CUTTING WHIPS. 225 



out the necessity of reflection, on the senses receiving the 

 required stimulus. 



When the whip has to be changed from one hand into 

 another hand, say, from the right into the left, the former 

 should shorten the reins (Fig. 195) in the manner before 

 described for the left hand ; the left hand should now quit 

 the reins, seize the whip (Fig. 196), and draw it through the 

 right hand. 



The stick that is specially dedicated to riding, particularly in 

 Ireland, is the "ash plant" which should be a sapling cut 

 during winter and seasoned by being hung up in a chimney, 

 or stuck into a heap of stable manure. The best saplings 

 are those that grow from the portion of an ash tree which 

 remains in the ground after the trunk has been cut and re- 

 moved. The commercial ash plant is usually as brittle as a 

 clay pipe, and therefore cannot be relied upon. The stick 

 I like best for riding, and even for walking, is the Neilgherry 

 cane ; because it is practically unbreakable, is smooth, heavy 



Fig 196. Drawing the whip through the right hand. 



for its size, stiff, and looks well. It is neatly finished off by 

 its root-butt. A cane with knobs on it would mark a horse, 

 and is therefore unsuited for riding. 



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