236 THE COMPLETE HORSEMAN 



that goes wrong, how can he be expected to 

 teach the art of Riding to a lady ? There are 

 many capable horsemen who cannot do that. 

 So when one meets his pupils after they have 

 been riding a few months one is distressed by 

 figure-of-eight-like contortions on the saddle 

 when the horses' trot and one does not wonder 

 that they are in a chronic state of sore back. If a 

 lady would get all the fun out of riding that 

 there is to be got out of it she must have a 

 thorough course of Riding school tuition and 

 must take her rides abroad in the company of 

 one who is quick enough to see and correct at the 

 moment the mistakes she will insensibly make 

 every now and again till she has got into the 

 * habit of well-doing.' 



Another fruitful cause of sore backs in a 

 beginner's stable is ill-fitting side saddles. In 

 many cases the saddles fit neither horse nor 

 rider. The buyer, knowing nothing of the 

 matter, perhaps sees what he thinks is a pretty 

 side saddle in some shop or at some show and 

 straightway buys it. In all cases as I have 

 insisted elsewhere the saddle must be fitted both 

 to the horse and the rider. And I would 

 point out to heads of families, if they would keep 

 their horse's backs clear of saddle galls of a 

 pronounced kind they must bear in mind, if they 

 only have one horse for two young ladies, that 

 Miss Jane who is 5 ft. 8 in. and long from the 

 hip to the knee cannot possibly ride on the same 

 saddle as Miss Matilda who is 5 ft. 3 and short 



