RIDING FOR BEGINNERS 



erect carnage which the hollowed waist insures), 

 the child may advance to a saddle without stir- 

 rups (and finally with), and these should always be 

 open, large, and heavy, and the child's foot carried 

 " home " in them, that is, through to the instep. 

 The reason for this is that if the stirrup is held at 

 the ball of the foot, and any accident happens, the 

 foot may go either way, probably through ; but 

 if it is worn " home," the jar and twitch in falling 

 will almost surely throw it out. No jockeys or 

 huntsmen, always riding " home," are ever hung 

 up and dragged ; soldiers and civilians who insert 

 only the toe and the ball of the foot, are frequently 

 so caught. This point is most important, and 

 worthy careful investigation. 



Children should always be superintended in 

 their rides. They are mischievous, and when 

 the novelty palls, attempt all sorts of strange 

 experiments with their mounts which may cause 

 bad accidents, or they may bully and punish their 

 charges to a cruel extent. A finished saddle-horse 

 is not needed in learning equestrianism ; in fact, 

 if one begins with a rough gaited animal, and 

 gets along fairly well with him, further advance 

 will be rendered much easier when promoted to 

 the handling of an accomplished hack. The 

 J 4 209 



