136 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



too long ; in fact, a smart, stirring gallop will not distress 

 him nearly so much. 



When cantering keep your knees firmly pressed against 

 the pommels — sit close to the saddle, like a part of your 

 horse — and throw your shoulders well back. 



The very nice pace called a hand-gallop may be in- 

 dulged in by slackening the rein a little, and encouraging 

 your mount by voice or bridle to go a trifle faster. The 

 hand-gallop never distresses a horse, even a broken-winded 

 one ; it is a joyous, exhilarating motion, in which both 

 steed and rider find pleasure. Conversation need not be 

 stopped by it, or even interrupted for a moment, and it will 

 be found a delightful pace at which to go to covert in the 

 morning, or to travel on to the next one, when " blank " has 

 been called at the first. 



The hand-gallop is only pastime — mere play, without any 

 peril — but the gallop proper, to which I now come to allude, 

 is a very serious business indeed for a young rider to take 

 in hand. If your horse is a trained one, you have only to 

 sit down close when he gallops, and hold the reins firmly in 

 both hands : your seat secure, your body as motionless as 

 you can make it, your elbows like hinges, your hands low 

 on the withers, keeping your horse's head straight and 

 steady, while you give-and-take with his every stride, and 

 on no account, or under any circumstances whatever, keep 

 a dead pull on his mouth. 



I shall surmise, however, as before (for the purpose of 

 instructing you) that your steed is not by any means per- 

 fect, and that he will probably give you a good deal of 



