THE USE OF THE BRIDLE. 35 



Now it seems to me that in riding and driving also, 

 what we want to teach our horses is, that when we pull 

 at them they are not to pull at us, and this understand- 

 ing is only to be attained by a delicacy of touch, a 

 harmony of intention, and a give-and-take concord, 

 that for lack of a better we express by the term " hand." 

 Like the fingering of a pianoforte, this desirable 

 quality seems rather a gift than an acquirement, and 

 its rarity has no doubt given rise to the multiplicity of 

 inventions with which man's ingenuity endeavours to 

 supply the want of manual skill. 



It was the theory of a celebrated Yorkshire sportsman, 

 the well-known Mr. Fairfax, that " Every , horse is a 

 hunter if you don't throw him down with the bridle ! " 

 and I have always understood his style of riding was in 

 perfect accordance with this daring profession of faith. 

 The instrument, however, though no doubt producing 

 ten falls, where it prevents one, is in so far a necessary 

 evil, that we are helpless without it, and when skilfully 

 used in conjunction with legs, knees, and body by a 

 consummate horseman, would seem to convey the man's 

 intentions to the beast through some subtle agency, 

 mysterious and almost rapid as thought. It is impos- 

 sible to define the nature of that sympathy which exists 

 between a well-bitted horse and his rider, they seem 



D 2 



