S/X " ESSEATIALS" FOR L EARNING. 317 



forks on the dining-table, whose natural taste for equestrianism has been cultivated as regularly 

 and carefully as all the other accomplishments of a wealthy and well-born dame, who has in 

 a tribe of sisters, aunts, and cousins, relations and friends, models of excellence and elegance. 

 A few years ago two wives of earls and three daughters of an earl — some of them mothers 

 of families and welter weights, some of them young and feather weights — were equally remarkable 

 for their grace in the Park and their skill in the hunting-field. To mention their names would 

 be an impertinence, and contrary to the plan of this book. 



Therefore young ladies who cherish the in every respect praiseworthy desire to enjoy the 

 delicious and healthy excitement of horse exercise, and thus to be able to take part in one of 

 the pleasures of their fathers, brothers, lovers, husbands, and friends, will do well to master 

 the following essentials for safe and elegant equestrianism : — • 



First, they must be ph3'sically fit for the exercise, as to lungs, heart, and, above all 

 nerves. 



The girl who is afraid of the common objects of the farm and field, who screams on the 

 slightest possible excuse, who flies from a peaceful milch cow, and trembles at a mouse, is 

 not fit to mount a horse, that is, if her terrors are real. They may be either a foolish 

 imitation of other silly women, or one of several small expedients for exciting interest in 

 the male breast. In the former case, a course of cold bathing and a few timely words from a 

 sensible and good-natured woman would probably effect a cure. 



A month of hydropathy, at one of those great establishments which the majority of patients 

 frequent rather for amusement than to cure any serious disease, is not a bad preparation for 

 equestrian lessons. 



Secondly, the intending pupils should be in fair condition — able to dance all night, and 

 play at all games from battledore to lawn tennis, without inordinate fatigue — that is, unless 

 they are prepared to be content, as invalids must be, with walking exercise on a softly- 

 stepping little horse. 



Thirdly, they must wear a suitable attire, from the chemise to the riding-habit. 



Fourthly, they must be fitted with a saddle. 



Fifthly, they must have a horse perfectly trained for a lady's use, and suitable in size, 

 quality, and temperament, to the work and the rider. 



Sixthly, when provided with the horse and appliances, the pupil aspiring to become a 

 capable and elegant horsewoman can do nothing without a competent teacher — one who will 

 insist on attention to details apparently insignificant : on that steady practice of walking 

 before cantering, cantering in many forms before trotting, and trotting with ease and certainty 

 before galloping, which are the successive steps of the equestrian art. 



The born and skilled horsewoman has, it must be admitted, two advantages over men. 

 She relies for ruling her horses on skill rather than on brute strength ; and possesses a 

 mysterious influence over very high-couraged animals, as if, in mesmeric argot, she had the 

 power of placing herself en rapport with steeds that obstinately resist the strength and skill 

 of the coarser sex. 



As to the age at which women should commence to ride, it is by no means necessary, in 

 order to acquire the highest skill, with natural aptitude for equestrianism, that they should 

 commence practice in their childhood ; although, if judiciously taught, a well-grown girl may 

 advantageously take her first lesson at ten years old. Some of the finest professional horse- 

 women, well known in Rotten Row and the hunting shires in i860, did not take their first 

 lessons until they were over eighteen years of age; and our Indian Empire affords many 



