THE SEAT ON HORSEBACK, 127 



tinned exercise would tend to produce very in- 

 jurious results, so that riding, unless begun 

 very gradually, would probably do her more 

 harm than good. 



But after reading all the directions just given 

 about riding, the reader may ask what need 

 there is of so much study and circumspection 

 to enable a woman to mount a horse and ride 

 him, when hundreds of ladies ride every day, 

 and enjoy doing so, without knowing anything 

 about the make of the saddle, or the position 

 they ought to take when seated in it. 



Although it seems almost a pity to disturb 

 the serenity and self-complacency of ignorance, 

 we shall be obliged, in justice to those who 

 really wish to understand the principles of good 

 horsewomanship, to point out some of the mis- 

 takes of those who think that riding is an ac- 

 complishment which can be acquired without 

 instruction and study. 



It is not too sweeping an assertion to state 

 that, of one hundred ladies who attempt a dis- 

 play of what they consider their excellent horse- 

 womanship in our streets and -parks, ninety-five 

 are very imperfect riders ; and the five who do 

 ride well have only learned to do so by means 

 of careful study and competent instruction. 

 They have fully appreciated the fact that na- 



