ic6 HORSEMANSHIP. 



Another good plan is to place a child anxious to ride, as 

 most of them are, on the pommel of the saddle in front of 

 you and let him hold the reins. The horse must be a very 

 quiet animal without a suspicion of a shy or a bolt in his 

 composition. A steady, thoroughly dependable groom or 

 coachman may be trusted to do the same, but the less 

 children are about the stables the better, where they are 

 certain to be in the way, may get into danger, and probably 

 will hear bad language. The governess should never be 

 permitted to interfere with the riding lessons, for the chances 

 are a hundred to one against her knowing anything about 

 horses or their habits, and a thousand to one against her 

 being a qualified instructor in the art of equitation. I have 

 already stipulated that children's ponies should be perfectly 

 broken and trained, paddock, that is grass, fed, and that 

 under no circumstances, save as a bribe, should they ever 

 taste corn. To this I will add that regular exercise is 

 also necessary. Many ponies, and horses too, when kept at 

 regular steady work, are sober and steady, which, after hours 

 of idleness and high keep, get above themselves and become 

 unruly. 



As a general practice children commence learning to ride 

 to pilch-pads, of which I give illustrations. 



It will be observed that the one for the girls and boys 

 combined, is provided with only one head, and that a knee 

 roll takes the place of the leaping crutch. The head screws 

 into its socket, and can be transferred to the off side, where 

 there is a corresponding receptacle. These pads should be 

 constructed, as much as possible, on the straight seat prin- 

 ciple ; in fact, but for the expense, miniature side-saddles 

 should be used, one for near and the other for the off-side 

 seat. Such little saddles are now made by Messrs. Champion 

 and Wilton, perfect in shape, and, minimize, if not abso- 



