214 FIRST LESSONS IN RIDING. 



her steady horse, she may ride another mount who is 

 a bigger jumper. No extra instructions need be given 

 to her except that the higher the fence, the more must 

 she lean back on landing. This jumping practice will 

 probably teach her to always lean back when riding 

 over a drop fence, or going down a steep hill. Some 

 ignorant people shout, " Sit back," when a lady is 

 riding at a fence ; they should say, " Lean back," 

 which means quite another thing. 



If a lady, when taking her riding lessons, finds her- 

 self in any way uncomfortable in her saddle, she 

 should at once stop and have the fault, whatever it 

 may be, rectified. She should always be careful, when 

 dressing for riding, to see that all her garments are 

 put on correctly, so that nothing may get displaced 

 and cause discomfort when she is in the saddle. If 

 this does happen, she should dismount, if possible, 

 and arrange matters without delay ; otherwise she 

 may be severely cut or rubbed and be unable to ride 

 again for some time. After she has been taught to 

 ride, she should be given a nice horse and a safe 

 jumper, for she well deserves one, and will be able to 

 ride him. She should hack him along quiet roads and 

 bridle paths and learn to open gates and go through 

 them nicely, always shutting them after her. 



REINING BACK. 



As a lady will be unable to open gates correctly 

 unless her horse will rein back readily, it will be 

 necessary for her to obtain practice in this useful 



