PREFACE. Vll 



explanations as lucid as possible, that they may 

 readily be comprehended and put into practical 

 use by the reader. 



From the fact that considerable gossip, in- 

 cluding some truth, as to illiteracy, rudeness, 

 offensive familiarity, and scandal of various 

 kinds has in past years been associated with 

 some of the riding-schools established in our 

 cities, many ladies entertain a decided antipathy 

 to all riding-schools ; to these ladies, as well as 

 to those who are living in places where no rid- 

 incr-schools exist, the author feels confident that 

 this work will prove of great practical utility. 

 Yet she must remark that, in her opinion, it is 

 neither just nor right to ostracize indiscrimi- 

 nately all such schools, simply because some of 

 them have proven blameworthy ; whenever a 

 riding-school of good standing is established and 

 is conducted by a well-known, competent, and 

 gentlemanly teacher, with one or more skilled 

 lady assistants, she would advise the ladies of 

 the neighborhood to avail themselves of such 

 opportunity to become sooner thorough and 

 efficient horsewomen by pursuing the instruc- 

 tions given in this work under such qualified 

 teachers. 



ELIZABETH KARR. 

 North Bend, Ohio. 



