EIDING. 49 



RIDING. 



The seat, method of holding the hands, tfec, should 

 be left to the riding-master,* with a friendly admoni- 

 tion to the learner to avoid the "stuck-up," one-handed 

 principle to a great extent, and to take a lesson when- 

 ever opportunity occurs from one of the "great un- 

 taught," t and, observing their ease and judgment in 

 the management of their bearers, endeavour to modify 

 their ow^n horsemanship accordingly. 



Kindness goes far in managing these noble animals. 



How is it that many horses that are unmanageable 

 with powerful and good horsemen, can be ridden with 

 perfect ease and safety by ladies ? The first thing a 

 lady generally does after mounting, is to reassure her 

 steed by patting, or, in riding-school language, " mak- 

 ing much of him," taking up the reins with a very 

 light hand, and giving him his head, whereas a man 

 usually does the very reverse ; he takes a commanding 

 hold of the reins, presses his legs into the horse as the 

 signal for motion, perhaps with a rasp of both spurs 

 into his sides, indicating no great amiability of temper 

 — a state of things very likely to be reciprocated by a 

 high-spirited horse. 



As before observed, every man ought himself to be 



* It might not be out of place to mention, for the information 

 of those who desire to be well taught, that, "to my own know- 

 ledge, Allen's, in Seymour Place, Bryanstoue Square, and Claren- 

 don's, in Great Brunswick Street, Dublin, are excellent riding- 

 schools. 



f Those who probably have never received a professional riding- 

 lesson in their lives, but still, from intuitive taste, ride with ease 

 and ability. 



D 



