242 RIDING WITHOUT REINS. 



The fact of a side saddle giving the very strong grip 

 it does, induces many ladies who find they can sit over 

 a fence without falling off, to become so well satisfied 

 with their own riding, that they neglect to acquire a 

 good seat over a country. Their slipshod style is neither 

 graceful, nor does it enable them to give their horse 

 any assistance, if he happens to make a mistake ; for 

 they are certain to tumble off, if they receive any 

 unusual provocation. 



The hold the lady has on the crutches should prevent 

 her falling, if the animal stops dead when coming up to 

 a fence. A lady who has acquired a good firm seat 

 ought never to be displaced from her saddle while her 

 mount remains on his legs. 



Though progress in the art of riding without reins 

 must of necessity be slow and somewhat tedious at first, 

 still, I would strongly recommend all ladies who are 

 able to do so to practise this method, for they will find 

 it the best and most rapid by which they can acquire a 

 good and firm seat on horseback. The great difficulty 

 in this work is to find a man who can use the long- 

 reins and manage a horse with correctness and precision 

 in the various paces, and in jumping. It would be 

 most dangerous for a lady to allow herself to be driven 

 by the long reins by any man who was not a thorough 

 master of this difficult art of horse guidance and control. 

 Even with such a man, the horse to be ridden and 

 jumped without reins should be previously trained for 

 this work, and should be taught to stop dead the 

 instant he receives the word of command. As a lady 



