THE BARB AND THE BEIDLE. 119 



respect be considered fit to take her place any time at the covert side, 

 and hold her own, under proper pilotage, with hounds, where of 

 course she will use snaffle and curb reins equally, or according to the 

 temper and breaking of her mount. 



During the leaping lessons, and in fact throughout the whole 

 course of equitation up to this point, the pupil should be put upon 

 as many different horses as possible consistent with her progress, 

 care always being taken that she is thoroughly master of one before 

 she is put upon another. The action of horses varies so much in 

 degree, no matter how much from similarity of breed and form it 

 may assimilate in kind, that to attain anything like proficiency the 

 rider's mount requires frequent changing ; otherwise, when put upon 

 a strange horse, she would find herself sorely at a loss. 



With the exception of one practice, which in some degree resem- 

 bles the leaping lesson, we may now safely dismiss our fair pupil 

 from technical indoor instruction, except in the way of an occasional 

 refresher, whenever those about her discover any inclination to lapse 

 into a careless form of riding. This both men and women are so apt 

 to do (imperceptibly to themselves), that an occasional sharp drilling 

 does no harm to the most practised rider of either sex. 



The final instruction to be given in the school is called the 

 "Plunging Lesson," and maybe briefly described as follows, pre- 

 mising that although it is the bounden duty of every man who has 

 anything to do with a lady's riding to avoid by every means allowing 

 her to be put on a restive horse, yet it is always possible that, from 

 some unavoidable cause, a lady (especially in the colonies) may some 

 day find herself on a bad-mannered animal that will "set to" with 

 her. In order, therefore, that in such an undesirable case she may 

 not be at a loss, it is well that when thoroughly practised in leaping, 

 she should be put upon a horse that will kick smartly whenever he is 

 called upon by the master. Such a horse is useful for the above pur- 

 pose, and is generally to be found in most riding establishments. The 

 trick is easily enough taught, and requires no description. Neither is 

 it at all incompatible with general good manners. 



The first thing, then, as regards the pupil, is to impress upon her 

 that whenever a horse " sets to " kicking with her, that her tactics 



