^60 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 



highly necessary that they should be thoroughly well practised at 

 it, otherwise an important part of their course of equitation will be 

 neglected. The same may be said of the bending lesson, previous 

 to cantering. It is rarely put in practice by any but professional 

 female equestrians. But a lady ought to be thoroughly acquainted 

 with its formula, because it teaches the principle upon which a horse 

 acquires his souplesse, which is just as necessary to his freedom of 

 action and pleasant riding as the early suppling lessons of the pupil 

 herseK were conducive to her own progress. 



