THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 49 



Awkward spills occurred ; and long journeys home after hunting, all 

 done at a canter, terribly shook the horse's legs and the temper of 

 the head of the family. " Why the deuce can't you let your horse 

 trot ?" I once heard the worthy sire of a blooming girl of sixteen say 

 to his daughter, who was pounding away on the hard road on the 

 retour de chasse. " For God's sake let him trot. Carry. You'll 

 hammer his legs all to pieces. Why don't you let him trot?' 

 " Because, pa, he won't let me trot," was the unanswerable reply. 

 True enough ; Carry knew nothing about it, and there was nobody 

 to tell her. She was riding on a saddle that fitted neither her nor 

 her horse. She had no third crutch, and she had a slipper stirrup 

 (that worst of abominations in ladies' saddlery). Looking back at 

 those days, the only wonder to me is, how ladies managed to ride at 

 all. That they did ride is certainly proof (if any were wanting) of 

 their courage and perseverance under difficulties. 



The necessity for trotting having become apparent as ladies took 

 more to riding, it at length called the attention of one or two 

 thoroughly practical men to the subject. The first of these, I 

 believe, was the celebrated steeple race jockey, Dan Seffert, who 

 had been a riding master in his early days, and who was equally at 

 home in the manege or between the flags over a country. 



The running made by Mr. Seffert was soon taken up by other first- 

 class horsemen, among whom were Mr. Oldacre, and Mr. Allen, of 

 Seymour-place. The third crutch was added to the side saddle, and 

 numerous improvements effected in it, which rendered trotting not 

 only practicable, but pleasant and easy to a lady, provided she was 

 taught the right way. I believe we owe the third crutch and padded 

 stirrup to Mr. Oldacre, a first-class judge of female equitation ; but 

 I am not quite certain upon this p'Oint. The saddle having been 

 rendered practicable for the purpose, the next thing requisite was a 

 comprehensible and simple set of rules, by which the lady could be 

 taught to trot, without distressing either her horse or herself. To 

 whom these rules owe their origin is immaterial ; as to their efficiency, 

 such as they are, I have found them highly so, and therefore beg 

 leave to submit them to your readers. 



After the usual walking lesson (abridged, however, to allow more 



E 



