A LA CAVALIERE. 73" 



to carry a lady by professional lady-riders, one and all of 

 whom wear spurs. Many a horse, in the canter especially, 

 will not go up to his bit without an occasional slight prick. 

 Women are by nature supposed to be gentle and kindly, 

 and yet I know some who are everlastingly " rugging " at 

 their horse's mouths and digging in the spur. They would 

 use the whip also as severely as the Latchfords but for the 

 exhibition it would entail. When punishment must be in- 

 flicted, the spur as a corrective is far more effective than the 

 whip ; it acts instantaneously, without warning, and the horse 

 cannot see it coming and swerve from it. Though more 

 dreaded it inflicts the lesser pain of the two. The deepest 

 dig from the rowel will not leave behind it the smart of the 

 weal from a cutting whip. The best spur for ladies is the one 

 mentioned above, with fine-pointed rowel; it does not tear the 

 habit, and the points are long enough and sharp enough to 

 penetrate through the cloth should it intervene between the 

 heel and the horse's side. No lady should venture to wear 

 a spur till she has acquired firmness of seat, to keep her left 

 leg steady in the stirrup and her heel from constantly 

 niggling the animal's ribs. I do not like the spring-sheath 

 one-point spur, as it is uncertain in its action. 



CHAPTER VI. 



A LA CAVALIERE. 



Much of late has been said and written against and in 

 favour of cross-saddle riding for girls and women. A lady 

 at my elbow has just given her emphatic opinion that it 

 is neither graceful nor modest, and she predicts that the 



