THE BARB AND THE BKJDLE. 41 



A great difference of opinion exists as to whether the action of 

 the bridle hand should be from the wrist only, or whether (spring 

 like, if I may use the expression) the "give and take" action 

 should be conveyed by the upper part of the arm being quite 

 mobile at the shoulder joint and in conjunction with the fore- 

 arm, the latter kept, however, close to the side, and movmg 

 easily and freely to the horse's action. The latter theory is 

 warmly advocated by many thoroughly experienced horsemen and 

 professors of female equitation, who maintain that to teach a yoimg 

 lady to keep the arm firm to the side, in the manner adopted in 

 the military riding school, is not only' to give her a rigid wooden 

 appearance on her horse, but also to destroy the proper flexibility 

 of her figure. 



On the other hand, some instructors — those especially who are 

 veterans of the cavalry manege — insist that firmness of the arm 

 should in all cases be rigidly demanded. 



My experience induces me to come to a conclusion which is 

 midway between these opposing theories. 



In the first lessons given to a lady on horseback it is well to 

 insist upon her keeping the arm steady, because otherwise she is 

 ready not only to yield her hand to every movement of the horse, 

 be that yielding right or -wTong, but gradually and imperceptibly 

 to herself her hands will steal forward until they are eight or ten 

 inches in front of her, the consequence being that the muscles of the 

 waist become rigid, and the flexibility of her figure at its most 

 important point, as regards riding, is lost, while the hands remain 

 in the awkward and ungainly position I allude to. 



For the above reason, therefore, it is desirable to inculcate firm- 

 ness of the lower part of the arm to the side in the early lessons ; 

 the hands drawn back close to the waist. And, in order to make 

 tliis form of riding more easily comprehensible to the pupil at her 

 first essay, the following will be found highly effective : 



Let the instructor stand in front of the horse, and taking the 

 bridle reins one in each hand, let him caution the pupil not to yield 

 to him if he pulls against her. Let him then take a quick, sharp 

 pull at the reins in the same way as a horse would when trying to 



