HORSEMANSHIP 15 



experienced school-horse and a skilled riding- 

 master you must do the best you can for your- 

 self. A riding-school is easily made, and I 

 always make one, as well as a bending-course, 

 wherever I am. Four white stones will mark 

 the corners of the school. A bending-course 

 is made by putting in a double line of posts at 

 intervals. 



To teach the use of the bridle there is 

 nothing better than to practice riding in figures 

 of eiofht and throuQ^h a bendino'-course, and for 

 more advanced work to follow the lines laid 

 down by Captain Weir.^ When a rider can 

 make his horse do a figure of eight and go 

 down a bending-course, he will already have 

 made considerable progress in the right use of 

 hand and leg. 



But more than on any exercises I lay stress 

 on paying attention to everything to do with 

 riding when going along the road. Just as in the 

 case of the seat, a good, firm seat in the saddle 

 can be obtained by care and attention when 

 riding — with a little natural aptitude thrown in 

 — so, too, the management of the horse can be 

 in a great degree acquired as we ride for 

 business or pleasure about the roads and lanes 

 of a country place. A horse's mouth should be 

 regarded with the greatest respect and should 

 ' " Riding." Badminton Library. 



