LESSONS IN RIDING 391 







also he should guard against putting too much weight on the 

 stirrup ; if he does so when the horse springs forward it has a 

 tendency to throw the body forward, and in case of the stirrup- 

 leather breaking he would be pretty sure to get a fall. If he 

 progresses fairly well the bar may be raised to about two feet 

 six, which is as much as should be asked of the young rider. 



LESSONS XXVIII. TO XXX 



These three lessons should be principally devoted to out- 

 door work and general instruction, and may last from an 

 hour and a half to two hours. The instructor should keep 

 away from his pupil, letting him by degrees out of leading- 

 strings, and taking him into the school each day after the 

 exercise outside for a jump. The instructor should occasion- 

 ally ride on some distance on the turf and name the pace 

 at which his pupil is to come up to him, and see that he pulls 

 up correctly, keeping his hands down and his legs closed in 

 doing so ; he should also instruct him how to open gates, in 

 fact, in a country ride there is always something to be learnt. 

 If in town, it should be impressed upon the pupil that in 

 turning a corner of a street or road, he should never make the 

 turn too short or at a fast pace, especially if he happens to be 

 on stones or wood pavement ; also, that if his horse is inclined 

 to shy at anything the greatest mistake he can make is to put 

 his head straight at the object he is afraid of and abuse him for 

 being frightened, but that in most cases if the horse's head be 

 inclined a little away from the cause of his fright he will pass it 

 quietly enough. When the pupil first starts for his ride, he is 

 to see himself \hak his saddle and bridle are well fitted, and the 

 horse well turned out. He must be made to understand that 

 he is to mount correctly, see that everything is as it should 

 be before starting, and then to start his horse off quietly ; that 

 if his horse be fresh and inclined to round his back at starting, 

 he should raise his hands a little so as to keep his head up and 

 distract his attention by moving the bridoon across his mouth 



