SPUR. 181 



indifferent to appearances as not to wear spurs." Men 



wear spurs in hunting because it is 



fashionable to do so, but there is no 



such arbitrary law laid down for 



ladies, and the presence of the spur 



certainly adds to the danger of 



dragging by the stirrup ; for, as 



Whyte Melville points out, its 



buckle "is extremely apt to catch 



in the angle of the stirrup iron, and 



hold us fast at the very moment 



when it is important for our safety 



we should be free." 



In Continental high school riding, 

 a spur is a necessity, as, without its 

 aid, the ecuyeres would not be able 

 to perform many of their airs de 

 manege. These ladies, in order to 

 apply the spur with freedom, have 

 the stirrup leather so long that they 

 are deprived of the immense ad- 

 vantage, which the play of the ankle- 

 joint gives us, of applying pressure 

 with the leg against the leaping 

 head, and with the flat of the knee 

 against the saddle flap. The 

 " school '' rider seeks to strengthen 

 her weak seat by the employment 

 of a very long: and greatly curved Fi s- 9 1 - Spur-carrying 



: ' whip used for high 



leaping head, which serves to sup- school riding. 



