LADIES ON HORSEBACK 37 



to leave to them a subject on which I have 

 neither power nor will to say more than they 

 have done. Anci yet it seems that something- 

 may be written by way of instruction to those 

 of my own sex who have the duty of instructing- 

 ladies in the art of riding and the choice and 

 care of ladies' horses. That man must indeed 

 be very much behind the time who w^ould raise 

 a discussion as to whether or no women should 

 be seen in the hunting field. They come out 

 nowadays in large numbers, and more than 

 that, they often show us the way to go across 

 country. There are women riding across 

 Leicestershire who are as good across country 

 as all but the very best men of the day, and are 

 infinitely superior to most of us. Nor can it be 

 said of the majority of ladies that they are in 

 "the way. They seldom jump on us because, to 

 tell the truth, they are generally in front. The 

 modern hunting lady is generally wxll-mounted 

 on fourteen-stone horses, and can make every 

 use of them. On the choice of a lady's hunter, 

 the editor has contributed an article to the 

 " Sportswoman's Library " which gives the best 

 possible advice on the subject, and to this again 

 I would refer those who would profit by the 

 experience of one of their ow^n sex. As long 

 as all croes well the liofht weight of most women 

 and the amount of rope they are obliged by the 



