LEARNING TO RIDE. loi 



leading-stick, while you sit perfectly erect, with your arms 

 crossed upon your bosom, or your hands lying easily 

 (fingers laid together) in your lap, just below the waist 

 Avoid, above all things, sitting too much to the left ; it will 

 not only induce you to lean too hard upon the stirrup, a 

 thing which you ought not to do at all, but will be pretty 

 certain to give your horse a tender back from the very 

 beginning. 



When you find that you can sit quite straight and 

 steady while your mount carries you at a walking pace, 

 you may have him led by a lunging-rein, and cantered 

 slowly in a circle to the right, or in a figure of 8. Never 

 on any account grip the pommels, or clutch at the mane, 

 no matter how frightened you may be. A little start 

 wjU not upset you, nor will a sudden playful movement 

 have the power to send you off, provided that you are 

 sitting " square," with your right leg well pressed over the 

 up-pommel, and your left against the leaping-head, while 

 your whole attention is given to your seat, and to nothing 

 else whatever. This is the true secret of learning to ride 

 from balance, and once it is yours, nothing can unseat you, 

 so long as your mount remains upon his legs. 



Cantering is not a difficult motion by any means. When 

 attempting it your attendant should make your horse lead 

 with the off fore-leg, although, should it be your intention 

 to ride occasionally on the left side of the saddle, you must 

 accustom him to lead now and again with the near. 

 Sit well back, and when your mount moves in a circle, lean 

 just sufficiently to the right to enable you to see his feet. 



