A Lady's Horse. 329 



THE BRIDLE. 



A lady riding in parade form, like tlie illustration at page 318, in the "Row" or the 

 "Bois," is supposed to always ride like a cavalry soldier, with one hand on the curb alone. 

 That will assume that she only rides for display, and always rides a perfectly-broken horse. 

 But as a matter of fact, in England, ladies, fortunately for domestic life, health, and society, 

 do not confine their equestrian exercises to places of public resort ; they ride a great deal in 

 the country, making horse exercise a pleasure and a swift mode of conveyance on a round of 

 social visits, "assist," as the French say, in the inspection of farms, trot along country roads, 

 and gallop over open downs. Many ladies who do not hunt ride to cover, and in India and 

 the Colonies no precaution should be neglected for making the most of the rough horses 

 which they are frequently compelled to ride. 



For these reasons the ordinary bridle of a lady should be a double bridle of snaffle and 

 curb, which will enable her to use either or both reins, according to her inclination and skill. 

 These reins should be of the length that she can shorten them by extending both arms at 

 full length, and allow the reins to run through her hands. 



THE WHIP. 



A lady's whip is generally a highly-ornamented toy ; but if the horse is not so broken 

 as to act entirely independently of right-hand indications, the whip, however elegant in shape 

 and adornments, should be of a substantial character ; for it is meant to supply the place 

 of a man's right leg, and should be fit to give, if needful, an unmistakable " indication." 



A properly-made whip may be light, elegant, and yet capable of inflicting a severe cut. 

 It should be furnished with metal loops, for reeving a silken cord, by which it may be sus- 

 pended from the owner's wrist, if she has occasion to take the reins in the full grasp of a 

 small hand. 



A lady's horse. 



Horses cannot be manufactured, like side-saddles. Even those prepared to pay the highest 

 market price may have to go far and wait long before they can obtain their ideal. Average 

 purchasers must be content to take the best article their finances and ideas of expenditure 

 will afford, out of the limited number presented to them for choice. 



In Chapter XI. will be found a description of a park hack, which might be applied to a 

 lady's horse without altering a syllable. But such perfection is very scarce, and, when found, 

 very expensive. 



The following are points which should be carefully considered in selecting a lady's 

 horse : — 



A gelding is to be preferred to a mare, all other qualities being equal, because most 

 mares are restive at certain seasons. 



It should be well up to the weight of the intending horsewoman, allowing from eighteen 

 to twenty-four pounds for the saddle and habit. Young ladies, if at all inclined to a luxuriant 

 shape, are as mysterious about their weight as elderly maidens are about their age. They 

 should be put in the scale with their riding-dress before a horse is finally decided on. At 

 any rate, a lady's horse should be a good fourteen pounds above its rider's weight, when her 

 habit is neither muddy nor soaked with rain. 



The height of the horse should bear due proportion to the height of the rider. A lady 

 Q Q 



