148 LADIES' RIDING. 



in a man's saddle ; while it is but bare justice to say 

 that in touch, courage, and patience she is at least our 

 equal. Mere brute force has little to do with the capa- 

 bility of holding a puller. We need no better proof of 

 this than to see the admirable manner in which a clever 

 5 St. 7 lbs. lad can hold an impetuous thoroughbred at 

 exercise, or on the race-course, in a plain snaffle, which 

 feat a 12 st. athlete, were he but a moderate horseman, 

 might be quite incapable of doing. Ladies who have 

 had equal opportunities, with men, of learning, ride quite 

 as well as they. But, as a rule, they don't get the 

 chance of excelling, nor are they " set right " by unpalat- 

 able home truths being told them without favour or 

 affection, unless, indeed, they have hard-riding, and, 

 may be, jealous brothers. The fact of a lady having to 

 ride in a side saddle subjects her to three disadvantages : 

 she is unable, without assistance, to mount as readily as 

 a man ; she cannot apply pressure of the leg to the 

 horse's right side ; and she cannot " drop her hands " 

 in order to pull her horse together to the same extent 

 as he can. The judicious use of the whip or hunting 

 crop may partly make up for the absence of leg pressure 

 on the off side. A fine horsewoman, therefore, may be 

 satisfied with any horse which is fit for a man, provided 



