APPENDIX 



LESSONS IN RID'ING 



BY ROBERT WEIR 



LESSON I 



IN the first place a steady, quiet, easy-paced horse should be 

 provided. The great object at first is to give the pupil confi- 

 dence, and to get him to understand that he has nothing to fear. 

 The less you talk to him while he is at work the better, but 

 frequently halt him, and if he has lost the position in which you 

 wish him to ride, place him in it again, and explain to him by 

 what means he will best retain it ; always taking care not to 

 keep him going too long at a time, so as to overtax his 

 strength. As the course of instruction is to be a short one, it 

 is proposed to begin on a saddle with stirrups. 



The horse should be led into the riding school with a plain 

 snaffle bridle and saddle on, and the pupil be made acquainted 

 with the fitting of them. 



The next thing is to mount. As a great many accidents 

 occur through ignorance of the proper way of mounting and 

 dismounting, or through carelessness in doing so, it is essential; 

 that he should be taught this thoroughly. The man should 

 stand on the near side of the horse, facing him, with the right 

 foot opposite the stirrup and the left in line with the horse's 

 fore feet. He should then take the end of the reins in the 



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