34 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 



CHAPTER Y. 



Let me now offer a few remarks on a subject upon which con- 

 siderable diversity of opinion exists, namely, whether the teaching of 

 a young lady in riding may or may not be entrusted to a female pro- 

 fessor of equitation in preference to a man. At the first glance, 

 there seems to be good reason for preferring the tuition of the lady 

 but, on careful consideration, I believe most of those interested in 

 the matter will agree with me that, under many circumstancs likely 

 to occur, one lady, however good a horsewoman herself, is likely to 

 be quite unable to render the desired assistance to a pupil, conceding, 

 at the same time that, as regards the details of dress, the opinion of 

 a lady who has had long practice in the saddle may be very useful. 



In the first place, the placing of the pupil on the horse and taking 

 her off cannot possibly be as well done, to say the least, by a lady 

 instructor as it can by a gentleman ; neither would the performance 

 of such an office be graceful or convenient to either. Secondly, all 

 that portion of the instruction wliich should be given by the 

 instructor on foot while the pupil is on horseback can be better given 

 by a man who understands his business than by a lady, because, 

 although the tone of voice in which the instruction is conveyed 

 should be kindly, and the manner cheerful and encouraging, a degree 

 oijiymnesii and conciseness is necessary, which few ladies possess, for 

 the reason that the art of teaching riding, like riding itself, requires 

 a considerable practice and long drilling into the instructor in a 

 school where smartness of diction and expression form part of the 

 education of an intended professor of equitation. Thirdly, assuming 

 both instructor and pupil to be in the saddle, a lady, although 

 thoroughly mistress of her own horse, is unable to aid her pupil as 

 easily as a man can. 



