ACCIDENTS. 303 



and even be compelled to continue tliem after he is tired; 

 thus, if he turn short round, make him turn in the same 

 direction half a dozen times. If he refuse to go forward 

 compel him to go backward. 



Stumbling is more often a habit or an infimity than an 

 accident. Where it is accidental, it is generally in a young 

 horse, who will probably recover himself without danger 

 to the rider; but, on the slightest intimation, she must 

 throw her body back, and by raising her hands raise his 

 head and assist him to regain himself The greatest 

 danger a lady encounters is the possibility of her horse 

 rearing very high ; when she should be sufficiently self- 

 possessed to slacken his rein and throw the whole weight 

 of her body forward, being always ready to rise the mo- 

 ment the horse comes to the ground. With proper watch- 

 fulness of eye and hand, a well-seated lady will always be 

 prepared for any emergency. Above all things be chary 

 of an improper use of the whip. ^ 



Kemember that with a long skirt about her feet, and with 

 little experience in such exercise, it is always unsafe for ix 

 lady to leap from her saddle. She can tell at once, on 

 mounting, if her saddle is not securely girthed, so that 

 only inexcusable neglect will admit of its turning. So 

 long as the saddle is in its place, and the horse on his feet, 

 a lady should 7iever leave him under any circumstances un- 

 less he be rearing badly, and an attendant be at hand to 

 receive her ; if the saddle turn entirely off from the horse's 

 back, or, if he has fallen and cannot recover himself, a lady 

 may disengage herself quickly, but carefully. In a runa- 

 way, her place is close down in the saddle, holding the four 

 reins low on either side, and giving an alternate tension 

 to the curb and snaffle, steadying her horse in the road and 

 saving her strength to force him to run long after he would 

 gladly stop. 



