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The Book of the Horse. 



5 feet 8 inches high should select a horse of not less than 15 hands 3 inches, and of suitable 

 character as to strength and substance. Although a narrow thoroughbred horse may be able 

 to carry a lady of fourteen stone, a broad figure looks still broader mounted on a narrow horse. 

 In the opposite direction, nothing looks worse than a short, delicate figure, mounted on a 

 sixteen-hands weight-carrier. Weight-carrying cobs are out of place under any lady riding in 

 London parks, unless she is very large, and riding strictly for constitutional exercise. Lord 

 Chief Justice Denman, writing to his son-in-law after a visit to Windsor Castle, soon after 



A LADY S HUNTER. 



Her Majesty came to the throne, says, " The Queen wants a horse ; it must have quality; to 

 quote Her Majesty's words, ' None of your cobs.' " Yet for country use, a blood cob with a 

 suitable saddle is more get-at-able than a hack horse, and more handy in galloping over a 

 farm or park. 



A lady's horse must be long enough in the back to carry a side-saddle comfortably 

 and look well. A short-backed horse, however useful under a man, never can look well in a 

 side-saddle. 



Low withers, and a neck carried like a racehorse, are altogether inadmissible either for 

 comfort or appearance. Good shoulders, and head and neck that will bridle well, are points 

 of the first importance. The special paces of the lady's horse are walking and cantering ; 

 if it can also trot smoothly eight miles an hour or more, the owner is fortunate. 



