U IN THE BID1NG-SCH00L. 



a little lighter with each step. It is not very 

 easy to do, and you need not be discouraged if 

 you cannot effect it after many trials. Some 

 masters will tell you to strike your horse on the 

 shoulder, and some will prefer that you should 

 strike him on the flank as a signal for trotting. 

 Those who prefer the former will tell you to 

 carry your whip pointing forward ; the others 

 will tell you to carry it pointing backward, and 

 many masters will say that it makes little differ- 

 ence as long as it is carried gracefully, and as 

 long as you understand that it takes the place 

 of a leg on the right side of the horse. General 

 Anderson, in " On Horseback," lays down the 

 rule that a horse should never be struck on the 

 shoulder, as it will cause him to swerve, but use 

 your master's horses in obedience to his orders. 

 Now, then, one, two, three, four ! One, two, 

 three, four ! You don't seem to be astonishing 

 anybody very much, Esmeralda ! Again, one, 

 two, three, four ! Never mind ! Sit down and 

 let the horse do the work. Keep your left heel 

 down, and your left knee close to the saddle. 

 Not close to the pommel, understand, but close to 

 the saddle. Try and imagine, if you like, that you 



