TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



PAGE 



Various styles of riding a consequence of various kinds of in- 

 ducements to ride Natural riders and instructed riders 

 There is great waste of horse-flesh and premature destruc- 

 tion of the animal's legs where bad methods are followed, 

 or where no method at all exists English civilian ridens 

 use up an enormous quantity of horse-flesh Some foreign 

 cavalry services do the same The causes are generally false 

 distribution of the weight to be carried The horse's skele- 

 ton is the framework of the machine we employ as a bearer 

 In order to adjust the burden to this, some knowledge of 

 the machine is required, as also of the saddle by means of 

 which that burden is placed and retained on the horse's 

 back The seat is the way in which the rider adjusts his 

 own weight through the intermedium of the saddle to the 

 horse Varieties of seats to suit various purposes The bit 

 is the instrument by which the rider's will is transmitted to 

 the horse ; it is a lever which, if accurately adapted, will 

 be of great assistance and value to the rider ; if unfitted in 

 shape, size, &c., it is not only useless, but often dangerous 

 Restiveness in horses most usually the consequence of in- 

 judicious treatment of some kind or other To prevent or 

 cure restiveness requires a knowledge of the methods em- 

 ployed for breaking-in or handling horses, consequently 

 also of the method in which the weight of the rider should 

 be brought to bear, and also how such horses should be 

 bitted, ....... 1-15 



