THE SEAT ON HORSEBACK. 143 



idea of the balance. Or, if they do attempt to 

 learn it, they insist upon circling only to the 

 right, as this is easier than going the other way. 



Again, many pupils will insist upon riding 

 the same favorite horse, instead of leaving the 

 selection to the judgment of the teacher, who is 

 well aware that it is much better for the lady's 

 progress that she should ride a variety of horses 

 with different gaits. He is often driven to his 

 wit's end when two or three ladies who patron- 

 ize his school, and whom it is an honor to have 

 as pupils, express a desire to ride the same 

 horse on the same occasion. Should he favor 

 one more than the others, the latter will become 

 highly offended, and the poor man in his per- 

 plexity is often obliged to resort to some sub- 

 terfuge to pacify them. 



It is not difficult, then, to understand why 

 some ladies, although they have taken lessons 

 at a riding-school, are, nevertheless, not finished 

 riders, their faults being due, not to the instruc- 

 tion but to their own lack of judgment or 

 inattention. It is true that occasionally the 

 teacher, although he may be" an excellent in- 

 structor for gentlemen, is not so good a one for 

 ladies, or he may become careless, believing 

 that if he gives them well-trained horses to ride 

 very little else is required of him. Or, again, 



