THE "LADY'S HORSE. 291 



ficient to teach these accomplishments, as far as they are 

 needed for the purpose in view ; ignorance can alone be the 

 cause of neglect to impart them. The remarks made in 

 Chapter VI. on collecting the horse apply equally well here. 



THE LADY'S HORSE. 



Any horse which has been broken in according to the 

 principles I have laid down, will carry a lady quietly ; 

 although some animals will need circling with the long 

 reins, turning to the right on the forehand, and work at 

 the figure 8, to teach them not to " edge away " from 

 the skirt to the right with the hind-quarters. The follow- 

 ing points will also need attention : (i) As the lady, 

 from the peculiarities of her seat, is unable to keep her 

 hands sufficiently low, her horse should on no account carry 

 his head too high. (2) As a lady has not the advantage 

 of a leg on each side of her mount, her horse should " bend " 

 himself readily to the rein, and go collectedly without 

 requiring to be " pulled together." (3) He must be taught 

 to answer the touch of the whip behind the girth on the 

 off side in the same manner as he would do on feeling the 

 pressure of a man's right foot. (4) He should be made 

 as easy to turn to the right as to the left, which is the lady's 

 weak side. (5) He must not have the slightest tendency 

 to rear ; as that is a " defence " which is peculiarly dan- 

 gerous to a lady, and which she is comparatively power- 

 less to resist. (6) He must not pull hard ; for an 

 amount of " catching hold " of the bridle which might 

 be prized by many a feeble-kneed man, would be repre- 

 hensible in the horse intended for the weaker-armed, but 

 stronger-seated lady. The desired carriage of the head 

 and neck may be obtained by the long-reins, standing 

 martingale, reining back, circling, and figure 8- 



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