PREFACE 



England has the credit of being a nation of horsemen. 

 To any such specialite our countrymen have no vaUd claim. 

 Half an hour's stroll in the Park, or a few minutes' loll 

 over the rails by Rotten Row, will convince any capable 

 equestrian that this popular belief is not founded on fact, 

 but, on the contrary, is a palpable fallacy. During the 

 London season, and out the of season, some of the worst, 

 as well as some of the best, riding in the world is displayed. 

 Before the Crimean War our cavalry rode very indifferently, 

 so much so that Napoleon the Great is reported to have 

 said that did he possess our horses, he could readily beat 

 our men. But we have changed all that. Of hard-riding, 

 bold-riding, and rough-riding we could always boast, but 

 with us the nia?iege (derived from the Latin words, niainis^ 

 '• the hand," and ago, " to do, or act '') was never popular. 

 A national failing is to " talk horse,"' but a large majority 

 are supremely ignorant on the subject, and {^w and far 

 between are those who can be termed inamis agere, or 

 skilful to handle. Among us are not a few who, in the 



