116 THE HOESE OWNEE's 



the right degree of tightness, if he uses a double-reined 

 bridle. The groom brings the horse up to the door, hold- 

 ing it with the left hand by the snaffle-reins, and bearing 

 on the off stirrup to resist the weight, if the rider is a heavy- 

 man, which will prevent the saddle from twisting. The 

 rider then mounts, and puts his horse into a walk, which 

 should always be the pace for the commencement of a 

 ride for pleasure. He may, in this pace, as I have already 

 explained, give his horse considerable liberty of the head, 

 and he will have no difficulty in turning him to the right 

 or left, either by the use of one hand or both, or by bear- 

 ing upon the neck according to the mode to which the 

 horse has been broken. After a short distance, he may 

 practise the various paces, and if he is inclined to learn 

 to ride well, he may at times throw the stirrups across the 

 saddle, and attempt to canter without them. In learn- 

 ing to ride without stirrups, it is a very good plan to have 

 the inside of the trowsers lined with a strip of black leath- 

 er, in the French fashion, which takes a good grip of the 

 saddle; for with cloth trowsers and a smoothly polished 

 saddle, there is very little hold to be obtained, and the 

 balance alone must preserve the seat. With this addi- 

 tion all the paces may soon be mastered without the aid 

 of the stirrups ; but the trot will be the last of necessity 

 because it is by far the most difficult. No rise can then 

 be managed ; and the body must be suffered to take its 

 chance upon the saddle, leaning back to rather more than 

 the perpendicular position, and not attempting to do more 

 than to keep the balance. When riding without stirrups, 

 the feet should be carried in the same position as if they 

 were being used, the heel being carefully depressed, and 

 the toes raised by the muscular power of the leg. 



