24 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



CHAPTER III. 



FIRST HINTS TO A LEARNER. 



Having already pointed out my objections to children's 

 riding, and appended a chapter of instructions for the 

 benefit of those whose prejudices in favour of it will not be 

 overruled, I shall in the present one assume that you, my 

 reader, are not a child in years, although you may be one in 

 experience. Surmising, then, that I am addressing a young 

 lady of sixteen, or thereabouts — although the fact of your 

 being much older will not in any way tell against you — 

 the first point for consideration will be, whether you are 

 resident in town or country. If the former, or that you 

 even come up for a temporary visit now and again, the 

 wisest counsel that I can give you will be to place your- 

 self under the care of the very best riding-master within 

 reach of you, being careful to select one according to reliable 

 recommendation, for some are as incompetent as others are 

 the reverse. I shall not occupy space or provoke jealousies 

 by naming any in particular, but shall here take occasion 

 to say, that readers desirous of receiving private hints or 

 information on any subject strictly connected with horses, 

 riding, or stable-management, can receive such by addressing 

 their inquiries to me, care of my publishers, by whom all 



