CONTENTS. 



I. A Preliminary Chat with Esmeralda . . 7 

 The proper frame of mind — Dress — 

 Preparatory exercises. 



II. Shall you Take your Mother, Esmeralda ? 19 

 The first lesson — Various ways of 

 mounting — Slippery reins — Clucking — 

 After a ride. 



III. Chat during the Second Lesson ... 34 



Equestrian language — Trotting with- 

 out a horse — Exercises in and out of 

 the saddle. 



IV. Esmeralda's Trials at the Third Lesson 50 



Pounding the saddle — A critical spec- 

 tator — A few rein-holds. 



V. Esmeralda on the Road 64 



Good and bad and indifferent riders — 

 A very little runaway. 



VI. The Ordeal of a Private Lesson ... 83 

 Voltes and half voltes — " On the right 

 hand of the school " — Imagination as a 

 teacher. 



VII. Esmeralda at a Music Ride 97 



Sitting like a poker — The ways of the 

 bad rider. 



