ROAD RIDING. t^-j 



few riders that do ride on the side of the road. I have 

 seen a few hunting men do it and some thorough horse- 

 men and horsewomen ride near the side, but they are few 

 and far between. I have often politely asked my pupils 

 when they went out alone to ride on the side ; some have 

 done so, but a few have exclaimed, what difference does 

 it make on which side of the road I ride, as long as I ^qX 

 there. It makes a great deal sometimes to both horse and 

 rider. I will explain the why and wherefore. The first 

 reason why one should ride on the right side, is because 

 it is the rule and it looks better. The second reason is 

 that if you are riding in the middle of the road and hap- 

 pen to be mounted on a vicious brute of a horse, which 

 will plunge and rear with you, or for instance one that is 

 inclined to be balky and not willing to go one way or the 

 other, and so by riding in the middle of the road on such 

 an animal, you would place yourself and your horse in 

 everybody's way who desired to pass, or probably your 

 horse might plunge against some passing carriage, or the 

 carriage would strike your horse, especially if the road 

 was a narrow one, and serious results might occur, pos- 

 sibly a runaway. The third reason is this : that if you 

 are riding outside the city, the ground on the side of the 

 road is so much softer than in the centre, and it is so 

 much better for the horse. If riders would follow my 

 advice when riding on the road, there would not be so 

 many horses with splints and so sore forward as their 

 are. 



