138 THE SADDLE HORSE. 



the horse correspond with the weight he is to carry is shown 

 by the following quotation : 



" To be judged by their quality, manners and ability to carry the weight 

 specified in their respective classes. Manners to count 50 per cent; con- 

 formation, 25 ; quality, 25. The paces required to be shown, except in Class 

 82, will be a free open walk, square trot and easy canter. The judge or 

 judges will be requested to ride such of the horses as they may deem worthy 

 to receive ribbons in the final awards. 



"Horses over 14 hands i inch and under 15 hands, up to carrying 

 160 lbs. 



" Horses, 15 hands and under 15 hands 2 inches, three years old or over, 

 up to carrying 160 lbs. 



"Horses, 15 hands 2 inches or over, three years old or over, up to 

 carrying 160 lbs. 



" Horses, 15 hands 2 inches or over, three years old or over, up to 

 carrying 200 lbs. 



"Ladies' saddle horse, not under 14 hands 3 inches, three years old or 

 over." — Fro7n the Catalogue of the National Horse Show Association, i8g8. 



Regarding the qualifications of a woman's saddle horse, 

 Mrs. Hays, in her book entitled " The Horsewoman," p. 2 

 et seq., says : 



" However well a woman may ride, she should not have a horse that ' plays 

 up' when he is being mounted, or sprawls all over the place, and requires 

 constant pulling together when the rider is in the saddle. 



" Besides the requisites already mentioned, the ordinary lady rider 

 should have a horse that goes in a naturally collected style, has a good 

 mouth, is easy in his paces, so that he may not fatigue her unnecessarily, is 

 sure-footed, and is thoroughly ' confidential ' in his manners. Almost all 

 women like the light-hearted, showy horses ; although they generally desire 

 the fire and gayety to be well under control. Some of the plucky, hard- 

 riding sort love to steer horses which other ladies would be ' afraid of their 

 lives ' to mount. Those who are timid, or who are just beginning to learn, 

 should be put on perfectly steady ' machines ' that are easy in their paces, 

 and will allow their mouths to be pulled about, without resenting the inter- 



