several horse owners who have not yet got, and in all 

 probability never will get, beyond the perfection of a walk ; 

 their sensible motto is discretion, and if a trot is ventured 

 it is not taken advantage of in towns, but out in the 

 country where there is no fear of making an exhibition of 

 themselves ; but, the poor horse suffers from being jolted 

 and jerked, pulled and spurred by the clumsy, awkward, 

 and weighty rider. The amateur horseman, after 

 he has got proficient in mounting and dismounting, 

 should learn to walk the horse. In riding, the reins 

 are taken the reverse way to driving, viz. : from the 

 top, and the fingers held down and kept towards the 

 centre of the body, neither up nor down, and a little way 

 from the body, in much the same position as in driving. 

 The mouth of the horse should be felt lightly and 

 regularly with the reins, and at all times to be kept well 

 in hand ; the rider's elbows and toes should be kept some- 

 what in, and heels down ; the head erect and the back 

 hollowed, but by no means to lean backward ; a good grip 

 of the saddle should be cultivated, and the feeling to be 

 educated and persisted in is one of firmness, ease, 

 freedom, and independence. 



In trotting, the horse must be allowed to start before 

 the rider, which should be done without using the spurs, 

 flourish of the whip, or noise of any kind ; a gentle touch 

 or raising of the reins and pressure of the knees, together 

 with a slight leaning forward, will put the educated horse 

 upon the steady and straight track immediately, the rider 

 keeping to the saddle a few seconds and then lightly falling 

 in with the step of the horse ; then, and only then, can the 

 luxury of a steady or fair swinging trot (such as our late 

 Lord Palmerston and the Noble Duke of Wellington 

 were wont to enjoy) be appreciated. The same care 

 should be taken in pulling up or stopping the horse, not 



