THE EQUESTRIAN ART, 277 



haunches. The cuftom ofladies rifing in their 

 ftirrup, in a trot, has been, I believe, introduced 

 within thefe few years. 



It would be as unnecefTary for me, to write 

 a panegyric upon the pleafure and profit to 

 be derived from exercife on horfeback, as I 

 hope it will be excufable, to make a few con- 

 cluding remarks. This falubrious exercife, by 

 which the air may be fo amply varied, is pe- 

 culiarly adapted to debilitated and confumptive 

 habits, and the lax fibre; for it tends to the 

 increafe of fubftance, which the labour of 

 walking has, in general, the effect to abrade. 

 The flow trot is the pace of health; and one 

 grand mean of the prolongation of human 

 life. It is, perhaps, the only effectual remedy 

 for habitual coftivenefs and wind ; all medical 

 ones, in my fmall experience, having the in- 

 variable effect, of increafing and perpetuating 

 the caufe of thofe complaints : it lhould ever 

 be taken with the ftomach empty, where the 

 vifcera are found. I have read in a ftrange 

 performance, in which the doclor recommends 

 the conflant ufe of the warm bath, for ffrained 

 finews, and laxations of the joints, that it is 

 dangerous to trot with long (lirrup leathers, 

 where any apprehenfion may be entertained 

 of a rupture; and I think it an excellent 

 caution to valetudinarians. Thofe who ride 



t 3 for 



