THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 129 



long iron spring latch to the gate, it must first be pulled open with 

 the crop, so that the latch rests against the hasp, and a steady pur- 

 chase must then be taken against the upper bar with the crop, and 

 the gate thus quietly pushed forward : this if it opens from the 

 rider. If the reverse, the horse's head should be kept perfectly 

 square close to the gate post, until the latch is lifted and rested on 

 the hasp. The gate should then be pulled open, and the horse's 

 head inclined just tlie reverse way to that adopted when the gate 

 opens front the rider. But in no case should she lean forward, or 

 put herself out of her balance, in order to get hold of the latch or 

 the gate itself, and she should be particularly careful that the reins 

 do not catch against the long iron hasps so common to the gates I 

 speak of. 



Only last year, I met a lady who rides a good deal unattended 

 and, seeing her about to open a gate I knew to be rather an awkward 

 one, I trotted on to assist her ; but (possibly desiring to show me 

 that she could do it unassisted) she leant forward to give the gate a 

 lift, and in doing so she dropped the reins upon her horse's neck, 

 when the animal immediately hooked the headstall of a single curb 

 bridle upon a long iron hasp, and, finding himself fast to it, drew 

 back suddenly and broke the headstall, the bit fell out of his mouth, 

 and the lady (utterly helpless) had no alternative but to shp off as 

 quickly as possible. Fortunately, the animal was a very quiet one, 

 or the consequences might have been serious ; as it was, we managed 

 to change bridles, and, having sphced the broken one, went on our 

 separate ways. But, I repeat, one cannot be too careful or methodical 

 in opening gates. "When one opens from the jiear side, the reins must 

 be passed into the right hand, the crop into the left, and the greatest 

 care taken, if the gate opens to the rider, to push it well back behind 

 the horse's quarters before she movesr-on, riding with her horse's head 

 towards the hinges. When a near-side hung gate opens /rom the rider, 

 there is less difficulty, it being only necessary after lifting the latch to 

 push against the gate with the crop, sitting quite upright, and giving 

 swing enough to the gate to enable the rider to get clear of it. But 

 in either case, to or from, with a gate hung on the near side the latch 

 should first be lifted, by using the crop in the right hand, resting the 



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