PREFACE. 



ridden a good deal, and that very badly, are willing to 

 "climb down,"' to take a back seat, and to commence 

 de novo. 



The first attribute of a good horseman, or horsewoman? 

 is courage or nerve ; the next, hands and seat. It has been 

 said that about four-fifths of the art depend on attaining 

 a just seat, and the balance on the possession of light 

 hands. But there are other essentials which are treated 

 of in the body of the volume. The reader will please bear 

 in mind that perfection is not to be attained without long 

 and continuous practice on all sorts of horses, and that 

 there is a vast difference between riding and being carried. 

 It can only be said of few that — 



" He grew unto his seat ; 

 And to such wond'rous doing brought his horse. 

 As he had been incorps'd and demy-natur'd 

 With the brave beast."— (^aw/t'/.) 



Very reluctantly, in some cases of persistent vice, the 

 author has suggested drastic measures and severe correc- 

 tion. " He that spares the rod spoils the child,'"' is a true 

 maxim too little applied in these superficial days of cram ] 

 then again, " A merciful man is merciful to his beast.'"' 



W. A. K. 



