142 THE AP.T OF TAMING HORSES. 



run, when a horse begins to lumber carelessly over his 

 fences, or with a horse inclined to refuse. Dick Chris- 

 tian broke difficult horses to leaping without the spur ; 

 and when he did, only used one on the left heel. 

 Having myself had falls with horses at the close of a 

 run, which rushed and pulled at the beginning, for 

 want of spurs, I have found the advantage of carry- 

 ing one in my sandwich-bag, and buckling it on, if 

 needed, at a check. Of course, first-rate horsemen 

 need none of these hints ; but I write for novices only, 

 of whom, I trust, every prosperous year of Old England 

 will produce a plentiful crop from the fortunate and the 

 sons of the fortunate. 



A great many persons in this country learn, or re- 

 learn, to ride after they have reached^ manhood, either 

 because they can then for the first time afford the 

 dignity and luxury, or because the doctor prescribes 

 horse exercise as the only remedy for weak digestion, 

 disordered liver, trembling nerves the result of over- 

 work or over-feeding. Thus the lawyer, overwhelmed 

 with briefs ; the artist, maintaining his position as a 

 Royal Academician ; the philosopher, deep in laborious 

 historical researches ; and the young alderman, ex- 

 hausted by his first year's apprenticeship to City feed- 

 ing, come under the hands of the riding-master. 



Now although for the man "to the manner bred,*' 

 there is no saddle for hard work and long work, whether 

 in the hunting-field or Indian campaign, like a broad 

 seated English hunting saddle, there is no doubt that 

 its smooth slippery surface offers additional difficulties 

 to the middle-aged, the timid, and those crippled by gout, 

 rheumatism or pounds. There can be very little benefit 

 derived from horse exercise as long as the patient travels 

 in mortal fear. Foreigners teach riding on a buff leather 



