FIRST HINTS TO A LEARNER. 29 



To provide yourself with a suitable horse will be the 

 first thing necessary. It is a cruel injustice to a pupil 

 for a master to expect her to learn upon any chance 

 animal that may happen to come in her way. Never 

 attempt such a thing. Respect your rights, and exercise 

 your privilege by selecting an appropriate mount If it is 

 not within your power to do so at the time, put off your 

 practice until it is. I cannot sufficiently urge upon you 

 the importance of this advice. It is the very direst mistake 

 for a beginner to attempt to learn upon an indifferent 

 animal. Bear in mind that first impressions are never 

 forgotten, that you will take all your future ideas of riding 

 from the sensations which you derive from your elementary 

 practice of . the art, and, believe me, if you make your 

 opening venture upon the back of a happy-go-lucky beast, 

 one who is sometimes well-conducted, but oftener not, or 

 who shies, or goes upon his shoulders, or indulges in 

 cross-legged movements, or throws up his head, or bores 

 (which is a still more objectionable habit), or if you are 

 called upon to gain your first experience upon a rough 

 trotter, or a loose galloper, who, to use a stable term, goes 

 " slummucking " all over the place, you will care but little 

 for riding during the remainder of your life. The dis- 

 comforts which such things entail will dwell unpleasantly 

 in your memory, and in fact create an ineffaceable 

 impression ; so much so, that even if, later on, you happen 

 to be suitably mounted, a long time will have to elapse 

 before those early impressions can be eradicated, or 

 induced to fade even partially away, and a still longer one 



