GIRLS ON HORSEBACK 15 



seat and frighten a beginner. They 

 are very roguish, and will bolt across a 

 road without any reason, or stand and 

 kick or rear for their own amusement; 

 and, being so quick on their feet, their 

 various antics confuse a child so that 

 she loses her self-possession and be- 

 comes terrified. It is just as bad to go 

 to the other extreme, as a large, long- 

 gaited horse will tire the muscles of the 

 back, and, if combined with sluggish ac- 

 tion, require twice the exertion needed 

 for a free traveller. Furthermore, it de- 

 stroys the rhythm of the movement by 

 making the time of her rise only half 

 as long as necessary, thus giving her a 

 double jolt on reaching the saddle. 



Having secured the right sort of 

 horse, the saddle should be chosen 

 with great care. 



It is a shame that little girls are 

 made to ride in the ill-fitting habits 



