THE BAR BIT. 105 



against the bar, and holding the arms out at full length, 

 as we have it still, is peculiarly American, and owing to 

 common custom has become so general with buggy-horse 

 fanciers and ''fasty" women, that the majority of people 

 think it fashionable and just the thing, or at least make 

 it so by adopting it. It is ridiculous to see both men and 

 women leaning back with feet hard pressed against the 

 foot-bar, and both arms stretched out full length, as if 

 they were hauling in a moss-bunker fishing net. However 

 necessary this style may be in trials of speed on the track, 

 it is certainly a very unseemly and useless position for 

 either sex to assume in driving for pleasure and notoriety. 

 The excuse is that 'Mt is our way of driving, as you have 

 yours." Well, if that were the rule in all things, pro- 

 fessors in refined arts had better Avithdraw and allow the 

 clown to have his way. If the *'plebe" manifesting it- 

 self on the horse, by having the bridle band stretched 

 out over the withers, be all right because ^' it is our way" 

 of holding the reins, there is perhaps no reason why the 

 same rule should not hold good behind him. 



Equestrian schools turn out their pupils with more 

 knowledge than practice. They know what to do, but 

 don't know how, when or where to do it. The school, 

 therefore, instead of being concealed, is seen in every 

 actiou, and the efforts to succeed attract more ridicule 

 than the neglect of them. If a woman's arms are weak, 

 she should use a powerful bit and keep her arms down. 

 The notoriety she gains by having them stretched out, is 

 not becoming or agreeable to a woman envious of refined 

 and retiring habits. Were we treating the subject of 

 horsewomanship, instead of that of the use of the bit, we 

 might give some valuable hints to ladies who would 

 rather be admired for their ease and skill in handling the 

 reins than of being noticed for their awkwardness and in- 

 efficiency in their management of the horse. The ease and 

 style of the horse adds to the grace of the rider, and to 



