I02 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



When you are at home in the canter you must com- 

 mence to practice the trot, which will be to you the 

 beginning of sorrows. Do not at first make any effort at 

 rising in your saddle, but sit very close, and prepare to 

 bear the unpleasantness of the bumping — for it must be 

 borne for awhile — until you have become accustomed to 

 the motion. As you will of course have your hair flowing 

 loosely, and a wide easy-fitting jacket on, you will suffer 

 fewer discomforts than if differently apparelled. 



To rise in the saddle, you must keep the left heel well 

 down, and move the leg as little as possible. To sway it 

 like a pendulum will not help you one bit. Keep your 

 hands perfectly steady — your arms to your sides — your left 

 foot slightly pressing the stirrup as the horse throws out 

 his near fore leg, while you lift yourself very slightly at the 

 precise instant that his other leg is advanced. It will take 

 you a long while to accomplish this. Over and over again 

 you will sigh with disappointment, and say involuntarily, 

 " I cannot do it ! " But you can, and will in time, if you will 

 only persevere. Few things that are worth learning can be 

 acquired in a hurry ; a young robust girl, with plenty of 

 courage and go about her, will often learn how to " stick 

 on " in an incredibly short space of time — but will look 

 supremely ridiculous notwithstanding, both then and later ; 

 to acquire the niceties of riding, however, and become an 

 adept at them, is a degree of perfection to which com- 

 paratively few ladies ever attain. The accomplishment of 

 rising and falling nicely in the saddle, in time to the trot 

 of the horse, can only be acquired by constant practice ; 



