12 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 



The duration of any of these lessons should at first be carefully 

 proportioned to the strength of the learner, and gradually increased 

 as to time day by day, until she can stand an hour's work without 

 fatigue ; but be the lesson long or short, it should be practised every 

 day. 



It will be found that, with plenty of fresh air and walking exercise,, 

 the pupil, by the aid of these suppling and extension practices, will 

 develope rapidly in elasticity of movement and in general health, and 

 that a couple or three months of such preparation will help her very 

 much as an introduction to her course of equitation. 



Any good drill master who might be employed to "set up" a young 

 lady would most likely teach her all the above, and much more ; but 

 I have ventured to detail these practices, assuming that a family may 

 be located in a neighbourhood in which no such man is available, in 

 which case the exercise can be imparted and superintended by the 

 governess of the family. These ladies are always clever and intelli- 

 gent enough to master in a few minutes such very simple details as 

 those above described. 



Before quitting this subject a word about gymnastics may not be 

 out of place. Many heads of families consider them highly beneficial 

 when practised with bars and similar apparatus. My experience in- 

 duces me to differ from this notion, and I believe my view of the 

 matter would be borne out by the highest medical authority. 



For boys even, gymnastic exercises should be most carefully 

 watched, in order that no undue strain should be thrown upon the 

 yet unset muscle and cartilage of the frame. For young ladies I 

 believe gymnastics to be not only unnecessary, but injurious, and 

 that every practical result desirable can be arrived at by the use of 

 such exercises as I have endeavoured to describe, varied occasionally 

 by the moderate use of the dumb-bells, a few minutes of which at 

 one time is always sufficient. Where there is a number of young 

 people together, there is sure to be a tendency to outdo each other 

 whenever physical exercises of any kind are introduced ; and, while 

 it is easy enough to control the pupils in the simple suppling practices 

 I speak of, it is very difficult for any but the most experienced per- 

 sons to determine how far a young lady may go without injury to 



