THE TROT. 35 



the direction of his off-quarter. This twist of the body to 

 the left destroys the purchase of the foot and knee, and 

 unsteadies the position and hands. Though I have sanc- 

 tioned a sHght leaning forward as the horse breaks into his 

 trot, it must not be overdone, for should he suddenly throw 

 up his head his poll may come in violent contact with the 

 rider's face and forehead, causing a blow that may spoil her 

 beauty, if not knock her senseless. 



\ Till the rider can hit off the secret of rising, she will be 

 severely shaken up — ^'churned " as a well-known horsewoman 

 describes the jiggiddy-joggoddy motion, — the teeth feel as if 

 they would be shaken out of their sockets, and stitch-in-the- 

 side puts in its unwelcome appearance. Certes, the pre- 

 liminary lessons are very trying ones, the disarrangement of 

 ''the get-up" too awful, the fatigue dreadful, the alarm no 

 trifle. Nothing seems easier, and yet nothing in the art 

 equestrian is so difficult — not to men with their two stirrups, 

 but to women with one only available. AVhat is more 

 grotesque, ridiculous, and disagreeable than a rider rising 

 and faUing in the saddle at a greater and lesser speed than 

 that of her horse ? And yet, fair reader, if you will have 

 a little patience, a good deal of perseverance, some de- 

 termination, and will attend to the hints I give, you shall, 

 in due course, be mistress over the difficulty, and rise and 

 fall with perfect ease and exquisite grace, free from all 

 emharras or undue fatigue. 



First of all, we must put you on a very smooth, easy, and 

 sedate trotter ; by-and-by we may transfer your saddle to 

 something more sharp and lively, perhaps even indulge you 

 with a mount on a regular "bone-setter." To commence 

 with, the lessons, or rather trotting bouts, shall be short, 

 there shall be frequent halts, and during these halts I shall 

 make you drop your reins and put you through extension 



