m THE BIDING-SCHOOL. 13 



If you think it possible that you may be easily 

 discouraged, and that your first appearance in 

 the riding-school will be your last, you need not 

 buy any skirt, for you will find several in the 

 school dressing-room, and, for once, you may 

 submit to wearing a garment not your own. 

 Shall you buy trousers or tights ? Wait till you 

 decide to take lessons before buying either, first 

 to avoid unnecessary expense, and second, be- 

 cause until experience shall show you what kind 

 of a horsewoman you are likely to be, you can- 

 not tell which will be the more suitable and 

 comfortable. Laced boots, a plain, dark under- 

 skirt, cut princess, undergarments without a 

 wrinkle, and no tight bands to compress veins, 

 or to restrain muscles by adding their resistance 

 to the force of gravitation make up the list of 

 details to which you must give your attention 

 before leaving home. If you be addicted to 

 light gymnastics, you will find it beneficial to 

 practise a few movements daily, both before 

 taking your first lesson and as long as you may 

 continue to ride. 



First — Hold your shoulders square and per- 

 fectly rigid, and turn the head toward the right 

 four times, and then to the left four times. 



