320 



The Book of the Horse. 

 The special use of certain of these exercises is summarised as follows : — 



"ist. Steadiness of body in certain difficult positions, under the muscular exertions of both sets of limbs. 

 2nd. Graceful movements. Gymnastics (read horse exercise) should play into the hands of health. Exercise 

 should be no fatigue, for fatigue is more or less a strain on the constitution. The every-day movements of life in 

 the case of the gymnastic (trained) pupil require less exertion than those of the unskilled and untrained. There 

 is plenty of vigour to spare. Thus prepared, the pupils of the riding- school will advance by easy steps ; and 

 such ejaculations and expressions as 'Oh dear, I am tired to death!' ' I am so stiff I cannot move!' 'That 

 ride has killed me ! ' will not be heard." 



It must be borne in mind that gymnastics bring into play muscles not actively employed 

 in walking, and horse exercise muscles not called into action in either walking or gymnastics ; 

 hence the necessity for short and frequent lessons. 



HOW TO DRESS THE "AMAZONE." 



If expense is a matter of no consequence, the easiest way of obtaining a suitable costume 

 for horse exercise is to go to the best and most expensive tradesmen. But ladies have to 

 ride who do not live in London or Paris, and to whom economy is an object ; hence the fol- 

 lowing notes, directed rather to the principles than the details of dress : — 



When a young lady undertakes to ride in earnest, she must discard every article of her 

 previous attire, except her stockings, and re-clothe herself from head to foot. 



The ordinary fashionable boot, with its narrow waist and high heel, will not do at all. The 

 foot she puts into the stirrup must feel the stirrup, and be capable when she is mounted of 

 comfortably supporting her whole weight. The sole of the boot must, therefore, be perfectly 

 flat, as broad as the foot, long enough not to cramp the toes, but not extravagantly long. 

 The heel must not be more than half an inch thick, and long enough to cover the natural 

 heel, so as to catch and keep the stirrup in its proper place. 



Riding-boots must be by no means tight, unless the lady prefers cold feet in winter. It is 

 pretty well understood now that a well-proportioned boot will make a foot look much smaller 

 than a tight one. 



The most comfortable style of boot for riding long distances is the Wellington, or cavalry 

 boot, which protects the calf of the leg from friction against the saddle. The upper-leather of 

 the feet should be of kid, the leg of morocco or buckskin. The drawback of this kind of 

 boot is that it hides the syminctry of the ankle, and that, if not made to fit easily, it necessi- 

 tates the dreadful picture of a lady with a pair of boot-hooks struggling into a pair of tight 

 boots, and out of them with a boot-jack after a long ride. 



The best form for ladies' use, under all circumstances, is that of the boot which came into 

 fashion for a short time, with short costumes and long walking-sticks, at Biarritz. This boot 

 comes up to the middle of the calf of the leg, and should be laced up in front, not buttoned. 

 Buttons do not answer at all for riding, and elastic sides have many disadvantages. It is 

 made with the leg of either cloth- or leather; if cloth, the colour to match the riding habit, the 

 foot of kid or patent leather, the sole flat, exactly like the sole of a man's hunting boot with 

 the same long low heel. But if a lady determines to adhere to a short bottinc for mere park 

 exercise, she must give up the fashionable, narrow-waisted, peg-heeled shape, and adopt a boot 

 that will allow her to place her foot flat in the stirrup. 



The advantage of the " Magyar," or, as some call it, from the name of the dance, the 



