PREFACE. IX 



Whenever a man presumes to give advice, or to pose 

 as an instructor, he lays himself open to the charge of 

 egoism and arrogance unless he can adduce valid reasons 

 for fancying himself qualified for such a task. In this 

 instance the writer, possessed of a stable mind from his 

 boyhood upwards, can fairly lay claim to many years of 

 practical experience as an owner of all sorts of horses, 

 as an amateur trainer, and as a not unsuccessful gentle- 

 man-rider on the flat, over hurdles, and "between the 

 flags." In old Deccan days of '' saddle, spur, and spear," 

 when men rode hard over a break-neck country for 

 " first blood," many a grim-grey boar has fallen to his 

 hog-spear. As adjutant and second in command of a 

 smart cavalry regiment, he, as in duty bound, has imparted 

 the art of equitation to many a score of as good light- 

 horsemen as ever drew^ sabre or charged home. The 

 remarks on horse-buying, suggested by the author's some- 

 what lengthy and wide experience, may put intending 

 purchasers on their guard, save much disappointment and 

 serious loss, and, at the same time, help to mount them 

 to their satisfaction. The subjects of '' Driving," and 

 ''Stable-management," are reserved for subsequent volumes. 



In these pages — all too few for the demonstration of 

 an art in which perfection is seldom attained — the writer 

 addresses himself to three classes of those who prefer to 

 take exercise on four legs: — Firstly, to those who never 

 have ridden at all ; secondly, to those who having ridden 

 a little are secretly convinced that they are but at the 

 bottom rung of the ladder ; thirdly, to those who having 



