264 



The Book of the I/okse. 



conformation of his extremities ; and the size of the barrel of the horse, the round, plump, 

 thick-thighed subject cannot fit himself to the saddle like an incipient Don Quixote. The 

 point is to get into the middle of the saddle comfortably, sitting upright, but not stiffly upright, 

 with the shoulders well thrown back, and this will be done by turning the toes out in a 

 natural way, not turning them in like a trooper, nor yet too much out. If a man has acquired 

 round shoulders and a stoop over the desk, it will generally be found rather too late in the 

 day to drill him into a better form, and the best must be made of his scholastic 

 attitude. If he does habitually poke his nose forward, he should be advised to 

 avoid damage by keeping his head on one side or other of his horse's neck, and 

 take care not to ride one of the many capital horses that always throw up their 

 heads when they are fresh without a standing martingale. If there is no riding- 

 school to be had conveniently, an empty barn will afford a very efficient substi- 

 tute ; and if there is no barn, then some empty fold-yard or other enclosure, 

 where there is nothing to distract the attention of the pupil or his steed. 



In the first instance, it is quite sufificient for the adult pupil to acquire the 

 mystery or knack of " seat," without troubling himself about the niceties of holding 

 the reins. They are, however, as already observed, to be held the one in the right 

 and the other in the left hand ; not only because this is the common-senL^e method 

 of guiding a horse not intended for battle, but because with a rein in each hand 

 the rider is most likely to sit quite square, a very important point. 



Holding the reins too short is a very common fault, and fatal to a good scat. 

 The arms from the shoulders to the elbows should hang loosely in a line with the 

 hips, and the hands should scarcely extend beyond the pommel of the saddle ; at 

 the same time giving and taking with the play of a free walker's head, not held 

 rigidly, but always returning to the right attitude. You can never go into the Park 

 without seeing a great many boys and sonic men holding the reins short in one 

 hand, and that hand half way between the pommel and the horse's cars, with 

 an almost straight arm — a vile and dangerous habit ; yet, 

 curiously enough, some very famous artists have drawn horse- 

 men with one arm at full length holding the rein.s, and 

 leaping a gate. Having arrived thus far, if the adult pupil 

 cannot subscribe to a riding-school, where everything is done 

 in regular routine, let him put his pride in his pocket, and 

 selecting some quiet lane or solitary common for early morning 

 or late evening exercise, submit to be led at a walking pace 

 either by an attendant on foot or on horseback, until he feels 

 and finds that he can turn round and look behind him, stoop down and adjust his stirrups on 

 either side, and perform other simple motions without losing his balance or his nerve. Practice 

 makes perfect. The first practice should be in a straight line, then in a small circle, changing 

 from right to left. It is far better for the first dozen lessons that the pupil's horse should 

 be led, and that he should not be troubled with attempts to guide it. 



The lessons should be .short ; with a person in delicate health, and therefore easily 

 fatigued, half an hour's walking and softly trotting exercise is enough for the first dozen 

 lessons— in no case should the lesson exceed an hour. This warning is important, because 

 men of pluck, slightly excited by successful first attempts, are apt to do too much at one 

 time. ]5ut if the lessons or exercises are short, they should, if possible, be continued inim 



SIMMONDb HORSE BLOCK. 



