^^ Riding the Bridled 103 



followers. The use of snaffle and curb, each for 

 its best purpose, is very delicate. 



Let me again repeat, of all things never hang 

 on your horse's mouth. You may have to do so 

 on Penelope's, or rather Penelope may hang on 

 your hands, till you get her suppled, but you 

 must try to do that soon. You don't want to be 

 a " three legged rider." If you cannot learn to 

 ride at any gait and speed smoothly and well, 

 with your reins so loose that you might as well 

 not have them in your hands, you will never do 

 anything but " ride the bridle." 



This applies to your seat, not to Penelope. It 

 is not wise habitually to ride with reins too loose ; 

 you should always feel your horse's mouth. But 

 you can feel it without a tight rein. Good driv- 

 ing horses often pull. A good riding horse 

 should never do so. 



Nelly seems to be sure-footed. If she is apt 

 to stumble, sell her. Your neck is worth more 

 than your pocket. By School training and its 

 consequent habit of keeping the hind legs well 

 under him, a stumbler will learn instinctively to 

 bring up the succeeding hind foot to the support 

 of the yielding fore foot, so as to save himself a 

 fall ; but you don't want an imperfect horse, Tom. 

 If Nelly can trot without stumbling, it is excel- 

 lent practice for you to tie the reins in a knot on 

 her neck, and to ride along the road without 



