158 LADIES' RIDING. 



I observe that Mrs. Power O'Donoghue (Nannie 

 Lambert) in her admirable articles on ladies' riding 

 in 'The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News/ 

 advocates the use of a man's stirrup for ladies. Any- 

 mechanical arrangement which the stirrup may possess 

 should be kept clean and carefully oiled, so that there 

 may not be the slightest chance of its not working 

 properly at any critical moment. 



A saddle-cloth should be used to keep the pannel 

 clean and to prevent it getting damp and caked from 

 sweat. A thick one should on no account be em- 

 ployed, except to prevent a sore back, as its presence 

 will increase the tendency which side saddles have of 

 wobbling and shifting their position. A leather saddle- 

 cloth is thin, sweat-proof, never gets hard, if constantly 

 used, looks well, affords admirable protection to the 

 back, and lasts for years. 



As a rule the bit and bridoon (curb and snaffle) bridle 

 is the best one for a lady, as she may use the snaffle 

 alone if she likes, and have the curb in resei-ve for an 

 emergency. The reins may be somewhat narrower than 

 those which are suitable for the larger hands of a man. 

 With this exception, there need be no difference made 

 between the headgear of the lady's and gentleman's horse. 



