124 SHARP BITS DANGEROUS. 



horse will not be nearly so difficult to obtain, and 

 accordingly not so expensive, as a gentleman's, inas- 

 much as a graceful canter is not nearly so difficult to 

 attain as a graceful and proper trot. 



Whatever the weight of a lady, her horse's back 

 must not be short, or she and her habiliments will com- 

 pletely cover the horse's frame, and render the outline 

 ridiculous, and something approaching that of a slim 

 young lady set off with a huge carriage umbrella. 



Most ladies are heavy in the hand, and therefore an 

 irritable mouth is not to be suffered, since nine ladies 

 out of ten will make it worse. For this reason I can- 

 not too strongly condemn the use of strong bits by 

 ladies, and I am persuaded that most of the bad acci- 

 dents that have occurred may be laid to their charge, — 

 such as running away, tumbling over, &c, which are 

 most frequently occasioned by the improper use of 

 sharp bits on high-couraged horses, and are the most 

 frequent causes of fatal accidents to female equestrians. 

 Another very important point in female horsemanship 

 is that the seat should be perfectly straight and square, 

 since nothing so fatally destroys the effect of the 

 appearance of both the lady's horse and his rider, as 

 the saddle being pulled over on one side. 



Nine ladies out of ten ride too long, and so keep 

 coming over on the near side for the purpose of reach- 

 ing their stirrups. 



This also gives rise to at least nine-tenths of the 

 severe saddle-galls, sit-fasts, and warbles that one is so 

 frequently called upon to treat in ladies' horses. 



