THE HORSE. 19 



tall broacl-backed animal, would appear equally 

 out of place ; the step of the horse being, in her 

 case, too long, would make her seat unsteady 

 and insecure, so that instead of a sense of en- 

 joyment, exhilaration, and benefit from the ride, 

 she would experience only fatigue and dissatis- 

 faction. 



If the rider be tall and rather plump, the 

 horse should be fifteen hands and three inches 

 in height, and have a somewhat broad back. 

 A lady below the medium height, and of slen- 

 der proportions, will look equally well when 

 riding a pony fourteen hands high, or a horse 

 fifteen hands. An animal fifteen hands, or fif- 

 teen hands and two inches in height, will gen- 

 erally be found suitable for all ladies wdio are 

 not excessively large and tall, or very short 

 and slender. In all cases, however, the back 

 of the horse should be long enough to appear 

 well under the side-saddle, for a horse with a 

 short back never presents a fine aspect when 

 carrying a woman. In such cases, the side-sad- 

 dle extends from his withers nearly, if not quite, 

 to his hips, and as the riding skirt covers his 

 left side, little is seen of the horse except his 

 head and tail. Horses with very short backs 

 are usually good weight-carriers, but their gaits 

 are apt to be rough and uneasy. 



