THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 21 



feeling occasioned by trusting to a cork foot in the off-side stirrup. 

 Some of your readers may probably remember the dashing youngster 

 I allude to, who was always to be seen going true and straight in the 

 front rank, when he hunted eighteen years ago with the Royal 

 Buckhounds. I can safely say that the horses he rode in his side- 

 saddle were the perfection of ladies' hunters, and that he was one of 

 the best instructors of female equitation I ever met. 



I repeat, then, that before a horse can be pronounced fit to carry 

 a lady he should have been ridden in a side-saddle for some time by 

 a man . 



Riding in this way, the breaker's first object should be to make 

 the horse walk truly and fairly up to his bridle, without hurrying or 

 shuffling in his pace, than which nothing is more unpleasant to a 

 lady, especially if she is engaged in conversation with a companion. 

 Of course it is indispensable that a horse should be a good natural 

 walker, but at the same time the animal should be carefully taught 

 to work right up to his bit in this most important pace ; action in 

 the others can then be easily developed. 



In the trot the breaker should gradually accustom the animal to 

 go with the least possible amount of support from the leg. This he 

 will easily do by using a very long whip, and, when he feels the 

 horse hanging back from his work, touching him lightly on the hind 

 quarters instead of closing the leg. 



In the foregoing I am assuming that the horse has been previously 

 well broken, mouthed, and balanced to carry a man. To teach a 

 horse readily to obey such delicate aids of hand or leg, as a lady 

 can apply, I have found the following method most effectual : Use a 

 side-saddle which has no head crutch on the off side ; this gives 

 more freedom of action to the right hand. Ride without a stirrup ; 

 your balance is sure then to be true. Use a long whip, and wear a 

 spur on the left heel, furnished with short and not very sharp rowels. 

 Make your horse walk well, and trot well up to his bridle, with as 

 little leg as possible, touching him sharply with the spin? if he tries 

 to shirk his work. The long whip on the off side will prevent him 

 from throwing his haunches in. Before cantering, collect him well. 

 Keep his forehand well up, and his haunches under him. Keep his 



