42 EQUITATION. 



tentiou to the strict rules of riding, would inter- 

 rupt their enjoyment. 



The rudiments of the art being once known, 

 when on the road, no more of it is to be applied, 

 than will, with the greatest ease, facilitate our de- 

 signs. When nothing more is required of the 

 horse, than to perform the natural paces, he will 

 walk, trot, and gallop with the greatest freedom^ 

 The rider participates in the like ease, or unre- 

 strained liberty, but this ease or inattention, is not 

 to suffer unseemly habits to take place, such as the 

 back and shoulders to get round, the head to shake, 

 the leg to dangle, and beat against the horse's 

 side. 



These errors may creep on a person, who has 

 not been confirmed in the principles by sufficient 

 practice ; but when habits of good riding are once 

 firmly established, the ease and liberty the rider 

 assumes, will not exceed propriety, risk her secu- 

 rity, nor abandon, nor baffle her horse, — her hand 

 will keep its situation and properties, though the 

 body be turned to any extreme for the purpose of 

 conversing, and the like, nor will the body by any 

 freedom it takes, throw itself out of balance, nor 

 take the liberty, when it cannot be done with safety. 

 This freedom and ease, so desirable and so univer- 

 sally admired, is affected by every person who is in 

 the habit of riding, but with this difference, some 



