54 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 



For some time the lady should continue trotting out round the- 

 school, riding altogether upon the snaffle and sending her horse 

 well up against it. There should be no " give-and-take " action in 

 the hand in this case ; but while she does not pull the weight of a 

 feather against her horse, she should make him maintain the appui' 

 by taking well hold of her hand ; his trot will then be regular and 

 fair. 



After about ten days or a fortnight of such practice, the master 

 may commence the third section of his trotting lesson, namely, that 

 in which the pupil begins to collect her horse, raise his forehand, and 

 bring his haunches under him. 



The first step in this should be to ascertain that the lady is not 

 dependent upon the horse's mouth for any part of her firmness in 

 the saddle, or, more correctly speaking, to see that her balance is 

 right unaided by the bridle, because, although perhaps imperceptible 

 to the rider (man or woman), the appui of the mouth has more to do 

 with the seat than most people imagine. In good schools of equita- 

 tion men tell you " There are no hands without legs." True, and if 

 we were to ask many a good man that we see crossing a country to 

 ride over a big fence without a bridle we should perceive that there 

 are few seats without hands. It is to correct the tendency to trust 

 for support to the horse's mouth that the efforts of the instructor- 

 should now be directed. 



To carry this out, he should be mounted upon a horse of about 

 equal height to that of his pupil, on the off side, and close to whom 

 he should place himself. He should direct her to drop her reins 

 entirely, and then take them in his left hand, riding his own horse 

 with his right. He should then instruct the lady to place her 

 hands behind her w^aist, the right hand grasping the left elbow, as 

 described in the suppling practices. Cautioning her again as to 

 firmness of grasp and good balance, he should then urge both horses 

 into a smart trot, and keep them going round the school two or 

 three times, carefully watching the action of the pupil, and if he 

 perceives the least indication of distress pull up immediately. The 

 exertion necessary to execute this lesson is severe if the pupil has 

 not been weU suppled before being put on horseback. If she has,. 



