ILLUSTRATED GUIDE. 115 



used in this country except in the military schools. It is 

 the action of the horse by which he moves sideways, using 

 the two legs of each sjde at a time, and following them up, 

 advancing them to the right or left, by bringing the other 

 two up to them. 



THE RIDE. 



The ride is putting into practice all the directions 

 which have already been given. When the orders have 

 been issued for a horse to be prepared, he is brought to the 

 door ready saddled and bridled. It is the groom's duty 

 to place the saddle properly on ; but it is as well that the 

 equestrian should know how and where to put it on. The 

 common direction is to put the saddle on " one's hand's 

 breadth behind the shoulder blade," but this is too far 

 back, and few sadilles will remain there. It is far better 

 to place it at once where it fits than to give it room to come 

 forward because the girths only become more slack as it 

 shifts, and allow it to press still more forward than it other- 

 wise would ; whereas, if it had been first placed where it 

 naturally belonged or fitted, the girths would have kept 

 tight, and it would have moved no further. Place the 

 saddle where it fits, taking care to have it as far back as 

 it will fit. The bridle should be put on, with the bit 

 neither too high nor too low, in the mouth, and with the 

 throat-lash of the proper tightness, which points can only 

 be learned from experience. After leaving the stable, 

 and if the weather is fine, walking the horse about for a 

 few minutes, the girths will generally require tightening. 

 When the horse is to be mounted, the rider, if he cannot 

 fully depend upon his assistance, should see to his girths, 

 and that his bridle is properly put on, with the curb of 



