REINS. 219 



that has been tramed to stop the moment a rider is unseated, 

 and to have no fear of a swinging, or dragging child (240 

 to 255). Very light shoes, that would easily come oflP, and that 

 present no strong projections, offer more reliable security than 

 any patent safety stirrup irons. 



515. — We need not trouble our readers with Major Dwyer's 

 excellent and elaborate directions about sitting on "the fourteenth 

 dorsal vertebra." The only thing necessary to say about that is, 

 put the saddle on the horse's back just behind the shoulder, 

 •where it naturally goes, and where it fits best, and put the rider 

 on the middle of the saddle just where he will naturally be 

 shaken to. 



516. — Now attach a light rein, about eight feet long, to the 

 pony's bridle, by passing it through the left ring of the bit, and 

 buckling it to the right. Put the rider on the pony, and get on 

 your own horse, and lead off at a steady walk. Don't interfere 

 much with the child. He cannot do everything right at once, 

 and will, at best, only learn one thing at a time. 



517. — For a long time the child should use nothing but a 

 single, soft reined, easy, snaffle bridle, which he should use at 

 first with both hands. The first thing to impress upon him is 

 that it must never be used in vain, and that whatever else shakes 

 the bridle hand must be kept steady. If the child cannot ride 

 well enough to attend to this when you first mount him in 

 earnest, give him no reins at all, but lead the pony yourself until 

 he gets seat enough to keep his arms still, letting him steady 

 himself by the blanket if he likes. Some children take to riding 

 as if they were born on a horse's back, and others get on slowly. 

 Give plenty of time in any case, and do nothing to shake their 

 confidence. Your business is to turn out a rider that will never 

 feel riding to be a task ; that will play at riding but never work 

 at it ; that will not only look fearless but will be fearless ; that 

 will not only look safe, but be safe ; that will not only look 

 happy, but be happy ; that will not only maintain a correct 

 position, like the stump of a dead tree, but that can bow and 

 bend, like a living reed, and yet always naturally return to its 

 right position to rest. Formal riders can be turned out by the 



