46 EQUITATION. 



which is the natural result of holding a horse en- 

 tirely with one hand, it makes the pressure upon 

 the animal's mouth more even, which is so truly 

 essential to the comfort of both horse and rider, it 

 keeps the shoulders square, a very important point 

 in the elegance of a young lady's appearance, it 

 causes the elbows to be even on either side instead 

 of one being infinitely in the rear of the other, as 

 is too often the case, and though last not least, it 

 keeps the whip quiet until its use is called for. 



There is a piece of inhumanity practised, as 

 much, perhaps more by ladies than by gentlemen, 

 it is, riding a horse fast on hard ground. If the 

 ground be hard and even, a collected canter may 

 be allowed, but one hour's gallop on hard and 

 uneven ground, would do the soundest horse irre- 

 mediable injurj^, his sinews would be strained, 

 his joints prematurely stiffened, fever in the feet 

 would be produced, and the horse would be de- 

 prived at once, and for ever, of his elasticity and 

 action, and be brought prematurely a cripple to the 

 grave. 



DISMOUNTING. 



The first operation preparatory to dismounting 

 is, to bring the horse to an easy yet perfect stop, 



