RIDING FOR LADIES. 



set forth precisely the manner in which I am about to deal 

 with the subject that I have taken in hand. 



To discard preamble, and plunge at once in medias reSy 

 is usually the wisest and most common-sense manner of 

 coming at and coping with the difficulties surrounding 

 crotchety questions : and surely one of the foremost in the 

 category of such is the often-heard inquiry, " How shall I 

 best learn to ride ? " 



To offer instruction on any subject to persons who fancy 

 they have no need of it, is at all times mere waste of time 

 and trouble. My remarks, therefore — embracing, as it is 

 m.eant they shall, a variety of matters especially interesting 

 to ladies — will be addressed throughout to those only who 

 really feel their need of friendly counsel, who are anxious 

 to learn, and are willing to benefit by such hints and 

 instructions as my varied experiences of horses and horse- 

 management enable me to give them. 



Before entering fully upon my pleasant task, I would 

 say that although many men, and very many youths, may 

 learn a useful lesson or two from matters upon which I 

 shall touch, or possibly deal with in detail, my observations 

 will be directed chiefly to ladies, my desire being to take 

 each separately, as it were, into my confidence, and speak 

 to her less as teacher to pupil than as friend to friend. 



It seems to me that to adopt the homely pronouns 

 " you " and " I " will be more convenient and concise 

 than adhering to the stereotyped and old-fashioned terms 

 " the reader," and " the author " — modes of expression 

 which are as a rule unnecessarily formal, and most un- 



