MANAGEMENT OF THE HORSE. 147 



though every rider should be thoroughly 

 taught how to control her steed in cases of 

 emergency. 



When one sees how little skill most lady 

 riders exhibit in managing the reins, it seems 

 almost miraculous that so few accidents occur 

 to them, and is indeed a positive proof of 

 the excellent temper of their horses. From 

 some mysterious cause, most horses will bear 

 more awkwardness and absurdity in the han- 

 dling of the reins by a woman than by a man, 

 and will good-naturedly submit to the indif- 

 ferent riding of the gentle being in the side- 

 saddle, while the same character of riding and 

 treatment from a man would arouse every feel- 

 ing of defense and rebellion. The probable 

 cause of this difference of action on the part 

 of the horse is, that a lady rider, with all her 

 ignorance of seat and rein, will talk kindly to 

 and pet her steed, and will rarely lose her tem- 

 per, no matter in what eccentricities he may 

 indulge, and her gentleness causes the animal 

 to remain gentle. 



On the contrary, when a man throws his 

 weight upon the reins, jerking and pulling 

 upon them, his horse, seeking to defend himself 

 against such rough measures, arouses the tem- 

 per of his rider, and this anger is soon commu- 



