42 ROAD RIDING. 



manage. When riding down hill always walk your horse. 

 If you should stop at any road house, even for a few 

 minutes, have the man lead the horse about, and tell him 

 to keep him moving until you call for him ; but if you 

 intend staying for some time, and having a long journey 

 to go, give orders to have the horse put in the stable and 

 blanketed, and when you are ready to leave, walk down 

 to the stable and ask the man to give your horse a pail of 

 water, that is providing the horse is quiie cool and that 

 his blood is not overheated before riding away ; do not 

 forget to reimburse the groom for his trouble, as it will 

 always pay you to do so. 



I wish to mention something more about road riding. 

 Whenever you see that your horse is afraid of any object, 

 try to divert his attention by playing with the bit in the 

 horse's mouth, which in most cases will be successful. 

 When riding on the road in a class, the riders should keep 

 together and ride at a steady gait on the side of the road. 

 The slow horse should set the pace for the rest. It is 

 necessary to mention here a word or two with regard to 

 politeness on the road. It is just as easy to be polite on 

 the road on horseback, as it is in the drawing-room. A 

 gentleman when riding with a lady, will always raise his 

 hat when meeting any one he knows, and expects the 

 same in return, but a great many men I have met in the 

 park, instead of raising their hat as they should do, simply 

 lift their whip up to their hat, like a groom tipping his cap 

 to his mistress. 



