212 FIRST LESSONS IN RIDING. 



legs perfectly steady and close to her horse. She should 

 always ride him straight, not sideways, at his fences. 

 There should not be the slightest movement of her 

 seat in the saddle. As I have already explained, she 

 should try to imagine that she is nailed down to 

 the saddle and cannot be shifted, and that the move- 

 ment of her body must come from the play of the hip 

 joints. 



If her small brother possesses a rocking-horse, she 

 should mount it and rock herself on it, if she does 

 not entirely understand what is meant by " the play of 

 the hip joints." If she rides over her first fence incor- 

 rectly, she should not be allowed to do so a second 

 time without being put right. It would, therefore, be 

 advisable for her to have her skirt pinned back, in 

 order that the instructor, who should be standing by 

 the fence at the near side, may see exactly how she 

 obtains her grip. It is obvious that this lesson in 

 jumping should be given either by, or under the super- 

 vision of a person experienced in side-saddle riding. 

 The pupil may be allowed to hold a whip, but she 

 should not use it, for she might acquire the bad habit 

 of hitting her horse every time he jumps a fence. The 

 whip in hunting should be kept for use at specially big 

 fences, and as a reminder to the horse that he must 

 exert his best efforts to clear them with safety. Even 

 then it is employed as an aid, but not as a means of 

 inflicting punishment. No good horsewoman cuts her 

 horse about the body with a whip. If the fence has 

 been nicely jumped, the pupil extending her arms pro- 



