4 /. : : : .;.-. RISING 



riders, because, as triey'aver, they have first to break their pupils 

 of the bad habits they have learnt as children, before they can 

 put them properly on their horses, and make them use their 

 hands and legs as they should do. Which of these opinions 

 is right? After many years of experience of both classes of 

 riders, I really cannot decide, but I cannot help thinking that 

 the objection to very early riding can be entirely overcome by 

 the pupil being properly put on his or her horse, and properly 

 taught ab initio the use of hands and legs ; and, if this is done, 

 the chances of excelling in the art of riding should then be 

 very much in favour of the pupil who has begun as a child. 

 In a long experience of riders I have come across three or 

 four of both sexes who, though not such finished horsemen 

 or horsewomen as those who had ridden from childhood, were 

 hard to beat over a country, notwithstanding that they had 

 begun late in life. In some cases beginning to tumble about 

 very early makes some people over careful, on the principle of 

 the burnt child fearing the fire ; and those who have not had 

 so much experience of falling have a certain advantage ; but 

 this can only be considered as regards riding over a country, 

 and not in relation to sitting properly on and riding a horse 

 with hands and legs as he should be ridden. 



On the good old principle of place aux dames, I will begin 

 with a few remarks on the way to put a little girl on her 

 saddle. Further on in this volume will be found full instruc- 

 tion in the art of riding, by one of the most highly trained and 

 finished masters now exercising that calling, and, this being the 

 case, I shall treat the subject as briefly as possible. The young 

 lady, aged from five to six years, must be, when put upon her 

 saddle, told that she can never become a good and graceful 

 horsewoman unless she sits with her shoulders perfectly square 

 to her pony's or horse's ears ; that she must neither hang over 

 to the off (right hand) side of her pony, nor, doubling herself 

 up towards the left, incline to the near side. Fortunately, 

 vanity is a general attribute of womanhood, and, when not ex- 

 cessive, it often becomes a good quality. The excellence to 



