive any great advantage from
these several separate acts of obedience
on the part of the horse, what must
you do ?
I must know how to combine them, and

exact obedience from all collectively.

11. — But how can you do this ?

I can bring the horse's head home,
(because he has already been taught to
rein in).

I can keep his hind quarters on a straight
line (for by circling on the forehand, the
horse has learnt to step to the right or left,
from the pressure of the leg).

I can move his forehand, (from having
circled on the haunches).

I therefore now proceed to rein back, and
bring his loins into play.

12.— Will reining back alone, then, combine
the play of forehand and haunches ?
Not thoroughly without the use of the

spur.

13. — Then in what way does the spur

assist "?

By the use of the spur I oblige the horse
to bring his head and neck, shoulders, loins
and haunches, all into play at the same

104

time, and by degress I exact obedience from
them collectively.

14. — Explain how this is done ?

I keep the horse at a walk on the straight
line, his head reined in, and approaching
the spur close to the sides, touch him
lightly at first. This gives the horse a
forward impulse, which I quietly control
by keeping my hand steady, while the
horse's hind legs, which he brought under
him to spring forward, are suddenly kept
there by the opposition of my hand. I
then make much of him and caress him,
ease my hand, letting him continue to walk
on quietly, till by repeating this lesson, at
the slightest pressure of my legs, he brings
his haunches under him, and arches his
neck and is ready to spring forward, to rein
back, or turn to either hand.

15. — ^But suppose when you stick the spurs

into him, he throws up his head, and

dashes off with you ?

This could not happen to me because 1

should never communicate an impulse with

the leg, which I could not control with my

hand. I begin by touching his sides so

lightly, and taking it so coolly, neither

105

moving hand or leg, that the horse is never
alarmed, thinks nothing of it at first, and
thus I go on gradually increasing the dose,
till he takes as much as is " necessary "
and " cannot help himself."

16. — When do you know that the horse has
taken as much as is " necessary " ?

When I feel the horse so buoyant and
light under me, that I can make him
spring forward, rein back, or turn to any
side and with perfect ease.

17. — And how is it that he *' cannot help

himself" ?

Because I have made myself master, by
degrees, of all his strong places, being care-
ful to attack them one by one, and never
attempt No. 2 till I was in full possession
of No. 1.

18. — Then, according to your showing, you
first make yourself master of the fore-
hand, then of the haunches, and then
you combine the play of both by " reining
back," and using the spur. Do you
now consider yourself master of your
horse ?
Yes, I do.

106

19. — When you bend your horse to the
right and left, whether on foot or
mounted, is it sufficient that he should
champ the bit ?
Not quite, he should open his mouth and

take no hold of it.

20. — Do you continue these bending lessons

long ?^

Until the horse yields and opens his
mouth at the slightest feeling of the reins.

21. — In " reining back " which comes first,
" the 23ressure of the legs," or " the feel-
ing of the reins " ?
First, the pressure of the legs, and then

the feeling of the reins.

22.— Why ?

Because the support (the hind leg) must
be displaced before the weight is thrown on
it. If the reins are felt first the whole
weight of the horse is thrown on his hind
legs ; and how can he lift them and step
back ? If he succeeds in lifting one leg it
is with a great effort, and he will fall hack
on it rather than step back, and thus injure
his hocks, if forced to repeat it often ;
whereas, by a pressure of both legs, I make
him raise one hind leg, at that moment, by
feeling both reins, I oblige him to put that

107

foot down, back instead of forward. I do
not throw the horse off his balance,
and he can continue stepping back, with as
httle effort as stepping to the front.

23 — Do the hand and leg work separately ?
No, they should always assist each
other.

24 — When circling on the forehand do you

ever halt the horse ?

Yes, when the leg is applied, the horse
moves from it, but when the pressure
ceases, the horse should no longer step from
it, otherwise when he once begins passaging,
he is not easily stopped, and to prevent a
horse getting into this bad habit, as well
as to teach him to collect himself whenever
the leg is applied, after each step in circling
on the forehand, I stop him by closing the
inward leg ; and by a pressure of both legs,
I collect and press him up to the hand, but
I never allow him to hurry.

25. — And now how do you pull up a horse

when at full speed.

By closing both legs, and feeling both
reins.

26. — Do you mean to say that you pull a
horse when at speed by the use of your
legs.

108

Yes, the horse is so accustomed, at the
pressure of the rider's legs, to bring his
haunches under him, that he does so
at speed also, and I seize that moment to
keep him there by throwing myself back,
feelinof both reins at the same time.

27. — If you did not use your legs, what

would happen ?

If I did not use my legs, but merely
pulled at the bridle, the horse would put
his head up or down, and though I should
by strength of arm pull him up in time, it
would be entirely on his forehand, his nose
stuck out, his hind quarters up, his loins
arched, and I should be thrown up and
down in the saddle in a very helpless way,
and thus quite unfit to act on an emergency,
as the horse would be under no control.

By the above means we can bring the
horse in about two months to be generally
obedient, light in hand, to carry well, to
walk, trot, steadily and quickly, and always
in hand, to rein back freely, and close
steadily to either hand, to canter to
both hands and change leg ; to go about
on the forehand and haunches, [Pirouette)
and thus make him a good horse for
cavalry.

109

Captain Nolan's system is not for troop
horses only, but will likewise make a hunter,
a hack, or any other horse, strong in the
muscles and handy. Much must be left to
the judgment of the instructor or trainer of
the horse, in dividing the work into lessons,
day by day. He shoukl vary some of the
lessons, according to the temper and the con-
dition of the horses. Some are sluggish, and
may require the use of the spur sooner than
others, but a gooi trainer can bring any
horse under control, that has not been
spoiled by previous mismanagement.

If you cannot when mounted get your
horse to do what you require, dismount,
and try again, or get an assistant on foot
to help. If a horse is hard to rein back or
in, and rests the lower jaw against his
chest, use the snaffle to raise his head, and
the legs to drive him forward to the hand.

Although much of Captain Nolan's sys-
tem, now substantially that pursued in the
British Army, was borrowed from Mons.
Baucher, the famous French trainer, yet a
great part was omitted, including the more
fanciful movements which were not con-
sidered necessary for cavalry. The Pirouette
was, however, recommended by Captain

110

Nolan as useful for a cavalry horse. It is
certninly a smart way of turning about on
the haunches, and can be learned by most
horses with strong hocks, but whether it is
worth while to take up time in teaching it
is another matter. The Pirouette is not
merely a turn about on the haunches, but
a double turn about, bringing the horse
back to his original front. There are few
if any conceivable circumstances in which
such a movement would prove practically
useful to a mounted officer or soldier.
When a man on foot turns to the right
about, it is because something is to be done
by that change of front, but if he turns
right about and again right about without
a pause, it can only be for the amusement
of himself or somebody else. The deini-
pirouette, or the single turn about on the
haunches, would doubtless well repay the
trouble of teaching, and could not but be
regarded as a most useful accomplishment.

ADVANCED TRAINING.

In preceding to the further training of
the horse, it is, of course, assumed that
the directions already given (pp. 19 & 20) on
Saddling and Bridling have been duly

Ill

followed, and that the rider is seated pro-
perly in the middle of the saddle. These
matters are of greater importance now that
the horse is called upon to extend his paces
and make greater exertion.

To make him walk well he should for
some time be collected and kept back to a
rate of one mile an hour ; then if allowed
to increase the pace he is glad to free his
shoulders, and a good walk is obtained.
When trotting, the same plan should be
followed to make him " trot out." Exer-
cise of this kind gives permanent freedom
of action, and improves the horse not only
in walking and trotting but also in gallop-
ing and leaping. An ill- made, narrow
chested young horse that put one foot in
front of the other in walking, and looked
as if he would fall down at every step, has
been known to improve so much in shape
and action as to become, in two months, a
very creditable hunter. Nor is this a
solitary instance. The plan adopted was
to drill the horse at shoulder in and out in
addition to the ordinary paces, and fre-
quently to pull his legs to the right and left
as well as to the front.

112

LEAPING.

The horse should be taught to leap with
a leading line, or, if necessary with one on
each side, and without a rider, for the first
two or three lessons, but the jumps should
be small and the lessons short. To be slow
and sure in this business is a saving of time
in the end. Some corn sacks filled with
straw, and laid flat on the ground, can now
be ridden over, so as gradually to get his
hind quarters into good condition. A little
later, a bar covered with hay or straw
bands may be negociated, the sacks lying in
front of the bar. The height of the bar may
shortly be raised to three feet, and the
sacks be placed on end leaning against it.
The next step is to use hurdles with the
bar, and when the horse is ready to
accomplish a wider jump, two bars with
hurdles or sacks of straw may be placed
about twelve inches apart, and be gradually
moved farther from each other as the horse
increases in jumping power. For a horse
finishing a course of training, and in first
rate condition, the hurdles may be placed
with sacks on the top, and the bars
may be so fixed as to make a jump
upwards of five feet high and eighteen feet

113

long, but this should of course be arrived
at by slow degrees, and under the care of
an experienced and judicious trainer. A
good way to give further strength and
practice to a horse is to ride him over three
jumps, three feet high, and ten feet apart.
These buck jumps are good practice both
for horses and men.

SHYING.

The chief causes of shying are fear, vice,
playfulness, and defective sight. When it
comes from the last, the only safe course is
to get rid of the horse ; he may be very
useful in double harness, with blinkers on
him. As to the three remaining causes, it
may be stated that a good horseman,
especially if he and his horse know one
another, can generally manage to ride past
the bogey without much trouble. He uses
his legs, perhaps an armed heel, and keeps
up a playful feeling of the bit, all of which
help to fix the horse's attention more on
himself than on the dreaded object.
Should this be unavailing he must not
punish but turn him about on his centre,
to the right and left alternately, applying
the inward leg and supporting him with

114

the outward rein. When he has made a
few turns about he should press both leo^s
and drive the horse forward This will
likely succeed on the first trial, but if not
he should repeat the process until it does.
If a horse has sufficient work and a good
rider, he will seldom shy. A nervous rider
on a shying horse is a very uncomfortable
combination. A steam roller is sighted
half a mile ofP, and the rider makes up his
mind that there will be a shy; he thereupon
takes hard hold of the horse's head and
grips tight with his legs, in ill-disguised
trepidation. This is all taken in by the
quadruped, who begins to look out for the
cause of alarm, and spying the steam roller,
feels in duty bound to fulfil his riders
expectations. Had he been ridden boldly
he might have said to himself : my rider is
not afraid, why should I be ? It is quite
possible to get a shying horse past the
object by turning his head away from it,
and going past at the shoulder in. As to
going close up to it, a useful lesson may
thereby be given to the young horse, but
it cannot do much good when he has gained
experience. He can see the object perfectly
well a little way off, and if kept standing

115

there for a minute he will generally be glad
to pass on quietly.

REAllING.

When a horse rears he should be dealt
with calmly but with great severity.
Heroic remedies, such as breaking a water
bottle over his head, or even striking him
heavily between the ears with the butt of
a whip, are worse than useless. In point
of fact, they have been known, over and
over again, to cause an immediate rejDeti-
tion of the offence. Putting shot in his
ears, as some do, is shameful and punish-
able cruelty. If a roughrider can slip off
in time to pull him back with safety, and a
thorough castigation be there and then
administered, the result may be beneficial.
Certainly if a horse comes back he should
be well punished, but it is not necessary
to let him get so far. Let the rider carry
a very small, slight cane, and strike him
gently right and left on the ears when he
tries to rear, and there w411, as a rule, be
no further trouble for the time being. The
sound of a whip near his ears will after-
wards make him lower his head. In
ordinary riding, if a horse rears there is

116

some previous indication of it, which the
rider should note. He should at once get
hold of his snaffle rein on the rigiit or left,
as near tiie ring as possible, and straighten
his arm, holding the rein tight, the rein on
the opposite side being held normally. If
this be properly done, it bends the horse's
head to the right, or to the left as the case
may be, and he is unable to rise because
his weight is pulled to one side. If, after
all, he succeeds in rearing, and is about to
fall back, the rider must pull the reins on
the right or left, and jump off on the same
side. That gives the best chance of falling
clear. A lady on an ordinary side saddle
should alwtiys pull the near reins in these
circumstances, but it is not to be supposed
that a lady will ride a rearer, so nothing
more need be said on the subject. The vice
of rearing is so disagreeable and dangerous
that the horse addicted to it should be put
in a pair horse van, or between the poles of
a three horse abreast omnibus.

SADDLES.

The all-important part of the saddle is
the tree. If the tree fits the back ot* the
horse, the weight of the rider is equally

117

and fairly distributed, but if not it falls
unevenly and produces a sore back. Al-
though, as already remarked, it is not often
convenient to have a saddle made for every
riding horse, yet when it can be done, the
resulting advantage is very decided. The
owner of a very valuable riding horse
should, if possible, get a tree to fit his
horse, especially if the animal is to be much
ridden. In other cases, and when nothing
but light work is to be done, it is possible
to obviate injury by stuffing the saddle so
as to make it a tolerable fit, but the stuffing
of saddles and collars should be minutely
examined, as, owing to accident or careless-
ness, hard foreign matter has often found
its way into stuffing, and has been the
means of disabling horses. It should like-
wise be clearly apprehended that the blade
bones and the loins are not intended to
bear weight, and that if the side-boards of
the tree be long enough to extend to them,
the horse will sooner or later be crippled.
Neither is the spine capable of bearing
weight.

The following extract from Professor
Smith's " Military Manual of Saddles and
Sore Backs," should be studied by all who

118

are not already familar with the structure
of the part on which the saddle rests : — -
" Coming out at ahnost right angles to
the spine we have the ribs. Now as it is
indirectly on the ribs that we actually sit,
it is essential that we should have some
knowledge of the part. The ribs form a
case called the chest. This case is narrow
in front and wide behind. The ribs in
front, those situated under the fore leg,
are short, straight, wide, and fixed both
above and below ; as, however, w^e pass
backwards we find they become more
arched, narrow, and flexible. This arching
of the back ribs produces a very remarkable
change in size which can only be appreciated
by looking down on a horse as he is led
past you with nothing on his back. In no
position can it be better seen than from a
driver's seat of a London omnibus, as the
horses which work in these wear no other
harness than collar and traces, and the back
is exposed to full view. I can assure you
that a study from this position is of
inestimable benefit in learning how a
back works, but more particularly in obtain-
ing a correct appreciation of a point I have
to deal with presently, viz., the movements
performed by the shoulder blade.

119

" If a section of a horse's body be made
immediately behind the play of his shoul-
der, we find that the part is here egg-shaped,
whilst if we cut him through behind th(3
last rib the body is nearly circular in
shape ; this difference in shape is due to
the arrangement of the ribs as before
described. I f we look carefully at the ribs,
and I will only direct your attention to the
last 11, we find that those behind the play
of the shoulder are wide, comparatively
straight, and attached to the breast bone,
which affords them great support ; their
upper surface which forms the back is
narrow ; as, however, we pass backwards
we find that the ribs present a gradually
increasing width of upper surface ; the
difference between the upper level surface
of the ribs behind the shoulder and that in
front of the loin being as much as three
inches in favour of the latter. On the
width of these level surfaces depends the
width of the back, and on them rest
indirectly the side -boards of the saddle."

When once these principles have been
grasped, in addition to that already laid
down, that the rider should sit in the
middle of the saddle, it will not be difficult

120

to detect anything faulty either in the
construction or the fitting of that very
important article.

A new side-saddle should be used for a
fortnight before the owner rides in it, in
order to avoid the trouble that may arise
from finding out something wrong when
she is on horseback. Special care should be
taken in the fitting of the saddle on the off
side, where the horse often becomes tender
and saddle sore from the extra strain of the
rider's weight on that side. Her balance-
strap should not be attached to the stirrup,
as the girth bulk of the horse decreases
after riding for some time, and the stirrup
becomes too lonof.

The ladies of officers' families, and others
going abroad, are recommended to take
their saddles with them. They are likely
to be much better satisfied if they do so,
and should they cease to require them, they
will rarely fail to obtain a good price for
English saddles.

DRIVING.

Before a horse c?ai be considered properly
broken to harness, he should have been put
through the foregoing course of training,

121

including longeing, riding, and the aids
Nothing fits a horse so well for his harness
work, as being intelligently trained on the
system ab >ve described. The next j3oint
to be considered is the fitting of the
harness. What is often called vice and
temper, is merely the result of intense
irritation or pain caused by ill-fitting
harness. A tightly buckled crupper, may
so rub and injure a horse's dock, that he
kicks a carriage to pieces. His shoulders
may be so tender from excessive collar work
at the beginning of his training, that he
becomes a jibber. The object of these few
words under the head of driving, is to
mitigate the hardships both of the horse
and his master. The horse must be trained
step by step, and each step should be
firmly planted before the next is taken.
After passing through the training detailed
above, he should stand in the stable on
pillar reins for a few days, with the harness
on, and champ the bit. He may then be
led out, one man being at his head and
another holding on to a rope attached to
the traces. The man pulling at the traces,
gets the horse by degrees to pull against
him, and so draw him along. The man at

122

the horse's head then changes his position,
drives him from behind, and turns him to
the right and left. After this he may be
pat in a brake with a steady old horse,
getting light work, and being rewarded
with sugar or carrot, and when his shoul-
ders become hard as they will do under
this management, he will take very kindly
to his harness duties.

The general principles on which the
harness should be fitted can be gathered
from the passages on saddling and brid-
ling, (pp. 19 & 20) The pad should be behind
the play of the shoulder, the crupper should
admit the breadth of a hand between it and
the hind quarters, a few inches in front of
the tail, the collar should fit easily, allowing
the hand to pass freely between the lower
part of it and the horse's chest, and there
should as a rule be no beaijing rein. A
well made horse, in good condition, and
properly treated, carries his head in a
natural position, and is both pained and
disfigured by having such an addition to
his outfit. The unnatural position pro-
duced by the bearing rein, may hide defects,
but it is at the expense of the animal's
sufferings.

123

With regard to the driving itself, it
seems to deteriorate in this country, j)ro-
bably from the fact that nowadays more
people keep carriages than formerly, many
of them uninterested in horses, and unable
to give proper directions to their servants,
while the latter, from want of supervision,
frequently remain untutored, or V>ecome
careless.

There are several rules which should be
invariably followed by coachmen. They
should sit with their feet well in front of
them and so be ready to recover a horse if
he stumbles rather than be pulled off the
box by him. Nothing more surely indicates
a bad driver than the position with feet
drawn back instead of planted forward.
The reins should not be either slack or
tight but should preserve a sympathetic
feeling of the mouth, by which the horse
is kept in touch with the wish and intention
of the driver. The whip should be used
sparingly, and more as an aid than as a
punishment. Never start suddenly.

Never race ; it is a far superior line of
conduct to let people pass you on the road
than to compete with them. Their business
may be urgent, in which case they are

124

right, but if they wish to get ahead of you
merely for the sake of doing so, still main-
tain your own pace and make no sign but
pull aside and let them pass. If a snob
pushes to enter a doorway in front of you,
it is generally better to stand off and let
him have his way. What he does shows
what he is. The driver who thinks it
meritorious to pass you on the road, makes
a similar mistake. Owners should see that
their servants act on this principle, what-
ever kind of carriage they may be driving.
Never, except on rare and urgent occasions,
speak to horses when driving in a town,
and never on any occasion in a loud voice.
If a horse persists in cantering, whether
in single or double harness, make sure that
the curb is not too tight or the leverage
excessive from the too low buckling of the
reins. These points may on examination
be found all right, and yet something may
press on him on one side or the other,
making him lead off with a particular foot.
When all known causes have been removed,
and he still persists in cantering, pull his
head quietly away from the leading leg,
and touch him very gently on the opposite
side with the whip. This will oblige him

125

to change feet and he will then probably
trot. The ignorant and futile attempts made
to stop cantering in harness tend to show
the advisability of giving systematic in-
struction to men who have the care of
horses.

Then under the head of over-driving and
neglect, there is room for vast improve-
ment. The pace, the distance driven, the
times of rest and feeding, the refreshment
of meal and water, and the attention to the
animal's general well-being, can only be
properly regulated by the knowledge and
kind feeling of the person who takes charge,
and no one who is not possessed of these
two requisites should ever be entrusted
with horses.

One word may be said on the turn-out
and attitude of men on the box of a private
carriage in the street. They should always
be well set up, neatly and correctly dressed,
their hats never on one side, the arms of
the footman folded ; they should look
straight to the front, and never speak to
each other except on duty. In short, their
demeanour should be that of soldiers at
attention. If the horses, carriage, and
harness, correspond with the above des-

126

cription, the owner and coachman will
everywhere deserve and receive respect, but
opposite causes produce opposite effects.

127

STABLES AND OTHER SUBJECTS.

A stable should be dry, well ventilated,
free from draughts, fairly warm, and con-
tain sufficient cubic space. It will not be
dry unless it is well drained. There should
be no sunk drains to go wrong and poison
the air that the horses breathe. All the
drains, should, if possible, be shallow, and
on the surface, thus admitting of being
thoroughly cleaned and flushed, and pre-
venting the accumulation of unseen decom-
posing matter. The effect of pure air on
the health of a horse is as great as on that
of a human being, and no horse can long
be in good health if kept in a damp and
close stable. The breathing space in
nearly all the newest and best stables, is
1500 cubic feet and upwards for each horse.

The paving material, in order to be sani-
tary, must be impervious to moisture.
This likewise applies to the walls, which

K

128

should be faced with glazed tiles or some
other sanitary material. Horses should
stand on level ground, and therefore the
stalls should be made level. In new stables
this would probably be the case, but when
one is in possesion of a stable with sloping
stalls, the following plan may be adopted :
Completely cover the floor of the stall Avith
a level platform of thick planks raised very
slightly off the ground ; the planks must be
bored with a sufficient number of auger
holes to let water run through. Very
little bedding is needed in such stalls, and
in fact, vast numbers of horses sleep com-
fortably on wood, without any bedding
"whatever. But scrupulous and regular
cleanliness is absolutely necessary ; the
planks ought to be taken up and cleaned
daily, and the pavement beneath them
carefully washed and dried. In ordinary
cases however, there should be an ample
allowance of good clean straw for the
horse's bed. Eight pounds of fresh straw
every day may be considered a fair average,
that quantity being prescribed for military
stables.

For full information on these matters.
Horses and Stables," by Sir F. Fitz-

<(

129

Wygram, may be consulted. It is an ex-
haustive work, and is sold at a very low
price, which brings it within the reach of
all.

Shoeing, axd the structure of the
FOOT, are subjects too large for discussion
here.

The Feeding of the horse cannot be duly
regulated except by the amount of work
which he does. The cavalry ration of oats
is ten pounds a day, which is generally
sufficient, but horses in hard work require
more. The oats should be home grown,
not too new, not artificially dried, and
should weigh nearly forty pounds to the
bushel. It is more economical to buy good
and expensive oats than the cheaper sorts.

Hay for horses doing ordinary fast work,
must be "upland," fragrant, and well saved.
Other desiderata are that it should be free
from dust, composed of a variety of good
grasses, and be about a year old. A fair
average amount of hay is twelve pounds a
day for each horse. Green forage and
other kinds of food, may be given occasion-
ally as circumstances and the judgment of
the owner suggest.

130

Water should be soft, clean, and, if very
cold, should be chilled. It should be given
before feeding and not after.

Groominci should be thoroughly, ener-
getically, and regularly done, for otherwise
neither the horse's general health nor the
gloss on his coat will be satisfactory.

Docking is a cruel and brutal fashion,
which all who appreciate the horse, and
understand his constitution, would be glad
to see unmistakeably abolished by law.
The reader may be referred for details, and
for an able presentment on Docking, to a
book recently published under the sanction
of the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals, entitled " The Wanton
Mutilation of Animals," by the celebrated
Dr. Fleming, lately at the head of the Veter-
inary Department of the Army. He says
that it is " painful and unnecessary,''
damaofes the animal for life, and brino^s those
who practise it within the scope of the law
for the prevention of cruelty to animals.

Dr. Fleming quotes Voltaire, whose dis-
gust with the unnatural appearance of our
horses, impelled him to write the following
lines; —

131

" Vous fiers Aiiglois,
Barbares que vous etes,
Coupez la tete aux rois
Et la queue a vos betes ;
Mais les Francois,
Polls et droits,
Aimant les lois,
Laissent la queue aux betes
Et la tete aleurs rois."
This may be roughly translated thus : —
You English are not only haughty,
But also barbarous and naughty,
For head of king and tail of horse.
You amputate without remorse.
The French are, au contraire, polite,
Abide the law, and love the right.
Keep horses' tails as they have grown-
And leave their Monarchs' heads alone.
Afterwards the French followed our
example by committing both of the
sins condemned by Voltaire, but if we
desire to be in the van of civilization we
should try to reclaim those whom we have
led astray, and our first step must be to
abandon our evil ways with shame and
contrition.

cljt) ^ c!4(>

Farmer & Sons, Printers, 295, Edgware Road, W,

T

HO

HUNTING

OUTFITTERS,

SPORTING

TAILORS,

and

BREECHES

MAKERS.

V_T&

THOMAS & SONS' PATENT WASHABLE WATERPROOF
SKIRT LININGS FOR HUNTING COATS.

A great boon to hunting men. Hunting Coats fitted with it last
twice as long, and require one-half the amount of cleaning.

CAVALRY PANTALOONS AND OVERALLS A SPECIALITY.

Sporting and Military Tailors and Breeches Makers,

(Corner of South Molton Street).

TcLECRAPHfc Address I Sportingly, London.-

SAPD^ES &

Mr. Savi^ear has made special terms with a large
Wholesale Manufacturer of Ladies' and Gentlemen's
saddles of the very best quality.

(A LARGE REDUCTION).

It is most essential that Ladies should be properly fitted
with their side saddle for comfort and a firm seat.

SPECIALLY MADE SADDLES & BRIDLES,

^m^itlx Solid I^^lckel ]Blts.

(For India and the Colonies, <Scc. — To fit any horse).

I I I I I I I I H I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I H I I I H I 11 I I 11 I II I |»

SAYIGEAR'S

RIDING GRIP TEST.

"Vff*

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No rider should be without one. It proves the
strength of seat, and number of pounds you can hold
on the saddle with your knees. Also the pulling
strength on ladies' saddle, and the number of pounds
she can pull on the horse's mouth.

22/6 complete.

SAVIGEAR'S RIDING SCHOOL.

SPINK BROS.,

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Specialities

SCOTCH BEEF.
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NEW ZEALAND LAMB.
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Specially Selected.

Dairy Fed Pork. West Country Veal.

Sweetbreads. Calves' Heads. Calves' Feet.

?attiilie$ waited on dailp for Orders.

S170RE: pfiicE:s.

EARLY DELIVERIES TO ALL PARTS OF LONDON.

Price Lists on Application,

SPINK BROS.,

©arl's Court.

W1J|#AV n «^ «^ JUDGE OF SHOEING TO THE SOMERSET COUNTY
■ Vlf #% ¥ 5 K.O-Om agricultural association, 1897-8.

la, WALLGIIA.VE ROAD,

AND

8, CHILDS PLACE. EARLS COURT, S.W.

W. POPE & SON, Veterinary Surgeons.

Hunters & Ladies' Hacks Shod on the latest & approved principles.

W. QOULT,

Rosier, Ratter ana KqKs
t^^x UmDrella n^anufacturen

DRESS SHIRTS, TIES AND GLOVES.

Hats Ironed and Umbrellas Repaired and Ee-covered while

waiting.

169, EARLS COURT ROAD,

Opposite Hailivay Station.

'-^T SLTk^^ MTairifi^^^ Q^

AND ii^arse ©lottoiag Mimttfactm^ere

Horses carefully Measured and Fitted. All Stable Requisites.

Portmanteaus neatly and thoroughly Repaired.

CONTRACTS TAKEN. - ESTIMATES GIVEN FREE.

95, JVIUN^STER ROAD, FUIL.HAIVI:.

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REDUCTION OF CORPULENCY without
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Of all Chemists, or by sending Postal
Orders for 8/- to The Figure Improving
Soap Company, Limited, 3, Throgmorton
Avenue, London, B.C. Pamphlets, etc.,
post free on a^. plication.

THE EARLS COURT BOOT STORES,

1 28b, Earrs Court Road.

Makers of Ladies' and Qentlemen's Riding

and Walking Boots.

ALSO

Makers of the Special '^Silent' House 5hoe,
• Price only 3 11

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Farmer & Sons,

Printers $» Stationers, iHiiitarp $, General Booksellers,

[Supply everything required by Military & other Students on the most favourable terms.

36, HIGH STREET AND 1, EDWARDE8 TERRACE, KENSINGTON.

Works: 295, EDGWARE ROAD, LONDON, W.

OFFORD AND SONS,

Coachbuilders Si f>arne$$ makers,

92 & 94 GLODCESTER ROAD, SOUTH KENSINGTON

AND AT

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NEW AND ^^=^-^^ REPAIRS.

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The Newest and most elegant Panel Car. Easiest of access. Perfect

in finish. Price from 35 Guineas.

Drags, Phaetons, Carts and every class of Carriages on

Sale or Hire.

Telephone Nos. 809 KENSINGTON, 5118 GERARD. Telegraphic Address : HAYSTACKS, LONDON.

HOOD & MOORE'S STORES,

Limited.

Rap $i Strau) Salesmen, ^%-
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FOREIGN HAY AND MOSS LITTER IMPORTERS,

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Riding Establishments,

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AND HUNSTANTON.

HORSES BOUGHT AND SOLD ON COMMISSION.

Breeders oT Borses*

Riding Master—

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ARTHUR PERRIN, 3

F THE Dorking Coach,

"HARE iSt HOUNDS," East Sheen.

Three minutes from Mortlake Station.
(o-SHrlixm^ Gx^ieexi. a,nd Good Si;si.l>lixi.^«

The London Anti-Vivisection Society,

32, Sackville Street, Piccadilly, London, W.

Founded 1876 for the suppression of the Scientific Torture of Animals.

"Heartily sympathising with your efforts/*— Extract from a

letter from H.M. the Queen to the Secretary of t/iis Society.

Lord Shaftesbury. — " Vivisection is an abominable sin."

Lord Brampton. — " I abominate vivisection : should rejoice to see it legally suppressed,"

Sir Henry Irving — '' Fully in sympathy."

Patrons;

The Duke of Portland

The Dowager Countess of Kintore

The Dowager Duchess of Manchester

The Dowager Marchioness of Ormonde

The Countess of Lindsey

The Earl of Lindsay

The Countess of Lindsay

The Countess of Dundonald

The Countess of Roden

The Countess of Norbury

The Countess of Munster

Lord Ernest Hamilton

Lord Llangattock

Lord Hatherton, C.M.G.

L rd Leigh

Lord Robartes

The Bishop of Argyle and the Isles

The Archbishop of Ontario

Bishop Hellmuth

Lord Brampton

Canon Wilberforce

Rev. Preb. Webb-Peploe

James Sant, Esq., R.A.

Medical Patrons

Surgeon-General Sir Charles Gordon, K.C. B.,

M.D. (Hon. Physician to H.M. the Queen).

Surgeon-General J. H. Thornton, C.B., B.A.,

M.B.
Surgeon-General Watson, M.D.
A. Wall, Esq., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.
A. J. H. Crespi, Esq. (Hertford Coll., Oxon),

M.R.C.P. (Medallist in Surgery).
A. A. Beale, Esq., M.B., CM.
T. G. Vawdrex, Esq., L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S.
Stiphen F. Smith, Esq., L.S.A.
R M Bowstead, Esq., M.D., M.R.C.S.
G. Herbert LiUey, M D , M R C. I'., M R.C.S.

Professor Lawson Tait, F.R.C.S., M.D

L.L.D.
John Clarke, Esq., M.D.,
Stephen Townesend, Esq.
F. Cann, Esq., F.R.C.S.
The Rev. Francis Smiih,

M.R.C.S.
Ed. Haughton, B.A., M.D.,
F. S. Arnold, Esq., B.A.,

M.R.C.S.
Hector Munro., Esq., M.B., CM.
F. E. Vernede, Esq., L.RCP., M.R.C.S
Walter R. Hadwen, Esq., M.D., etc. '

M.B.
, F.R.C.S.

M.A., M.D.,

M.R.C.S.
Oxon., M.B.,

The Annual Report and Literature free on Application.

Tlie Committee m.ost earnestly appeal for aid to

enable them to carry on a more

Vigorous Campaign.

OFFICES : 32, SACKVILLE STREET, PICCADILLY,

Hon. Sec. :-Mrs. F. C.JAMES. Secretary :-3lDNEY G.TRIST. Esq.

Treasurer:— Dr. WALL.

"global' ^^^ ^ocxet-^

FOR THE

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

(pafrons.

HER MOST GRACI0TJ6 MAJESTY THE Q,UEEN.

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNES5ES THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF YORK, K.G.

T TPON this Institution, foimded in 1824 (the only one having for its object the protection
^ of sentient and defenceless animals), rests a heavy responsibility. It is earnestly and
re;;pectfully submitted, that it has in consequence a strong claim upon the benevolence of
the humane and charitable.

OBJECTS.
The inculcition of the duty of Justice, Kindness, and Mercy to God's Dumb and
I 'efenceless Creatures, by means of sermons, lectures, addresses, lic, in churches, chapels,
schools, public meetings ; by articles in news :>apers ; by the publication <3f monthly illustrated
journals ; by the preparation of nearly 200 different books, pamphlets, leaflets, for general cir-
culation ; obtaining improvements in the law protecting animals by administration of the
existing statutes against cruelty ; by issuing placards broadcast warning persons against the
commission of offences ; by the es!ablishment of branches and auxiliaries throughout the
country (upwards of 2 jo of which are already in active union); by the e'liployment of
officers in uniform or otherwise, nearly 150 of whom are engaged to watch the conduct of
cruel persons in the streets, in slaughter-houses, in mines, on canal banks, on highways, at
markets and fairs, during transit of animals on railway trucks, steamships, and in all places
where their services are usefully employed; by juvenile societies called Bands of Mercj'
( nore than t,ooo of which have been formed in the villages and towns of the United
Kingdom). &c.

EDITCATION COMMITTEE.— An Education Committee has beeti established for the
preparation of l,i;erature, the circulation of Papers among persons entrusted with
Cattle, such as Coachman, Carters, and Drovers ; for the introduction into Schools of
Hooks an! Teaching calculated to impre.ss on Youth the duty of humanity towards
the inferior animals ; for making cthic.il and persuasive appeals to the public through
the Press, and otherwise awakening public opinion ; and for obtaining the delivery of
Discourses from tht; Pulpit. &c.
SERMONS —On the Four h Sunday after Trinity Clergyman are cordially and kindly asked
to respond to the Society's invitation to preach sermons on "Man's Duty to God's
Dumb, Defenceless C'reatures, and it is hoped these serm ns will be annually.
LECTURES. — Many hundreds of lectures on the proper treatment of animals, &c., are
delivered aimually in PuMic Halls, in Institutes, in Schools, at Band of Hope
Meetings, Szc. the object of which is to promote kindness and prevent ciuelty.
BANDS OF MERJY have been formed in hundreds of parishes for (he training of
chi'dren and yot.;ng persons in habits of mercy at meetings regulaily held by local
managers. (A pamphlet, e.itltled ' Information," may be had gratis on application to
the undersigned.)
BHANCnEES have been estabU-«hed in most of the large towns of England. ^

Che increased operations of the Society have drawn from the funds an amount vastly
exceeding the vearly subscriptions. I he Committee need much greater assistance, and
unless such additional support be extended to them, this most righte nis cause of humanity
must suffer ffom insufficiency (>f means to carry out those many ureent measures which
every well-wisher of the Society has so deeply at heart. Remittances may be forwarded to

105 Jermyn Street, London. JOHN COLAM, Secretary.

SUPPORTED ONLY BY VOLUNfARTcONTRIBUTfONS.

FORM OF BEQUEST.

In benefactions by will to this Society, which being well established is not likely to die,
it is important to use the following form :

' I give and bequeath to be paid to the Treasurer for the time being of

the ROYAL SOCIETY POR TH=7. PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS,
established 1824, to be at the disposal of the Committee for the time being of the said
Society, and I direct that the same be paid free of legacy duty.'

SYDNEY R. SMITH

Sporting Books

Canaan, New York 12029

,,«1:

!»