HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP. (j£ 



be called trifles ; in fact, that never shall be too trifling 

 for me which can in the smallest degree contribute to your 

 pleasure or safety. Good riding, as a whole, is indeed no 

 trifle, and it is worth acquiring by those whose pleasure or 

 business it is to ride ; because it is soon and easily acquired, 

 and, when acquired, it becomes habitual, and is as easy, nay 

 much more easy, and infinitely more safe, than bad riding. 

 Good riding also will last through age, sickness, and decrepi- 

 tude ; but bad riding will last only as long as youth, health, 

 and strength, supply courage : for good riding is an affair of 

 skill, but bad riding an affair of courage. A bold bad rider 

 must not be merely brave, he must be fool-hardy ; for he is 

 perpetually in as much danger as a blind man among pre- 

 cipices. It is, indeed, in riding as in most other things, 

 danger is for the timid and the unskilful ; or rather courage 

 and skill, timidity and want of skill, are synonymous terms. 

 Thus the skilful rider, when apparently courting danger in 

 the field, deserves no more credit for courage than for sitting 



