IN THE RIDING-SCHOOL. 147 



and hold his hands low, almost touching his sad- 

 dle, but, as it is, he goes on, and if he should 

 rear by and by, and if his rider should slide off, 

 be not alarmed. The three-legged trotter is not 

 the kind of horseman to cling to his reins, and 

 he will not be dragged, and Billy is too good- 

 tempered not to stop the moment he has rid 

 himself of his tormentor. But while he is still 

 on Billy's back, and flattering himself that he is 

 doing wonders in subjugating the " horse that 

 we don't give to everybody," do you and Nell go 

 to the centre of the ring and see if you can stop 

 properly. Pretty well done, but wait a moment 

 before trying it again, for it is not pleasant to a 

 horse. Sit still a few minutes, and then try and 

 see if you can back your horse a step or two. 



In order to do this, it is not enough to sit up 

 straight and to say " back," or even to say 

 "bake," which, according to certain " natural 

 riders," is the secret of having the movement 

 executed properly. You must draw yourself 

 up and lean backward, touching your horse both 

 with your foot and with your whip, in order that 

 he may stand squarely, and you must raise your 

 wrists a little, at the same time turning them 



