6 RIDING RECOLLECTIONS. 



and the spur. I shall presently have something to say 

 about both these instruments, but I may remark in the 

 mean time that many more horses than people suppose 

 will cross a country safely with a loose rein. The late 

 Colonel William Greenwood, one of the finest riders in 

 the world, might be seen out hunting with a single 

 curb-bridle, such as is called " a hard-and-sharp " and 

 commonly used only in the streets of London or the 

 Park. The present Lord Spencer, of whom it is 

 enough to say that he hunts one pack of his own 

 hounds in Northamptonshire, and is always in the same 

 field with them, never seems to have a horse pull, or 

 until it is tired, even lean on his hand. I have 

 watched both these gentlemen intently to learn their 

 secret, but I regret to say without avail. 



This, however, is not the present question. Long 

 before a bridle is fitted on the colt's head he should 

 have so thorougly learned the habit of obedience, that 

 it has become a second instinct, and to do what is 

 required of him seems as natural as to eat when he is 

 hungry or lie down when he wants to sleep. 



This result is to be attained in a longer or shorter 

 time, according to different tempers, but the first and 

 most important step is surely gained when we have 

 succeeded in winning that affection which nurses and 



