THE TROT. 201 



proper training or from lack of attention to 

 given rules, has, with but few exceptions, been 

 simply ridiculous. Even with correct teaching 

 and proper application, some ladies, although 

 they acquire the English trot, and do not make 

 caricatures of themselves w^iile employing it, 

 yet do not appear to such advantage as when 

 in the canter or hand gallop. This is also the 

 case with European ladies, who differ very much 

 in their power to make this gait appear grace- 

 ful. A small, slightly built person, having a 

 short measurement from the hip to the knee, 

 can, when correctly taught, ride this trot w^ith 

 much ease and grace. A tall woman will have 

 to lean too far forward with each rising move- 

 ment of her steed, as her length of limb will not 

 permit a short rise ; she w^ill therefore appear 

 to much less advantage in this gait; while a 

 stout built person will look rather heavy in the 

 rise from the saddle. 



However, whether a lady is likely to present 

 an elegant appearance or not when riding the 

 English trot, she must, if she desires to become 

 an accomplished horsewoman} learn to ride this 

 particular gait, as it will enable her to gain a 

 correct seat, to keep a better and more perfect 

 balance, and to become more thorough in the 

 other gaits. From a hygienic point of view, it 



