THE LADY'S HORSE. 



Mrs. Grim wood at Manipur is fresh in our memory. What 

 the majority are wanting in is nerve. I have seen a few 

 women go to hounds as well and as straight as the ordinary 

 run of first-flight men. That I do not consider the lady's 

 seat less secure than that of the cross-seated sterner sex, 

 may be inferred from the sketch of the rough-rider in my 

 companion volume for masculine readers, demonstrating 

 " the last resource," and giving practical exemplification of 

 the proverb, "He that can quietly endure overcometh." 

 What women lack, in dealing with an awkward, badly 

 broken, unruly horse, is muscular force, dogged determination, 

 and the ability to struggle and persevere. Good nerve and 

 good temper are essentials. 



Having given Barry Cornwall's poetic ideal of a horse, I 

 now venture on a further rhyming sketch of what may 

 fairly be termed " a good sort": — 



" With intelligent head, lean, and deep at the jowl. 

 Shoulder sloping well back, with a skin like a mole. 

 Round -barrelled, broad-loined, and a tail carried free. 

 Long and muscular arms, short and flat from the knee. 

 Great thighs full of power, hocks both broad and low down. 

 With fetlocks elastic, feet sound and well grown ; 

 A horse like unto this, with blood dam and blood sire, 

 To Park or for field may to honours aspire ; 

 It's the sort I'm in want of — do you know such a thing ? 

 'Tis the mount for a sportswoman, and fit for a queen ! " 



My unhesitating advice to ladies is Never buy for yourself. 

 Having described what you want to some well-known judge 

 who is acquainted with your style of riding, and who knows 

 the kind of animal most likely to suit your temperament, 

 tell him to go to a certain price, and, if he- be a gentleman 

 you will not be disappointed. You won't get perfection, for 

 that never existed outside the garden of Eden, but you will 

 be well carried and get your money's worth. Ladies are 

 not fit to cope with dealers, unless the latter be top-sawyers 



