26 UNASKED ADVICE. 



will turn right and left when the rein presses the reverse 

 side of his neck ; but then you are riding on sufferance 

 merely. If the animal declines to obey this intimation 

 of your wishes, you cannot make them do it. With both 

 hands on the reins you can pull his head round ; and, 

 unless he be really restive (in which case he is no lady's 

 horse), it is only fair to expect that his body will follow 

 suit. 



Ladies should, in learning to ride, practise shifting 

 their hands on the reins. It looks very bad when this is 

 constantly done during a ride, but it ought to be done 

 easily when any emergency requires it. I have seen 

 ladies whose hands were to all appearance glued to their 

 reins, and who were helpless in a degree corresponding 

 with the rigid nature of their clutch when their horses 

 shied, &c. Indeed, it is rather alarming to contemplate 

 the number of ladies who, riding constantly and habitually, 

 are still entirely dependent on the good behaviour of their 

 steeds ; which, however, to their honour be it spoken, 

 seldom betray the trust so blindly reposed in them. 



The whip is usually held pointing towards the near 

 shoulder of the horse, sometimes the contrary way, but 

 convenience may be consulted about this so long as it 

 stops short of any decided gaucherie. 



Ladies, and gentlemen too, should, when mounted, 

 always start at a walk. If they start in a hurried manner 

 their horses will look forward to going off with a rush, 

 and they will very soon cease to stand still while they are 

 being mounted. If the start be made at a walk, that 

 pace need only be continued for a few yards to have the 

 desired effect on the horse. To start him in the trot a 

 very slight rousing is sufficient. In the trot care must 

 be taken to preserve the position. 



